Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1-5)

I just finished reading Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1 - 5) [Kindle Edition] by hugh howey


This book is a collection of the five Wool books, and details the lives of people living in underground silos in an "after the bomb" type world.  We're never actually told that a nuclear war is what happened, and in fact it's hinted at that this may not be what happened, although no life is capable of existing on the surface due to the residual poisonous gasses from whatever happened.

These books are very well written.  The author has a good way of bringing the reader into the scene and making you feel like you're there, and there are plenty of unexpected surprises to keep your attention, even in the drab, isolated existence of silo life.

This collection is a solid addition to the world of sci-fi and I had a fun time reading it.  I'll definitely check out other works by this author.

The Author's website
 http://www.hughhowey.com/

From Amazon:
This Omnibus Edition collects the five Wool books into a single volume. It is for those who arrived late to the party and who wish to save a dollar or two while picking up the same stories in a single package.

The first Wool story was released as a standalone short in July of 2011. Due to reviewer demand, the rest of the story was released over the next six months. My thanks go out to those reviewers who clamored for more. Without you, none of this would exist. Your demand created this as much as I did.

This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.

The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story

This book contains good and practical advice which can be applied by anyone who desires to tell a better story. The book is written from a Christian perspective, and should help you out a lot with your oral presentation skills.

John Walsh's (author's) website

Book Description From Amazon: Whether speaking in front of a small gathering or a large congregation, public speaking strikes fear into the heart of the bravest person. Plagued by stuttering and resultant school problems, John Walsh still found himself called to be a preacher. He has written The Art of Storytelling to encourage and teach anyone with a fear of public speaking how to speak successfully, confidently, and compellingly. This book is especially relevant for anyone preparing any form of weekly Bible teaching.

The Trees

This collection of short stories was a fun read. I think the author has a lot of potential and would be interested in reading more of his work. The trees was my favorite story in the collection. I also enjoyed Laroche, but would have liked to see this story developed a bit more as I thought the concept was a very interesting one, but as the saying goes, always leave the crowd wanting more. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clever short stories. Ebook Short Description (From Smashwords) Monsters, legends, and things that we would rather not think about, this collection of three short stories and two pieces of flash fiction will treat readers to a strange and frightening world that lies in the shadows of the Pacific Northwest. Get it on Smashwords

The Eight Point Story Arc - The Stasis

Today I'm going to continue my discussion on the eight point story arc. The eight parts are as follows.


1. Stasis
2. Trigger
3. The quest
4. Surprise
5. Critical choice
6. Climax
7. Reversal
8. Resolution

It's time to focus on the stasis. Here's a reminder of the definition.

Stasis
This is the “every day life” in which the story is set. Think of Cinderella sweeping the ashes, Jack (of Beanstalk fame) living in poverty with his mum and a cow, or Harry Potter living with the Dursley’s.

So, using The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe as an example, the stasis finds the four Pevensie siblings— Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, being evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke out in a large house in the English countryside, so that they can be sheltered from the war and continue their lives in some kind of safety and stability.

The Stasis section of this book is interesting because there is already so much going on. The children have already had their lives disrupted because of the war and having to relocate. They are already in the midst of a horrible adventure, but during this period of history (1940s during World War II) most everyone in Europe is stuck in the same nightmare. It is out of this point of troubled stasis that the story really takes a turn with the Trigger, which we'll discuss during the next post.

Finding Time to Blog

Sometimes it seems there's just not enough hours in the day. It's hard to work two full time jobs and find time to write, much less find time to blog. When did we get so busy as a society? It seems that everyone faces the same time restrictions. Prioritization and time management are essential to independent writers. I recently read that one Indy writer lays down a thousand words before she does anything else each day. I think I'll try something similar.