What’s your writing process? First I come up with a really compelling question, like "what would happen if our intelligence services tried to penetrate a terror cell by going undercover and … [Read more...]
An excerpt from Protocol 15
The White House. The next day, June 20th, 6:17 a.m. EST. “It’s confirmed then?” the president said. “Yes, sir,” replied his national security advisor, James Foreman. “No doubt?” “None.” The … [Read more...]
Who is the heroine Jana Baker? Where did that character come from?
From the author: Jana comes from a lot of places. To begin with, her first name was that of a friend of mine from high school. The name was always one I liked, and I even considered using it as the … [Read more...]
Book review: Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Okay, the plot for The Darkest Minds is KIND of insane. The story follows our protagonist Ruby as she suffers in a terrifying “Rehabilitation Camp” that she’s been sent to because of her “powers.” … [Read more...]
Book Review: World Without End by Ken Follett
In 1989 Ken Follett astonished the literary world with The Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping epic novel set in twelfth-century England centered on the building of a cathedral and many of the hundreds … [Read more...]
Book review: Room with a View by E.M. Forster
A Room with a View, first published in 1908 and considered by many to be Forster's sunniest and most optimistic novel, begins in the Pension Bertolini, an inn in Florence, Italy. Two tourists, Miss … [Read more...]
Book review: Maximum Ride: Nevermore by James Patterson
Max has fought, she has lead, she has loved... but is she ready to finally carry out her destiny? The finale is here- and it's definitely like nothing you've ever read. As the Apocalypse grows … [Read more...]
Book Review: Margaret Atwood’s the Blind Assassin
In her tenth novel, Margaret Atwood again demonstrates that she has mastered the art of creating dense, complex fictions from carefully layered narratives, making use of an array of literary devices - … [Read more...]
Book review: Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler
In Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler wrote about the disintegration of American culture and the tribulations of Lauren Oya Olamina, a young girl who had lost her family and was forced to make her … [Read more...]
Book Review: Dead Winners By Dave McDonald
Powerball winners are dying and their winnings are missing. A decorated former Marine officer is tired and broken until given another shot at life: a loving girlfriend, a lottery commissioner’s … [Read more...]
Funny Book Cover Friday: The Importance of Being Earnest
Fluffy eared dogs, anyone? … [Read more...]
Book Review: ‘Borderline’ by Nevada Barr
By Maureen Corrigan Special to The Washington Post BORDERLINE By Nevada Barr To quote Tennyson (and, by all means, let's grab the waning opportunities to do so), "Nature, red in tooth … [Read more...]
The Wednesday Writer: On Writing Strong (Female) Characters
BY DANIEL SWENSEN Every once in a while, the question makes its way around the writing circles: how to write strong female characters? Well, I’m a guy, so I probably shouldn’t be the first … [Read more...]
Book review: D. H. Lawrence’s Women in Love
The astonishing Mr. Lawrence Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence London: Martin Secker. Pp. 508. 9s. net. The principal defect of this book is that it is difficult to read. It is full of … [Read more...]
Funny Book Cover Friday: Tina Fey, Bossypants
Bossypants, by Tina Fey … [Read more...]
The Wednesday Writer: Creating Memorable Characters
Before you begin your new story, take a little time to create fresh new characters that are your own. Using someone else's well-established formula will only brand you as a hack with potential … [Read more...]
Book Review: Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
I was a little afraid to re-read this book, because the first time through was so absolutely stunning, it was as if it was written for me. As my first review did not do justice to its wonderful … [Read more...]
Book Review: Dare Me by Megan Abbott
Count yourself lucky if you've never met (let alone parented!) teenagers like cheerleaders Addy Hanlon and Beth Cassidy; Megan Abbott, the author of the disturbing novel Dare Me, clearly has seen such … [Read more...]
Funny Book Cover Friday: Stray Shopping Carts – A Field Guide
For those of you who grew up or went to school using field guides for everything from birds to insects to trees, this is a classic! … [Read more...]
Book Review: Catherine Coulter’s Blow Out
Married FBI agents Sherlock and Savich are vacationing in the Poconos when Savich is approached by a "ghost" who asks for help. When he realizes what is going on, he doesn't believe it at first. Then … [Read more...]