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The Midwife by Jennifer Worth

The Midwife, which has become a new television series in England - Call to the Midwife, was written by Jennifer Worth  who practiced in East London during the 1950s. This goes back to the time when many child births occurred in the home and even doctors made house calls. London's East End comprises of the docklands area which were busy during that time. The housing shortage in post war London pushed people into tenement housing, many of which had been condemned, and were to be torn down (it took nearly 20 years in some cases). Midwives not only had to deal with squalid conditions, but their only mode of transport was a bicycle. Sometimes they rode over seven miles during the night to deliver a baby and on one occasion when the bridge had been raised to accommodate a ship travelling along the river, the midwife and her nun companion carried their bikes and equipment across the river by hopping from barge to barge!
This is a story of a woman who was dedicated to her work and had a heart for the women she cared for. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and remember many of the bomb sites she described where children played before new buildings were erected in the 1960s and 70s. What admirable women these were.


I found this little gem at the library.

Guest Post - Lesa's Book Critique

Please welcome Lesa from Lesa’s Book Critiques who is guest posting here today. Lesa was the winner of the 2011 Arizona Library Association Outstanding Library Service Award and the 2009 and 2010 Spinetingler Awards for Best Reviewer. First Fan Guest of Honor for Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime, Write Now! Conference.

What do you most enjoy about blogging? 

I blog about books because it gives me the chance to share my excitement about books with other readers. I originally started my blog because it gave me a place to talk about books and authors. I’m on the eighth year of Lesa’s Book Critiques, and it’s still providing me with that opportunity. I enjoy comments from readers, and I’m always eager to discover what others thought about books.

Tell us a little about you 

I’m originally from Ohio, but I lived in Florida for eighteen years, and I’ve been in Arizona now for eight years. I’m the Library Manager of the Velma Teague Branch Library in Glendale, Arizona. I’ve worked in libraries since I was sixteen. I’m passionate about books, my cats, and theater. I enjoy traveling, although last year was the first time in a number of years that I’ve had much chance to do it. Last year, I went to Santa Fe, New York City, Los Angeles, and home to Ohio twice.

You get through an enormous number of books a year, how many pages do you think you average in an hour? 

I read 188 books last year. I don’t find that an enormous number when I know that Barbara Peters, owner of the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, read over 300. I average about fifty pages an hour.

Which authors inspire you? 

Inspire me? That’s an interesting word. I normally read for entertainment, so I’m not looking for inspiration. Regina Brett inspires me with her two books, God Never Blinks and Be the Miracle. Now, if you ask who my favorite mystery authors are, I would answer Louise Penny and Chris Grabenstein.

You mention that you like mysteries. Is there any particular mysteries that you enjoy most i.e Hard boiled, cozies, thrillers.  

I read a little bit of everything. I have a book cart sitting beside me at the moment, with books on it that I’ve read in the last three months. There’s a thriller on it, a police procedural, a suspense novel, a historical mystery, and a traditional mystery. However, I don’t read many thrillers or hard-boiled crime novels. I prefer traditional mysteries, police procedurals, and cozies. As I said, I read 188 books last year, and 105 of them were crime novels or mysteries.

Do you prefer to read books in print or e-books? 

I prefer books in print. I want to hold the book in my hand, turn the pages, see and read the book jacket. I want to flip back to an earlier portion of the book. It’s much easier to review a book from the print copy because I can find the pages or passages I’m looking for when I write the review. I do own a Kindle. I use it to read some ARCs, and, once in a while, I will buy an e-book when I can’t find it in another format, or I want to read it immediately. Here’s one of my personal quirks about e-books, though. I like to know what page I’m on, and how far I still have to go in a book. I can’t do that with e-books. If I have a print book and an e-book in front of me, the same title, I’ll read the print book every time.

I do understand those people who prefer e-books because they can enlarge the type,

or it’s easier for them to hold because it’s light weight. And, I know travelers prefer

to only carry an e-reader rather than multiple print books. I’m still a print book

person, though.

Have you done any author interviews that stand out?  

My favorite interviews have been the ones with debut authors. When I find a new author and love their book, I have the chance to introduce them to readers on my blog. When their first books were published, I interviewed mystery authors Deborah Coonts, Stefanie Pntoff, Carol K. Carr, and Esri Albritten. Esri’s book just came out this past year, but all three of the other authors have already published second or third mysteries. And, one of my favorite interviews was with Beth Hoffman, author of the New York Times bestseller, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. I loved that book. I reviewed it for Library Journal. After I reviewed it, Beth and I became good friends. She came here to Arizona to visit, and took the time to appear at the library for me. But, she and I became friends. Beth just sent her second manuscript off to her editor.

