Kindle Ebook Returns

            There’s been something going on in the ebook world that some authors have been unhappy about. Let me tell you about Kindle book returns on Amazon.

            I can understand why they allow returns – if you click the wrong button shopping online, you could accidentally buy a book when you might have been trying to download the free sample instead. Or you realize the next day that you already have that book on your shelf. No problem. But Amazon allows a full week for you to return an ebook. I can easily read a book in less than a week. If I wanted to, I could use Amazon as an ebook lending site.

            There are ways to borrow ebooks – my library lends tons of ebooks, and I check them out all the time. But I’ve never bought an ebook on Amazon with the intention of reading it and returning it for a refund later.

            I’ve also heard readers complain that they didn’t like the book, hence the return. Most ebooks have a free sample to try before you buy. I think that’s more than fair to determine if you like the general style and tone of the book. Is it really fair, then, to return it because you don’t like it?

            My opinion is that seven days is too long. One or two days maybe would allow accidental purchases to be returned. Longer than that and Amazon can expect some people to use it as a lending library. I do understand that people don’t have tons of cash, but the bottom line is if you like an author’s work, buy it! Or at least borrow it from the library or a friend who has already bought the book. It’s hard to make a living as an author, so if you’d like them to keep writing, support their work.

            What do you think? Should Amazon change their ebook return policy? Or do you think seven days is fair?

Forensics in Fiction

            Before I became a writer, I went back to school for forensic molecular science. The fall I began classes, C.S.I. started on TV. One of my instructors loved to point out inaccuracies in each week’s episodes, because of course, life isn’t exactly like fiction. Even so, I love the show, and of course it comes naturally that I love forensics in fiction as well!

            Probably the two most famous authors of forensic fiction are Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell. Most of Reichs’ 18 novels are about forensic anthropologist, Tempe Brennan. Yes, this is the book series on which the TV show Bones is (very loosely!) based. I personally like the books better than the show, but they're both good.

    

            Patricia Cornwell writes most of her novels about medical examiner, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. There are currently 20 Scarpetta novels, with another one due this year. I read a bit more than half of these until… well, I’m not going to give any spoilers! But the writing also changed a bit, going from first person past tense to third person present tense. I always enjoyed the stories from Dr. Scarpetta’s point of view, so I didn’t like the change. I may give the new ones a read, though, because I hear she’s gone back to her previous point of view.

            Am I missing out on any other great forensics novels?

Hurricane Preparedness

We’ve made it through the latest hurricane with minimal damage – maybe a tiny leak in the window – but no power outages and no flooding or anything truly bad. We got lucky. Yes, we live inland, but many of our local friends have been without power for a day now, not to mention the reports I’m hearing of trees falling on houses, cars, fences… And that’s just here in Northern Virginia. I feel awful for those people in the hard hit areas of Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and everyone else in the path of the storm.

Certainly, we didn’t do well in this storm because of any decent level of preparedness on my part. Here’s what my hurricane kit looked like:

Let me give you a run-down on it.

• Water – This was John’s contribution, likely the most useful item here if we actually had lost power.
• Flashlight – Necessary if I want to read my…
• Kindle – When in doubt, read.
• Candle and lighter – Yankee Cozy Cabin scent.
• Settlers of Catan – An excellent board game that can be played by fall-fragranced candlelight in the event of a power outage.
• Rum – For when we truly get bored.
• Cat laser – For when the cats get bored.

Yes, I know. Pathetic. But you gotta think about cat entertainment when a massive hurricane is headed in your direction! What non-essential things made it to your hurricane kit this week?

Jumping on the Book Bandwagon

I’ve often picked up a book because a friend recommended it. Strangely, I’m sometimes obstinately opposed to reading books that everyone recommends. I think of it as the book bandwagon. OMG you have to read it! It’s the best book ever written in the history of the universe!!! Their over-the-top praise and extra exclamation marks do not move me. Yet occasionally I’ll change my mind and join the bandwagon-book-reading masses. A firm recommendation from a friend usually does it, but then there are those other times when I just have to see what all the fuss is about. This has happened to me twice recently with different outcomes.

