PaperBox Books

I have read Pillars of the Earth twice and loved it both times. It’s rich and deep and historical and romance and betrayal and about politics and religion and building cathedrals. Who could want for more?

I finished watching the recent miniseries made from the books and I kept saying to myself, I don’t remember that, that’s not right etc. Of course, I hadn’t remembered all of the book, and for some of it, I was right, they had made some changes to shorten it for TV and give it more action.

The story is – well as I said above there’s more than one story here.

The story about building the cathedral is filled with conflict between the local prior and the evil bishop.

The story about the English succession is – well tied into the story with the evil bishop.

The story of faith meets conflict on practicality.

If you are looking for an example of finely crafted complexity this is the best one I know.

10 page turns.

Perry

No Comments | In: Book Review | tags: Book Review. | #

I was on my Goodreads group this morning and I found all kinds of posts asking for help. One post was specific to one sentence the author was trying to revise. She got responses right away and three great ones (okay one was mine but it was great, really).

I guess the point is, look for help everywhere. You never know where you’ll find that gem of advice that takes you to the next level.

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links, Writing Tips | tags: revision, writing advice, Writing Tips. | #

I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon of book reviewers. Why? ‘Cause I read.

I read a lot of different genres and since starting PaperBox Books with Sue, I’ve broadened my reading habits even more. One thing I’ve always returned to for entertainment that doesn’t challenge me too much, is the contemporary romance.

Jennifer Cruisie is always reliable for a light yet satisfying read. Her heroines are likable even when they are in the throes of their flaws. In Bet Me, Min is just such a heroine, she’s a chubby daughter of a skinny family and her mother thinks that the best way to support her is to keep her off carbs.

Along comes our hero, Cal, the typical gorgeous hunk – who is really a good guy, right? He takes a bet from Min’s ex boyfriend. What Min hears and what Cal says are two different bets.

I don’t think I gave too much away but now I’ll stop with the plot and let you enjoy it.

Overall, it kept me reading, I liked all the characters, even the evil ones. Cruisie kept the story moving and the characters developing believably.

I give it 10 page turns out of 10

Enjoy a good read.

Perry

No Comments | In: Book Review | tags: reviews. | #

Hi, here are a few links that you might find useful.

For writers who need to know all about forensic science.

Links within links from Charlotte Dillon about character development.

World Builder Projects, all about world building links.

Happy Writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #

I’ve been reading a few great blogs the last couple of days. Here are three that I think will help most writers.

There are no rules a good article about querying (just because PaperBox Books isn’t the only channel to your reader).

From Ask the Publishing Guru about using strong verbs.

And, finally,

How to kill your imaginary friends – this one may not be useful for everyone, but it’s got great information on exsanguination.

Happy writing.

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | | #

I started this post with a purpose. I was going to write a review of the book so far. As a publisher, like other publishers, I look at the beginning of the book and decide whether there’s enough promise to make it worth my time to read a whole manuscript.

Like most readers, I have read books that start out great then peter off into poor writing, bad character development and a plot that goes nowhere. And, books that don’t start out so great but are good enough to keep me reading until I hit the gold.

This book, Eat Pray Love isn’t the kind of book I usually read – it is however the type of movie I love to watch. And I fully intend to watch this one.

Why don’t I read these books? It’s the transition from rock bottom to whatever new state the heroine grows into. In the book, for me it takes for freaking ever for the character to let go of the whining and get on with the growing.

It’s not the writing, Elizabeth Gilbert has done a great job putting the story on the page, she did a great job of setting the scene, and I find her ‘rockbottomness’ believable. It’s the pace, I’m around 10% of the way in (by the little blue bar on my Kindle for iPod) and we haven’t yet started the journey.

When this kind of story is in a movie, they cut it to the smallest time possible because they have around 2 hours (at most for this type of movie) and they know the story is in the struggle.

So, if you are looking to write this kind of journey memoir, fictional or not, remember the reader needs to buy into the reason the character needs to change, but the story really starts when the journey starts.

This example, Neon Pilgrim, is a self published book that I happened along in Smashwords one day. It could use some editing but she keeps the “I’m in such a bad place I need to change drastically’ down to under six pages. Even hardhearted me can handle that.

How do you like your memoirs paced?

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: opinions | tags: movies, opinion. | #

We receive a lot of manuscripts to publish. Our goal is to publish as many as we can since unlike the bigger publishers, we’re not hampered by limited shelf space.

However, this doesn’t mean we’re willing to slack off in the editing department.

I saw this great article tweeted, and re-tweeted out. It’s well deserving of the re-tweets. It’s one of the best list of questions to ask yourself while editing, especially if you’re planning to publish http://thetravelersnotebook.com/articles/checklist-for-writers-10-questions-to-ask-while-editing/

Writing for fun and writing for publication are two very different animals. To be a successful writer you have to find a way to combine them together.

Good luck with your writing.

Sue

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | | #

I have been lucky enough to be able to visit the site of my upcoming book, but I used a number of tools to research and write before going to San Francisco. The trip was to fine tune, not to do the primary research.

The two tools that I find the most useful, and maybe you do too, are Google Street View and just Google search. I know there are tonnes of other tools available both free and paid but these two tools have been my saving grace many a time when I needed to do a quick research and get back to writing – i.e. during National Novel Writing Month.

Using Google Street View let me see that there was a perfect place in front of city hall to dump a body in Closing the Circle. It didn’t show me that there are cameras all around and I needed to make sure I dealt with that when my investigators were unable to identify the killer.

Using Google search has helped me to research my Urban Fantasy – so far I can’t see what it is missing but we’ll see as I write.

Looking for a name for your character? type in your question in Google search bar and you’ll find all kinds of places to match attribute to name.

So, if you are stuck for a location, type in an address or intersection and Google maps will take you there.

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #

Hi, this is from Ask the Publishing Guru – great advice on writing like a pro.

Five Writing Tips.

Happy writing

Perry

No Comments | In: Awesome Links, Writing Tips | tags: opinion, writing, Writing Tips. | #

We’ve had some great entries for our first Summer Short Story Contest and we’re eager to see the rest of them. (you do have a story almost ready don’t you?)

Our contest is open to all genres. There are cash and publication prizes and of course bragging rights. Seriously what are you waiting for. (I’d enter but I’m not allowed).

Tell your friends, relatives and anyone you know who writes and has always dreamed about getting published.

“Winner of the PaperBox Books Summer Short Story Contest” will look really good on your next query letter.

Contest details are available at http://paperboxbooks.com/summer-short-story-contest.php

No Comments | In: What's New with PBB | | #