Barbara Linn Probst’s QUEEN OF THE OWLS is #171 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION

Chris Rice Cooper 

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****Barbara Linn Probst’s QUEEN OF THE OWLS is #171 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION where the Chris Rice Cooper Blog (CRC) focuses on one specific excerpt from a fiction genre and how that fiction writer wrote that specific excerpt.  All INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links are at the end of this piece

Name of fiction work? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us? My novel is called QUEEN OF THE OWLS, and it did have several earlier titles—in fact, finding the right title was almost as hard as writing the book! The title I almost used was HER OWN HAWAII.  It “fit,” because the protagonist (Elizabeth) is seeking her own transitional place, the place where she can be renewed, which is what she believes Hawaii was for iconic American painter Georgia O’Keeffe, around whom the book is framed.  

          But I felt that title would mislead readers into thinking it was a travelogue or a book set in Hawaii, which it isn’t.  Before that, it was (briefly) called MORE THAN SHE KNEW because I wanted to capture the book’s theme that cerebral knowledge will never be enough.  But that felt too generic, almost like the title of a romance novel.

QUEEN OF THE OWLS was an inspiration—and no, there are no owls in the book!  The “owl” is Elizabeth’s brainy, bookworm self—the image of herself that she must both embrace and transcend.

What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? I began work on QUEEN OF THE OWLS in February 2018. Its “birth” is a good story, in itself! I had enrolled in (and paid for) a year-long mentorship program where I was supposed to be taking a first draft, or at least an outline, all the way to fruition. 

          But after the first meeting, in January, I realized that the story I was bringing was—in a word, terrible! Unworkable. There I was, committed to a year-long program, with no story! Out of that void and desperation, QUEEN OF THE OWLS “appeared.”

The story was organic from the very beginning, so I was able to complete it in a very short time, just under a year. Of course, I tweaked the manuscript endlessly, all the way up to 26 pages of post-ARC word changes and refinements! In other words, it was another year of tinkering, tightening, and strengthening.

During the course of writing the novel, I had to learn a tremendous amount about Georgia O’Keeffe.  As you’ll see in the attached images, O’Keeffe posed for photographer Alfred Stieglitz, who later became her husband; these are only three of hundreds of photos that Stieglitz took of her, over a period of twenty years.

       My Elizabeth yearns to be like O’Keeffe, who seems to embody the elusive wholeness—a union of mind and body, independence and surrender—that she herself seeks. A charismatic photographer convinces her that the way to do that is to re-enact O’Keeffe’s poses. Including the nude ones, of course …

Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work?  And please describe in detail. I’m fortunate to have an idyllic, Zen-like office where I work. My glass-topped desk faces a big double-window that overlooks trees and sky. I have a few objects on the desk that are meaningful to me, including my parents’ anniversary photo from a zillion years ago, a little glass sphere that I made during a recent foray into glassblowing, my little “owl queen” mascot, a gooseneck lamp, phone, coffee cup, a few pens, and not much else.  Unless I’m working with a printed copy of a chapter—which I do when there’s a section that’s problematic—I keep my papers and books on the other glass arm of my L-shaped desk.  No clutter. Minimalist. That’s what suits me.

What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? I write on my laptop, revise on both printed and electronic versions.  Total silence, like the glass desktop, is what I need!  Serenity.  A coffee cup (or wine glass) is often close at hand, however!

I do my best work early in the morning or late in the evening—those seem to be the times when I focus best, before and after the activities of the day. There’s nothing planned or regular about it, though. Sometimes I get immersed and work all day long.

Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference.  This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer.

This is from pages 63-65: A scene with Elizabeth’s husband Ben, after she has had coffee with Richard for the first time. Ben has returned from his squash game and taken a shower. Elizabeth watches him dry off and a longing awakens in her. ...

The words formed in her mind. Look at me. Want me.

A yearning swept over her. A wave cresting from its unbearable weight. An ache, exquisite and terrible, tipping her forward into an ocean of longing.

She longed—no, she needed, the way lungs needed air—for Ben to look at her and whisper, “My god, you’re beautiful.” The way Michael looked at Andrea. The way Stieglitz looked at O’Keeffe.

