Tales From the Bookshelf - Critically Acclaimed

This might spark some controversy, but I'm hoping it will encourage some great discussions!

(And I am visiting Jane’s Ride today with a piece on burnout! If you get a chance, please check it out.)

This tale from the bookshelf pertains to critically acclaimed and classic books. The deep, long, in-depth books we are all supposed to read.

I'll apologize now, but I find many of them to be... dull.

Go ahead and call me a simple reader, but I just can't get into these types of books. I equate them to the boring dramas that are nominated every year for an Oscar. Introspective and deep just doesn't appeal to me.

The Old Man and the Sea is one that bored me to tears. Yes, it's a classic that everyone needs to read! However, by the time I got to the end, I didn't care about the metaphors - I just wanted it to end.

Lord of the Rings is another set of books that are really good and contain a fantastic story - but contain way too much description for my tastes. After twenty pages of exposition, I'm ready for some action and dialogue. (I absolutely LOVED the movies.)

I couldn't get into Isaac Asimov, either. Overly technical books tax my brain.

Now, before everyone accuses me of having no appreciation for fine literature, there are some critically acclaimed books I do love. Watership Down is a fantastic story with just the right balance of elements. Bambi is also a wonderful story. (And I have the original first editions of both Bambi and Bambi's Children!)

I think that when it comes to reading, I want my fiction to provide an easy escape from reality. Non-fiction is where I prefer my introspective, detailed, and technical reading to reside. I can devour a long, intricate non-fiction book in no time. With fiction, I just want to go for a ride!

How does everyone else feel about their reading material? Do you enjoy critically acclaimed books? Do you just read to escape? And if you think Spunky is totally bonkers, feel free to say that as well!

And Now For Something Completely Different

Bring out your dead!

* BOOK NEWS *

Simon at Constant Revision tells us the right way to attract blog followers.

Tony Burton discusses what makes one a professional over at Make Mine Mystery

The Blood Red Pencil asks - is your story science fiction or urban fantasy?

Arlee and the other A-Z Challenge participants reflect at Tossing It Out

Elana Johnson talks about the curse of the writerly friend.


* AN AWARD *

Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere gave me The Sunshine Award!

There are so many bloggers I could pass this along to! I appreciate each and every one of you who've stuck with me the past few months while Spunky has been busy out of her mind. I will pass this along to Jai at Jai Joshi’s Tulsi Tree as she always makes time to stop by and say something nice!!


* CAPTION WINNER *

CC - "Silly farmer thinks this gate will stop me. He doesn't know the power of the super tongue"

Remember, tune in every Sunday for the Sunday Sillies - laughs aplenty and your chance to caption a photo!

* PHOTO OF THE DAY *

I took this photo of a storefront in downtown Asheville, NC - aren't they pretty?

Tips - When Meeting an Author…

This is for readers and writers, but I’d love my author friends to add their two cents as well. Even after 300 signings, I’m sure I’ve not encountered every situation possible.

When meeting an author at a book signing:

DO:

Speak to us!
We enjoy interaction.
Ask about our books.
Tell us what you enjoy about our books.
Ask for an autograph.
Ask for a bookmark or two.
Consider our books for someone else if they don’t appeal to you.
Ask if we can speak to your school or organization.

DON’T:
Monopolize our time.
Be conscious of our time - we are there to work.
We have a short span of time to expose our books to as many people as possible.
Others may be waiting to speak to us.
Be courteous and purchase a book if you do spend time talking with us.

Pump us for information.
We can’t give you our publisher or agent’s name or recommend you.
We don’t have twenty minutes to tell you how to get your book published.
We can’t read, critique, or pass on your manuscript.
We don’t have time for a twenty-minute description of the book you are writing.
Asking how many books we’ve sold or how much money we’ve made is not polite.

Ask in depth questions about other authors or books.
We are there to promote our book, not someone else’s.
We are not store staff, either.

And don’t eat all of our candy or grab and handful and run without purchasing a book - the store did not supply that candy, we paid for it.


While the don’ts might sound harsh, remember - the author who’s done multiple signings has heard it multiple times. It’s cute the first time. By the 50th time, it’s lost its charm. We are there to work. We depend on book sales and impressing the bookstore staff so they will invite us to return. Please help us to continue doing what we love.

We want to connect with our readers and enjoy the opportunity to do so at signings and appearances. Just remember common courtesy and the experience will be wonderful for both of us!

Authors, any other Dos or DON’Ts?

Photo Tuesday - The Bonsai and Writing

We visited the NC Arboretum this weekend in Asheville. One of the gardens was a display of Bonsai trees.


What surprised me was the variety of trees. (A five foot black rat snake nearly surprised us as well, but that’s another story.) There were oak, birch, elm, and pine trees, all sculptured in Bonsai fashion. Each display was a miniature version of the full-fledged tree in the forest.

Bonsai requires a lot of patient work. The tree and shrubs want to grow large and wild, but one must keep trimming and pruning to maintain the miniature size.

The same thing happens when we write. The story wants to blossom into this massive tree, its braches forming in every direction and spawning much undergrowth. But there’s truth in the saying you can’t see the forest for the trees. After the first draft, we must trim. We must curtail the wild growth and tighten our tale. We need to consider each and every branch, pruning those that get in the way or lead to dead ends. Only through this Bonsai process can we create a thing of beauty.

Are you concentrating on trimming the wild growth in your story?

Have you ever attempted a real Bonsai tree?

I wonder if they come in plastic form...?