Practice at Narcissism

One thing I've never wanted my blog to be about is just my book. The thought of blogging continuously about how I wrote my book, why I wrote this book, where the characters came from, where the idea came from, blah blah blah...

The idea of doing that bores me to tears.

So, I promise all of you that I'm not going to post continuously about the book...But I do have a few things to share.

1. The book is up on Amazon. I have been assured that it will be listed as available to purchase any moment now.

2. The release date has been updated on Barnes and Noble (see link on the sidebar). No longer shipping in four weeks, Stephen, but shipping in 24 hours. So there! Which means that yes, my book really is available tomorrow.

3. I'm on Amazon UK. I'm also on something called Amazon UK marketplace. Hopefully there will be pictures there soon.

There is one thing I want to share, and that's the first review to hit DorothyL.

Suspicious Circumstances
by Sandra Ruttan
TICO Publishing, January 2007

I think it’s fair to say that Sandra Ruttan’s first novel has been eagerly awaited on this list, by myself included. It’s out this month, and I was pleased to receive an ARC from Sandra.

Suspicious Circumstances tells a dark tale of crime and corruption in a Connecticut suburb that behaves like Smalltown Anywhere. The main characters are a newspaper reporter and a police detective who investigate in tandem, though they come together reluctantly at first. Watching them reconcile to each other as they are drawn deeper into the crimes is a large part of the enjoyment of this book.

I expect other readers and reviewers will comment here on the strong characters and rewardingly complex plot, so I’ll leave that to them. What I want to emphasize is the striking style in which Sandra writes: It’s episodic, cinematic, and highly effective. Most unique is her method of advancing the storyline almost entirely through dialogue. That dialogue is neat, crisp, precise, and where appropriate, witty. There is very little physical or narrative description, but when it occurs it’s well done, as for example when introducing a new character or place. Although I was occasionally confused by dialogue without the
usual tag lines (the he-said, she-said stuff), that’s a part of her unique style, which can only grow smoother with practice and should make her a stand-out in our crowded field.

Suspicious Circumstances has already begun to receive accolades both here and in Canada and the UK. Way to go, Sandra!

Diana Bane


I know Diana to be an astute reviewer, to be tough and honest. I was floored by her review. It made my day.

Coming Monday: Day 1 of what it's like to be an author. Just kidding. That would drive me mad, and drive all of you away! Besides, I vent so much unhealthy anger into my rant posts, I'd probably have a heart attack if I bottled it up.

Now I'm going to do something else that I don't like. Off to go shopping...