tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post523334876174602667..comments2024-03-29T10:25:17.813-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: I’m just a pussy cat really …Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26569338551111890732012-08-23T07:42:59.852-04:002012-08-23T07:42:59.852-04:00Hi Linda
Sorry, I was trying to answer everybody ...Hi Linda<br /><br />Sorry, I was trying to answer everybody in order and your post slipped a bit! Captcha always hates me. I can never read the squashed-up letters, either. I wonder if the spambots do any better?<br /><br />I’m against gratuitous violence in books, which is different from graphic violence. If you really need to show something happening in real-time detail in order to advance or enhance the story, then put it in and don’t flinch, but so much of what’s in many books is little short of gore-porn.<br /><br />I’ve only been asked to tone down one scene in my books, and actually I agree afterwards that it was more effective for you not really seeing exactly what happened. I think the reader fills in the gaps far more effectively!Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35808826736337320692012-08-23T07:37:26.348-04:002012-08-23T07:37:26.348-04:00Hi Hank
Thank you for the welcome. It’s always a ...Hi Hank<br /><br />Thank you for the welcome. It’s always a real pleasure to be invited here. And LOL, I remember having my own cowboy outfit and cap gun when I was a kid. I loved bike riding, but ball games were never my forte.<br /><br />I confess you’re the only woman I know called Hank, and how interesting that with hindsight you might have picked something different. Take my advice, though, don’t go for accents ― they cause nothing but confusion!<br /><br />On the other hand, Häñk Pħîllíppï Rýåņ does have a certain exotic quality to it, don’t you think?<br /><br />xxZ<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14597776009964620032012-08-23T07:37:10.470-04:002012-08-23T07:37:10.470-04:00Hello Lynda
Please to meet you, too! Yay, I’m all...Hello Lynda<br /><br />Please to meet you, too! Yay, I’m all for doing whatever activities you enjoy, regardless of how suitable they might be considered for ‘niece young gels’ to take part in. Go for it!<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42419461439237107362012-08-23T07:36:56.092-04:002012-08-23T07:36:56.092-04:00Hi Lucy
Thank you ― this is now my second visit t...Hi Lucy<br /><br />Thank you ― this is now my second visit to Jungle Reds and I’m always so happy to be back among friends :)<br /><br />I don’t think I have any bias in my own reading tastes. I’m as happy reading Dorothy L Sayers as I am reading Matt Reilly. The only exception, possibly, that if I’ve met an author in person and they turn out to be a bit of an ass, I’m very put off reading their books in future. Does that count?<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54488513238222375842012-08-23T07:36:32.413-04:002012-08-23T07:36:32.413-04:00Hi Michelle
When I was first learning to touch-ty...Hi Michelle<br /><br />When I was first learning to touch-type, there were no guys in the class, but now computing has taken over to such an extent that the boys don’t see it as an entirely female preserve any longer. Just as cookery programmes on the TV are as often hosted by male chefs as female. When I was growing up, there was Delia Smith and that was about it!<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45451713031750492862012-08-23T07:36:12.189-04:002012-08-23T07:36:12.189-04:00Hi lil
Yeah, sometimes I think we haven’t moved o...Hi lil<br /><br />Yeah, sometimes I think we haven’t moved on very far from the dark ages, have we? And I’m so delighted you have all the books.<br /><br />In another life, I probably wouldn’t mind being Charlie, either, although if there was any likelihood of that happening I might start being kinder to her :)<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76805469822434000642012-08-23T07:35:48.974-04:002012-08-23T07:35:48.974-04:00Hi Deb
Thank you ― great to be here. I hope you e...Hi Deb<br /><br />Thank you ― great to be here. I hope you enjoy the books when you get to them :)<br /><br />LOL on the whole “used to be” thing. That’s sad ― and he was missing out on some terrific books, too, including those by the entire Jungle Reds line-up!<br /><br />I haven’t come across Victoria Blake or Sam Falconer ― I shall seek them out. Thank you for the heads-up.<br />Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64478511079937500462012-08-23T07:35:30.900-04:002012-08-23T07:35:30.900-04:00Hi Deb R
LOL on putting me on your list twice. An...Hi Deb R<br /><br />LOL on putting me on your list twice. And thank you! And I’m amazed at your friend. I somehow think that kind of bias (“women can’t write mystery or suspense well”) is worse coming from a woman than a man. It’s almost confirmation for the naysayers that their position is valid. Ho hum.<br /><br />I don’t know about batting of eyelashes, but women are often more diplomatic negotiators and defuse a situation rather than going for the confrontational approach.<br /><br />Although Charlie would probably hit first and ask questions later, I admit … :)Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31874343694189129012012-08-22T21:05:06.780-04:002012-08-22T21:05:06.780-04:00running in, running in..waving and cheering! SO te...running in, running in..waving and cheering! SO terrific to see you here!<br /><br />And of course, I LOVE Charlie Fox. <br /><br />Yeah, I could never figure out dolls (see yesterday's post) and I always wanted to play cowboys or detectives. However,, I was a complete klutz, so things like bike-riding or softball eluded me completely.<br /><br />People often think my books are written by a man, of course--I've been Hank since college, and just didn't change it. But you know, if I had to do it over, I might NOT use a man's name.<br /><br />But! I MIGHT put some dots over it. Love you, Zoe! xoxoHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90614114260283731912012-08-22T18:13:31.327-04:002012-08-22T18:13:31.327-04:00Well hello, Zoë! Delighted to make your acquaintan...Well hello, Zoë! Delighted to make your acquaintance, and I'm looking forward to reading your books. <br /><br />I'm with you on the lure of what're thought of as traditionally male activities. Playing with dolls was never my thing. I wanted to be outside riding my bike or running around the block, climbing the neighbor's willow tree, exploring the creek with my brother. <br /><br />Several years ago a friend and I were exchanging lists of favorite authors, and when she looked at mine she remarked, "Don't you read any books by men?" Of course I do, but this list was primarily female authors of first class mysteries.Lyndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03788610902096354682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70262309994514419872012-08-22T16:57:08.752-04:002012-08-22T16:57:08.752-04:00Great post Zoe--so nice to have you here. The prej...Great post Zoe--so nice to have you here. The prejudice goes the other way too--with men refusing to sample lighter fare. <br /><br />Books with heart, that's a great description and what I think we are all aiming toward in our own ways.<br /><br />Karen, that is exactly why Sisters in crime was formed back in the '80's--we're not done yet, obviously.<br /><br />Jack, we're so glad you keep coming:)Lucy Burdettehttp://www.lucyburdette.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21531038876812934082012-08-22T15:50:12.769-04:002012-08-22T15:50:12.769-04:00I used to be a secretary and they're mostly fe...I used to be a secretary and they're mostly female but there was a guy in my word processing class. Recently on Jeopardy there was a guy who said he was a word processor.<br /><br />Some male authors such as Tim Myers and Dean James who write cozies use female pen names to appeal to the female market. And don't forget that J. K. Rowling's use of her initials was suggested by her publisher so boys would read Harry Potter. Wish that publishers would let people write under their own names.Michelle Fidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285519745590239008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69982827346591641462012-08-22T14:03:17.141-04:002012-08-22T14:03:17.141-04:00Have you noticed our poetics lately? The "lit...Have you noticed our poetics lately? The "little woman" at home is still very much alive here in the states. Love your attitude, and I have all your books. In another life, I would love to be Charlie.lil Glucksternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288522126331817172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66010742144449376972012-08-22T13:46:13.518-04:002012-08-22T13:46:13.518-04:00Great post, Zoe! Welcome to Jungle Reds. Sorry I&#...Great post, Zoe! Welcome to Jungle Reds. Sorry I'm a little late stopping in.<br /><br />Sometimes when I read rather silly pieces about how vicious the violence has become in women thriller writers' books, I have to wonder if they've read some of the guys--and why they never seem to worry about how violent men's books are becoming. "It's just so unsettling to see a lady doing that," I guess. Gag!<br /><br />And Captcha hates me today.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37084866179214530272012-08-22T13:01:02.241-04:002012-08-22T13:01:02.241-04:00Hi Zoe! Great to see you here. How have I not rea...Hi Zoe! Great to see you here. How have I not read your books???? Top of TBR pile now. I love female action heroes. <br /><br />I used to be married to a man who bragged that he'd never read a book written by a woman. (Operative phrase "used to be".) He didn't say this until after we were married, and at first I thought he was joking. He wasn't. <br /><br />I've never had any gender bias in my reading, and I still find it astounding that people will choose a book based on the sex of the author.<br /><br />Zoe, do you happen to know Victoria Blake? She writes a great female protagonist named Sam Falconer, a former world judo champion turned PI. I LOVE her books, but there hasn't been a new one since 2008...Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43907344057174668252012-08-22T12:32:26.192-04:002012-08-22T12:32:26.192-04:00Zoe...I was about to put your name on my TBR list-...Zoe...I was about to put your name on my TBR list-and then discovered that it's already there! Now I KNOW I must read your books with recommendations popping up all over the place!<br /><br />I know someone who told me that she (yes...SHE) "never" reads mystery or suspense books by women "because they can't do it well."I innocently asked her,at a later date,if she had ever read anything by So and So(initials and a last name). "Oh,yes! Great writer!" (And female,by the way!)<br /><br />Many years ago when I was working as a paralegal, an attorney in the office asked me to go in person to get certain info from a municipal agency that we normally did not need to contact. He told me that I would probably have better success than he would "because you can bat your eyelashes." Ahem. I got the information by being my own non eyelashbatting self.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-92053381999685069572012-08-22T11:10:01.234-04:002012-08-22T11:10:01.234-04:00LOL, Jack. "Two wedding day back flips and a ...LOL, Jack. "Two wedding day back flips and a 32-year choke hold" sounds like two falls and a submission to me.<br /><br />I hope you give Charlie a try. But I should warn you, if she did sweep you off your feet, you'd probably go down and stay down. And possibly need a little assistance getting up again :)Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61636210014149151302012-08-22T11:08:08.588-04:002012-08-22T11:08:08.588-04:00Hi Karen
I haven't looked at The New Yorker m...Hi Karen<br /><br />I haven't looked at The New Yorker much, so I wasn't aware of the review thing. It would be interesting to note what genre or type of books they review compared to the current bestseller lists at the time to see if this is accident or design ...?Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12374935201356232962012-08-22T11:06:04.843-04:002012-08-22T11:06:04.843-04:00Hi Paula
I see the dilemma of your profession ent...Hi Paula<br /><br />I see the dilemma of your profession entirely, and it's very sad that we've become so suspicious. I can't hear the word 'Scoutmaster' without all kinds of unpleasant connotations popping into my head :)<br /><br />Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the books!Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2838627032314936982012-08-22T11:03:37.203-04:002012-08-22T11:03:37.203-04:00Hi Jan
Sorry to hear you had such a bad sailing e...Hi Jan<br /><br />Sorry to hear you had such a bad sailing experience. I've been out in some pretty rough weather. We had a good Force 11 in the Bay of Biscay one time that was ... interesting, shall we say. Hope your daughter wasn't put off the water by it.<br /><br />I don't really think of myself as male or female. I'm just me, with all my unique strengths and weaknesses. So, I try not to play the 'you're-being-mean-to-me-because-I'm-a-poor-little-girlie' card. I'll keep following my own star and if other people want to hitch along for the ride, they're very welcome :)Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16794849762931816882012-08-22T10:59:03.826-04:002012-08-22T10:59:03.826-04:0072Thanks, Dru!
Lovely to see you here, too. And t...72Thanks, Dru!<br /><br />Lovely to see you here, too. And thank you for the kind words. #AmWritingHonest!Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36951462105438548482012-08-22T10:58:03.073-04:002012-08-22T10:58:03.073-04:00Hi Hallie
46 male obituaries to 9 female? Wow. Ha...Hi Hallie<br /><br />46 male obituaries to 9 female? Wow. Have there really been no interesting women who've deserved a write-up during that period? If that's honestly the case, then I'm fine with that. I'm as against positive discrimination as I am negative discrimination. But if not ...Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25443449381727397092012-08-22T10:55:44.445-04:002012-08-22T10:55:44.445-04:00Hi Rosemary
Thank you so much for inviting me bac...Hi Rosemary<br /><br />Thank you so much for inviting me back, and for the warm welcome. It's always a thrill to be here at the home of the Reds.<br /><br />The gun is a Colt M4 carbine. Nice weapon to fire, although I miss my 7.62mm competition rifle Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57512674544583131452012-08-22T10:53:03.135-04:002012-08-22T10:53:03.135-04:00Hi Vicki
No, it may be a daft complicated name wh...Hi Vicki<br /><br />No, it may be a daft complicated name where people constantly get the dots over the wrong letter, but I'm sticking with it :)<br /><br />And what about JRR Tolkein, CJ Sansom, and RJ Ellory? Quite a few people assume Norwegian author Jo Nesbø is a woman because of the spelling of 'Jo' (pronounced 'Yo').<br /><br />But I think I've decided that if people try to thump a round me into a square pigeonhole, they better have brought a VERY big hammer and a bunch of friends :)Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57900900248600559202012-08-22T10:47:47.776-04:002012-08-22T10:47:47.776-04:00Hi Kaye
Thank you, that's very sweet of you t...Hi Kaye<br /><br />Thank you, that's very sweet of you to say so.<br /><br />I don't tend to rant, I just quietly take the rip out of people who display such stupidity. It's a target-rich environment.<br /><br />More coffee needed, definitely!Zoë Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065427744062846167noreply@blogger.com