James loved books ... read Lesa's tribute here:
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Lesa's Book Critiques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lesa's Book Critiques. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lesa and Jim Holstine
Earlier today our friend* Lesa shared news about her husband Jim. Jim has been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Followers of Lesa's Book Critiques (http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/ ) know just how much this generous and gracious (and funny) couple loves books, cats, and each other. Please keep them in your thoughts and if you are inclined, you can post your thoughts and words of encouragement on her blog.
* Meet Lesa, December 5, 2008
* Meet Lesa, December 5, 2008
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Protect Our Libraries
Readers and Writers, Lesa has an important post
"The Role Of Libraries in Economic Hard Times"
on her site, Lesa's Book Critiques,
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/.
I encourage you to read her words and
follow through by making calls to local officials.
"The Role Of Libraries in Economic Hard Times"
on her site, Lesa's Book Critiques,
http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/.
I encourage you to read her words and
follow through by making calls to local officials.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Meet Lesa
A Reader’s Viewpoint
I am a librarian and a book reviewer, but, most of all, a reader. Since I wear all of those hats, I have a world of options open to me when I’m looking for something to read. Do you want to know how to capture my attention?
Give me a good character. Introduce me to a character that is lively and interesting, someone who I’ll want to follow for two or three hundred pages. I don’t care if the book is a mystery or romance, historical fiction or women’s fiction. If I don’t like the lead character, I won’t read the book. I’ve been known to stop reading after 100 pages if I realize I don’t care what happens to any of the characters. And, if I’m reviewing the book, it won’t receive a good review without a strong central character.
And, capture my attention in the first thirty pages. Those of us who are avid readers often share a fifty page test. If you don’t hook me in the first fifty pages, I won’t read any further. And, I’m going to let you in on a publishing secret. I screen mystery manuscripts for a well-known independent publisher. I receive a synopsis and the first thirty pages. If those thirty pages do not present me with a quality story with an exciting opening and an interesting character, my instructions are to reject the manuscript. So, you have thirty pages to entice me, and no more than fifty pages for many readers.
This is just one reader’s slant on what to do to catch my attention. I share my opinions regularly on my blog, www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com if you’d like to see other comments from a reader.
Good luck with your writing. Just give us good characters, please, and hook us early.
Lesa is more than just a reader. Her website is one of my favorite blogs and I visit it a couple of times a week. She is a contributing Book Reviewer for Library Journal. Her Book Critiques is syndicated through Bloghurst, and her reviewers have been picked up by Reuters, USA Today, and other news distributors. Thanks for stopping by Lesa!
I am a librarian and a book reviewer, but, most of all, a reader. Since I wear all of those hats, I have a world of options open to me when I’m looking for something to read. Do you want to know how to capture my attention?
Give me a good character. Introduce me to a character that is lively and interesting, someone who I’ll want to follow for two or three hundred pages. I don’t care if the book is a mystery or romance, historical fiction or women’s fiction. If I don’t like the lead character, I won’t read the book. I’ve been known to stop reading after 100 pages if I realize I don’t care what happens to any of the characters. And, if I’m reviewing the book, it won’t receive a good review without a strong central character.
And, capture my attention in the first thirty pages. Those of us who are avid readers often share a fifty page test. If you don’t hook me in the first fifty pages, I won’t read any further. And, I’m going to let you in on a publishing secret. I screen mystery manuscripts for a well-known independent publisher. I receive a synopsis and the first thirty pages. If those thirty pages do not present me with a quality story with an exciting opening and an interesting character, my instructions are to reject the manuscript. So, you have thirty pages to entice me, and no more than fifty pages for many readers.
This is just one reader’s slant on what to do to catch my attention. I share my opinions regularly on my blog, www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com if you’d like to see other comments from a reader.
Good luck with your writing. Just give us good characters, please, and hook us early.
Lesa is more than just a reader. Her website is one of my favorite blogs and I visit it a couple of times a week. She is a contributing Book Reviewer for Library Journal. Her Book Critiques is syndicated through Bloghurst, and her reviewers have been picked up by Reuters, USA Today, and other news distributors. Thanks for stopping by Lesa!
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