A Review of Elizabeth Chadwick

For the last few months I've been finding my tastes in reading material slowly changing. I generally like reading some paranormal, historical romance, romantic suspense, and my all-time favorite, time  travel. Lately, the plots of many of the books I've read all seem to be too similar. More often than not, several books would be released about the same time, by different authors, but the plots would be so alike I felt as if after reading one, I'd read them all. So I began web surfing for something different.

In my casual search I came across Elizabeth Chadwick. She writes historical fiction and the time is one that has always fascinated me. I read The Winter Mantle. This story begins in 1067 when William the Conqueror takes as hostages the sons of English nobility as an incentive for their good behavior. This was a means the kings used to ensure the nobles didn't rise up against them. If they did rebel, it meant the death of their heirs.

The first part of this story focuses on several hostages, and one in particular, Waltheof of Huntingdon. He is a young man who is a little too easy going and that trait occasionally gets him into trouble. While he means well, he's often too easily swayed to join the wrong cause. Even his marriage to William's niece doesn't always keep him on a straight path.

Personally, I find reading history books or bits of historical facts a bit daunting and boring. I want to be there, experience events through the eyes of the characters and Chadwick does a great job of this. The Winter Mantle is rich in detail and I often felt, while reading, as if I could have been an observer of the events as they occurred. The characters came alive and drew me into their problems. I wanted to cheer them on or, as in the case of Waltheof, give them a "Gibbs" and tell them to 'shape up and fly right.'  A couple times I found myself in tears at what was going on. To me, that's the mark of a fantastic writer.

I admit, I borrowed the book from the library. I tend to do that when I'm looking into a "new to me author." (Chadwick has been around for a few years.) If I don't care for the writing, then I've lost nothing. When I do find something I like, I look to adding more books to my personal library...as if I have the shelf space to spare. Thank goodness for e-books.  I've already been to my favorite bookstore and made a list of all Chadwick's books that are still available. I'm looking forward to adding her works to my "historical fiction library."

If you enjoy historical fiction and reading about the Middle Ages, you can't go wrong with Elizabeth Chadwick's works. If you'd like to know more about her and her books, check out her official website at: www.elizabethchadwick.com

Confessions of An Avid Reader

Hello. My name is Marissa. I'm a bookaholic.  I am a member of an unofficial group, Bookaholics Anonymous (BA for short).  We don't look for help or intervention from family and friends. We like things as they are and here's my reasons why.

I read whenever I get the chance and sometimes when I shouldn't be reading.  I usually have two or three books going at the same time. I never go to sleep at night without reading for an hour or so first. Sometimes I even stay awake till after 2 am because I want to finish the book I'm reading. When I finish that one it goes right back on the shelf and another one takes its place. I don't feel comfortable unless there's at least one book on the cabinet within easy reach. Call it my security blanket of sorts.

Then there's the buying. I get all sorts of emails from book clubs advertising their new releases. Or maybe the emails are just sales coming up. Some of the sales are one day or weekends only. If I don't like what's being offered, I usually go to the website itself and see if there are any listings I've missed since my last visit. From there the fun is just getting started. I make a list of the titles that catch my interest then settle in to do some research.

Some sites carry the books at the same time. Others may not get it for a couple or three months. A book can be out for a few months before some websites offer it. That kind of hampers the research. (There is one thing I've noticed. Several book clubs exist under the umbrella of Doubleday. They offer pretty much the same books and yet the prices will vary as much as a few dollars. I've never understood that.)

 I have a membership with another bookseller that allows me free shipping on my orders. Believe me the annual fee is well worth the cost. I usually make back the fee in very short order and have the books in less time than it takes the book clubs to process and send out. Three points for the paid membership.

I was just looking back on a few orders I made last year and found one order where I saved more than twice the amount I actually paid for the five books ordered. That's what I call finding a bargain. And it's finding those bargains that keep my addiction going. The fact that I've run out of bookshelf space doesn't factor into it. One way or another, I'll find the space for them.

There are times when after I've pushed the "send" or "place order" button that I think maybe I should have waited on the purchase. But after re-examining the order I have only one thing to say... Nah.  You have to take advantage of the sales when they come along and I'm a sucker for book sales.  The only sales I don't like are the ones that are good for only one day and I don't mean twenty-four hours. Even worse are the sales that are only good for three hours. That's really pushing it. I may be addicted to books and book sales but I don't like not being able to think about it and one day or less  isn't enough...unless I've already had in mind to purchase specific titles.

Then there's the book sites that offer freebies. As an author I can see both sides of that issue. Free books mean possibly reaching new readers but also means no income. A little bit of something is better than nothing (especially if what you earn supplements your income, even a little). Free books don't do anything for a sales record and that's what counts in the long run. But we all have to do what's best for us.  Still, the site is a good place to look for new authors and something different to read.

So that's my confession. As the expression goes, "so many books, so little time." As my To Be Read (TBR stack as most of us call it) pile continues to grow, I find myself trying to dig out more time to read. I may have to steal it from household chores and errands. Hmmm.  That just gave me an idea for a t-shirt.

I am a bookaholic and I'm proud of it. I don't need or want any intervention.Are there any other bookaholics out there willing to confess? 

When Interesting Books Come Along

I always read for an hour or so before I go to sleep. Last night I started reading Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick. By 2 am, I had to force myself to put down the book and get some sleep. This morning, while I was waiting for my laptop to update a couple files, I was, again, engrossed in the book.

Just before going to sleep is the best time to get immersed in a good book since you're not likely to experience interruptions. But last night also made me realize something. This isn't the first time I've come across an  author I thought I might like to read and didn't act on it at the time. I'd seen Chadwick's books advertised before.

Years ago, I picked up a couple paperbacks by Diana Gabaldon. The time travel sounded intriguing so I put the books aside. It was a couple years before I finally got to them and when I started on Outlander I went looking for more books in the series. I think I pretty much wore out the paperback versions, they were beginning to fall apart. I was fortunate at the time to find hard copies. Since then I've kept up with her Outlander series.

I did the same with another book called When Christ and His Saints Slept. No, not a religious book. That was an expression used to describe the fight between Maude and Stephen for the English throne when Maude's father died. (He was the son of William the Conqueror) That book sat on the shelf for several years. I found another book by Sharon Kaye Penman about the Plantaganets before realizing Christ and His Saints was the first book in the series. I still haven't got to that one and have 3 more in the series I've purchased and haven't read. (now the series is up to 9 books)  I've got them in chronological order and hope to get to them soon.

And now I'm about to start collecting Elizabeth Chadwick. (Did I mention I love to read historical fiction?) All my bookshelf space is filled but at least now I have the choice of downloading her work. The others I'll somehow manage to squeeze in the shelves somewhere since it doesn't make sense to have part of a series in print, the rest in ebooks.

 I think it's past time I checked the authors' websites to find out what books are hitting the stores and when. If you have to have "bad" habits, then collecting interesting books is mine and I have no regrets.

 I have only one thing left to say...  To paraphrase Shakespeare's Richard III...  "...My kingdom for a bookshelf!"

A Few Oops = Doh

It's nice to update your computer whenever a new program comes out but if you're like me -- and I hope you aren't -- you dread the updating. I find a lot of the programs fascinating but it's the installation that gets me.  Or is it the way files are set up?  I suppose it's a bit of both.

Much of the time I can't find what I'm looking for. When I had Windows 7 it took a while to get used to the way it got things done. Then my laptop died and the next one had Windows 8.1 installed. Needless to say, the whole thing was configured differently. I'm still trying to adjust. Sometimes I like the touch system and other times I prefer the mouse to get around, especially if I'm working on writing files. When it comes to e-mail, the print was suddenly smaller. It's either do a finger/thumb stretch to enlarge the type or find a magnifying glass.

