Thoughts on writing, reading, life, and philosophy

Posts Tagged Walker Papers

Demon Hunts by C.E. Murphy

Demon Hunts by C.E. MurphyPlot Summary:

Demon Hunts by C. E. Murphy begins with a newly, if not confident, then grounded, Joanne Walker. She and Billy have teamed up as the official unofficial paranormal arm of the Seattle Police Force with Morrison’s blessing. They’re investigating an unusual serial murder with the characteristics of human bites and no forensic evidence, only Joanne and Billy can’t sense anything either. Joanne stretches her abilities, and curses her earlier balking, to discover new ways to use her shamanistic powers and learn about her role in this crazy life with the help of friends old and new.

If you want specifics and to discover the end…well, you’ll just have to read it yourself.

My Comments:
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Friday’s Interesting Links

Books I Recommend

Walking Dead by C.E. Murphy

The fourth in her Walker Papers urban fantasy series, Walking Dead offers a wonderful look into how Joanne is maturing into her shamanistic powers, though she still has doubts. I must admit, when I saw zombies, I was curious how she’d tackle one of the popular genre tropes in a way that is unique. Let’s just say that while her zombies are traditional, everything surrounding them is not, from what brings them to life to Joanne’s reaction and solution. Even if you haven’t been following the series, this one is a fun read. And when you’re done, go back and read the rest of them :) .

Promoting/Submitting/Publishing

Some thoughts and examples of bad and good author websites.
http://thefutureofpublishing.com/blog/2009/09/what-makes-a-great-author-website/

A look at author promotion successes:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092304603.html

A look at what a publicist can and cannot do:
http://heydeadguy.typepad.com/heydeadguy/2009/09/what-does-a-publicist-go-for-these-days.html

Dealing with rejection letters:
http://www.gabrielle-edits.com/2009/09/24/dealing-with-rejection/

Tips on researching agents:
http://www.migwriters.com/2009/09/28/targeting-to-find-your-agent-mate/

Editorial acquisitions process explained:
http://helpingwriters.com/newsletter-archives/the-biggest-and-most-common-misunderstanding-about-book-publishing

A solid examination of copyright infringement’s costs and excuses.
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/writing/pirate.shtml

Questions to ask interested agents:
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2009/09/next-set-of-questions-to-ask.html

The ten commandments of blogging. I’m still working on this one.
http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2009/09/ten-commandments-of-blogging.html

Tips on oral performance of written work
http://writeforyourlife.net/stand-and-deliver-five-ps-for-a-perfectly-acceptabl-performance

I’ve included links to instances when authors fail to respond appropriately. How fun to have one that is the reverse:
http://saturdaywriters.com/best-author-response-ever/

Writing

The nuts and bolts of creating sympathetic characters.
http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/artsympathy.htm

Techniques for overcoming procrastination:
http://alisonwells.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/five-ways-to-procrastinate-your-procrastination/

When an editor requests a rewrite…
http://helpingwriters.com/newsletter-archives/when-an-editor-wants-a-rewrite

Some good observations about querying:
http://johannaharness.com/Johanna_Harness/Blog/Entries/2009/9/25_Seven_things_Ive_learned_from_querying.html

Suggestions for managing writing projects:
http://menwithpens.ca/how-to-finish-a-writing-project

On writing characters that are different from you:
http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/09/26/damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-dont/

A great evaluation of the value in a crit and how to find that value:
http://pattyjansen.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/please-dont-tell-me-its-wonderful/

Social

Mastering Twitter:
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/32-FE3-TimeToTwitter.html

Handling anxiety:
http://zenhabits.net/2009/09/survive-and-thrive-how-to-transform-anxiety-into-inspiration/

Reading

A manifesto against censorship:
http://bannedbooksweek.org/BBWManifesto.pdf

Science

A look at a 4.4 million-year-old ancestor:
http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn17894-ardi-an-in-depth-look
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/091001_ardipethicus

Coyote Dreams by C.E. Murphy

Sorry folks. I gave it my best shot but life just got in the way. I finished my novel for the National Novel Writing Month one day early, did some more freelance work, and managed a little reading, but posting once a week just slipped past me. However, this still may be my most active period in a long while, so maybe I can ease into more frequent posts :) .

Coyote Dreams by C.E. Murphy

(Acquired: bookstore)

Coyote Dreams, Book Three in the Walker Papers, lives up to the rest of the series with an engaging main character and an approachable writing style. I just can’t put these books down. If I could dissect how C.E. Murphy does it, I would do my darndest to replicate the effort. She even manages to carry off an ignorant, bumbling main character in a likeable way. Joanne is nothing but self-depreciating and a disaster on two legs. But the other characters care for her just as much as I do because despite all that, she’s well meaning and trying her hardest, or at least as hard as she thinks she can. This one follows the pattern of the others where the enemy is not who she thinks it is, combined with a sense of sympathy and responsibility, but the solution to Coyote Dreams is even more tangled than the previous ones. I really can’t say anything more about the book without giving something away, except that I hope the loss she experienced will somehow come around right and I’m frustrated as all heck with the epilogue for all that I understand and it suits the characters. Sigh. I’ll just have to see what happens in the next book…and there better darn well be one for all C.E. Murphy is off starting new series.

I have to say, everyone I’ve introduced to C.E. Murphy has loved the series, so if you haven’t given it a try, the odds of loving it are high :) .

Other comments about C.E. Murphy’s books are in these posts:

Urban Shaman
Thunderbird Falls