Fleeing Beauty review

I don't know whether I have a twisted form of ESP or some kind of psychic connection. Maybe it's just that impish muse that occasionally perches on my shoulder and she's flicking her nails against my ear lobe. Or maybe it's indigestion. Who knows?  But when it happens, I have to pay attention.

Yesterday was a perfect example. I'm not one to check on my books daily. Once in a great while, I'll check out Amazon or Barnes & Noble to see if there are any reviews or comments left from a reader. With a free moment, I stopped by Amazon and was pleasantly surprised to see a 4 star rating on "Fleeing Beauty" with the following comment:

This book is full of twists and turns! Jamie has Malone look for some pieces her father hid before his death. Sparks end up flying between them and it is hot! Mystery, suspense, sex....what more could you ask for in a book? 

That kind of feedback is what every author strives for. While I know it's impossible and unrealistic to try and please everyone, it's encouraging to get this kind of response.   Occasionally I'll post an excerpt from the story. This seems like the perfect time to do so.  The passage below packs a little heat, so be advised. I hope you enjoy it.

With one arm around my waist, he held me close. I felt his other hand cup the back of my head as he held me still, driving me crazy with a long, slow, wet kiss. I was squirming on his lap with excitement now. And he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

       He released me head, drawing his hand slowly down to my breast. I tipped my head back. He was licking and kissing my throat. Electricity was running wild through my core. And then just as suddenly, Malone was standing, holding me in his arms. This was no easy trick, getting out of the clutches of the aunt. Without a word, he eased me down until my feet touched the hard wood floor.

       “Malone?”

       “Hush, Jamie. I want you to do exactly what I say.”

       He stepped over and switched off the light. For an instant I was nervous, until I saw the mischievous sparkle in his eyes. Now he turned me around so that I was facing one arm of the sofa. Malone guided me back to the cushions, only now I was kneeling with my back to him.  I could feel the stubble of his beard lightly scratching my shoulders. He turned his head enough to inhale the perfume I’d splashed on when changing. It wasn’t strong, but it lingered. I felt a tingling sensation race down my arms as Malone’s hot breath warmed my shoulder blades. He tugged the tank top. Now his lips were slowly moving down the ladder of my spine.  I couldn’t move. Even if I wanted to.

       A solitary fingertip lightly slid down the back of my arm. He was barely touching me, but oh, baby, where he was touching and how he was touching was setting me on fire. He shifted lower. I felt the bottom of the tank top move up, exposing my stomach, the small of my back and my ribs. I cried out in surprise when Malone nipped me with his teeth, lightly grazing the spot on my back where my kidneys were. The fingertip continued to graze my arm.

       I felt his lips move back to my spine. Now his tongue flicked out and danced the rest of the way down, pausing at the waistband of my shorts. His fingertip was gone now, darting quickly in front to undo my shorts. Somehow he shoved my shorts down until they were bunched up by my knees. Then his fingernails were lightly scratching my legs from the hips to the thighs while he continued to kiss the bottom of my spine. I was shaking. Again I felt a fingertip glide across the back of my knee.

       “Take me, Malone. I can’t stand it.”

       “Soon, Jamie. Soon.”

       “Now, Malone, please!”

       I felt his palm squeeze my left calf. My orgasm was building so intensely, I was afraid I was going to implode. His lips danced across the cheeks of my ass. He nipped me again.

       “Malone! You’re killing me!”

       He pulled back for a heartbeat. Somehow he managed to free himself from his jeans. I felt him press against me. I was so wet, so aroused, I screamed when he entered me. My body was quivering, delightful spasms causing my whole being to quake. Never before had I experienced something so intense, so overpowering. And still he held me, driving me forward, urging me on for more. I screamed again as he exploded inside me.

 

Follow along

This last week I had the opportunity to speak at a club luncheon about my efforts as a writer. About thirty people gathered around for a mediocre meal. After taking care of business, they invited me up to talk about what it's like being a novelist.  I described the challenges of a writer, shaping a good story, creating memorable characters, the importance of character names, conflicts, dialog and the use of humor.  Then I took a few questions.

One asked me how detailed my outlines were. They were stunned when I admitted to never using an outline.

One lady was almost indignant. "But that's crazy! How else can you write a novel?"

I described my process. Usually I begin with one or two key characters and a vague idea of some type of mystery or crime. I make sure I know my characters well, how they will react to situations, what makes them tick, and then I put them in motion and kind of follow along. While I may have a glimmer of an idea about what's going to happen, the story usually takes a number of twists and turns along the way.

