History or Mystery

In my files I have a dozen stories waiting to be completed. Stories range from the 18th century through the 25th century and I have often pondered what they all have in common. I've been told, as a writer, that I must choose a genre and stick to it! Otherwise you are starting over with your reader base with each new book. The fact that my current reader base is quite small, I am not too concerned. But I must hone my skills.

The next dilemma is that writers must read. So, I consider my reading tastes. Again a huge range of time periods and and genres.

Whatever am I to do?

Every now and then I think--what would happen if I combined the things I love to write? A modern novel with a historical/suspenseful twist. Hmmm.

Time for a little research.

The Trouble With Book Reviews

Book reviews are difficult. I want to say nice things about the author. I want to say it is a great read. But that is not always the case.

It is summer, which means I get to read whatever I want right now. Currently, I am reading an old historical romance and a new mystery/suspense published by Multnomah. Two very incompatible reads.

The mystery/suspense utilizes concise action driven writing. The historical over uses passive construction and shifts point of view randomly, but I have read dozens of books with these problems and can overlook this. This type of structure is typical for the genre and for books written during that era. The newer book has plot holes and contradictions within the story. Which is worse?

Either way, it is hard to read! I am line editing everything. But really it gives me hope. The stories are still getting out there. The books are still getting published. Books are still being read.

Hopefully in a few days I will have a new book review. Two if I can get through the non-fiction I just received. As for the historical romance--I have no room to dis on Johanna Lindsay. However, I will have to pick up the newest novel to see what she has learned in the past thirty years and forty plus books.

Review: Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear

I'll be honest...when we first picked up this book, we were skeptical. I mean, the title sounded like a toy-based horror flick and the first chapter contained as many clichés as a dog has fleas.

However, after I respectfully decided to give Mrs. Dunn the benefit of the doubt, I was caught...hook line and sinker.

This story is the second book in a series following Ginger, Suzanna, Arleta and Kindra in their quest for bargains and the adventures that seem to follow them. In a manner reminiscent of Diane Mott-Davidson's character Goldie Bear, Mrs. Ginger Salinski is an unlikely hero with a cadre of loyal friends.

However, unlike Goldie, Ginger is portrayed as a strong Christian with morals and values to match. Throughout the book, Ginger's decisions, actions and attitudes reflect her faith, a trait not often seen in a mystery novel hero.

This book is a playful whodunit with a twist. I recommend spending an evening with Ginger and the rest of the Bargain Hunters Network. I know that after reading this one we'll be looking for the first book in the series, Death of a Garage Sale Newbie. We'll be looking for a sale-priced copy...gotta find those bargains!

And you can take that one to the bank.

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Sharon Dunn is the author of Death of a Garage Sale Newbie, book one in the Bargain Hunters Mysteries, and the Ruby Taylor mystery novels including Sassy Cinderella, which was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers. She earned a BA in television production and a master’s in history Sharon lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband of twenty years, three children, two cats, and lots of dust bunnies.