The Narrative Gardener

Category: Book Reviews

  • Character Discussions — 8 Steps to Side Characters by Sacha Black & “The Walking Stick” by Donald Maass @Writer Unboxed

    Hard on the heels of finishing Sacha Black’s newest masterpiece 8 Steps To Side Characters, this article, “The Walking Stick” , appeared in my inbox. Sacha’s book left my mind reeling, digesting much of what I knew stated in a different way that added clarification and inspiration. Then I read Mr. Maass’s no-punches-pulled airing on the idea of ‘authentic’ characters and what authenticity really means.

    Yep, mind-blown. 🤯

    To keep your characters from falling flat, starting flat, or feeling flat, I highly recommend these two resources. Happy writing!~

    Solid side character instruction with a slathering of singularly-Sacha humor. I recommend it highly!

    The Walking Stick

    August 4, 2021 By Donald Maass Leave a Comment

    There’s a concept in storytelling that I’ve long tried to understand: “authentic”.  Mostly it’s invoked with respect to characters.  It’s important to know them.  It’s important that they act and speak in ways consistent with who they are, whether entering a room or rocketing to the stars.  It’s also important to know how they came to be who they are.  Back story wounds and burdens shape and define them and become the engines of change.

    If writing is “authentic” then every gesture, action and utterance is “honest” and everything observed is rendered in a way both original and pinpoint accurate. “Authentic” means writing not to formula but as characters would actually behave, whatever the circumstances.  “Authentic” means they go about their business in their own ways, not the author’s.  Even when they are inspired by real people or reflect the author’s own experience, if characters are “authentic” then a story will always have internal logic and integrity.

    It’s something like that.

    What bothers me is, how does knowing characters and honoring their independent existence help you to write a story?  I mean, it’s nice if characters behave in ways that are lifelike—or which at least conforms to our understandings of them—then, so far, they can only display who they are.  A backstory-induced need is a good thing and can propel a character toward some sort of emotional resolution, but by doing what?  On top of that, when characters are strongly defined and consistent how can they surprise us? read more…

  • Reblog— Identifying Your Character’s Primary Attribute — WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

    Here’s another stellar post from the gals at WHW. If you haven’t checked out their author tools, do it now! (Well, after you read this post 😉).

    When I think about some of my favorite protagonists, I can usually identify a trait that defines each one: Sam Gamgee: LoyaltyAnne Shirley: ImpulsivityJames T. Kirk: Boldness However, if each character was made up of only that one trait, they probably wouldn’t make many “favorites” lists because they’d be paper-thin—caricatures, rather than characters with depth…

    Identifying Your Character’s Primary Attribute — WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

  • Book Review: Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic

    by Victoria Hamilton

    *I received access to this title in exchange for an honest review, which I am happy to leave.*

    Much of the historical fiction I have recently read takes place in London, so when I saw Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic is set in the famous and beautiful city of Bath, I was eager to read it. The asserted healing properties of the water, and the resurgence of its popularity in the nineteenth century made for an elegant and engaging backdrop to the mystery. Through the daily routines of the citizens “dependent” upon the water’s curative effects, we are transported into the hierarchy of Bath society with Lady Anne as she visits with her mother in preparation for the announcement of her own engagement.

    I had not read any of the previous Lady Anne novels that Victoria Hamilton has written, but that did not restrict my understanding or empathy for Lady Anne or the other characters. The novel can be read as a stand-alone easily, though it may suggest that reading the prequels would be worth it for the story behind Anne and Lord Darkefell’s romance. The portrayal of the lord as dark, haughty, and sympathetic to women of his time who would control some of their independence is skillfully woven into the story as Anne conducts her own rebellions within the close Bath society.

    Themes of love, secrets, truthfulness with oneself, exploitation, and societal beliefs are all explored through Anne’s discovery and solving of a murder mystery that involves those close to her. We learn of the complex relationships society demands women maintain, and the depravity they suffer when they do not. Anne treads a fine line between impropriety and inclusion in her goal of maintaining independence and marrying a marquess, to the marvel of her mother and Bath society. It is her tenacity, however, that leads her to pursue an investigation into an untimely death in an effort to spare her friends shame. What she discovers to be at the heart of the deception shakes her definitions of truth and appearance.

    Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic is an enjoyable delve into Georgian society outside London, with all of the decorum and formality of the era. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the complexity and physical description of the city of Bath and its contribution to the story. I recommend it to historical fiction mystery fans who would enjoy a trip outside of London. Partake of the mineral waters of Bath to ease your ailments and enjoy your time sleuthing with Lady Anne!

  • Reblog: Sharing Something I Do Not Do, But Should… 4 reasons to carve out designated writing time — Uninspired Writers

    One of the most frequent tips I hear from writer friends is to have designated writing time. I have yet to get there. I know that I should, but with dogs, gardens, a farm, and household chores, I’m lucky if I can fit in half an hour for some cardio exercise in the pool I painted, since soccer is still in lockdown. There are the days when I get in a zone and have to finish a scene, so I take those days and run with them. Then I’m able to parse out that time spent over the next several days so I don’t feel guilty about not writing. Yeah, totally vicious circle. So see if any of this post resonates with you, and be a more time-organized writer than me 😉.~

    Writing required commitment, but it’s not always easy to find time in ourbusy lives. Yet, if it’s something we want to pursue, it’s something we have to do. Recently, alongside fitting writing in whenever I can, I’ve set aside designated writing time. Two hours on a Sunday, when I shut off from the world and […]

    4 reasons to carve out designated writing time — Uninspired Writers

  • From a Fellow Rebel Author– ————— How To: Beta Readers — Val Neil

    Compiled from experience, this is a great article on everything to do with beta readers. Follow the link to Val’s page and the entire piece. Enjoy!~

    What are they? People who read your polished manuscript (do not send them your shitty first draft) and give you feedback. Ideally they should be readers, NOT other writers, though that can be harder to come by. How many do you need? Depends on where you are in your writer journey. If you’re a newbie, […]

    How To: Beta Readers — Val Neil

  • Recommended: 12 Steps To Sensational Prose: The Anatomy of Prose by Sacha Black

    “My aim is to equip you with a giant bag of prose tricks.”

    “…take my must-dos and must-not-dos with several pinches of salt and a dash of gin.”

    Sacha Black, The Anatomy of Prose, pg 2.

    ** I was given an ARC of this book by the author and I HAPPILY leave this review.**

    Writing is a creative activity that can be both uplifting and weighty. So many writers feel the need to ‘have everything perfect’ the first time it is on paper and that pressure is substantial. Craft books exist by the hundreds, but the really valuable ones impart so many tips and reminders that they become references- all dog-eared, flagged, and stained.


    The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is EXACTLY this sort of book.

    It is FULL of writing tools, from cover to cover, presented in the humor-laden style unique to Sacha Black. The witty, often sarcastic jibes only serve to sear the points into the writer’s mind, and if that isn’t enough, the entire last chapter is a condensed review of the book, perfectly suited to reference on the fly! Brilliant!

    I always learn multitudes of new things from Sacha’s books. Her previous two, 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains and 10 Steps To Hero: How To Craft A Kickass Protagonist, break down the creation of the two pivotal characters in a novel into tangible steps that work insanely well. The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is no different. Authors will find it well worth having at their elbow as they create. It’s bound to become indispensible!

    One of the aspects I appreciate most about the book is that Sacha Black drives home the point about language being an array of tools that are at a writer’s disposal. Metaphors, similes, points of view, and tense may have been annoyances in English class, but now they are devices authors can wield with confidence in the name of writing their best book.

    If you don’t believe me, buy the book and try it out yourself. I know your mind will change!

