Time for another monthly writing challenge!
Consider a time when you felt embarrassed by something or someone. Remember your emotions, your physical sensations, how you reacted.
Now write a scene in your story that would elicit the same reaction from your main character.
Work this incident into their character development arc.
Happy Writing!
~MJ
Blood surges through every appendage as you clutch the cargo closer. This thing… your mind scrambles as you feel it; your pulse thrums against your fingertips–as though your own heartbeat is desperate to reach the thing you hold. Someone waits for you to relinquish it. You step closer to comply…
Muse Stimulators:
Happy Writing!
~MJ
El Flamingo by Nick Davies
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Sometimes, even in Mexico, an extra sombrero is too much to ask…”
That one line should tell you just about everything you need to know to decide that this book is a must read.
El Flamingo follows the story of a failed Hollywood actor named Lou Galloway to a beach bar in Mexico to drown his sorrows. There, he strikes up a conversation with another sad man, as one does, and is thrust into the Oscar-winning acting performance of a lifetime. Lou Galloway is unknowingly mistaken for an assassin, and being the actor he is, he rises to the challenge, and shenanigans ensue.
This Desperado meets James Bond meets The Big Lebowski is a funny, clever, action packed, romantic thrill ride that sucks you in from the very first line until the very last.
This book is brimming with witty monologue, dialogue, tension-filled action scenes, and rich Hispanic culture that honestly made me want to try salsa lessons again. It’s fast-paced, never dull, with a slight whodunit vibe, and one of my favorite parts is that the main character and the main supporting character, Maria-Carla, are both middle-aged adults. As a middle-aged adult myself, it’s so wonderful to read a book about older people that dares to do something fun and exciting with them, and El Flamingo delivers.
Lou Galloway is very relatable; a dreamer with high aspirations and no chances to shine. Like many of us, the ‘one role’ to make his career has poofed away, and he’s left with no idea what to do next. In the same vein, Maria-Carla is also a very relatable character for many; a strong woman stuck in a marriage she despises and biding her time until the right moment she can break free for good.
There are so many layers to these characters, and a short review cannot even begin to scratch the surface. I could not put this book down, and the only reason I did was because it was way past my bedtime. I finished this book in three sit downs. Every page had a laugh, every scene carried impeccable tension and intrigue, and I absolutely LOVED the Spanish dialogue woven in.
Nick Davies is an amazing writer; his style connects you immediately to the characters and immerses you into the setting with very little exposition; I was never bored. I will be adding Nick Davies to my Authors-to-Watch list for sure. I can’t wait to see what he publishes next.
El Flamingo publishes March 15 by YBK publishers, and you’re going to want to read this one!
I was given a free ARC for an honest review.
~MJ
Need to spice up your current novel with a writing challenge?
Write a scene that takes place before your book begins. Detail something specific that happened to your main character that still haunts/influences/motivates them.
Are you a writer looking for some inspiration for your next scene or story? Read this month’s writing prompt and let your Muse guide you:
Ping. Another one drops, and your heart races inside your chest. How many are there now? You’ve lost count. Ping. You try to remember all the ones that came before… it’s imperative that you keep track. Ping ping. Your mind scrambles, overwhelmed. It’s all just too much.
Muse Stimulators:
Happy Writing!
~MJ
Write a short description of something important to your character. Include where it came from, why it’s important to your MC, if it’s value is monetary, sentimental, or functional, and how your character typically interacts with it.
Now write a short scene where your character loses this thing. Address the following elements:
Happy writing!
~MJ
Happy New Year!!! Here’s your monthly writing prompt to kick us off on a great year of writing!
You close your eyes, picturing it in your mind. Blood tingles through your veins as the image becomes more detailed, more vivid. It’s almost like you could reach out and grasp it. For a minute you wonder if you can, and if you could… would you?
Muse Stimulators
Happy writing!
~MJ
Take your character into a densely populated place. Take time to describe the colors, smells, sounds. Weave the chaos of it into your character’s journey through. Do they overhear something? Do they get bumped or shoved in the melee?
Happy Writing!
~MJ
Title: Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger Author: K.C. Grifant Release date: February 2nd, 2023 Truthfully, when K.C. Grifant emailed me, I initially replied that I would love to review it – but – I wouldn’t get to it for a few weeks, as I was deep into reading four other books. Well, then I saw the […]
Book Review: Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant
The noise has been constant since you opened your eyes. At first, it was tolerable, but now… now you’d do anything to make it stop. The temperature is uncomfortable, and it’s getting worse as the moments drag on. You look around for something, anything, anyone who can help.
Muse Stimulators:
Happy Writing!
~MJ
