Nancy Christie’s Post

I’m switching focus from literary fiction to my true love — childish humour. The Pulitzer Prize is just going to have to wait. This year, I'll be working together with Caterina Baldi to publish our new book:  *THE A-Z OF ROTTEN UNCLES* I have two nieces (the one pictured is a lot less cute now), and I do my best to be the most annoying uncle I can. That's what gave me the idea. The book, forthcoming in December 24, will be a low-effort, high-reward gift for your 7-11-year-old niblings (nieces or nephews). Pinky promise. And if you want to learn more about my perilous journey of self publishing (everything is a journey now, right?), follow the Substack in the comments. I'm calling my blog 'Third Time Right.' That’s because as well as my traditionally published books, I self published two collections of short fiction (2018 and 2021). Needless to say, they didn’t sell thousands of copies, and this time, I want to get things right. We have six months to plan and execute a great book launch, and you’ll be able to follow along. If you have children (or a childish sense of humour like me), your feedback will be invaluable. Plus, you'll get to hear some stories about me being a rotten uncle. What kinds of books do your kids love and why?

How to avoid embarrassing an author? Because the opening lines of her novel are an excellent example of how not to begin. I 'won' her book in a free draw at a recent event. This post was going to compare her opening lines with Hilary Mantel's, in Wolf Hall. The scenes are similar. Violent, tense, provoking emotion and questions. One author does it really well. The other doesn't. This is just my opinion. All my criticism of story-telling is subjective. But I couldn't bring myself to put her words on here. What if she sees them? (Unlikely, I know). I want my criticism to be constructive, not destructive. I want writers to hear: "This is how I think it could be done better." I want to build up, not tear down. So I won't quote her opening lines. As I spend more time working with authors, I want to find ways to help them improve, without creating embarrassment or upset. [Image: St Catherine's Chapel, Abbotsbury, Dorset. Because the opening scene of the book I won't quote is set in an ancient church building.]

Corey's Reads - May 25, 2024 The Road by Cormac McCarthy This is in equal measure haunting and beautiful. Tragedy permeates throughout this world and everything is bleak. You can just see the dull greys and feel the lack of hope in each page. Yet, the love between parent and child amid such a harsh environment left it hard for me to put down this book. Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite writers currently, alongside Hemingway, Gaiman, Poe, and Bradbury. Seeing this story not take place in a western or neo-western genre makes it unique among McCarthy's works. It doesn't even feature chapters; there are instead vertical dot ellipses that break up the scenery, typically signifying there's a change and the narrative is progressed. When I noticed the number of pages ahead were getting slimmer, there was an impending sense of relief, yet sadness. I didn't want this novel to end; I wanted to keep up with the story. Even still, it was punctuated perfectly, and each road must end someday. As I read page after page, I couldn't shake the feeling that this story was wholly personal unto him. When I researched the book further after finishing it, I was pleased to find that was the case. I want to recommend this book, but there is material presented that may shock and upset some readers. If you can stomach the disturbing content in this, you'll find a beautiful story. Or, you can watch the film which is less unpleasant. What do you think? Do you like Cormac McCarthy? What have you been reading? Reply below!

Immerse yourself in a captivating journey through time and emotion with "Acoustics of Lies". This book intricately weaves nostalgia, personal reflections, and social constructs into a captivating narrative. Follow 'Jatin's heartfelt letters to 'Aratrika' and lose yourself in his admiration for 'Jayanita'. Each page offers a fresh perspective on life, keeping you engaged in a story that feels almost surreal. Get your copy today and dive into a world where reality and fiction blend seamlessly: https://lnkd.in/gec6WA2Z

