Blog - J.R. McGinnity's Official Site

Welcome to my blog

As a writer, my first area of interest is obviously my books, but for my blog I will try to address different writing issues or provide my own tips when it comes to writing or self-publishing.

My blog also includes shout-outs to and recommendations for other blogs or websites, book reviews or recommendation, and a few posts sparked by nothing but an area of interest at the moment or occasionally a complaint or five.

-J.R. McGinnity
P.s. This blog contains affiliate links, usually to Amazon.

Book Recommendation: The Hidden Saga by Amy Patrick

9/27/2018

My interest in the Young Adult Paranormal genre is a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I have to admit that Amy Patrick really knocked it out of the park with her Hidden Saga, to the point that I am willing to admit to aforementioned guilty pleasure.

I haven't finished the whole series yet, but the first one, Hidden Deep, is offered free on Amazon Kindle and is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in that genre. It's a compelling story with characters that actually have some substance to them, despite being young (16-18). It also avoids that painfully awkward female protagonist trope that started with Twilight and doesn't seem inclined to die anytime soon, which makes my guilty pleasure much less guilty. Patrick is also a strong writer, and a boon to the self-published community as her work is as polished and professional as any traditionally published author, making for an even more enjoyable read.

The two main characters are Ryann (love the name as my female character's name is Adrienne), and Lad (not as crazy about the name, but to each their own and it fits the book). Ryann is the human in this story, and Lad is the one that provides the paranormal element necessary for me to indulge myself enough to the point where I was reading them on break from work. There's also Nox, who is probably my favorite character, but is not as important in the first book as he becomes later in the series. But who doesn't love a handsome bad-boy?

Ryann has a lot of great traits like loyalty and a good work ethic, while Lad has that same loyalty wrapped up in a strict sense of duty, which I am a sucker for. Patrick has also packed some fun surprises in her work that add layers to the story without seeming like shameless plot devices. So far, in the four books I've read, there's no glaring plot-holes or "I see the author ran out of real ideas and went with this instead" moments that even the best authors can have--I'm looking at you, Stephen King, and your random sex scenes.

I'm not a parent, but I would say that this series is definitely child-appropriate (as one would expect from a YA book) while also containing themes and a writing style that are engaging to adults as well. So if you're looking to indulge in a YA paranormal romance, try this out. And I promise, the sequel is as good as the first one, so you can binge for days.

The Old College Try, or Why I'm Starting My Draft for a 6th Time

9/24/2018

I'm not a fan of the term "writer's block." Sure, we've all experienced it, and I've used that excuse many times myself, but deep down I think that nine times out of ten, "writer's block" is just an excuse for laziness.

I'm not avoiding the work of writing because I'm too lazy to do it, I just have writer's block, so I have no choice but to binge watch the latest season of Grey's Anatomy instead.

That said, whether or not writer's block is a thing, I've been suffering from that or something like it for the better part of the year. I wanted to have my sequel to my fantasy novel The Talented done by winter of 2017. Now, I feel that I'd be lucky to have a rough draft of it done by winter 2018. A lot of this is due to laziness, because I haven't so much as turned my computer on in months, but a not-insignificant reason for this is that I can't figure out what to do with the sequel.

I've started it many times. I've gotten close to finishing it twice. And each time, regardless of whether I was five or fifty pages in, I realized that it was crap. Not the insecure "I'm a horrible writer and don't deserve to live" crap that we all think we write, when really we're quite good at what we do. No, the actual crap that even a mother couldn't pretend to love. At first, I thought I was just being insecure and needed to follow through. Then, when I realized attempt #1 really was bad, I moved on to attempt #2 where I tweaked the plot. Still bad. Attempt #3 and #4 I backed the story up so that it started only a week after the first book ended. Still crap with no real action. Attempt #5 had too much action, full of those horrible author crutches equivalent to your FMC accidentally getting pregnant because she's too stupid to make a doctor's appointment for weeks, despite constant reminders, and then she is surprised by the fallout. It was horrible, and left me once again wondering what I'm doing with my life.

So I'm taking a step back, sipping on some home brew (kombucha, not beer), and reevaluating my life. It's pretty good. I'm engaged and wedding prep is going well. I'm employed and healthy and happy on a personal level. But I have to accept the fact that my usual pantsing isn't getting the job done for The Talented: Part Two. I even attempted some half-assed plotsing for Attempt #5, and that was worse than #4. So I've returned to basics, and went looking for the help of some more experienced writers.