If only he would truly desire her, she was certain she would respond—a flower opening to the sun, the blades dropping away, scattering, to reveal the delicate inner core. A white crane, lifting its petaled wings.

What did a woman need to do, or be, for a man to look at her that way?

Elizabeth bit her lip. Try. A woman could try.

Ben reached behind the door for his robe. “Did you happen to pick up my shirts?”

It took Elizabeth a moment to understand what he was talking about. The cleaners. “No, sorry. It took forever to extract the kids from Lucy’s.” A half-truth. “I ironed the striped one for you, though. It was still clean.”

You can buy next time. His fingers on her elbow. A slow meditative touch that could mean everything or nothing.

Stupid. A fantasy, a useless distraction.

Try. Ben was her husband, right there in front of her.

He belted the robe and crossed in front of Elizabeth to the open closet. “Speaking of clothes.” He pulled a rectangular box from the top shelf. “I wanted to wait till the kids were asleep.”

She frowned. “For what?”

He handed her the box, his expression sheepish. “I picked this up yesterday. After the business with Andie, and how upset you got?” Slowly, Elizabeth took the box from him. There was no wrapping, no tape. The lid came off easily. Inside, beneath a flap of tissue, was a peach-colored negligee. Ben gave an awkward shrug. “I thought it might help you feel sexier.”

Elizabeth stared at the silk. She couldn’t look at him, though she knew he was waiting for her to respond. And how was she supposed to respond?

With gratitude? For taking the time to pick this out. For trying, finally.

Or with shame, because they shouldn’t have to try so hard.

Or with the fury that was shoving its way to the surface—a wild, blood-red rage at the way he was putting the onus on her. Tossing a Victoria’s Secret costume at her like an assignment, instead of looking at himself and what he could do to make it better, what they could do together.

She jerked away from the garment, tears filling her eyes. Why now, after ten years? Because she’d embarrassed him in front of Andrea and Michael?

She didn’t want the negligee. She wanted to be a woman who would wear a negligee—because of who she was, already, not because I thought it might help you feel sexier.

No. This was insane. Her husband had bought her a gift. Any woman would be happy if her husband gave her a negligee.

Elizabeth bit back her tears, hoping Ben hadn’t seen. Then she traced the edge of the strap. It was thin, delicate, descending into a lace-trimmed V. She could stop analyzing its presence and put it on.

“It’s pretty.” She could feel Ben waiting, hoping for more. She lifted the garment from the tissue. It weighed nothing at all. She tossed her head, the way Andrea might. “Doesn’t do any good for it to sit there in the box, does it?”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

She could hear the restraint in his voice, as if he didn’t want to appear too eager. It touched her, made her want to assure him that the gift had been a good idea, loving and brave.

She stood, the peach-colored silk draped over her arm, and went to the bathroom to change. The air was still wet with steam. She unbuttoned her blouse for the second time that evening and pulled off her slacks. The negligee fell into place over her shoulders.

Ben was waiting for her in bed, his bathrobe folded neatly on the back of the chair. Don’t think, Elizabeth told herself. Just go to him. Be Liz the Lovely. Liz the Minx.

“Hey,” he said, propping his weight on an elbow. “It looks great on you.” He took her arm and pulled her onto the bed. “Or off you.”

His arousal surprised her. Unless it was the middle-of-the-night pressure of flesh against flesh, they had to work at it. She’d learned to adapt, get what she needed, and then focus on him. He’d accepted that, followed the choreography with meticulous attention. Their lovemaking, like their marriage, was courteous and fair.

Tonight, in contrast, Ben’s ardor was startling. It was the negligee, clearly. The prop was working. He slid his palm along her hip, and Elizabeth could feel his breathing sharpen. She ought to feel happy; it was what she wanted.

And yet. She didn’t know what was missing, only that something was. The very thing she craved but had no words for.

See me. Want me.

Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write?  And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? This is, of course, the heart of the post! 

While QUEEN OF THE OWLS is a work of fiction, it draws is emotional authenticity from my own lived experience.  I had to dig deep into that experience—that pain—and re-experience it, in order to find its essence and then re-embody that essence in a fictitious scene.

