Saturday, April 14, 2007
CFBA Saturday: Coral Moon
I've been out of the Christian Fiction Bloggers Alliance loop for a while. With the move and Flannery O'Connor's short stories (I finished!) and Stephen King's Lisey's Story (another book with a whole lotta pages), I haven't had time for much else. Fortunately, I made time for Brandilyn Collins' Coral Moon, the second book in her Kanner Lake series.
Coral Moon picks up just about where Violet Dawn left off. The heroines of the first book are rooming together when they find another body. Bummer, ladies. The majority of the book is devoted to finding the killer before he (or she) strikes again ... or again. Interspersed with the main story are some chapters told from the killer's perspective, as well as some flashbacks detailing why the killer is so messed up.
There's some really tense stuff here. Tense to the point that I'd recommend changing all the lightbulbs in your house before tucking in. One bulb across the room popped while I was reading -- had to be a chapter about "the ghost," of course -- and that gave me the willies for a good while afterward.
About the only nit that I'd pick has to do with the police investigation. Once the story establishes that the cops find the "ghost theory" preposterous (don't dismiss it too early, though, OK?), there never really is a point where they approach the investigation from the line of "who would/could pull such a con and/or why?" It seems to me to be a reasonable line of thinking; I'm not a cop, though, so maybe not. (Fred, Daphne and Velma never ask those questions either and they do just fine in their ghost-busting endeavors; 'course they're just meddling kids with a dog...)
It was great catching up with the Java Joint gang again. Wilbur keeps his shirt on the whole time, so don't let his first-book exhibitionism keep you from grabbing a biggie mocha from Bailey's. Some good action goes down there too, so it's more integrated into the book than it was at times in Violet Dawn.
Can't wait 'til Crimson Eve comes out this Fall.
(Keep up-to-date with Brandilyn at her Forensics & Faith blog; or the Java Joint gang at Scenes & Beans.)
Coral Moon picks up just about where Violet Dawn left off. The heroines of the first book are rooming together when they find another body. Bummer, ladies. The majority of the book is devoted to finding the killer before he (or she) strikes again ... or again. Interspersed with the main story are some chapters told from the killer's perspective, as well as some flashbacks detailing why the killer is so messed up.
There's some really tense stuff here. Tense to the point that I'd recommend changing all the lightbulbs in your house before tucking in. One bulb across the room popped while I was reading -- had to be a chapter about "the ghost," of course -- and that gave me the willies for a good while afterward.
About the only nit that I'd pick has to do with the police investigation. Once the story establishes that the cops find the "ghost theory" preposterous (don't dismiss it too early, though, OK?), there never really is a point where they approach the investigation from the line of "who would/could pull such a con and/or why?" It seems to me to be a reasonable line of thinking; I'm not a cop, though, so maybe not. (Fred, Daphne and Velma never ask those questions either and they do just fine in their ghost-busting endeavors; 'course they're just meddling kids with a dog...)
It was great catching up with the Java Joint gang again. Wilbur keeps his shirt on the whole time, so don't let his first-book exhibitionism keep you from grabbing a biggie mocha from Bailey's. Some good action goes down there too, so it's more integrated into the book than it was at times in Violet Dawn.
Can't wait 'til Crimson Eve comes out this Fall.
(Keep up-to-date with Brandilyn at her Forensics & Faith blog; or the Java Joint gang at Scenes & Beans.)
Labels: Book Reviews, Brandilyn Collins, CFBA, Wilbur Hucks
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Important Words from Wilbur
If you've got a copy of Brandilyn Collins's Violet Dawn handy (you do have one somewhere right? If not, get one now so you'll be ready for the upcoming Coral Moon), turn to page 303. It's the beginning of Part Four and it's dated February 17, 2007. Shades of things soon to come.
Over at the Scenes & Beans blog the past few days there have been some oblique comments made about events in the novel. (Wilbur Hucks got ranty about the trial and other things yesterday.) Will more trial info leak out as Saturday approaches? Stay tuned.
Over at the Scenes & Beans blog the past few days there have been some oblique comments made about events in the novel. (Wilbur Hucks got ranty about the trial and other things yesterday.) Will more trial info leak out as Saturday approaches? Stay tuned.
