In school I was lucky enough to have lots of English teachers that encouraged creative writing. We wrote short stories, poems, memoir in many different grades (and thus with many different levels of quality) but I didn't have many teachers that taught us much about mechanics. I was on the cusp of the 'free writing' movement, by the time my brother hit middle school grammar rules had been thrown out the window and the feeling and intention was paramount. My teachers weren't that nutty, but there wasn't a big focus on where that comma should go.

I'll admit, that followed me. Sometimes commas feel like a mystery. I recall specifically my senior English teacher giving me a mini less on the back of an essay about semi-colons to get me to quit it with the run-on sentences. I love run-on sentences. In middle school I did have one teacher who would know 50 points (of 100) off our grade for a single offense. Luckily she split grade content/grammar. I got a lot of A/F's in her class. Obviously it didn't help because senior year I was just discovering the semi-colon. A lifesaver eventually. Thank god for Ms. Crago.

I realized that my big problem with those run on sentences was Latin class. I took six years of it, and let me tell you, those Romans liked a long sentence, and a comma (well they didn't have commas, but when you translated it, you used them). So Latin class was my grammar foundation. Id translate four lines and have just one sentence, and there it was correct. Back in English—not so much.

So, dear readers, if you find an extra comma that has escaped my edits; sorry, but blame the Romans.

Mixing it up this time with a short story collection. I stumbled across a list of best horror while procrastinating on FB (surprise) and 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill was on it. My library had a copy, so I dove right in. I’m a slow reader, so I always start off collections with the shortest stories to get a feel for the author if I haven’t read anything else by them before.

The one page flash Dead-wood was an obvious choice—but it wasn’t a good opener. It was more style than substance, which is fine if it’s not all there is, so I ignored that venture and moved on. Last Breath, the next shortest, was right up my alley. A quick dive into a creepy setting with a ‘scientific’ bend and I knew this would be my thing. I can’t say much without giving it away, but the museum features a collection of ‘last breaths’ from people famous and not, and the doctor is always ready to show you around, or to keep collecting. Even so short there were a few different places I could have seen the story go and it did not disappoint. It was plenty to get me ready to pick my next victim.

Another of my favorites was Pop Art; it wasn’t horror by any means or even a thriller, but a strange alternate universe tale. In this world, some people are born inflatable. At first I tried to understand it in an earthly way; is this a ‘Bubble Boy’ type situation? But no, he is literally a plastic blow up person, filled with air instead of blood. Art can’t talk or make much for expressions, but he makes a best friend and they bond closely. Art often thinks about death and loves outer space. He’s eccentric beyond his plastic skin. It was a strange story, but one I couldn’t put down even once I realized it was not the genre I expected.

I finished, but probably didn’t need to, The Widows Breakfast. Another story that wasn’t particularity horror; maybe aside from the creepy last line. A homeless person is riding the rails after the death of his lover and stumbles upon a cabin in the woods with a widow and her children. She feeds him, gives him her husband’s old clothes and her kids play a creepy game.

The more of the book I read, the more I see Ray Bradbury influences and realizing that made me like the stories more. They are simply supposed to be odd; not necessarily all horror. I think having found it on a horror list set me up to dislike it, and it took quite a few stories to realize the better categorization.

Overall, it was a worth-reading collection, and I give it 4 stars. As always, some were stronger than others, but the range makes it so there is something for everyone who likes to venture outside the norm. Your faves might be some I skimmed, that’s what I love about shorts; they are an easy way to dig into lots of different styles and tropes.

I am of the Harry Potter generation. I went through childhood with no computer at home through grade-school, no cell phone until I was 16 and didn't send a text until college. What I did have was harry potter, waiting, as they were written to find out what would happen to everyone favorite boy-wizard. Ill admit, I didn't run out to buy the first book right away. My neighbor lent it to me after she finished, and my crappy reading skills and far too young to read brother had my mother reading it to us each night.

