Book Review: “Dead in the Water” & “The Devil’s Playground”
Posted: September 25, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, cozy mystery, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Review, romance, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Carin Hart, cozy mystery, Dead in the Water, Emma Ainsley, Kaye Lynne Booth, Romantic Thriller, The Devil's Playground, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About Dead in the Water
Sometimes a life change…
Can toss you into deep water.
Nail salon owner, Lorelei Baker, is more than ready for a change after her divorce. So, when her cousin, Carolina Hart – heroine of the Hart Times Cozy Mysteries series – tells her about a job possibility, she jumps at the chance.
Becoming a kitchen manager on a river cruise boat wasn’t something she’d ever dreamed she’d do, but it couldn’t be much more dramatic than running a nail salon…could it?
Lorelei dives right into the position and gets along with everyone onboard, with one exception. There’s a busybody activities director, who thinks she runs the entire ship, and refuses to see it any other way.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Water-Cruising-Clues-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CXJ5RQ5T
My Review of Dead in the Water
I purchased a copy of Dead in the Water, by Emma Ainsley through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I chose this book when I was looking for a cozy mystery to lighten the mood after several dark fiction stories, as a sort of pallet cleanser. I was not disappointed. It is a short story, and it keeps the pages turning, only taking me two sittings to finish it.
Lorelie Baker is headed for a new start after her old life crumbled around her. She becomes a last-minute hire as kitchen manager on a riverboat cruise line, but steps into more than she bargained for. The activities director is downright hostile for no apparent reason, having little kitchen experience, she is unprepared for her position, and who’d have guessed she’d be plagued with sea sickness every time they are anchored. Before she can learn the ropes, the activities director goes overboard, and it feels as if she’s the main suspect. But there is something about the recent events that bothers her, and the other staff is acting strangely, and she just can’t help but search for answers to appease her curiosity.
A light, fun, who dun-it. I give Dead in the Water five quills.
About The Devil’s Playground
In the Devil’s Playground, a Sinner always plays to win.
Nicolette
Back in Springfield for the first time in years, I needed money, and I needed it fast.
When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn’t going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never do: I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule the seedy city.
Considering I’m trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance.
The Devil’s Playground isn’t my first choice, but what else can I do? I make it clear that I’m only interested in serving drinks… until some big shot gambler offers me ten grand for one night.
I take him up on it—only to have him wager his night with me to another guy… and lose.
Now I’m expected to honor my deal with the Syndicate’s underboss, and the charming bastard who hired me for this job in the first place… while also hiding any ties I have to his enemies.
Royce
From the moment Nicolette walked into the Playground, I wanted her—but then I brought her on as one of our girls, and she was suddenly off-limits.
I learned the hard way: work and pleasure don’t mix. If I’d met her anywhere else, I might’ve taken a shot at the waitress, but she needed the job more than she needed a boyfriend, so I backed off.
And, okay, that’s a damn lie. I didn’t pursue her, but hell if I didn’t take a page out of Devil’s book and start watching over Nic from the shadows…
I would have left it at that, though, until one of the Playground’s more well-known wallets set his eyes on my girl.
They don’t call me “Rolls” for nothing. I played him for the night she agreed to, telling myself that I was just saving her from what the sick and twisted customer wanted to do to her.
Then I get my first taste of Nicolette, and I realize that one night will never be enough… and I’ll stop anyone who tries to take her from me.
*The Devil’s Playground is the second book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of “Rolls” Royce and the one woman he’ll do anything to save, Nicolette Williams.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Playground-Deal-Devil-Book-
My Review of The Devil’s Playground
I purchased a digital copy of The Devil’s Playground, by Carin Hart, through a KindofBookDeal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of its stunning cover.
The Devil’s Playground is Book 2 in the Deal with the Devil series, but it works well as a stand-alone. There are trigger warnings for this book, and the first half of the book is filled with explicit, steamy sex scenes. Once the groundwork has been laid, the story moves forward with action and danger in the second half that keeps readers on the edge of their seats and pages turning.