I have a lot of books on craft, but I've decided that for this total gridlock of ideas, Writing for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy was what I needed. Firstly, because I feel like a dummy for having this much trouble coming up with even a mediocre first draft for this book, but also because Randy Ingermanson has a really innovative method called the "Snowflake Method" that I think might actually help me get out of this horrible rut. As a rule, I'm not big on the level of planning that the Snowflake Method entails, but after all of the trouble I've had with this story so far, I'm hoping that following this structure, which has helped Randy write numerous successful books, will help me as well.

But the title of this blog isn't about writer's block or craft books, this title is about giving something the old college try. And I don't mean that in the usual sense, I mean that in the sense of listening to what your professors tell you to do the first day of classes, which is to actually open and read your textbook for more than just homework, and to spend time consistently on that class, not just cramming before tests. I'm actually going through the steps of the Snowflake Method outlined in Writing Fiction for Dummies, even the steps that involve scene-by-scene details, and writing a 5-10 page synopsis of my story covering those scenes even though none of those pages will make it into the final draft, because I've realized that, for whatever reason, I'm not able to do this on my own, and I need help. So going to this book and going through all those steps is me giving it the college try. If I need to, I'll go to "office hours" by consuming more books on craft, or maybe even get some "tutoring" by other author blogs.

It might be Attempt #6, but I'm giving this the old college try, and failure is not an option.

Top 10-Books I'd give to readers who have never read "X"

8/5/2014

Today's Top Ten Tuesday, courtesy of The Broke and The Bookish, is about what books I would recommend to readers who had never read a certain genre, or about a certain topic.

I chose fantasy and speculative fiction because it's often scoffed at, and because I love it.

For everyone:

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling- Regardless of what sort of books you normally choose, I believe that everyone should read this series at least once. Not only has it sold more books than any other book or series since the Bible, but it is fantastic in so many ways. There are so many good feels here.

For fantasy skeptics:

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis- Not only are these great books for adults and children alike, but they are a quick read. If you think that reading speculative fiction and children's (or perhaps middle grade) fiction is beneath you, pick up The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Between the writing, the plot, and (if you're looking for a justification for reading a book like this) the allegory, I dare you to walk away from this thinking it was a waste of time.

For real fans of fantasy:

3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien- I would love to recommend The Lord of the Rings as well, but despite my deep love for Tolkien, LOTR has some slow parts. The Hobbit, however, has a pace much better suited for the modern reader, and since this is really the springboard for fantasy works, it is an eventual must for every fantasy writer.

4. Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan- This is one of my favorite series. My sister argues with me about it, but I still think reading this series, or even just the first couple books, gives readers a really good look at fantasy and all of its wonder. It has high fantasy elements, but doesn't stick to elves and dwarves and dragons.

5. The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist- Another great fantasy book. Feist has great rules about magic, a lot of hidden mysteries, and a style that keeps you reading late into the night.

6. Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman- Most specifically, the autumn, winter, and spring trilogy. I first read this series when I was 11 or 12 (although they were written for adults) and they influenced me for years. Still do. If you are looking for a great fantasy series with all of the beloved elements of high fantasy (elves, dwarves, dragons, sorcery), this is the place to get it.

For young readers:

7. Sweep series by Cate Tiernan- This is a young adult fantasy or paranormal series about a teenage girl who discovers she is descended from witches and has powerful magic. I haven't read it for years, but my memory is that it is one of those YA books that really makes you connect with the main character. And who doesn't secretly wish to one day find that you have hidden powers?

8. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld- Westerfeld is a popular YA author, and I like a lot of his work, but for this list I picked Peeps because a. it is a stand alone novel and I haven't offered that yet, and b. it combines so many cool elements of science fiction (actual science--biology) and fantasy (vampires) in completely new ways

For those considering science fiction:

9. In Her Name series by Michael Hicks- For any fantasy reader who wants to dabble into the world of sci-fi, this series is for you. There are spaceships and wars, but most of the first book takes place in a low-tech world where the primary weapons are swords and daggers. In my mind, it is a great mix of fantasy and sci-fi.

10. Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard- I avoided this books for years. First it was too "science fiction-y" and then...I don't know. I didn't want to? But when I did--bam! It's a fantastic book. I would almost go so far to say that Battlefield Earth is The Hobbit of science fiction. If you consider yourself a serious sci-fi fan, you can't leave this book unread.

What fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi books would you recommend?

My new sci-fi love: The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell

5/15/2014

I posted a review relatively recently about The Wandering Engineer series by Chris Hechtl, and it was less than glowing. Now it's time for a positive review.

