Writers Books

If you are searching for a book to inspire, inform and clearly break down the making of a film and the relationship between the many creative entities that go into that process, look no further. Mark Travis has written a literate, thoughtful and experienced guide to how to approach issues relating to written material, casting, performance, production values...really everthing you need to work intelligently on a project. Whatever stage of your career you're in, you will find yourself referring to this book again and again.

If you're at all serious about directing, look no further, this is the book. Mark Travis will guide, inform, inspire you...and all done with such a light and humorous touch, as well as great enthusiasm, you can't wait to try it yourself. Really, of all the 1000's of books out there on the subject, this is the best. The information is presented so clearly, you wonder why everybody doesn't work this way. Mark Travis obviously has a deep respect for actors and writers, and how best to work with them in a collaborative spirit . He also appears to have a great wealth of knowledge from years in the business, which he openly shares. I loved this book, and often refer back to it. I'd highly recommend it, and would give it to anyone interested in directing.

I've read many books on filmmaking, especially directing. But Mark is one of the few authors that actually was able to talk to me directly. This book has a way to surpass the bull#@!% and talk straight. It shows me how clear directing can be when understood on the level that Mark writes about. I would recommend - and for that matter already have - this book to anyone who's interested in getting down to the core of directing.

I love this book! I'm going to have to buy another one, because I've bent the pages all over in returning to refer to advice again and again. I'm an emerging film-maker, and this book is the secret key that unlocks to door to the skills and steps crucial in directing. It's pragmatic, comprehensive, and applicable. I applied Mark's advice on rehearsals, collaboration, pre-production, and script breakdown to my film and saw immediate deep improvements. The Director's Journey is more than a manual for making great films though, it's a support to the person going through the process. Mark Travis illuminates the psychology, relationships, objectives and pitfalls inherent in this work, and he offers the creative traveler excellent personal guidance.

About 12 years ago, my directing partner (who is also my wife) and I attended an incredible, intensive directing workshop. For three days we ate, drank, slept, and lived filmmaking from script analysis to post-production, under the tutelage of a very intimidating instructor - Mark Travis. I say intimidating because this guy was direct, succinct, focused and INTENSE. Not only that, but he was brilliant. His insights, technique, innovations, and even the simple fundamentals were so solid, and straight-forward, there was NO way you could have walked away from the experience without being a better director. If there every was one, Mark Travis is a virtuoso director... a Mozart of actors, stage and celluloid, if you will.

Now, 12 years, 4 films, 19 theatrical productions, and a handful of awards later, we use this book nearly every day. Be it on the set or stage, or just from inspiration and brush-up, this magnificent book encapsulates everything about Mark's talents. He is no primadonna, unwilling to divulge more than a few vaguaries of his techniques, nor does he preach to you about his own successful career and how wonderful he is. What he does do if layout technique, approach, execution and adjustment in a no-nonsense fashion that yields one of the best "How-To" books on directing (not only film but more specifically actors), and achieving the vision of a director, ever written.

If you are looking for a book to keep in your hip-pocket on the set, or something to refer back to for inspiration, ideas, and fixes, then look no further. This is it.

Down Time is a wonderful book. Full of beautiful images, wonderful characters, true dialogue, and original twists. Mr. Cohen displays a clear passion for the subject and location of the story which is very refreshing, and reminds me very much of Stephen King describing his beloved Maine. I sincerely hope to see more works by Mr. Cohen in the future. Down Time is a wonderful read.

This was one of the few books that has touched me personally over the past year. The book throws you into the deep spiritualiy of the West, the quest for human adventure and the reality of history.
The fluidity and perfection of the language with which Cohen writes takes you to a place that you can't stop dreaming about. His characters and stellar story make the book one that every person should read.
Buy the book and read it!

There hasn't been a book that has touched me more over the past year. The captivating power of the setting and of each of the characters in turn draws you into a world that you can't stop thinking about.
The fluidity and perfection of the language with which Cohen engages the reader is truly fantastic. As if the story itself isn't moving enough, the beauty of the writing makes it all the more so!
In 'Down Time' one finds the true spirituality of the heart as well as human adventure and the reality of history. Buy the book and read it!

Downtime took me on a much needed literary vacation. Through Mr.Cohen's vivid descriptions of life out west I was transported not only to a different part of the country, but a different time; a time where cell phones and digital watches were as foriegn as flying saucers.
Tales of puppy love and strength in family keep the pages turning.
Filled with action and subtle humor, Downtime is a beautifully earthy and timeless novel, sure to be loved by generations to come.
Do yourself a favor and take a vacation with Downtime.

