Monthly Archives: August 2012
Review of Don’t Fear The Reaper
When I first saw the title, I was intrigued. When I discovered that the idea was the brainchild of the writer’s 12 year old son, I knew I had to read it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Nick Ramsay is just an ordinary kid, living his life – until his teacher dies in front of him. What he sees changes his life. Forever.
I loved the premise of this book, and zipped through it in one sitting. Nick is so easy to like, and is immediately sympathetic. This fast connection really pulled me into his story, and pulled me along as he learned the truth about – everything. You didn’t expect me to tell you, now, did you? You know me and spoilers. 
I was thrilled to have the mom half of the writing team as a guest earlier this week. You can find her great post here.
There was only one issue I had – some basic editing/punctuation errors, but not enough to mar my enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this unique and often touching book. You can find it on Amazon.
I look forward to the next installment. I can’t wait to find out how Nick will get his – oh, almost got me that time. You will just have to read it for yourself. 
Until next time – read on.
cheers,
~Cate
Guest post with author J.E. Taylor
I am thrilled to have author J.E. Taylor here today, making a stop on her blog tour for Don’t Fear The Reaper.
I devoured the book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My review will be coming on Friday. Until then, please welcome J.E., and her post on lessons learned.
Lessons Learned…
Hi all! My name is Jane E. Taylor, JET for short, and I’ve been in the business for a couple years now, both as an author and as a publisher. I thought it might be beneficial to other authors starting out if I talked about my experiences leading up to this point.
One of the most important lessons I learned is first impressions are everything.
A good query letter can make all the difference in the world in whether the agent or publisher will actually read your submission, so make sure you understand what a query letter entails BEFORE you start shopping your manuscript around.
I hate writing query letters and book blurbs. Most writers do. It requires us to boil the story we’ve spent the last who knows how long sweating out onto the page into a few short snappy sentences created to get an agent or publisher to raise an eyebrow and read the rest of our submission.
I’ve found that most times, a well crafted blurb means a well crafted book – especially when the book.
I know I’m not alone in this opinion, so how do you get from a 70,000 word novel to a paragraph or two summary that’s compelling and captures the essence of the book?
Well it’s time to go back to school and the notion of a book report. What’s the main theme? I’m sure you could write a ten thousand word dissertation on your theme but that’s not going to catch a reader’s attention.
Because I don’t have his actual query letter, let’s take a look at the original cover copy for my favorite all time book – The Stand:
“This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.
And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides — or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abigail — and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.”
Now Mr. King could have chosen any number of key characters but he focused on the central theme of good and evil. He goes a step further by leaving us hanging; tickling our interest without hinting at the battle we know is inevitable when people take sides.
Read the blurb aloud. I dare you.
Now tell me that didn’t give you goosebumps. Even if you’ve never read The Stand – this is enough to get you to read the first few pages of that mammoth manuscript.
As an editor, if this blurb passed over my desk, I would be compelled to stop and re-read it, relish the unspoken poetry of it and of course, I’d ask for the full manuscript. Not because this is Stephen King, but because he gave me just enough to tickle that spot. That spot that demands attention, demands to be scratched. Just enough for me to have to know what happens next.
Incredible power and that’s exactly what you should strive for in writing your query letter, but don’t stop there, the book has to deliver the promise you make in the blurb, so make sure your prose are just as sharp and satisfying.
Thanks for hanging with me for a bit.
In the meantime, check out Don’t Fear the Reaper, the first book in The Death Chronicles series that I wrote with my twelve-year-old son!
buy at Amazon
The day Nick Ramsay’s eighth-grade teacher drops dead in his classroom, Nick sees his first reaper. When another cloaked figure appears at his grandmother’s bedside, Nick issues an order for the vile creature to leave her alone.
This simple act of defiance creates a domino effect that brings Fate and Death to Nick’s door and reveals his true lineage, throwing his world into chaos. To make matters worse, a group of rogue reapers declares war on humanity and Nick is the only one who can stop them.
Thank you, J.E.! I will be interested to see the comments on this post. You can find out more about J.E. at her website.
Come back on Friday for my review of Don’t Fear The Reaper.
Until next time – read on.
cheers,
~Cate
It’s officially official – Book 2 now available. :)
For those of you tapping me on the shoulder, drumming your fingers on your desk, poking at me – the wait is over.
And now for your reading pleasure:
It is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Here’s a little preview:
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Annie Sullivan tapped three sleeping pills out of the bottle and into her palm. After a short debate, she added another one. She set the bottle on the side table, dropped the pills in her mouth and chased them down with a long swig of beer.
It didn’t help any more than water, but it did make her head fuzzy a little faster. At least, that was the excuse she would give to Marcus if he ever found out.
He watched her like an overprotective brother. She wanted to slap him down for it, but she knew he was worried. Going into the fourth month after losing Claire, Annie looked like she was the one who fell into Hell.
She scrubbed at her face, then climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling, waiting for the pills to take effect. For the dreams to yank her in.
It didn’t take long before she was pulled under, slipping into smoke and shadow. Into a dream where she wasn’t alone.
~*~
I am excited, nervous – and already working on book 3. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment.
Take care, and until next time – read on.
cheers,
~Cate