The first one of the bandwagon books I tried was – say it with me because you know what’s coming, right? – 50 Shades of Grey. Let’s be clear: I don’t have any problem with erotica. In fact, I used to review erotica novels for RT Book Reviews. But I admit, I didn’t finish it. I found the characters in 50 Shades kind of irritating and the writing only okay…ish… – just my opinion. On the other hand, I know there are plenty of people who swear it is a fabulous book series and love, love, love it. I gotta ask though, is this the first erotica novel they picked up? Try the erotica by Bertrice Small, Sasha White, or the Sleeping Beauty series by Anne Rice instead.

The second time I’ve jumped on the book bandwagon recently has been for Game of Thrones. So many people have recommended this to me, yet I resisted. Huge, sweeping fantasy epics aren’t usually my favorites. I think it was the guy at my eye doc’s office who changed my mind. He was talking about how much he loved the HBO series, and when I made a reference to the book series, he looked surprised. He had no idea it was a book first. That told me one thing – it must be a fabulous story, because here was this guy who thought it was so awesome he was actually now considering picking up the book, even though he admitted he hadn't read a book in years (and isn’t that a sad state of affairs?). So I’m mid-way through book one, and I agree – the story is fantastic. I’m sure I’ll read them all, now that I’m an epic fantasy convert. I have since seen the first episode of the TV series and it looks great too, but I don’t want to get ahead of the books, so I’ll wait on the rest of it for now.

What’s your take on 50 Shades and Thrones? Have any new book recommendations for me?

Review: Inhale by Kendall Grey

Inhale by Kendall Grey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary:

Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.

*This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.

Review:

Based on the blurb, I thought this would be a good read, but it completely blew past all my expectations. It’s the type of book you tell all your friends about – but you don’t loan them your copy because you’re too busy re-reading it while you wait for the next one in the series.

There’s so much going on in this book – whales, elementals, dreams – but all of the diverse plot lines come together seamlessly.

The characters are people you’d like to know, or maybe they remind you of a friend. It’s easy to sympathize with Zoe and Gavin because their characters are detailed, well-rounded, and flawed, yet likeable. Even the villains are likeable in an awesomely evil love-to-hate-them kind of way. And there some serious chemistry between Zoe and Gavin! Let’s just say Kendall Grey knows how to write a great sex scene!

This is the first book in a trilogy, and I was really pleased it didn’t leave me hanging like other series sometimes do (don’t you hate that?). The story is wrapped up – for the moment – and the romantic relationship leaves you on a happy, emotionally satisfying note. I can’t wait to read the next two books!

B is for Books - A to Z Challenge

Today, I’m going to write about books. It goes without saying that I love them. I could (and have) read for days because it’s easy to lose myself in another world.

It turns out there are scientific reasons I love books too.

You know that great smell an old book has? It’s caused primarily by lignin, a compound in the wood used to make paper. Lignin is similar in composition to vanillin, so as the lignin breaks down over time, it releases a vanilla scent. The paper is often treated with various chemicals as well, which, as they age, can add notes of camphor, wood, mushroom, and almond.

As it turns out, there’s also science behind the ease with which we can lose ourselves in a good book. Reading fiction, especially when it’s particularly descriptive, stimulates specific areas in the brain. Whether you read about something or actually experience it, your brain will respond similarly. There’s an excellent article on the subject here that I highly recommend.

Happy reading!

Review: Tasting Nightwalker Wine by Janet Miller

Hollywood After Dark: Tasting Nightwalker Wine by Janet Miller


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Summary:

Romance novelist Stella is swept off her feet by a mysterious man she meets on her book tour.  Unfortunately, her date is a vampire who accidentally drains enough of her blood to leave her unconscious.  Stella threatens to expose his true nature unless he teaches her about the supernatural as research for her novels.

Nightwalker Sebastian agrees to Stella’s blackmail under the condition that she become his willing blood donor.  Their agreement puts her in danger when Sebastian learns that someone is hunting local vampires.

Review:

Miller’s entertaining Hollywood After Dark series is peopled with interesting, well-rounded characters.  The mythology guiding the vampires and other parafolk is well realized, but does little to set itself apart from other paranormal stories.  The premise of vampires making wine in Napa Valley is compelling, but ultimately not used to its best advantage.  While able to be read as a single title, continuity with previous books in this series is strong.  Don’t miss the ones written under Miller’s erotica pseudonym, Cricket Starr.  