This scene, more than any other in the book, captures what it felt like to be married to a man who didn’t truly desire me. Not a bad or cruel man. A man who meant well, or believed that he did—like Ben, in that way, although Ben is not my ex-husband, any more than Elizabeth is me. Yet I know each of Elizabeth’s complicated thoughts and feelings because they are in me, even if the specific events are not.

While writing the scene, I had to re-live all of it—to stay with the emotions, instead of retreating into my clever word-producing brain, as I let the true words emerge.  I wasn’t “making up a story.” I was being the conduit for the story.

And that was so liberating. Not catharsis, sublimation, or invention. Rather, the astonishing freedom of witnessing the transformation of lived emotions into a fictional scene.

Barbara Linn Probst is a writer, researcher, clinician, and "serious amateur" pianist living on a historic dirt road in New York's Hudson Valley.

Barbara's novels (QUEEN OF THE OWLS, April 2020, and THE SOUND OF ONE HAND, coming in April 2021) tell of the search for authenticity, wholeness, and connection. In both novels, art helps the protagonist to become more fully herself.

QUEEN OF THE OWLS has been chosen as a 2020 selection by the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, a network of more than 780 book clubs across the U.S.

Author of the groundbreaking book on nurturing out-of-the-box children, WHEN THE LABELS DON'T FIT, Barbara also holds a PhD in clinical social work and is a frequent guest essayist on major online sites for fiction writers.

      

     “I’ve embraced many sides of life. I’ve been a teacher, therapist, qualitative researcher, educational advocate, "serious amateur" pianist, and full-time mom. I’ve run a not-for-profit organization, mentored PhD students, counseled families, done webinars and radio interviews on how to nurture out-of-the-box children, and much more!

I’ve had many homes. I’ve lived in a cabin in the California redwoods, a firehouse, a converted sauna in the heart of Greenwich Village—and lots of places in-between. I now live on a historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley.

I’ve looked and listened. I’ve traveled from Iceland to Israel, Scotland to Spain. I’ve spent time in Italy, Egypt, Costa Rica, Turkey, France, and along the backpacking trails of the U.S. and Canada.

I’ve spoken up. I’ve given talks to dozens of parent groups, professional organizations, and academic conferences all over the country.”

To learn more about Barbara and her work, see http://www.barbaralinnprobst.com

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Snake Island

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/79-inside-emotion-of-fiction-snake.html

080 09 22 2019 Danny Adams’s

Science Fiction

Dayworld: A Hole In Wednesday

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/80-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dayworld.html

081 09 24 2019 Arianna Dagnino’s

Social/Historical/Adventure

The Afrikaner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/81-inside-emotion-of-fiction-afrikaner.html

082 09 29 2019 Lawrence Verigin’s

Thriller/Suspense

Seed of Control

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/82-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seed-of.html

083  10 05 2019 Emma Khoury’s

Fantasy

The Sword And Shield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/83-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sword-and.html

#084 10 07 2019 Steve McManus’s

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

SEVEN DEVILS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/84-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seven.html

#085 10 08 2019 Sheila Lowe’s

Mystery/Psychological/Suspense with Scientific Bent

PROOF OF LIVE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/085-inside-emotion-of-fiction-proof-of.html

#086 10 10 2019 Jess Neal Woods’s

Historical Fiction

THE PROCESS OF FRAYING

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/86-inside-emotion-of-fiction-process-of.html

#087 10 11 2019 Karen Odden’s

Historical Suspense

A TRACE OF DECEIT

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/87-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trace-of.html

#88 10 14 2019 Kate Maruyama’s

Love, Loss & Supernatural

“HARROWGATE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/88-inside-emotion-of-fiction-harrowgate.html

#89 10 17 2019 Sherry Harris’s

Mystery

“LET’S FAKE A DEAL”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/89-inside-emotion-of-fiction-lets-fake.html

#90 10 18 2019 Linda Mooney’s

Science Fiction Apocalyptic/ Post Apocalyptic

“THE TRUNK”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/90-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trunk-by.html

#91 10 19 2019 Jayne Martin’s

Flash Fiction Short Story Collection

“TENDER CUTS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/91-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tender.html

