kate rothwell

What is this trend of setting up a mystery in the first chapter and then not solving it by the end of the book? Stay tuned for book two? No. No. no. NO. That is not how it works. I do not mind series. I love those puppies in fact. But when you have a murdered person at the start of the book, you solve the mystery. Or maybe, maybe, fine, all right if you must....you can set up another mystery and solve that one, leaving the first one to linger.  But something must be solved by the end of a book. Period. You can keep some threads open, sure. You can grab the readers' attention and make sure they don't let go and want more more more. BUT YOU SOLVE AT LEAST ONE GODDAMN MYSTERY. Kim Harrison gets away with not telling us who killed Kisten, Rachel's lover, for a couple of books because she had other mysteries/issues/plot arcs she DID solve. I'm looking at you, Shelly Shepherd Gray. I do not get how the book Missing has so many five star reviews. Seriously. I do not. ...

By the all holy god, Microchip, I despise Microsoft Office--Word and Outlook in particular, Since those are the only applications I use regularly, I just freaking HATE Office. I've been battling a software problem for days. I've used all sorts of detection software, and carefully deleted anything superfluous from my machine. It's better but it still freezes every half hour or so and must be rebooted. I'm not even trying to work at this point. Don't bother to tell me what I can do to make it better because the only thing I'm willing to do at this point (other than throw the computer off the deck) is delete all of Office and reload it. I ordered new copy of Office because when I tried doing dump/reload thing earlier, I was told I'd used up all my installs and when I called up to complain, well....... Never mind. Just never goddddddamn mind. If only publishers didn't do everything in Word. I'd be free of my chains and my burning load of hatred. In oth...

There's the usual carrying on about IMMORALITY of the sex and how people judging the Big Contest should get to send back smutty books. Dear Contest Judge [changed because Shelli is right, also edited because I'm just rude and now that I've ranted I can stop being rude] , No. Sorry. Please. Stop with the morality arguments. I've got a full set of morals too and some--just SOME, mind you--Godly Folk offend them every day. I'm polite most of the time, but you're getting on my last nerve with this. Listen, you probably like sex, but behind closed doors, right? Well, I happen to like God, but behind closed doors, too. I'm majorly squicked out by people who try to tell me about their God and oh, baby how good He makes them feel and how He'll take care of them forever. Put it away, I want to tell them. Ewww.** My basic response is keep the glad tiding for your prayers--which are between you and your god and the people in your congregation. I'm glad you...

Jesus Christ. My husband reads stuff aloud to me on Sunday mornings. And his favorite subject matter these days? Whiny columns, usually written by men, about buying presents. Here's one. I bet you can find plenty. And Dave Barry's great gift guide has the start of another . And ever as I laugh (because these guys are funny) I think JEEEEEBUS, shut up. Dudes? Gift buying is not rocket science. Listen. No I mean it. Stop whining and PAY ATTENTION . Not to me--to the women or men or kids in your life. Here are the steps to buying the right gift: Observe the person you're supposed to buy something for. You've had years with her? Good. That should make it EASIER, not harder. You've paid attention to what she wears so you know her taste in clothing. If you're really observant, you might even have noticed that that sweater is looking ratty and she likes opening boxes that contain nice sweaters. That part is important. You've paid attention when she opens a presen...