Review of People of the West https://lnkd.in/gKCRfP7r The People of the West is a trailblazing western collection of short stories and poems by Dave McGowan. The book acknowledges the varieties of the human species and tries to portray a swift story using these entities. Despite being a work of fiction, the author draws inspiration from real people, thus, making the book very relatable.    The great water, the strange man called Wool, the Cree people, the rascal’s village, and the poems; all of these and more help to build a well-paced novel. What thrilled me was the cruel judgment passed on the people who risked their lives trying to prevent the bone of meat from contaminating their waters. Why was the leader’s son spared? This book genuinely stirred my curiosity in many satisfying ways. Indeed, the story meshes with themes of adventure, history, and unearthing the diversity of people.    Utilizing the classical western period, a timeframe many authors have difficulty communicating in their books, McGowan establishes this story. The first tale starts in 1798 and ends in the mid-1960s. Impressively, the author was able to own the story and convey his ideas clearly to the readers. His descriptive prowess is so vivid that creating a mental picture of the happenings in this book came with ease.     The book’s cover art is another pleasing element of the book. I am confident the art does a solid job of conveying the book’s content at first glance. Inevitably, this tale was worth my time. Hence, it merits a 5 out of 5 stars.  https://lnkd.in/gTMs4hvg

A book like no other that will leave you wondering not just what happened to Ruthy Ramirez but how does one heal from past hurts and move forward? A beautiful representation of a complex Latine family, filled with drama and heart. Read my review here.

Review of People of the West https://lnkd.in/gKCRfP7r The People of the West is a trailblazing western collection of short stories and poems by Dave McGowan. The book acknowledges the varieties of the human species and tries to portray a swift story using these entities. Despite being a work of fiction, the author draws inspiration from real people, thus, making the book very relatable.    The great water, the strange man called Wool, the Cree people, the rascal’s village, and the poems; all of these and more help to build a well-paced novel. What thrilled me was the cruel judgment passed on the people who risked their lives trying to prevent the bone of meat from contaminating their waters. Why was the leader’s son spared? This book genuinely stirred my curiosity in many satisfying ways. Indeed, the story meshes with themes of adventure, history, and unearthing the diversity of people.    Utilizing the classical western period, a timeframe many authors have difficulty communicating in their books, McGowan establishes this story. The first tale starts in 1798 and ends in the mid-1960s. Impressively, the author was able to own the story and convey his ideas clearly to the readers. His descriptive prowess is so vivid that creating a mental picture of the happenings in this book came with ease.     The book’s cover art is another pleasing element of the book. I am confident the art does a solid job of conveying the book’s content at first glance. Inevitably, this tale was worth my time. Hence, it merits a 5 out of 5 stars.  https://lnkd.in/gTMs4hvg

Reading Fiction Blog https://lnkd.in/e2A64XZ I invite you to browse my INDEX of Authors' Tales, nearly 400 FREE short stories by famous contemporary and classic storytellers of mystery, Gothic, supernatural, crime, sci-fi, horror and quiet-horror, paranormal, dark fantasy. Join me in my reading nook! #bookbloggers #fictionbloggers #fictionblogs #shortstoryblogs #supernaturalmysteries #Gothicfiction

Dive into the captivating world of *The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida*! 🌌 This darkly comic novel takes you on an imaginative journey through life, death, and the absurdities of war. Follow Maali, a spirit navigating a chaotic purgatory as he seeks the truth of his violent demise and unfinished business. With poignant insights and a gripping narrative, this Booker Prize-winning story will leave you reflecting on the complexities of life long after the last page. 📚✨ #BookRecommendation #TheSevenMoonsOfMaaliAlmeida #BookerPrize #LiteraryFiction #MustRead

I have just released a new book entitled Truth meets Fiction. Truth meets Fiction Revealing today's hot topics through captivating fictional stories This is a book about the world we inhabit. Not the outside world. Not the world we read about on the news. Our world. The situations that we face on a daily basis. The challenges that we find ourselves dealing with. The beauty and caring and warmth and richness and excitement and color – that make up the frum experience. These stories reflect our reality. In a sense they didn’t happen. But they could have happened. In fact they could have happened to you. These stories are fiction. But only on one level. On another level they are a true and honest look at our society and a reflection of our lives. Or in other words – you are about to be introduced to a world where “Truth Meets Fiction.”