Writers Books

'Car Chases and Fake Bologna' is a book that really meant a lot to me. As a teenager myself, from the very first page I couldn't help but think, 'hey, this is me!'. I followed every page and felt as though I weren't alone in the world. Feelings and emotions I could see in myself kept me with it the whole way through. I can truthfully say that I didn't once put the book down while reading it, even reading it through a second sitting the next day. The poetry inside is both serious and light-hearted - an entry for every emotion I can think of. Its one of those things you feel you can grow up with - the more you read, the more the author ages, and the closer you become to it. I am very, very fond of this book, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anybody out there, regardless of what you’re used to reading. Its worth it.

Car Chases and Fake Bologna, which quickly became a favorite read of mine, finally tells the real story of what life is like for an american youth. The experiences, stories and emotions feel so real because they are real, not semi-true memories of long ago. I found myself laughing, feeling lighthearted and sorrowful throughout the whole book and it was so easy to connect to the author. So many of her emotions were the same that I was experiencing but still the author was so original and creative kept me turning the page for more. As I said before this is one of my favorite books and I highly recommend Car Chases and Fake Bologna for anyone looking for a refreshing, sincere, and often humerous take on the real life of america's youth.

I love poetry and I have to say I liked this book. It has something for everyone. From love poems to ones of silliness to those reflecting anger and hatred. Some make you wonder how sane the author is, but others make you smile so truly that you really don't care. I can't wait to read her next book.

I have read and reread this book and find it utterly fascinating. It is an insight into the mind of an American youth, but it is not a childish book, nor does it suffer the revisionist flaws of an adult reminiscing about their youth. It is a collection of thoughts written by a young girl with the ability to communicate her feelings. The poetry ranges from silly to passionate and back again (I love "Demon Girl"). It is a very good read, but be careful, she will charm you - after all, she is a witch.

A great new book by one of my favorite authors. This girl is going to be famous one day.
Her first published collection, Marie's Book of Spells, wasn't really to my taste but this is exactly the sort of thing I like to see. A peek into the mind of an American youth through poems and journal entires. Always honest and vastly entertaining. I'm eagerly waiting to see what she comes out with next.

The five dollars I spent on the hardcover version at a used bookseller five years ago is the best $5 I ever spent on a fiction writing resource.

In an engaging, easy to understand manner, the author explains the importance of characterization and how to do it well, providing vivid illustrations of her points. The book focuses on Character, but covers the topic so thoroughly that it addresses other aspects of story writing, including plotting, conflict, dialog, short stories, novels, children's stories, radio, movies, etc. Tips from this book can rescue a manuscript that is falling flat and revive an author who is getting stuck at some point. Skip the forumulas, the 20 great plots and the writer's ego boosters. I have found in this book a challenge to write well, a resource to know how and flint to spark my imagination.

Read it through, then put it on your reference shelf, near at hand. Over 60 years later, this book is still readable and relevant for novice and experienced writer alike: Characters Make Your Story is an unparalleled classic.

This is an excellent book shipped timely and in advertised condition. WWW.Amazon provides us with a fool proof method of buying quality goods, especially books. The seller provided me with personal attention in the exchange and this act made me feel sure and confident. I would certainly purchase other books through this seller because of the way they treated me and shipped the book. I received the book exactly as promised. Not only that but the content of the book is incredibly educational and useful to me. Sellers such as this one makes buying through Amazon.com a real joy.

This is an attempt to correct a grievous mistake. I can't say anything but good about this seller and this book. I have been treated as a valued customer even to the point of receiving e mail from the seller prior to shipping. They wanted to make sure I was being completely cared for. I wrote an equally honest review about another item (not a book) that was not flattering. The worst is that somehow that latter review ended up in the wrong place. This is my attempt to correct this unfortunate mistake. Doing business with sellers such as this one who provided me with this book makes doing business with Amazon a real pleasure. I will certainly purchase other books from this seller. Beyond trying to correct this misunderstanding, the material in the book is extremely useful. This material is a lot like a work book with studies and activities at the end of the chapters. This book was provided by the author and used through the decades as the best possible source material to the aspiring writer. I highly recommend this book if you are one of the aspiring.

