I'm a writer of young adult fiction, specializing in historical, folk, and gothic themes though some contemporary fantasy themes will find their way into some of my stories, too. Visit my NOVELS page for more information on my books. Most of my blog entries are BOOK and FILM reviews, generally focusing on coming-of-age subjects (a few are not, however) in contemporary and historical settings. I'm especially fond of old, obscure stuff, and some of the books I review are no longer in print. It's my hope to keep these gems alive in some way or another and to share them with anyone who's interested. Enjoy your stay, and thanks for stopping by!
So I decided to streamline my online presence to this blog. It’s difficult dividing my already divided time between two or more places (and as some of my friends already know, I don’t do multi-tasking well; that’s the reason I refuse to write more than one novel at a time), and I’m convinced that turning this blog into more than just a collection of book and film reviews will be a good way of finding my center, which I somehow lost along the crazy road to publication.
I tweaked with my blog’s content post codes because as much as I love the italics, I find reading longish reviews a bit of a struggle after a while. Hopefully I’m not giving poor Liza a massive coronary for doing that.
Ahh… Adam Ant and his signature dandy highwayman glam. I credit him as one of the first artists of the video age to get me hooked on boys with eyeliner (or boyliner, I suppose). How old was I when I started thinking that boyliner was hot? Thirteen? Fourteen? It doesn’t matter. Boyliner’s just hot. HOT.
MOVIE DESCRIPTION:
Abroad on a rest holiday, composer Gustav Aschenbach is to all the world reserved and civilized. But when he glimpses someone who inspires him to give way to a secret passion, it foreshadows his doom. Director Luchino Visconti transforms Thomas Mann’s classic novel into a “masterwork of power and beauty” (William Wolf, Cue). Like Aschenbach, Visconti is an artist obsessed: his movies are awash in mood, period detail, and seething emotions beneath placid surfaces. Earning its maker a Cannes Film Festival Special 25th Anniversary Prize, Death in Venice - with a soundtrack feast of Gustav Mahler music and a haunting Bogarde performance - is Visconti at his best.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
During an eye-opening post-graduation summer road trip, Jason, Kyle, and Nelson, each also embarks on a personal journey across a landscape of love, sexuality, homophobia, and above all, friendship. With Rainbow Road, Alex Sanchez concludes the story begun in Rainbow Boys and Rainbow High about what it means to be young and gay, again told in his unflinchingly honest voice. (from Mr. Sanchez’s book page)
Short fiction update: my short story, “Narcissus,” is now posted at SoMa Literary Review for their May issue. Go to my Short Fiction page for the link to that story and my other freebies.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Mark Gatiss presents the first adventure of Lucifer Box rendered in every detail. Lucifer Box, the greatest portraitist of the Edwardian Age and England’s most dashing secret agent, investigates a series of bizarre disappearances and plunges headlong into low life and high society. Who is killing Britain’s most prominent vulcanologists? What secrets lie beyond the grave? And which tie goes best with a white carnation? See him confront the purple undead, instruct the mysterious and beguiling Bella Pok, disguise himself with a false moustache, face an ominous evil in the depths of a volcano, and come to grips with his new manservant, Charlie Jackpot.
Saunter on down to my Novels page. I’ve got the cover art and the cover blurbs posted for my three books. I decided not to create separate pages for the novels since I don’t really have much on me at the moment except for basic information, but maybe down the road, I’ll go ahead with the individual pages. Hopefully I’ll be able to add some reviews of the books as well as a few notes or odds and ends from me. I enjoy talking a little about each book (my inspiration, the writing process, etc.), but at the moment, my schedule’s too tight to work on additional stuff like that.
Firstly, a bit of a heads up, y’all. I’m taking a temporary break from posting book reviews - that is, till the end of this month - because I’m currently reading and critiquing a friend’s manuscript, which she wants to submit for publication (and it’s a Victorian mystery!). Given my crazy schedule all month long, I’m beginning to lag a little behind, and I want to devote as much time as I can on it, so she can start working on the edits. I can certainly concentrate on film reviews for the time being as I know that I’ve been lagging in that regard as well. Hoo boy.
Well, looky here! A custom blog design! Lord, I’m so tickled and thrilled speechless. Many, many, many thanks to Liza from Lorelei Web Design, who not only worked incredibly fast in putting this design together, but has been immensely patient with me and my cluelessness. So, yes, this is is, folks. My final blog theme, my permanent home on the web. And it’s Victorian. I’m swooning. Liza, thank you. :) EDIT: By the bye, I’ve also just updated my About Me page. Took a lot of brain cells to get all that stuff out, but I survived with a couple to spare.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
This sex-filled farce is part James Bond, part Austin Powers. Lucifer Box is a portrait painter and a rake who catches the eye of all the ladies. But there are two things these women don’t know about him. First, Lucifer is His Majesty’s top secret agent. Second, Lucifer is a mad, passionate lover…with his delectable right-hand man, Charlie. Together, the two must set out to discover why Britain’s most prominent scientists are turning up dead. They and a cast of quirky characters must work together to save the world from total destruction. And it all seems to center around an underground sex club, which goes to show that sometimes, you just have to mix business with pleasure.
