Monthly Archives: July 2010

Academy 7: a book recommendation

By Susan | Published: July 30, 2010

4 out of 5 stars On Anne Osterlund’s site, she describes her novel Academy 7 as Stars Wars meets The Outsiders.  I like The Outsiders; I obsess over love Star Wars; and I thought “cool, I’ll read that next.” Yeah, it’s not like The Outsiders.  It’s nothing like Star Wars.  I’m not entirely sure where Osterlund [...]

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Spirit-Hunters website live!

By Susan | Published: July 29, 2010

I finally got around to creating a website for my novel, The Spirit-Hunters. The Spirit-Hunters is a young adult novel set in a steampunk version of 1876 Philadelphia.  Hauntings, inventions, and tough heroines abound.

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Researching your novel (part 3: modern day)

By Susan | Published: July 28, 2010

Contemporary Fiction Continuing on from last week’s historical research, we move into the world of contemporary research.  Y0u can’t get lazy just because your story is set in the world around you.  In fact, if anything, you’ve got to be more careful.  Why? Because your readers are from modern times, and so they’re far more [...]

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Rebel Tales – a new take on fiction

By Susan | Published: July 26, 2010

Rebel Tales — better stories for better readers. If you don’t know who Holly Lisle is, then be sure to check her out.  She is one of the best writing instructors I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning from, and the communities she’s created for writers (you may have heard of a the one called [...]

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Vampire Academy: a book recommendation

By Susan | Published: July 23, 2010

4 out of 5 stars The first of Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series, Vampire Academy, was a highly entertaining, fast-paced read.  I’m not big on vampires, but I enjoyed this vampire world — Mead did a good job making it unique, tangible, and dark, but still 100% high school. Rose Hathaway is a 17-year-old Dhampir [...]

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Community Critique Party

By Susan | Published: July 22, 2010

The lovely Holly Dodson — also my fabulous critique partner (nothing gets past her hawk-eyes) — is hosting a Community Critique Party!  You don’t want to miss this.  Seriously. You can submit one page of your work — be it your query letter, a short synopsis, or a single page from your WIP — and over [...]

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Researching your novel (part 2: historical)

By Susan | Published: July 21, 2010

Historical Fiction Ahh, the historical novel.  It’s a novel set during historical events — pretty much any time period prior to the 1960s (or fifty years ago is the rule of thumb).  The author uses real events, real people, and real places, but often times details are adjusted (0r made up) for the story’s sake. [...]

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What a coincidence!

By Susan | Published: July 19, 2010

I’ve been watching the TV show Fringe.  It’s entertaining, but it’s no Battlestar Gallactica.  :) What really detracts from the show is it’s reliance on luck — on coincidence. “Oh, hey, I know that bridge!” exclaims the lab assistant as she gazes at a photograph of the serial killer’s home.  ”I used to live in [...]

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Bitter Seeds: a book recommendation

By Susan | Published: July 16, 2010

5 out of 5 stars Bitter Seeds, a debut novel by Ian Tregillis, takes you to WWII, but to a WWII in which Hitler has a super-hero fighting force.  Klaus (my favorite character) is the invisible man with some arrogance issues and a down-right terrifying sister named Gretel. Gretel’s power?  She can see into the [...]

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Researching your novel (part 1)

By Susan | Published: July 14, 2010

The thing about researching for a novel is this: it’s critical. Unless, of course, your novel takes place in A completely fantasy world you made up.  (Now your concern isn’t research but in-depth, consistent, and believable world-building). Your story is basically your own life (i.e. your character has the same job as you, lives at [...]

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  • About Sooz

    Hi! I'm Susan Dennard. I'm a reader, writer, animal-lover, and cookie-eater. My debut novel, Something Strange and Deadly, will be available in July 2012!

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