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The Siren's Tale by Anne Carlisle: Spotlight

 

 

The sexual pursuits of a siren in human form, operating in the Old West, makes for mesmerizing paranormal-historical romance and spicy inspiration for New Adult readers. Female power and intellect clash with rustic superstition as the siren seeks a life of fiery passion. Deadly consequences arise for Cassandra's human lovers, owing to a curse from the dark side. Can love (or a good story) alter destiny? Will the youngest siren learn from her ancestor's exploits? In the end, can a siren's voracious appetite for adventurous passion be reconciled with core human values?

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Anne Carlisle is the award-winning author of THE SIREN'S TALE, Book 2 of her HOME SCHOOLING series, NA paranormal-historical romances about a line of gifted sirens who get tangled in their own webs. She also is a Goodreads moderator for the Review Group. She has a Ph. D. in 19th Century British Literature from Case Western Reserve University, where she also served on the faculty. A former Dean at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, she currently is a consultant for the American Council on Education as well as Course Chair and Professor of Writing for the University of Maryland University College, where she teaches writing to servicemen and women throughout the world. As a literary magazine editor, newspaper columnist, and platform speaker, she published a trade book on writing (Penton Press) and received awards for creative writing (novel manuscript, The National Writers Club) and journalistic writing (ANPA). She authored hundreds of feature articles. She has homes in Wilmington, North Carolina, Key West, and Seattle.

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A KEEN WRITERLY EYE ON THE LAST RESORT: Key West Story

Review by Anne Carlisle

"Imagine a literary heaven, a place where good writers gather posthumously for their due and drinks." I fell in love at first sight as I read the fabulous opening line of Rick Skwiot's gem of a book, KEY WEST STORY (Antaeus, 2012). Rick seems to be talking to me, writer to writer. As someone who came to Key West on vacation in 1983, stayed on and became a local  writer, I never tire of hearing about the unique place our island -- a three-mile rock that is part sweat lodge, part bordello, and part literary salon -- holds in the minds and hearts of other writers.

But, after arriving in Key West, many a would-be Hemingway never gets out of  the bars.  One day the writer fades away or is lost at sea;someone will say  he moved to Mexico or Montana. Will the writer in this book follow the path of least resistance or will he get his mojo back?

There's a story on every street corner, and Rick's characters, carved with the master's scalpel, prove the point. Con (short for Constantine)  is "shackled" to his writing  and ambivalent about his  marriage-minded girlfriends:  Cat, a gun-toting  writing student; and Eva, a Polish beauty in search of a green card. He  narrowly escapes getting shot,  seeks refuge at Schooner's Wharf Bar (he knows he can get served without shoes, shirt, or a wallet), and is  befriended by 40-year-old  Nick Adams,  a mysterious,  dark-haired stranger with a pontificating manner and a boat named Pilar. 

The reincarnate Hemingway  is tonic for the jaded writer who has "lost his compass." Whether  Nick is  ghost, delusion,  or literary trope  doesn't matter;  he appears in a richly comic context.  It's Hemingway Days, and there's fecal material in the water off the beaches.  Nick  offers an adventure to Con, and off they go to Cuba, where the dangerous gig is smuggling a Cuban naval officer and his charts of a Spanish wreck out of a decaying country and away from its blank-faced people.  The officer's sister Aurora is the mermaid of Con's dreams, and she predicts he will return. The last part of the book is set up for Con's choice. Will he make up with Cat, oblige Eva,  or return to  Aurora? Is his internal compass aligned ?

Readers who know Caoeso in their bones (or would like to) should not miss KEY WEST STORY, a rare treat of a read. Though not a guidebook, it points toward the southernmost town in America as it is and always has been, a writer's true north.

What Kind of Word Is Blogging?

What kind of a word is "blogging," anyway?

It sounds clumsy and heavy,  even brutal, like "flogging." It does a rather poor job of conveying the sensation a fast typist might have as her nimble fingers fly over the keyboard, though it's possible a hunt-and-peck writer might imitate the thudding effect the word conveys. 

Nor does "blogging" convey the feeling the reader has as the writer's words enter the brain--the first syllable gives us "blah," after all, which isn't very promising.

I don't think I like the word "blogging."  Question is, will I like doing it?  Further, will anyone read what I write?  And, if not, is this exercise just another (yawn) example of mental masturbation?

We'll see if I ever try it again...make that I'll see. 

What or who you might be, at this point, is wrapped in mystery.

Ahhh....there might be some charm in this enterprise after all.

On with the show...

I have a novel that's just been released. It belongs (I think) in a genre called paranormal romantic suspense, but that still doesn't cover it, because some really hot button topics, like paternity deception and reproductive choices, are probed, and there is more than a dose of high society satire. 

The title is HOME SCHOOLING: The Fire Night Ball.  Check my Facebook page or my personal webpage for details.  Or just type the title into the Amazon Search box, and you'll find the listing, along with a free excerpt.  It's the first in a trilogy, so all thoughts, questions, and even accusations are welcome.

Anne C

http://www.annehcarlislephd.com
http://www.facebook.com/anne.carlisle.33
http://www.facebook.com/HomeSchoolingTrilogy
Twitter handle:  AnneCarlisle7
publisher's page:  http://booklocker.com/books/6309.html