Cohen's language bursts with the radiancy of a true western adventure. His words possess a movement all their own - one of lasting color and enduring images that embody the heart and spirit of the West. A story of young love encompassed by a quest through time. It bears sentimentality along with masterful moments of comic relief. An absolutely amazing read!

I picked this book by using the "pick a random book with your eyes closed" method at the library.

For an American this book can be tough to start. The "poor talk" that Lovelace used throughout the book can be a little tough to get through, but don't give up! It is too good of a book to let one minor flaw stop you. (And a little secret: As the book progresses, Lovelace seems to have trouble keeping up the "poor talk" and becomes a lot smoother to read).

Lovelace's use of description is almost without comparison. He has Hugo's gift of description without having to use chapters to describe a building, person, or general area. His one line descriptions hit so dead on that you almost feel as if you are standing in "the Hill".

The story itself is also an amazing read, but most reviewers seemed to have missed the biggest purpose behind this book (whether Lovelace intended it or not, it is the overall theme). The major theme is that we all judge people without knowing them fully. We hold people back because we don't like the partial picture we are presented. We never take the time to learn the whole story. As you read the book, you think to yourself how you want to be better. You don't want to judge. You vow to yourself that you will stop, when suddenly the last paragraph hits and you realize, "Wow, I am STILL judging without the whole story, maybe it's not possible to stop." If the last paragraph did not make you think this, I suggest you reread the book and think about each character and how you feel about them.

Overall, an amazing read. Lovelace writes an amazing book, with the only flaw being that the "poor talk" seems a little forced. As the book progressed, he seemed to get into a more comfortable area.

Definitely Recommended!

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this story but in all honesty I thought it was a GOOD but not GREAT story. A little too stiff for me. I did like the characters but at times the reading got a little too much like work just trying to get to another part of the story that was a little more fun and not as much work. [I think I said that right], nothing personal just one reader's opinion.

The "double vision" of Caribbean life is portrayed in the life of Aldrick who is caught between generational and cultural conflicts. And all of this during Carnival! The Dragon Can't Dance was almost prophetic in the depiction of the commercialization of Mas. Change always brings choice and Lovelace's characters highlight the necessary pain that comes with any decision.

In Earl Lovelace, without exception, we have the Master Storyteller of the Caribbean. Even years after its publication (1979 and 1998), "Dragon" remains peerless as an authentic, forceful voice of postcolonial Trinidadian society. Nowhere else have the intricacies of carnival been more profoundly explored and dissected than here by the artful mastery of prose in this defining portrait. Lovelace's stinging critique of race and politics is poignant and luminously presented. With heavy symbolism and sensitivity, the story reaches successfully beyond Caribbean life to touch the larger human condition itself. The central figure of Aldrick (whose "mission" is to performa the Dragon dance during carnival) embodies a entire people's frustrations and aspirations. This is an unexaggerated powerful tale by one my absolute favorite Caribbean writers. This story is timeless and one of Lovelace's best creations, far surpassing, in my opinion, his other wonderful novels like "The Wine of Astonishment", "The Schoolmaster", or even "Salt." Anyone sincerely interested in Caribbean culture and literature will find this novel indispensable reading.

Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)

I loved this book so much that I recommended it to all my family and friends. Earl Lovelace captured everything that Carnival means for Trini people. The characters are so real that the faces that I chose to see them as, were faces of people that I actaully knew in my family. LOL. This novel will make all readers want to take a trip to Trinidad and experience life there. This book is just too sweet for words!!!!

Why do I like this so much? Maybe because it is a classic? Hard to say why, just really enjoy how that is done, the cast of hunters, etc. It is the one I have multiple versions of, including a hardback annotated, so that certainly says something. The style, told in letters and journals to large degree just seems to work for some reason, when it can be horrible elsewhere. Highly recommended.

Apart from that, the Essential Dracula has annotations and notes for each page, which are quite interesting. If you just want to concentrate on the novel, you may find this setup distracting, so try a plain version just for that.

Tells how about a Dracula walking tour in London, and other fun things.

First of all, let me say that I give DRACULA, the novel, 5 stars. Unlike many "classic" works of literature, it holds up very well today. Stoker spins a web of suspense, romance and drama that has rarely been equalled in popular fiction.