 

What can we expect for 2012?  Anything new coming up on your blog? 

I host a series of programs at the Velma Teague Library called Authors @ The Teague. When I host those, I recap the programs, and I recap any programs I attend at the Poisoned Pen as well. So, recaps will be appearing on my blog after I host mystery authors Deborah Crombie, Hilary Davidson, Rhys Bowen, Cara Black and Libby Hellmann, as well as nutrition author Beth Aldrich. I’m running a little late, but I will have an interview with Kristin Hannah on my blog next month. And, just so readers know, I run a weekly contest on my blog, Lesa’s Book Critiques, in which I give away books. A new contest kicks off every Thursday night.

Thanks for visiting today, Lesa.

You can find Lesa at Lesa's Book Critiques. Hop on over and say hello.

Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta by Carole Nelson Douglas

From the Cover:
Temple Barr is a PR wizard when it comes to promoting Las Vegas's hottest clients. She's also an amateur sleuth who has caught her share of bad guys, especially when they've threatened her nearest and dearest.
B-Movie actress Savannah Ashleigh begs Temple to investigate the suspicious death of her rich aunt's handyman. . . . Temple thinks she's close to solving the case, but it's clear to Midnight Louie, Temple's roommate and ace feline detective, that there are more deaths - human and feline - to come.


I'm not usually a big fan of delving into the minds and thoughts of cats, but this was a cute story and Midnight Louie has an interesting personality and makes a great feline sleuth.

A big thank you to Mason over at Thoughts in Progress for the giveaway.

Self Publishing

Hop on over to the Blood Red Pencil to view Helen Ginger's post on self publishing. Helen always has great advice on her blog Straight from Hel too.

Guest Post - Carol from Dizzy C's Little Book Blog

 Carol from Dizzy C's Little Book Blog has joined us today to tell us a little about her blog and how she started blogging.

Welcome Carol.

How did you decide to start a blog? 
I was searching the internet for inspiration for new books to read.  I stumbled on a book blog.  I had no idea what a blog was and began following.  One thing led to another and I thought I would join in and share my books with readers.  At the time I expected it to be a very small affair, hence the Little Book Blog title.  I never dreamed I would be interviewing authors, taking part in challenges, hosting giveaways.  I didn’t realize my blog building skills were there!

Tell us a little about you.
I am a stay at home mum of 3, living in East Anglia, England with my Partner and my daughter, 17, son, 14 and youngest son, 4.  I intend to join the working world again when my youngest starts school next year.  This is my 2^nd work break to stay at home and give my little ones the best start in life (in my opinion, and not everyone has the finances to stay at home) .  I have had many hobbies over the years including, knitting, cross-stitching, glass painting , genealogy and reading.  I only have time for reading these days.

Which authors inspire you? 
I admire historical fiction writers.  I know all authors research for their novels, but with historical fiction, the author has to collect all the evidence and facts before they can weave their story into those facts.   They do not have quite so much free reign with their writing.  I love how they bring history to life for me.

I am also enjoying a newish band of authors who write Post Chick-lit, hen-lit, whatever you want to name it.  Chick lit for the over 40’s (folks like me J  )

So many genres have such fuzzy lines these days and blend into each other. What are your favorite genres?
I find these fuzzy lines in genres so difficult when it comes to reviewing and labeling on the blog.  I fear I may upset an author by labeling their work in the wrong sub-genre. 

My favourite genres are Historical Fiction, Chick-lit, Romantic Fiction and Women’s Fiction.

Do you prefer to read books in print or e-books? What are your thoughts on e-books?
As the proud owner of a new Kindle, I am really seeing the benefits of having one and can honestly say I have no preference, at the moment.  I love to see books on my shelf, hold them in my hands, and search the book at will.  I also love the fact that I can get my Kindle in my handbag, read faster (no time lost turning pages and rearranging my reading position), hands free reading (I can eat choc whilst reading) and having all my e-books in one place.

You post many author interviews on your blog. Does on in particular stand out?
Two stand out for me.

Ali McNamara was my first guest author featuring her novel From Notting Hill, With Love…..Actually.

Most recently, I featured Beth Hoffman as she finally launched Saving CeeCee Honeycutt to the UK audience. 

What can we expect for 2012? Anything new coming up on your blog?
Funny you should ask that!  Last week was the first in a brand new series, W.I.P. Wednesday where authors share their Work In Progress.  A way for authors to touch base with readers in between novels.

I am amazed at the interest it has stirred up with authors and readers alike.