Now I'm not saying this is the only way to write a story. Many great authors use outlines or draft each scene's activity before they ever get to the keyboard. Others will use a whiteboard and spin what looks like a flow chart, where one scene leads to another. But that's the beauty of creative writing. We all find the approach that works best for us. I tried to write using an outline before and it was a painful process. The resulting story was dull and dry and boring. So I chucked it.

Many years ago I had the great good fortune to meet Elmore Leonard. http://www.elmoreleonard.com/ 

We chatted for a few minutes at a book signing he was doing. I asked if he still wrote using a legal pad. Leonard admitted that he would spend an entire day working on one scene, scratching it out with pen and paper before he was satisfied. Then he would sit down at the typewriter and write the finished product.  The system worked for him and he had more bestsellers than I can ever dream of.

So I just follow along. I give the characters a nudge, point them in the general direction of mayhem and run beside them, jotting it down. It may be crazy but it works for me.

On another note, I learned this morning that my paperbacks are now available on a site called Books a Million.  The link below should take you there.  Turns out I'm not the only Mark Love who is a writer. Imagine that. I wonder if the other ones use outlines.

http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6161449146663&query=mark+love&where=book_author

A Few Twists Down the Road

Recently at my 'regular' job, I was asked to facilitate a fiction writer's workshop. This wouldn't be for employees but for customers who come in to the operation to utilize our programs and services. Now other than conducting training sessions on work related issues, I don't usually get the chance at work to dip into the creative side. So here was an opportune moment to do something more enjoyable. I planned out a three session workshop and figured we'd see what happened.

Seven eager people attended the first class, anxious to learn more about the writing process. I'm no expert, but since I've been writing for a long time and have been fortunate enough to publish both short stories and novels, it was a chance to offer some suggestions and guidance.  The first week, we talked about characters and how to make them memorable and different.  I handed out copies of a  profile sheet that I've used for years, where the writer can fill in as much detail as they'd like when creating a character. Knowing that staring at a blank computer screen or a blank page can be intimidating, I worked up the opening to a short story (with some help from author M S Spencer) took it to a point of conflict and stopped.  I gave this out as an assignment and explained it was up to them as writers to continue the action. They could change the narrative, introduce new characters or whatever they pleased.  We would read their results aloud next time.

The second class had four new people who were quickly brought up to speed. Most of the others read their efforts. I was pleased to see so many different paths were taken, or as one guy said "A few twists down the road."   After everyone had a chance, we discussed the importance of a settings, including the time period when the story takes place. Similar to the character profile, I gave them all a sheet for creating settings. That week's assignment was to describe a setting for their own story.

Week three brought even more people to the party. Several read their efforts at settings, one of whom went on to incorporate that into a humorous short story that had everyone laughing.  We talked about plot, using humor even in the most serious stories and how to weave conflicts into a chapter or a short story.

As we reached the end of our time, I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction. The group begged to continue. 'Three weeks is not enough', one fellow complained. 'This is just like a book. You've got us interested and wanting to keep going.'

After working out a few logistics, I was able to grant their wish. Now we will continue to meet periodically but the focus will be on providing them the opportunity to workshop their own efforts and gain valuable feedback from the others.  I'll be curious to see how it all shakes out as we follow those 'few twists down the road'.

My own writing efforts were rewarded again this week with the release of "Fleeing Beauty". This is the third installment in the Jamie Richmond series.  I hope you'll check it out.  And if you get a chance, stop by M S Spencer's blog to see what she's been up to.

http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=962

http://www.amazon.com/Fleeing-Beauty-Jamie-Richmond-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00OL679XK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414330016&sr=8-1&keywords

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fleeing-beauty-mark-love/1120611186?ean=2940046352245

Crazy Times

I think it was Henry Ford who once said "Never complain and never explain."  I'm not sure if those are real words to live by but every once in a while, they seem to make sense.  But for the most part, when things tend to get a little crazy and I am remiss about something like posting, an explanation seems in order.

Lately my time to write has been very limited. I work a full time 45 hour a week job and I also teach one night a week. That part sounds easy, since I have office hours at school for about an hour then spend on average 2 1/2 hours in the classroom. Sounds simple, right?  But that doesn't take into consideration the numerous hours of preparation needed to make it happen. I also received the final revisions for my approval on my next book and had to race through them to meet the deadline. Then there are occasions when I want to be writing but I need to do some form of promotion to help raise awareness of my books and generate sales. Hey, as my protagonist in WHY 319? would say, 'sleep is vastly overrated'.

