9
Feb
Just finished reading the most recent Lara Adrian novel, Darker After Midnight.
All I can saw is: fabulous! So, so incredible.
If you haven’t had a chance to read her Midnight Breed series, you really must. I tend to lose interest in a series after a certain point, especially if I feel like each book is just a rehash of the same plot over and over. I can honestly say that I’ve never felt that way while following this series and have anxiously awaited the release of every single Midnight Breed novel.
When I finished reading Darker After Midnight, which is Book 10 in the series, I immediately flipped to the back matter to see if there was a teaser for Book 11. Sadly, there wasn’t. But Ms. Adrian’s website indicates that there is more to come. Hooray!
She’s wrapped up the plot that wove the first ten books together, so I can’t wait to see what she does next. 
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3
Jan
Happy New Year! (Yeah, okay, so I’m a bit late, but it’s been a crazy couple of weeks…)
As I’ve been promising some book recommendations for a while now, I thought I’d put together a list of a few fun reads to kick off the new year. (Click on the hyperlinks to read more about the books on Amazon.com.)
1) Seeing Red by Susan Crandall – This is a fast-paced romantic suspense that will suck you in quickly and keep you turning the pages until late at night. The threat that drives the story–a man convicted of murder is mistakenly released from prison and comes after the woman who put him there–is like something you’d see on one of those true crime series that make you paranoid to go out at night alone, but there’s a plot twist that I didn’t see coming (at least not in the way it unfolded). I started this one on the way to Chicago during my infamous train adventure and was irritated as hell when I actually had to put it down to attend the conference sessions.
2) Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! by Terry Brooks – This is the first book in The Magic Kingdom of Landover series. Although it starts out as a little bit of a downer (the main character, Ben, is a widower/high-powered attorney whose life is falling apart), the humor soon kicks in and makes for a fun bit of fantasy. The story is definitely a journey tale, so there’s lots of going from this place to that, but the characters Ben meets along the way make the wandering worthwhile.
3) A Taste of Midnight by Lara Adrian – Part of Adrian’s Midnight Breed series, this novella is the story of Danika, one of the breedmates we met in the first book but haven’t seen much of since. It’s no secret that I’m a total junkie when it comes to Lara Adrian’s novels, but I honestly wasn’t sure how a novella would go–if it would lose some of the fabulous character development, sizzling romance, heart-pounding suspense, and engaging plot that I so admire in Adrian’s work. Well, I humbly apologize for having any doubts–it was fantastic! This is a digital-first book that can only be bought in various e-book formats at the moment, but (if I remember correctly) it will be appearing as extra material in the mass market paperback version of her upcoming release, Darker After Midnight (which comes out in hardback in a couple of weeks).
Well, folks, there are just a few books to get you started this year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Happy reading!
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
5
Apr
When you mention “organized crime,” most people think of such well-known names as Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, or Lucky Luciano. Or maybe “organized crime” calls to mind such iconic films as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Casino. But what about pirates? Smuggling rings? Outlaw motorcycle gangs? In his book, Organized Crime: An Inside Guide to the World’s Most Successful Industry, Paul Lunde touches on all of these groups and then some.
If you’re curious at all about the history of organized crime, this is a great overview that hits on crime organizations all over the world, from ancient times to the present. I found it fascinating and something of an eye-opener when it comes to the complicated culture often involved in crime organizations. Whether you’re considering writing about the Triads or La Cosa Nostra, the Yakuza or Tammany Hall, this is a great little book to help you get started.
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
2
Nov
It started as a chuckle, grew to a giggle, and soon was a head-back, laugh-out-loud guffaw. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the source of my nine-year-old’s amusement was a Middle Grade novel titled Dragonbreath. When Professor stopped laughing long enough to tell me about the story, I was definitely intrigued.
In a nutshell, Dragonbreath is the story of a young dragon named Danny Dragonbreath who hasn’t been able to master breathing fire. When Danny gets an “F” on his science paper (because he forgot to do it and so writes the paper–sans research–on the school bus at the last minute), he gets his cousin Edward (a sea serpent) to take him and his friend Wendell (a neurotic iguana) on a tour of the Sargasso Sea to gather research on the ocean and rescue his grade. The story is told in both prose and graphic novel form, with the graphic bits usually illustrating Danny’s more ridiculous flights of fancy.
Such an odd little story might have fallen flat if it weren’t for Ursula Vernon’s deliciously wry sense of humor. And when Professor asked me to give Dragonbreath a read, I found myself chuckling, giggling, and guffawing just as much as he did.
I confess, it’s been a long time since I’ve read something targeting the upper elementary school set, but I honestly can’t wait to read the rest of the series with Professor. With titles like Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs and Dragonbreath: The Curse of the Were-wiener, I’m sure we’ll have loads of fun reading these books together.
Whether you’re considering writing Middle Grade fiction or are looking for a fun series for your own kiddos between the ages of 8 and 12, Dragonbreath is definitely worth a read.
Enjoy!
