Patricia Stoltey

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Bits and Pieces

September 22, 2010 By: Patricia

Tomorrow’s Guest Blogger

My guest tomorrow is Cara Lopez Lee, author of They Only Eat Their Husbands: A Memoir of Alaskan Love, World Travel, and the Power of Running Away. Writers of memoir might be especially interested in Cara’s story. And all women who’ve yearned to travel. Or run away. And you guys surely want to investigate who (or what) eats their husbands. See, we have something for everybody here.

What I’m Reading

I finished Matt Hilton’s action thriller Judgment and Wrath. Highly recommended if you like thrillers with really creepy bad guys.

Next up is Rock, Paper, Tiger by Lisa Brackman. Here’s the tiny synopsis from Lisa’s website:

“Iraq vet Ellie McEnroe is down and out in China, trying to lose herself in the alien worlds of performance artists and online gamers. When a chance encounter with a Uighur fugitive drops her down a rabbit hole of conspiracies, Ellie must decide who to trust among the artists, dealers, collectors and operatives claiming to be on her side – in particular, a mysterious organization operating within a popular online game.”

Doesn’t that sound good?

Profanity in Fiction

The Blood-Red Pencil Blog is doing a whole week of posts about using profanity (as a writer) or accepting or tolerating obscenities in fiction (as a reader). Monday, Maryann Miller’s post was titled Potty Mouth?. Yesterday, Jim Thomsen asked To What Extent Do You Tolerate The “F-Word” in Fiction? If you write or read hard-boiled mysteries, thrillers, and even some mainstream and literary fiction, this can be an issue. Check out the blog posts and add your thoughts to the comments.

One of the Best Movies Ever

I watched Invictus this week. Great acting, and a wonderful movie based on the true story behind the South African 1995 Rugby World Cup win and how closely the event was tied to the political development of the nation during Nelson Mandela’s first time as President of South Africa. Highly recommended.

More from my site

  • Sassy and Katie Share a SunspotSassy and Katie Share a Sunspot
  • No Guest Blogger This WeekNo Guest Blogger This Week
  • On My Way Home — I HopeOn My Way Home — I Hope
  • Chiseled in Rock Tuesday — More What’s New from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers?Chiseled in Rock Tuesday — More What’s New from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers?
  • The Finalists in the Northern Colorado Writers’ Top of the Mountain Book AwardThe Finalists in the Northern Colorado Writers’ Top of the Mountain Book Award
  • X is for Xeriscape: My A to Z Wish ListX is for Xeriscape: My A to Z Wish List

Category: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Other Lisa says

    September 22, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    Heh. The synopsis was the first paragraph of the query I wrote that got me an agent. Thanks!

  2. Jemi Fraser says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    I haven’t seen Invictus, but I really want to! Looks like a fabulous movie 🙂

  3. Jim (and Karen) Overturf says

    September 22, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    I’m looking forward to your thoughts of “Rock, Paper, Tiger”

    It does sound good! Whoever wrote that little synopsis did an excellent job!

    Thanks for the heads up!

    Karen

  4. Patricia Stoltey says

    September 22, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Greetings, Jane. I’m glad to know you liked Lisa’s book. I love reading new authors and trying to help spread the word.

    As far as our characters go, there are a few that are pretty hard to control. I’m still weighing the pros and cons for my really bad, bad guy.

  5. Patricia Stoltey says

    September 22, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Lisa — You’re most welcome. Personally, I don’t have a problem with bad language in books, as long as it fits the character. Others don’t like any profanity. And another set of readers can tolerate anything except taking the Lord’s name in vain. That’s why this week’s discussion on The Blood-Red Pencil is so interesting.

  6. Jane Kennedy Sutton says

    September 22, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    I just finished Lisa’s book and thoroughly enjoyed the realistic characters and interesting storyline. I’ll definitely read more of her books when available.

    Now I’m heading over to read about the profanity thing as my characters don’t always hold back. I need to learn how to control them and what comes out of their mouth.

  7. Other Lisa says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Patricia, thanks much for the plug for ROCK PAPER TIGER, and many thanks for reading.

    I guess I should mention in the context of the rest of your bits and pieces that, uh, there’s quite a bit of profanity in the book. I’m of the, “if it fits the voice and the circumstances, go for it.” In the case of this particular MC, there were a lot of reasons beyond her background and circumstances. She uses tough language as sort of a cover for real feelings/vulnerability. But it’s not everybody’s cup of cappuccino.

    Lisa (Brackmann)

  8. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    September 22, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    I thought only praying mantis ate their mates…

  9. Karen Walker says

    September 22, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Love your bits and pieces, Patricia. Invictus is on my “must-see” list.
    Karen

  10. Patricia Stoltey says

    September 22, 2010 at 8:47 am

    I just crafted a nice long comment, and Blogger ate it. And I couldn’t get Yahoo to open my e-mail. This is not a good start to my morning.

  11. Ann Best says

    September 22, 2010 at 7:58 am

    I love movies and have put Invictus on my list.

    The F word was never in the “old” movies or the great literature of the world, or “older” crime fiction. I hate it. In recent movies and literature, I will tolerate a few if the movie or book is powerful; but beyond that, no matter how good the story might be, I walk away. What’s the point of it, or even of this @*&# euphemism?

    Call me old-fashioned. I don’t mind.
    Ann

  12. Margot Kinberg says

    September 22, 2010 at 7:27 am

    Patricia,
    Thanks for the movie review :-). I haven’t seen Invictus yet, but maybe I’ll check it out…

    Thanks, also, for pointing us towards that post on using @*&# words in writing. It’s a decision that I think every author needs to think about. I’m really interested to see what folks think about that issue.

  13. welcome to my world of poetry says

    September 22, 2010 at 7:21 am

    Interesting Bits and Pieces Patricia,

    Have a wonderful day,

    Yvonne,

  14. Jenny says

    September 22, 2010 at 6:28 am

    Pat, I thought Invictus was a fine movie, too.

    I’ll be back tomorrow for what is apparently going to be a very interesting guest post!

Meet Patricia

I read, I write, I blog, and sometimes I do the laundry and cook. My 2014 novel, Dead Wrong, was a finalist in the thriller category of the 2015 Colorado Book Awards. Wishing Caswell Dead (Five Star/Cengage, December 20, 2017) is a historical mystery set in 1830s Illinois in the fictitious Village of Sangamon. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Colorado Book Awards for General Fiction. Read More…

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