Review: The Walled Flower

The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett is the second book in the “Victoria Square” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), February 2012

If Katie Bonner’s late husband hadn’t invested all their savings in the craft fair Artisans Alley—which Katie is now responsible for keeping in the black—the Webster mansion could have been hers to remodel. For years she dreamed of renovating the old place on Victoria Square into a bed and breakfast. Now that dream belongs to another young couple.

But their dream becomes a nightmare when a skeleton is discovered, sealed in one of the walls of the mansion. The bones belong to Heather Winston, who went missing twenty-two years ago. Her aunt is Rose Nash, a jewelry vendor at Artisans Alley, who is determined to find her niece’s murderer, and asks for Katie’s help to do it. The case may be cold, but the killer is very much alive—and ready to go to any lengths to keep past secrets buried.

I love this series. One would think Katie’s life is full with looking for a new apartment; being roped into a bridal party and dealing with a disgruntled vendor when she agrees to help her friend Rose solve a decades-old murder involving her missing niece. Katie will have to find a killer before the killer cashes her out. I have been eagerly waiting for the return of Katie and her friends and boy, did the author deliver a well-written mystery that I devoured from beginning to end. The suspense of who is the killer had me quickly turning the pages as the story progressed in this fast-paced drama. With a wonderful cast that surrounds Katie, the comfort of a small-town locale and engaging dialogue, this was a terrific read and I look forward to the next book in this charmingly appealing series.

Dru

previously posted at dru's book musing

Academy Awards

I watched the whole show last night which means I am seriously dragging today, but it was fun.  Lord knows, a lot better than last years.

Billy is a great host and lots of fun , though he did seem more restrained this year.  I enjoyed his 'I know what you are thinking' segment as well as the many clips they had with Actors sharing their love of movies.  What makes us love a movie often is vary hard to articulate and I thought some of them did a great job.  Didn't really get the Cirque du Soliel's act in the whole scheme of things (though they were excellent of course).  Was glad they didnt perform all the songs, that is often one of my least favorite parts of the show for some reason. 

As for acceptance speeches - Octavia Spencer made me tear up and Jean Dujardin made me grin.  Christopher Plummer had a great speech as well.

Of course I loved many of the fashions (though I thought Sasha Baron Cohen's ash thing on the red carpet was a bit inexplicable..  Some of favorite looks were Gwenyth Paltrow, Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis and Penelope Cruz.  Loved Brad, George and Stacy but though Angelina's dress structure was a bit weird and off for me.

Gotta admit, it may be a bit cheesy but it is fun!

Terri

Classic Hurricane Drink

Mardis Gras is over now, but have you ever wondered what is in those wonderful drinks known as hurricanes?  I did:

Classic Hurricane

1 oz. Bacardi 151 rum

1 oz white rum
1 oz dark rum
½ oz. grenadine
3 oz orange juice
3 oz pineapple juice
Crushed Ice       

Terri

Reading & Watching True Crime

The other day our group, Pamela asked whther people watch or read true crime.  Most people didn't saying they wanted to keep it out of their minds as much as possible.  And yet, all over the media, true crime is everywhere.  Vicious cases bring out strong emotions in people.  The latest local big trial here is the Hughley UVA Lacrosse murder.  And Casey Anthony is (and still will be) talked about for years to come.

Why so many people interested in true crime stories?  This morning on the train, I read a true crime short by Kathryn Casey called Blues and Bad Blood.  In my case, I can say part is the fascination with the pyschology of it.  Trying to understand.  It is its own puzzle or mystery.  I also watch a lot of shows on the ID channel.  One very interesting new show is Dark Minds featuring crime writer M William Phelps who tries to udnerstand and solve cases with the help of profiler John Kelly and an incarcerated serial killer they call "13".  Another show I really find interesting is Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets, that tells the facts from the victims' voice.  And the victims need to have a voice.  Maybe that is part of the fascination people have -- this could happen to someone we know. 

