August Newsletter

Allbooks Review August 2011
Newsletter

Visit: www.allbooksreviewint.com

Allbooks
Review International is looking for ebook reviewers. Email if interested:

Allbooksreview1@aol.com

Must
be able to meet deadlines and have a good command of the English language.

ALS Ontario wants your stories

Share with us an inspirational story about a person or event that
had a profound impact on your life or someone else’s. Story can be non-fiction,
fiction or creative fiction. ALS is a fatal, rapidly progressive neuromuscular
disease and strikes regardless of age, sex or ethnicity. ALS Ontario is a
charitable organization dedicated to providing the necessary equipment and
support services to people with ALS and to funding research toward a cure or
effective treatment. An entry fee of $10.00 CAD must accompany your submission
and all submissions can be emailed to kathryn@mysaggybutt.com or mailed to
Charlene Spector, Thames Valley Regional Manager 1030 Adelaide Street N. Suite
1-158 London, ON N5Y 2M9

FEATURE:

Evaluating a Novel's Plot and Scenes (Part One, Part Two will be in Sept.
newsletter)

By Frances Beckham



After months of hard work you have finally completed your first

novel. Think of your novel as a puzzle. Each piece of the puzzle is

equivalent to pieces of the plot and the various scenes in the

chapters. When they are put together, they create a big picture,

the novel. However, if your chapter scenes and plot -- the puzzle

pieces -- are ill-shaped and ill-formed, they cannot fit together

properly to form the big picture. Before attempting to publish the

book, do a careful review by asking yourself the following

questions:



Is The Plot Original Enough?

----------------------------

When rereading the novel, mark anything that you have read before

in other books, or seen in a movie. Next, list them on a separate

sheet of paper; then, for each one, write down notes on how to make

them different from what you have seen before. For example, in your

story your protagonist is an orphan boy who attends a special magic

school to learn how to become a wizard. Sound too much like the

Harry Potter books? Consider how you could change the essence of

the plot. Instead of an orphan, make the protagonist a boy with

busy parents who send him to a boarding school, unaware that it is

an exclusive school for children who are monsters in human form.

Making such notes and brainstorming changes can train your mind to

think more creatively.



Can Readers Predict What's Going To Happen Next?

------------------------------------------------

As you tell your story, are you revealing too much information?

Can the reader see the resolution of a problem long before you

actually get there? Telling the reader too much can bore him. It

does not allow readers to utilize their imaginations and feel a

sense of mystery and suspense.



Make notes on areas where you have given too much detail. Make

changes that will hook the reader and tease her mind. Make the

reader believe the story will go one way, then introduce an

unexpected twist.



Is The Plot Boring?

-------------------

Even though your plot may be unique, it may be boring. Boring plots

typically include long scenes, rambling dialog, overly detailed

descriptive narratives, and little action. Correct this by

shortening the dialog and focusing it on the plot. The mood of the

conversation should fit the mood of the scenes in the chapters. For

instance, if the scene is comical, the dialog should be comical. If

the scene is serious, the dialog should be serious. Keep in mind

that dialog should always be supportive to the plot. Liven up the

story with unique situations and events that can add more

excitement.



Don't overdo it, however. Give the reader some down-time between

exciting action scenes. Do this by incorporating chapter scenes to

appeal to different emotions. Use some comedy, some drama, some

suspense, and some mystery to support the plot. Take your readers

on an emotional rollercoaster ride.



Is The Plot Too Complex?

------------------------

Making the plot complex (too many subplots, too many flashbacks, or

too many dream sequences) can confuse the reader. A complex plot

can lose focus of the main point of the story. It can make it

difficult to develop a resolution. Some writers who are experienced

can create complex plots. However, for new writers, it is best to

keep the story simple.



Is The Plot Too Shallow?

------------------------

Sometimes new writers get too caught up in making their story

exciting and so interesting. They get caught up in the action,

symbolism, witty dialog, and slick descriptions, but lose the

focus, the meaning, and the purpose of the story. When reviewing

your novel, ask yourself, "What is the meaning of the story? What

is the purpose? What is the story about?" If you cannot see meaning

and purpose in your plot, then the plot is shallow. Begin to think

of ways to refocus the plot on its purpose.



Is The Plot Believable?

-----------------------

Readers need to buy into the reality of your story even though it

is fiction. If it sounds farfetched and unrealistic, most readers

will have a hard time connecting with the story. In your notes,

consider what you can do to make a "hard to believe" event more

believable, more "possible" within the context of the story.



Is The Sequence Illogical?

