Tammy Setzer Denton, Author
St. Charles, MO
TAMMY SETZER DENTON
Writer
Page & Paragraph
Posted on January 13, 2017 at 6:26 PM |
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Here's the list. Did you read any of the same books I did? If so, what's your opinion of them? Let's discuss. 2016 Reading List 1. Dead Witch Walking
by Kim Harrison 2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
by Kim Harrison 3. Every Which Way But Dead by
Kim Harrison 4.
A
Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison 5.
For
a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison 6.
The
Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison 7.
White
Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison 8.
Black
Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison 9.
Pale
Demon by Kim Harrison 10.
A
Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison 11.
Ever
After by Kim Harrison 12.
The
Undead Pool by Kim Harrison 13.
The
Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison 14.
Into
the Woods by Kim Harrison 15.
Rebecca’s
Tale
by Sally Beauman 16.
The
Historian by Elizabeth Kostova 17.
The
Revenant by Michael Punke 18.
The
Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown 19.
My
Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher 20.
The
Summerhouse by Jude Devereaux 21.
The
Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins 22.
A
Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay 23.
That
Special Grace by Benjamin Bradlee 24.
Sapogonia
by Ana Castillo 25.
A
Scattering of Bones by Lesann Berry 26.
Tomato
Red by
Daniel Woodrell 27.
Freud’s
Sister by Goce Smilevski 28.
Can’t
Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg 29.
The
Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck 30.
The
Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson 31.
Harry
Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling 32.
Jumping
Through Fires by David Nasser 33.
Swan
Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova 34.
Creepers
by
David Morrell 35.
The
Maid’s Version by Daniel Woodrell 36.
The
Twenty-Seventh City by Jonathan Franzen 37.
The
Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George As you can see, the first fourteen books of 2016 were a paranormal series. This is not a common genre for me, but Kim Harrison made the series appealing and a little bit addictive. I love works that are well-written and send me to the dictionary, and I found that to be the case in Rebecca's Tale by Sally Beauman. This is a sequel to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Question: Can I call it a sequel if it's not written by the original author? Would the change in author make it Fan Fiction? The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova sent me to a world map which is equally enjoyable. This novel would be great for a literary road trip. I found The Revenant by Michael Punke to be somewhat disappointing. I did not see the movie so my opinion is based solely upon the reading. I did use this novel to show some students how the storyline changes based upon the writer's audience. The original story came from a Philadelphia journal article written in 1825 by a lawyer. While Hugh Glass did exist, and was mauled by a bear and left for dead in 1823, the tale has never been told without some fictionalization. The book by Punke is very different from the first account of the story, and the hollywoodized adaptation found in the movie is very different from Punke's version. It made for a good teaching moment, but I didn't find the novel to be a compelling read. The Weird Sisters was an interesting read, but not nearly as interesting as the title suggests. Two novels by Daniel Woodrell, Tomato Red and The Maid's Version, made it on to my reading list, in part, because his stories take place in the Ozark Mountains. Each time I read one of his works, I become more and more grateful that I did not grow up in the area he mines as his writing muse. I like how he juxtaposes the beauty of the region with the ugly actions of the people who populated it then and now. It's harsh and lovely at the same time. I rarely (if ever) read romance, but when I do I turn to Jude Devereaux. Within a few chapters, her novel, The Summerhouse, struck me as more chick lit than romance. I enjoyed the concept of "What if I had it to do all over again?", and the way she handled the braided storyline of three women who share the same birthday, and met for a single day in the past. Their long weekend together in the present touches base on regrets for lives not lived. The Library at Mount Char started wonderfully, but left me wanting in the end. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay was advertised as the book that frightened Stephen King. After reading it, I would like to think that Stephen King is made of sterner stuff. I didn't find it frightening--somewhat interesting, but definitely not frightening. Lesann Berry proved to be an engaging writer. Her novel, A Scattering of Bones, was well-written and sent me to the dictionary a few times. I will probably watch for another release from her to see if she can maintain the same quality of writing throughout this series. So far, I'm impressed. Freud's Sister only solidified my belief that Freud was in desperate need of a therapist. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fanny Flagg was reminiscent of It's a Wonderful Life, and made for a pleasant and reaffirming read. I found Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling to be an okay read despite the moans and groans from her Harry Potter fan base about the stage play script formatting. I'm beginning to wonder if Rowling will ever be able to write anything outside the Potter series or in any other style with success--not due to a lack of talent, but rather a lack of tolerance by her diehard Potter fans. The Twenty-Seventh City, the first novel written by Jonathan Franzen, was more attention grabbing for its location rather than for the plot or characterization. Last on the list is The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. I read this book based on the reviews it received from Amazon readers. At first, I couldn't get into the story. I'd read a few paragraphs, then put it down, and wander off. I had to force myself back to it on multiple occasions. I couldn't believe that so many people could have been that wrong about it. What did they read or see in it that I didn't? It wasn't until nearly two thirds of the way through that the story finally clicked for me. At that point, I couldn't put it down. If you read any of the works on my 2016 Reading List, I would love to hear from you. What was your take on these novels? Will we agree or disagree? Until then. |