#92 10 22 2019 Janice Cole Hopkins’s

Inspirational Romance

“IT ALL STARTED AT THE MASQUERADE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/92-inside-emotion-of-fiction-it-all.html

#93 10 29 2019 Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s

Short Story Collection

“THE SHADOWS BEHIND”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/93-inside-emotion-of-fiction-shadows.html

#94 11 01 2019 David Henry Sterry’s

Fiction: Sexual Violence

“THE TENDERLOIN WARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/94-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tenderloin.html

#95 11 03 2019 Jay Requard’s

Dark Fantasy/Horror

“DEATH & DUST: THE PALE SAND ADVENTURES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/95-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death-dust.html

#96 11 04 2019 Caroline Leavitt’s

Fiction

“WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/96-inside-emotion-of-fiction-with-or.html

#97 11 06 2019 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

“A DAY OUT OF TIME”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/97-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out-of.html

#098 11 13 2019 John F Allen’s

Urban Fantasy Tale

“The God Killers’
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/98-inside-emotion-of-fiction-god.html

#99 11 16 2019 Damian McNicholl’s

Historical Novel

“The Moment of Truth”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/99-inside-emotion-of-fiction-moment-of.html

#100 11 19 2019 Stacia Levy’s

Mystery/Suspense Novel

“Girl Crush”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/100-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl.html

#101 11 24 2019 Charlotte Morgan’s

Fiction Novel

“Protecting Elvis”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/101-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#102 11 26 2019 T. L. Moore’s

Children’s Christian Fiction

“Ed On My Shoulder:  Maria & The Candy Trail”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/102-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed-on-my.html

#103 11 27 2019 Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s

Coming of Age Literary Novel

The Nine

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/103-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nine-by.html

#104 11 29 2019 Charlotte Blackwell’s

Adult Paranormal

“MYSTIC EMBRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/104-inside-emotion-of-fiction-mystic.html

#105 12 07 2019 Mike Burrell’s

Satire Novel

“THE LAND OF GRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/105-inside-emotion-of-fiction-land-of.html

#106 12 09 2019 Phil McCarron’s

Screenplay

“Escapement”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/106-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#107 12 11 2019 Wendy H. Jones’s

Crime Fiction/Police Procedural Novel

“KILLER’S COUNTDOWN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/107-inside-emotion-of-fiction-killers.html

#108 12 13 2019 Sandra Arnold’s

Historical Literary Fiction

“The Ash, the Well and the Blue Bell”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/1

8-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ash-well.html

#109 12 16 2019 Amalia Carosella’s

Historical/Contemporary/Duel Timeline/ Women’s

Fiction

“DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/109-inside-emotion-of-fiction-daughter_17.html

#110 12 19 2019 Laura Bickle’s

Weird Western/Contemporary Fantasy

“DARK ALCHEMY”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/110-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dark.html

#111 12 27 2019 Brian Pinkerton’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“THE GEMINI EXPERIMENT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/111-inside-emotion-of-fiction-gemini.html

#112  12 28 2019 Sandra de Helen’s

Lesbian Thriller

“TILL DARKNESS COMES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/112-inside-emotion-of-fiction-till.html

#113 12 29 2019 Jo Wilde’s

Vampire Thriller

“THE CROSSING”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/113-inisde-emotion-of-fiction-crossing.html

#114 12 30 2019 Sam Richard’s

Short Story Collection of Weird and Transgressive

Horror

“To Wallow In Ash and Sorrows”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/114-inside-emotion-of-fiction-to-wallow.html

#115 12 31 2019 Duncan B Barlow’s

Literary Fiction Novel

“A DOG BETWEEN US”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/inside-emotion-of-fiction-dog-between.html

#116 01 02 2020 Allison Landa’s

Young Adult Novel

“BAD HAIR”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/116-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bad-hair.html

#117 01 03 2020 Pablo Medina’s

Literary Satire Novel

“THE CUBAN COMEDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/117-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cuban.html

#118 01 06 2020 William Trent Pancoast’s

Historical/Literary Novel

“THE ROAD TO MATEWAN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/118-inside-emotion-of-fiction-road-to.html