    This book is not for the proper-at-heart, however, the author’s fondness for ‘bad words’ and colorful phrases are well documented on her podcast, The Rebel Author Podcast, which is also full of writing tips, tricks, and lively interviews. I find her style engaging, fun, often hilarious, but always real and thought-provoking. She continues to inspire writers and authors on- and off-the-page all over the globe. Rebel Authors everywhere will attest–read the books, take the steps (all of them!) and you will succeed! The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is highly recommended!

  • Recommended: 12 Steps To Sensational Prose: The Anatomy of Prose by Sacha Black

    “My aim is to equip you with a giant bag of prose tricks.”

    “…take my must-dos and must-not-dos with several pinches of salt and a dash of gin.”

    Sacha Black, The Anatomy of Prose, pg 2.

    ** I was given an ARC of this book by the author and I HAPPILY leave this review.**

    Writing is a creative activity that can be both uplifting and weighty. So many writers feel the need to ‘have everything perfect’ the first time it is on paper and that pressure is substantial. Craft books exist by the hundreds, but the really valuable ones impart so many tips and reminders that they become references- all dog-eared, flagged, and stained.


    The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is EXACTLY this sort of book.

    It is FULL of writing tools, from cover to cover, presented in the humor-laden style unique to Sacha Black. The witty, often sarcastic jibes only serve to sear the points into the writer’s mind, and if that isn’t enough, the entire last chapter is a condensed review of the book, perfectly suited to reference on the fly! Brilliant!

    I always learn multitudes of new things from Sacha’s books. Her previous two, 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains and 10 Steps To Hero: How To Craft A Kickass Protagonist, break down the creation of the two pivotal characters in a novel into tangible steps that work insanely well. The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is no different. Authors will find it well worth having at their elbow as they create. It’s bound to become indispensible!

    One of the aspects I appreciate most about the book is that Sacha Black drives home the point about language being an array of tools that are at a writer’s disposal. Metaphors, similes, points of view, and tense may have been annoyances in English class, but now they are devices authors can wield with confidence in the name of writing their best book.

    If you don’t believe me, buy the book and try it out yourself. I know your mind will change!

    This book is not for the proper-at-heart, however, the author’s fondness for ‘bad words’ and colorful phrases are well documented on her podcast, The Rebel Author Podcast, which is also full of writing tips, tricks, and lively interviews. I find her style engaging, fun, often hilarious, but always real and thought-provoking. She continues to inspire writers and authors on- and off-the-page all over the globe. Rebel Authors everywhere will attest–read the books, take the steps (all of them!) and you will succeed! The Anatomy of Prose: 12 Steps to Sensational Sentences is highly recommended!

  • Book Review: Audio for Authors by Joanna Penn

    If you are considering adding audio to your author business, Audio for Authors is a must-read. Then decide!

    Think you might be interested in audio? Look in here to see why you should be.

    I have been interested in narrating audiobooks for quite some time now, in fact, I already have the equipment, a homemade audio booth that sits on my desk, and I’ve created an ACX account. Why haven’t I taken the plunge? The main reason: Time.

    I read aloud A LOT. It is one of my favorite things to do when I am pleasure-reading. My dogs appreciate it, and for me it is about how the words come to life when spoken aloud. Narration is certainly something I want to add to my freelance word services business, but in addition to the time factor, I allowed myself to be stymied by the editing process. Recently, I took two more online courses through LinkedIn on using the software, and I gained a much better understanding of it. It doesn’t appear to be as difficult as my brain would have me think.

    Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn Podcast has been a staple of my subscriber library since I started listening regularly to podcasts over the past year. She is at the forefront of the indie publishing industry and a super successful entrepreneur. I find her episodes insightful, honest, and certainly thought-provoking. More often than not I remove my earbuds only to think, “Now how can I apply that to what I am doing?”

    I ordered Audio for Authors shortly after it was released. It had been recommended to me by another podcaster as well, Sacha Black over at The Rebel Author Podcast and Next Level Authors, so it was a no-brainer to add it to my cart. Then the Coronavirus hit, and I got nervous that it wouldn’t show up forever, but to my delight it arrived quickly and on time!

