Monday, November 30: Tammy Schubert – Pay it Forward, Pay it Back
Tuesday, December 1: Ana Aragon –
Wednesday, December 2: Cinthia Hamer-Omey -
Thursday, December 3: – Sally Kilpatrick -
Friday, December 4: Guest Chef: La-Tessa Montgomery
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Look Back with Us
Monday, November 30: Tammy Schubert – Pay it Forward, Pay it Back
Tuesday, December 1: Ana Aragon –
Wednesday, December 2: Cinthia Hamer-Omey -
Thursday, December 3: – Sally Kilpatrick -
Friday, December 4: Guest Chef: La-Tessa Montgomery
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Saturday Review
*** Note: May contain spoilers***
Death Angel
Linda Howard
Single Title
Ballantine Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-345-48655
A great writer can take characters with major flaws and make the reader cheer for them. That is just what Linda Howard does in Death Angel.
Drea Rousseau is the kept woman of a drug lord. When Simon ( the reader is never sure what his real name is) a hired killer, demands four hours of sex with Drea as payment for his services, the drug lord agrees. Drea is devastated to be treated as nothing. During her four hours with the killer she feels a connection to the cool, but gentle hit man. Afterwards she asks him to take her with him but he refuses. Drea knows she can no longer be the drug lord’s mistress. Not the bimbo she has made everyone believe she is, she escapes the drug lord and steals two million dollars of his money.
The drug lord wants her dead and sends Simon to do the job. Simon doesn’t know if he will actually kill Drea but he does chase her across the country. When Drea is in a serious auto accident and pronounced dead she discovers it isn’t her time. With a second chance at life, she wants to do it differently. Simon finds out she is alive and he watches over her. One night Drea catches him watching her. He goes to her house and they both realize meeting each other has changed their lives. They want a life together.
Drea also realizes that she can’t let her ex-drug lord boyfriend continue to hurt others. When she goes to the FBI to offer her help which will put her in danger, Simon refuses to let Drea do it. He kills the drug lord himself.
I’m a Linda Howard fan and therefore I enjoyed this book. These characters were not people that I would root for in my everyday life but being pulled into theirs I started to sympathize with them. I wanted them to get together and find happiness. Interesting read.
Rating: 4 Petit Fours and 4 Hot Tamales
Reviewed: By Susan May
Linda Howard
Single Title
Ballantine Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-345-48655
A great writer can take characters with major flaws and make the reader cheer for them. That is just what Linda Howard does in Death Angel.
Drea Rousseau is the kept woman of a drug lord. When Simon ( the reader is never sure what his real name is) a hired killer, demands four hours of sex with Drea as payment for his services, the drug lord agrees. Drea is devastated to be treated as nothing. During her four hours with the killer she feels a connection to the cool, but gentle hit man. Afterwards she asks him to take her with him but he refuses. Drea knows she can no longer be the drug lord’s mistress. Not the bimbo she has made everyone believe she is, she escapes the drug lord and steals two million dollars of his money.
The drug lord wants her dead and sends Simon to do the job. Simon doesn’t know if he will actually kill Drea but he does chase her across the country. When Drea is in a serious auto accident and pronounced dead she discovers it isn’t her time. With a second chance at life, she wants to do it differently. Simon finds out she is alive and he watches over her. One night Drea catches him watching her. He goes to her house and they both realize meeting each other has changed their lives. They want a life together.
Drea also realizes that she can’t let her ex-drug lord boyfriend continue to hurt others. When she goes to the FBI to offer her help which will put her in danger, Simon refuses to let Drea do it. He kills the drug lord himself.
I’m a Linda Howard fan and therefore I enjoyed this book. These characters were not people that I would root for in my everyday life but being pulled into theirs I started to sympathize with them. I wanted them to get together and find happiness. Interesting read.
