A reader asked what influenced my fictional world of Kammbia by email a few days ago. I thought about this question since that email and I had always believed my direct influences were Charles de Lint's novels about Newford, Canada and Jorge Amado's novels about...
Book Review 145: Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday
by MHill | Oct 20, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Nonfiction, Writing
It has always fascinated me on what makes art sells over the long term. Whether Star Wars from Film, Harry Potter from Books, Michael Jackson's Thriller from Music, or Seinfeld from TV, it's been interesting to see what makes the public connect with certain artistic...
Book Review 144: House of Lost Dreams by Graham Joyce
by MHill | Oct 12, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews
Sometimes you pick up a book or these days download it to your Kindle Paperwhite and read. House of Lost Dreams by Graham Joyce is one of those types of novels. I had heard of Graham Joyce's work over the years but did not have an inkling to read any of his work...
What Novels Would You Restart Your Library With?
by MHill | Oct 1, 2018 | Story is King, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I had a reader asked me a question recently that I've been thinking about for several weeks. If you had to restart my library novels what would you choose? I had to discuss the parameters on how I would answer my reader's question. We agreed that series books would...
Book Review 143: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
by MHill | Sep 27, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Marion's All-Time Favorite Novels, Marion's Favorite Books
Wow! Sometimes as a reader you get to read a book that make you say the aforementioned expression after you close the book. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is such a novel for me. The story of two French sisters, Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac, and their harrowing...
Book Review 142: The Girl on Paper by Guillaume Musso
by MHill | Sep 12, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books
I will admit that I'm a reader for story more than anything else. Beautiful wordplay and language is nice and interesting. I can appreciate technical craftsmanship. It doesn't mean I won't read challenging or difficult novels. But it must have a story at its core...
Book Review 141: The 6:41 to Paris by Jean-Phillippe Blondel
by MHill | Aug 31, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books
One of my reading goals for 2018 and beyond is to read more translated fiction. Reading is one of those activities that can take you to another place, another culture, or another perspective with little risk to the reader. The only risk is a few dollars (if you buy it...
Book Review 140: The Little Country by Charles de Lint
by MHill | Aug 26, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Charles De Lint, Marion's All-Time Favorite Novels, Marion's Favorite Books, Rereading Series
Back in the early to mid-1990's, Charles de Lint was one of two novelists I read regularly. The other novelist was Dean Koontz. I had not been a big reader at that point in my life and I can attribute the love of reading in my adult life to both of these authors. ...
Book Review 139: The Artist’s Journey by Steven Pressfield
by MHill | Aug 23, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books
"Your artist's journey is unique to you. You alone are on your path. Your job is only to follow it and be true to it. Who knows what heights it may eventually bear you to? You are an artist. Your journey--however humble, however fraught, however beset with thorns and...
Book Review 138: Once Upon A Thriller (Nancy Drew Diaries #4) by Carolyn Keene
by MHill | Jul 28, 2018 | 2018 Book Reviews, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
A joy of reading is getting to share a book with your kids. In this case, it is my soon-to-be nine-year-old daughter, Norah. I have read with my daughter since she was a baby, but I had not reviewed one of the many books we have read together over the years...until...