Posted on January 13, 2014 at 10:25 PM |
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This is my reading list from 2013. I didn't count short stories unless I read the entire anthology. I also did not include WIPs from my writer's groups nor the manuscripts that I read for a small publishing company. Last of all, I didn't include a great many e-books because I lost track of them. You'll notice that if I like an author I tended to read several works by that author. I also discovered three new authors (new to me) in 2013. One is Lesann Berry. Another is Danny King. The last author which I discovered just before Christmas is Robin Sloan. I recommend all three for very different reasons. I also revisited some classics such as The Great Gatsby and Fahrenheit 451. What did you read in 2013? 2013
Reading List 1. A Cure
for Dreams by Kaye Gibbons
2. Divining
Women by Kaye Gibbons 3. The
Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey 4. Sights
Unseen by Kaye Gibbons
5. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Future… by Michael J. Fox
6. Flight to Avoid by Larry Long
7. Minority Report by Philip K. Dick
8. The Stranger and Other Stories by Glen
Robinson
9. Little Bee by Chris Cleave 10. Wild
Child by T.C. Boyle 11. Eden by Olympia Vernon
12. The Creator’s Map by Emilio Calderón 13. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury 14. Green Lake by S.K. Epperson
15. Toy Cemetery by William W. Johnstone 16. German for Travelers: A Novel in 95 Lessons by
Norah Labiner
17. Kinderlager: An Oral History of Young
Holocaust Survivors by Milton J. Nieuwsma 18. The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani 19. The
Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson 20. Alternate
Realities by Lesann Berry
21. Passing
Judgment by Lesann Berry 22. The
Vitae by Lesann Berry 23. The
Henchman’s Book Club by Danny King 24. On The
Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou 25. Drowning
Ruth by Christina Schwarz
26. The
Everafter by Amy Huntley 27. The Map
of True Places by Brunonia Barry 28. Haunted
Tales of the Grotesque by Joyce Carol Oates 29. The Box
by Gunter Grass
30. The Book
of Lies by Brad Meltzer 31. The
Heroines by Eileen Favorite
32. The
Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schaffert 33. The
Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 34. And the
Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini 35. The Man
in the Picture by Susan Hill 36. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by
Robin Sloan 37. Ernest Hemingway on Writing Edited by
Larry W. Phillips 38. Dangerous Alterations by Elizabeth Lynn
Casey
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Posted on January 5, 2014 at 7:08 PM |
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Below you'll find the review I posted on both Goodreads and Amazonfor Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.
Love, love, LOVE this book! I've tweeted, Facebooked, emailed, blogged, and reviewed this book. If I do anything more, author Robin Sloan is going to have to put me on the payroll! I rarely get this excited about a book, but Mr. Penumbra's really resonated with the bibliophile in me. This debut novel abounds with quirky, intelligent characters on a quest. I truly adored Ms. Lapin! How could I not? She is me and I am her. Rarely do technology and literature met and mesh. Just think about the ongoing debate over e-books. However, if technology and literature had a love child, this would be it. Even the cover glows in the dark! From first to final page, the reader becomes part of a journey that he/she may not always understand (I'm not that technologically advanced.), but is always willing to follow. There are parts that are more bookish and in those sections, I felt like I was leading, guiding the others along the way. From Google headquarters to age-old libraries, Sloan blends the old with the new, and makes it work. The truth he reveals/exposes is one you may have heard and forgotten. If it's your first time to see it, then enjoy and drink deeply of it. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves books, reading, technology, architecture, mystery, secret societies, libraries, independent book stores, gaming, and magic realism. Did I leave anyone out? In other words, this book is for everyone. Buy it, read it, enjoy it, sleep with it under your pillow to inspire good dreams. |
Posted on December 29, 2013 at 3:25 PM |