The Lost Fleet is also a sci-fi series, but the author of this book is Jack Campbell, and it is a book that shines. I firmly believe that indie and self-pubbed authors can produce work just as great as authors that are traditionally published, but one of the shining points (to me) about Campbell's work is that it is professionally edited and has professional cover art. His books were traditionally published, and that doubtless contributes to their presentation.

The Wandering Engineer was interesting because the main character had been in stasis for several hundred years and woke up to a world changed almost beyond recognition. The Lost Fleet (which came before Hechtl's series) also has a main character who was in a survival pod for an extended length of time (though only 100 years this time) and wakes up to find that the Alliance has changed from a century of war.

And unlike Fleet Admiral John Henry Irons in The Wandering Engineer, the internal struggles of Campbell's John Geary seem genuine and balanced by what is going on around him as well as what happened years ago.

Another thing that I love about Campbell's series is the science in this science fiction. There is a war going on, and there are space battles, but the battles are seconds of fighting interspersed with the hours that it takes to travel in space. Ships don't turn on a dime in Campbell's books, and the speed of a particular kind of space craft can't be changed through elbow grease and the well-wishes of her crew.

The Lost Fleet has all of the excitement expected of a good science fiction novel, but the attention to detail (and the lack of deus ex machina found in Hechtl's novels) make it a joy to read rather than a book that you have to work to suspend your disbelief on while turning pages.

If you like sci-fi, space battles, and main characters facing genuine and realistic internal conflicts, pick up The Lost Fleet: Dauntless and dive into this great series.

I almost wrote a bad review

4/21/2014

Last week, I wrote a blog post on The Wandering Engineer series by Chris Hechtl and saved it in my drafts to be posted today. I like the series, starting with New Dawn and going from there, but the review I was going to post was as close to scathing as I am likely to ever get.

Now the series has a great premise, starting with a unique main character, and that is what drew me in, because who has ever heard of an engineering fleet admiral? The MC, Admiral John Irons, is an engineer and after waking up from stasis some 700 years later, he finds that the war he was fighting is over, but that civilization across all worlds has backslid dramatically.

Maybe that part is a little far-fetched, but I liked it anyway. And I continued to like the series for a few books.

But after reading Plague Planet, I was ready to throw in the towel and write a review on here that, while not intended to keep people from reading the series, probably WOULD have kept people from reading the series.

But I waited, and I'm glad I did. Plague Planet might be a plague on the series, but Pirate's Bane (the next book in the series) is fantastic. Finally, after 6 books, Hechtl is delivering on the promises he made in New Dawn.

Even better, Pirate's Bane has been edited--not to a high degree, but better than New Dawn, which is a lesson in patience when it comes to typos, grammar, and commonly confused words. It has action and great characters, and I'm very glad that I gave Hechtl's series one last chance.

For anyone else reading The Wandering Engineer or wondering whether to continue on when it seems that the series is spiraling down...stick with it. If I could, I would unread Plague Planet and deal with the few things in Pirate's Bane that wouldn't make sense without reading the previous book rather than slogging through page after digital page of poor writing, poor plot execution, and characters ripped straight from comic books and popular movies with no attempt at changing names or behaviors (Lewis and Clark report for the Daily Planet...).

But finally, in Pirate's Bane, Irons grows a pair, takes charge, fights back, and basically does everything we wanted him to do since halfway through New Dawn. So if Irons being such a baby is weighing you down, and the lack of forward movement is giving you the urge to write the series yourself, I suggest that you skip Plague Planet and jump right to Pirate's Bane. You'll thank me.

This whole near-miss on the review thing has also taught me a good lesson--don't blog until you are sure your opinion won't change. I'd much rather be writing THIS post now than eating crow in the near future.

A review of MAUS by Art Spiegelman

3/25/2014

That book cover is both attention grabbing and possibly offensive...and in my opinion one of the reasons that so many people have picked up a copy of Maus and opened the book.

For those of you who don't know, Maus is a graphic novel created by Art Spiegelman, the son of a Holocaust survivor, and as far as books that push the boundaries and redefine genres go, this one goes about as far as possible.

It was one of the first of its kind in many ways, perhaps the most important being that it was the first graphic novel to address an issue as serious as the Holocaust. It was also released before it became a trend (for lack of a better word) to release books and movies on the Holocaust. And the way that Maus did that was so new and so intense that people are still talking about it decades after it was first published.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, especially about the Holocaust (although I did just read Night by Elie Wiesel for the second time and enjoyed it even more than the first) but Maus was a real attention grabber. The extended metaphor of Jewish people being portrayed as rats/mice and the Germans as cats is fascinating to me. The message conveyed by the pictures and limited words is powerful, and the framing of the story is great (read the first couple of pages and you'll know all that you need to about the framing of this book).

