Malthus Revisited- The Cup of Wrath (Book) - 8/27/2018 11:58:21 AM
Lin Wilder does it again!!! This was a wonderful Lindsey McCall novel. Rich characters you either love or hate. The addition of Morgan was awesome. Morgan provided her own separate story line of plots within plots. This story keeps you on your toes and the edge of your seat. With yet another battle for the McCall family with many international consequences. The facts of the story surrounded by fiction are excellent.
Although I read the story, I have to wonder if Joe Cairns isn't gonna resurface in a sequel, letting us all know he has survived yet another tragedy, I could be wrong, but wouldn't be surprised...just a thought Lin Wilder!
'Malthus Revisited-The Cup of Wrath' is great as a stand alone, but I suggest you read them in order. Either way, you won't be disappointed!
I can't rate this book high enough. Lin Wilder has an excellent writing style that I always enjoy. Great read! Check it out!
A Price for Genius (Book) - 8/18/2018 5:54:48 PM
A group of comfortable characters continue the story drawing you in immediately. Whether you are reading the 'Lindsey McCall' series in order or reading as a stand alone, the book is an amazing piece of very believable fiction. Something I have come to expect from Lin Wilder and have yet been disappointed!
Set in the medical field primarily, this story involves crime, kidnapping, intrigue, murder and more...this mystery has many plots and subplots involving many twists and turns. You will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, attempting to guess where Wilder is going to go next, and usually you will be wrong.
Lin Wilder does an excellent job describing and using medical jargon in a layman's way that you do not walk away feeling ignorant or uninformed or confused. Just enough explanation of the medical jargon to enhance the novel.
'A Price for Genius' is a wonderful continuation of a wonderful cast of characters, with the addition of a few new ones! Excellent read! I look forward to additional works from Lin Wilder. You won't be disappointed...
The Fragrance Shed By A Violet-Murder in the Medical Center (Book) - 8/7/2018 2:00:16 PM
It was the book's title, 'The Fragrance Shed by a Violet,' that I first found intriguing, however reading and learning what the story line was about, I continued to read. This is my second book by Lin Wilder that I have read. I really enjoy the writing style of Lin Wilder and look forward to reading additional works.
The story is basically about two sisters and their dysfunctional family, but there are several other wonderful characters thrown into the mix.
The descriptions and background material given for each character builds a vivid mental image for the reader. And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Max, the perfect, obedient dog...popping up in the dialogue at the perfect times.
There is a lot of medical jargon and detailed info concerning the larger pharmaceutical companies and the control they yield, but it is necessary for the plot of the book and is very well written and understandable.
The story centers around the main character, Lindsey McCall, a cardiologist and medical researcher that has been tried and convicted of murdering her mother. The plot goes back to her childhood describing how she and her sister are so different.
It is basically a wonderful mystery set in the field of medicine. There is love, hate, jealousy, crime, murder, romance and a view into social issues, addictions and the world of medical research. There are many twist and turns and surprises throughout.
The story line grabs your attention immediately and, as the old adage goes, you cannot put it down! Wonderful story that is wonderfully told, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Definitely a 5 star novel!!!
Do You Solemnly Swear? A Nation of Law-The Dark Side (Book) - 7/16/2018 10:51:56 AM
To be perfectly honest, I was concerned about my ability to read a novel dealing with such a horrible deed, depending on how detailed the material became, but 'Do You Solemnly Swear' by Lin Wilder, is very well written. A topic, such as, child molestation, must be written very diplomatically worded to convey to the reader the horrific act, but not lose the reader in the awfulness of the act. Lin Wilder portrays the characters amazingly The reader understands and can follow the story line completely.
Lin Wilder provides several side plots and twists and turns to engage the reader. The story is well written and covers a multitude of emotions and feelings. Each of the characters are so well described and have a strong story line, that it is difficult to select a main character. In my mind, however, the main character would be Annie, the little girl, who also has her own strong character and amazing personality.
This book, 'Do You Solemnly Swear,' should be required reading for every prosecuting attorney in the country. The subject of child molestation is a real and sickening problem in this country, but so is the problem of false accusations made by a bitter ex-partner. Lin Wilder presents a wonderful view of a few good people trying to do the right thing. An excellent read!
A Guide to Starting Your Own Business (Book) - 7/10/2018 7:17:00 AM
I believe that most people jump into online business in desperation. They start out with unrealistic expectations because of ignorance of the whole process. I believe that books like yours can help these people learn before they jump in over their heads. As I've observed failing businesses, I see that people often invest far too much capital to start. In the case of online businesses, in computers, high-speed connections, expensive website development, and inventory if they are selling goods. A large franchise fee if they are joining some successful franchise promising huge profits. Exactly the wrong way to succeed.
The best way for business to succeed is to start out small with the business owner learning is much of the process as possible and hiring other skills on a part-time basis based only on need. That way is easy to adjust when things don't go well and whatever capital one has to invest is not wasted. Like you indicated in the chapter excerpt, selling is a process of creating customers who are loyal and that takes time and effort.
We all learn from experience. And, there's only so much we can learn from guides like yours until we experience what you are writing about.
Ron
Malthus Revisited- The Cup of Wrath (Book) - 7/4/2018 7:34:08 AM
The title caught my eye because I'm quite familiar with Malthus and his theory. And, as I read your bio, I was impressed with your awards and the reviews for your books. If you worked in the Texas Medical Center, we are neighbors. I spent 30 years working at Texas Southern University. I am also a science-based fiction writer after a career in industry and higher education where I wrote much nonfiction. At some point, I felt it necessary to write my autobiography. Like most people, I had a good upbringing in the church and in college and even became president of an ecumenical student group. However, reading philosophy convinced me to become atheist and I'm quite comfortable with that.
The first chapter did not connect me with the prologue, but I'm sure that something that happened in Bosnia may be the source of the epidemic that strikes the earth in your book. As I read the chapter, it is obvious that you use your personal experience to develop your characters and localities. You do it very well, although I found it a bit confusing for some reason as I read. Character development is not my strong suit. Joe Cairns does not appear in this chapter, but apparently plays a key role later in the book.
My disappointment is that you seem to need the supernatural in order to solve the calamity that faces the earth. I prefer human will, and if that does not work, the natural order of things, with or without human intervention.
Ron
Which Wolf Do We Feed? (Article) - 8/18/2018 12:52:03 PM
You raise a good question. We have both wolves within each of us. Another way to look at it is our glass being half full or half empty. We also tend to look at life as either exciting or boring. It is only in the last century or so that we have had enough free time from daily physical drudgery to contemplate all the options that now present themselves instantly to us by the Internet.
You point out that life is better now than it's ever been. I sense a lot of overreaction to fears that aren't really fearful at all. But some of them have myriad cures… Most of the dubious nature. We just have to grow up and learn how to use our newfound knowledge to determine what goes in the crap container and what we keep.
Ron
Writing the End First (Article) - 8/17/2018 3:15:19 AM
May you take great pride and satisfaction when you get to the finish line of the beginning.
Writing the End First (Article) - 8/12/2018 9:00:23 AM
You certainly have taken on a burden. Sometimes fiction becomes myth and more powerful than fact, altering history. Knowing your writing ability, I, Claudia, may become as well known as Quo Vadis. You're right. Since it is fairly well known history, it is probably all right to begin at the end. Go for it!
You struck a chord in my memory. My dad's cousin, a wannabe starlet who ended up a computer coder in California, whose identical twin sister married a prominent doctor in my high school hometown, Marshfield, Wisconsin, once told me this tidbit in 1968 from her sister. The two young actor brothers, James and Peter (Graves) A[u]rness, would often sneak into Marshfield and date two strikingly beautiful Gray sisters who worked at the clinic. They never married and the elder Miss Gray was my physical therapist for six months after I was paralyzed. I heard that they had a genetic disease they didn't want to pass on to children.
About that time, while watching underground movies in San Francisco, I saw Peter in what would be called a triple X film where the actors were naked, black-and-white, and had sex in some sort of utopia. It must've been near the start of his career and either buried or forgotten.
Ron
Taking Breaks, Multitasking, Fourteen Hour Days: Work Related Myths (Article) - 7/31/2018 8:26:31 AM
When I was in college I started to notice what I considered rather unnatural behavior. Students who would rather drink than eat. Spend all their time partying and then suddenly cram with "all nighters," and generally put off major assignments like term papers until the last couple days where they would push until the last minute to get the work in.
I was rather poor and we ate in restaurants, so my brother and I got up early had an unhealthy breakfast of coffee and pastry and then had several classes through the lunch hour (skipped lunch) and had an early afternoon cheap dinner that mostly consisted of a lettuce salad and hamburger basket. We had snacks in the evening like cookies our mother provided. We made up for our lack of nutritious food by splurging, but not overeating, when there was free food. We worked on our assignments in the afternoon and were always available for extracurricular activity and partying without worry after. There were students who studied all the time internet-related projects and didn't seem to have any fun. They generally didn't do very well. Some did, but it wasn't a lifestyle for me.
In my professional life, especially later, I always took time out for lunch and frequent breaks just like the five points you indicated from Pink's book. I worked on big projects all the time to get them done early, but switched to other projects daily unless there was some deadline. I hated rushed deadlines because of the mental and physical stress they always brought. While I didn't mind socializing while I worked interrupting my work for a while, and always seemed to have time to talk about about what they wanted to talk about, I found, near the end of my career, that going outside alone and just enjoying nature (in the city--a college campus) cleared my mind and relieved the stress of constantly focusing on my work.
Ron
Fatigue and Creativity: Lessons From My Dog, Shadow (Article) - 7/28/2018 11:22:48 AM
I do get a lot of my ideas while dreaming or daydreaming. That time when I have let go of all focused work that I do and try to relax. Those dreams or daydreams (I often lie awake for hours at night just thinking) are helping me sort out the previous day's activities and sometimes, latch onto a project that I'm working on.
Last night, for example, my twin brother sent me a short story that our younger brother had been struggling with for some time to get it exactly 5000 words. He had many more words originally but had to enter his Gothic story into website requirements. The story I read was tight, classic Gothic and I wanted to help him by posting it here on AD. Finally waking up, there was no story and I don't believe my younger brother writes any stories. Perhaps I should write it?
There does seem to be a lot of both fictional and historical literature available from that time. I remember reading and being enthralled with Quo Vadis in high school. When I wrote about the life of Pharaoh Seti II, I relied heavily on evidence that was drawn from the translation of the hieroglyphics. There was certainly contradictory information. I'm sure you have encountered the same thing with Pontius Pilate and Claudia.
But human stories repeat over and over again. Why we still admire and learn from Greek tragedies, Bible stories and Shakespeare. They never get old and change very little. Only the timeframe and setting changes.
Ron
Fatigue and Creativity: Lessons From My Dog, Shadow (Article) - 7/27/2018 6:24:35 AM
"but the essence of the message is ours alone…" I couldn't agree more. Seems many things come to the creative mind when we're wiped out physically and mentally, or just before we fall asleep. They certainly do for me. In dreams as well. Especially lucid dreams which I have regularly. My series of novels (A Monumental Journey) were brought into being out of a season of dreams. Enjoyed your thoughts here, Linn. They resonated with me. What you've learned and gleaned from Shadow is impressive. Thanks. r
Cheap Grace (Article) - 7/16/2018 9:23:56 AM
As I recall, I believe that Hitler imprisoned more of his own people that he did the Jews. Fear, more than anything, probably caused many to "pretend" to be in support of the regime. Many church leaders in Germany were executed or imprisoned. Bonhoeffer is certainly an example of what happened to those resistors.
As I read, you made me think of reasons discussed about how President Trump may be willing to, "pardon [forgive]" himself if accused of high crimes and misdemeanors.
Thank you for this article on what happened to the Lutheran Church under Adolf Hitler's evil.
Ron
Wisdom From One of the Dead White Guys (Article) - 7/4/2018 8:36:27 AM
I thought that education had been co-opted by money until I read your article. Your insight is tremendous. As I read I could see that I was in extreme minority as one who loved schooling not for wealth or power, but for knowledge and wisdom. Rare these days where young people are taught from youth that they have to learn "skills" and flexible so that they can keep up with the changing demands of society and succeed.
I have not read the Greeks like you have, but I too, have marveled at their insight over 2000 years ago. I often remember what I read in Plato's, The Republic, defining the kinds of government that are well known today but not by the general population, bombarded by ideologies.
The quote by Karl Rahner is quite intriguing. I do find that most Christians base their belief on some "special" connection through experience(s) they had.
Ron