#119 01 07 2020 Jane Bernstein’s

Contemporary Novel

“The Face Tells the Secret”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/119-inside-emotion-of-fiction-face.html

#120 01 09 2020 Terry Kroenung’s

Young Adult, Historical and Fantasy

“Brimstone And Lily”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/120-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brimstone.html

#121 01 12 2020 Melissa Yi’s

Fiction Thriller

“GRAVEYARD SHIFT”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/121-inside-emotion-of-fiction-melissa.html

#122 01 15 2020 Marcie R. Rendon’s

Crime Thriller

“GIRL GONE MISSING”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/122-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl-gone.html

#123 01 16 2020 Tori Eldridge’s

Multi Genre Novel

“THE NINJA DAUGHTER”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/123-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ninja.html

#124 01 17 2020 Kristen Joy Wilks’s

Christian Romantic Comedy

“YELLOWSTONE YONDERING”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/124

inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#125 01 20 2020 Susan C. Shea’s

Cozy Mystery

“DRESSED FOR DEATH IN BURGUNDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/125-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dressed.html

#126  01 22 2020 Phong Nguyen’s

Improvisational Fiction

“ROUDABOUT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/126-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#127 01 23 2020 Kate Thornton’s

Mystery Short Story In Its Entirety

“Ai Witness”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/127-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ai.html

#128 01 24 2020 Phil McCarron’s

Semi Fictional Essays

“The Great Facepalm: The Farce of 21^st Century

Normality”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/128-inside-emotion-of-fiction-great.html

#129  01 27 2020 Kenneth Weene’s

Historicized Literary Fiction

“Red And White”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/129-inside-emotion-of-fiction-red-and.html

#130 01 28 2020 Graham Storrs’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“TimeSplash”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com

/2020/01/130-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#131 02 08 2020 Angela Slatter’s

Short Story “Terrible As An Army With Banners”

From her Short Story Collection THE BITTERWOOD BIBLE AND OTHER RECOUNTINGS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/131-inside-emotion-of-fiction-terrible.html

#132 02 11 2020 Joan Joachim’s

Romance

Just One Kiss

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/132-inside-emotion-of-fiction-just-one.html

#133 02 16 2020 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

A DAY OUT OF TIME

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/133-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out.html

#134 02 17 2020 Soraya M Lane’s

Women Historical Fiction

THE GIRLS OF PEARL HARBOR

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/134-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girls-of.html

#135 03 07 2020

Linked Fiction

BLEACHERS Fifty-Four Linked Fictions

By Joseph Mills

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/135-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bleachers.html

#136 03 15 2020

Science Fiction Romance

BLUE VISION

By Marie Lavender

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/136-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blue.html

#137 03 17 2020

Crime Fiction

12 Bullets

by O’Neil De Noux

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/137-inside-emotion-of-fiction-12.html

#138 03 18 2020

Flash Fiction Piece

Radical

by Kelle Grace Gaddis

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/138-inside-emotion-of-fiction-radical.html

#139 03 20 2020

Mystery

HERE BE MONSTERS

By Jamie Sheffield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/139-inside-emotion-of-fiction-here-be.html

#140 03 21 2020

Character Driven Novel

UNBROKEN

By Jamie Lisa Forbes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/140-inside-emotion-of-fiction-unbroken.html

#141 03 23 2020

Literary Murder Mystery

COLD COUNTRY

By Russell Rowland

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/141-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cold.html

#142 04 01 2020

Sci-Fi/Paranormal

SWEET SLEEP

By Kim Cormack

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/142-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sweet.html

#143 04 02 2020

Western Noir Short Story

“Night Rounds”

by James Reasoner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/143-inside-emotion-of-fiction-night.html

#144 04 03 2020

Southern Fiction

LITTLE TEA

By Claire Fullerton

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/144-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little.html

#145 04 04 2020

Mainstream novel with elements of crime, mystery, and magic

THE FORGETTING FLOWER
by Karen Hugg

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/145-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#146 04 07 2020

Historical Fiction

MEDICIS DAUGHTER

by Sophie Perinot

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/146-inside-emotion-of-fiction-medicis.html

