Amber Stults – Book Reviewer and Author

A big thank you to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday.

Nothing arrived in my physical mailbox this week.  I did order a graphic novel and I expect it will arrive in the next few days.

I did receive two ebooks from Bell Bridge Books as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.  Frost Moon by Anthony Francis and Twice Dead by Kaylana Price.

Last month my Valentine bought me an iPhone.  He understood how much I was mourning the impending loss of my Palm T|X.  I think I’ve gotten it about as good as I’m going to get it.  I have a great task application in Toodledo that I can update online or on the phone.  This week I signed up for Dropbox and I can view my .pdf book files from it.  The only electronic reader application I downloaded so far is the Kindle Reader. 

This week I finally downloaded some books.  Moonstone by Marilee Brothers, Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry and Booth’s Sister by Jane Singer.  All were free and the only one I’d heard of before was Booth’s Sister.  So I have some fantasy, a romance/mystery and a historical novel on my iPhone waiting to be read.

But not before I finish up some backlogged reviews.

What arrived in your mailbox this week?

This month’s highlighted story is “Dragon Snot and Chosen Ones” by Therese Arkenberg.  It’s in the first issue of Untied Shoelaces of the Mind. 

Arkenberg’s story is one I read a few weeks ago.  I knew it was a story worth sharing when I found myself telling my husband about it.  It’s humor with a twist.  I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Today is the start of “Read An E-Book Week“.  You’ll find links on the site to free electronic books, publishers and basic information on various electronic readers.

Title: ADMIT ONE: My Life in Film
Author: Emmett James
Publisher: Fizzypop Productions, LLC, February 2010
Source: Lisa Roe, Online Publicist 

If you’re looking for a memoir dishing Hollywood dirt this isn’t the book for you.  You’re probably the target audience if you’re a movie fan who recognizes how films have shaped your life.  As someone who views over a hundred films a year the description of the book appealed to me.  Here is the Product Description from Amazon: 

Set in Croydon, South London, in the 1980s, Admit One details how self-deprecating writer Emmett James escaped from the pains of adolescence by going to the cinema. Through wry wit and observation, the writer reflects, obsesses, and rages about film and its correlation to our pasts. Life soon imitates art, and the narrator finds that his true calling is in transcendence from one side of the screen to the other. He decides to leave England for the only place where he can realize his dream of becoming an actor–Hollywood. 

We follow the narrator on his numerous adventures: as he jumps from forgery to pornography to crashing the Academy Awards under the alias of a nominated writer. All the while, the films that inspired each tale contextualize this humorous collection of stories. The narrator ultimately provides a unique insight into the fascinating industry of film, eventually himself stumbling into the biggest box-office grossing film of all time. 

The memoir is a series of stories from James’ life until his movie role in Titanic.  Each chapter begins with a movie that was important to James during that time period or provides a clue to the reader about the chapter contents.  The beginning chapters made me recall movie going experiences with my own parents that I had forgotten.  

One standout story is about his quest to be cast in a superhero movie.  From the start the reader knows the outcome won’t be good – it’s one blunder after another.  It definitely one of those stories that seems devastating at the time (to all involved) but is now a great laugh.  

Other stories include trying to find work in Hollywood, his first movie role with lines, and experiences on the Titanic set. Some of the later stories take a while to find their way to the punch line. 

Odd as it may seem, it would have been interesting to read a few more stories featuring his tuxedo.  The tuxedo was one of the few possessions he brought with him to the United States and plays a role in more than one story.

About The Author 

Emmett James spent his childhood in Croydon, South London and finished his schooling in Cambridge, England. Studying acting at Strasberg Actors Studio in London he began working in theater, eventually moving to Los Angeles in the early nineties to pursue his acting career in film. For over a decade he has worked extensively as a professional actor, winning a prestigious ADA as well as appearing in Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and Academy Award winning work. In addition to acting he has produced, taught, and directed film, stage and television productions in Hollywood. From a family of authors including J.B. Priestley, he continues to live and work in Hollywood. 

Emmett James has an author site on filedby which includes a book trailer and audio interviews.