Nicolette Williams is on the run from a possessive mafia enforcer who thought he owned her. When she comes out of hiding and returns home to care for her mother as she recovers from a freak car accident, she is forced to take a job with the Sinners’ Syndicate to make ends meet, and gets romantically involved with the Sinners’ sexy underboss, ‘Rolls’ Royce. She tries to tell herself she can remain under the radar of the man she needs to avoid and stay safe. After all, the Sinners protect their own, and no matter what she was before, she is now one of them as the love affair between she and Royce heats up and becomes serious.
A steamy, edge-of-your seat thriller with well-developed characters, and a well-crafted plot. I give The Devil’s Playground five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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An Eye on Art: Murals of Victor and Cripple Creek, Colorado
Posted: September 21, 2026 Filed under: An Eye On Art, Art, history, Writing to be Read | Tags: An Eye On Art, Artwork, Cripple Creek, Kaye Lynne Booth, Murals, Victor, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
Go through any town and you can get an idea of what type of people live there by the art that is displayed. The Colorado mining towns of Victor and Cripple Creek are no exception. I’ve not seen any small towns quite like these two, which strive to preserve their heritage. But another thing which sets these two historic mining towns apart in my mind are their unique and colorful murals.
When done well, this type of art can be right up there with what you would find in a gallery. Check it out.
The Murals of Victor, Colorado
First, is the Black Monarch Boutique Hotel in Victor, Colorado that caters to horror movie fans. Each room is decorated to commemorate a different film. On the back of the building, there are two large murals.
Victor’s mining history is commemorated in a cement retaining wall.
Even Victor’s governing forces get in on the action with murals.
Last, but not least, check out Victor’s fire station.
The Murals of Cripple Creek Colorado
Not to be outdone, Cripple Creek has it’s own distinct artwork commemorating its mining heritage.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
__________________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
_______________________________________
This segment of “An Eye on Art” with Kaye Lynne Booth is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
Historical Women’s Fiction
Get Your Copy Today!
Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1
Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West
Marta: Coming in March, 2027
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Audio Book Review: “Night Shift Witch” & “Magnolia Bay Mystery: Tainted Taffy”
Posted: September 18, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, cozy mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: April Doty, Audio Book Review, Cate Lawley, cozy mystery, Fiona Grace, Kaye Lynne Booth, Magnolia Bay Mystery, mystery, Night Shift Witch, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About Night Shift Witch
A witch with a side hustle
Star needs another paying gig while she finishes her witch training. Why not at a funeral home? It fits her goth image, and the funeral director is sort of hot…even if he does wear a suit and tie.
Less than a day on the job as makeup artist to the dead, and Star discovers one of their accidental death clients didn’t die accidentally.
Before she knows it, she’s neck-deep in paranormal intrigue and her completely human, way-too-nice-for-his-own-good boss is right there with her.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-Witch-Mysteries-Book/dp/B096T5W2LG/r
Chirp: Night Shift Witch by Cate Lawley – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Night Shift Witch
I purchased an audiobook copy of Night Shift Witch, by Cate Lawly and narrated by April Doty from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
April Dorey is the perfect narrator to capture Miss Lawly’s laid-back writing style. I must say, she did an excellent job. The tone of the story is set by that same writing style, so all the pieces fall into place perfectly.
What a fun story!
I chose this book because of the cool, purpley cover, and was pleasantly surprised with a light-hearted magical murder mystery, that tickled my fancy and made me smile all the way through.
Star, a goth witch in training, lands a job at a funeral home in the real world to support her while she finishes her studies in the magical realm. Throw in a hot funeral director for a boss, a mysterious death which turns out to be magical murder, and an old boyfriend who is a wizard enforcer to help her solve the case. The list of suspects grows as our trio delves into the mysterious demise of their non-human victim, who should never have showed up in a human funeral home, and it turns out, wasn’t such a stand up guy.
A fun, cute, and light-hearted tale of magic and murder, with a touch of romance. I give Night Shift Witch five quills.
About Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy
On the charming, historic isle of Magnolia Bay, Autumn Ray runs her bed-and-breakfast and enjoys a different pace of life. But whether she likes it or not, Autumn will have to step into the role of sleuth to defend not only her name, but her home.
Summer brings more than just tourists to Magnolia Bay; it ushers in a chilling mystery when poison taints the sugar-sand shores. Autumn Ray must trade her tranquil routine for detective work when she’s thrust into unraveling the murder of a beloved local confectioner. Will her sleuthing skills prove sweet enough to catch a killer? Or will she face the bitter aftermath of a community torn apart by suspicion?
Purchase Links:
Chirp: The Tainted Taffy (A Magnolia Bay Mystery—Book 1) by Fiona Grace – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy
I purchased an audiobook copy of Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy, by Fiona Grace and narrated by the synthesized voice of Olivia, from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to featuring AI narration. I have to say that the quality of the narration was excellent, and had I not known it was a synthesized voice, I would not have guessed that it wasn’t a human narrator. With the AI debate blazing on both sides, I’m not sure if that is good or bad, but I feel obligated to state my honest opinion about it.
Autumn Ray is an Inn owner on Magnolia Bay, a quaint little island, reminiscent of days of old as a matter of choice. There are no automobiles, and the shops are filled with old fashioned goodness. When Autumn finds the local sweet shop owner dead, after eating a poisoned sandwich, small town tongues fly and the tourists, who are the islander’s main source of income every summer, begin to clear out. Autumn is determined to help the understaffed and unprepared island police chief to solve the crime, and together with her dog, Max, she is hot on the trail, making this a classic cozy mystery.
I had a hard time buying in to the old-fashioned island community that has been held back in time, and just like Miss Marple, Autumn sticks her nose in places she would never get away with in real life. Also, I’m not sure where the tainted taffy comes in, since the murder weapon was a poisoned sandwich. But, Autumn is determined to find the murderer and save Magnolia Bay’s tourist season, despite being warned to stay clear of police business. But cancellations are coming in, and people are leaving, not wanting to vacation where a killer may be lurking. With a list of folks with possible motives, Autumn pieces together the puzzle, but can she solve the mystery before the guests all clear out and bankrupt the island businesses?
A well-crafted cozy that will keep you smiling. I give Magnolia Bay Mystery: The Tainted Taffy four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Down the Rabbit Hole: Mining in the Cripple Creek Mining District
Posted: September 16, 2026 Filed under: Down the Rabbit Hole, history, Western, Writing, Writing to be Read | Tags: Cripple Creek, Down the Rabbit Hole, history, Kaye Lynne Booth, Mining towns, Writing to be Read 12 Comments
Research and sometimes, just life, find me delving into all sorts of unlikely, but quite interesting things. And who among us hasn’t found themselves following the information trail down a rabbit hole which leads to all kinds of unexpected factoids. Some of those factoids get used in stories, and some just get filed away for later. And that’s what this blog series is all about. The unexpected factoids which I’ve filed away and now wish to share with you.
I hope you’ll choose to tune in here and join me. You never know what the next segment will be about. But hopefully you will find things that interest and entertain you, even if it is a subject you’ve never given a thought about.
Won’t you join me in my plunge down the rabbit hole once more?
History of Robert Womack & the Origins of Cripple Creek
In the 1880s, the area around what is now Cripple Creek, Colorado was mostly ranch and farmland. It was toward the end of the big gold rush, “Pike’s Peak or Bust”, when most Colorado mining towns had already been established, that Robert Miller “Bob” Womack discovered gold in Poverty Gulch. When word got out, the last major Colorado gold rush was underway, and in 1891-92, the Cripple Creek Mining District was created and the town of Cripple Creek was established.
In 1878, a rancher named Robert Womack found a sizeable chunk of gold in Poverty Gulch, but no one believed his drunken bragging when he boasted of it. He established a claim in 1890 to the El Dorado Load, (which would later become the Gold King Mine).
Eventually, the Gold King Mine became a single shaft, underground mine, reaching a 1,083 feet depth, with veins up to 39 feet long and 6 feet wide, and it produced over five million dollars’ worth of gold. But, Robert Womack sold his claim for a paltry amount, (from $300 -$500, and a bottle of liquor), when he was down on his luck, and he died in poverty, in Colorado Springs in 1908.
His memory was honored in Cripple Creek with Womack’s Casino and a statue of his image in Cripple Creek City Park. No longer in operation, the building still exists and Womack’s Casino is now the Century Casino.
The Last Colorado Gold Rush: Pike’s Peak or Bust
The last Colorado gold rush was started by Womack’s discovery of gold in Poverty Gulch, and was accelerated by the discovery of a rich vein at the Independence Mine by Winfield Scott Stratton, bringing thousands of prospectors and entrepreneurs flocking to Cripple Creek by the droves. Cripple Creek was frequented by at least thirty millionaires, who made their fortunes there. And the famous bordello, run by Madame Pearl DeVere, required a credit check to verify millionaire status before receiving an appointment. (To visit another of my rabbit holes, and learn more about prostitution in Cripple Creek, and the old west in general, see my post on the WordCrafter Sarah Book Blog Tour, “The Soiled Doves of the American West”.)
Officially named the Cripple Creek Mining District in 1894, it encompassed the town of Cripple Creek, as well as the surrounding towns of Victor, Goldfield, Anaconda and Independence. By 1910, the district had produced 22 million Troy ounces of gold, worth over $340 million dollars; making it one of the richest gold camps in North America, surpassing the California and Alaska gold rushes combined.
Cripple Creek Mining District Today
Today, modern mining operations continue on Battle Mountain, using specialized extraction methods, such as chlorination and cyanide leaching (heap leaching), and open pit methods at the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold mine, (CC&V), formerly the historical Cresson Mine; the richest gold mine in Colorado history. In 2025, it reported the production of 2.7 million troy ounces in Proven and Probable Reserves, which is a decline from 2019, when the reported Proven and Probable Reserves was 3.4 million ounces. It’s planned to continue production until 2037 with projected average production of 141,000 ounces of gold annually.
The vast open pit operation consumes the entire peak of Battle Mountain, covering over 12,000 acres. But, some of this area is unavailable to mining operations, because it sits in the middle of the Cripple Creek Historic District, and Cripple Creek and Victor take their heritage seriously. Many homes sit empty on mining property around the Victor and Goldfield area with their doors and windows removed to let the elements do as they will. My theory is, that it isn’t legal to tear the houses down so they can mine the land, even though they own it, because of the location in the historic district, so they leave the houses and let the elements destroy them naturally. It takes longer, but eventually, they will be able to legally mine those areas.
Much of the 2 1/2 miles between Cripple Creek and Victor drives across one big tailings pile, although measures of restoration can be seen. The mine operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with trucks making the trip down into the pit to load up and carry it back out in an endless circuit.
But, the drive also provides plenty of historic mining equipment to be seen along the way. (There’s that historic district stuff again.) And the mining company has provided an area near Victor and Goldfield for public access to walking trails through their historic mining leftovers.
Modern Day Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek began as a ranch and farming community and has gone from boom town, to ghost town, to quaint historic tourist town, to historic gambling mecca. Although, legalized gambling came to Cripple Creek in 1991, the Historic Preservation Committee requires the historic buildings be preserved, and the original alleys and brick lined streets still maintain the historic mining atmosphere and Victorian charm. This makes it a very different from the bright lights and gaudy buildings of Las Vegas, or even the closer, Central City/Blackhawk gambling district, which was also built in the two historic mining towns, without the historic preservation.
One of my fondest family memories when I was a little girl of 8 or 9 years old, and my parents took me to Cripple Creek to visit a dinner theater, where we saw a melodrama while we dined. As a nine-year-old, the audience participation was great fun and I booed and hissed with the best of them. Afterwards, we took an evening stroll up Bennett Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare in Cripple Creek, and I can remember walking over the original brick sidewalks.
You see, in 1896, Cripple Creek suffered two devastating fires within a week’s time. The first started in the Central Dance Hall on Meyers Avenue and spread quickly through the central business district, killing two people. Just as they began the cleanup and started rebuilding what was lost, a second fire broke out in the Portland Hotel on Second Street, even more devastating than the first, destroying most of the buildings that hadn’t been destroyed in the first fire. As a result, it was decided that all further construction in the town would be required to be in brick, including roads and sidewalks.
Today, many of the roads and sidewalks have been replaced, but the original facades and upper floors of the historic buildings remain intact and have been preserved. Even the newer structures like the huge hotel, casino and parking garage built onto what used to be Bronco Billy’s, by the Chamonix Casino was required to be designed to blend into the historic atmosphere.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
______________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
_________________________________________
This segment of “Down the Rabbit Hole” with Kaye Lynne Booth is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
Historical Women’s Fiction
Get Your Copy Today!
Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1
Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West
Marta: Coming in March, 2027
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Everyone is a Critic: 1883
Posted: September 14, 2026 Filed under: Drama, Everyone is a Critic, Review, Television review, Western 7 Comments
After watching two full series of 1923, on Paramount+, and enjoying it much more than expected, (see my review here), I decided to give 1883 a try, which is said to be a prequel to 1923, in the Yellowstone saga. (Yes, I know. I watched them backward.) I’m an emotional viewer, (and reader), and all I can say is, if you choose to watch this single season series, be prepared to cry. I think I cried during almost every episode at some point, especially toward the end of this heart-rending coming-of-age story.
This may be the beginning of the Yellowstone saga, but it is also the story of a spirited young woman coming 0f age on the Oregon trail in 1883. Elsa Dutton, superbly played by Isabel May, is an 18-year-old girl traveling with her family by wagon train along with a group of German immigrants, and this is truly her story. Told through Elsa’s eyes viewers experience the awe of a rising sun, the beauty of the open prairies, and the excitement of hunting a buffalo on horseback. And yet, this young woman is filled with wisdom beyond her years, sharing philosophical thoughts that may be spot on.
The big-name star in this series is Sam Elliot, who plays Captain Shea Brennan, leader and guide of the immigrant wagon train. He and his partner, Thomas (LaMonica Garrett), lead a group of unskilled and unwitting German immigrants on the trail to Oregon, where they can get land for themselves and start a new life. They are joined by the Dutton family, Jacob (Tim McGraw) and his wife, Margaret (Faith Hill), their daughter Elsa and son, five-year-old John, who is cuter than a button.
Elsa proves to be a skilled cowgirl and changes her way of dressing to fit the part, as she first dons pants, then chaps, then a beaded vest of native American attire. Each change makes her less ladylike, much to her mother’s chagrin, and more a wild part of the land she roams. The blooming woman loves and loses and loves again along the journey, and she witnesses death and heartache firsthand. They picked the perfect young actress to play the part as Isabel May’s smile lights up the world and you can see her love of life in her eyes.
As the wagons face tragedy and death, again and again. No matter how the ways of the immigrants are from that of their guides, they prove that all grieve when they’ve lost, and all are willing to sacrifice to achieve their dreams, although those dreams may also be very different. Man’s greed and lust are also common themes throughout as men try to take that which does not belong to them and profit off other’s misfortune at every turn.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
___________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
____________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” with Kaye Lynne Booth is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
Historical Women’s Fiction
Get Your Copy Today!
Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1
Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West
Marta: Coming in July, 2026
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Book Review: “The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic” & “A Jar of Thursday”
Posted: September 11, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Gothic, Mystery, Review, Romantic Comedy | Tags: A Jar of Thursday, Book Review, Gothic Horror Mystery, Kaye Lynne Booth, Linsey Hall, Liz Hedgecock, Romantic Comedy, The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic
So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…
1. Never get involved with magic
2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England
3. And definitely don’t fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you’ve hated for years
So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It’s the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.
But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.
This’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.
Riiiight.
The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic is a fun, frothy romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the first in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Girls-Guide-Magic-romantic-ebook/dp/B0C511BLPN
My Review of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic
I purchased a digital copy of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic, by Linsey Hall, from a KindofBook deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
A magic contest. What could be more fun? But when Gran asks Aria to compete to win the Garden of Enchantment and save Gran’s shop and, possibly, the town, Aria wants nothing to do with it. Her magic has always been broken. Her specialty is blowing things up… accidentally. Yet, she returns home to Charming Cove even as she protests that she has no intention of competing.
Callen Hawthorne, a handsome and powerful wizard, (emphasis on handsome), who happens to be a billionaire and is used to getting his way is one of Aria’s competitors. The same Callen Hawthorne who bought her special place and turned it into a busy cafe, making her hate him. Or at least, making her want to hate him so bad that she believes it.
The harder she tries to bow out of the competition, the more things happen that makes her feel she must compete. After all, her Gran’s shop, and possibly the whole town may depend on her to champion them. The fun of solving riddles in a magical treasure hunt, meeting each new challenge, and watching the two opponents/love birds figure things out about each other, and about themselves, are all the ingredients needed for this romantic comedy recipe.
A truly fun read. I smiled all the way through. I give The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic five quills.
About A Jar of Thursday
When Jack Hargreaves takes a job with Fingers Molloy, it doesn’t quite go to plan. Fingers turns out to be a time-travelling burglar, with a host of ingenious devices supplied by the mysterious Mr Smith. And the things they’re stealing are, frankly, odd. But Jack is in no position to pick and choose — for Jack has a secret too…
Sherlock Holmes is convinced that Fingers Molloy works for his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Yet Inspector Lestrade won’t take him seriously. How can the great detective prove he is right?
The further in Jack gets, the more serious — and mysterious — things seem. But breaking free and coming clean could land Jack in not just trouble, but danger…
A Jar of Thursday is the first novella in the Sherlock & Jack series, set in 1890s London.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Jar-Thursday-adventure-featuring-Sherlock/dp/1539399230
My Review of A Jar of Thursday
I purchased a digital copy of A Jar of Thursday, by Liz Hedgecock through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
It may not be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I’m always up for a good Sherlock Holmes mystery. Told from the perspectives of Jack and Watson, this super-sleuth mystery is filled with surprises. Hedgecock does an excellent job of keeping to the Holmes style and character.
Jack takes a job as an assistant, but isn’t clear as to the type of work expected. When it is discovered that the new employer is a time traveling thief, however, Jack can’t afford to be choosy, as she has a few secrets that need to remain undisclosed, like the fact that he is a she, and she’s on the run. But, doing being an assistant to a thief, even a time traveling one, could be dangerous, or even deadly.
Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes is on the case, convinced that the mastermind behind the crimes is his old adversary, Dr. Moriarty, but he can’t seem to get Inspector Lestrade on board. Although in the dark as to his methods, Dr. Watson is by his side, as he unravels the mystery of the time traveling thief.
Classic style that’s on the mark. I give A Jar of Thursday five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Writer’s Corner: Preserving The Craft of Writing
Posted: September 7, 2026 Filed under: AI Technology, Editing, Writer's Corner, Writing, writing craft | Tags: AI Technology, Editing, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writer's Corner, Writing to be Read 6 Comments
Advice for writing success I seem to be hearing a lot, is to “Put out more books”. I first heard this advice several years ago, from bestselling author, Kevin J. Anderson, and while it is good advice, he wasn’t talking about cranking out a gajillion sub-par books with AI in order to get rich quick. He was talking about becoming prolific and crafting some quality works of literature, because we are writers, and that’s what writers do.
We craft our words, often deliberating over each and every one to make sure they serve a purpose in our stories. We labor over the right words to say what needs to be said, to mold and shape our stories into the works that were meant to be. For real writers, the joy of finding just the right words to make our stories come alive is a glorious feeling that we wouldn’t trade for any amount of money.
Real writers labor over their words, then send them off to others to ensure they are grammatically correct, they haven’t missed any plot holes, and the logic of the story isn’t flawed. Because real writers know the value of a good editor. We know that a second set of eyes, even if it is just a beta reader, or a good proofreader, can pick out things that our own eyes have missed because the writer may be too close to the story. No one on this planet knows the story better than the writer does.
Those other folks who have popped up recently, using AI to crank out stories and fill their catalogs, may have a lot of books, but they aren’t writers. They are wanna-be-writers, who don’t have the skill and talent to write on their own. They don’t care about the quality of the work. All they care about is making oodles of money.
