Jessica Bell, Hobbitfest, and Dispatches from the Twitterverse, featuring Doctor Who and Joe Hill

ne hundred books challenge is nearly at an end!

This post serves as a prelude to my upcoming Books Read posts. I've knocked off all the poems and short stories and one-off chapters and forewords from the list at the bottom of the blog (unless they were part of an anthology or collection) and I've got... 93 so far! Er, and that's counting all the children's and board books I've read. Think I can catch up in two weeks?

I've got longer than that for the Canadian challenge, at least - all the way until next July. So far I've read these awesome Canadian authors:

Talli Roland

Kate Pullinger

Hélène Boudreau

Kim Bellefontaine

Meanwhile, across the seas, Jessica Bell's Show and Tell in a Nutshell is out!

Click to add me to Goodreads!

Have you been told there's a little too much telling in your novel? Want to remedy it? Then this is the book for you!

In Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing you will find sixteen real scenes depicting a variety of situations, emotions, and characteristics which clearly demonstrate how to turn telling into showing. Dispersed throughout, and at the back of the book, are blank pages to take notes as you read. A few short writing prompts are also provided.

Not only is this pocket guide an excellent learning tool for aspiring writers, but it is a light, convenient, and easy solution to honing your craft no matter how broad your writing experience. Keep it in the side pocket of your school bag, throw it in your purse, or even carry it around in the pocket of your jeans or jacket, to enhance your skills, keep notes, and jot down story ideas, anywhere, anytime.

If you purchase the e-book, you will be armed with the convenient hyper-linked Contents Page, where you can toggle backward and forward from different scenes with ease. Use your e-reader's highlighting and note-taking tools to keep notes instead.

The author, Jessica Bell, also welcomes questions via email, concerning the content of this book, or about showing vs. telling in general, at showandtellinanutshell@gmail.com

Reviews:

“Jessica Bell addresses one of the most common yet elusive pieces of writing advice—show, don't tell—in a uniquely user-friendly and effective way: by example. By studying the sixteen scenes she converts from “telling” into “showing,” not only will you clearly understand the difference; you will be inspired by her vivid imagery and dialogue to pour through your drafts and do the same.” ~Jenny Baranick, College English Teacher, Author of Missed Periods and Other Grammar Scares

“A practical, no-nonsense resource that will help new and experienced writers alike deal with that dreaded piece of advice: show, don’t tell. I wish Bell’s book had been around when I started writing!” ~Talli Roland, bestselling author

Purchase the paperback:
$4.40 on Amazon US
£3.99 on Amazon UK

Purchase the e-book:
$1.99 on Amazon US
£1.99 on Amazon UK
$1.99 on Kobo

About the Author:
The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and co-hosts the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest.

For more information about Jessica Bell, please visit: 
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

And now, HobbitFest!

Hosted by M Pax and Tyrean Martinson.

There are four questions:

What is your favourite hobbit characteristic/or the one that you think closely resembles you...?

Hmm, something along the lines of hoarding. I love giving gifts, but I also like maps and genealogies. And breakfast. And pubs, of course!

Save The Hobbit!

If you could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast and a perilous unexpected journey – which would you prefer?

I love breakfast (with unlimited coffee) but since I've never been on an unexpected journey, I'll go with the latter. I need to brush up on my riddling!

Have you ever left behind something on a journey (expected or unexpected) and wished you could have it over and over again? (a pocket handkerchief?)

I lost a pair of pants once... I swear I left them at my grandmother's house... But where did they go?

What is your favourite part or quote from the book that you hope will be in the movie?

All of it? The songs, definitely. The more trailers I see, the more I'm afraid everyone's going to be talking in affected accents again. Why can't they speak naturally, as if they're living their lives and not on camera?

Some of the scenes I'm excited to see probably won't come until the second or third film - Bilbo and Thorin's final farewell, Bilbo's invisibility before Smaug, the eucatastrophe moment when Bilbo cries "the Eagles are coming!"

Say, does anyone know who's going to be playing Bard the Bowman?

PS, I'd love to attend the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit conference at Valparaiso! And look! They're angling for a Silmarillion movie!

In case you thought I'd forgotten about writing completely, #ROW80 is going slowly. I did get some editing done on Druid's Moon! I love the story and characters. But, oh boy, the words sure need beating into shape.

In closing, I bring you Dispatches from the Twitterverse:

Doctor Who: they film more than they show! Gaiman outtakes!

Joe Hill likes the Whisky Trench Riders!

Here's the song he selected: The Wandering Ragged Stranger

What's going on in your universe?