Calamity's Corner October

Another good edition of Calamity's Corner, Wendy.

I loved reading Canadian author and poet, Nancy M Bell's article on the Power of Words in October's CC.

Nancy has kept many of her childhook scribblings: short stories, poems and even novels. She is in good company. The famous members of the Bronte family wrote when they were children. Their juvenilia was gathered together by a later biographer and published.

Being a writer has made Nancy many new friends. She calls it the Magic of words. Words are power and power opens doors. She warns that words should be wielded with care and compassion.

I enjoyed following Aussie travellers, Pam and Paul Thomas, around Montepulciano, an Italian town in romantic Tuscany.

Movie and book reviews, quick quiz, meeting Chirp, Taylor McGovern's well-named pet budgie who has just turned one year old, plus many more bits and pieces are all there in Calamity's Corner.

Send in photos of your favourite holiday and words to go with them to Calam, or feature your pet.

I must send my best wishes to dear little Spitzli, who dislocated her kneecap and will have an operation Tuesday. Three barks to you, Spitzli, and hopefully soon you will be running around on those four little legs.

Email Calamity's Corner and have Calamity's Corner delivered free to your computer.

http://laurellamperdwriter.weebly.com/

2^nd September 2011

Reviewer: Carole Sutton

Historical fiction at its best

The Unhewn Stone by Wendy Laharnar

The Unhewn Stone is a fantasy tale about a young man, Stefan Gessler who returns to the time of his ancestors in the 14^th Century. His primary task is to restore honour to his family name, destroyed by the William Tell legend, and secondly to learn how to change base metals into gold. Starting off as a callow youth, Stefan grows with the story to become an accomplished man.

Fantasy is not my preferred genre, but once I started this story I became drawn in to the plight of Stefan, as a modern young man, disfigured in looks, suffering from unrequited love, and bereft at the death of his dog. As the story progresses we venture into fantasy land, I continued to read, caught by the adventures of the 14^th C. Stefan and his ancient family. One fascinating aspect is that Stefan retains his 21^st C. outlook which at times contrasts sharply with those of his 14^th C. cousins. I enjoyed his comparisons. I found the magical elements were written convincingly enough that I had no trouble suspending my disbelief.

Stefan remains very human with his faults, his sometimes overbearing attitude getting him into more trouble than necessary. He grows with the plot. He builds a good relationship with his distant cousin Rolf and various friends. The tale is sweetened by the love of Rolf and Eva Tell. It kept me reading as it bounded from one adventure after another with Stefan and Rolf fleeing their enemies, both human and spiritual in the various guises of a sibyl who is determined to steal Stefan's half of his orb and thus prevent him from returning to his own time.

The ending built up into a page turning climax that satisfied this reader.

Calamity's Corner August

Congratulations Wendy, on Calamity's Corner, another edition of your very entertaining ezine. Contact Wendy on Calamity's Corner for a free subscription.
I loved reading about romance author, Pat Mc Dermott's wonderful cruise from SanFrancisco to Alaska with bits of history mixed in as well.
Reviewer LJ Roberts has another great book review, a book I just know I'll have to buy. Books make great gifts too.
Best wishes to Wendy whose first book, The Unhewn Stone, will be published this month. A wonderful book for young adults. Set in the Switzerland in the era of William Tell - was he a mythical person or not - The Unhewn Stone is an adventure story made even more exciting with magic and the arts of the Alchemist who tried to change base metals into gold.
I've read The Unhewn Stone in draft and can recommend it as an exciting read. Look for it when it's published.

Congratulations, Calamity's Corner

Congratulations on another excellent Calamity's Corner, Calam. I loved reading how Rowena Cherry, featured author of the month, uses the game of chess when planning a novel and in her novels. When one thinks of it a novel is a lot like chess. The writer makes situations - moves - with characters - chessmen - to surprise and confuse the reader - opponent. The mark of a good book should be how many well thought out situations the writer can put characters through and in the end especially in a thriller or a mystery checkmate the opponent's king. I'll look at the books I read and the books I write with a different eye in future. I was interested in Carole Sutton's photos of Falmouth, Cornwall. Carole is the author of Ferryman and her novel is based in Falmouth. Cornwall always has connotations of Daphne DuMaurier for me. She took me away from the large inland town where I grew up and where I thought nothing interesting happened to her dark world of smugglers and and feisty heroines. In Ferryman, though the reader is aware of the criminals early in the book, there is still the tension of whether the hero will prove his innocence and the criminals brought to justice. Book reviewer, LJ Roberts, has another excellent book review. I have discovered some good books through her reviews. To read all the good things in Calamity's Corner contact calam@live.com.au