Good-bye For Now, Emma Graham

"...Twelve-year-old Emma, still hard on the trail of the truth behind these old intertwined crimes: the murders of Mary-Evelyn Devereau, Rose Queen, and Fern Queen; the attempted murder of Emma herself; and, most of all, the supposed kidnapping of the four-month-old Slade baby from the belle Ruin Hotel twenty years previously.

'Too many bad things happen around here,' says Emma to a visitor she never expected to see.  And with this visitor and the appearance of a mysterious drifter, it looks like too many bad things might start happening again.

In this suspenseful sequel to the best-selling Belle Ruin, the unflappable Emma Graham returns, still a waitress in her mother's decaying summer hotel, still a cub reporter for the local newspaper, and still a sleuth for the ages."

~ From Fadeaway Girl

I guess this'll be the last time I mention Martha Grimes’s twelve-year-old sleuth, Emma Graham, in a long time. Fadeaway Girl is the fourth and latest book in the series. So until Mrs. Grimes comes up with a fifth book (each book takes at least five years between the next), this will be it. However, believe me when I say that I have back up in the form of Emma’s eleven-year-old English counterpart, Flavia de Luce. So, stay tuned for the introduction of that one.

Nonetheless, like all books in Emma Graham’s series, Fadeaway Girl takes place at least a week or two after the events in the previous book.  In this case, that would be Belle Ruin. It’s the same summer and decade introduced in the very first book, Hotel Paradise. Same cast of crazy, eccentric and talkative characters. Same budding and expanding mystery revolving around a pocket of murders and a missing baby. And best of all, the same smart-mouth, lonely and inquisitive Emma Graham. Oh, and Fadeaway Girl still contains that dreamy, somewhat melancholy mood of a picturesque town spinning in its own humorous direction. Furthermore, I continued to burst out into laughter at Emma and her somehow lodged–yet dislodged–sense of pre-teen humor.


On another note, I believe Fadeaway Girl probably provided the most momentum plot-wise within the four books of the series.  Or at least it stomped the dryness of its predecessor, Belle Ruin. Nonetheless, considering Emma’s mysteries aren't traditionally told (or traditional at all), and are expansive and off-branching, many resolutions came to head in this fourth book. The only problem that I found with said resolutions was that they came kind of swift and abruptly. Toward the end of the book, Emma’s slow, hyper-observant styled narrative shifted gears completely. Nonetheless, even those quick resolutions were not so clean.  With that being said, Emma's story continues!

I’m going to miss Emma and her world until that fifth book comes out (sure, I can re-read them).  Whenever it comes.  The Emma Graham mysteries easily became one of my top five favorite mystery series.  No, they are not for everyone, but they were absolutely perfect for me.  

Emma reminded me of myself when I was a pre-teen.  I asked a lot of questions.  Some adults didn't like me because I challenged their authority (ask several of my middle school teachers).  Sometimes I had to lie to get information.  Many times I had to swerve my words to get what I wanted.  I was reckless and ruthless when it came to other kids my age, often shooting out commands at them.  And generally, just curious and adventurous while acknowledging that I was special if only I saw so in myself.  My connection with Emma was so real after that first book that I knew it would be hard to let her go.  

For now, anyway.

Emma-isms

"Mr. Gumbrel was sitting at his desk in the back of the newspaper office.

'I just wanted to run this by you.  I called a couple of times, but you weren't here.'  No, I hadn't.  As if the only thing holding up the installment of the story was his not answering the phone.  'I need to know what you think of this story line.'

'Shoot.'

When I looked at the little I'd written, I felt disloyal."

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"I would present myself as working for the Conservative and wanting an interview for the story of the Belle Ruin.  This had the disadvantage of being the truth.  I'd rather have pretended to be selling Girl Scout cookies (the Girl Scouts being a bunch I would drop dead before joining).  But here I was stuck with the truth."

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"When I piled out of the cab in front of the Orion, Delbert asked me what I was going to do until the movie started, which wouldn't be for another half hour.

'Shoot up the place,' I said, and slammed the door."

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"I had no idea what she was talking about.  'What?'

'Private detective.  Ain't you been listening?  Yes, Larry or Barry, no, Harry Oates.  We went dancing together under the stars.'

Pushing away from the wall, I decided to leave before she remembered that scene too well and got out of her chair."

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"There were a lot of Moomas in the phone directory, but no Carls.  There were two C's, and I called both numbers.  I pretended to be selling magazine subscriptions, and one said his name was Charles, and he nearly talked my ear off, and the other hung up..."

--------------------

"Naturally, he wanted to know why I was at Hanna's Building Supply, and I told him because we were building an ark at the rear of the hotel grounds and were charging fifty cents for anyone who wanted to bring his pet to get blessed.

Anyone else would have been questioning the whole ark-building plan, but not Delbert, who instead had to comment on Noah: 'Now I don't think he blessed the animals; I think his job was just to get 'em on board, march 'em up the ramp and inside the ship and that was all.'

I slid down in my seat and did not contradict him, because that would encourage conversation.  Probably, it served me right for the ark story.  And I forgot that silence could encourage conversation as much as speaking."

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"I ran down the rest of the stairs and into the back office, where the phone was.  I plunked down Aurora's glass and grabbed up the metal phone pad, pushed the pointer to 'M,' and clicked it open.  There was Dr. McComb's number.

'Be there, be there,' I said to myself, and danced around like I had to pee.

'Dr. McComb, this is Emma.'

He was surprised.  'Emma, you should be–'

'What did Deputy Mooma mean about a "granny gun"?' I hadn't time for my roundabout ways.

'"Granny"?'

I pinched my eyes shut.  'He was talking about the gun, I think, that was lying on the floor.'

'Oh yeah, I recall.  It's a small one.  Now listen Emma–'

'What about it?  What.  A.  Bout.  It?'  I said this through gritted teeth so he would know I wasn't fooling around and that I meant business.

He knew.  He told me.

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Emma Graham Series Order
1.  Hotel Paradise
2.  Cold Flat Junction
3.  Belle Ruin
4.  Fadeaway Girl

Africa and Ammie (Disappointing October Reads)

I’m going to make this quick because I really don’t too much care to talk about these last two books.  But I must.  Here are the last two books I read in the month of October and both were incredible, incredible disappointments. 

Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda

Jade Del Cameron was raised on a ranch in New Mexico, years before she became an ambulance driver in France during World War I. Between the two, she has gathered her own personal connection with the animal kingdom as well as a survivor’s proclivity required during War Time. So when she witnesses her beau’s military plane shot down from the sky by the enemy, her immediate reaction is to rush to his rescue unfazed by the smoking danger. Pulling him from the wreckage, she lays him in her arms as he whispers his last dying words for her to find his long-lost brother as well as for her to find out the truth behind his father’s murder. Later, after having experienced the coldness of her dying beau’s mother, Jade turns to the family lawyer for assistance in where to begin her search.  She's determined to fulfill her promise and seek the answers her dying beau pressed into her, even if that means heading all the way to Africa. Before long, Jade is stepping off a train in Africa; and onto African curses, murder, and a touch of newfound romance.

Oh, Jesus. Where do I start with this book? Mark of the Lion, by Suzanne Arruda, completely stalled out my October reading. It took on a hefty week and one day for me to complete; killing the strong reading start I had at the beginning of the month. So why did this book slow me down? Why did I plow through this safari-based murder mystery by choking down 50 pages a day instead of my much required 100? The answer is… well… I really don't have one.  However, in retrospect, I felt it suffered from the problematic middle-slump.  No amount of new character introductions or small stretches in the sub-plots could save me from the apathy I felt during the middle of this book.  The African setting couldn't save it either.  I was bored.  Sometimes I sat up with the book reasoning with myself by thinking that maybe I chose a bad time to read it.  

The single saving grace (for me) is the main character of Jade.  Some reviewers claim she's portrayed as a modern woman slipped into the era of World War I.  She's great with a rifle, speaks her mind, and is proficient as an auto mechanic.  I really didn't care for the difference, concerning Jade and the reality of women of her era.  Because of her, I'm willing to give the series another go by moving into the second book in the series.  But man was this an unexpected disappointment.

Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels

Ammie, Come Home blurb:

"The seance began as a party game.  A playful diversion for the guest in Ruth Bennett's fashionable Georgetown home.  But when her niece Sara speaks in a voice not her own, the game becomes frighteningly real... and the dark, forgotten secrets of yesterday's passions rise up to claim new players..."

Such a huge, enormous let down. Despite Barbara Michaels being Elizabeth Peters’ other penname, not even that realization could save this story. It was just… well… a boring ghost story that drug on and on and on for no reason. The back-story concerning the ghost and how that played out was moderately interesting. Nevertheless, alas, it was just too boring and dry of a story.  And I doubt that has anything with how dated the material is (it was written in the late 60's).  At least I don't claim that.

I didn't care for the characters at all–which didn't help matters. Most of them were snippy at one another, and the “possessed” Sara was a doormat to the ghost as well as her family and boyfriend. Damn. I was really hoping this book was going to creep me out and keep me up at night, especially after reading the synopsis months ago. Needless to say, it didn't creep me out or keep me up. I digested this one in a sluggish 50-pages a day, while finding myself extremely (and I mean extremely) restless and stir-crazy after only five pages into each session. That was a total of five days thrown into this book, rounding out my October with a whimper. And that’s all I care to talk about. To the library donation pile this one goes.

Would You Rather TAG VIDEO

Here are the tag questions:

Would you rather...

1. Read only trilogies or stand alones?

2. Read only female or male authors?

3. Shop at Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

4. All books become movies or t.v. shows?

5. Read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

6. Be a professional reviewer or author?

7. Only read your top 20 favorite books over and over or always read new ones that you haven't read before?

8. Be a librarian or book seller?

9. Only read your favorite genre, or every genre except your favorite?

10. Only read physical books or eBooks?

BGM is by Lee Seung Bock "My Story"

Sailor Moon English Book Collections

I should share a little bit more concerning my love of Japanese manga artist Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon empire.  It would take all day and then some to write it all down, though.  Nonetheless, at its base, this manga/anime series gave me all of my dreams since I first discovered it when I was 12.  So in keeping with that, I've filmed and re-filmed some of the English-language books I collected during my teen years.  And, well, here they are... 



From the Spring of 1999 to the Fall of 2000 came the English novelizations of the first quarter episodes of the Sailor Moon anime. This included episodes that were previously not dubbed for the English adaptation released by DiC Entertainment. The books were written by Tokyopop founder, Stu Levy (he only wrote the first book), and once famed Sailor Moon fanfiction author, Lianne Sentar. I read these books repeatedly as a teen.  Furthermore, I appreciated how the missing episodes were novelized during a time when many of us had absolutely no access to them. (This was a time when everyone was on dial-up and there was no Youtube.) Nonetheless, I was never totally won over by the actual writing. I remember cringing at the inclusion of Western references (one being an American boy band), and the lack of detailed writing surrounding the girls’ transformations and other events that the stories were based upon. I was writing Sailor Moon fanfiction at the time and, honestly, I felt like I could do better; granted the fact that these books were written for younger readers.



Here we have the English adaptations of the Sailor Moon character books–or character guides. During the time they were starting to release, Sailor Moon S was preparing (unknown to me) to air in June of 2000. I think we were about two books in (Mars and Venus were the first releases if I'm correct) before Sailor Moon S aired on Cartoon Network for the first time. Therefore, material from these guides included pictures and references from that season. That would include shots of the Inner Senshi with the Outer Senshi as well as other story points regarding that season.  Unbeknownst to me, I would get the chance to see all of that material from Sailor Moon S come to life months down the road. However, these guides followed mostly the dubbed adaptation of Sailor Moon. That would include the characters' names (at least in regards to the Inner Senshi) and a few other references.

Last is the complete collection of Tokyopop’s (formerly known as Mixxine) English adaptations of Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon manga.  At the same time, the series was running in comic book form and via Tokyopop's Smile magazine between their volumized releases.  Nevertheless, they had their translation issues (like anything translated wouldn’t).  They used the character names from the DiC dubbed.  They also looked like they were printed and reprinted through a Xerox machine.  However, despite all of that, you have to give credit where credit is due and celebrated the fact that we even got these things. Seriously, I could only imagine how difficult it was for Tokyopop to get the rights to the English version of Naoko Takeuchi’s beloved manga series. Heck, I remember as a teen I wrote (yes, as in snail mail) Tokyopop asking if there were any plans on a Sailor V translation. Their answer was quite simple: “Not at the moment.” That turned into never. 

Nonetheless, I cherished–and I mean cherished–my copy of the first volume the second I bought it out of a local comic book shop. I mean, that thing meant the world to me.  Before, I would constantly look through my Mixxine magazines at the order form, begging for my mom to order them for me.  Eventually they landed in the local bookstores as well, so I just bought them there.  I remember the Summer of 1999 where I read my copy of the first volume repeatedly.  My fingers actually stained the edges of the paper.  Until that point, the only ever time I read Sailor Moon was through the Chinese version. An exchange student used to lend me her copies in exchange for allowing her to read my short stories. 

 Naturally, these books inspired me beyond measure.  And that's putting it lightly.  No, seriously, you don't want to get me started.  I am literally tempted to do a character sketch and manga and anime review of the series.  Including the newly released Sailor Moon Crystal.  

Have you been inspired by Sailor Moon or any other manga or anime?  Share your story.

Long Book Series? Where Do You Start?

What do you feel about book series?  Do you prefer standalone books?  Or do you enjoy attaching yourself to characters that feature in more than one book?  Are you intimidated by the length of a series?  Or does length not bother you at all?  

In this Tuesday Talks (which was uploaded on Wednesday) I share my take on series and length.  I also talk about why I enjoy long series, must read from the start, and how I will not progress forward until I read them in order.  OCD at its finest.  Comment and share your thoughts below!

The Unflappable Emma Graham

"A waitress at her mother's decaying resort hotel, twelve-year-old Emma now has a second job as the youngest cub reporter in the history of La Porte's Conservative newspaper.  But when she discovers the crumbling shell of a fabulous hotel–the once-sumptuous Belle Rouen–in the woods near her small town of Spirit Lake, Emma never imagines that the mysteries it holds will bring her one step closer to solving a forty-year-old crime–and force a new transgression to light..."

~ Belle Ruin blurb

Just when we've thought we've heard the last of Emma Graham, here comes the third book in her series, Belle Ruin. I told myself I would wait a month between books, but hell, there are only four and I was ready to drive back to her world after reading Cold Flat Junction earlier this month. However, not much has changed between Cold Flat Junction and Belle Ruin. Actually, I would say that nothing at all has changed. This kind of makes it difficult to write about. Everything I said in my thoughts on Cold Flat Junction, and the first book in the series, Hotel Paradise, are all relevant and the same. The books take place in a single summer; Emma Graham is working as a waitress in her family’s summer resort, while fulfilling her side interest investigating a forty-year-old drowning that took place on the nearby lake. The difference is that Emma managed to resolve, or come a crumbling step, to the conclusion of that murder by the end of Cold Flat Junction. And while there were many questions still left in the air, Belle Ruin threw in many more to enlarge Emma's investigation.

Unfortunately, by the very end of Belle Ruin, not a damned thing gets resolved. Nope. Nothing at all. You are purely in the ride for the precious fun of watching Emma Graham wheedle information out of adults, facetiously manipulate a few, and well, purport to be a twelve-year-old girl. And while that was all super-duper fun, I have to be honest when I say that I slowly found myself leaning toward listlessness in some areas of Belle Ruin.  (This came many times during moments where Emma was wrestling with her brother about a stage play he was producing in the hotel's garage.) And really, that listlessness came from Grime’s repetitious need to have Emma repeat her likes and dislikes of the world around her (some covering the previous two books). Now, now, now. Everybody knows by now that I go hard for Emma Graham. She’s the kid I would want, which turns me into a defensive machine. But even here, three books in, I kind of got tired of her mini spiels.  As an example, one repeated spiel revolves around why she prefers white chicken meat and why it's a hassle for her to obtain some.  That was connected with me two books ago.  I got it, young lady. 

Even so, I had to remind myself that this series encapsulates a single summer in this girl’s life.  Therefore, I smiled with affection.

NOTED AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

1. After her near-death/attempted murder experience in Cold Flat Junction, Emma is now a reporter for the Conservative newspaper (as stated in the aforementioned blurb). Having her brush with death reported in the paper, and a new job at hand, Emma has a certain level of credibility and access to the individuals around her. Sure, she still lies her ass off to gather information, but now she has a good excuse to back herself up with. “I'm interviewing,” she'd often claim.

2. As mentioned, Emma discovers a partially burnt hotel called Belle Rouen–dubbed “Belle Ruin." Twenty years ago, and before the fire that destroyed the hotel, a baby girl named Fay was reportedly kidnapped from her room while a gala event went on in the hotel’s ballroom. No one knows what happened to baby Fay, including those connected to the hotel (many of which Emma hunts down like a fox for information). 

Nonetheless, this becomes Emma’s “big squeeze" as well as the crux of the book.  The kidnapping is in fact tied into the previous two books, and a small revelation does come to light.  However, there just isn't any resolution.  Really, the ending of Belle Ruin was more than a touch disappointing either way I try to cut it.  I can't make excuses for it.  Just know that it was really dissatisfying.

3. After reading Hotel Paradise, I mentioned how Grime’s writing painted Emma in a world that seemed timeless and uncertain to the reader of its location. Well, in Cold Flat Junction we learn that the series takes place in America, somewhere near Maryland if I recall correctly. In Belle Ruin, my suspicions are confirmed that the series takes place in the late 50s early 60s. How did this come about? Well, Emma mentions watching The Loretta Young Show, which aired between 1953-1961.  Go figure, right.

4.  Grimes seemed to inject herself a little more into Emma's narrative this time.  Call me wacko, but I found tiny moments where she may have used Emma and Emma's story to address some criticism she may have received from the series.  Take one of Emma's quotes for instance:  "That was what they called being childish.  It was what I called being twelve."  I put heavy, heavy emphasis on they.

With that being said I'm ready for book four, Fadeaway Girl. Am I excited? You better believe it. However, I'm going to give myself some space before I drive into that one. Not too soon, Emma.  Not to soon.

Lastly, I didn't laugh out loud as much in Belle Ruin like the howling I did during Cold Flat Junction.  Nonetheless, I must share some of my favorite Emma moments.

Emma Moments

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"I was in the kitchen arranging salads.  My mother told me to please remember the black olives should be sliced before adding them and for heaven's sake to remember not to put the Roquefort dressing on Miss Bertha's salad for she hated it.  I thanked her for reminding me and scooped off the top layer of one salad and added a spoonful of Roquefort dressing.  Then I put back the layer of lettuce, the pepper and onion ring, arranging them so that the dressing was invisible."

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"...I did not take the word lightly when I said to Ree-Jane.  'You're so full of shit.'  I then went into the cool darkness of the lobby.

She sprang to her feet and yelled, 'You just wait until I tell Miss Jen!'

I nearly skipped my way to the kitchen, happy I had once again got the best of Ree-Jean.  I even looked forward to her telling on me."

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"But I think I've learned a lesson and that is that you have to find your own answers to things.  Even if they're the wrong answers.  The point is the finding."

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"'Back to the ho-tel, right?' said Delbert, gunning the gas.

'No.  Stop by the graveyard to see if Dracula made it back before dawn.'  I sat directly behind the driver's seat so he couldn't see me.

'You've always got some smart-ass answer, you know that?'

'I'm telling Axel you called me a smart-ass.'  How could I?  I could never find him."

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The Creative Print House Experience

What‘s up, Comic Towel readers?  I’m here to spread the word about another custom print-on-demand site you can visit online to have your drawings, photos and images printed on items such as phone cases, coffee mugs and tablet cases.  I was given the opportunity to review Creative Print House a couple of weeks ago when a representative from the company reached out after seeing–what I presume–my video reviewing products I received from other custom printing companies.  Considering I featured phone cases in the video, it was decided that I would receive three to review.  First, let me walk you a little through the creating process I took.

Phone Case & Options

I decided to choose three styles of phone cases; iPhone 6 Plus (5.5 inch) White Rubber Case, IPhone 6 (4.7 inch) Clear Rubber Case and Samsung Note 3 (5.7 inch) Black Rubber Case. Rubber cases are more durable than the options of plastic cases and wrap-around cases.  They're also kind of a blend of the two at the same time. Nevertheless, it should be said that not all case options are given to whichever type of phone you own. Therefore, some selections don't have the option of a rubber case. Luckily, each of the three that I chose had the rubber case option.  

You can also choose the color of your case, between black, clear and white options. These three colors aren't as extensive as a past mentioned custom print shop.  Nonetheless, the cases not only protect the phone (which I found CPH's protection better), but also provides the personalization you're looking for.  That's all the combination you need.

Also, I chose this image [above] to show both the prices (most cases range from $25 to $34) and the option to view a short video that showcases the actual cases. There's also an option to read and write your own review of the product.  

I found progressing through Creative Print House to be simple, intuitive and easy.  Not once did I feel overwhelmed with the selection process nor the designing.

Creating & Customizations

The design system is the fun part! You're taking your images and placing them on products; both personalizing and expressing who you are!  I wanted to share the above screenshot to show you how simple the process of customizing your phone case can be, as well as the available options to further the customization experience. 

Besides simply stamping your images on products, you also have the customization tools necessary to rotate an image to your preference, zoom your image, and control the space your image should contain on the item. As always, I filled the phone case with the image, removing all negative space. 

Additionally, available is the TEXT tool. Of course, I applied “Comic Towel” to the image, guiding its size by the scale tool before I changed the font and alignment of the text. Furthermore, there is the option of changing the text’s color and even its outline.  Really easy, really quick.  And another thing I noticed, I didn't have any difficulty with loading the image.  There was no need to create a file for collecting your images, it was all very streamline from your computer to the site.

Results

As it’s mentioned on Creative Print House, the images are printed in HD on an aluminum plate that’s attached to the actual rubber case. Unfortunately, that aluminum plate covers the speaker grill, and I have yet to test whether this is ineffectual or not. Nonetheless, concerning the image itself, I will say that I immediately noticed that it has lost some definition. Fine lines, tones, and darkened areas seem slightly blurred and faded.  It almost appeared as if the ink ran close to dry.  You probably can't tell from the snapshot, but in person, it's evident. Whether it's an issue with scaling the image too large (pixel count), the transference to the aluminum plating, or my own digital image, I can't be sure. I still think it came out beautifully, just not as sharp as I anticipated as it relates to the actual drawing [SEE HERE]. This, by the way, is featured on the Samsung Note 3 black rubber case.

This image is featured on the iPhone 6 clear case.  In this instance, the fine lines and definition came out sharper than the previous.  It still has a touch of fadedness, but the difference is that it didn't come across as a slight blur.  The image is a lot sharper.  To see the image click HERE.

I think that out of the three, this one came out the best.  Maybe it’s the available size, considering it's for the iPhone 6 Plus.  Maybe it’s the white case.  Whatever the cause, the end result was a lot more vivid and defined than the previous two.  To see the image click HERE.   

I want to say that Creative Print House is best for those who are looking to create fun, personal photos and such printed on the available merchandise to share with friends and family.  As it continues to grow, that will change.  But as of now, if you want a deal on designing and personalizing your new tablet or cell phone case, this is the place where you need to be.  The process really was easy, and I got my items less than a week after I ordered them. 

You Decide

• Custom Print House is free to join

• There isn't an option to create your own store featuring your designs on merchandise

• There is an affiliate program which requires approval as well as your account email and password

• Only 4 merchandising options: phone cases, tablet cases, mugs, and coasters (various styles in each)

• A little less expensive than Zazzle and Cafepress, and shipping is free for orders over $25

• Offers discounts and percentages off orders

• Easier design options; simple and never too complicated to use

• 30-day return policy and customer service available via phone and email

www.creativeprinthouse.com

A super special thanks to Creative Print House for the opportunity.