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
7
Oct
I’m currently reading Guide to the Salem Witch Hysteria of 1692 by David C. Brown (bought for me last year by a friend who was vacationing in the infamous town), so I’ve got witches on the brain.
If you’ve never read anything on the Salem witch trials, you really should, even if you’re not particularly interested in that time in American history. There’s something chilling about how easily the denizens of Salem Village and the surrounding towns were caught up in the insanity of these events and how ridiculous were some of their superstitions and accusations. It makes me wonder what people will think about our belief systems a few hundred years from now.
If non-fiction isn’t your thing, there’s certainly no shortage of novels featuring witches. I have several books and/or series on my “To Read” list, but am having trouble choosing between them. So, here’s my challenge to all of you: Take a look at the website of each author listed below and let me know which series you think sounds like the most fun. Whichever author gets the most votes will be first up on my Witchy reading list. In exchange for your vote, when I’m finished reading the winning novel, I’ll post a review.
So, without further ado, here are the three authors from which to choose:
Mindy Klasky’s Jane Madison Series
Vicki Lewis Thompson’s The Hex Series
Linda Wisdom’s Hex Series
I can’t wait to get started on one of these fantastic reads, so cast your vote!
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
13
Aug
Now that I’m actively shopping Red, I’ve begun developing Book 2 in the series. For me, the first step in beginning any new project is fleshing out my characters. I spend a lot of time mulling over not just each character’s personal appearance (which, honestly, could change anyway) but also his/her personality traits, quirks, nervous habits, taste in clothes and music, favorite movies, and so on–even if none of these things will even come into play in the novel.
Unfortunately, even after all the time I spend developing my characters before I start writing, I sometimes end up in the middle of the manuscript and realize I need to add more depth. In such cases, it’s nice to have a few resources on hand to help generate some ideas.
One book I’ve come across that’s been a great reference for character development is Writer’s Guide to Character Traits, by Linda N. Edelstein, PhD.
Topics covered include personality traits, psychological disorders, criminal types, career traits, and communication styles just to name a few. Need to figure out which character traits correspond to a particular virtue? Covered in Chapter 2. Trying to determine which variety of stalker is preying on your protagonist? Chapter 5.
Bottom line–if you’re trying to come up with believable characters who pop off the page, Writer’s Guide to Character Traits could definitely give you some pointers.
Give it a try!
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
7
Jul
I’m currently reading Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published, by the Editors of Writers Digest Books.
Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published is a fabulous resource on writing query letters and synopses, working well with editors and agents, marketing and promoting your work, etc., and offers practical advice anyone can employ.
This was a particularly timely find for me as I prepare for the Midwest Writers Workshop at the end of the month. There I’ll be making my very first pitch to an agent! I’m incredibly excited and nervous as hell at the same time. Having a great resource like this one to help me prepare is keeping my anxiety to a manageable level (so far…). 
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
23
May
I just finished reading Dead Beat, a novel from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, and I have to say, Butcher’s books just keep getting better and better. I didn’t think he could top Blood Rites (which had been my favorite thus far), but I dare say, he outdid himself again!
I discovered the Dresden Files books after the TV series came and went far too soon. Hoping to stop my bitching over the cancellation of the series, my HH bought the first several books for me the following year for my birthday. He then proceeded to bogart them, so I didn’t get around to reading the novels until around a year or so ago. And I was hooked.
Unfortunately, my reading time is rather limited, so it’s taking me a while to work my way through the series and catch up to the newest release, but it’s definitely time well-spent! If you’re a fan of mysteries, fantasies, paranormals and/or thrillers, you’d probably enjoy Butcher’s novels. At some point, he hits on all of these genres–sometimes all at once!
In addition to proclaiming my admiration as I reader, I also have to offer my thanks as a writer.
When I began writing Red, it was immediately clear to me that the protagonist’s story had to be in her own voice with no filtration from the narrator. This was a huge deviation from my normal writing M.O. and was both liberating and terrifying at the same time.
Fortunately, I started writing Red right around the time I started reading the Dresden Files series, which couldn’t have been more serendipitous. Butcher does such a fabulous job writing in the first-person, I think I would have been a lot more timid while writing had I not been exposed to such a fantastic example of how to carry it off. Butcher’s voice is, quite simply, fearless, and, as such, authentic–which, in turn, makes the stories much more engaging and enjoyable.
Aside from sharing the same genre(s), my manuscript has almost nothing in common with Butcher’s work, but inspiration can come from just about anywhere and in any form. And I was definitely inspired and have learned a lot about the more subtle nuances of telling a story from this point of view. I’m sure I still have a long way to go until I’ve mastered the craft, but that’s all part of the fun!
And so, as I continue to edit and refine Red in hopes of one day bringing the story to print, I offer a grateful nod to Jim Butcher for showing all us hopefuls how it’s done.
*Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for reviews and endorsements, you should assume that every book recommended on maurabishop.com was submitted by the author/publisher or purchased via an authorized retailer. We do not accept money or favors in exchange for a good review.