Then you might have a smudge on the screen you're trying to clear off and whatever you're working on suddenly vanishes. I find myself staring at it wondering what it was I just did. I'm a great one for getting lost on the internet. I try to locate one thing and eventually find myself so far off track I think I'm permanently lost. And I'll be darn if I can recall where I was or what I was originally looking for. It there's a way to make a mess of something, I'm the person who should be called. I'm a pro at it. I've even tried consulting computer books to become more efficient (the more simplified the explanation the better it should be to understand)but in most cases it's still a foreign language. By the time I get used to doing something, it gets changed.

On the other hand, I can get a book on craft patterns, follow the instructions and end up with a reasonable facsimile of the project described. I admit there are some exceptions to that, but few. I can't seem to get the tension right to make anything lacy and I would love to knit a lacy shawl. But that's another problem.

My excuse?  I tell people my brain isn't wired to see things as the average person does. It's a good excuse as far as it goes. It explains why I can go off in an entirely different direction but somehow, sooner or later I will achieve the desired results. I'm not so sure that will happen where electronics are concerned. That's an altogether different ball game.

To computer programmers, I understand the need you have to update things to keep up with technology. And that can be a wonderful, amazing thing. But there are some things that don't change from one operating system to the next. So why do you hide things or take away some little program you think no one uses? Some programs shouldn't be messed with unless there are serious upgrades to implement. If you as a programmer don't use a small file, don't go getting rid of it because you think no one else uses it. You might be surprised.

There's only one thing left I can say about making changes...

 If it ain't broke...

Did I Do That?

About a year or so ago, I wrote a blog about the difference between making new year resolutions and setting goals. I'm happy to say I chose goals. Had I made resolutions I would have broken every one and proved myself to be a dismal failure. It was bad enough that 2014 was an all-around miserable year. I rarely make promises. My philosophy has always been "Don't make promises you can't keep." At least I can't be accused of breaking them even if said promises are made to myself. If I do make a promise, to myself or someone else (not gonna happen) I have to be at least 90% sure I can carry it through.

 Failure to reach a goal only means you try again.

Putting the past year behind me, I'm ready and willing to start over and try again. If you repeat your goals often enough sooner or later you have to get them right, or at least some of them. What's that saying about practice makes perfect? I've got a lot of practice over the last few years, so how come perfection is still a long way off?

My biggest goal for this year consists of many parts. That goal is to clear the boards of any or most of the incomplete projects sitting around waiting for attention. When my son said he was getting married, I told him I'd make a quilt for a wedding gift. His first anniversary has come and gone and the quilt is still in pieces. The biggest problem is the lack of sufficient space to work. I'm determined to get the quilt top sewn together and on the frame before his next visit. At least he and his wife will get to see what it's going to look like.  In my own defense, during the summer I did crochet an afghan for them and my daughter-in-law loves it. Nothing fancy but she loves the warmth. New England winters are not kind to her since she comes from a much warmer climate.

Then there's the writing. I want to try independent publishing, as well as continue work on a series I have with an electronic publisher. In every partial tale I've been stumped on the plots. There's been some factor that keeps the story from moving forward. I often feel as if the "muse" has taken an overly long vacation. Maybe it's just time to fire her or force her into retirement and see to a replacement. Hmmm, not a bad idea. At best it would mean some fresh points of view. At worst it could mean half-hearted attempts on her part to get back into my good graces. She'd have to work awfully hard to succeed. A new face, a new muse could go a long way toward accomplishing something for a change. Say... a ruggedly handsome face with a totally different perspective on things? Who says a muse has to be feminine?

Anyway, that's my new plan and outlook for 2015. A whole new vision for the coming year. Will it work?  I certainly hope so. It can't be much worse than the previous year and I surely can use a boost to get things done.

Here's hoping all your plans and goals for the New Year will be immensely successful.

Happy Birthday....Or Maybe Not

This morning, I finally got the box fans cleaned up and put away for the winter. While I was washing the dust and yuck from my hands I got to thinking about something that had nothing to do with the fans.