By the time we finished the second book was about to hit stands. We were hooked and my mother promptly started reading that one too. Then the waiting. At this point Harry and I were about the same age. I could read them myself if I wanted, but I was still a slow reader and the thickness of those hardbacks intimidated me. My mother kept at it, she jokes now that shes one of the few to have read every word in the series out loud. Until the first movie premiered we called Hermione 'Hermi' in my house, having no clue how to say her name. I think even after we kept it up.

I remember riding out of the arena after a group lesson in high school and debating if harry could in fact be a horcrux before the final book released. We were unsure but worried for what it would mean. I did read that last book on my own, stealing it away between my mothers sessions with my brother- she was too slow at that point and I NEEDED to know what would happen, how it would end.

And that is why, those months spent waiting, the nights huddled on the couch listening— that no matter what problematic things J K says, she can't take Harry Potter from me. I will openly disagree with her, but she can't take away the enjoyment and treasured time spent with my family that Harry Potter provided.

I think that there are probably plenty of authors whose ideas don't follow to current standards, we just aren't looking very hard at them. I doubt there are many classic works whose authors worldviews would even be remotely acceptable these days. Its not to say 'that was a different time' or 'everyone has their opinion' but I think that we can, and should, be able to separate art from its creator. Do you agree?

After going hard with a few thrillers in a row I needed something lighter and this YA choice popped up in my amazon first reads and I jumped at it. It's not something I would usually pull; if I'm reading YA it's usually supernatural or dystopia or something other than a sweet tale about kids at camp.

Camp Padua is a special camp for teens with issues and we quickly meet a cast of characters that run the spectrum from eating disorders, self harm and potential mental illness. Zander, our MC doesn't reveal why she has been sent to camp. But we know that something bad happened at her last swim meet. She meets a boy; Grover Cleveland - yes after the president- who is insistent that he loves her. Zander hates feelings.

I was quickly wrapped up in the quick pace and emotional range from the kids at the camp. We follow them through various activities and watch them come out of their shells. Zander meets a girl named Cassie who is mean to everyone. She has attended camp before and is friends with Grover. Their group also includes a compulsive liar who calls himself Alex Trebek. I won't spoil anything as despite the fairly low stakes for the majority of the book, there's a lot of secrets held by these kids and they are teased out wonderfully as they open up to each other.

It's a sweet story, but not without tension and a great read for both lovers of the genre and anyone willing to take a quick vacation to Camp Padua.

I rate it four and a half stars.

Alright everyone, I’ve mentioned my WIP a few times over the past couple months but really haven’t said anything about it. I’m nearing completion of the draft and I think it’s time to share a bit about it! It is a psychological thriller about a book-smart woman who can’t deal with the advances of her assistant-turned-stalker; she makes a plan to run but when everything goes wrong and she must learn to trust her instincts to get herself out of danger.

It’s the first book I’ve written with the help of a real-time critique group. We are a small group and shared chapters weekly as we went. It was a very different experience than Excite- I wrote the entire first draft in 30 days (NaNoWriMo anyone?) then edited and sent the whole shebang out to betas. I’m hoping that having gotten so much feedback along the way, the revision process will be smoother. It’s been fun to see where people think the story is going and to only sort of know myself. I’m not much of a plotter, so not much was written in stone before I started.

The group was formed out of a class on coursera.org for new writers—and while I’m not new per-se I am new to the process as given and getting very diverse feedback from writers of different levels, and critiquing theirs in turn, has been really cool.

So, in addition to that logline tease, I’ll do you one better. The title (and I’m 90% certain it will stay) is.... According To Plan. It’s so early I don’t have an official cover yet. That will come later. But I do have a placeholder, one that I made to keep my motivation up. If you want to see that head on over to my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/EricaDamonAuthor) later this week for the reveal!

I just finished The Friar's Lantern by Greg hickey, and would give it a solid 3.5 stars. I love the philosophy and science behind the idea. Thinking about what makes us make decisions and if we have control over it is a rabbit hole I am happy to go down. The choose your own adventure style of the book seemed aimed to drive that point home, and while I enjoyed making the choices I wish in some places there were more opportunities to do so.

