Yikes! What a Spring! |
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
The Writer's AIM - by M.L.Holton
'Protect Your Spirit', by MLHolton, 1991 |
I encountered this last year when I learned that an assigned book reviewer for a local newspaper was intending to publish a disappointing '3-STAR' review of my latest novel.
It would have been the first '3-STAR' review after numerous '4 to 5 STAR' reviews from destinations as far flung as the UK, Germany and California.
Naturally, it was upsetting. It hurt.
I could not understand why the author would bother writing a review if she didn't like the book. So, naturally, I asked her why she did.
She responded quickly saying that it was no reflection on me as the author, but rather, a response to the work. (---huh?) When I queried further, she got defensive and said that she writes reviews for her audience not mine. (---huh?) That was an odd thing to say. What became apparent was a telling lack of the 'meeting-of-the-minds'. We were not going to 'click', then or ever.
But my writer's mind could not let it go ... I wanted to understand WHY there was no bend in her opinion. Yes, I understand her opinion is her prerogative. But equally, there seemed no desire on her part to understand how and why I had written this work. There seemed no basic interest to empathize - and this lack of empathy raised more questions than it answered ...
The bigger issue soon became, for me, about a writer's insatiable desire to be liked. Writers want our words to resonate with our readers. We want them to 'get it': to affirm our perspective, to applaud our insights and efforts. At a very primal human level, we want them to 'like', not only our work, but us.
Well, clearly, Life just doesn't work that way. Critics critique: good or bad.
What's more, I know I have my own prejudices and blind spots too.
I do not, as example, care for 'horror'. - (There's quite enough of that in 'real life' : why would anyone want to amplify that in books or film?) - Because of this dislike, I know I could never write a unbiased review of a work of horror. I know my antipathy would reflect back badly in any review. So, I just wouldn't bother. I also know I am in the minority about the love of this genre. There are far more horror fans than there are historical fiction fans out there now. This fact invariably leads to the notion of 'popularity' and that quickly leads to the question of Why a Writer Writes ...
Am I writing to be popular? No. That's not my aim.
Am I writing to be understood? This is the most likely.
Novel writing, in particular, allows long-form exposition. It allows authors a chance to draw a large picture for readers of a constructed reality where characters act out their vices and virtues within fixed perimeters. The twists and turns of plot make sense within that invented world. As writers, we are offering a 'whole package' to readers of our personal vision, unique to our own experience and times. Our finished works represent our singular voice.
Writers generally aim for a kind of universality as chroniclers of the human condition. - As example, most writers compose with 'a sense of knowing' of familial relationships. They write with first-hand knowledge of the dynamics between mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers, siblings, sons and grand-parents. We expect readers to resonate with these depictions - not only because they are commonplace - (everyone has a mother and father) - but because #families represent the common human framework from which all human life has emerged ... until very recently.
Emotional Empathy Shift - Example |
There seems a growing propensity amongst a certain crowd to identify with fake 'super-humans' and #scifi #dystopian plots filled with #alien and #horrific characters.
They're not as interested in the earth-bound interactions of our common human family as they are in the antics of their own disenfranchised peers. The reasons for this jarring and fanciful Emotional Empathy SHIFT are manifold and not really the point of this post.
Even so, this observation does explain, to some degree, the 'off-reading' between the above noted book reviewer and myself. We will not, and perhaps fundamentally, cannot, see 'eye-to-eye'. We may be from the same typographical region of Southern Ontario in Canada. I know that we drink the same tap water from the Great Lake and breathe the same air - but we, as humans, are not 'like-minded'.
At core, the element that seems to distinguish our preferred 'likes' and 'dislikes' seems to be our age. We are separated by decades of generational 'screen' influence and life perspective. Her current lived 'reality' is not my 'reality', anymore than my current lived 'reality' is hers. Call it #AGEISM if you will.
And yet, this is the point where I start to realize and recognize that perhaps my writing ambition has, indeed, failed. If I have been able to conjure a believable fictional world filled with engaging characters that she could empathize with, then my writing craft would be as universal as I had aimed and hoped.