Drollerie Press holds chats from time to time to introduce their authors and upcoming books.  I attended one several months back and had a lot of fun.  In addition, I was a lucky winner of Over Her Head by Nora Fleischer.  The only catch for the winners was to mention the book on their blogs.  Here’s the synopsis available from the Drollerie Press site:

A bicycling young lady scholar writing her thesis on the historical meaning of merpeople tales visits a well-known collector of literature on the subject, determined to get him to let her read his books. She comes armed with cookies, that well-known advent to a man’s heart, and is surprised to discover he’s not at all the old curmudgeon she had imagined him to be. In fact, he’s almost dismayingly handsome, putting her far out of any running, were she so inclined, which of course she’s not. She just wants his books, despite what her landlady may say. Though she wouldn’t say no to his friendship.

This story takes place in 1905 with a very likeable and believeable main character, Frances.  She’s a student at Winthrop University in Boston and must finish her dissertation on merpeople or go back to Minnesota to work in  her father’s store.  This isn’t as dry as it may seem because Frances is so likeable.  She’s never flustered by any situation Fleischer throws her into and is very dedicated to finishing her paper.  If anything, Frances lacks confidence in herself as a woman.  Even with her book smarts and cooking talents, she doesn’t believe Garrett could ever fall in love with her.  He’s a lawyer who works in New York during the winter and lives in Maine in the summer.

This is a romance where the two leads like each other but can’t believe the other would ever feel the same way.  It is charming to read about a blossoming romance with insecurities on both sides.

Over Her Head is available for sale at Drollerie Press in various ebook formats.  The Kindle version is available on Amazon.

Title: Over Her Head
Author: Nora Fleischer
Publisher: Drollerie Press
Source: Publisher

These statistics are all for short stories, poems, or contest entries. Book reviews are not included.

1. Sales in February: 0
2. Rejections in February: 1
3. Submissions sent out in February: 3
4. Total stories/poems/contests pending responses: 2

I’m restarting with new numbers.  Let’s be honest… the market that I sent something to in May 2009 still hasn’t gotten around to reading anything submitted since April 2009.  They’re a dead market no matter what good intentions the editor may have.

So prepare to be shocked.  I submitted a short story and two poems this month.  The short story resulted in a form letter rejection.  I was slightly hopeful since according to Duotrope it was taking slightly longer than the average response time to hear back from the market.

The two poems went to the poetry contest for Ohioans.  If I’m not invited to read either poem in April I will have my rejection.

Happy writing and submitting in March.

A big thank you to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday.

No books arrived at my house for the second week in a row. I’ve started and stopped a lot of book reviews this week.  Can’t seem to finish them for some reason.

What showed up in your mailbox this week?

I started writing a short story earlier this month for a 2/28/2010 deadline.  It was about half way written and (unbelievable for me) somewhat plotted out. 

Then I realized (1) I shouldn’t be including characters who aren’t in the story more than once.  This reduced the current number of characters from four down to three and (2) the main character is not who I thought it was.  It helps I was already writing from the (newly named) main character’s point of view, but I don’t know him very well.  For days I have been stuck.  This calls for drastic measures… like writing an autobiographical poem for him.

The short story may not be ready for the deadline but I want it to be the best short story it can be.

Yesterday morning I had the chance to listen to Henning Mankell on NPR’s Morning Edition.  His latest novel doesn’t have his famous character, Inspector Kurt Wallander, in it.  In fact, it’s mostly populated by women characters.  Mankell read the opening scene.  It is a desolate landscape and put a chill down this listener’s spine.

It was really interesting to hear him discuss his next piece of fiction.  Based on a true story, the main character is a Swedish woman who travels to Africa and becomes an owner of a brothel.  But that’s all he would say. 

It’s not uncommon to talk about the premise of a novel only to lose the steam and enthusiasm for it.  Even worse is to talk about it and let the unenthusiastic response of your listener discourage it from being written.  What comes across well in the execution is usually missing from the verbal premise of it.  Nick Hornby almost talked himself out of writing High Fidelity when he realized how boring it sounded.

A big thank you to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday.

No books arrived at my house this week.  I’ve spent my time catching up on writing book reviews and writing some short stories.

What showed up in your mailbox this week?