Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This time it’s a chilling psychological thriller called Depraved by Woody P. Snow. And I have to warn you this book is not for the faint of heart or the seuqamish.  Depraved by Woody P. Snow Trapped between life and death while a murderer lurks, only thoughts of revenge keep him alive. Trapped between life and... Read More

Some writer friends and I had a rousing discussion about whether our work in progress books were cozy mysteries or not. A cozy mystery has a dead body or two, but not a lot of gore. The reader can cozy up with a good book by the fire, under a blanket, and have a good story without being terrified or having a lesson in forensics. An amateur sleuth gets involved trying to solve the riddle of “whodunit.” I go into more detail about it in this article. Hannah Swensen (Murder She Baked) series and the Cat Who series are examples of cozies. I like them, because I’m not a big fan... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. I found this week’s read because I bought her book on writing cozy mysteries. Being a fan of cozies, I had to give one of hers a try. Description of Permed to Death from Amazon: Meet Marla Shore, a Florida beauty salon owner with a knack for creating dazzling dos—and solving mysteries . . .Marla was already... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This week, it’s a contemporary medical adventure novel called State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I read this book about a year ago, and it still sticks with me. That’s why I decided to do a review of it here. http://smile.amazon.com/State-Wonder-Ann-Patchett-ebook/dp/B004G8QZSS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital- State of... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. Author Jan Morrill’s first novel weaves great storytelling, thorough research, and her mother’s experiences in a Japanese internment camp during World War II into this novel about the power of hatred and perception. Read more about the book. The Red Kimono by Jan Morrill From the Inside Flap In 1941, racial... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This week it’s a cozy mystery from the Murder, She Baked series by Joanne Fluke. I’ve been reading the series from the first, The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. Each book includes recipes. Most are for cookies, but there are some for casseroles, cakes, and other asty foods. The first book is now a movie... Read More

elcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This week, it’s an Amish science fiction novel called Brother, Frankenstein by Michael Bunker. Yes, I said “Amish science fiction.” Have you heard of it? It sounds like a strange combination, doesn’t it? Yet in the hands of a skilled wordsmith, it can definitely work. Here’s the book description... Read More

Starting now, each month on the last Thursday I’ll do a review of a book of value and interest to authors. Do you use Twitter? Do you like it?  Does it drive you nuts? At my last live event, several authors came up and said one of these things regarding Twitter: “It’s so stupid.” “It’s a waste of time.” “I just don’t get it.” “I don’t understand why it’s important.” OK, it CAN be a stupid waste of time. But so can nearly anything else in life, if yu think about it. The trick is knowing how to make it... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This week’s review is yet another in a genre I don’t often read. I like expanding my horizons. This time it’s Black CLoud Rising: Chrysalis by Darrel Sparkman I don’t often read dystopian books because so many of them have a strong theme of futility. Not so with Chrysalis.. Why did I feel this... Read More

Welcome back to another Write On Purpose book review. Each week, I review a well-written book, highlighting what makes it good (or not so good) from the reader’s perspective and what writing skills and techniques make it an irresistible (or annoying) read. Thus, each review serves both writers and readers. This review is a mixed bag. The series is the Montana Gallaghers historical fiction series by MK McClintock. First I need to say I have immense respect for anyone who follows through from concept to completion of a novel or a series. As a novelist myself, I can attest to how much work it... Read More