    The first thing I noticed about the book was the three-part organization: Audiobooks, Podcasting, Voice Technology. Can it get any more succinct than that? Each section discusses the topic thoroughly and in a manner that you can easily return to for reference- it’s all spelled out in the titles of the sections. The tips and steps are infused with the author’s own experiences over her 10+ years in podcasting, which made it all reachable for me. She shares her own techniques and reasons for the software, platforms, technology, and hardware she uses, passing along lessons and time-savers freely. I have to say my own confidence increased markedly, as did my enthusiasm!

    I finished the book over a week or two, absorbing it in small increments. The Audiobook section amped up my desire to narrate again and I recorded a short cut of one of The Collection of Huphaea posts on this blog (see CoH post #0). The Voice Technology chapters were informative and illustrate how forward-thinking Joanna Penn is in her business planning. The AI voice advances are something all authors should be keeping an eye on for use in several different ways to create income streams.

    But it was the Podcasting section that really hit home and made me think.

    “… if you are only marketing your book through written media, you will not reach a reader like me. And I am certainly not alone.”

    Joanna Penn, Audio for Authors, pg 103.

    This line alone sparked an idea, and now I am beginning to put the pieces together to start my own podcast for The Collections of Huphaea. Eeeeek! In general, I have trouble listening to the sound of my own voice, but she also points out that other people won’t hear my voice the same, so what I think doesn’t matter. Bingo! That was what I needed to hear. Yeah, podcasting. I’m diggin’ it.

    The prose is light and conversational, it’s very easy to sit down and consume in large chunks. There are websites and links given (super helpful in the ebook) and plenty of resources listed in the back of the book for readers to follow up with. Joanna Penn is thorough in providing information, making Audio for Authors a reference for a burgeoning industry.

    I highly recommend Audio for Authors for anyone thinking about adding audio to their marketing activities. Happy reading, and if you finish the book with a microphone in your hand, I won’t be surprised!~

  • Book Review: Land of Perpetual Night

    written by Miri C. Golden

    0.5 of The Blood Forest series

    *I was given an ARC by the author. I am happy to post this review.

    In Land of Perpetual Night we are introduced to Troa Travay, a young, very successful, Ranger squad leader in the highly-Casted land of Sideer. Immediately I was thrown into the unrelenting pressure of the world Troa and her friends live in. The society, the laws the citizens live by, and the parched land itself create a feeling of almost despair. But with her position, I began to think that perhaps Troa had risen above the harshness of the society; I soon learned I was wrong.

    The province of Shinador has long been looked down upon as the basest, most wild province in the Sideerian Empire, yet it inspires a vow of deep reverence in Troa, which she has vowed to fight for endlessly. But when that same vow is seemingly thrown away by her role model, her mother Shekyva, Troa’s world fractures in an instant. We follow Troa on a runaway train of hard lessons that hammer home standing firm for what you believe in is not as easy as it seems, nor are circumstances always what they appear to be.

    This book is a prequel (hence the 0.5 designation) to the forthcoming Blood Forest series. It provides a solid indoctrination into Sideer, Troa and her friends Omi and Benn as the main characters, and the evils lurking beneath the Caste system of the realm. Magic is present but held in the hands of the most privileged, adding to the brainwashing of the lowest classes. It appears later in this book, clearly setting the stage for the next installment. The “gift” forces Troa to wrestle with what she knows and what she now sees, opening her eyes to more of the injustices of her beloved statutes.

    How I imagined much of the province of Shinador

    The author, Miri C. Golden, skillfully creates tension throughout the novel, using well-crafted scenes, loads of action, and opposing character motivations, all of which will keep you turning pages for large blocks of time. An author’s job is to make us care about the characters in order to draw us along on their journey, experiencing their highs and lows with them; Ms. Golden makes us care about Troa because Troa CARES. Add in the confidence and energy of late teenage youth, casual romantic rendezvous, and fierce devotion to each other, and the events fly fast and furious. Oh! and there is even a new phraseology that still has me calling things “rotting” and using “shrike” as a ubiquitous verb.

