Author: Tom B.

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Revenge! just got its first review

Thanks to Rebecca Winkler for this excellent review:

Rebecca Winkler
3.0 out of 5 stars
Well-developed characters

August 19, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition

What I liked:
Let me start out by saying the synopsis takes care of telling you what the story is about, so I’ll give you my thoughts about the writing.

The story itself held my interest and kept me turning pages to find out what will happen next. The pairing of characters and interaction between them is well written—Rebecca and Nattie, Danny and Nattie, Lupe and Nattie, and LeBrowne and Nattie, just to name a few. You can hear the distinction in each of their voices. They are all well-developed characters. Well done, Mr. Burns.

What did not work for me:
The overuse of the word “I” in parts of the writing slowed down the flow. For instance, a paragraph with several sentences that all begin with “I” made the writing feel like wood, telling and not showing, and then things would begin to flow again wonderfully.

The information dump regarding immigration law is too much at one time and took me out of the flow of the story. At this point we do not know what Lupe will face in the future to fix her problem. Reveal the legal immigration process as Lupe is living it. Let the law support the action she needs to take at that moment in time. Spoon feed it to me.

The Final Say:
This author has created a refreshingly original character in Natalie McMasters. She has all the flaws of a real person, a little offbeat, quirky, roughed up edges, with a heart and soul. She has loved strongly and lost painfully for her young years. She’s a survivor and faces her challenges. She also keeps secrets and is guarded. She’s wonderful. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

The review is posted on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Natalie-McMasters-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07FNVV3ZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534337515&sr=8-1&keywords=burns+revenge%21 and on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2495097752?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

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What Makes a Character Iconic?

We all know who they are. Sherlock Holmes. Superman. Batman. Tarzan of the Apes. There are others. These are not just wildly popular fictional characters today – they are cultural icons. It’s the dream of every fiction author to create such a being, but how? What are the characteristics that these and other extremely popular characters share?

1. They were the first of their kind.  Sure, there were fictional detectives before Holmes came on the scene, but he was the first to employ his “methods” – forensic investigation, deductive reasoning, a chameleon-like ability to become almost anyone he chose. John Clayton, Lord Greystroke, was the first child to be raised by non-humans in the wild and to gain special powers because of it, while retaining all of the exemplary characteristics of the perfect man – strength, courage, and the morals of his time and culture.

2. They had a compelling story. Kal-El was introduced as the lone survivor of a lost world. Bruce Wayne was orphaned by the powers of evil. John Clayton was also orphaned in one of the wildest, most inhospitable places imaginable. All of these characters possessed inestimable characteristics that allowed them to rise above great adversity to become paragons of their times.

3. They were crafted with meticulous detail. I can close my eyes and see Holmes’ rooms in Baker Street or Tarzan’s cabin in the jungle. Many of the details about them were ancillary, that is, they were not important in the context of a particular story, but in aggregate, they served to define a unique, unforgettable individual whom a reader could feel that they knew intimately.

4. While each character was a product of his era, they also had characteristics that appealed across generations. Holmes has been updated many times with varying degrees of success, as has Tarzan. Batman and Superman undergo almost continuous transformation in the comic books, graphic novel and movies about them. These updates are successful only if the character does not lose their essential iconic characteristics.

I’m sure that Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Bob Kane and Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had no idea that they were creating cultural icons when they were developing their respective characters. But what they did do was pay attention to the principles of good writing, and let nature take its course.

I’d love to hear from my readers in the comments about these or any other characters you feel are iconic and what makes them so.

 

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Bouchercon 2018

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am attending Bouchercon 2018 in St. Petersburg, FL this year. Bouchercon, named for the famous mystery author Anthony Boucher, is the most preeminent mystery author and fan convention in the world. It’s filled with workshops, panels, talks, auctions and oh yes, FREE BOOKS. You can buy books there too. Additionally, there are events such as the Nero Wolfe Banquet and Noir at the Bar, and the prestigious Anthony awards are conferred. But the best part by far is immersing oneself in a sea of like-minded people, who don’t look at you like they want to call the cops when you explain the ingenious method for poisoning your mother-in-law that you’ve just figured out.

Bouchercon runs from September 6 – 9, 2018.