Elizabeth SimsRezensionen

4.5 stars - good read with useful advice and tips. Not too academic, very conversational which I liked.

Decent book with a likeable enough protagonist but the final solution wasn't very credible IMHO. I did love the part where she got herself fired.

This was a fun book and a nice change of pace.

Another win! I need to get the next book in the series...

This was a very enjoyable mystery, quite scary at times but not so much that I had to stop reading. I really liked the characters, all of them but especially the main one. She makes all sorts of mistakes and stupid choices because she’s so human and real.
So, I’m on to the second one.

Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! I was expecting a food & drink cookbook but I received a gift from the gods! It contains recipes that even someone who hasn't got the sense God gave a goose can still follow. It is printed on quality paper and includes gorgeous photographs of the plethora of spectacular culinary delights. This is all encased in a flexible but vibrant pumpkin orange covered softbound book! Well, shucks, I need to go mix my "SUNDAY MORNING CORPSE REVIVER" while I bake my "CRISPY 'TOBACCO' ONIONS"! I am as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine with this win from GOODREADS giveaways!

Worked at Borders with Elizabeth so was excited to read her book. Much grittier than I expected, but mostly plausible for a mystery novel.

Everything I have made out of this cookbook is delicious. The Tupelo Honey Coleslaw is unique, yummy, and a hit at potlucks. But all of the salads I have tried are good, as are the breakfast recipes. The only issues I have is that the recipes can be complex, and require components to be made ahead of time, so it needs advance planning. This is an entertaining cookbook, not one for everyday cooking.

Standout recipes: Tupelo Honey Coleslaw; Southern Spring Salad; Leafy Greens Salad

I received this as a Christmas gift from a dear friend's parents. They regularly travel to Asheville and always stop at the Tupelo Honey Café. I was delighted to receive this. The recipes sound marvelous and made my mouth water. I didn't grow up with southern cooking, but my husband did. This book has many of the classic recipes, like Red-Eye Gravy, Corn and Crab Chowder, and Shrimp and Grits. I'm eager to get cooking!½

Rating: 4 of 5

A fun, informed pep talk sure to inspire all writers - of fiction and non-fiction - especially those feeling stressed and discouraged.

You've Got a Book in You hooked me at chapter one, "Writing a book is easy and fun."

Right?!?!

I knew immediately this was NOT the typical writing guide filled with rules and shoulds and other stress-inducing, creativity-killing tips. Nope, here was validation, by a bona fide author, of what my heart knows but my head needs constant reminding.

Sims wrote in a friendly, conversational style with humor and honesty. At NO point did I think she wrote this book as an ego boost, to puff herself up as an expert in all things writerly. Instead, she came across as someone motivated by a genuine desire for every writer to write. I dig that.

Stormwriting and Writing With the Masters opened me up to SO much, I may write Sims a personal "Thank You" note. For whatever reason, her methods truly resonated with me and where my head was stuck the past 18 months.

Highly recommended to beginners, but even more highly recommended to writers who feel stuck or those who forget how freakin' FUN and exciting it is to write.

I'm reserving a permanent place on my desk for this book, right next to my favorite coffee mug and a stack of my favorite notebooks.

Helpful

A number of helpful tips are provided in this book, such as encouragement to worry less on a rough draft, to “simply persist,” to focus on getting the thoughts down and refining them later.

The laid-back “Route 66 placemat” approach to planning helps to make the process feel less daunting. The author’s comparison of writing to improv acting is helpful in conveying her advice on achieving “flow” in writing.

“Finding a garret,” tightening copy, and working through “Writer’s Block” are other useful topics addressed.

Disappointing

While the author uses a great many good words and phrases in this book, I am disappointed that she chose to stoop to the use of profanity in some portions. As she is a member of American Mensa, I have no doubt that she has a sufficient vocabulary to convey her points in a better manner.

Her recommendation of using Wikipedia is too cavalier. There is a general consensus that this is not a reliable source.

Made-up words can be fun; however, they can also be irritating, at least to some of us. “Stormwriting” is one thing; however, I cannot condone “heartbrain.” The author’s numerous references to it annoy and distract me.

While I appreciate the importance of providing examples, I see no need to ruin the ending to the referenced story in doing so, such as the author does with “The Great Gatsby.”

Other Helpful Topics

The author provides helpful details as to how a writer can utilize the concept of “show, don’t tell,” such as with methods of portraying emotion through dialogue and using dialogue markers.

In Conclusion

The tone throughout is optimistic and motivational. I have been able to take away some concepts that I will be able to use to create a smoother process in my writing.

This is a lesbian mystery set at the Dinah Shore Gold Tournament, so it does help if you’re interested in golf. The writing is straightforward and casual. The protagonist is charming, especially in dialogue, and the sex scenes are abundant and fun. The mystery itself is a little thin, so don’t read it as a puzzler, but as a chance to hang out with a cute, simpatico, somewhat irresistible dyke.

I received a copy of this for 60 day review use via NetGalley, but I'm definitely purchasing it when it is available in stores. The Tupelo Honey Cafe is located in Asheville, North Carolina, which is about 70 miles away. The book has many recipes that are quite manageable for everyday use as well as some that are elegant enough to serve on special occasions. It is beautifully illustrated with photos of the food, ventures into the garden, and scenes from the area and the restaurant. I loved the glimpses into regional culture in the book. There are quotes from Asheville author Thomas Wolfe as well as several mentions of Duke's Mayonnaise as being the preferred one.

For Review from NetGalley: Requested by me!

What I Loved: This is the 2nd Honey Based Cookbook (though this one is not strictly just honey based recipes) that I have read and I really enjoyed it. There were several recipes that I want to try and will be buying this one to put on my shelf. The cookbook itself is very much like an old southern kitchen cookbook including tons of gravies, sauces, and everything else that makes a good southern kitchen tick!

One of my favs: Warm Pimento Cheese and Chips! I have always wanted to make it home and this recipe is the closest I have seen to what I think should go in it. It includes red bell peppers, cheddar cheese, mayo, dijon mustard, mustard powder, sea salt, black pepper, parsley and only takes about 15 min! YUM!

What I Liked: This is a very user friendly cookbook. Nothing seemed to "over a normal person's head" type of recipe though some required more work than others. I also did not see anything in there that did not call for ingredients that you could not find in a Central Market or Whole Foods and most could be found in your neighborhood grocery.

Complaints: None

Why I gave it a 4: It was all around easy to follow and there were quite a few recipes that screamed out to be tried. I will be getting it for my cookbook shelf.

Who would I recommend it too: Anyone who likes Southern Cooking!