So today was mostly spent doing promos, exchanging emails with potential fans and taking care of a few business things. Now it's a chance to write a little blurb about 'Fleeing Beauty'.  This is the third book in the Jamie Richmond series.  I like to think each one is a little better, a little snappier, where a bit more of the characters are developed. What continues to be a challenge for me is that these are written from Jamie's perspective and as a guy, it's not easy to think like a woman.  But somehow, it seems to work.

Here's a little snippet from the book, which is scheduled to be released Tuesday, October 21.

I don’t want to die.

I’m not ready for it. There are too many things I haven’t experienced yet. Places to go, people to meet, adventures waiting to be discovered. I want to gaze at the stars over the Mediterranean Sea while making love with Malone. I want to fly in a sailplane. I want to stand on a beach in Key West and dip my toes in the ocean and the gulf. I want to travel to exotic lands, dine on their cuisine and dance my little ass off to the local music. I want all of that and much more.

But I don’t think any of that is going to happen.

We’re all going to die.

Once this gang gets what they’re after, there is no reason to leave us behind. They’re not going to lock us in a closet and make a run for it. We’ve all seen their faces. We know their names. We can identify them. There is no way they will let us live. Their leader has a violent streak and it’s only a matter of time before he lashes out again.

My mind is flashing on ways out of this. But nothing makes sense, nothing that will allow me to stop them, to guide us out of here safely.

I don’t want to die.

But there is nothing I can do to prevent it.

Update: Why 319?

Occasionally I'll go to websites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble to see what's happening with some of my titles. I try to do what I can to help promote my books. Sometimes I'll give away a copy of an eBook to generate interest or as part of an event with the publisher. But what always gets my attention is when someone takes the time to write a review.

I learned the hard way a long time ago that you can't please everyone. There are some people in this world who just ain't happy unless they have something to complain about. You could make them a wonderful dinner with a nice steak grilled to perfection, a tossed salad filled with fresh veggies, a baked potato the size of your fist and a heaping bowl of fresh fruit.  After they enjoyed their fill, they might look at you and say 'What, no dessert?'  You know the type. We all do.  So as a writer when it comes to reading reviews on your work, you'd better have a thick skin.

Sure enough on Amazon there are currently 8 reviews for "Devious" the first book in the Jamie Richmond series.  Most of these are very positive, three, four or even five stars. Yet one unsatisfied customer ranks it with one star.  As Chuck Berry and Bob Seger would say, 'C'est La Vie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5frEU3eHbM

Now my latest mystery "Why 319?" about the serial killer on the loose in Metro Detroit, has only been out for a month now.  To my surprise I found two reviews on Amazon for the book, both ranking it for five stars. Gotta love that.  To make it even sweeter, it's now available as an eBook.  Here's a link to where you can find it.  I hope you enjoy it.  And if you'd like to write a review, go for it. Good or bad, your feedback is welcome.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-319-Mark-Love/dp/1612964095/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410699444&sr=8-1&keywords=Why319%3F


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Why-319-?keyword=Why+319%3F&store=book

"Fleeing Beauty" Coming Soon!

One of the challenges for me is when I try to get the artwork right for a story. Being able to convey the image I have in my head to the artist who will actually put the cover together is never easy.  Sometimes the image I have in mind sounds great, but in reality it just won't click.  Fleeing Beauty, the third book in the Jamie Richmond series, is a perfect example.

I filled out the questionnaire for the artist with as much detail as possible. Since so much of this story centers around the discovery of art work, I thought it would be a piece of cake. Take a picture of a sculpture, stick a crate here or there, show my favorite redhead in some form of distress. It's just that easy!  Shows what I know.

It turns out that using any existing sculpture would add expenses since we'd need the author's approval.  Dawne Dominique, who created the covers for both "Devious" and "Vanishing Act"  even went so far as to try and make her own sculpture. (Obviously she has far more patience and talent than I.)  That didn't work.  So she sent me a cover that was definitely eye-catching but in a direction that I never expected.  My good buddy Joanna, who read the earlier draft of the story, checked it out. She flinched. Not a good sign.  So I rejected it, which is the first time I've ever done that. Dawne went back to it and sent me a different version. Close, but a few tweaks were needed. One last try, since the publisher only allows three attempts.  The finished product hit the mark.  Thanks Dawne for your diligence and understanding.

Hope you like it.

A Visit with M S Spencer

Every once in a while, another author stops by to hang out. They might search for the tequila or some other form of adult libation, check out what's on the stereo or paw through my collection of books, seeking inspiration. Inevitably, they get comfortable and share a few insights.

