Swan Peak by James Lee Burke

Today I finished reading Swan Peak by James Lee Burke.

Learn to Write by Reading Project.

Techniques of a Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain

Today I finished Techniques of a Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain. (1965)

I bought and read the book because I was intrigued by Motivation-Response-Units mentioned by blogger Randy Ingermanson in his blog Advanced Fiction Writing.  A concept which Ingermanson credited to Swain.

If a how-to-write book written in 1965 is still in print, it has something useful to say. 

This book does in spades.  Ninety percent of my copy's pages are highlighted, underlined, or both.  I give it four stars. 

Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker

Read Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker.  An Edgar award winning novel.

Learn to Write by Reading Project.

First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader

Read First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader.

Learn to Write by Reading Project.

The Assassin by Stephen Coonts

Read The Assassin by Stephen Coonts


Learn to Write by Reading Project.



The King of Lies by John Hart

Today I finished reading John Hart's debut novel, The King of Lies, (2006).  Hart received a nomination for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel for this book.

His second book, Down River, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel and his third book, Last Child, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. 

The book is superbly written.  The character arc is outstanding.  This is a fantastic debut novel.

His growth as a writer and story teller in his second and third books is nothing short of awesome.  I can't imagine the next book.  My expectations are sky high.

The King of Lies is a great read.

The Last Child by John Hart

When I read about how hard it is to get an agent once you have finished your book, I get discouraged.

When I read about how hard it is for the agent to then find a publisher, I get discouraged.

When I read about how the established best selling authors own what is left of the print market, I get discouraged.

It makes me fear that there isn't room for another new author.

Then, I read The Last Child (2009) by John Hart.  My eyes grew wider.  My jaw dropped and then closed into a smile.  And, I said to myself, "By golly, this guy can really write.  He's the real deal."

His first book, The King of Lies, was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.  His second book, Down River, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2008.  His third book, The Last Child, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2010.  Talk about hitting home runs.  No one has ever come off the line so fast!

How come?  He's got great twisting plots, super characters you care about, really big bad guys, descriptions you can smell, taste and feel, and dialog you can hear as clear as a bell.  He's got it all.  And it is literary.

The message I get is. . .   If you're really good, agents, publishers, and readers don't care if you a new writer they want to read what you've written.

John Hart is my hero.  Read him!!!!