I would like to thank Ann very much for having me today.

Pop over and say hi, I try to reply to as many comments as I can and visit back.


Thanks for visiting, Carol.
You can find Carol at Dizzy C's Little Book Blog

Writing Mysteries

I've come across some great tips the past few years for writing mysteries. Although genres have become fuzzy there are still basically two types of mysteries: Hard boiled and cozy.


Hard boiled mysteries can be likened to Law and Order. They usually take place in a well known city and the suspects are spread out. Cozy mysteries tend to take place in a small village or confined area like Agatha Christie's novels.


When I first started writing a novel I picked out a cozy mystery from a well known author and studied it. I outlined each chapter to get a feel for the way the plot was woven. This doesn't mean you're going to copy someone else's work, you just want to get an idea of how the characters work together. I also keep a notebook with me when I'm reading and if I find words or a description I love, I write it down. Again, you're not going to copy, but it does show you how to make the words stand out.


Two resources that have been the most helpful and not only for mystery writing are:
Margie Lawson's Deep Edits lecture. You can attend classes online or purchase the lecture notes. The lecture notes are great. Margie is a great teacher.
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maas


Other links you may find helpful:
Detective's Log
Writing the Cozy Mystery by Stephen P. Rogers
The Mystery Genre
Exercises for improving dialog
Cause of Death
Plotting the Mystery Novel

New Roof

The Texas weather can be brutal, with rainless summers reaching over 100 degrees and storms producing hail stones some of which are tennis ball size, our roofs take a beating. More often than not when it's time for a new one, hail/wind damage is the culprit and covered by insurance.


I recently had my roof replaced and between Billy Harris Roofing, who are a local company and have been in business for over 40 years, and a wonderful adjuster from Allstate, the process was easy.


Tips:
Before calling your insurance company, have your roof inspected by a roofing company. They will be able to tell you if you need repairs or a new roof. Don't just go with whoever your neighbors are using. 


A couple of years ago I had repairs to the roof done by a recommended company, Robinson Roofing. It was some time later that I discovered the roof (over the garage) had continued to leak (over a year later). An insurance adjuster confirmed the work had been done inadequately and took pictures to show me. I called Robinson Roofing but no one responded nor came out to look. 
When I called again I was told that the repairmen had not returned to the office. A week later, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and Robinson Roofing's response was that their work was neither guaranteed nor was it under warranty. They also felt they were not given adequate time to respond. I never did receive a direct call from them or a response other than the letter they sent to the BBB. Note: Most roofers warranty their work for at least two years, apparently Robinson Roofing do not.


Do an internet search of any roofers that have been recommended to you, and also check with the Better Business Bureau, for complaints, but don't rely on the BBB because even Robinson Roofing has a A+ rating. 


The roofing company I used (Billy Harris Roofing) has good standing with the Better Business Bureau and is also a member of Angie's List. I found no complaints against them. They have also replaced other roofs on my street and my neighbors were happy with their work. The roofing guys offered to meet with the adjuster to walk over the roof. What impressed me most about the process was how well the adjuster and the roofing guys worked together to make sure they spotted any problems with the roof.  


The Allstate adjuster declared the roof "totaled" and printed a check for a portion of the payment (the rest is paid on completion).  The roofing estimate and the Allstate total was pretty close. Once the roof is completed, the roofer will send a completion form to the insurance company and a final check will be issued.


They were able to replace the roof four days later and were finished within six hours. The roof looks great, they even painted the vents (both new and existing) to match the color of the roof and added a few extra ones to release some of the hot summer air. Billy Harris Roofing also did a thorough clean up job and a magnetic sweep of the house perimeter to remove any nails. All through the process the Billy Harris guys, who did the initial inspection, were accessible, returned calls quickly and were on site throughout the day checking on the workers' progress.

Murdoch Mysteries

I came across this DVD in the library the other day.
Murdoch Mysteries is described as Forensic Sleuthing in the Age of Invention. In season one we are introduced to Toronto Detective William Murdoch who uses 1890's "modern" forensics such as finger marks and trace evidence to solve the crime. 


Take a look at the Forensic Science and Games tab on the Murdoch Mysteries site, it will give you a glimpse into the series.




The Murdoch Mysteries series is based on Maureen Jennings' books.

• Except The Dying
• Under The Dragon’s Tail
• Poor Tom Is Cold
• Let Loose The Dogs
• Night’s Child
• Vices Of My Blood
• A Journeyman to Grief

Ann Summerville Guest Posts

I've been a guest on lots of blogs lately - thanks everyone for inviting me. Guest posts are a great way to get to know our fellow bloggers.