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I love when I get the opportunity to discover new talent. Okay, maybe I didn't discover them, but I did just recently find them. One such talent is Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (his debut novel!). I may have found a new favorite book. Mr. Penumbra's is a book lover's dream, a bibliophile's paradise. It references other books, drops hints and clues to an even greater book loving group while incorporating quirky characters (I am Ms. Lapin.), the Google campus, art, bookstores, and a quest. How can anything get any better than that? Don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews and comments on Good Reads. The book also glows in the dark! There's nothing I don't like about this book! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books or loves reading books (and yes, there is a difference). I personally love books on so many levels. From reading to the way they are made, the quality of paper, the illustrations, type setting, the endpapers, and so much more. To me, marbled endpapers are to swoon for, a deckle edge is almost orgasmic--almost! I love to hold a used, but well-loved book in my hands and imagine all the other hands who've held it before me, all the other eyes that have read the words, the fingers that have traced a particularly intriguing line. A book with a well-broken in spine shows the love given it when it was first purchased. A book losing its pages shows me that it wasn't taken care of properly by someone who either didn't know or (dare I think it?) didn't care. What was your favorite book of 2013? P.S. I have another previously undiscovered talent that I hope to bring to you in 2014. This one is totally my discovery, and doesn't have to do with books, but will captivate and fascinate you in addition to leaving you in awe of his talent. Torture, isn't it? |
Posted on December 1, 2013 at 12:07 PM |
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I follow Nathan Bransford's blog and have for several years. He's an ex literary agent turned author, and all around informative guy with a huge and active following. Over the years, he has ranted and raved over his favorite book, The Great Gatsby. He, on occasion, includes quotes from the book which have never impressed me, and I didn't quite understand the appeal. I figured it was just a case of personal taste. Last week, I picked up a copy of Gatsby at Goodwill (one of my all-time favorite bookstores). At fifty cents, I didn't think I could go wrong even if I hated it and ended up donating it back. I started reading it the same evening and much to my surprise I loved it! I didn't put it down until the wee hours of the morning when I finished! I want to apologize to Nathan for doubting his taste. It's a great story, beautifully written, with layer upon layer of social commentary and observations of human nature. It's a love story, a story of obsession, gain, and loss, and ultimately, what is truly important in life. Below is my apology to Nathan which I sent to his blog. Dear Nathan, I want to formally apologize to you for ever doubting your taste in books. I've followed your blog for years and have always questioned your belief that The Great Gatsby is a fantastic novel. Even when I read the various Gatsby quotes you've posted, I was unmoved. I recently picked up a copy, and I must admit that I've been wrong. While I won't say that it's my favorite book, it is in the top 10. I read it through in one night, unable to put it down. I'm also posting a link to this apology on my website so my followers can see me eat humble pie. Sincerely and apologetically, Tammy Setzer Denton I think it's important to admit when you're wrong, and in this case, I certainly was. The takeaway from this is not to limit yourself with preconceived notions. I missed out for years because I was wrong. Don't let the same happen to you, and guess what? It doesn't just apply to books. Now, I have to re-evaluate all the things I've avoided over the years for a variety of reasons. It may be just the day/week/month/year to give them a try! Let me know what you've been avoiding. |
Posted on August 19, 2013 at 3:08 AM |
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I had originally planned a lengthy post since it's been a while since I've written. However, my plans changed when a friend sent me a link to Martin Manley's website via Facebook. Until today I'd never heard of him, but I wish I had. Martin Manley committed suicide today. Manley orchestrated his own demise, the distribution of his few remaining possessions, the discovery of his body, and left a suicide note that exceeds all expectations. Whether or not his note provides reasons good enough to justify his death is unlikely as he mentions himself. Part of me wonders if this is not an elaborate hoax, a way to gain notoriety for a struggling writer. Not that he was a writer in life, but will certainly be considered one in death providing that he’s really dead. There are two sections to his site; death and life. I read all the death part first (human nature wants to see the train wreck and carnage) and found it all very logical. Too logical and perhaps, a bit premature. He makes his points, but none of them scream, "Shoot me!". I'm only part way through his memoirs, if they can be called that. His childhood recollections seem aloof and dispassionate, possibly the result of his existence in a family he didn’t think was normal. All in all, I don't see where he's had a horrific life, but rather an ordinary one like most of us. I'm still at a loss for words as to how to describe my feelings about this. I guess I thought of suicide as a desperate act by an emotionally charged person. Martin Manley's suicide was not. I'm somewhat disturbed that he wanted to leave a mark on the world, but felt he couldn't do so without dying. Is that really necessary? Instead of a mark, has he left a stain? I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this. Read his blog if you will and get back to me. I'll be reading it as well. |
Posted on July 1, 2013 at 3:03 PM |