Health care professionals say that when you wash your hands you should sing "Happy Birthday". I know, it sounds like a weird suggestion but they say it takes something like 20-30 seconds to sing the song and that's sufficient time to get your hands good and clean. That's all well and good. What are they basing the timing on? How fast or slow is the song supposed to be sung? Yes, another "dumb" question, which is leading to another one.

"Happy Birthday" is the best-known song around the world. It's supposed to be acknowledging a happy time. Granted, few people are pleased about getting a year older but there are certain milestones that are important to individuals. Teenagers are happy to turn 16 because they can finally get a learner's permit, and their driving license six months later.  At eighteen they are now legal adults, and hopefully are ready to take on adult responsibilities. They can vote, sign contracts, apply for charge cards and, unfortunately, go to war without parental permission. When they turn 21, they can legally go into any establishment that serves alcohol.

When we reach our 40's many of us can consider running for political office. Some of them do have minimum age requirements, like running for president of the United States. Whether or not that's a happy milestone to achieve depends on the individual. By the time you get into your mid fifties, you're seriously considering retirement and counting down the years. I remember when my dad turned 65 and retired from his job. His celebratory act was to stomp flat the lunch box he'd used for years. No more lunch box, no more job.

So I digress a little.  What does all this have to do with the song "Happy Birthday"?  Have you ever noticed how, what is supposed to be a happy occasion, the song is sung, slowly and solemnly, like a funeral dirge? Think about it. Where's the lilting tune, the 'congratulations on achieving another year'?  Even at toddlers' parties and grade school kids, it sounds like a sad occasion.  Are adults lamenting the fact their children are growing up too fast? The kids are growing up and the adults are getting older.

Maybe that's it. Maybe we resent that little fact, or not so little. It gets to a point when you begin to wonder where the time has gone, from one birthday to the next. I thought I just had a birthday. And you just don't want to think about it. As a person gets up in years, it's sort of a badge of honor to have survived so long. The last thing you want to hear is a slow rendition of "Happy Birthday." Maybe they're reminding you to do a good job washing your hands. Or you might start wondering if they know something you don't.

A Reader's Lament

I've been doing a lot of reading lately but, unfortunately, I've been enjoying it less. The problem hasn't been in the stories themselves but in the editing.

As a retired editor, I notice these things more. Sure, I know how the eye automatically corrects some things, like misspelled words but it stops dead on blatant errors. Things like missing words, or words that were repeated because a phrase was changed and not all the unnecessary words were removed. Words that are in the wrong order and throw off the whole meaning of the sentence. I can't say how many times I've had to stop to reread a sentence because the way it was written made no sense whatsoever.

There have been places where small words, "a, and, the, so, etc." have been left out so the typed line will be properly spaced. Other words have their endings dropped (ly, ing) for the same reason. It might take a little more time and work but it's worth it to find a different word to say the same thing and not disrupt the line flow and spacing.

The use of commas has also been left by the roadside. You have to keep in mind "Eats shoots leaves." Commas make a great deal of difference in the interpretation. Leave them out and you might end up with a sentence that says something that was totally unintended or makes no sense. Sometimes the unintended meaning can be quite amusing while other times you're asking, "What's that got to do with the story?"

I've seen forms of words and their usage change. Lighted instead of lit; shined, instead of shone. "Shined" is only for shoes, not for illuminating a dark space. I understand language changes over time, but let's face it, some of those changes aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Some of those changes only demean language.

I'm not saying that all editors are doing a bad job. There are still some very good ones out there who care about what they're doing. It just seems like the whole process is slowly drifting to the wayside. I also know that some editors rely strongly on editing manuals. In my opinion, just because AP Stylebook says a change is acceptable doesn't make that change right.

I don't know about other readers, but for me, with the overall deteriorating editing, I find myself purchasing fewer books. Not a good thing for the industry.