Labels: Brandilyn Collins, Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Lemme Hear Those Snaps
A couple poetry updates here.
Enjoy. <snap, snap, snap, snap>
- There's a new Wilbur Hucks post up (mine!) at Scenes & Beans: Longfellow of the Lake.
- And the Second Place poem in the DKA contest, Two Cathedrals, is up, too.
Enjoy. <snap, snap, snap, snap>
Labels: DKA Magazine, In Print, Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Thursday, November 02, 2006
A Little Wilbur to Start Your November
It's another Wilbur post over at Scenes & Beans. Not one of mine, but don't let that stop you from checking it out.
So ... check it out, already.
So ... check it out, already.
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Somehow I Forgot
Monday was a Wilbur Hucks day at Scenes & Beans. Read his post here.
Funny stuff, Maynard.
Funny stuff, Maynard.
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Book Chat with Brandilyn Collins 2: Electric ... Never Mind
Back in April I chatted with Brandilyn Collins about her then-new novel, Web of Lies. WoL was the end of one series, Violet Dawn is the beginning of another.
Set in Kanner Lake, Idaho, Violet Dawn tells Paige Williams's story: how she finds a dead body, what she does with it, and what comes next. It also tells the stories of about a dozen other Kanner Lake residents. Some of them, like police chief Vince Edwards and fortune-seeking reporter Leslie Brymes, are directly involved in the unfolding of events; then there are the others, Hank and Janet Dretcher (pastor and his missus), Carla Radling (realtor), Wilbur Hucks (mr. crankypants), et al. While they're not front and center, this handful of "local color" keeps the reader rooted in the setting -- and rooting for Paige to overcome her difficulties and become part of it too.
Java Joint, the local sandwich and coffee hang-out, is the nexus of Kanner Lake life. It's where we find out who the locals are, what makes the town "the town," get a little gossipy exposition (it never takes you out of the story), find a little humor amid the grim doings of a murder investigation.
Java Joint is also the scene of one of Brandilyn's marketing efforts for the series: a website where the locals blog about the town. Other writers (writers who are not Brandilyn Collins) were invited to bring the characters to life, first through auditioning, then through bi-weekly blog entries. The blog takes place in real-time, so on the dates when "certain events" in the book occured the characters reacted (without spoiling the fun for future readers). Most entries are anecdotes about the characters' lives and have seemingly nothing to do with the books themselves. Are there clues dropped in? You never know.
As one of the four writers of Wilbur Hucks, I thought I'd take this Blog Tour/Book Chat opportunity to talk about Wilbur rather than ask broader questions about the book itself. (Got to do research, somehow...) The five questions went like this:
While not as ooky as Web of Lies, Violet Dawn is still a suspenseful -- suspense-filled -- mystery. Not so much Whodunit as Whydoodit, the book will have you regularly reminding yourself to breathe. Next in the series: Coral Moon (March '07). The prologue appears at the end of Violet Dawn ... it's a doozy.
For more about Brandilyn's writing -- what's coming up, what's new in the biz, how and why she writes, the care and feeding of agents and editors -- visit her Forensics & Faith blog.
For more stops on the Violet Dawn Blog Tour, check the blog roll under the CFBA graphic near the bottom of the left-hand sidebar (under Affiliated Affiliations).
Set in Kanner Lake, Idaho, Violet Dawn tells Paige Williams's story: how she finds a dead body, what she does with it, and what comes next. It also tells the stories of about a dozen other Kanner Lake residents. Some of them, like police chief Vince Edwards and fortune-seeking reporter Leslie Brymes, are directly involved in the unfolding of events; then there are the others, Hank and Janet Dretcher (pastor and his missus), Carla Radling (realtor), Wilbur Hucks (mr. crankypants), et al. While they're not front and center, this handful of "local color" keeps the reader rooted in the setting -- and rooting for Paige to overcome her difficulties and become part of it too.Java Joint, the local sandwich and coffee hang-out, is the nexus of Kanner Lake life. It's where we find out who the locals are, what makes the town "the town," get a little gossipy exposition (it never takes you out of the story), find a little humor amid the grim doings of a murder investigation.