#147 04 08 2020

Dark Urban Fantasy with elements of Paranormal Romance

COVEN BORN

by Stephanie Reisner aka AUDREY BRICE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/147-inside-emotion-of-fiction-coven.html

#148 04 13 2020

Mystery With A Fantasy Twist

DEATH LIVES IN THE WATER

By Shoshana Edwards

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/148-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death.html

#149 04 14 2020

Historical Fiction

ASHES

by Sharon Glogal Friedman

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/149-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ashes-by.html

#150 04 19 2020

Vampire Horror Novelette

Blood Thrasher:  The Devil’s in the Metal

by Adam Messer

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/adam

messers-blood-thrasher-devils-in.html

#151 04 25 2020

Historical Fiction

Charis in the World of Wonders

by Marly Youmans

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/marly-youmans-charis-in-world-of.html

#152 04 29 2020

Historical Fiction

The Master of Verona

by David Blixt

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/david-blixts-master-of-verona-is-152-in.html

#153 04 30 2020

General Fiction (Family)

Bread Bags & Bullies:  Surviving the 80s

by Steven Manchester

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/steven-manchesters-bread-bags-bullies.html

#154 05 01 2020

Adventure-Thriller/Horror

Into The Ashes

by Lee Murray

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/lee-murrays-into-ashes-is-154-in-never.html

#155 05 06 2020

Coming of Age/Crime Novel

All Things Left In The Wild

by James Wade

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/james-wades-all-things-left-in-wild-is.html

#156 05 10 2020

Paranormal Mystery

Southern Bound

by Stuart Jaffe

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/stuart-jaffes-southern-bound-is-156-in.html

#157 05 13 2020

Mystery/Crime Novel

Yardbird

By Mark Slade

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/mark-slades-yardbird-is-157-in-never.html

#158 05 15 2020

Horror/Crime Novel

Hotel Nowhere

By David E Adkins

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/david-e-adkinss-hotel-nowhere-is-158-in.html

#159 05 16 2020

Satire/Crime Novel

THE LYING BASTARD

by Clint Margrave

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/clint-margraves-lying-bastard-is-159-in.html

#160 05 19 2020

Southern Gothic Fiction

REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS

by Emily Carpenter

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/emily-carpenters-reviving-hawthorn.html

#161 05 21 2020

Women’s Domestic Life Fiction

MERCY HOUSE

by Alena Dillon

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/alena-dillons-mercy-house-is-161-in.html

#162 05 26 2020

Screenplay/Film

BEAST MODE

by Drew Fortune and Spain Willingham

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/drew-fortunes-and-spain-willinghams_26.html

#163 05 31 2020

Coming of Age/ Psychological Thriller

MY SISTER & OTHER LIARS

by Ruth Dugdall

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/ruth-dugdalls-my-sister-and-other-liars.html

#164 06 01 2020

Psychological Thriller

IN HARM’S WAY

by Owen Mullen

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/owen-mullens-in-harms-way-is-164-in.html

#165 06 02 2020

Small Town Short Story Collection

SNAPSHOT “Old Lady”

by Eliot Parker

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/eliot-parkers-old-lady-from-snapshots.html

#166 06 04 2020

Noir Crime Novel

SKIN OF TATTOOS

by Christina Hoag

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/christina-hoags-skin-of-tattoos-is-166.html

#167 06 06 2020

Coming of Age/Historical

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/ellen-marie-wisemans-orphan-collector.html

#168 06 08 2020

World War Two Historical Fiction

THE PRISONER’S WIFE

by Maggie Brookes

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/maggie-brookess-prisoners-wife-is-168.html

#169 06 09 2020

Novella

(about the 1960s,

Rolling Stones in their exile,

genocide, it’s survivors, and

people from places that no longer exist.)

BLUE COAST MYSTERY:  ALMOST SOLVED

by Nick Sweeney

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/nick-sweeneys-blue-coast-mystery-almost.html

#170 06 11 2020

Family Life/Coming of Age Novel

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAME HELL

by Robert Dugoni

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-dugonis-extraordinary-life-of.html

#171 06 26 2020

Women’s Divorce Fiction

QUEEN OF THE OWLS

by Barbara Linn Probst

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/barbara-linn-probsts-queen-of-owls-is.html