     This book was a departure for me from my favored fantasy subgenres; it is more on the darker spectrum than I usually read. However, the author’s style drew me in and kept me coming back time and again. Branching out into new reading territory is always beneficial, and I am happy that I did. Land of Perpetual Night is an excellent darker fantasy adventure to embark upon, as long as you bring your crossbow and your courage. Come along for the ride!~

    A must-have in Shinador…

  • A Review of The Circle

    The Circle by Cindy Cipriano

    *I was given an ARC by the author, and I happily leave this review.*

    shows the cover of the book reviewed

    That was fantastic! Is the next book already out?

    Those were my exact thoughts when I turned the last page of The Circle. From the first page, I was ensnared. I sat in my round chair all afternoon, with rampant FOMO on what happens next in the small North Carolina town the Sidhe call home in our world. I was reluctant to put the iPad down and make dinner, and couldn’t wait to settle in later that night to finish the tale—it was truly a fun read.

    Having spent time in Ireland studying folklore and history, I was already familiar with the Sidhe of legend, and Ms. Cipriano’s modern twist is a wonderful adaptation.

    The story begins with the disappearance of one of three boy cousins as they play among the Sidhe and human worlds. We learn quickly that distance is not measured linearly, and passing between the realms is instantaneous. Some Sidhe have opted for leaving their mounds in favor of life in the human world, making a small North Carolina town their home instead. Calum’s family is one of these, along with his cousin Hagen’s family. They travel back and forth as they wish, and must, to keep their faerie powers strong.

    The protagonists in this story are 6th graders, (it has been classified as both Middle Grade Children’s and Fantasy), but that does not restrict the story to a younger audience. Calum, Hagen, and their duine daonna (non-Sidhe) friend Laurel struggle through the school year, facing the usual trials of bullies, schoolwork, and emerging emotions, even as they discover they are all linked by the disappearances of their loved ones. Family bonds and trust are themes the trio must navigate as their respective pains bring them closer together, and to their goals.

    One aspect of the story I enjoyed was Kenzie’s Siopa Leabhar, the bookstore and cafe she runs in town. For some reason, I am always drawn to stories and book covers that feature bookstores. Most likely this is because a bookstore is one of my favorite places to be, but they are often places of stability, grounding, and constant for the characters in the stories. This one is no different. Kenzie’s store is a fixture in the community; a place to stop in the morning for coffee, where the protagonists study, research, and plan, and where the Sidhe realm leaves its mark on our world in the verses encoded on its shelves. A bookstore that guides a patron to the answer to their questions? I’m in! Where do I enter?

    The author’s writing style is engaging and descriptive; her merging of the human and Sidhe worlds is seamless. The magic draws on ancient lore, yet is injected with imaginative details that I truly marveled at. Several times I paused in my reading to appreciate the uniqueness of Ms. Cipriano’s magic system. Such new idiosyncrasies give the book a fresh feeling and leave me wanting to know what’s next.

    The Circle is not a 300+ page novel like I usually read, so I had the pleasure of finishing it in a day—which was perfect because I had a difficult time putting it down. The story moved at a lively pace, pulling the reader forward into the events with clear, modern dialogue that revealed plenty of details about the characters and their lives.

    I thoroughly enjoyed meeting each of the members of Calum’s extended family, and keeping their lineages straight is part of the fun in a clan-based story such as this. Each character’s persona is well-crafted and consistently reinforced by their actions. Some of the main story threads are resolved in this installment, but others are left open for the next, putting the second book, The Choice (out soon!) high on my TBR list.

    If you are a lover of Irish folklore-based fiction, I highly recommend The Circle. Sit down with a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon and you will hardly notice the time pass as The Circle carries you between this world and the mounds of the Sidhe. But beware! an hour you can only remain, in a mound not of your own clan. Happy reading!~

    Are they fairy mounds? Humans will never know.