The Book Snoop
Angler's Rest
Simply Creating
Aloha
Judy Croome
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
Straight from Hel

Guest Post - Cozy Crimes

Alison from  Cozy Crimes is visiting today from Australia. Alison and I share our love of cozy mysteries and Vegemite.


How did you decide to start a blog?
I read a lot and thought it would be fun to start a blog and meet other people who shared my interest in cozy mysteries.


Tell us a little about you.
I live in Brisbane, Australia. It is the capital of a state called Queensland and is located on the eastern coast of Australia. I also have two cats who are kings of the castle. I like to bake and trying out new recipes – I am still trying to find the perfect Chocolate Chip cookie recipe!

Which authors inspire you?
I really admire any author who can create characters and a setting that you want to keep reading about. One example that comes to mind is Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mysteries as I like the fact that it is set in a town full of bookstores. When can I move in?

So many genres have such fuzzy lines these days and blend into each other. We now have paranormal cozies and cooking related cozies. What are your favorites?
I really like cozies that have a cooking theme, especially baking ones like Jenn McKinlay’s Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, or the Della Cooks Mysteries by Melinda Wells.

Do you prefer to read books in print or e-books? What are your thoughts on e-books?
I do prefer reading a “real” book, but I also own an e-book reader. I think it’s great that these days you can carry around a whole library of books in your handbag and never run out of something to read! E-books are also opening up a whole range of options for authors who may not get published otherwise.

Do you have a favorite place where you like to read?
I generally sit in an armchair in the lounge (sharing with a cat of course!)

What can we expect for 2012?  Anything new coming up on your blog?
I have a few ideas tossing around in my head and hopefully I will be introducing some new things to the blog in the near future.

Brisbane

This is a picture of the city of Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia The river flooded in January 2011, destroying many homes and businesses and the city is still recovering. It’s a great place to live, and it’s only a short drive to some of the best beaches in Australia.


This is a jar of Vegemite. It is an iconic Australian product that most Aussie kids grow up on. You spread it on toast or sandwiches. Vegemite is made from used brewers' yeast extract, a by-product of beer manufacturing, and various vegetable and spice additives
It looks like boot polish, smells like fermented beer and is incredibly salty, but Australians love it!.

This is a packet of Tim Tam’s, a chocolate biscuit that Australians love. It is made up of two chocolate biscuits with a chocolate cream filling in the middle, and then covered in more chocolate. According to their website “1 in every 2 households contains a packet of Tim Tams and around 35 million packs are sold each year – that’s nearly 400 million biscuits!”.

Alison, thanks for stopping by today. I had to laugh at your Vegemite picture. It reminded me of  a school project my son had when he was in elementary school. He had to write down procedures for doing something and he chose to instruct everyone on how to make a Marmite (the English version of Vegemite) and cheese sandwich!

Heather Farm by Dorte

I uploaded  Dorte Jakobsen's  Heather Farm some time ago and just realized I didn't post a review. Dorte Jakobsen is a Danish writer who has published several mysteries. She was a guest on my blog in January (you can read her guest post here). Stop by Dorte's blog and say "hello" 
Heather Farm is a delightful short story which reached #1 for it's genre on the Amazon charts last year.
And if you want to get a taste of Dorte's writing - upload Heather Farm, it's available (free) on Amazon and Smashwords and it's short enough that if you don't have an e-reader you can read it on your computer. Once you get a taste for Dorte's writing you will want to read more of her lovely cozy mysteries.



Heather Farm - Amazon
Dorte Jakobsen's books on Smashwords



  

Self Publish Successes

Many authors have had big success with publishing their own books. Here are a few links on how they did it.


Darcie Chan
J.A. Konrath
Kristen Lamb
Amanda Hocking
Lizzy Ford


Any others that you would like me to add?

Attitude-inize by Jan Coates

Jan Coates doesn't start each day with a smile because her life has been perfect, she makes a conscious choice to see the glass half full. Raised by a mentally ill mom and a childhood of abuse, Ms. Coates' early life was not one any of us would wish for. Divorced by the age of 19 and enduring the death of a child due to a drunk driver, her life could have been one of despair and resentment and yet she has chosen to live her life to the fullest.

New research indicates that how you feel actually dictates how you do. More than skill, knowledge, or aptitude, your attitude dictates your performance and success.


Ms. Coates, with the help of scripture, shows you how you can achieve a positive attitude from the inside out, how to tackle unforgiveness and look at life differently.

I received the book as a giveaway from Christian Speaker Services.