Love, Romance and Cicadas?

Cicadas...up until I moved to Tennessee, this insect was something often mentioned in romance novels.   For example:

The sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving James and Cathy sitting in semi-darkness on the front porch.  An air of awkwardness hung between them, neither knowing what to say.  Cicada's crooned in the background, calling out to a willing mate.

Well brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you that the crooning around here today is horrific.  The trees everywhere are filled with these nasty looking insects that possess not even a hint of romance when you have one land on you.  Recent rain stirred them from their perches and they fly about in swarms looking for a place to land.  Woe be you if you stop long enough.

These insects return from the ground every thirteen years to mate. Although considered harmless, they are a nuisance if you like the outdoors.  Cicadas live on tree roots underground for all those years and then in an immature form, climb up the tree where they attach themselves in shells from which they will morph into the beautiful bug shown above.

My son's lawn looks as if it's been aerated.  So many holes explain the deafening sound you hear when you go outside.  If you want to get an idea of the constant drone click here.  Just magnify the noise ten times.

Some of these suckers get huge and are so big they merely bounce off the windshield of your car.  I passed through a swarm today and it sounded like someone was pelting me with stones.  Oh, sweet romance...no more shall I think of love when I hear a cicada.

Diane's Pick for Monday's Memorable Mention

For me a good book means you grow sad when the story is ending, and are dying for it to keep you in its fictive dream. That recent experience happened to me when I read The Lady's Slipper, by Deborah Swift. The characters are so vivid, and the story pulls you into life in a 17th century English village where a woman is obsessed with a rare flower. Her stealing it from her Quaker neighbor will unleash all sorts of ramifications, death, torture, and even love, for her and others in a town reawakening from the austure rule of the Puritans. I hated to put this book down, and can see why Ms. Swift won in the New Writing category of a recent major publishing contest. I strive to write as well as she does.

Diane Scott Lewis, author of The False Light and the newly released Elysium
  

Six Sentence Sunday - 5/22/11

It's time again for Six Sentence Sunday. (click to visit the hosting blog)  Every week, when I register, I'm amazed at how many new links have been added.  This is the most wonderful way to view a sample of an author's work and I thank those of you who come back each week to read more from First Degree Innocence.

If you recall, my heroine, Carrie Lang, has been arrested for a crime she didn't commit and sentenced to ten long years in prison.  Her mother dead, her father's whereabouts unknown, she faces the horror on her own.  Young and naive, she quickly learns about trust and cynicism. 

Here's this week's six:

Carrie slunk from the holding cell and stopped where instructed. Another female guard shoved a scratchy woolen blanket and two badly worn sheets at her, followed by an oft-used towel that had long ago lost its whiteness, an equally aged washcloth and a packet of toiletries. On top of that she plopped a second change of clothing, two pair of socks, panties and a black
mesh laundry bag.

Carrie fought to balance the lot and glanced apprehensively at Ogden, waiting for further direction—daring not to move.

“Follow me,” the woman snapped. “I have a special bed reserved just for you.”

First Degree Innocence was contracted and published as an ebook by Books We Love Publishing Partners.  It's also available in print via Createspace.  Hope you'll continue to visit as I share more of Carrie Lang's helplessness.

Ranking and Reviews

When I first started writing, I was awed to receive a 5 out of 5 rating on my work.  A four wasn't bad either, but a three devastated me. In most cases, three means the book was enjoyable, good, and warranted reading.  Isn't that enough?  Some how the caliber of the number 3 diminished and now denotes a "so-so" novel.

 Through the years, I've discovered that there is little correlation between the numerical rating and the written summary of the reviewer.  If we have to continue earning stars, cups, and ribbons, in my opinion, fives should be reserved for potentially award-winning books.  However, in some cases, friendships or fear of hurt feelings dictate the rating outcome.  As much as I enjoy getting fours and fives, I do believe the rating system has lost credibility. Honestly, as authors, we should be paying more attention to the written word over an assigned number.

 As someone who has reviewed for three major sites, I'm always confused by the rating system even though it is prominently displayed.  I would much rather rely on a written summary than try to decide why I shouldn't award the other half of the star, ribbon, clover, or angel.

Is it realistic that we don't see many books receive a three rating?  I don't think so.  Lately, I've read some mediocre ones that make me glad  I no longer have to rate them.  I don't know of anyone who is brave enough to write a review for Amazon under your given name and not fill in all the stars for fear of damaging the author's ego.  I honestly think the rating system should be abolished.  Anyone else agree?

Six Sentence Sunday

Wow, the number of participants is growing.  I've missed the last two weeks, so I'm happy to add my link, but if you notice, duh-uh...I did it wrong. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.  Instead of my name, I entered the blog's name, but welcome anyhow.  Senility reigns here often. *smile*

Today, I'm sharing six sentences from First Degree Innocence again.  Everyone seemed to like the tension of prison.  :)  Just to remind you of the setting.  My heroine, Carrie Lang has been sentenced to prison for a crime she didn't commit.  This is another scene during her "intake" session:

 Once on, the uniform’s baggy fit completely hid all of her feminine attributes, and the accompanying well-worn shoes felt disturbingly strange.  She pictured all the previous feet that had molded the cracking rubber of the brown slip-ons, and an appropriate saying crept through her mind.  Walk a mile in my shoes.  Had prior wearers been this petrified?

 Dampness from her hair spread onto her shirt. She shivered at the coldness of the cement bench, hugged her knees, and waited. 

First Degree Innocence received a 5-cup review from Coffee.  Here's the summary from the reviewer:

This book took me on a wildly emotional ride as I rapidly turned the pages until I had consumed the entire book down to the final satisfying sentence. The story is told in a straight-forward, matter-of-fact way that, for me, makes Carrie’s internal angst all the more powerful and believable. I feel like I was there with her, surrounded by dingy gray walls and cold steel bars. The various character interactions are portrayed realistically. All have well-defined motivations, and it was quite easy for me to picture the on-going action like a movie in my head. Speaking of which, this story would make an awesome movie! Highly Recommended!
Laurie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Read more exciting "Six Sentences."