It's a tremendous and powerful read, and people are still talking about it today. Schools like the one I am teaching at are even reading it as part of their curriculum.

I recommend this book even if you are not interested in Holocaust literature because it is so interesting and well done, the medium is so different from what we have come to expect, and it is a read that can be done in a couple of hours and still deliver a powerful punch.

I included below a link to an interview with Art Spiegelman which deals with Meta-Maus, a book and DVD which was released in the hopes that all of the talk about Maus would die down some. It didn't work, which is why there is an interview about it, but I feel that the interview, though short and about Meta-Maus, really enriches the whole Maus experience.

I suggest that you read Maus, and if not I hope that you will consider at least watching the interview, because it really is great to absorb even a little bit of what went into this book that made such a difference in how information about the Holocaust can be shared.

Emotion in books

3/13/2014

I could attempt to write a post about emotion in books. I could try to come up with words to express how to do that, and maybe an example of my own.

And it would, undoubtedly, somewhere in that post, say something along the lines of "show, don't tell" because isn't that what is always said these days?

Not that I don't agree, but...

In lieu of trying to write a "real" post, I am going to share what I think is one of the most emotional passages in any book, and it is all telling (literally, someone is saying it).

“I wish you had sincerity enough to tell me whether Catherine would suffer greatly from his loss: the fear that she would restrains me. And there you see the distinction between our feelings: had he been in my place and I in his, though I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised a hand against him. You may look incredulous, if you please! I never would have banished him from her society as long as she desired his. The moment her regard ceased, I could have torn his heart out, and drunk his blood! But, till then - if you don't believe me, you don't know me - till then, I would have died by inches before I touched a single hair of his head!”
― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Can any passage better describe Heathcliff's love for Catherine? The love and the violence paired here is beautiful. Word choice is amazing, and then I could go on a rant about the character foil present, but...

Basically, I just wanted to share this magnificent, emotion-packed passage from Wuthering Heights. All that we need to know about Heathcliff's love for Catherine is in this passage--if we read nothing else about him, knew nothing more of the plot, we would know that he loves her to the point of dying rather than hurting her.

In my opinion, this is the epitome of emotion in a book.

Found a new site

2/3/2014

With the slow death of book stores and physical books and the plethora of self-published authors--some great, some who could do with a little more experience--, I've had trouble finding new fantasy series to read. There are so many of them by so many new authors (I haven't picked up many new fantasy series at all in the last...decade?) that I don't know where to start.

Luckily, I just found a site that, by all appearances, reviews and rates fantasy books, trilogies, and series. It's called Ranting Dragon and seems to be, as my students would say, "legit."

To be fair, the only books I've read on these lists so far are books I was reading from previously selected series (such as The Wheel of Time) so I can't really speak on how accurate, IMO, their rating system is for the other books. However, I plan to buy a book from one of their series soon and read it to see for myself. I have high hopes for this, and if it pans out that I like their suggestions, I've just found a new site to help guide my book selections.

I'm sharing this site in advance of that in case any other fantasy readers have been running into the same problem and want to check it out. It seems like a lot of their reviewed fantasy is urban fantasy, so if you're not a huge fan of high or epic fantasy, they might have some great suggestions for you over at Ranting Dragon.

Check it out and tell me what you think.

Book Review: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

5/7/2013

Original cover art by Darrell K. Sweet

The Eye of the World (and the rest of the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan is truly one of my all-time favorite books. It is a great example of High Fantasy with its mystical creatures and magic, and Jordan is truly a master of creating not only a fantasy world that seems real, but characters so real that I was crying for their pain and cheering for their happiness throughout the series.

The Eye of the World starts off with three youths, Rand al'Thor, Perrin Aybara, and Mat Cauthon--who have all seen a menacing black rider whose cloak does not move with the wind--their friend Egwene al'Vere, and the mysterious Moiraine and Lan.

After a chapter or two of exposition, the characters are placed into danger, and that dangerous ride continues throughout the rest of the book--and the rest of the series. For anyone looking for a serious fantasy series to sink their teeth into, look no further than the Wheel of Time series. I can almost guarantee that, if fantasy is your thing, you'll love these books.

Book Suggestion: Fast-Tracked

4/23/2013

I just finished reading the book Fast-Tracked by Tracy Rozzlynn and really enjoyed it. It's the first in a trilogy and I will definitely be making time to read other books by this author. I'm glad I found her and I hope you all take the time to check her out.

Here's a link to Fast-Tracked on Amazon if you don't want to go through the hassle of Googling it yourself.

Any books you have recently (or not so recently) read and would like to suggest?