And if you ever wanted to know more about Bram Stoker or his most famous story, The Essential Dracula is certainly everything its name implies. So why 4 stars instead of 5? Well, it mainly has to with the critcial asides that pepper the massive amount of footnotes in the book. As long as the editor sticks to illuminating historical facts about the time in which the story takes place, or offers helpful translations of words or phrases that are not part of our 21st-century lexicon, all is well. But he too often lapses into the role of critic, questioning characters' motivations or the logic of certain actions they take. Now, I'm not saying DRACULA is beyond criticism; it's NOT a perfect book. But I just feel too much time is spent on this, and it actually detracts from my enjoyment of the book.

The inclusion of the orginal first chapter, "Dracula's Guest," is a mixed blessing. For the hardcore fan, it's an interesting find. But it doesn't fit well with the rest of the story. Most jarring is the fact that, although it's told in first-person by Jonathan Harker, it's not done in the form of a journal entry, like the rest of the story. And I didn't learn anything that wasn't already included in Harker's first few journal entries to Mina.

On the plus side, I absolutely love the addition of recipes for the exotic meals on which Jonathan Harker dines. And the simple black & white illustrations are a welcome touch. Concise essays from famous (or supposedly famous...I haven't heard of many of them) fans speak to the novel's universal and seemingly timeless appeal.

If you can stand the absolute overkill of information, this is definitely a must-have. If Leonard Wolf will just "trim the fat," as it were, future editions might just be perfect.

Loved the Stoker's two-dozen spectacular line drawings and some interesting background on Bram and the legends of his subject!
 

"The Essential Dracula" is the latest edition of "Dracula" to be annotated with copious footnotes by renowned "Dracula" scholar Leonard Wolf. In 1975, Wolf published the first thoroughly annotated edition of the novel, called, appropriately, "The Annotated Dracula". "The Essential Dracula" has retained and augmented the thousands of comments and explanations offered in that book, but lacks "The Annotated Dracula"'s more than 100 illustrations, most notably full-page artwork by the artist Sätty. Instead, the artwork of Christopher Bing introduces each chapter in "The Essential Dracula". There are also small illustrations scattered throughout, but "The Essential Dracula"'s illustrations are more decoration than material. Don't be misled by the blurb from Ingram on the back cover that oddly refers to the 1975 edition's "100 photos, maps, and drawings", not to this edition. Comments on "Dracula" by 19 writers and artists are an interesting addition between the chapters. Leonard Wolf or his publisher have perfectly chosen a handsome, modern, black and red cover to announce this novel's arrival in the 21st century.

Leonard Wolf's copious footnotes provide the reader with an ongoing lesson in social history. He addresses every imaginable allusion in the text, sometimes with short essays. The notes are more elaborate and cover a broader variety of subjects than the footnotes in the Norton Critical Edition of "Dracula". Some intriguing notes include: recipes for the Romanian dishes on which Jonathan Harker dines, population demographics for Transylvania in the late 19th century, translations of old Mr. Swales' dialect, explanations of Victorian figures of speech, and the particulars of Victorian typewriters that Mina employs so frequently. Leonard Wolf's annotations are blessing to "Dracula" fans. My only reservation about them is that the notes in "The Essential Dracula" cannot be easily read. Unlike its predecessor "The Annotated Dracula", which placed its sizable notes in the margins, "The Essential Dracula"'s notes are truly footnotes. They are written in a miniscule font at the bottom of the pages. One cannot simply peruse the notes, as I so enjoy with "The Annotated Dracula". It is too difficult to determine what text is being referenced. So you really do have to read these notes as you read the novel, which I find impractical and not as enjoyable as studying them later.

"The Essential Dracula" offers 3 Appendices. Appendix A is the legendary and entirely superfluous deleted first chapter of "Dracula", entitled "Dracula's Guest". Appendix B provides a selected Dracula filmography and a list of notable theatrical dramatizations. The filmography includes title, alternative title, director, studio, country, and leading performers for 71 Dracula films, 1920-1992, that feature Count Dracula but are not necessarily based on Bram Stoker's novel. Appendix C is a bibliography.

This book is an amazing classic full of romance, suspense, and horror. Everybody from 11 to 111 should read this awesome classic! Take my word for it,after you start this book, you won't be able to put it down(litterally!).

I bought two of this item. My step mother wanted to find this storybook for a long time friend. So one for my stepmom and one for her friend. Both books arrived in first class condition and the subject matter was exactly what was wanted. Worth the price and I'm thankful that such literature is still printed. I was surprised to find the story was about early Nove Scotia and it's people.

