Claudia Shannon

Overall this book is sensational (in a good way). I like the made-up words “spandexing” and “chastitying”, as well as how a secret hideout becomes central to the story. No spoilers!

It's interesting to read this quite soon after I finished a similar romance novel (“European Tour”, L.V. Lewis, between a rock star and a pop princess). Two concerns: the protagonist's male lover could have been hinted at earlier because it's a bit unexpected to find the romantic element at around 21% of a romantic comedy; and the comic relief embodied by the grandmother figure might have a closer tie to to the central romance, though I felt that wasn't explored deeply enough. On the flip side, though, the book is light-hearted and funny, and the tone of the book, especially after the introduction of the protagonist's male lover, is its greatest strength.

This is a hilarious read.

Desires are scary. Be careful what you wish for. I was reading these hair-raising tales as the super-typhoon is approaching Hong Kong, and they darken my surroundings.

The first time I read it, I couldn't take the advice. But now I can. This book is systematic and an easy read. Recommended for the writer who needs an extra push to outline that pesky novel idea.

You're shaken out of the story somewhere in the middle.

A highly packed contemporary romance. The opening didn't grab my attention, but the most gripping part of the story is that it highlights the stigma celebrities go through when they fall in love.

Fun kids' book.

Engaging story with lots of religious references.

Beneath the handsome :p cover is a riveting page-turner. K.M. paints this world vividly and even throws in some surprising insights (twists?) about the interconnectedness of the real and dream worlds. Apart from a jarring unfamiliar name near the end (Pluto?) of the book, this book has a place alongside heralded portal fantasy novels.

Compared with K.M.'s free writing guide “5 Secrets to Story Structure”, this book is packed with examples from literature and film to illustrate the different parts of a novel. It has a heavy-duty feel to it, more akin to a reference book than something to be read in one sitting.

Upon finishing the section on the resolution, I wondered why I had only finished half of the book. It turns out that the rest of the book talks about effective scenes and sentences, and I wanted to bludgeon myself for thinking, “I didn't see that coming.”

This is a no-nonsense guide to entrepreneurship. Well worth the read!

I'm not very much into time travel tales, but this one is terrifying, riveting and irresistible. Worth a read for the chills and the chance to reflect on racial issues.

This is a funny book. If you like a quick and humorous take on a murder mystery, and you're in just for the plot, this is a nice read.

The first two stories are strong - this independent author seemed like a master by the time I finished the second story. The third is a little less satisfying because the cause and effect in Prince Laurence's reasonings are not so clear, hence a 4-star rating.

I wish there were diagrams to illustrate her process. I'm not sure about other readers, but I'm less attuned to her style of writing as well.

A very compassionate touch on living the writer's life. Highly recommended for writers new and experienced!

This guidebook takes an empathetic approach to outlining when it's many a writer's dreaded chore. Plenty of story examples demystify each step toward a novel outline. Highly recommended especially for self-proclaimed pantsers.

“Zero to Hero” (Peter Thiel) says that if one wants their business to break out, they should be a monopoly. A chapter in this book, though, gives me the impression that everyone has to compete in the business world. It's only true in general, and few entrepreneurs find the secret that's their cash cow. If that chapter on competition had swapped its fatalistic tone for an emphasis on self-education and networking, it would have been more helpful.