Today is no exception. Author M S Spencer wandered in.  I have had the opportunity to read three of her previous mystery novels and found each one enjoyable.  

Before we get to your book, let’s learn a bit about you.  Where are you from and how long have you been writing?

Where am I from? Hmm. That's a toughie. I was born in upstate New York near the St. Lawrence Seaway, but moved six months later (well, my parents moved—I went along for the ride). We spent three years in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, then went halfway around the world to live in Turkey. Two years later we returned to Maryland and only moved twice more before heading to Paris for three years, then on to Morocco. Back to Maryland for high school until college drew me to the Hudson Valley; then Egypt; then Cambridge, MA, then Chicago, then Turkey, and finally back to DC. I'm skipping over the summers and have forgotten maybe one or two moves, but you get the gist. So, to answer your question, I'm not exactly sure where I'm from.

As I like to say, I've been writing since I could hold a crayon in my tiny, stubby fingers.

What authors have had an influence on your own writing efforts?

From adolescence on I read almost exclusively British writers—Austen, Waugh, the Brontes, Hardy—and I've been told my style has a pronounced English taste. I read little modern American fiction and still don't like it much. Either it's too melodramatic like (Hemingway) or too angst-driven (Tyler etc.). If a book is considered a classic, I'll read it. I figure it wouldn't be a classic if it weren't good (the exception being Dickens—gawd, he's dull).  I also loved the dark, intricate writings of Conrad and Anne Rice.

Do you have a specific time or routine that you try to follow when it comes to writing?

Seven days a week I get up early, take a long walk, then go back to bed. About nine, I'll get my breakfast, watch news (I'm a CSpan junkie), then hit the laptop. I'll get into my stride just before knocking off for lunch, then it's downhill from there until about five when I get another spurt of energy. I have an awful feeling I only get inspired when it's nearing a meal time…

What’s the title of your latest work and what is it about?

Whirlwind Romance came out September 2. It's a full-length romantic suspense novel (M/F, 3 flames). Here's the blurb:

 In the aftermath of a hurricane, Lacey Delahaye finds herself marooned on the Gulf coast of Florida with a mysterious man. They are immediately drawn to each other, but before Armand can confess his identity, they are kidnapped and taken far from civilization to a tiny, remarkable island in the western Caribbean. With the help of her son Crispin, a small, but proud young boy named Inigo, and a cadre of extraordinary characters, Lacey and Armand must confront pirates, power-mad ideologues, and palace intrigue if they are to restore the once idyllic tropical paradise to its former serenity and find lasting happiness.

Buy Links:

SCP: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=934

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-Romance-M-S-Spencer-ebook/dp/B00N105I4E/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whirlwindromance-1605591-153.html

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/whirlwind-romance

Who is the one character you’ve created that you are the proudest of?

Are you kidding? You do know they're listening? [She says loudly]: "I love them all equally."

Many authors picture their works as a movie. What character would you play?

I'd love to be Tessa Diamond, heroine of Mai Tais and Mayhem: Murder at Mote Marine. She's tall, willowy, and has long, glistening black hair. Plus she's very calm and sure of herself. Which is why they'd never cast me as her. I'd fit better as Milo Everhart from Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders (You knew I'd say that). We first meet her in a paint-covered smock with smudges on her face and it goes downhill from there. 

Yes, there is something about the character Milo which has captured my imagination. Are you working on another book?  What’s it about?

I sure am. I'm on the second draft of a funny, sweet murder mystery set in Maine, tentatively entitled The Penhallow Train Incident.  Rachel Tinker, director of the Penhallow Historical Society, meets her match in Griffin Tate, a curmudgeonly retired professor. Together they wade through a scene awash in red herrings to solve not one, but three murders. If, in fact, they are murders. Along the way they deal with ancient rumors, ancient crime, and ancient tragedy, as they grope nearer and nearer to love in the small coastal town of Penhallow, Maine.

      Somehow Solomon and the Queen of Sheba weasel themselves into the story. Don't ask me how—it's typical of my muse to sneak stuff in when I'm distracted.

What are you reading now?

Besides your wonderful book, Devious? I'm reading Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis, about the Revolutionary Generation, and a fascinating book about American restauranteurs by Patric Kuh entitled The Last Days of Haute Cuisine.

Provide any links for the book, your blog, website, and the cover art.

I'd love to hear from readers:

Blog: http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com OR

http://bit.ly/1aBzraT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msspencertalespinner

Twitter: www.twitter.com/msspencerauthor
GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/

Thanks for stopping by.  Now put down the tequila and get back to work.