And TV does reflect our fascination with True crime in the amount of shows like CSI and Criminal Minds about those who catch these criminals.  The thing about fiction is it can be neatly wrapped up which is something you often can't say about true crime.  And the same is true of mystery fiction.  Which was another comment that was made several times during our group thread on the topic.  And its true.  Real life is not neat.  We are horrified by crime (as well we should be) and we experience relief when criminals are convicted and anger when they "get away with it". Of course we do.  We need to feel safe.  For our friends and families to feel safe.  But then there are those of us who want to read it, watch it, and try and understand it.

Terri

Ants

Ants:

With the winter I am seeing ants everywhere today. I don't like this because if it's February and I am seeing ants in June I will probably be seeing creatures that make my skin crawl. it does seem to me that I might have to prepare for an ant incvasion and probably a fly invasion. Insects and bugs are not my thing so I do find them unerving which is a shame because I live on the ouskirts of town and when have flood waters every creature shows up. I don't think the pest control guys have to worry about going out of business at least not before the end of the world.

I do know it probably will be a long hot spring let alone a long long summer here in Parsons and probably throughout Kansas and our four state area this year.

I wish I could this amusing but I am not a person who can find amusement in bugs. Unless it's spiders I am not afraid of bugs and insects although I am allergic to wasp and bees. Oddly enough if I am out for a walk I never think of insects or bugs but if I am sitting in my yardswing or in the house it seems like an invasion and not of the body snatchers which would make it interesting. LOL Okay I've bugged you enough today.

Pam

A Hot Button

This morning I had a before work half hour conversation about something that is a BIG deal with authors:  Traditional Publishing, Vanity Presses and Self-Publishing.    His wife has written a book (which according to some very well know authors who have seen it say it IS really good).  She sent out those dreaded inquiry letters.  And she has had a request for a synopsis from a traditional publisher.  Great.  It will mean taking the time to write the synopsis though.  And then it is hardly a sure thing.  But then she is contacted by Tate Publishing out of OK.  They insist they aren't a vanity press and yet they require money upfront (to be refunded once you sell so many or whatever).  Now, there isn't that much negative about them specifically on the web.  So she gets tempted with Bird in tha Hand mentality. Understandably.  Getting published can take a VERY long time.

So she has a decision to make.  And if she makes the wrong one, it could affect her future books as some have bitterly learned with DEFINITE vanity presses.  They are marked and might NOT be considered by serious agents and publishers in the future after a first book with a vanity press. 

YET some great books can come out of such presses and self-publishers (look at Amanda Hocking's success).  But those MUST be edited perfectly because bad editing can leave a lasting negative feeling - I know there have been books that have done that for me.  One in particular was set in Victorian times yet the ladies wore big bouffant powdered wigs...  Cringe.  And spelling and grammer are crucial.  And we have spell checks and so on so use them.  And I have even had discussions about how more mistakes like that are slipping through traditional publishers as well as economic cutbacks decrease the editorial staff.

I think though, a wannabe published author has to research publishers beforehand and assess what they hope to achieve.  And if self-publishing is the route is one they want, they need to REALLY get an editor or have it edited by people who will be honest and harsh if necessary - friends hold back.

For some people, just getting the book out there is the real goal.  But for others it might be more about being taken seriously and right or wrong self-published authors are not taken as seriously by many people and organizations.  And a big part of that is because there are LOTS of crappy self-published books out there.  Especially now where Amazon makes it so easy to self-publish.  So readers are wary of spending their money trying to find the flower in the weeds.

And without the traditional publisher an author has to make an ever larger investment in promotion and exposure.  Marketing is expensive and these Self-Publishing and Vanity houses might promise a lot of it, but mostly fail to deliver.  People can't find what they don't know exists.  Bookmarks, postcards, all of that cost money.  A lot of these firms just count on the sales from family and friends of the author to make their profit and that is it. 

So my message to them was do your research, figure out what you want and expect from publishing and be patient and work the process the right way if you choose to go the traditional route.

So a very interesting start to my morning before the tedious task of editing attorneys time submissions at work.

Terri

Movies That Inspire

What movies inspire you to do something, fight for a cause or want to make a difference in some way?

Believe it or not it's the movie about Beatrice Potters Life that I watched a couple of years ago that really make me think that some people give it their all and have to stand up for themselves even to loved ones that can make a difference in your life and career not to mention the person you love.

Hugs,

Pam