tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post2223252528684527565..comments2024-03-29T02:43:11.575-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Which comes first: the title or the book? by Donna AndrewsJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16720916005911090462017-08-04T17:52:30.448-04:002017-08-04T17:52:30.448-04:00Jenn, I can't think of any that made me buy th...Jenn, I can't think of any that made me buy the book, but I can think of times when it makes me think twice about buying it. Or at least, makes me want to wrap it in one of those old middle school book covers before taking it out in public! Sci fi and romance are particularly bad about that.Jennifer Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115866986637597240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72873583199707757042017-08-03T22:21:13.402-04:002017-08-03T22:21:13.402-04:00OH! So fabulous--I NEVER thought of listening to b...OH! So fabulous--I NEVER thought of listening to books on our Dots! Brilliant!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45115360931372577992017-08-03T22:20:15.766-04:002017-08-03T22:20:15.766-04:00I enjoy married sleuths, too! It makes for a nice ...I enjoy married sleuths, too! It makes for a nice change pace.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214926031147370862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54262618052183348192017-08-03T22:20:05.658-04:002017-08-03T22:20:05.658-04:00You do such a great job at that!You do such a great job at that!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91969924346170249862017-08-03T22:18:05.621-04:002017-08-03T22:18:05.621-04:00Thanks, Jennifer! I've always wondered how muc...Thanks, Jennifer! I've always wondered how much cover art matters. It feels like it should matter a lot but then I can't think of any covers that made me buy the book - so there you go.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214926031147370862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73360283821213952772017-08-03T22:16:11.647-04:002017-08-03T22:16:11.647-04:00Ann - Here's hoping your Salvage the Knee Surg...Ann - Here's hoping your Salvage the Knee Surgery goes super smooth and as painless as possible!Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214926031147370862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3888922955739738322017-08-03T20:17:08.678-04:002017-08-03T20:17:08.678-04:00Ann, enjoy your get away! I hope this next surger...Ann, enjoy your get away! I hope this next surgery really fixes the darn knee. And we are honored that you now have a life with us LOL Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78790733779505337202017-08-03T18:38:41.329-04:002017-08-03T18:38:41.329-04:00Your nephews' many ball games have given you l...Your nephews' many ball games have given you lots to work with on the topic of youth sports, I'm sure.<br /><br />Thanks for the glimpse at the process!Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59783797342642128622017-08-03T18:33:11.537-04:002017-08-03T18:33:11.537-04:00Talk about serendipity--I was trying to remember t...Talk about serendipity--I was trying to remember this author's name, whose book I'd read and really enjoyed. It had a healthy dose of humor mixed in with the mystery--a married protagonist--and a witty title. I was thinking how so many authors shy away from married couples--as if marriage is too boring to be of interest after you get your main character together with someone--and this book popped into my mind. And lo and behold, here you are, Donna--that very author! And now I won't forget again--especially since I've got plenty to catch up on!Flora Churchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13289148096894506235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71366313560517329492017-08-03T18:12:05.916-04:002017-08-03T18:12:05.916-04:00I picked up Murder with Peacocks because of the ti...I picked up Murder with Peacocks because of the title, then saw it was by the author of the Turing Hopper mysteries and knew I had to fit it in my book budget. Since then, I've bought them all.<br />Love the punny titles and love the books even more.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717631971879730004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76332505784614217332017-08-03T18:10:18.142-04:002017-08-03T18:10:18.142-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717631971879730004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1717519665647556682017-08-03T17:20:27.393-04:002017-08-03T17:20:27.393-04:00I love the punny titles and think your audiobooks ...I love the punny titles and think your audiobooks are great ones for car listening.PlumGagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969263926873169050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65299251849045660002017-08-03T16:33:53.698-04:002017-08-03T16:33:53.698-04:00I really liked the title and the cover of Lord of ...I really liked the title and the cover of Lord of the Wings, but basically, I love all of your titles and can't wait to start reading. Humor is something I think we all need a lot more of these days! (And I am a big fan of audiobooks!)Celia Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02138257308552361041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36473225212687576052017-08-03T16:21:24.793-04:002017-08-03T16:21:24.793-04:00Glad you like the plots! I actually worry less abo...Glad you like the plots! I actually worry less about the plot at the start than the situation--I find a situation that I think would be find to write about--in Gone Gull, for example, murder in the relatively closed confines of a residential craft class center; in Die Like an Eagle, the potential for both humor and homicide in the world of youth sports. Then I try to figure out who you'd be apt to meet in that situation, and who doesn't like whom, and before you know it, I've got a body and the plot is off.<br /><br />But the key is finding something that's fresh enough that I can have fun with it. Because writing a book is a lot of work, and so why not at least start out something you think will be fun to spend the long days, weeks, and months of writing with.Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14009005658793359372017-08-03T16:20:29.470-04:002017-08-03T16:20:29.470-04:00Of course, pretty much anyone that says "Trus...Of course, pretty much anyone that says "Trust me" these days is the one you definitely don't want to trust. But in the book world that is a good thing!Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25244974296220911002017-08-03T16:19:08.261-04:002017-08-03T16:19:08.261-04:00Jenn, cover art doesn't really affect my decis...Jenn, cover art doesn't really affect my decision to buy a book. I'll look at the cover art but I kind of move on quickly from that to the back cover synopsis. I think the only time that enters into the buying equation is if I'm buying an album. (And yes, I am one of those who still buy the physical product when it comes to music.)<br /><br />Donna, I don't have to close my eyes but when I check out, the sales clerk always asks, "Did you find everything you were looking for?" which prompts me to respond, "Yes, but I can't afford all of it."<br /><br />I actually feel depressed if I walk out of a bookstore without at least one book.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2654693804304103692017-08-03T16:16:46.511-04:002017-08-03T16:16:46.511-04:00I will remember to thank my mother again for decid...I will remember to thank my mother again for decided to marry someone named Andrews. I'm sure she had other options, though in my biased opinion, she chose the best of them. (Dad a large part of the inspiration for Meg's dad.)Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16200029733573769122017-08-03T16:14:59.577-04:002017-08-03T16:14:59.577-04:00I hope you do enjoy it! I try to write the books s...I hope you do enjoy it! I try to write the books so that a new reader can pick up the latest and enjoy it . . . while at the same time trying to add in things that will delight the reader who has been reading all along--having a minor character take center stage, or revealing a bit of someone's history. So enjoy wherever you start!Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10519621200295746892017-08-03T16:11:18.596-04:002017-08-03T16:11:18.596-04:00Glad you liked it! All those years watching the ne...Glad you liked it! All those years watching the nephews' baseball and basketball paid off, I like to think.Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20218198514723511752017-08-03T15:54:59.690-04:002017-08-03T15:54:59.690-04:00I've come up with my own titles, and luckily, ...I've come up with my own titles, and luckily, Putnam has liked all of them.Ingrid Thofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04063912686011336076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26358012061002437772017-08-03T15:51:53.762-04:002017-08-03T15:51:53.762-04:00Just finished Die Like an Eagle. As always, had so...Just finished Die Like an Eagle. As always, had some belly laughs and loved the twists and turns.Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13229591300876351222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90444607725970299562017-08-03T14:25:44.275-04:002017-08-03T14:25:44.275-04:00Just call me the oddball ostrich, who is now takin...Just call me the oddball ostrich, who is now taking my head out of the sand to take notice of this series. Donna, I, of course, have been aware of you as an author (would have had to have been a dead ostrich with my head in the sand not to), but I always have so many series to catch up on, that I hadn't taken a good enough look at your Meg Langslow series. And, as too often happens when a reader comes across a great series, I have to wonder why I hadn't looked closer sooner. First, I am a huge fan of witty titles, and your titles are an absolute delight. And, the birds. I've recently become much more interested in them. And, I find myself in need of some witty entertainment. I guess timing really is everything, and the timing seems right for your series for me. Gone Gull, with its alliterative title (another love of mine) and interesting characters, may be well into your series, but I think I might just read it first. I've gotten over my "must start with the first in a series before I read any others in it" rigidity. <br /><br />I'm betting that the audio of Gone Gull would be amazing. I listen to audio versions of books when I drive, and I can't imagine a better audio book than Gone Gull to make a trip pass pleasantly. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36950328664137913112017-08-03T14:00:06.169-04:002017-08-03T14:00:06.169-04:00Glad it appears seamless! So I won't reveal i...Glad it appears seamless! So I won't reveal in which books it occurred effortlessly and in which books it took an immense amount of work to achieve that seamless. Think of a swan floating across the pond, serene and elegant; and then think of the legs paddling furiously below the surface.Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72390740000514057892017-08-03T13:57:45.616-04:002017-08-03T13:57:45.616-04:00I'm pleased to have been promoted!I'm pleased to have been promoted!Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21929719296883301592017-08-03T13:57:12.535-04:002017-08-03T13:57:12.535-04:00After a couple of rocky starts, I'm starting t...After a couple of rocky starts, I'm starting to enjoy audiobooks again. There was the audiobook that left me dangling when disk 9 out of 10 was so damaged it would not play. (Don Winslow's California Fire and Life, if you're curious.) And the audiobook whose narrator went overboard with really bad foreign accents. Alexia Gordon's Murder in G Major kicked off my recent audio binge. I'm currently listening to Wicket Plants and getting really annoyed that the reader says "NOX-ee-us" when all my sources say it should be "NOCK-shuss." Regional variation or lack of proper direction to the narrator?<br /><br />I'm very glad that Bernadette Dunne, who has been the reader for all of my books, seems to be a very good narrator. I say seems because I haven't listened to most of my own books on audiobook. Having read them before a time or two . . .Donna Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688244907261493999noreply@blogger.com