I just got an e-mail from an old friend who has finished the first draft of her novel. She first showed me some pages from it almost five years ago and now has a 500-page manuscript. I can't wait to see it.
Many of my friends are writers of one kind or another, and at least a few of them are "real" writers (meaning they make a living doing it.) Not to be a name-dropper or anything, but one of those friends is none other than romance/mystery writer Edie Claire. Hers is a particularly impressive name to drop because
I recommend all of Edie's books, naturally. Try the Leigh Koslow mysteries, they're a lot of fun: Never Buried, Never Sorry, Never Kissed Goodnight, Never Preach Past Noon, and Never Tease a Siamese. (I hope I got those in the right order; I'm working from memory.)
They're all good; you can't go wrong. But If I had to choose just one Edie Claire novel to recommend, it would have to be her latest, Long Time Coming, which I haven't even read yet. This one is my favorite because of the cover:
You might well wonder what's so special about the cover. Well, the house shown there is the one I grew up in in Mayfield, Ky. Back in high school, Edie and my sister Ellen were good friends. The two spent a lot of time over at each other's houses, and it would appear that our place made quite an impression on Edie. It served as the inspiration for the setting for latest offering. So if you want passion, intrigue, and some keen insights into the house I grew up in, this is definitely the book for you.
Oh, yeah — and speaking of writers — this is your chance to participate in the process of transforming me from a fake writer to a real one. How can you do that? Simple, start reading Stillness, our serialized novel which features passion, intrigue, and the End of the World (which is arguably as interesting as my childhood home.)
Stillness
by Philip Bowermaster
Part I
Chapter 1, in which Reuben sees lights.
Chapter 2, in which Sergei gives advice.
Chapter 3, in which Ksenia looks at cars.
Chapter 4, in which Reuben falls.
Chapter 5, in which Reuben contends.
Chapter 6, in which Reuben recovers.
Chapter 7, in which Sergei explains some things.
Chapter 8, in which Betty explains the rest.
Chapter 9, in which Father Alexy saves the day.
Chapter 10, in which the old man speaks.
Chapter 11, in which Reuben obliges.
Part II
Chapter 12, in which Emmett goes to work.
Chapter 13, in which Frank has some news.
Chapter 14, in which Peggy opens a box.
Chapter 15, in which Emmett becomes confused.
Chapter 16, in which Rick offers some advice.
Chapter 17, in which two strangers arrive.
Part III
Posted by Phil at January 7, 2004 10:12 AM | TrackBackChapter 18, in which Celia meets Corey.
Chapter 19, in which Grace wins a game.
Chapter 20, in which Celia remembers.
Chapter 21, in which Corey wishes.
