by Jason Joyner | Jun 15, 2011 | Blog, fiction, is it time to eat yet?, overdone analogies, writing craft
We just finished our kitchen.
Maybe “we” is a misnomer. My wife did all of the leg work to pick out everything with the design, and the contractors did the heavy lifting. I…stayed out of their hair. It was better that way.
I am not a construction type of guy. If a home improvement video says a job will take 1-2 hours, that means all day for me. So, I don’t do that sort of thing unless there’s no other option! This means I’m not familiar with the process of building.
It was fascinating to come home from work each day and see the layers stripped down. First the cabinets, then the old floor, then the sub-floor. The sheet rock, plaster, electrical, plumbing. The foundation wasn’t the prettiest thing in the world.
Then it started changing. The sheet rock guy did the mudding, adding texture. Now there was some dynamic going on, instead of being flat. He did the basic painting, and now it seems like we’re getting somewhere!
The cabinets came next, and it fleshed out everything, allowing a place for all the little things a kitchen needs. Then the counters. Now it can carry some weight.
The flooring was laid, and the path became clear. Still, the painter had to do the little touch-ups at the end to make everything finished.
I think you can see where I’m going with this…
I was taken by the relationship to building this new kitchen to building a novel. It wasn’t completely brand new – the old foundation and walls were still there. However, it took a process to get to the end product, and it wasn’t always apparent how it was going to turn out. The care my wife took in looking at all the options created a beautiful setting.
I know as I slowly chip away at what I want in the story, I find twists and turns. Some things don’t work out as planned. Some choices make it worse. I realize I’m still in stages where it hasn’t all come together yet.
It was a relief to get cabinets in, and the countertops set, but that wasn’t the end point. What makes the kitchen is the little touches – the decorative pieces set into the backsplash, the glaze on the cabinets, the edging on the counters. A writer can get by with the functional pieces in place, but the novel can only reach its full potential if the time is taken to work the little details into the otherwise sturdy workmanship.
My wife is very pleased with how it came out. I’m happy for her, I enjoy the kitchen, but I’m just happy to have regular cooking again! I could have been satisfied enough with less, but it is so much more due to her vision.
I hope to keep this thought in mind as I go through the different levels of working my story.
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by Jason Joyner | Jun 7, 2011 | Blog, Bug Man, fiction, Nick Polchak, reviews, Tim Downs, What's with the heart-shaped tubs?
Nick Polchak is one of the best literary characters ever.
Had to say it.
I’ve talked about Tim Downs before, and he is one of my favorite authors. He produces suspense fiction with wit and humor, along with some nice gory details about decomposing bodies.
This is because the protaganist of most of his novels is Dr. Nick Polchak, also known as the “Bug Man.” He’s a forensic entomologist, meaning he studies the insects that are drawn to corpses. It is a niche that Downs ably uses to give just enough tecnical jargon to help the reader really buy it.
Polchak also has one of the lowest social IQ’s ever seen. He has a minimal filter – he says what he wants and has a great wit. The result is he is funnier than all get-out, and makes each Bug Man novel a joy to read, but a challenge to read in public (didn’t want my recent airplane neighbor freaking out over my chuckling.)
In Nick of Time, it leads off of events of the Bug Man books Less the Dead and Ends of the Earth. Spoilers for those who haven’t read those books – Nick is getting married! Even the clueless Dr. Polchak may have a soul mate in Alena Savard, a woman who grew up on a mountain alone with dozens of dogs that she trains.
With his wedding a week away, he is invited to a forensics conference by an old friend for a consult on a cold case. Over Alena’s protests, Nick heads there only to find his friend dead.
Now he is off to find out what was happening with the cold case to see if there’s a connection. Meanwhile, Alena is panicking over the lack of a groom, and with the happy date approaching, she sets off to find him – along with three of her best tracking dogs.
Nick’s going to learn if he wants to be married, if it doesn’t kill him first…
—
Downs continues a strong run in the Bug Man series. Fans will find their favorite points intact: humor, suspense, mysteries for Nick to solve, and some big twists along the way. First time readers should pick the book up just fine, despite it building off of older novels. If you can read the others first then it will make more sense, but he writes in such a way that it isn’t necessary.
The plot is a little incredible at times, but Downs has this character, um, down. Nick is very enjoyable as he says the things we could never get away with, and the plot moves quickly without any slow points. Alena is a strong counterpoint to Nick, although sometimes she sounds too much like him (sarcastic, not caring what people think). Nick even has an epiphany of sorts, and it will be interesting to see where it takes him.
Nick of Time was a great read, comfortable as a well-worn pair of jeans. Prior readers won’t be disappointed, and new readers should fit right in to Nick’s insect world. Fans of suspense and CSI-type shows will be well-served with Tim Downs latest.
—
by Jason Joyner | Jun 7, 2011 | Blog, Bug Man, fiction, Nick Polchak, reviews, Tim Downs, What's with the heart-shaped tubs?
Nick Polchak is one of the best literary characters ever.
Had to say it.
I’ve talked about Tim Downs before, and he is one of my favorite authors. He produces suspense fiction with wit and humor, along with some nice gory details about decomposing bodies.
This is because the protaganist of most of his novels is Dr. Nick Polchak, also known as the “Bug Man.” He’s a forensic entomologist, meaning he studies the insects that are drawn to corpses. It is a niche that Downs ably uses to give just enough tecnical jargon to help the reader really buy it.
Polchak also has one of the lowest social IQ’s ever seen. He has a minimal filter – he says what he wants and has a great wit. The result is he is funnier than all get-out, and makes each Bug Man novel a joy to read, but a challenge to read in public (didn’t want my recent airplane neighbor freaking out over my chuckling.)
In Nick of Time, it leads off of events of the Bug Man books Less the Dead and Ends of the Earth. Spoilers for those who haven’t read those books – Nick is getting married! Even the clueless Dr. Polchak may have a soul mate in Alena Savard, a woman who grew up on a mountain alone with dozens of dogs that she trains.
With his wedding a week away, he is invited to a forensics conference by an old friend for a consult on a cold case. Over Alena’s protests, Nick heads there only to find his friend dead.
Now he is off to find out what was happening with the cold case to see if there’s a connection. Meanwhile, Alena is panicking over the lack of a groom, and with the happy date approaching, she sets off to find him – along with three of her best tracking dogs.
Nick’s going to learn if he wants to be married, if it doesn’t kill him first…
—
Downs continues a strong run in the Bug Man series. Fans will find their favorite points intact: humor, suspense, mysteries for Nick to solve, and some big twists along the way. First time readers should pick the book up just fine, despite it building off of older novels. If you can read the others first then it will make more sense, but he writes in such a way that it isn’t necessary.
The plot is a little incredible at times, but Downs has this character, um, down. Nick is very enjoyable as he says the things we could never get away with, and the plot moves quickly without any slow points. Alena is a strong counterpoint to Nick, although sometimes she sounds too much like him (sarcastic, not caring what people think). Nick even has an epiphany of sorts, and it will be interesting to see where it takes him.
Nick of Time was a great read, comfortable as a well-worn pair of jeans. Prior readers won’t be disappointed, and new readers should fit right in to Nick’s insect world. Fans of suspense and CSI-type shows will be well-served with Tim Downs latest.
—
by Jason Joyner | Jun 1, 2011 | Blog, goofiness, miscellaneous, stuck in an airport again
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
When stuck in an airport due to weather, mechanical failures, or the pilot having hiccups, here is a list to help you pass the time.
5. Browse the Bookstores. See how many magazines you can read before you get kicked out or are forced to buy something.
4. Entertain your fellow passengers. These enterprising guys
found a way to make a moving sidewalk into something more than just a people mover. If you’re brave, start a flash mob or get everyone into a sing-along.
3. Leave the secure area and go through security again. This makes them wonder, and ensures you get the full security experience if you missed it the first time.
2. People watching. The classic airport event. You can simply observe others in a subtle manner, or play games such as “Guess the Europeans” (men wearing capris is a tell-tale sign).
1. Write a blog post. You can give people hints on how the pass the time…
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by Jason Joyner | Jun 1, 2011 | Blog, goofiness, miscellaneous, stuck in an airport again
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
When stuck in an airport due to weather, mechanical failures, or the pilot having hiccups, here is a list to help you pass the time.
5. Browse the Bookstores. See how many magazines you can read before you get kicked out or are forced to buy something.
4. Entertain your fellow passengers. These enterprising guys
found a way to make a moving sidewalk into something more than just a people mover. If you’re brave, start a flash mob or get everyone into a sing-along.
3. Leave the secure area and go through security again. This makes them wonder, and ensures you get the full security experience if you missed it the first time.
2. People watching. The classic airport event. You can simply observe others in a subtle manner, or play games such as “Guess the Europeans” (men wearing capris is a tell-tale sign).
1. Write a blog post. You can give people hints on how the pass the time…
—