Or, perhaps it's just a lot simpler than that. - I hate horror and nonsensical alienating tropes and she doesn't like my way of writing. We are who we are - at this time and in this place - and that's that.
On a lighter note, I did just receive another 5-star review for TRILLIUM .... this time from the southeastern shore of Ireland by delightful, family-loving, Irish novelist, Mary Crowley.
So, all's good. Life really does go on - as we like it, or not.
---
Apropos the above, some #writers and #readers may find this link useful ... > https://selfpublishingadvice.org/finding-the-right-readers-for-your-book/
Thursday, February 13, 2020
TRILLIUM by MLHolton now available in the UK & Ireland!
TRILLIUM - by Canadian author MLHolton - NOW REPRESENTED in IRELAND! |
TRILLIUM, now represented in IRELAND! |
It is always so exciting when my latest novel, TRILLIUM, finds a new home!
In this instance, I am delighted to announce an affiliation with Sally Cronin's fabulous life blog - Smorgasbord Cafe & Bookstore' - on the rugged and beautiful east coast of IRELAND.
Sally's engaging website is chock-a-block with her varied domestic & literary interests.
Plus, today is Sally's Birthday! - How auspicious!
And how fitting that one of the central characters in TRILLIUM, Paddy O'Sullivan, immigrated from the east coast of #Ireland to #Canada in the 19th century. His dynasty is established through 250 years of blood, sweat and tears on the burgeoning Niagara Peninsula. Arriving as a poor man, Paddy swiftly builds an enviable real estate empire throughout southern #Ontario. By the time his great grandsons have their day, the O'Sullivan clan is a force to be reckoned with. And it is those two boys, Sean and Eric O'Sullivan, who then shape the O'Sullivan legacy for the NEXT generation ... READ MORE!
TRILLIUM is now available in IRELAND & the UK! |
Friday, January 31, 2020
Canada Book Award! - for TRILLIUM by M.L.Holton
TRILLIUM by MLHolton |
TRILLIUM by MLHolton |
TRILLIUM by MLHolton |
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Blast from the Past! The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous, Reviewed by V.Cline Barton
To date, I have written three novels: ECONOMIC SEX in 1985, The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous in 1999 - and my most recent effort, TRILLIUM, released in 2019.
For a quiet Canadian writer working in the boonies, it is a delightful and slightly unnerving experience when a more prolific and socially active American author reviews - and then extols - one's lesser known work.
When that reviewing author then gives that lesser known work another FIVE star review - it is hard not to sigh in relief and immense gratitude.
Could any writer ask for more?!?
The reviewing author of my last two novels, Veronica Cline Barton, is a fertile writer of a charming cozy murder series that has her main protagonist, Gemma, bounce back and forth from the States to the United Kingdom. Integral to Gemma's evolving story is Veronica's on-going interest with FAMILY and FORTUNE - but on a royal scale! We intersect on those two points. As #writers, we are both fascinated by the vicisstitudes of FAMILY and FORTUNE in fiction - and real life ...
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The most common method to enhance status and FORTUNE is to 'marry' into a FAMILY of greater means or status than one's own. If family bonds are very thick, the 'ritual' of marriage becomes a strategic move to enhance both wedding parties material wealth and power.
It is only in relatively recent times that LOVE - as a basis for marriage - has gained ground against the plotting traditions of Powerful Families. (Just ask the British Monarchy.)
In Veronica's recent review of my second novel, The Gilded Beaver, she deftly highlights the slow evolution of the willful and creative protagonist, Iris Burdock, as she attempts to navigate the commercial world of FORTUNE.
Iris, like so many of her hard-working female contemporaries, operates in the world of commerce without the traditional support of an ambitious or protective FAMILY.
As an independent woman, Iris must evaluate and assess a bachelor who has entered her working realm.
It is not as straight-forward a business transaction as she initially thinks.
During her on-going assessment of his tastes and his way of life - and without the wise or interfering counsel of family - Iris must chart her own course. She is eventually forced to ask herself what she really wants: is it FORTUNE? - Or is it really LOVE?