Java Joint is also the scene of one of Brandilyn's marketing efforts for the series: a website where the locals blog about the town. Other writers (writers who are not Brandilyn Collins) were invited to bring the characters to life, first through auditioning, then through bi-weekly blog entries. The blog takes place in real-time, so on the dates when "certain events" in the book occured the characters reacted (without spoiling the fun for future readers). Most entries are anecdotes about the characters' lives and have seemingly nothing to do with the books themselves. Are there clues dropped in? You never know.
As one of the four writers of Wilbur Hucks, I thought I'd take this Blog Tour/Book Chat opportunity to talk about Wilbur rather than ask broader questions about the book itself. (Got to do research, somehow...) The five questions went like this:
- A friend of mine recently moved his family up to Coeur d'Alene to bootstrap a new church. They moved into a house on Wilbur Avenue. Coincidence or have characters been named after Idaho/Cd'A locations?
No coincidence, but it's the other way around. The street was named after Wilbur Hucks. He is famous, you know. - How much did being named Wilbur (instead of William or Wilfred or Wilmer Valderrama) have to do with him becoming a crotchety old man? (And Hucks, sounds like you're getting ready to spit. Poor fella never had a chance, huh?)
Look, I didn't birth the guy, nor name him. He came like that. What was I supposed to do? Tell him his moniker was lousy? - It's Any-Pie-for-$6 Month at Marie Callendar's; Wilbur steps up to the display case and orders what flavor? (for himself; he'll order a separate pie for Trudy [Mrs. Hucks] should she so desire)
Wilbur loves huckleberry, as these berries are ubiquitous to the north Idaho area, and he's a true Idahoan. Trudy goes bonkers for lemon meringue. It's just the right combination of sweet and tart--much like Wilbur. - Wilbur's favorite movie?
A Christmas Story. It reminds him of when he was a kid and wanted a BB gun. Plus he once did his own rendition of that getting-the-tongue-stuck-on-the-icy-flagpole thing. - Exempting Oscar the Grouch, Sam the Eagle, and Statler and Waldorf (the balcony guys), who is Wilbur's favorite Muppet ... and why?
Wilbur didn't even know who the Muppets were until a little neighbor girl chattered away to him about them one day. He accepted her invitation to watch one of the Muppet movies with her and her mom. Wilbur loved Animal right away. Animal's so . . . out there. Like Wilbur.
While not as ooky as Web of Lies, Violet Dawn is still a suspenseful -- suspense-filled -- mystery. Not so much Whodunit as Whydoodit, the book will have you regularly reminding yourself to breathe. Next in the series: Coral Moon (March '07). The prologue appears at the end of Violet Dawn ... it's a doozy.
For more about Brandilyn's writing -- what's coming up, what's new in the biz, how and why she writes, the care and feeding of agents and editors -- visit her Forensics & Faith blog.
For more stops on the Violet Dawn Blog Tour, check the blog roll under the CFBA graphic near the bottom of the left-hand sidebar (under Affiliated Affiliations).
Labels: Book Chat, Book Reviews, Brandilyn Collins, Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wilbur Thursday
The wheel that is the Scenes & Beans blog has at last spun back around to Wilbur Hucks. One of my posts this time. Among the many perks of writing for Wilbur is that you get to write for Bailey Truitt, owner of Java Joint, too. Today she and Wilbur have some back-and-forth fun discussing the Top Ten Things NOT to Do in Kanner Lake.
And on yesterday's call for comments, just write "Snark" or "Boojum" or tell me what a horrible, horrible brother-in-law I am. Not really concerned about spelling. Snerk is fine, as is Bujumm or I think yore a meenypants.
And on yesterday's call for comments, just write "Snark" or "Boojum" or tell me what a horrible, horrible brother-in-law I am. Not really concerned about spelling. Snerk is fine, as is Bujumm or I think yore a meenypants.
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wilbur's World!
Wilbur's World! Excellent -- Party Time!
Okay, maybe not. But there is another Wilbur Hucks post up at Scenes & Beans.
Enjoy!
Okay, maybe not. But there is another Wilbur Hucks post up at Scenes & Beans.
Enjoy!
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Another Wilbur Day in Kanner Lake
Busy day, so I'm a bit slow on posting that there's another Wilbur Hucks post up at the Scenes & Beans blog. Can't take credit for it, but it's a good 'un.
Check it out.
Check it out.
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Monday, August 07, 2006
My Audition
If you head on over to Scenes & Beans, you'll see the entry that landed me the gig chanelling Wilbur Hucks. If some of the story doesn't make sense, it's because you didn't sign up for the 12-chapter preview. (shame on you! click the link and catch up.)
Thanks Wilbur and Brandilyn for letting me play along.
[Remember, if you post a comment over at S&B--and you really should--you're talking to Wilbur and/or Bailey Truitt who runs the coffee place. Not me.]
Thanks Wilbur and Brandilyn for letting me play along.
[Remember, if you post a comment over at S&B--and you really should--you're talking to Wilbur and/or Bailey Truitt who runs the coffee place. Not me.]
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Monday, July 10, 2006
Wilbur Watch #1
Today's a Wilbur Hucks day over at Scenes & Beans. Snippets of my audition post made it in, but the main story is David Meigs's.
Of course, our entries were just "as told by" stories. We went to Wilbur and cajoled a story out of him -- I bribed him with some pemmican, don't know what the others used -- then tried to recapture his voice. Wilbur's a crusty old coot; can't imagine why Brandilyn doesn't want to get stories from him first-hand. Congrats on getting the "bear story" out of him, David.
So head on over and read the post already. Leave Wilbur a note (not me or David or any of the other writers) and let him know if he made you laugh, cry, or kiss five minutes good-bye. And check in at S&B tomorrow (and the next day and the next day, all the while telling two friends who'll tell two friends...) to see what goings-on are a'going on.
(Don't forget to check out the opening chapters of Violet Dawn ... or pre-order it.)
Of course, our entries were just "as told by" stories. We went to Wilbur and cajoled a story out of him -- I bribed him with some pemmican, don't know what the others used -- then tried to recapture his voice. Wilbur's a crusty old coot; can't imagine why Brandilyn doesn't want to get stories from him first-hand. Congrats on getting the "bear story" out of him, David.
So head on over and read the post already. Leave Wilbur a note (not me or David or any of the other writers) and let him know if he made you laugh, cry, or kiss five minutes good-bye. And check in at S&B tomorrow (and the next day and the next day, all the while telling two friends who'll tell two friends...) to see what goings-on are a'going on.
(Don't forget to check out the opening chapters of Violet Dawn ... or pre-order it.)
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Is Fame Just a Week Away?
The Scenes & Beans blog went live this morning. (I've been road-tripping up and down I-5 or I'd have posted this earlier.) My character, Wilbur Hucks, looks to get a few mentions today through Friday, then sometime next week a blog post of his own. Be sure to get to know the other characters, too; that way when I get cranky you'll know who I'm getting cranky at.
[Note: If, at some point in the future, you're looking for the Scenes & Beans blog and can't rememeber the kannerlake.blogspot.com address, don't worry about tracking this post down. There's a snazzy badge over on the left under "What I'm Writing" that will take you there. (Yes, you could bookmark the S&B site, but you're a rebel, I know.) Happy trails!]
In related news, I sent out a handful of press releases about my role in the blog today. Will it garner me and S&B any attention? Hope so. There are a few others I have yet to send, but should I land a mention here and/or there I'll be sure to let you know.
[Note: If, at some point in the future, you're looking for the Scenes & Beans blog and can't rememeber the kannerlake.blogspot.com address, don't worry about tracking this post down. There's a snazzy badge over on the left under "What I'm Writing" that will take you there. (Yes, you could bookmark the S&B site, but you're a rebel, I know.) Happy trails!]
In related news, I sent out a handful of press releases about my role in the blog today. Will it garner me and S&B any attention? Hope so. There are a few others I have yet to send, but should I land a mention here and/or there I'll be sure to let you know.
Labels: Scenes and Beans, Wilbur Hucks