Review: KOP by Warren Hammond

KOP by Warren Hammond

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary:

Veteran police officer Juno has been assigned a new partner and an important homicide case. Police Chief Paul Chang, his close friend and former partner, is in trouble, the crooked empire he has painstakingly built threatened by a mayor pledging to root out corruption. So when a good PR opportunity comes to solve the murder of a city official’s son, Chang calls in Juno. The investigation leads to unexpected places, implicating those high in government and organized criminals alike.

Review:

It is a credit to Hammond’s writing skill that his main character, a corrupt police officer, is not reviled as a villain. He is in fact incredibly likeable, believably cast in the hero’s role. The futuristic setting, as important in this novel as another character, is well-drawn and compelling. This gritty cop drama is well-plotted, each twist a surprise. The conclusion of the novel is a bit abrupt, but leaves the reader anxious to read the sequel, Ex-KOP.

Review: Plague Year by Jeff Carlson

Plague Year by Jeff Carlson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary: 

Cam and his small community of fellow survivors live on a small mountain peak just over 10,000 feet above sea level.  Below this altitude is an invisible ocean of fatal nanotechnology.  Cam’s community struggles to survive until a stranger arrives to help them, setting off an unforeseen series of events.

Nanotech specialist Ruth works in the International Space Station, far above the machine plague below.  But in order to craft a cure, she must go back to Earth and find the origin of the plague.

Review:

Jeff Carlson’s debut novel grips the reader from its opening sentence.  A strong character-driven tale, Plague Year contrasts people’s heroic side with their basest instincts.  Delving into fears regarding technology, weapons of mass destruction, and political intrigue, this book is both chilling and timely.  

Review: The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman

The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary:

MIT lab technician Matt Fuller discovers that the calibrator he was working on can disappear.  At first it vanishes for only a second, then for several seconds, then minutes.  Matt decides it is, in fact, a sort of time machine, able to leap into the future for longer and longer periods of time each instance he activates it.  He designs an experiment to send a turtle into the future, then finally himself. 

When he reappears about a month later, Matt is accused of murder and arrested.  To escape his circumstances, he leaps into the future once again.  Stranger futures await him along with the growing desire to find a way to move backward in time to the beginning.

Review:

Joe Haldeman deftly weaves the elements of physics, religion, and technology together in this tautly imagined and plot-driven story.  Despite the occasional high-level physics verbiage, the novel is a compelling read, completely unpredictable and un-put-down-able.  

Shark Week - Jaws Book Review

As some of my readers must have already guessed, I absolutely love sharks! Anything ocean-y, actually; I’m a big fan of whales, squid, and coelacanth too.

This week is Shark Week on Discovery Channel and it’s one of my favorite weeks of the year. (Yes, I do know I’m a geek. Thank you for noticing.) So to celebrate Shark Week, I’ll be writing a couple of fun sharky posts as well as reviews of shark fiction. Of course, I have to start with that famous classic, Jaws!

The original hardback cover

Jaws is not just the basis for a great movie, but a fantastic book in its own right. It's actually much more complex than the movie, and this is part of what makes it successful as a book: characters you care about, complex relationships between the main characters (ex: Chief Brody and Ellen), the influence of small-town politics, and the almost scientific description of the shark. Benchley doesn't overdo and sensationalize the shark in this story. Its scenes are very matter-of-fact, which actually makes the whole thing more chilling.

Cover based on
Jaws movie poster

The writing is very clean overall, all of the elements work together, and nothing is extraneous. This is simply an excellent story told well.

Happy

Shark

Week!

Borders Closing - What does it mean for the publishing industry and the readers?

The upcoming closing of Borders has me, to quote John Cage from Ally McBeal, “fraught.” I never dreamed that such a massive book chain could cease to exist. Poof! Now where will I go to fill my shopping basket with books while I drink a chai?

I know this doesn’t signal the end of the brick and mortar bookstores, but in my area, Borders is the most convenient one for me. Sure, there’s a Barnes & Noble, but it’s farther, out of the way, and in an area I don’t often find myself. I will inevitably end up going there, but probably less frequently. I suspect some people will find themselves in a similar situation.

I read that the last time Borders showed a profit was in 2006.* Is the public buying fewer books – especially here in the States amid the financial crisis – or are they buying from other vendors? Certainly Amazon has to have impacted Borders’ bottom line as well as the rise in ebook sales, which accounts for 9% of all book sales.*

Now I suppose the big question is how is the closing of Borders going to impact the publishing industry? Borders accounted for about 15% of book sales in North America last year.* It remains to be seen whether those buyers will turn to other local stores, an online retailer, ebook downloads, or simply read less, especially if they no longer have a bookstore close to where they live.