This book was given to me on my birthday over twenty-seven years ago. I glanced at it briefly, and since that time it sat on my bookshelf gathering dust. What a mistake. Just the other day I was having some trouble with a story character, and piled it up with some others covering the same subject for later use. What a gold mine of incisive instruction! I can't put it down. Although written in 1942 (ironically the year of my birth), absolutely everything Ms. Elwood presents today is right on target. Writtten with step-by-step perfection, she teaches "show not tell" better than any "live" instructor I've ever sat under. You must have this book!

I got more out of the first thirty pages of this book than I did from every current book that I have read on characters combined, and that includes at least scanning most of them.
It matters not that Characters Make Your Story was written over sixty years ago; the differences in fictional presentation between then and now do not affect the technique of characterization. Mrs. Elwood tells exactly what is required, how to attain the skills, and how to incorporate them into your own writing, and she does so in a direct and clear way, with no superflous or wordy paragraphs. No fill, no self-aggrandizement on her part. Her presentation is sharp and to the point.
Maren Elwood not only tells us in a straightforward way how to make characters come alive, how to make them intrigue and captivate the reader, to make him or her care about them, but she does so in a dynamic way that makes learning her methods stimulating if not exciting.

Chip Davis is not a guy you want your daughter dating. He uses women, even planned on marrying a hooker knowing full well what she was, and doesn't care. But he's changing, and when he meets Terry, he starts to look at life from a whole new angle. He's open to the possibilities that what he thinks is fact just might not be, and that presumptions can lean to heartache and confusion. And Terry is a strong character, not the cookie cutter "oh I need a man" woman in a lot of literature.

Charybdis follows Chip through 2 years in 1970's, from his guilt over realizing what his selfishness cost another person, to him finally coming to grips with the ultimate truth of his life and who he is. With him along the way are Terry, the woman who steals his heart, his father and stepfather, best friends Doug and Kris, and his boss, Dan. The path he takes has its quirky turns, his son is so cute he leaps off the page, and the ending is not at all what's expected.

This is a novel that works on more than one level, and the easy going tone in which is it written makes it a better than average story. A definite thumbs ups (with apologies to the late Gene Siskel and the still living Roger Ebert).

Charybdis is one of the best books of the year. The characters are interesting and well developed, the style is crisp and clean. It may be a cliche, but I truly picked it up and couldn't put it down.

Charybdis is a real page-turner of a book. Chip Davis is the main character, he's a guy who has a past he's not exactly proud of, but life is going pretty well for him... until things start to fall apart. How he handles everything that seems to be coming at him and how he treats the people around him--and how they handle his temper--is compelling.

This book has the feel of friends sitting around, telling you their story. It's engaging, and it's hard to put down once you get started on it.

This book was an outstanding read. The story of Chip and his friends and family as they go through the various trials in his search for the truth, with curveballs thrown at you just when you think you've got it. The characters are well developed and superbly written. The way that the story alternates between the perspectives of the various characters adds to the various levels of the story and keeps the book moving seamlessly. The storyline and its characters are compelling and likeable. I truely couldn't wait until I could read the next chapter. I especially liked the natural, easy conversation of the characters; it makes you relate to the characters as they draw you into their world.
Would highly recommend it.

The first line of this book made me want to keep going, and I'm glad I did. It's a very character-driven novel, with likeable characters who are easy to care about, and to get ticked off at. I didn't know what to expect from this book, and I had to look up the title (but if I just read the book first it would have dawned on me what it meant), but I liked it so much that I read the whole thing in one evening. I especially liked the multiple first person format, being able to see what each character is thinking and feeling. It felt very conversational, as if a group of people were telling me their story one by one; even the baby, as he grows up and begins to talk, stands out as an individual. I was surprised that it's the author's first novel, and I hope he or she keeps writing.

This is a wonderful resource!! I have used it so many times, the dog ears have double dog ears! This book can turn your writing into a professional looking piece of material that will help you sell it much faster than trying to proof read your work yourself. Spell check can't even come close to doing the job this book can do for you.

This book is invaluable to someone like myself who does a lot of Christian writing. I have referred to it often when writing articles for my Web site and newsletter and when working on my books and even on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition. It provides an overview of proper punctuation, capitalization, special formatting like italics and small caps, and abbreviations.