Read Veronica's stellar 5 star review of The Gilded Beaver >
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com/2020/01/15/veronicas-writersdiary-when-reality-enters-the-fiction-zone/
The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous won the Hamilton Arts Council 'Best Fiction' Award in 1999.
TRILLIUM , my latest novel, was a Finalist for the same award in 2019 ...
Monday, December 9, 2019
Wonderful Read of TRILLIUM by actor Jens Hansen
It needs someone with a 'good ear' as well as an expressive & dexterous acting 'voice'.
I thought I'd found the right person after hearing a 5-minute sample by local actor Jens Hansen. But, as so often happens, he's not available to do the entire work. So, back to the audio-drawing board!
In the meantime, enjoy this short clip from the start of the novel. I did the intro and he took it from there ... What do YOU think? - Like it? Loathe it? - Want to hear more? - Thoughts welcome!
https://soundcloud.com/canadada/trillium-by-mlholton-5-minute-read-by-jens-hansen/s-3ipOQ
Soundcloud - 5 minute read of TRILLIUM - by Jens Hansen |
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Short-listed for 26th Hamilton Arts Council Literary Award! TRILLIUM by MLHolton
So excited to announce that my third novel, TRILLIUM - by yours truly, MLHolton - has been short-listed for the 26th Annual Hamilton Arts Council Literary Awards in 2019! How thrilling!
Narrowed down from a large field of diverse fiction titles, three works are now in the running to WIN! (Wouldn't it be amazing to win again - after a hiatus of 20 years - when I won for my second novel, The Gilded Beaver by Anonymous ?!?)
Yeah! Come On! TRILLIUM!
Ebook or Paperback |
Prizes will be awarded in all four of the following categories: Poetry, Non-fiction, Fiction and the Kerry Schooley Book Award for the book that is the most evocative of Hamilton.'
Monday, November 4, 2019
Double Whammy! Author Interview & Another Solid Book Review of TRILLIUM
I have been very fortunate to have two solid writers engage with my latest novel, TRILLIUM, over the past few days. Marian Thorpe, a writer of riveting historical fiction, expressed interest to do a follow-up on her prior 4-STAR book review with an author's interview ... She supplied the questions and I answered with some never-before-revealed details about the writing of TRILLIUM ...
Write YOUR review on Amazon! |
https://marianlthorpe.com/2019/11/02/trillium-an-author-interview-with-m-l-holton/
Marian Thorpe Website - filled with novel excerpts, short fiction and poetry |
Overall, he very much enjoyed TRILLIUM - as a story. He did take me to task, in private, on a few of the finer points of the evolutionary history of icewine ... No fault there. I gently reminded him that this was, first and foremost, a work of #fiction.
Read his generous 'gift-giving' review directed at the wine-loving book-reading community here: http://mywinepal.com/2019/11/04/book-review-trillium-by-m-l-holton/
Follow @mywinepal for insight in all things WINE ... |
Plus, MLH UPDATE: I have almost finished the FIRST YEAR OF PROMOTION for TRILLIUM and will soon be heading off into new territory to experience and explore. There are two more reviews coming in this year, then that's it!
Monday, October 7, 2019
TRILLIUM at @THERAWF
2019 Poster for @THERAWF |
The mix of low-brow country and high-brow city folk is unprecedented at this near century-old event. Black tie attendees are as bewitched as the barnyard crowd during the world-renown horse carriage and dog shows. The international jumper class is one of the highlights of the fair. Johnny is there, dressed in his new black tie, on the arm of a stunning socialite ... With his canny intuition, Johnny knows that the after-show 'mix & mingle' in the exclusive Tanbark Club is all about business and new connections. His aim is to grow the TRILLIUM brand and he soon gets to work ...
Read more! TRILLIUM - #ebook or #paperback -
In CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/Trillium-Margaret-Lindsay-Holton/dp/0992127289
In AMERICA: https://www.amazon.com/Trillium-Margaret-Lindsay-Holton/dp/0992127289
The Royal offers soooo much!
WATCH MORE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=V5fPtY9PMuQ
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Writers must Write what they want to Read ...
Thrilled by this up-coming review of my third novel, TRILLIUM, from author & book blogger, Lina Hansen of #Germany.
Excerpt follows: