Most of you know I am a bookaholic. A greedy guzzler of books, both fiction and non-fiction and across most genres. Here in the blogosphere I have found plenty of other readers, and also writers to tempt my weak-willed self. R. Mac Wheeler is one of those writers.
He is a prolific and varied writer and has just released his 28th publication. I really don't know how he does anything else but he does. He tells me that Timmy needs new crutches and he really needs to sell some books.
The 28th book in question is Book 3 of the 6 Ways Series I have read them all, and realised how much I had invested in that reading when I found myself arguing with him about Mar, the protagonist for the series. Not about the way he had written her - but who she was. It really is a bit embarrassing when you argue with an author about their creation.
And I still insist that he is wrong. She isn't even a border-line sociopath. She cares for way too many people. She is difficult, and she is certainly damaged by her up-bringing and her experiences but a sociopath or a psychopath (and he has described her as both) she is not.
So, without further ado, here is the blurb about the helter-skelter rides which make up this series. I hope that some of you will visit him, will read one (or more) of his books - and would be interested to know whether you agree with me, or with him.
Book 3 of the 6 Ways Series
At
eighteen it’s tough to decide a life path when the threat of pandemic
hangs over the world, your brother is the genius who engineered the
plague, and you’re repeatedly drawn into the fight against the
terrorists spreading it. Plenty of people would kill an Abernathy on
sight so it would be wise for Mar to visit the dojo, otherwise play
invisible, but her brother is manipulating her into another adventure.If you haven't read Book 1 or 2, and like to start at the beginning...
BOOK 1
Alcoholic
parents treated Margarite as an unwelcome stranger, then left her at
fourteen with her thirty year old autistic brother. At sixteen, things
really sour, thanks to her brother. A medical researcher, Reggie
engineers the ultimate plague. Fanatics seek to control him. The
government pursues them as terrorists. Margarite witnesses ruthlessness,
compassion, and competence she couldn't imagine from her brother, but
the world needs a miracle. The best she and Reggie can do is wing it.BOOK 2
Nightmares.
Panic attacks. Depression. Margarite is hammered by the typical issues
of a seventeen year old loner, whose parents sympathized with insane
people intending to collapse civilization. The few who care about Mar
have more concerns. Her drinking. Fighting. Jumping out of airplanes.
Her
brother engineered the plague that’s breaking out across the globe and
she holds a little guilt for not stopping it. Or being one of the first
to die. Still, conspirators behind what they call The Correction are not
done with her.
The Author
R. Mac Wheeler writes about
characters with a lot of baggage, men who make many men look like wimps, tough
chicks that can whip most men...puts them in situations that push them to the
edge...in worlds that don’t overly stretch the imagination.
A former IT
professional, he now focuses full time on suspense, paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy that leverages the quirkiness and baggage of
real life more often than the far fetched.
Visit his Home Page: WWW.RMACWHEELER.COM
His job is done if you are that deep into his characters. Kudos to R. MacWheeler.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: He deserves the kudos - but I am also very weak willed.
DeleteI agree with Sandra!
Delete:-)
A Suitable Boy had me arguing with the writer [in my head, of course].
neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): I love it when characters become real and develop a life of their own.
DeleteNever heard of this series before but I'm happy to check it out.
ReplyDeletee: It is not to everyone's taste (is anything?) but is a fun romp.
DeleteI love that the series is so intriguing that you've become so invested in the protagonist. I hate to admit I haven't read any of this author's work, but I do know he is also a wonderful photographer.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: He is indeed a skilled photographer. Where he finds the time is beyond me.
Delete6 Ways to Mental is the one I haven't read, hopping over to Amazon right now.
ReplyDeleteRiver: He will be very happy.
DeleteI shouldn't comment until I've read them, but...it seems something a good editor should have double-checked. Neither word has an entry in the OED of 1960.Wiki, on the other hand, has several links within its definition.
ReplyDeleteGood , thought-provoking post, EC
dinahmow: See his comment below. In our exchanges I apparently mistook Mar's thoughts for his own...
DeleteSue, Thank you so much for the exposure. I love to expose myself. Just ask anyone. And I look forward to hearing your friends decisions about Mar.
ReplyDeleteBut really, I'm innocent. I (bold, capitalized) don't say she's a sociopath. She (bold, capitalized) believes that of herself. I just type away as I hear her inner monologue. It's all her.
Love ya, Sue.
(So what do you want to read next?)
Author R. Mac Wheeler: Me? I want to read everything. So many books, so little time. I will die in the attempt though.
DeleteI apologise if I mistook Mar's voice for yours. About time she started listening to other people. Yes, I know. She is a teenager. It isn't going to happen anytime soon. She and Reggie are both very intelligent - and not very bright.
It's amazing how much some people can do with the same 24 hours we all have. The series sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: There are rather a lot of people who make me feel inadequate for lots of reason - and achievers are right up there. The series is a helter-skelter roller coaster ride.
DeletePut me down as shouting right along. I was recently introduced to these characters and fell in love with them!
ReplyDeleteJacquelineand...: I am glad, because I have a sneaking suspicion it was me who nudged you towards them.
DeleteA great and honest review. I am yet to read any of the titles, and I think I will at the right time. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti: The blurb comes from the man himself - but I hope you do find the time to explore either these or some of his other books.
DeleteAh, you like R Mac.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: R Mac likes birds, trees, clouds and feeds my greedy bookaholic self. It would be mean of me not to like him.
DeleteAn excellent review as always, EC...but I don't think they're of my taste...but I shouldn't say anything further, and I won't until I, perhaps, read one...then I have the right to form and give an opinion.
ReplyDeleteYour review, however, has raised my interest... :)
Lee: He has a wide range of other books you might like better - but his love for trees mean that they are ONLY available as e-books. I know you are, like me, not a fan. I really, really like the feel of 'real' books and feel a bit of a hypocrite because I also love trees.
DeleteSounds like a great writer. Have to look into some of his books.
ReplyDeleteMary
mxtodis123 ~ Mary: He is such a varied writer too. Some dark, some fun. And I still have a lot of exploring of his work to do myself.
DeleteThese look fascinating. Mar jumps out of airplanes? That really IS weird. :-) I'll have to take a look at these books, for sure. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Mar does indeed jump out of airplanes. Stress release. We hear about it, but never travel with her. Or haven't yet...
DeleteDoesn't sound like my cup of tea but how do I know until I take a sip.....
ReplyDeleteMolly Bon: I didn't think it would be mine either when I picked up the first one...
DeleteHe should pay you a publicity fee!
ReplyDeleteALOHA
ComfortSpiral
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Cloudia: He feeds my bookaholic self which is payment enough.
Delete28 suspenseful books? That is astounding.
ReplyDeleteGood going, Mac. Thanks for the recommendation(s), EC.
Rawknrobyn: How does he do it?
DeleteWow, EC! 28 books! I'm so impressed! If only I could finish one! I will check these out, but probably from Book 1.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well. :-)
Denise Covey: Writers still fill me with awe. And as I learn more that awe is not diminished. At all.
DeleteHappy birthday for tomorrow.
I wish Ihad the time to read more but I suppose I an busy doing other things.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: Very busy.
DeleteI like authors who write characters with a lot of baggage. It renders their narrative more realistic. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: I never believe in characters without baggage. We all have it, to some degree.
DeleteNice of you to post the reviews, the more the merrier.
ReplyDeleteHe often comments on my blog, which is lovely,,,I always appreciate all who comment..
Happy reading.
Margaret-whiteangel: He is a generous blogger, and person.
DeleteYou've certainly got me curious to read about her now to see how I weigh in on the debate. The girl sounds a bit like someone I know in real life. :)
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Mar is damaged, difficult - and won my heart.
DeleteThese books sound like my cup of pages!
ReplyDeleteI love your passion, sweets! xx
Checking them out now.
My Inner Chick: So many books, so little time...
DeleteMac is truly prolific! I am in awe of him. Congrats on the newest release. The blurbs sound shudder-ific!
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: Sometimes I would like to beg, borrow or steal some people's drive. And then my lazy self settles down in the corner with a book again.
DeleteAwesome shout out! Another book added to the to do list!