Rating: 4 Petit Fours and 4 Hot Tamales
Reviewed: By Susan May
Castle
Castle Airs on abc: http://abc.go.com/shows/castle
Mondays at 10
Genre: Whodunit—think Murder She Wrote with wittier repartee, a younger cast, and sparks flying between Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic)
Here’s the premise: Castle is a mystery writer who is shadowing police detective Beckett in order to do research on his latest protagonist, Nicki Heat, who happens to be a female police detective. Needless to say, Beckett is less than enthused to have Castle on board, but even she isn’t immune to his boyish charm.
This show has it all: mystery, humor, and a good love/hate romance. Anyone who is familiar with Nathan Fillion’s other work (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) will also love him here. Those who like mysteries will also like the show, although some mysteries are stronger than others. In particular, the Halloween episode is a must-see; it starts with Fillion in his old Firefly get-up and ends with him as Edgar Allan Poe. Everything in between pokes fun at Halloween conventions within the confines of an excellently crafted story.
One of my favorite parts of the show concerns the relationship between Castle, his daughter, and his mother. They all live together, and the daughter is clearly the “parent” of them all even if she does occasionally indulge in a little laser tag with dear old dad. Other members of the supporting cast are equally strong, and occasionally you might even glimpse a cameo of some of America’s greatest mystery writers in one of Castle’s poker games.
Reviewer: Sally Kilpatrick
Petit Fours: a solid 5/Hot Tamales: 3
Petit Fours: a solid 5/Hot Tamales: 3
Friday, November 27, 2009
Adventures in Shopping
Today is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. This day kicks off the traditional holiday shopping season, and the quest for perfect gifts for those special people in our lives.
Kids run around in excitement. Holiday music and decorations create a festive atmosphere. The happy holiday season kicks into high gear. Sales abound, and everyone knows the best deals are found during the early morning hours. Through all of this shoppers must deal with long lines, crowds of people – some pushy and rude while others deliver basic, free gifts through their acts of kindness.
Can you feel the increasing stress level? Doesn't this make online shopping much more appealing?
We have all heard news stories related to adventures in shopping:
- People trampled to death
- Fights over parking spaces, toys, etc.
- Acts of good will and charity
- Secret Santa's spreading a bit of cheer
What kind of shopping stories do you have to share? Are they funny, sad, adventurous, or full of action or a touching incident? Please share your experiences with us.
Happy shopping!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving !!!
I know everyone is busy cooking and entertaining…probably trying a couple of Carol’s yummy recipes from yesterday, but if you’ve taken a few moments out of your busy day, I thought today would be a great day to share how different families celebrate this special day.Below is a story submitted by Maxine (Brenda) Davis. Enjoy.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year? Don’t you love it when you’re talking to friends about the holidays? “What do y’all do for Thanksgiving?” is often heard. It’s fun to hear who’s cooking, who’s coming, who’s going and who is frantic about preparing dinner for the first time.
Well, for over 20 years my family has gone to a big hotel in Marietta. No one cooks and no one cleans up. We all dress in our finest, relax and enjoy the family and a fabulous meal. We are always in a private room ‘off to the side’ of the dining room and don’t worry about disturbing others as we visit and eat.
Turkey and dressing? Oh yes, and vegetables, and shrimp and prime rib and every kind of dessert imaginable. We all visit the buffet, well, let’s just say, more than once.
What started it? When my parents’ health got bad, Mother couldn’t cook and even though we brought in a lot of food, the big crowd made Daddy nervous in their small house. He suggested the entire family going out. We have ever since.
That was a wonderful decision! It was very hard the first year after Dad died and years later, again after Mom. But my brother, sister and I all knew how much they enjoyed this holiday with family. It is something we treasure and celebrate.
About noon, we’ll all head to the restaurant. We’ll talk about how much the kids have grown, how handsome everyone looks and ask one of the waiters to make a family picture. After the food, there’s just the football and nap that’s left.
Enjoy your holiday, be thankful, celebrate family and think of me, not washing the first dish.