As for me, I could never read less, and I can practically hear a bunch of you die-hard readers shouting the same thing. The casual reader though… will they buy only the bestsellers because that’s what they’ll find at the grocery store, Wal-Mart, or the price clubs? That’s fine – keep buying books any way you can, people! – but I suspect it will become more difficult to discover new writers unless the reader goes out of the way to do so.

What do you think? How will Borders’ closing impact you?

* I found these statistics in articles on the internet, and I’m taking the posters’ word for their accuracy.

Winners of BlogFest 2011

Thank you everyone who entered my BlogFest 2011 giveaway! It’s been great getting to know a little more about all of you. And I have to tell you… you’re all a bit odd… in a good way! I say this knowing that it takes one to know one. You’re all so unique and interesting and downright quirky that you’d probably make a great character in a book. Hmmm… that gives me ideas for a future contest!

In any case, there was such a great turnout that I’m giving away 5 digital copies of Magick Charm to the following winners, chosen using random.org:

Stormi

Books4me

Novelsontherun

krystal-larson

Kanya

Congratulations! And for anyone who reads Magick Charm, I'd love to hear from you. Send me an email and/or post an Amazon or goodreads review. I'd really appreciate it! 

BlogFest 2011

7/18 - This contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and entered!

Hello and welcome to my BlogFest 2011 guests! If you’re dropping in for the first time, let me tell you a little about myself. I write books with romance, a bit of magick, plenty of humor, and quirky characters.

Rachel, the heroine in the book I’m currently writing, is the most colorful character I’ve ever created. She’s into ghost hunting, drives a barely-running classic Gremlin, believes she has “twintuition”– the special psychic bond between twins, dumped her last boyfriend over a ferret named Nostradamus, dresses like she’s the love child of Stevie Nicks and Marilyn Manson, and is a vegetarian. She’s a lot of fun to write!

Everyone has their own quirks, though perhaps not so many as Rachel! A few things most people don’t know about me:

• I’ve seen ghosts (but not in the Haley Joel Osment way!).
• I spent 7 years as a vegetarian, but gave up because bacon makes me weak.
• I worked as a molecular biologist, Mary Kay saleswoman, and in the fraud department of a bank before becoming a writer.
• I’ve been a practicing Wiccan for almost 20 years. Although tempted, I have never turned anyone into a toad.
• My favorite musician has always been Prince, even through his unpronounceable symbol years.
• I’m 1/8th Chippewa. My dad used to joke that my Native American name is "bird who flies backward with broken wing."
• Shark Week is my favorite time of year. When I was 4, I rooted for the shark in Jaws. 

For BlogFest 2011, I’m giving away an electronic copy of my book, Magick Charm, where you can meet Rachel for the first time. Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow my blog, either through Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, or email subscription.
2. Leave me a comment below telling me one quirky thing about yourself.
3. Include your email so I can contact you if you win.

Want to increase your chances? You get an extra entry for each of the following:

1. Like Magick Charm on Facebook.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Tweet: #Enter to #win #BlogFest2011 http://tiny.cc/w4lt6 @AuthorJenWells
4. Add Magick Charm to your to-read shelf on goodreads. 

The more entries I receive, the more copies of my book I will give away!

Hop to the next blogs on the list:

Jessica E. Subject, Author

Jill Foltz

JoAnne Kenrick

Just Another Story

Karissa's Reading Review

Look for a list of all participating blogs at A Journey of Books, and be sure to check out the BlogFest 2011 tracking site for extra chances to win fun prizes.

Advice from Janet and Steve – Books on Writing

In between the fiction books I love to read, I try to squeeze time here and there for a non-fiction book or two. When I’m editing, like I am now, I pull out a few books for tips. Tonight, I grabbed How I Write by Janet Evanovich and On Writing by Stephen King. These are two of my favorite authors, and I love their distinct voices.

Janet first. I flipped to the chapter “Revising and Editing.” She gives a great rewriting checklist that I think is especially helpful. A couple of these items are some that I’m finding I have to revisit in my book: “Is the villain strong enough to give the main characters a true challenge?” “Is it clear what the main characters want and what are their motivations?” “Have you edited out words that have no function?” My villain isn’t nearly as vicious as she could be, I haven’t yet introduced one of the main characters, and I’m hacking through the forest of unnecessary words: really, very, just, that, etc.