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Last night, I finished my freelance articles for June with three hours to spare. I wrote 10,000 words for other people and only 350 words for me. However, they were 350 words of pure pleasure, and freelancing pays the bills so I can afford to write. I will continue to use the Pomodoro Technique which I wrote about in my last post. Setting aside a specific amount of time and writing against the clock/alarm/timer seems to work for me. The hardest part was remembering where I had left off in my second novel, Spared Parts. I will be rereading what I have and checking my notes to refresh my memory. Another bonus is that my China connection is back in the US so I can pick her brain. On a completely unrelated note, I'm putting my house up for sale and will hopefully move into a condo no later than early fall. It's an emotional roller coaster as I've lived in my home for 28 years. I love it, my neighbors, and my neighborhood, but the outside maintenance is killing me and stealing my creative time. Moving will be another short-term factor that will take away from my writing, but it will not last forever (although I'm sure it will seem that way). Anyone with moving tips, send them my way. I think I've forgotten all that I knew about the process. I would also like to encourage readers to check out Alternate Endings by Lesann Berry. If you're into sci-fi and like the style of Ray Bradbury, many of her short stories in this anthology really reminded me of his work. It's available at Amazon. P.S. I have no idea why some words are highlighted and underlined in red. It's a glitch. |
Posted on June 5, 2013 at 7:40 AM |
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I'm playing some serious catch up from having bronchitis and other health issues. In addition, my first version of this post, crashed and is now somewhere in cyberspace. After wallowing in a pity pot for being ill and getting behind, Carol Tice's post. A Peek at the Real Life of That Writer You Envy, came at a good time. After reading it, I felt much better. I suggest you read it too. She has lots of useful info at her website. Check it out and you'll want to follow her. I do. Another thoughtful post , On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas, by Jonathan Morrow on Copyblogger. Amazon has announced the Semi-Finalists for the 2013 ABNA Competition. I read the excerpt of Scott Cairn's entry, Silver. The excerpt is free to download. You can read my review, Revealing the Secret With Tantalizing Reluctance! I recommend it. I also want to recommend Book Bub to anyone who hasn't tried it. I've been downloading the freebies searching for new authors. In some ways, it's like reading through a slush pile as many of the freebies are self-published and I'm coming to the opinion that most are published too soon. More on that in a later post as I will review some of the books I've read. |
Posted on June 4, 2013 at 11:36 PM |
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Event for June 04, 2013 12:18AM
June 23, 2013 11:59PM
Global Lesann's book, ALTERNATE ENDINGS, is featured at Story Cartel this month. You can download this book for FREE. Read this collection of speculative fiction short stories in exchange for an honest review. Available in multiple formats-so tell a friend and check out some alternative history! Also check out It will be weird. You've been warned. |
Posted on April 7, 2013 at 3:02 AM |
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Barbara Poelle with the Irene Goodman Agency did a guest column at Writer's Digest on April 4, 2013.
The column titled: is possibly the funniest agent interview ever. I've re-posted a portion of the column, and you can read the entire article here. Once you've read all of it, you can check out my comments here. Trust me, you're going to love this.
Well, let’s see. Here are some things that have happened to me at speed-dating-style pitch sessions: •
After I said I would not be interested in looking at a man’s poetry
collection, he said he would kill himself—and the police had to be
called. • An octogenarian and his wife pitched his mystery and
she mouthed his memorized pitch next to him the whole time he talked,
and then clapped and cried when he was done—and I had to sit there
knowing from the start that a 42,000-word World War II mystery (which is
far too short to be viable, for starters) was something I was for sure
about to say no to. To this octogenarian’s life dream. In front of his
lifelong soul mate. Thank goodness the bar was within sprinting
distance. • A woman sat down across from me and opened with,
“Jesus already told me you would be my agent, so I’m not nervous at
all.” I said, “That’s weird, when we had coffee the other day, he didn’t
mention you.” And then I chuckled. She did not. And then my bladder
loosened a bit in fear. In the end, I very much like talking to
authors at conferences, but I wouldn’t buy a car from a guy who just
tells me about it; I need to see how she rides. So these days, when I’m
invited to participate in pitch sessions at writing events I attend, I
decline, but instead offer to take a look, in advance, at 10 pages of
the manuscript from each author who wished to pitch me, and to leave a
detailed critique for each one at the registration desk. I realize not
every agent (maybe not any other agent) favors this approach, but in my
case, I feel that this is more helpful for the writers, and better
suited for my evaluation style, too. If I want to meet with someone, I
leave a note and we connect. Other than that, I am totally fine with
someone coming up to me anywhere, anytime, and telling me about his
book, but not in organized pitch sessions. It’s just too much pressure
on the authors. And my bladder. Oh: And as for my own stats,
before adopting this policy, I signed five clients (and sold four of
their books to publishers) in five years’ worth of pitch sessions. So,
while connecting at those events does happen, that’s not a huge
percentage of my list. Again, that’s not the case for every agent, but
for me, the majority of my clients still find me through the regular
query inbox. |