Most any English grammars would provide such information. But what makes this book special is it focuses on the special needs of Christian writers. So the list of abbreviations, for instance, includes the proper abbreviations for all 66 canonical books, along with for the apocryphal and pseudepigrapha books. It also provides lists of proper capitalization, like if "apocryphal" and "pseudepigrapha" in my previous sentence should be capitalized (they shouldn't).

It also shows that when quoting a Scripture verse and giving the verse reference at the end of the sentence, the period should come after the parentheses, e.g., "And he called His name Jesus" (Matthew 1:25). This book also told me that I did not need to use an ellipse in this Scripture quote. Even though I only quoted a part of the verse, what I quoted was a complete sentence.

You can see that I even referred to this book in writing this review. So I highly recommend it.

This book addresses all the little questions a writer has in that moment of not being sure about grammar, sentence construction, but so much more. It could have been titled, "The Christian Writer's Second Best Friend". I keep it beside my computer next to my Dictionary and Thesaurus.

If you're even reading this, you probably felt the need for a Christian style guide. If that describes you, save your time, ignore the rest of my review, and click the "Buy Now" button :)

But if you're still unconvinced...

This style manual covers every imaginable style-related issue, particularly for religious writing; basically just about style-related issue you'll encounter as a Christian writer, whether you're writing about Internet technology and how it relates to eschatology, or a critique of Islam from a Christian perspective.

And it doesn't just cover the religious issues; the standard style issues like punctuation, capitalization, acronyms, etc. are covered in good detail. It even has a section on British English.

This is probably the most current and exhaustive style manual for Christian writers around, and every serious Christian writer concerned about style and consistency should get one.

I seldom give 5 stars, but this one deserves it.

"The Christian Writer's Manual of Style" provides the most exhaustive coverage of the special writing problems in the area of Christian publications that I have ever seen. This is easily the best book available on the subject of Christian writing style. Examples of the items covered here that are unlikely to be covered anywhere else include abbreviations for Bible books including apocryphal writings, the difference between sacred writings and the bible, should the use of the word "biblical" be capitalized or not, the difference between the Anglican Church and the Church of England, Bible permissions for quoting different versions and where to write for permissions, biblical and religious terms, clerical titles, forms of Christian books, Islamic terminology, Jewish terminology, and religious jargon.

In addition to this specialized information it also includes the stuff you would expect in any manual of style including commonly misspelled words, syntax rules, punctuation, proofreading, etc. Of course in any book of this depth some items are bound to become outdated quickly. For example, there are a couple of references to Word Publishing as a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing. Word Publishing no longer exists. Still this is the only outdated information I found in the entire book, which is pretty amazing. "The Christian Writer's Manual of Style" is a highly recommended read for anyone writing for the Christian market, and especially if you are writing non-fiction.

This collection of stories, poems, myths, and Dr. Estes' interpretations will truly amaze you. I listened to the tapes while driving to and from work and also while doing housework. I could not wait until the next listen! Dr. Estes is an exceptional storyteller. Not only does her voice carry such wonder and awe, but it also builds suspense at the right bends and curves of each story. If you love storytelling and the world of the human imagination, you will cherish this collection. Listening to the tapes is nothing less than a celebration of being human. This collection should appeal to all, but especially to women who enjoy exploring spirituality and psychology.

I have used Clarissa Pinkola Estes' material in my psychotherapy practice for many years and have found that the stories help me clarify points and make connections in a rapid, yet heart-felt way. This collection of tapes covers a wonderful range of topics and includes stories that make you laugh and weep and shiver. Dr. Estes' voice is a remarkable gift and she uses it wisely and well. The live format is a wonderful surprise, showing her funny and spontaneous side, which is missing from her studio tapes. One tiny irritation for me was the opening music and narration, which was identical on all of the tapes. Because I consumed these tapes voraciously, one after another, this became annoying. That aside, I encourage anyone who likes a good story and, especially, anyone with some lingering issues to resolve, to sit back and enjoy an evening with Dr. Estes. She is one of a kind.

