Let me preface my review by saying that the English translation of Apocalypse Baby by Virginie Despentes was published by my current employer, The Feminist Press. It came out before I began working there, so I didn't read it right away. I started with all the current and upcoming books so as to prepare me… Continue reading Book Report: Apocalypse Baby
Tag: Noir
Third Book is a Charm
So here I am, at the bright shiny beginning of NaNoWriMo and of writing my third young adult noir. There is so much promise here at the beginning, so much possibility, but also so much uncertainty and room for doubt. The struggles I now face are equal to and likely bigger than those I faced… Continue reading Third Book is a Charm
Next Big Thing Blog Hop–Work in Progress
This week I'm participating in a "blog hop," which basically consists of one writer linking to me on her blog and then me linking to another writer on his blog. The point is for us to connect our audiences while talking about the projects we're working on. The writer who linked to me, Marissa James,… Continue reading Next Big Thing Blog Hop–Work in Progress
Writer Crush: Megan Abbott
When I started research on my noir YA, the first thing that came to mind was the brilliant high school-does-noir film Brick. That movie does an amazing job of taking the drama, the twists, and the stylized tone of the noir genre and puts it into a high school setting. Another favorite of mine, Veronica Mars, took… Continue reading Writer Crush: Megan Abbott
Creating Atmosphere
When writing noir, or any variation of it (in my case, young adult noir), the atmosphere of the book is as important as characters, plot, and setting. In fact, when done correctly, the atmosphere, gloomy and bleak, should affect characters, plot, and setting. The noir movement, most easily recognizable as a film genre of the… Continue reading Creating Atmosphere