Sandy's Thanksgiving Plans
This year we have our youngest daughter and her family driving down from Virginia and our son and his wife driving down from North Carolina. I started cooking yesterday…at least the molded salads, cookies for snacking and the pumpkin pie.
I’ve written out a list of what we’ll be eating…to assure I don’t forget anything, and to remind me this morning just what I have to do to put a huge banquet on the table promptly at 2 o’clock.
Traditionally our day starts with the parade…while the turkey is roasting…and then the dog show. We love seeing all the breeds even though we no longer have a dog. Mainly because Jack the Cat wouldn’t like it and after all, he was here first and owns the house.
After the big meal, we’ll head out for a walk around the neighborhood…during a break on the sports channel…and then we’ll be back at it again in the evening for thick turkey sandwiches on white bread with mayo and cranberry sauce. Oh yeah, now that’s eating.
Our menu for this year is:Ham, Turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce…jelly type, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole w/marshmallows, deviled eggs, fresh green beans w/crumbled bacon, cranberry Jell-O molded salad, a lime Jell-O molded salad w/ pineapple and hot rolls w/ butter. Then pumpkin pie and/or pecan pie with cool whip or vanilla ice cream.
I fully expect my husband to fall asleep in the recliner and for the “kids” to beat us at Wii.
To sum it up, Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends sharing a good time and making memories. May each of you have a Thanksgiving to remember and please say a prayer for Mercer Crook, CiCi and the entire Crook family.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Talking Turkey and gravy and…
By Carol Burnside 
Ever wish you could cook an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Day dinner, but don’t know how? Well, here’s the scoop!
Never cooked a turkey? No problem. Log onto http://www.butterball.com/ and check out their ‘tips and how-tos’ section. They’ve got everything there you could possibly want to know about turkeys and cooking turkeys including temperatures and times for different weights. NOTE: If you’re running to the store today, buy a FRESH turkey, not frozen to prepare for tomorrow.
Now that the turkey is covered, you’ll need some gravy to go with it. At our house, the bird was always accompanied by mashed potatoes with giblet gravy. My granny believed strongly in the ‘waste not, want not’ philosophy, and with four kids to feed, my mother followed her example. This recipe reflects that philosophy.
Giblet Gravy
3-4 cans chicken broth
Packet of giblets from turkey (heart, gizzard, neck and liver)
2 eggs, boiled, peeled and chopped into 1/4” pieces
½ cup chopped onion
1 can Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup
Poultry seasoning
Rubbed sage
Salt and pepper to taste
Put eggs on to boil in small saucepan. Next, empty chicken broth into a large (3-4 qt) pot, and bring to boil. Remove giblets from packet and add to boiling broth along with onions. Simmer about 5-10 min. until done. Remove from heat. Keep broth in pot, but remove giblets to a small bowl to cool.
Chop giblets organs when cool. Remove skin from neck and discard. With small knife, cut the meat from the neck bones and add to chopped organs. Return to broth and bring back to boil. Add eggs. Stir in soup with a whisk. Add poultry seasoning, sage, salt and pepper to taste. (Easy on the sage! A tiny amount goes a long way. )
If gravy is too thin, thicken with a Tbsp. or so of cornstarch dissolved in a ¼ cup of milk, repeat until it reaches desired consistency, giving it about 2 minutes between batches to thicken.
Mashed potatoes are easy. Fill a med to lg pot about ½ full of water. Put on stove to boil. Peel and cube potatoes (1 lb for every 2-3 people). Add to boiling water. When potatoes are fork tender, drain water off. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, add butter or margarine and milk or cream. I like my potatoes creamy and light, so I use an electric mixer. Start on low and increase speed as the potatoes begin to puree. End by whipping for a couple minutes or until all lumps are gone. Add salt and pepper. Stir and serve. If you don’t want to make from scratch, there are really tasty prepared mashed potatoes and believe it or not, instant. Both are fast and easy.
Cranberry Sauce can be bought pre-prepared. Just chill and slice. Heat and butter purchased rolls, prepare a green vegetable and a dessert, and you’ve got a fabulous first-time Thanksgiving Dinner!
Still feeling confident? Okay, then let’s go whole-hog and do a Sweet Potato Delight. Ingredients:
3 cups sweet potatoes, cooled, peeled and mashed, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 Tbsp. vanilla, 2/3 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup milk
And for the topping (delight):
1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup butter or margarine, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup chopped pecans
Mix sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk & 2/3 C butter. Pour in greased casserole dish.
Mix topping ingredients in small bowl. Pour or dot over sweet potato mixture. Do not mix in.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min. Top will be crunchy.
Note: My family requests I add marshmallows to the top and brown for 5 min., but be warned, this makes it extra sweet! Enjoy.
What? You want a dessert recipe too? Okay, okay, but I must say, you must be awfully hungry. Let’s go with something that’s easy – a pie. Trust me, it’s mix and bake.
I’m from the South and there’s nothing more fitting at the Thanksgiving table than a…
Southern (Molasses) Pecan Pie.
Ingredients:
3 eggs, slightly beaten
¾ c. Dark Karo syrup or molasses
¾ c. light corn syrup
2 Tbsp. butter or marg. Melted
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. flour
1 cup pecans
1 unbaked deep-dish pastry shell
Combine eggs, molasses, corn syrup, melted butter salt and vanilla in mixing bowl. Make a paste of a ¼ cup mixture and flour; stir into remaining mixture. Add pecans. Pour into unbaked pastry shell and back at 325 degrees F. for 1 hour or until firm in middle. Cover edges of pie crust with thin strips of foil until the last 15 minutes so it won’t burn. Let cool some before serving.
Veggie tip from Susan May: An easy dish that’s very popular is the Green Bean Casserole. The recipe can be found on the back of any Durkee French Fried Onions can. If that doesn’t suit you, here’s another:
MAXINE’S GREEN BEAN RECIPE Buy the canned green beans (Kentucky Wonder or Pole beans).
DRAIN the water.
Pour beans in pan, add water to cover
Pour in some oil
Add a vegetable bouillon cube (I use 1/2 of a Knorr lg. cube)
Salt and either Herb de Provence, or, my favorite, Cracker Boy Seasoning (buy online) and sprinkle that on top.
Bring to boil
Stir once
Turn down temp, cover and cook "a little while."
There you have it, a Thanksgiving feast to please any family.
We at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales wish you and yours a pleasant Thanksgiving Day with your loved ones. Bon appétit!
Ever wish you could cook an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Day dinner, but don’t know how? Well, here’s the scoop!
Never cooked a turkey? No problem. Log onto http://www.butterball.com/ and check out their ‘tips and how-tos’ section. They’ve got everything there you could possibly want to know about turkeys and cooking turkeys including temperatures and times for different weights. NOTE: If you’re running to the store today, buy a FRESH turkey, not frozen to prepare for tomorrow.
Now that the turkey is covered, you’ll need some gravy to go with it. At our house, the bird was always accompanied by mashed potatoes with giblet gravy. My granny believed strongly in the ‘waste not, want not’ philosophy, and with four kids to feed, my mother followed her example. This recipe reflects that philosophy.
Giblet Gravy
3-4 cans chicken broth
Packet of giblets from turkey (heart, gizzard, neck and liver)
2 eggs, boiled, peeled and chopped into 1/4” pieces
½ cup chopped onion
1 can Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup
Poultry seasoning
Rubbed sage
Salt and pepper to taste
Put eggs on to boil in small saucepan. Next, empty chicken broth into a large (3-4 qt) pot, and bring to boil. Remove giblets from packet and add to boiling broth along with onions. Simmer about 5-10 min. until done. Remove from heat. Keep broth in pot, but remove giblets to a small bowl to cool.
Chop giblets organs when cool. Remove skin from neck and discard. With small knife, cut the meat from the neck bones and add to chopped organs. Return to broth and bring back to boil. Add eggs. Stir in soup with a whisk. Add poultry seasoning, sage, salt and pepper to taste. (Easy on the sage! A tiny amount goes a long way. )
If gravy is too thin, thicken with a Tbsp. or so of cornstarch dissolved in a ¼ cup of milk, repeat until it reaches desired consistency, giving it about 2 minutes between batches to thicken.
Mashed potatoes are easy. Fill a med to lg pot about ½ full of water. Put on stove to boil. Peel and cube potatoes (1 lb for every 2-3 people). Add to boiling water. When potatoes are fork tender, drain water off. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, add butter or margarine and milk or cream. I like my potatoes creamy and light, so I use an electric mixer. Start on low and increase speed as the potatoes begin to puree. End by whipping for a couple minutes or until all lumps are gone. Add salt and pepper. Stir and serve. If you don’t want to make from scratch, there are really tasty prepared mashed potatoes and believe it or not, instant. Both are fast and easy.
Cranberry Sauce can be bought pre-prepared. Just chill and slice. Heat and butter purchased rolls, prepare a green vegetable and a dessert, and you’ve got a fabulous first-time Thanksgiving Dinner!
Still feeling confident? Okay, then let’s go whole-hog and do a Sweet Potato Delight. Ingredients:
3 cups sweet potatoes, cooled, peeled and mashed, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 Tbsp. vanilla, 2/3 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup milk
And for the topping (delight):
1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup butter or margarine, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup chopped pecans
Mix sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk & 2/3 C butter. Pour in greased casserole dish.
Mix topping ingredients in small bowl. Pour or dot over sweet potato mixture. Do not mix in.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min. Top will be crunchy.
Note: My family requests I add marshmallows to the top and brown for 5 min., but be warned, this makes it extra sweet! Enjoy.
What? You want a dessert recipe too? Okay, okay, but I must say, you must be awfully hungry. Let’s go with something that’s easy – a pie. Trust me, it’s mix and bake.
I’m from the South and there’s nothing more fitting at the Thanksgiving table than a…
Southern (Molasses) Pecan Pie.
Ingredients:
3 eggs, slightly beaten
¾ c. Dark Karo syrup or molasses
¾ c. light corn syrup
2 Tbsp. butter or marg. Melted
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. flour
1 cup pecans
1 unbaked deep-dish pastry shell
Combine eggs, molasses, corn syrup, melted butter salt and vanilla in mixing bowl. Make a paste of a ¼ cup mixture and flour; stir into remaining mixture. Add pecans. Pour into unbaked pastry shell and back at 325 degrees F. for 1 hour or until firm in middle. Cover edges of pie crust with thin strips of foil until the last 15 minutes so it won’t burn. Let cool some before serving.
Veggie tip from Susan May: An easy dish that’s very popular is the Green Bean Casserole. The recipe can be found on the back of any Durkee French Fried Onions can. If that doesn’t suit you, here’s another:
MAXINE’S GREEN BEAN RECIPE Buy the canned green beans (Kentucky Wonder or Pole beans).
DRAIN the water.
Pour beans in pan, add water to cover
Pour in some oil
Add a vegetable bouillon cube (I use 1/2 of a Knorr lg. cube)
Salt and either Herb de Provence, or, my favorite, Cracker Boy Seasoning (buy online) and sprinkle that on top.
Bring to boil
Stir once
Turn down temp, cover and cook "a little while."
There you have it, a Thanksgiving feast to please any family.
We at Petit Fours & Hot Tamales wish you and yours a pleasant Thanksgiving Day with your loved ones. Bon appétit!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Reviews
Title: Book - - Skipping Christmas by John Grisham – and –
Movie - - Christmas with the Kranks
Movie - - Christmas with the Kranks
Publisher: Doubleday
Film Company: Resolutions Studios
ISBN: 0-385-50841-7
Rating: PG
Luther Krank is fed up with all the hoopla of Christmas. He’s tired of the corny office parties, the cold weather, the decorations that would only stay up for a few weeks, and most of all the money they spend on frivolous things. With his only daughter away for Christmas, all he wants to do is get away from it all. A nice relaxing week on a Caribbean cruise will be just the thing to take his mind off of the holidays. He thought the hardest part was going to be convincing his wife this was a good idea. Little did he know that Skipping Christmas was not going to be an easy task, especially if their neighbors have anything to say about it.
Film Company: Resolutions Studios
ISBN: 0-385-50841-7
Rating: PG
Luther Krank is fed up with all the hoopla of Christmas. He’s tired of the corny office parties, the cold weather, the decorations that would only stay up for a few weeks, and most of all the money they spend on frivolous things. With his only daughter away for Christmas, all he wants to do is get away from it all. A nice relaxing week on a Caribbean cruise will be just the thing to take his mind off of the holidays. He thought the hardest part was going to be convincing his wife this was a good idea. Little did he know that Skipping Christmas was not going to be an easy task, especially if their neighbors have anything to say about it.
Their neighbors have decided the Kranks lack of interest in the holiday is just plain selfish. They begin a campaign to get the couple back into the Christmas spirit. Whether they like it or not. When Luther is just hours away from winning, he’s thrown for a loop when his daughter decides she’s returning for a visit with her new fiancé. Now the Kranks must rely on the very people they have alienated the last month to help them bring the holiday spirit home. Not only do they learn the true meaning of Christmas, but they also learn the true meaning of friendship.
Skipping Christmas is my all time favorite holiday book and one I read every year. John Grisham allows the reader to feel the haunting loss of a family member during one of the most important holidays of the year, while tickling the reader’s funny bone with slapstick pranks pulled by both Luther and his neighbors. The battle over raising Frosty took on a life of its own. Since the release of the movie, Christmas with the Kranks, I’ve added watching it with my family as a new tradition. With Tim Allen playing Luther Krank, it has quickly become a favorite for the rest of my family, too. Allen’s quirky humor definitely makes this movie one you don’t want to miss.
The book and the movie bring different experiences to the story, so definitely check them both out. I think you will find them BOTH irresistible.
Reviewer: Tami Brothers
Rating(s): 5 Petit Fours, 1 Hot Tamale (tame but some sexual tension)
Film: THE HOLIDAY (2006)
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Writer/Director: Nancy Meyer
Link to IMDB page (IMDB.com): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457939/
Preview: http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi3321037081/
Genre: Romantic comedy
Link to IMDB page (IMDB.com): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457939/
Preview: http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi3321037081/
Genre: Romantic comedy
SUMMARY: Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.--IMDb
I’ve watched this movie twice already and plan to see it again this holiday season. It is fast becoming a favorite. If you like holiday settings, character growth, a great story, romance or light comedy, you’ll like this movie. It has all of them. And if you’re sentimental, like me, you’ll find yourself getting misty-eyed in places. Definitely a heart-warming, feel-good movie.
I’ve watched this movie twice already and plan to see it again this holiday season. It is fast becoming a favorite. If you like holiday settings, character growth, a great story, romance or light comedy, you’ll like this movie. It has all of them. And if you’re sentimental, like me, you’ll find yourself getting misty-eyed in places. Definitely a heart-warming, feel-good movie.
Reviewed by: Carol Burnside
Ratings: Petit Fours: Recommended View! I love it. Hot Tamales: 2.5
Ratings: Petit Fours: Recommended View! I love it. Hot Tamales: 2.5
Emotional Structure by Peter Dunne
Publisher: Linden Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1884956539
ISBN-13: 978-1884956539
For those of us who have trouble with middles, for those of us who struggle with internal conflict, for those of us who want to give our manuscripts more impact, Peter Dunne's Emotional Structure is the book to read.
Blog sister Tammy Schubert recommended it to me a few months ago, and I've been thanking her ever since. This book is so chock-full of gems and secrets, I almost don't know where to begin.
Blog sister Tammy Schubert recommended it to me a few months ago, and I've been thanking her ever since. This book is so chock-full of gems and secrets, I almost don't know where to begin.
Emotional Structure: Creating the Story Behind the Plot is labeled "A Guide for Screenwriters," but it's just as valuable for novelists, as well. Dunne's premise is that the emotion is in your story, not your plot. And, though both are necessary, story is much more important than plot. Dunne contends that there is just as much structure to the inner journey your protagonist takes (the story), as her outer journey (the plot). He believes the outer should flow from the inner, not the other way around. Especially in the middle.
"The only way to look at the second act is in terms of its emotional content," he says. "The middle of the script is the movie." Or if you're a novelist, the middle of the novel is the book. "If you aren't dealing with the emotional undercurrent of the characters' relationships in Act Two, then you aren't writing the movie. You're doing something else. Usually something bad."
Dunne helps the writer think through her character's emotional journey, make sense of it, and find her own emotional truth. "No plot, no matter how clever, is worth anything if it doesn't ultimately connect your truth to mine."
Dunne helps the writer think through her character's emotional journey, make sense of it, and find her own emotional truth. "No plot, no matter how clever, is worth anything if it doesn't ultimately connect your truth to mine."
I'm only halfway through Emotional Structure, but already I can see an improvement in my writing. Dunne's book is inspiring and motivating. It makes me want to write and write well. It's definitely a must have for the professional writer.
Rating: 5 Petit Fours and 0 Hot Tamales
Reviewed by: Linsey Lanier
Rating: 5 Petit Fours and 0 Hot Tamales
Reviewed by: Linsey Lanier
Suzanne Brockman's Troubleshooter Series
Web site: http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/
Brockman's Troubleshooter Series
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Available in print and for the Kindle on Amazon.com
Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Reviewer’s Name: Tammy Schubert
Rating(s): 4 Petit Fours, 2 hot tamales
The Troubleshooter Series begins with Navy SEAL Lt. Tom Paoletti's, return home to recover from a head injury sustained on a mission. His action-packed love story lays the foundation for the rest of the series by introducing his love interest and the initial supporting cast of characters that readers follow through the series. Starting with the second book, the reader follows SEAL Team 16 as the men live, love, train and fight terrorists. Each book centers on a couple's love story with other complimenting, supporting, interwoven plot lines. Beloved characters reappear in books that follow, and not all of the troubles faced by various characters are resolved at the end of each book. These issues carry over to the next story, which enriches the series and character development.
Later the reader finds that Tom leaves the Navy and opens his own security firm, Troubleshooters, Inc. He employs members of his former SEAL team, some who left the Navy and those who remain but look for side work during down time. Troubleshooters handles government contracts, which mean select security missions involve the sexy heroes of SEAL Team 16.
Suzanne Brockman has an amazing talent for character development and weaving together multiple plot lines seamlessly. A reader cannot help but bond with her characters. So pick up copies of the Troubleshooter Series books, find a cozy place to cuddle up and experience the lives of Troubleshooters.
Troubleshooter Series Book List
Amazon's Troubleshooter Series easy access list: http://www.amazon.com/gp/series/93387?ref%5F=pd%5Fserl%5Fbooks&edition=mass%5Fmarket&page=1
1. THE UNSUNG HERO June 2000, ISBN-10: 080411952X
2. THE DEFIANT HERO March 2001, ISBN-10: 0804119538
3. OVER THE EDGE September 2001, ISBN-10: 0804119708 – My favorite
4. OUT OF CONTROL March 2002, ISBN-10: 0804119716
5. INTO THE NIGHT December 2002, ISBN-10: 0804119716
6. GONE TOO FAR July 2003, ISBN-10: 0345456939
7. FLASHPOINT March 2004, ISBN-10: 0345456947
8. HOT TARGET December 2004, ISBN-10: 0345456955
9. BREAKING POINT July 2005, ISBN-10: 0345480139
10. INTO THE STORM August 2006, ISBN-10: 0345480139
11. FORCE OF NATURE August 2007, ISBN-10: 0345480171
12. ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT October 2007, ISBN-10: 0345501527 – Another favorite
13. INTO THE FIRE July 2008, ISBN-10: 0345501527
14. DARK OF NIGHT January 2009, ISBN-10: 034550156X
15. HOT PURSUIT July 2009, ISBN-10: 0755355539
FREE From Suzanne's Web Site
Sam & Alyssa – Short Story 2: http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/S&Astory2.htm
Readers Guide to the Troubleshooter series: http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/PDF/IntoTheStorm_Sampler.pdf
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Available in print and for the Kindle on Amazon.com
Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Reviewer’s Name: Tammy Schubert
Rating(s): 4 Petit Fours, 2 hot tamales
The Troubleshooter Series begins with Navy SEAL Lt. Tom Paoletti's, return home to recover from a head injury sustained on a mission. His action-packed love story lays the foundation for the rest of the series by introducing his love interest and the initial supporting cast of characters that readers follow through the series. Starting with the second book, the reader follows SEAL Team 16 as the men live, love, train and fight terrorists. Each book centers on a couple's love story with other complimenting, supporting, interwoven plot lines. Beloved characters reappear in books that follow, and not all of the troubles faced by various characters are resolved at the end of each book. These issues carry over to the next story, which enriches the series and character development.
Later the reader finds that Tom leaves the Navy and opens his own security firm, Troubleshooters, Inc. He employs members of his former SEAL team, some who left the Navy and those who remain but look for side work during down time. Troubleshooters handles government contracts, which mean select security missions involve the sexy heroes of SEAL Team 16.
Suzanne Brockman has an amazing talent for character development and weaving together multiple plot lines seamlessly. A reader cannot help but bond with her characters. So pick up copies of the Troubleshooter Series books, find a cozy place to cuddle up and experience the lives of Troubleshooters.
Troubleshooter Series Book List
Amazon's Troubleshooter Series easy access list: http://www.amazon.com/gp/series/93387?ref%5F=pd%5Fserl%5Fbooks&edition=mass%5Fmarket&page=1
1. THE UNSUNG HERO June 2000, ISBN-10: 080411952X
2. THE DEFIANT HERO March 2001, ISBN-10: 0804119538
3. OVER THE EDGE September 2001, ISBN-10: 0804119708 – My favorite
4. OUT OF CONTROL March 2002, ISBN-10: 0804119716
5. INTO THE NIGHT December 2002, ISBN-10: 0804119716
6. GONE TOO FAR July 2003, ISBN-10: 0345456939
7. FLASHPOINT March 2004, ISBN-10: 0345456947
8. HOT TARGET December 2004, ISBN-10: 0345456955
9. BREAKING POINT July 2005, ISBN-10: 0345480139
10. INTO THE STORM August 2006, ISBN-10: 0345480139
11. FORCE OF NATURE August 2007, ISBN-10: 0345480171
12. ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT October 2007, ISBN-10: 0345501527 – Another favorite
13. INTO THE FIRE July 2008, ISBN-10: 0345501527
14. DARK OF NIGHT January 2009, ISBN-10: 034550156X
15. HOT PURSUIT July 2009, ISBN-10: 0755355539
FREE From Suzanne's Web Site
Sam & Alyssa – Short Story 2: http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/S&Astory2.htm
Readers Guide to the Troubleshooter series: http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/PDF/IntoTheStorm_Sampler.pdf
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