Carries me away. Great read. This guy can write...has a great future. It is entrancing, haunting. I wanted it to go on. In addition to the lyrical euphoria, this gives a great perception of the life and times surrounding the historic conflict and relocation. I am encouraging all my friends to put down their heavy, current books and revive the other side of their brains.

Evangeline is Longfellow's masterpiece. The poem begins with
the famous "forest primeval" . The reader is taken to the home
of the Acadian farmers and the famous village reminescent
of a variety of tradespeople. The work describes whole
communities dispersed and separated from the homeland in the
mid-1700s. Evangeline and Gabriel flee home and experience
the pain of separation despite the fact that Gabriel seems to
keep a step ahead during a major part of the story. The work
attests to the beauty and strength of a woman's devotion.
In many ways, our fate and destiny tend to be random events which are out of our immediate control. This work traces the
fate of important characters living in a state of uncontrolled
flux and uncertainty . Readers of the poem will discover
how the story unfolds and the difficult choices presented
at various stages of Longfellow's journey. The work is
written utilizing an advanced vocabulary typical of the
writers during this period .

After more than half a century, I remembered still the sonorous rhythms of the prelude to Evangeline. Much has changed since I first read the tale of Arcadian innocence torn apart on order of the heartless King, and Longfellow and his poetry have fallen on hard times and harder hearts in the interim

His allusions and images are strained; his words pathetically romantic and sentimental; and the story of Evangeline barely tracks the actual events of 1755. All of the charges are true, yet much of value remains in the poem. The poet recognized instantly a crime against humanity when he first heard the tale, and he had the talent, drive, and fortitude to create this vehicle to memorialize the sad story of star crossed lovers, families, and communities divided and exiled from their adored homeland.

That a heart could be committed to a lifetime of wandering in search of a lost love seems archaic to the sophisticates of the twenty-first century, but I believe it possible, even today.

I read the poem - aloud and silently - and the beat of the accents, like operatic arias, added to the the sorrow of the sentimental story. I recommend this poem to parents who love to read aloud to their children. I'm sure that Evangeline and her beloved Gabriel have the power still to stir the hearts of the young - and of the readers, too.

A very useful notes section offsets an overly wordy foreword. I found it easy to find and reference words and phrases no longer in common use.

Read it aloud to your early adolescent sons and daughters and to your love. You'll be happy you did.

I have a passion for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's lyrical lines of Evangeline. Therefore, I was uneasy in the purchase of Evangeline, A Novel. I shouldn't have been. Finis Fox's insight into the lives, loves and losses of the Acadians is remarkable. He adds to the story lines rather than detracting from them. His words are at once romantic and colorful, lulling you into passive reflection. The emotions are all there, the joy, the pain and the suffering. He does not stray far from Longfellow's poem, using the same names of people and places. It is a story worth reading! It would be worth the price if it were twice as much. I wish it could have been longer, but in staying true to Longfellow, the story moved much the same as did the poem. If you loved Evangeline, you will love this novel as much or maybe more!

Browning turns the mystery of the Wild West into modern day mayhem. Transforming Penny Mackenzie from a lackadaisical reporter to a new age Calamity Jane with style, grace, and downright stubbornness. Pat Browning strikes gold with this new series. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Cindy Daniel, author of DEATH WARMED OVER--COMING SOON
October 2003/Quiet Storm Publishing

I loved the book. There may be a little prejudice in that statement, since Pat was one of my favorite classmates at Moss high school in Oklahoma. I liked the story line. I loved the fresh comments and her style of writing. The only problem I had with the book, and that can be blamed on my short term memory, was so many characters in the beginning for me to remember. I had not seen nor heard from this lovely lady in a number of years until she began publishing. Pat, I loved your book and wish you multitudes of sucess in your next books.
Harry Shumard

Author Pat Browning's literary hero was John Steinbeck, who won the Nobel Prize for literature. Her esteem for him and her careful study of his style is reflected in the characterization of her heroes, heroines and villains. The book reads well and is worth reading for its ties to the master.

The rural, hometown personalities of Pat's characters really sparkle. Quirky and real, the dialogue only adds more charm to the story.

I believe the town of Pearl exists in pockets as Anytown, USA. Pat has a real flair for capturing the tell-it-like-it-isness of the folks. I think she must have known my Grandmother!

The mystery is twisty-turny, too, just the kind I like. I learned clues along with Penny MacKenzie, leading to a satisfying and logical end.

It's just the sort of book that goes with a cup of tea and a languid afternoon.

