Tag Archive for: Fourth of July

Setting Matching by Saralyn Richard

/in , , , , , /by

Setting Matching

By Saralyn Richard

 

Should your reading setting match the setting of your current book? Not really. Otherwise, how could you enjoy historical or sci fi fiction? But some interesting things have occurred to me in the past when I read a book that matched the situation I was in at the time.

The first time I noticed this phenomenon was when I was sick with the flu. The rather unfortunate choice of books on my nightstand included Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. As I coughed and battled high fevers, I read about the English plague of 1666, and I shuddered all the more with the tension of the book.

I read Suzanne Morris’ Galveston while sitting on the beach, only a few blocks from the Victorian homes described in that book. The sights, sounds, and smells of Galveston surrounded me in real life, as I read Morris’ descriptions of them.

I read Emilya Naymark’s Hide in Place during a cold snap. I could feel the biting wind and hear the crunch of the snow as I read. The chills of the book became actual chills for me.

Not exactly serendipity, after visiting the National Aeronautics & Space Museum (NASA), I decided to read Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff. I had a greater appreciation for the astronauts’ personal journeys as described by Mr. Wolfe, because I had sat in one of the space vehicles mentioned in the book.

Of course, it’s not a requirement to select a book based on its location, time in history, or season’s matching the one you are currently in, but there’s an extra surge of fun when the match-up occurs.

If you’re looking for a sizzling summer mystery, Bad Blood Sisters might be up your alley. All the tension begins on the Fourth of July. And Quinn’s family, who owns a mortuary and sometimes jokes about death, decides that this summer death stops being funny.

Whatever you’re reading this summer, I hope you’re having a great time. Can you think of examples of setting matching that you’ve experienced?

 

 

Saralyn Richard writes award-winning humor- and romance-tinged mysteries that pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. Her works include the Detective Parrott mystery series, BAD BLOOD SISTERS, A MURDER OF PRINCIPAL, NAUGHTY NANA, and various short stories published in anthologies. She also edited the nonfiction book, BURN SURVIVORS. An active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn teaches creative writing and literature. Her favorite thing about being an author is interacting with readers like you. Visit Saralyn here, on her Amazon page here, or on Facebook here.

 

Untitled Post

/in /by

CELEBRATING GUILT by Debra H.
Goldstein

Celebrate! Have you ever noticed that the Fourth of July celebration
goes far beyond one day?  On the Friday
before this holiday weekend, airports and roads became packed as people ducked
out of their offices early. Those who stayed behind actually got caught up
because things were so quiet.

I had great plans for using the Friday to write my personal Stiletto
Gang and It’s Not Always a Mystery blogs, set up and schedule the great guest July
blogs for both (Judy Penz Sheluk is visiting The Stiletto Gang on July 22 and
the amazing Bill Crider is my July 18 guest on It’s Not Always a Mystery), and
working on a short story that is burning a hole in my brain. 

Addressing anything burning a hole in my brain takes high
priority as there only is so much space left in those hemispheres that resemble
swiss cheese. So, I was ready, set, and started; but then, Joel announced he’d
be home mid-day and was curious if I planned to be in my lab or wanted to do
something.  Guilt!

For the next three months, I am gone a significant part of
each month doing book talks and signings Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie
Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery. Joel supports my endeavors, but
rather than go on the road with me, he enjoys working, visiting children,
grandchildren, or the grand-dog, going to the gym or hanging in front of our TV
set.  Now, he was specifically asking me
to do something with him beyond our already scheduled holiday plans. 

for

I’d already promised to dedicate Saturday to a “date” like
activity (translate that to no writing as we’ll be on the road) and we had
plans with other couples for Sunday and Monday. What did he want of me? Didn’t
he understand I need to dedicate myself to my writing when I’m not frustrated
and playing Spider Solitaire?

I started getting worked up and was about to explain to him
why I needed my private time but something stopped me. I thought about how much
my writing takes me away from interacting with others and remembered that if we
are to be good writers, we need to be well-rounded human beings.  That means prioritizing personal lives as
well as word counts.

At least for me, all too often, I become so engaged in
writing or PR that I sacrifice the time I could devote to interacting with
those I love most. I’ve learned I can’t be superhuman so I’ve given up trying
to keep a Martha Stewart house, but I need to remember those I care about need
my attention, too. In the end, it works both ways.  I am nurtured by those I nurture and my
writing is the better for it.

How about you? Do you function in a vacuum or celebrate with
those around you?
FYI: I have a new and improved website at www.DebraHGoldstein.com .  In creating the website, the It’s Not Always a Mystery Blog was moved to a new wordpress platform requiring those who want to receive email notification/copies twice a month to sign up again. Please do. 

How I Celebrated the Fourth, Then and Now

/in /by

Going way back, what I remember most about celebrating the Fourth of July was playing with sparklers in our front yard.

Another year, I remember organizing all the kids in the neighborhood, helping them decorate their bikes, trikes and wagons with red, white and blue crepe paper and having our own neighborhood parade. (This was during WW II.)

Someone was impressed enough that we got a write up in the newspaper–pretty good since we lived in Los Angeles.

Jumping ahead to when I had my own houseful of children, on the evening of the fourth, we’d all climb on the roof of the patio to watch the fireworks from the harbor. This worked well, except one year when it was too foggy to see much of anything.

Of course there have been many barbecues and big parades to watch on the Fourth of July since then.

For two years in a row, I had a booth at a Fourth Celebration in the park of a nearby town–but it was far too hot, so this year I headed to the Channel Islands Harbor for another Fourth of July Celebration and joined lots of other folks who had booths set up with their wares, crafts, jewelry and food–and as seems to be the case, me with my books.

This year I didn’t have to worry about being too hot because the day started out with a light fog which burned off for a few hours during midday–but it never too warm.

People watching is probably the most fun at something like this. Maybe I should say, people and dog watching, because there were lots of varieties of both.

Of course I enjoyed talking to people about my books–many are surprised that a “real” author would bring her own books and sell them at a place like this event. Some were thrilled to meet me and buy a book.

Most exciting was a 90 year-old-fan who had heard I would be there, who had her son bring her down so she could see me and buy my latest book, Lingering Spirit.

I also met a lady who lives in a city close to me but also has a home at Channel Islands Harbor she escapes to when the valley heat gets too much. She belongs to a book club and asked if I’d come and visit with them sometime–and I’m sure you know the answer to that–I’d love to.

We stayed with our youngest daughter and her husband while we were in the area and had a great time visiting with them too. (And they helped us set up our booth and take it down.)Another plus was having some great conversations with my seventeen year old granddaughter.

And that’s how I spent my Fourth of July this year. (And no, I didn’t see any fireworks though everyone else did–I was too tired and went to bed.)

Marilyn