I had read Dr. Estes' book, Women Who Run With THe Wolves, several years ago. Listening brought back the disturbing and life-changing images and stories of the book. The 6 cassettes cover issues of intuition, body image, women's and mens experiences of sacred power, and much, much more. What I especially enjoyed was hearing Dr. Estes' voice and especially her laughter, which her books couldnt quite commuticate. I laughed, listened, cried, sighed from relief at truths spoken and wrestled with stories that poked at hidden places in my spirit. I highly recommend this,not as entertainment, but as soulfood.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes shares her stories in a lyric style. Her presentation of myths and tales are full of thought-provoking ideas and is presented in her soothing, poetic voice. I think the live audience is a great addition to the recording, it made me feel as though I were right there in the room. Needless to say, I love listening to the tapes, and I learn something new everytime.

This set is a must have! The warmth, humor and wisdom contained in these tapes will last you a lifetime. Dr. Estes is an unbelievable author and storyteller in print, but if you've never heard her voice - prepare to be mesmerized!!

I read it for an english class. It was my favorite book of the semester. My friends and I would just keep guessing what twist would come next, and we were consistantly wrong. Great fun.

Mr. fisher has you guessing until the very end! If you like Mosley, then read the man who inspired him. An excellent murder (?) mystery.

I read this book on a flight from Philadelphia to Seattle and just couldn't put it down. The characters come alive, the plot thickens with each passing page and the ending is fabulous.

A MUST READ!!!

This book transports you into the Harlem streets of the 1930s. It has the vernacular, the attitude, the mystique, and the community values of residents of 1930 Harlem down pat. I found the narrative very inviting. This book has detectives, criminals, lawmen, africans, and mystics. Once you read the first chapter, you will not be able to put the book down. It is a shame that the author did not live long enough to produce much more in this detective series.

This is the first African American mystery novel, originally published in 1932, and much celebrated by Walter Mosley, the most successful African American writer of mystery novels. (This book preceded Chester Himes's Coffin Ed and Grave Digger novels by more than a third of a century.)

W. E. B. DuBois castigated the group of younger writers of which Fisher was a part for sensationalizing low life rather than celebrating the "talented tenth" of which they were presumably a part. I don't know if Fisher was stung by this, but the protagonists include a physician (like Fisher himself), a policeman who is the only black who has risen to the rank of detective, and an African prince with a princely sense of noblesse oblige. Also an critically important part is played by a mortician, a kind of professional.

The main lower-status participants, who liven things up with a running game of the dozens, are not debauched, and the "conjure man" turns out not to be the wacko many thought him to be.

The middle of the novel sags. Unfortunately, Fisher did not live to hone his craft, leaving only this and _The Walls of Jericho_ and a few stories.

I just finished reading this book in one sitting. It seems as if you're in the same room as Anne & Michael Riley. He knows exactly what questions her fans want answered. It's refreshing to read Anne's own responses in their entirety without having a reporter interpreting her "meaning". I give this a "9" because the only thing that would have made it better would be if Anne had offered pictures of herself & environment.

This just isn't a biography of Ann Rice, it's as if she's telling you herself all the answers to questions we've all wanted to ask. This is her thoughts on her family, fans, characters, and herself. She shares her opinions freely and openly. I truly developed another view of this remarkable woman after reading this. Michael Riley had a good idea when he decided just to write this in interview form. That's exactly what everyone's been waiting for: 'Interview with Ann Rice'

Michael Riley takes the reader inside Anne Rice's worlds of reality and fiction through a series of extensive interviews. He's broken the text down into titled sections to emphasize the topic covered in each phase of the dialogue. Rice delves into where her characters and story ideas come from and just how much her life in New Orleans has influenced her work. It's interesting how the influences changed over time. First Lestat was her husband Stan and she was Louis but now she's more like Lestat than Stan. She discusses how her husband's poetry has had a great affect on her own work where certain lines will run through her head as she writes.

This is a good book for writers to read. Rice gives a lot of background on the movie biz and a view into the studio politics that occur when they purchase the rights to make a novel into a movie. The story behind the making of Interview With a Vampire is told in great detail. An interesting fact I learned was that when Hollywood buys the rights to a book any sequels that are written involving the same characters are contractually connected. Therefore the studio has the right to see them before any other studio can look at the books for potential development into movies. Rice also talks about rejection letters and how she dealt with them and provides in site into how the larger New York publishing houses operate. Highly recommended for fans and writers alike!