ReplyDeleteSonya Ann: Is your list as big as mine?
DeleteI feel like I've heard that name before but never seen these books before. They seem like they might be up my alley though. Might have to check them out when I get done with the trilogy I'm on.
ReplyDeleteRobert Bennett: A trilogy you are reading or one you are writing?
DeleteDear EC, I looked at the library website but found not books by Wheeler. So I order the first book in the series as an e-book for my iPad. I'll let you know my thoughts. I mostly read mysteries, contemporary and historical both. And the only series I've read is Harry Potter.
ReplyDeleteI like the new type face you are using. Type faces truly have "personalities"! Peace.
Dee: I was having trouble reading Blogger's default font. Good luck with Mac Wheeler's book. I hope you like it. Not precisely a mystery - though there are some elements of that.
DeleteI love that you are so into this series that you argued with the author about the main character. That is awesome! Such passion really makes me interested in reading the series. I like books that bring out emotions. Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~ Jess: I really hadn't realised just how invested with the series I had become. It is not my usual fare. He worked (sneaky) magic.
DeleteJust stopped by to say hey and have a pleasant productive day.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: Thank you. Mundane tasks (groceries and washing the kitchen floor) but I do feel better now they are done. I hope your day is also productive - in more exciting and creative ways.
DeleteThanks for these EC. I will put them on the reading list.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: R Mac Wheeler will be v happy.
DeleteThanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: A pleasure.
DeleteHola,,espero que estés bien..te mando un saludo desde Murcia...y feliz otoño...
ReplyDeletealp: Thank you so much. It is spring here, and rapidly (too rapidly) moving towards Summer. I hope your autumn is beautiful.
DeleteSounds good! I just now bought book one. If you're so invested in this series, it must be good, and if you're arguing about one of the characters, it must be even better than good. (From your description, my money's on your assessment of the character. Pbbbbt! What do writers know...? HA!)
ReplyDeleteSusan: I hope you are not disappointed. The series doesn't fall into my 'usual' (whatever that is) reading and I was surprised how quickly and how thoroughly I became invested in the characters.
DeleteI'll have to add that to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I'm recommending anything, absolutely ANYTHING, written by Kate Atkinson. Have you read any?
Shammickite: I have read, and retain in my overcrowded book shelves many of Kate Atkinson's books. And you have reminded me that I need to track down the compagnion book to her Life after Life.
DeleteI'm reading it right now.... A God in Ruins. And I'm in tears most of the time reading it, not that it's sad, but somehow it reaches out to me and gets me in my heart. OK so that sounds silly!
DeleteShammickite: Some books just speak to us. That doesn't sound silly to me at all.
Delete28 books? That surely is some dedicated writer, and will be enjoyed by a dedicated reader!
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: A dedicated writer who crosses genres with apparent ease.
DeleteWow- I didn't realize R. Mac had written that many books! One day soon I am going to check out this series.
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: Amazing isn't it? And he still walks, and hikes and rides and runs and takes photos and blogs...
DeleteInteresting premise for a series of stories EC. I suppose when you invest so much in a character, you want that character to live on ~ as both the author and the reader.
ReplyDeleteI could never imagine arguing with the author about their character ~ but I know there are a lot of fans of various authors out there who do like to influence the author's next story line.
carol: It felt (and still feels) incredibly presumptious to be arguing with an author. And I wouldn't dream of trying to change/influence anything. His work.
Deletethis is an author and series I hadn't heard of, no time right now but I know if I ever need a recommendation I have only to stop by here and find so many to choose from.
ReplyDelete“Most of you know I am a bookaholic. A greedy guzzler of books”
ReplyDeleteThe word for what you are is bibliophage, and you can now use it with reckless abandon. I am like you, only I mostly read old stuff.
Snowbrush: I am familiar with the terms bibliophage and bibliophile but they somehow sound more focused on 'literature' than my approach to reading. Old, new, literary, agreeable trash are all grist for my mill.
DeleteBeing a teenager sucks! I don't know if I want to read about it again.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: I certainly wouldn't want to go through it again. You are right. It sucks. And Mar has to deal with teenage suckdom and rather a lot of other issues as well. No wonder she can be a cow.
Delete