Mysterious is Not Necessarily From a Mystery Writer

Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) Born in Dublin Ireland

Irish Playwright and essayist was a flamboyant and sharp witted writer who exposed the hypocrisies of Victorian society. He was a firm believer in art for art sake.  His colorful personal life, and eccentricities as well as his effected demeanor drew much attention to him even before he became an acclaimed literary genius. His printed words live on.

Most of his works were written in the 1890’s. His first book, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) was not as well received as his plays. His barbed comedy aimed at the attitudes and habits of the affluent of British society. “An Ideal Husband (1895) was about a blackmail attempt on a public official. It would seem that play or at least it’s morale repeats itself every year or so, only the venue changes.

While not a mystery writer, per se, Oscar Wilde reveals the flaws in societies fabric. As the rich and famous so often find, with fame they no longer own their life. Homosexuality was not taken lightly back then and after two years of hard labor, his sentence for exercising his sexual preference, he died a penniless pauper in 1900. The imprisonment did not dull the importance of his life’s work, however.

“America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between” Oscar Wilde 1882 a comment he made when he was on a tour in the US

Information gleaned from: The Intellectual Devotional, Revise your mind, complete your education, and roam confidently with the cultured class. David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim ©2006 Rodale

No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark - a review

No Place Like Home

By Mary Higgins Clark

ISBN 0-7432-6489-4

Simon & Schuster 2005©

Readers often ask, “Where did you get the idea for that story?” In the case of No Place Like Home a New Jersey law was the source for Mary Higgins Clark.  A real estate law to be specific, but to be more specific a real estate agent must inform prospective buyers if the home he/or she considers purchasing carries a stigma that might cause psychological damage to the purchaser. Like ghosts haunting the place or other sinister things connected with the facility.

As a prelude—or an introduction that gives the reader a chill and sets the stage for what might be coming next, Clark includes the oft repeated chant…

            “Lizzie Borden took an ax

            And gave her mother forty whacks

            When she saw what she had done

            She gave her father forty one.”

An unthinkable crime, a child killing a parent, and wounding another. Ten-year old Liza Barton, in a dreadful scene of domestic abuse, is awakened by an argument between her mother and her estranged stepfather. She accidentally shoots her mother she was trying to protect her from that stepfather. She is arrested, but the judge finds her not guilty.

 Exonerated by the justice system, but not the town or her conscience, Liza is taken in by distant relatives from across the country, California cousins. Liza is given a new name to protect her and help her get a new start on life. Celia, twenty-four years later divorced and remarried receives a birthday gift from her second husband. He buys her a house, it turns out to be the house of her childhood, the house in Mendham, New Jersey where she killed her mother and wounded her step father.

The terror she thought she left behind resurfaces as they are about to move in to the new place. The lawn and house are marked up with messages of the old…Little Lizzie’s Place—Beware is painted on the front lawn. A skull and cross bones is carved into the mahogany front door, a doll with a toy gun is propped against that door and the siding is splotched with red paint.

“Blood. It wasn’t paint. It was Mother’s blood. I could feel my arms and neck and face becoming sticky with her blood.” Liza/Celia is transported back to that dreadful day.

Her husband is outraged. The real estate agent is beside herself with embarrassment and Lisa/Celia is ready to collapse, but dares not show the terror she feels.  Not until she can prove her innocence to her husband before she tells him or the town who she really is.

It all gets worse from here on out. Who knows her—who remembers what she did—why harass her all these years after she received an innocent verdict? Does her stepfather have anything to do with this?

The reader will fly through the pages, sharing Liza/Celia’s terror and fear so thick it is nearly palpable, all the way to the end. Hoping for a solution, some good in Liza’s life, wanting her to find peace and recognition as the innocent person she is. In a word this is an unputdownable recommended read.

100 Words...That's all

I can do that - after all 100 words isn't much, although I do remember when I thought 250 words was like a cruise ship compared to a canoe - impossible. Now, I write without much thought to how many words. Sometimes a thousand words is easy, a chapter of 1,300 or even 2,000 isn't all that much. Call it all in a days work. But what happens on those days when it's as if your mind quit thinking in words, or pictures, or anything but spaghetti noodles.
Today was an exceptional day...The local Amberg American Legion held their traditional ceremony to light the lights on the the trees that honor the veterans remembered by those who gathered for the dedication. There were enough members who were recognized both living and deceased that two trees were needed this year. Each light lit was a donation to honor one vet - from those who had served in any conflict past,and to the present day.
The crowd was larger than previous years. The Legion president was hospitalized, gravely ill,  so another took his place...the ceremony was beautiful and memorable. It always is. Then a chili lunch was served by the Ladies of the Legion Auxiliary and a family-like gathering continued to bring the attendants closer together to remember all the good and appreciate what we have.
It was a good morning - perhaps too good because it left me at a loss for words to find something to say here - something other than my own selfish pursuits - Perhaps a huge thank you to all those past, present and future who care enough to give their all for our beloved country, The United States of America.
  THANK YOU BRAVE HEARTS!

Where Did October go?

