I’ve been working away on Book 4 of my series and reviewing a novel for a friend (a swap–she’s reviewing mine), but since New Year’s I’ve had four queries for editing, or editing-related work. I began Story Coaching with a client this week, and have a manuscript from another editing client–the other two–who knows? Just queries, I guess. But! It looks as though I will be teaching an 8-week spec-fic course starting later this month. I haven’t received official confirmation yet, but the website says “only a few spots left” so it looks as though the course is filling up! Yay!

Fantasy 4/5

Mary Jekyll hunts for her father’s murderer, Mr. Hyde, and the reward that will solve her financial problems—but when she meets the daughters of Drs. Moreau and Frankenstein, among others, the mystery deepens. This one was fun, mostly because of the setting and references to known works of Horror, but also because of the characters, their developing inter-relationships, and the constraints the era places on their ability to act—and the clever ways they get around this. The plot was a bit wandering, but still, a good book.

Horror 4/5

Orphan Will Henry becomes ward and assistant to a scientist who studies Anthropophagi—fearsome eating machines who track the scientist to his home town, wreaking destruction. Although I’m not a fan of horror, I found this book fascinating, particularly the narrator’s voice and style.

In my rewrite of Book 4 I’m tossing around some new plot ideas and it is tons of fun!

Fantasy 5+/5

Shae, a high-powered lawyer returned to her family at a time of political upheaval between the warring organized crime clans of Asia-inspired Jonloon, struggles to keep her family intact when the family’s wise leaders both die and her hot-headed brother is left in charge. Riveting for its complex characters, unusual setting, and danger-charged political and militaristic twists, I could not put this book down.