Why this books is so good??? Because Anne is allowed to talk. Everytime we see an interview with Rice, people dont let her talk. Michael is a close friend of Anne and they do this kind of talking all the time... If you are looking for motivations and in-depth talk of Anne Rice's books, this book is for you. After all, who better than Anne Rice and her friend to talk about her books??

She broke the mold of bestselling authors with her tormented vampires and complex witch families, often set against the mossy, misty backdrops of her native New Orleans. Anne Rice is one of the few authors whose lives and opinions are as interesting as what they write, and Michael Riley offers more insight than virtually any other interviewer has done.

Michael Riley was a friend of Stan Rice's, and met Anne Rice at her wedding to Stan; he remained a pal after Anne shot to fame. Yet "I had rarely if ever seen an interview or profile that I thought did justice to her." So the two sat down and discussed many things about Rice: Her youth and her Catholic upbringing, about good and evil, New Orleans, California, her mold-breaking fiction, the immensely popular vampire Lestat, the handling of sex in her books, intellectual pretentions and elitism, the movie adaptation of "Interview With The Vampire," and what in her life inspired aspects of her books.

A less respectful reviewer probably would have descended leering or sneering, given that Rice's works include erotica, S&M fiction, and a Lolita-type novel. But Riley is professional, affectionate yet not gushing, and his questions have brains behind them. (Not the usual "what's your favorite food? Do you have any pets?") His respect for Rice is clear, and it makes the book especially interesting that he has genuine interest in what she says. But of course, the book hinges on Rice and what she has to say to Riley -- whether or not you agree with what she's saying, her warmth and humor are in clear evidence, and she's clearly thought through what she says.

It may not be necessary to know the author to enjoy his/her works, but it definitely can't hurt. Fans of Anne Rice will find this a must-read, and even casual readers of her books should give it a shot.

An excellent compilations of many of the short stories that did not make it into many of the mass market anthologies of recent years. Though yes, it also has a few of the old standbys like the Call of Cthulhu and At The Mountains of Madness. The small font and two-column layout means that there is a good deal more material in this book than the page count might tend to imply.

If you are a fan of Lovecraft, or just yearn for the dark side of imagination, this is your book. For those new to Herbert Lovecraft's work, he is one of the pioneers of horror writing. During his short lifetime, Lovecraft created dark mythos out of which he carved his apocalyptic tales. CRAWLING CHAOS is compilation of his most important works along with some very intersting biological info.

This I am serious. This is just about the first Lovecraft book I ever got. If I were to go broke or die I will certainly not get rid of this one. In this book are all of Lovecrafts finest works. Though I must say to read them at first you will not understand quite fully,especially if for the first time reading Lovecraft. I recommend reading: The Loved Dead, The Hound, The Rats in the Walls and, Nyarlathotep.

This is the definitive collection of Lovecraft; if you've never read his work, but want to check him out, this is the place to start.

King and Koontz don't stand-up to Lovecraft. This sampling ofhis definitive work, "The Cthulhu Mythos" as well as other stories,shows pure, definitive horror, twisted and convulsed beautifully. A definite must for the horror fan, filled with dark Gothic delights and terror.

This is more like a class than just a book. It's full of great information and practical exercises to put them into place right away. I spent a few days reading it and doing the exercises and found it invaluable.

CREATING CHARACTERS KIDS WILL LOVE is a wonderful resource for writers of children's books. The book gives a writer a lot to think about. The suggested exercises she gives in the book are numerous but valid in helping a writer zero in on making a character come to life. The recommended readings are also helpful so the writer can see fine examples of what Alphin is trying to get the writer to pay close attention to. I particulary liked her section on point of view. Alphin is an accomplished writer and her books include COUNTERFEIT SON, THE PROVING GROUND and GHOST CADET.
A. D. Tarbox, author of ALREADY ASLEEP (fall 2006)

This is a very good source book for any one who wants to write for children, or have a main character that is a child.
It really makes you think and gives you very good insights on children. It's also very easy to read and enjoyable.