Well, It's November--off to a roaring start and I hardly finished doing October. {smile} 
I had a book released last month - Diamonds, Death and Deceit. The printed words are available in all electronic formats as well as print. Wings ePress, Inc is the publisher.
The book is set in South Africa, Ewando to be exact, not too far from Durban--You all know where Durban is don't you? Well, David Hemingway is an ex-FBI agent who decided to take his life in another direction after he lost his wife and infant son in an explosion detonated by a local crime syndicate.
Doctor, Alcina Danvers, a long time friend of his, invites him to come to Africa and set up a school with the Peace Corps to begin his new career as a teacher. He accepts, looking for the welcoming peace and quiet of a remote African village. At least that is what he thought he was going to find. Almost immediately he is caught up in the Xhosa people's struggle to maintain not only their native heritage, but their land and resources and their pride and life style. Who is he fighting? He finds out, eventually. After nearly losing his life and that of Alcina's, as well, in the process.
Pick up your copy and join us in this mystery/suspense adventure to the Dark Continent. Writing Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing

Do You Garden? Do You have Garden Gnomes?

You might ask, "What does this have to do with the Printed Word?" I just read a very compact book you should know about. Look below before it's too late.

How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will)
By Chuck Sambuchino  
Ten Speed Press 
ISBN 978-1-58008-463-5 
Reviewed by Billie A Williams 

“Keep reading if you want to live.” Talk about a hook. If that doesn’t get you, nothing will. Am I reading Tess Gerritsen or Stephen King? Neither.  I’m reading How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack by Chuck Sambuchino. 

 I have three of these little Garden Gnome predators but they decided not to come out this year to sit in the Keebler Elves type doorway created by a major branch breaking off our willow tree.  When another one quarter of this willow tree toppled in a windstorm this summer, I realized how very clever these Garden Gnomes are. Sambuchino verifies my observation. 

A delightful tongue in cheek, but clever look at thwarting an eventual takeover awaits the reader. Garden Gnomes do seem to multiply. They come in various sizes and colors to fit any landscape or indoor décor. 

Tidbits of ‘Gnomenclature’ (coined by Chuck Sambuchino) impart knowledge and a question in the reader’s mind –truth or Sambuchinoed—you might ask. 

An interesting trip through some natural world wonders, complete with photographs, impart wisdom and exploration and do a great job of raising the curiosity level of the reader. This book is a delightful treatise on our penchant for collecting. It’s an innocuous, harmless habit – or is it? 

Would you worry about reaching into your mailbox if you knew that, perhaps, a gnome waited there to attack that hand?  Would you opt for a Post Office Box even though it cost you time, travel and money to retrieve your mail every day? See page 45. It’s scary. 

Do you know how to make quick sand? See page 36, it’s for your own defense. 

You know about crop circles don’t you? Do you know how they are formed? See Page 22 for insider information. 

On every page there is a footer, footers  marked by a pointed, little red, gnome cap. There is no escape! 

You’ll laugh. You’ll question the sanity of the message. You will look with new eyes on that garden gnome you thought was a mere, sweet little elfin garden ornament. 

I found myself wondering as I finished this marvelous small book; when will How to survive a Pink Flamingo Attack, be released? 

I highly recommend this book to gnome lovers/owners everywhere. Even if you are not a gnome owner, but a gardener or have a neighbor who gardens—you need to read this book for your own protection or for a laugh a minute if you prefer humor.
Billie A Williams
http://www.billiewilliams.com
http://writingwide.com
Money Isn't Everything, Best Seller
Mystery Suspense, Wings Press
 

Whodunit makes the Bestseller List

It's hard to imagine how long the printed word has been thrilling, intriguing or entertaining people, but it's even more interesting to study the best seller lists since they first began somewhere around 1825 or so. We really have to stretch ourselves to imagine that far back so much has happened in the last 150 years or more.

I began to wonder when the first mystery may have hit the shelves, but more importantly when did one reach the distinction of bestseller?

Imagine, the year is 1902 and the list has been going for a while. You pick up the paper and lo and behold Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hounds of the Baskervilles is listed. It is still one of Doyle's most famous Sherlock Holmes novels and is officially the first 'detective story', to  make the bestseller list. [according to Michael Korda in Making the List, a cultural History of the American bestseller 1900 - 1999.]

But it wasn't until 1909 that the first American detective story made the list. The Man in the Lower Ten, by Mary Roberts Rinehart had the distinction and along with that, a tradition of women writers who used three names in their signature line. The tradition, it would seem with such notables as Mary Higgins Clark and others.

So the printed word continues to be interested in the traditions and genre's long ago built by those we love to read and hope to emulate in our own writing.
Billie A Williams (since I only use an initial I guess I don't qualify for the distinction mentioned above {smile})
www.billiewilliams.com
Money Isn't Everything

It's Here....My own Printed Words

I need to deviate from the normal posts for just today. I am excited my new book is printed and ready for you. Antique Armor hits the shelves today -- September 1, 2010--from Wings ePress.com available wherever fine books are sold.

Antique Armor is about a young woman who inherits an Antique shop when her Aunt Rosa dies (mysteriously I might add) a suit of antique armor is delivered to the shop after she takes it over. She has no clue where it came from, but bizarre things begin to happen as soon as it arrives. Is it cursed? Does it have paranormal powers, is it her imagination? When a note falls from the armor that says "She's killing me" our protagonist goes into accidental sleuth mode and wonders just what she has gotten herself into. Follow June Fabrizio as she tries to untangle the mess her family has involved her in. From Aunt Rosa, to sister Belinda and her brother Derek's strange death the tale keeps unfolding while she is never certain who is with her and who isn't.
An autographed copy is available from me...Billie A Williams if you are so inclined, send me an email and I can let you know what shipping will be. The book is $11.95 and postage is around $3.
ISBN 978-1-59705-537-2 [available soon at Amazon.com]
It is also available in electronic versions (ISBN 978-1-59705-483-6) and will be up at Fictionwise and Amazon soon.
Thanks for letting me toot my own horn.