I found myself connecting the the main character in the idea that the decision has already been made and no matter what choice I make regarding the boxes it doesn't matter. I did waver between options at times but liked this idea that our MC planted. It is or it isn't.

When we weren't being philosophical sometimes the scenes, especially in the court room, read a bit slow and I found myself skimming here and there to try to get to where we were going. Long descriptions and sentences added to that slow pace and at times felt a bit unseemly towards some females encountered.

Overall I enjoyed the experience that reading The Friar's Lantern provided and found myself hopping back to see what other choices may have brought me.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've never been to Sydney but after following Kidman and Reid on their investigation I feel like I could navigate the streets on my own. The Death Investor by Ian Lomond felt so grounded in the setting that it almost became its own character. The pace was quick and kept me turning pages to see what would happen next.

The mystery of who killed software developer Peter Maher is full of twists and turns with the perfect level of deceit. It could be any number of people as the possible motives pile up against the tech genius. Peter Maher is never pigeonholed into his job, the way I find many people want to portray the uber-smart. Hes got a life outside the office too, one just as potentially damaging as having the next million dollar idea. Detectives Kidman and Reid have a great banter and make a nice team with a solid and realistic dynamic.

The novel stands alone but introduces characters that are worth getting attached to. I will be looking forward to more from this author. I rate it five stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Death Investor is available on Amazon

Sometimes writing sucks. I said it, but I probably don't mean it the way you think. I don't mind staring at my outline and trying to get my fingers typing, that's fine. I don't even mind revising and trying to remember all those grammar rules.

It sucks when you are too close to apiece that you cant see that it needs to be binned. The first novel length story I wrote, I was just in love with it. With the idea, the characters, the whole universe. But it was the first thing I wrote, no outline, no plan. Its not great. Deep in there is a good story, somewhere. But no matter how long I put it aside for I cant seem to get far enough from the love for it to do the kind of revision it would need.

When I first write it the MCs fiance died at the end, but it was too hard (it wasn't right for the story, I still think letting him live in the second version was a better idea) but I wasn't thinking about that when I changed it. I loved him just as much as m MC did. He had to live, so I trashed that ending and gave them an almost happily ever after.

I wish I had saved the scene though, I think it would have helped me rewrite further. I printed a couple test copies without hardly editing it and couldn't get enough. I have ideas for expanding that universe, but without that manuscript its all for naught. But going on 10 years later, I just cant cut those first scenes I fell in love with. I have to admit defeat at some point. New ideas are coming, ones that I have the skills now to bring to fruition and see through.

I hope someday I can re-write that book. Until then, Ill just keep staring at the red pen marked-up copy on my shelf.

I enjoyed the premise of Play For Me by CP White and give it four stars. The sociopath trying to 'teach people a lesson' versus the self-centered struggling musician. Its easy to see why LJ is willing to put herself in the position that she does. In her worldview its all about her. Even when red flashing lights should be going off at the invitation she receives its all about what it could do for her, trumping the clear danger of the situation.

At many times I wasn't sure who I was routing for, to be honest. At first LJ is such a good unreliable narrator that we don't see the issues of her personality because she doesn't see them. I think that was captured very well. The more we learn the more we see how she hardly sees beyond her own nose and at times I was sitting in the dark with the mystery person telling her off too. I don't know if its intentional but the nods to Seven really made my day. The movie is a running joke in my family... anytime there's a box, someone has to say: “What's in the box?” à la Brad Pitt.

At first I was disappoint with the ending. I'm not sure LJ learned all that much despite the other characters best attempts at almost literally killing her to make the case. Reading the afterward I understand the authors intent; it does show her change. I would have liked a bit more in that scene though to drive it home and I may have felt more connected to her characters changes then if she had shown her change from self-pity to empowerment.

Overall I definitely enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to whatever the author has next.