Rainy Day Thoughts
I’m sitting here eating a crunchy salad, watching the rain, and thinking about doing a lot of things. I’ve been working on my website, and doing some housekeeping (computer) things. I will not allow myself to work on the WIP today, despite the brilliant ideas I have. Sometimes, a forced vacation is good for the brain.
Being in a contemplative frame of mind, I’ve decided to post thoughts about some miscellaneous things.
I’ve finished reading The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner which I thought was an outstanding book until I neared the end. Lerner was finishing up her book, tying all the loose ends together and she made a comment that referenced all writers…from trashy romance to… Okay, that stopped me in my tracks.
Why are some people so quick to put those two words together? Trashy…romance… What the hell is so wrong with stories about relationships?
Which segues to the book I read for free on Kindle. Well, I couldn’t finish it. It was about a menage a trois, with this woman and two men, and I found it incredibly…boring. Yep, boring. No relationship, just Tab A into Slot B. Ho hum. I like stories where I know the people, where I care about the people. Didn’t know, didn’t care, and the first person who labels THAT book as romance is going to get hit with a paperback. But I’m not into violence, so don’t make me do it.
Which segues into Kindred in Death which I just finished reading. Mucho disappointed in that book, more than any of the other In Death books. Too much yuck, not enough relationship.
Which segues back to trashy romance…that comment makes me think the author is rather stagnant in her thinking – or out of the loop, if she hasn’t seen the recent romance statistics. I tend to want to spend time with people who have an open mind, who are not so fixed in pre-conceived notions that they’re unbendable. With that said, let me also hasten to add that I have several pre-conceived notions: love can heal, people are essentially good and noble and life is to be cherished.
Which segues into murder. What kind of person can kill? What kind of person can kill, and then not care? Yes, too many reality police procedurals.
Which segues back to – things I need to do, so back to work for me.
Hi Karen, this has nothing to do with the blog post, but after reading many of your novels, I do wonder what attracts you to Scotland as a setting?
Scotland and I go way back. When we were living in Paris, I ran away from home and went to Scotland. Later, I took a month off and drove through Scotland – got thoroughly lost – and learned the country.
I once read a definition of the word “diaspora” which pretty much sums up how I feel about Scotland. The definition said: the soul’s longing for itself, for its beginning. I feel that way when I go to Scotland, as if I’m coming home.
I’m fascinated with the scientific discoveries made in the 19th century, especially by Scottish inventors. Those two parts of my personality mesh very well when placing my books in Scotland.
I’m revising Forest for the Trees right now and would like to delete that stupid phrase only I can’t find it. I’m sorry and appreciate getting called out, especially if I can fix it. Betsy Lerner
betsy@dclagency.com
It’s on page 270, under Publication.
I experienced an episode of cognitive dissonance when I read it. I thought, “She did NOT just write that,” which is another way of saying how much I enjoyed the book overall.