Recently Read

I've decided to keep my followers up-to-date with my reading as well as my writing. First up: The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan.

I'll be honest; I found this book incredibly depressing. (Depressing? I went through reams of tissues every time one of Winnie's children died.) That's probably because I'm from the strictly escapist school of novel readers. Regardless, it was well-written. The voice fits the characters, telling the story with authenticity and occasional humor. The writing style is unique and intriguing, and the story is interesting (albeit depressing). I'd recommend The Kitchen God's Wife on the basis of the craftsmanship alone. If you like a dose of realism with your reading, though, you'll probably enjoy the story as well.

Shameless Self-Promotion

I try to keep this blog strictly informative, but it's time for some shameless self-promotion.

I recently self-published a book of short stories through Lulu.com. You can purchase it through the button to the right. The price is $7.95. Hey, folks, I'm excited!

Buy it! Buy it!

Creative Writing Resource for Science Fiction & Fantasy

I don't usually use this blog to recommend books, but I just finished Orson Scott Card's How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy. If you haven't read it, it's well worth the time.

Card deals with the specifics of writing speculative fiction, giving down-to-earth instruction and guidelines that will be helpful for the novice or seasoned writer. If you're like me, and have an interest in SF&F but have never written any, this book will open several worlds of possibility to you.

Even if you don't want to write speculative fiction, it may be worth the read to broaden your horizons and gain a few tips that will help you in other genres. You may find the brief section on the life and business of writing particularly helpful if you're a new writer. Regardless, it's an informative and entertaining read. Card is one of the stars of modern Sci-Fi writing, and when you read this book, you can see why.