Penny Mackenzie is the Lifestyle Editor for The Pearl Outrider - the local newspaper for the small town of Pearl. Her friend, Maxie Harper, reporter for the Outrider, talks her into a late night stakeout. Although a tip that local eighth graders are worshipping the devil and doing human sacrifices turns into nothing more than a pot party, the discovery of a skeleton in a nearby cotton field, throws Pearl into a frenzy of secrets, lies - and murder. Penny finds Maxie's body during an event put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Dinner in the Round is a progressive event that takes the participants to several locations for different parts of the dinner. However, Maxie's progress is ended permanently - at Egg Foo's Bar and Grill.

Who killed Maxie Harper and why? What does the book, Pearl, The Little Town That Gold Built, written by Dabney Brewster, a retired English teacher and the town's local historian, have to do with her death? And whose skeleton has been hiding all these years in Digger Pott's field?

As these questions swirl around Penny like crazy birds trying to find a place to land, Pearl's unique citizens create more questions than answers while a long lost love interest pops back into Penny's life, complicating matters even more.

In this stunning debut series novel, Pat Browning has created a wonderful protagonist and surrounded her with interesting side characters. Penny and Pearl hold the promise of many more intriguing adventures. Browning's writing is professional and flawless and the story is engrossing, with just the right touch of suspense and humor.

This is a winning cozy - from an exciting new author. I'll be watching for the next book in the series - and the next - and the next....

I give FULL CIRCLE my highest recommendation!

Every time I reread a section of this book I learn somthing new about editing my fiction.

The author convinced me early that he know what he was talking about and the conviction stayed throughout. It seems clear that he applied every single one of his editing maxims to the work itself. Practicing what he preaches.

Having first read copy from the library I immediately ordered my own and have re read most of it several times. I have no doubt that it will be read through many more times before I have absorbed all of the wisdom it contains

I found this easy to use, with good ideas. I would suggest only getting after your first few drafts, when you've finished with plot and structure. Most of his advice would be useful when tidying up your manuscript at the end.

I'd read this again.

As a freelance writer, I have inhaled all of Professor Cheney's books. I have to say, though, that Getting The Words Right, challenged me the most. He talks about coherency, verbs, and the importance of pruning each word before releasing it to the world. He's a master!

Theodore Rees Cheney is a favorite guide for improving my writing. This book is another great example of his sound advice, relevant examples, and useful exercises. But the type size is so small and faint I had to use a magnifier to read it and the decorative flourishes on each page quickly become an annoying distraction. Shame on the publisher for diminishing such a good work. 5 stars for the content; zero stars for the page design.

Every writer should have this at his side. I've read portions of it and then tried to apply Cheney's advice. What I most enjoy is that it really reads well, its not a tedious textbook. He really applies what he teaches, even an an academic work. I write inspirational nonfiction and I find myself incredibly inspired after I read a passage. Its an exceptional book.

This book was great! After being fooled by so many duds, I have begun to borrow more and more from my library instead of just purchasing books b/c Amazon has them cheap. When I saw this book's cover, I said "oh gosh," bring on the cheesy romance book. I was definitely caught off guard by the content of the story. I didn't even realize that the book was set in my town, so that was an extra surprise. Ms. Smith definitely delivered with this story. It had suspense, it had drama, it had romance. I finished it in one sitting.

The two main characters were very likeable and I could more or less relate to them...which is NOT always the case. The book also wasn't overrun with extra characters or digressions from the story.

I will definitely be purchasing this book and I will be on the lookout for more of Ms Smith's work.

This author writes romance characters like Shirley Hailstock. The story moved steadily and the suspense was great. My only gripe was the mystery was given away too early. Overall, I loved this book.

I have never taken the time to write a book review, but after completing this book, it is clearly mandatory that I inform any prospective buyers the delight which awaits you between these pages. I love books both fact and fiction. Ghosts of Fire is a book you want to share with others. I could not put this book down so I stayed up and read it from cover to cover.

Kudos and congrats, Mrs. Smith. Very well done!

Ghosts of Fire by Maureen Morah Smith is the suspenseful story of arson, and a man accused of a horrific crime. Zealously persecuted by a mad dog prosecutor, Robert Calloway is trapped on all sides and only his daughter Rachel can struggle to save him, even as she risks losing her heart to a new love, the cynical, justice-driven Nick Hunter. Meanwhile, a malefic stranger in the darkness has further evil plans in store. A haunting, suspenseful story, Ghosts Of Fire is confidently recommended reading and documents Mauren Morah Smith as a writer of considerable promise and ability.

The setting, an affluent county in Maryland, is the home of Rachel Calloway and Nicholas Hunter. Rachel is an intelligent graphic designer, devoted daughter, and loyal friend. Nicholas is a tortured but well-respected and feared prosecuting attorney. When Rachel's father is accused and charged with setting his popular restaurant on fire, Rachel and Nicholas' paths cross which is the beginning of an inferno.

The characters face a dilemma that mixes responsibilities with matters of the heart, adding fuel to a raging fire. The characters, primary and secondary, are appropriately developed and their interactions with each other are engrossing and realistic. Each character has a story to tell (which is not glossed over nor overdone) that adds an understanding to their existing plight.

Smith does such an excellent job of blending mystery and romance, this story had me turning the pages trying to decide whom the culprit was, only to be fooled several times. Add the very sexy and romantic scenes and you have an excellent and suspenseful read by a writer whose work I look forward to reading in the future.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 about a year ago. In my path of recovery after a hospitalization and an attempt to learn more about my new "label", I came across this book suggested by a fellow manic-depressive. For me, reading this was almost painful. It was like putting a mirror of words in front of me and reminding me of myself and all the horrific ups and downs I had to experience. But I love it because for those wanting to understand the mind of a manic-depressive, I doubt there is a single book that could portray this better than God Head. I would hardly call reading it as being refreshing, but it is extremely insightful and shows you the reality of a crazed mind starving for balance and happiness.

A beautifully written book. An amazing true story, and a fascinating look into depression and mania. A story that has changed my life. Read it today.

I've been told by Docs that I too suffer/benefit from Manic-Depressive Disporder; BiPolar I.

This book is an excellent representation of the colossal richochet of bi-polar pendulum.

For those innocently ignorant, and often judgemental, people who want to know more... who want to know why...?

THIS IS THE BOOK TO READ.

in your brain when having a mental illness episode.

A must read!

God Head takes you INSIDE the mind of a mentally ill person, ie: the narrator of the story. This is the first book I have read to do this, and it makes for one crazy thrill ride. As you read from first person perspective you get to jump around with the craziness of the main character's head. Every loop and twist he takes you take, and every time he rambles insanely off track you follow.

Although it may sound strange, it isn't hard to get into at all. Honestly, I didn't put the book down from start to finish, it was excellent! It will have you totally absorbed and leave you with a refreshed and satisfied feeling of higher understanding.

If you haven't already added this book to your shopping cart... do so now!

Character IS destiny! That mysterious internal mechanism which makes us saint or sinner is the essence of every story. Without a character thinking, planning, estimating and struggling towards her goal, there is no story. You are what you love, what you eat, what you see and what you choose. Red hair is not a coincidence.

Plot, schmot! Character rules and this book will focus your attention on it.

A good story without good characters is an impossibility. Characters are the people that the audience relates to, that the audience connects with to get themselves involved in the story. "Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction" is a guide for writers to develop these characters to be the best they can be, by evaluating the character piece by piece. To make them truly great, author and freelance writer says, a character needs to be consistent, believable, and admirable. "Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction" is highly recommended for any aspiring writer to be and for community library writing/publishing shelves.

Martha Engber's book is insightful and inspiring. Ms. Engber instructs with practical exercises and examples, as well as humor. She suggests creating a Think Log to jot down thoughts prompted by your character's development; what a fun way to emote about the daily challenges or triumphs when in the process of creating a character! There are many important lessons in this book. My favorite is how and why to introduce a character via his or her defining detail because "everyone has a reason for being who they are." Which reminds me why I write: to know myself.

The most intimidating (and essential) part of writing a story is making your characters, however minor, consistent and believable. Setting the groundwork for each character's role in a story is a daunting enough task to make even the most seasoned writer freeze up. Thankfully, Martha Engber has created an easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to painlessly develop characters. She gives organization strategies that help a writer to brainstorm, encouraging us to experiment in order to flesh out the people who will occupy our story. She offers up things like the "one-sentence test" along with other invaluable exercises, tools, and examples of how to create the best possible character for your particular story.

"Growing Great Characters From the Grown Up" is written as if by a close friend offering up some pointers. Its easy style and readability is a huge plus as one will be inclined to refer to it over and over again.

Martha Engber advises the writer: Get to know your characters. How else can you write convincing dialog? How else can you make their responses fit situations in your story? Learn to make readers love or hate your characters. If you know your character, so will your reader, and he'll keep on reading. Martha shows you how.