--------------------------

This relates to the order of chapter scenes and events in the

novel. If you feel the current order is not right, consider ways to

rearrange them, change them, or delete them.



Is The Conclusion Satisfying?

-----------------------------

Is the resolution is clear enough or logical enough? If you feel

unsatisfied with your conclusion, this is your gut feeling telling

you that it is lacking something. You need to determine what that

"something" is, and make sure it is part of your conclusion.



After reevaluating the plot, it's time to examine each scene.

Frances Beckham is a writer of children's and young adult fiction

and resides in Washington State. She operates the Affordable

Proofreading & Critique Service for writers of film scripts and

novels. Beckham enjoys writing, whether it is scripts, books, or

articles.

SUCCESS
STORIES

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us
at: allbookreviews@aol.com

Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our
Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will
be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.

Congratulations to Shirley A. Roe,
Managing Editor of Allbooks Review Int. on the release of her sixth novel, Now
My Life Begins. The book is available in print and ebook on Amazon.com

Jon Saboe has released the long awaited
prequel to Days of Peleg. The new book is The Days of Lamech, available on
Amazon.

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please
state your name and location. (city and
State or Province, Country)

David
V. Mammina

Lindenhurst,
New York

USA

Tell
us the title and publisher of your book:

Redeem
the Knight

Published
by David V. Mammina

Tell
us about yourself:

I grew up in Long Island, New York and
still live there today, teaching Social Studies in a private school for
students with neurobiological disorders.

When
was the book released?:

April
28^th 2011

Give
us an overview of your book.

A holy knight has committed terrible sins
of vengeance against those allegedly
responsible for killing his wife and child.
In turn, he has been exiled to Islandia, a nearby island, to live out
his days of solitude with only a faithful dog to accompany him. Finally offered an opportunity to redeem
himself, Arl Baelin has been called upon to inspect a series of suspicious
hauntings in an infamous manor known as Midvein Mansion. However, in his quest to cleanse the mansion,
he quickly realizes that his path to redemption comes with a shocking price.
Experience the story of a controversial knight who will go to dangerous lengths
to find penance in this seamless read that will keep the book in your hands and
off the shelf until the climactic ending.

What
inspired you to write this book?

I was always fascinated with the concept
of a fallen hero in search of redemption.
You hear it in tales and cliché’ TV series all the time, but it never
holds true to the character. I wanted to
create a genuine tale of redemption, including the hardships, doubts, and
determination that go along with it.

How
is your book different from other books in this genre?

Many are not familiar with the Dark
Fantasy genre, as it falls into the shadows of fantasy itself, but this story
will surely set them apart. Redeem the Knight focuses on the acts of
redemption, rather than the vengeance as in other tales of the genre. Each of the ten chapters begin with a memory
that ties in with the story and progressively enlightens the reader with
provocative truths about the hero’s life from childhood to the present date. I believe this subtle, yet piercing literary
strategy makes for a very personable protagonist and dynamic storyline.

Where
can people buy your book?

Anyone can purchase a copy through any
online bookstore, like Amazon, Barnesandnoble, Borders, Waldenbooks, etc. You
can also visit my website www.MamminaBooks.com
where all of my work is listed. (It is
also safe and cheaper!) I am often at
ComicCon and I-Con conventions, where I promote and sell my work with free
signings and other cool giveaways.

Are
you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I am always
working on another book. Sometimes I try
to take a break so that I can market my work, but new stories always beckon the
call. So, I am already writing the
sequel to Redeem the Knight, creating
a series foundation. With hope, it will
be out in about a year.

If
you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

It certainly isn’t easy to do it on your
own, but it is even harder to find an agent or publisher to rise you up. It is important to be realistic about
self-publishing. It takes time and
commitment, but more than anything else, confidence. Let no one discourage you—ever! This is your talent and it will be recognized
as long as you believe in it and share it with others. Remember to smile and foster a natural
balance of humbleness and pride.

If
published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

N/A

Can
you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Facebook and LinkedIn is a treasure trove
of marketing capabilities. Free and
easy. Always toss business cards around,
because you never know who is reading these days. A strong handshake and quick hook line does
wonders in the long run.

How
did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship
with us?

I heard of Allbooks through a friend, who
saw it advertised on the internet. It
has proven to be a great service for objective reviews for a very affordable
price.

Was
the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to
offer writers?

As the market to promote works for
self-published authors can be cruel and disheartening at times, a great service
of promotion through other sponsored sites and magazines would surely help to
spread the word around about the service you provide and the authors you have
reviewed.

Thank
you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Thanks so much for this opportunity, I am
very humbled by the great review your services have rendered.