I recommend this book to anyone thinking about writing for children and anyone who currently writes for children. The book starts with the basics and builds towards the end. It is easy to understand with plenty of exercises to get those wheels spinning. Great for those interested in picture books, middle grade and young adult novels. A must have for a writer's library!

What do you do when you don't feel like writing? You go online and review your favorite writing books on Amazon.com!

Creating Characters Kids Will Love is really a must-have for the wanna-be children's writer. This book and "Story Sparkers" (also available here--look for the set and save money!) are the best write-for-children guides I own, and I own nearly every one on the market!

The fun large format makes this book feel sort of like a workbook (though it really isn't), and it's easy to just flip to a section and start reading some helpful info without starting at the beginning. This is how I find myself reading this books much of the time (I get stuck writing and take a break by just reading some advice out of one of these). There's some very good stuff here, and lots and lots of recommendations for books and magazines to read, if you're the kind who'll actually go find the stuff!

This book concentrates on character development, with some how-tos on plot structure and conflict (as they relate to character development!) thrown in. Also, if you're interested in writing true stories or maybe historical fiction, there are chapters for you. All in all, it's really a good read. Even if you don't relate to the author's own examples of writing, you'll come away with a better idea of what kids (and publishers) expect in your manuscript. Good luck!

Incredible new page turner by a very talented new author. This book keeps you entertained from the first page to the last! This mystery/thriller really gets under your skin and makes you think, much like Stephen King novel. I really look forward to seeing what Schleicher write next.

Incredible new page turner by a very talented new author. This book keeps you entertained from the first page to the last! This mystery/thriller really gets under your skin and makes you think, much like Stephen King novel. I really look forward to seeing what Schleicher write next.

Crematorium is a well written story based on the human madness of a serial killer. Schleicher exposes the killer's insane motives and the terror he invokes on his victims; and explores the total breakdown of the human character in the wake of this madman's killing spree. As disturbing as this subject is, I encourage the reader to finish the story in its entirety. You will be rewarded with a truthful and insightful interpretation of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.

"Crematorium" is an exceptional book on an unpleasant subject and I initially feared that I might be put off. I need not have worried: Schleicher has crafted an interesting, unexpected and intelligent reflection on a serial murderer and the persons whose lives he affects.

Most impressive is the way Schleicher structures and controls the plot: the time skipping (flashbacks, flash forwards), the multiple narrators and enough events to fuel three novels made it a little confusing at first. But soon everything starts to click and I found myself enjoying the anti-chronological tag-team narration of it all. Every conceivable loose end, every incident of plot (some of which I had forgotten) are tied skillfully together by the end.

Characterization is excellent. There are enough characters for a much longer work, but Schleicher gives each of them such strong individual characteristics that they each become memorable. The only character who isn't extensively drawn for us is Detmer the killer, and keeping him a mystery is entirely appropriate.

This may be the only crime novel in existence that combines bloody murders with reflections on the nature of God, an explanation of the appeal of contemporary rock music and a truly original (to me) interpretation of reincarnation. As I think you know, I personally don't believe in reincarnation, but what a wonderful dramatic device it makes here! Schleicher's take on it could fuel a whole series of novels. Anyone who reads this will be getting as much philosophy as titillation.

In short, this book is a truly impressive first work that deserves a wide readership. It reads not like a first novel, but like the product of an experienced, confident writer.

Some may think that crime thrillers about serial killers and the media's obsession with violence have been done to death...but when done well they can make for the best kind of suspense. This new author (who writes in a blunt, no-nonsesnse manner that makes even the dull parts page-turning) explores well-tread ideas and issues, but does so with just enough pizzaz and unique touches to allow it to break away from the pack. A little bit mystery, a little bit horror, a little bit spiritual, a little bit social commentary, and good doses of surrealism juxtaposed wih gritty realism all help this tale rise above most others in the genre. The only complaint is there could have been more in depth character development with some of the major players, and there seemed to be too many characters over-all to be occupying a novel that clocks in at under 200 pages. Also, some of the dialogue seemed forced and unreal. But I'll give Schleicher the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was all meant to go along with one of the novel's major motifs: memories play like badly edited movies. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys this type of stuff.