Stephen King is also full of fantastic advice I’m taking to heart. One of my favorite pieces of wisdom is the Rewrite Formula: 2^nd Draft = 1^st Draft – 10%.  I’m tossing quite a bit from the rough draft, from those unnecessary words to sometimes full pages of things that just don’t work.

I also find myself stumbling a bit on the backstory. This book is a sequel, and I have to bring the reader up to speed on some topics. S.K. says “(a) everyone has a history and (b) most of it isn’t very interesting. Stick with the parts that are, and don’t get carried away with the rest.” I’m doing my best to trim the excess and leave only the info that directly impacts the storyline in this book.

But I am making progress! And I’m pretty pleased with it so far. I started with a printed out copy of the book and a red pen. I’ve made notes and changes for 15 of 24 chapters. It’s clear, though, that when I translate my notes from the written pages to my Word document, I’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s a little daunting, but I’m encouraged by how the book is shaping up so far.

I think I have just enough time to edit another chapter before bed, so I will sign off here. Happy writing, ROW80-ers!

Two Great Vampire Books - The Becoming and Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein

The Becoming and Blood Drive are the first two novels in the Anna Strong Chronicles. The seventh book is slated for release in August. I love when I find a great author who has a series - especially when I discover them after a number of the books have already been released. It means I can devour them all back to back and not suffer through the wait between novels!

The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary:

Bounty hunter Anna Strong got more than she bargained for when trying to bring in her skip, Donaldson.  He attacked Anna, turning her into a vampire during the violent assault.  An elder vampire, Avery, helps Anna discover her own growing powers and her place within a secret underworld of influential vampires.  But vampire hunters infiltrate her personal life, violating her home and threatening her safety and that of her friends.  Anna must use her supernatural abilities and the help of her mysterious new allies to set things right.

Review:

Mysterious characters and ingenious plot twists abound in this novel that clearly stands out from the crowd in the vampire genre. Urban fantasy fans will love Jeanne Stein's fresh voice in this powerful opening book of this series.

Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary: 

Bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong returns in this sequel to The Becoming as she clings to the normalcy her mortal family and friends offer her.  A threat to a niece she never knew existed brings Anna’s ferocious vampire nature to the surface in her family’s defense. 

She wallows through the distasteful world of prostitution and pornography to catch the men who threaten her niece, Trish.  Anna must use her supernatural abilities and the help of the secret underworld of influential paranormal allies to set things right even while she remains unsure of who she can trust.

Review:

The first person present voice lends a gripping immediacy to the story.  Stein’s sleek writing style and creative plot twists ensure a fantastic, fast-paced read. The books in this series can be read alone or savored together.

Review: A Witch's Lament / Thursday 13: Novels Set in Salem

A Witch's Lament by Catherine Anne Collins


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Blurb:

When Skye Temple buys a historic house in Salem, Massachusetts, the witch capital of the world, she ignites events that began centuries ago during the witch trials. Salem's bloody history unfolds with her discovery of ancestral diaries, the murders of local girls, and her attraction to Jerome Phips.

A local police officer, Jerome has returned to Salem vowing to uncover the truth of his mother's disappearance during a ritual gone wrong 30 years ago. His suspicion of Skye and her family's history keeps tension between them high.

Burdened with the birth-task of the Goods to keep an ancient knife protected, Skye gains a new understanding of her powers, while the need to avenge his mother's death drives Jerome. Past and present collide in a final ritual between evil, love and honor.

Review:

I’m a sucker for stories about Salem. I love the town, and it makes such a rich backdrop for a paranormal book. The author makes great use of the setting, winding in elements of Salem’s violent history alongside the modern commercial aspects of the town.

The story itself is fast-paced and filled with magickal twists and turns. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to reading Collins’ next book!

Thursday 13: Novels Set in Salem

1. A Witch’s Lament by Catherine Anne Collins
2. A Witch’s Legacy by Catherine Anne Collins
3. I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem by Maryse Conde
4. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
5. The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
6. The Last Witchfinder by Jennet Stearne
7. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
8. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
9. The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent
10. The Crucible by Arthur Miller (okay, it’s a play, not a novel)
11. The Afflicted Girls by Suzy Witten
12. Susannah Morrow by Megan Chance
13. Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill