Mary C. M. Phillips

Blarney

Austen mash-up readers may recognize the name of Steve Hockensmith.  He’s the author of the New York Times bestseller, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and Dreadfully Ever After.

His new book, Blarney, is deplete of any Bennet sisters and nasty unmentionables though.  It’s a collection of detective/crime short stories.

I usually don’t read this genre, but since I like Hockensmith’s writing so much, I took a chance.  And, have no regrets.  The stories are well-written with interesting characters with a few epiphany-like endings, which I of course delight in.

I’m also a big fan of short stories in general; I love anthologies.  Always have.  Maybe it’s because there’s less of a commitment to make when picking-up a book of short stories; you can start anywhere you like; and jump around more freely.

The key though to a good short story is that it must be…good.  Maybe better-than-good.  The words have to be pithy and concise and move at a quicker pace than, say, a 70,000 word novel.  You need that certain knack to make it happen.  Like Kafka.  (The Metamorphosis is a novella with only 42 pages; a 21,810 word count).

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; Dawn of the Dreadfuls

Blarney is a quick, fun, and humorous read.  It’s full of short mysteries — with cops and robbers — and happy endings.  A good number of the crimes are solved by the recurring and likable character, Larry Erie.

Erie is a street smart former police officer who has recently lost his wife and reluctantly turns to private detective work with the encouragement of his lovable and more sociable friend, Bass.

In Blarney, you’ll find crime, guns, beer, baseball and…lots of animals.  If you’re looking for a trace of Jane Austen, it won’t be found.  Maybe a trace of Jimmy Breslin/Ace Ventura…but no Austen.

All in all, I would read anything by Steve Hockensmith as he is simply a gifted writer and one I will continue to follow.

Many people leave the church; many return.

Coming November 2012

My story, Jumper Cables, is included in the new book, Finding Church (Stories of Leaving, Returning, Changing & Transforming) coming in November from Civitas Press.

I’m in the “returning” camp.

It’s a story about imperfection; a human trait that will never be in short supply.

Grateful again that my words will go further than my own laptop.

Imperfectly yours,

Mary

One more week till Mothers’ Day!

An early Happy Mothers’ Day wish to all the great moms out there that encourage their children to be the best that they can be as individuals.

A Cup of Comfort for Mothers is full of touching and bittersweet stories from daughters, sons, and mothers from all across the country.

You can read a story about my mom (via link below to Googlebooks) on page 85.

Tiaras and Rhinestones

Once in a golden hour

I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said, a weed.

To and fro they went
Thro’ my garden-bower,
And muttering discontent
Cursed me and my flower.

Then it grew so tall
It wore a crown of light,
But thieves from o’er the wall
Stole the seed by night.

Sow’d it far and wide
By every town and tower,
Till all the people cried
`Splendid is the flower.’

Read my little fable:
He that runs may read.
Most can raise the flowers now,
For all have got the seed.

And some are pretty enough,
And some are poor indeed;
And now again the people
Call it but a weed.

—  Alfred Lord Tennyson