Could I use AI to write a story faster. Maybe… but I won’t, because I am a real writer and a real editor, who helps others to perfect their own stories. Through WordCrafter Press, I publish between eight and ten books per year. They aren’t all mine, of course. To do that, I’d have to implement AI tools. No, one or two each year are my own, and I also publish two-four anthologies annually, and the rest are the works of others. Anthology contributors take a part in the process and offer more eyes on the works, in case I miss something. I also offer editing services, through Write it Right Editing, where authors can seek editing help or advice, without mortgaging their house, to assure they put out a quality piece of writing.
I maintain that writing books with AI isn’t really writing and is an insult to the craft. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by Write it Right Quality Editing Services, and WordCrafter Press.
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WordCrafter News: September Writing Projects & Back to School Bonanza
Posted: August 31, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Sales, Books, Children's Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fiction, Health & Wellness, Historical Fiction, Horror, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, Self-Help, Time travel, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: 12 Dark Nights of Christmas, A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, Back to School Bonanza Sale, Marta, Midnight Madness, My Backyard Friends, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2 Double Visions, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing 6 Comments
September is a writing month, with no new releases scheduled, so it seems pretty calm. I’m planning to hunker down and dig in to three different writing projects in various stages of production. My only promotional endeavors this month will be to promote the Back to School Bonanza Book Sale where you can get all three of the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series in a $5 bundle.
WordCrafter Back to School Bonanza
3 for $5 Bundle
All 3 My Backyard Friends Series Books for one low price of $5.
September 1 – 30, 2026
Exclusive on WordCrafter Press My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series page:
September Writing Projects
Although WordCrafter Press has no September releases, it looks like I’ll be elbow deep in writing projects. September will find me compiling and editing on the Midnight Madness anthology, as well as doing the first round of edits on the 12 Dark Nights of Christmas anthology. Of course, I’ll be setting up the Midnight Madness tour for mid-October, when it is scheduled to release, as well. And 12 Dark Nights of Christmas will be scheduled for a December release, of course.
And throughout the month, I will also be finishing up the first draft of Marta, Book 3 in my Women in the West Adventure Series. I’m sitting right now around 85,000 words, which is already longer than either of the first two books, and I’ve still got a ways to go. I don’t know how long this one will end up being, but I’ll use as many words as I need to tell it.
There are several reasons this book may be longer than the first two. One, Marta’s journey ventures outside of Colorado, all the way to El Paso, Texas. Two, Marta sports a full cast of colorful characters who accompany her on her journey, whereas in the first two books, much of the journey for Delilah and Sarah were travelling solo with a good amount of inner dialog to lead the way. Since my stories are dialog heavy and character led, discussions seem to make up a great deal of those 85,000 words. And three, my writing is improving, and I’m learning to add more details for a better crafted story, which is a good thing, right? Better writing from me, equals a better story for my readers.
I’m researching new things for this book, as well; delving into New Mexico and Texas history to add to my knowledge of the Colorado frontier. Since Marta’s journey is made by wagon, I’ve researched the different types of wagons and how they are built, as well. And it’s always interesting to peruse the newspapers of the 1800’s, adding many details which help to bring the story ton life. I’ve learned many interesting facts, some of which I’ll be sharing on the blog tour, when the book comes out, next March.
In addition, I’ve had to research the life of Pauline Cushman, Union Spy, who is the historic supporting female character in Marta’s tale. The supporting historic female character, along with the strong female protagonists, are what sets this western historic women’s fiction series apart from the rest.
Other Good News for WordCrafter Press
Before I let you go today, I wanted to share a couple of good things which are happening around WordCrafter Press. We’re always proud when good reviews turn up, and last month we got another four-star review on Amazon for The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-jnH
We also had a bit of excitement at WordCrafter Press when A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, by Daniel J. Cox made the Amazon #1 Bestseller in Diabetes! It’s the first time a WordCrafter Press book has made the list, so we’re pretty proud of the accomplishment.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
________________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
___________________________________________
This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services
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Book Review: “Into the Deep Dark Woods” & “A Harmony of Hells”
Posted: August 28, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Review, Short Fiction, Stories, Thriller | Tags: Allison Longueira, Book Review, Charles De Lint, Dark Fiction Anthology, Gothic Thriller, Harmony of Hells, Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Sebastian de Castell, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Writing to be Read, Yves Fey Leave a commentAbout Into the Deep Dark Woods
See what lurks in the deep, dark woods—a place of fairy tales, secrets, and monsters…
Where the unexpected looms at every turn.
Where twisted shadows meet dappled sunlight.
Where even the silence grows teeth.
Into the Deep, Dark Woods features 28 all-new stories and poems that explore the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness. Venture from the decay of a demented pumpkin patch to worlds where dragons hide among the trees and the sycamore beckons the blue ghost fireflies. Face the strangeness of an alien planet, then dine in a themed restaurant that may or may not be staffed with werewolves.
Edited by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning editor Allyson Longueira, along with their Publishing graduate students at Western Colorado University, this page-turning anthology presents new stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jonathan Maberry, Charles de Lint, Sebastien de Castell, and many others.
Step off the path and into a world where every tree tells a story and every clearing offers a choice. The deeper you go, the darker it gets.
The darker it gets, the more interesting the light becomes.
Welcome to the woods. Try not to get lost.
Purchase Link: https://wordfirepress.com/products/into-the-deep-dark-woods
My Review of Into the Deep Dark Woods
I received a digital copy of the Into the Deep Dark Woods anthology from executive editors Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Into the Deep Dark Woods is this year’s anthology put out by the graduate in publishing students at Western State Colorado University. Every year international bestselling author, Kevin J Anderson guides a cohort of Western’s publishing students through the process of putting together and publishing an anthology on the professional level, through his publishing company, Wildfire Press and Draft2Digital, as a group thesis project. submission numbers are higher every year. My cohort in 2022 published Gilded Glass, with over 600 submissions, and I heard they had over 900 for this one. Every story or poem is hand selected by the grad students, and I’m always happy to review these wonderful anthologies.
There are things in the woods. Whether they be shape shifters, the undead, all types of crawly things, fearies & dragons, golems, witches, alien life forms, or just the trees themselves, the stories found in this collection will make you believe they are there and you should be very afraid.
Some stories made me laugh, others made me cry, some gave me the creeps and others had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There are so many good tales in this anthology, that I wouldn’t even attempt to try and review each one. But I will give you an idea about the ones which stick out in my mind:
- “Underneath the Sycamore Tree on the Hill”, by Sam Knight was sad and made me want to cry.
- “This Real World”, by Lea Harper was my favorite poem.
- “Mulch”, by Brent Nelson offers excellent dark humor.
- “Metsubishu”, by Benjamin Spada has the feel of Ninjas and Samurai. I try and view such stories through the eyes of my son, Mike, who absolutely would have loved this story, therefore, it gets my vote.
- “The Dreadwood Dragon”, by Sebastian de Castell is an intense tale of friendship and sacrifice which touched my heart and made me smile.
Whether the forest or the things which lurk within, there is definitely something to fear if you dare to venture Into the Deep Dark Woods. I give this dark fiction anthology five quills.
About A Harmony of Hells
A poet haunted by grief. A lover marked by blood. A sister silenced behind asylum walls.
In the decadent heart of fin de siècle Paris, Averill Charron makes a devil’s bargain. To rescue his sister—locked away by their father—he joins forces with the last man he should trust, Blaise Dancier, the crime lord who once ordered his death.
No longer enemies. Now they are lovers. Together they descend into the underworld, searching cabarets and crypts, brothels and back alleys, chasing whispers that lead to deception and death.
Even as they hunt for her, Jeanette fights for her freedom. But escape only leads to recapture. Once again, she’s trapped in a world where only dreams of forbidden love and the promise of revenge keep her sane.
Their paths converge in the drowning beauty of Venice at Carnevale, where every mask conceals a threat. In a world ruled by power, madness, and betrayal, love may be the final sacrifice.
A HARMONY OF HELLS…a love story with murders.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Hells-story-murders-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0FXVTR5DX
My Review of A Harmony of Hells
I received a copy of A Harmony of Hells: A Love Story of Paris…with Murders, by Yves Fey, through the Review Pool in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of the awesome cover and because I love gothic horror and gothic mystery.
Let me start by saying, I’m not a big fan of m/m romance/sex scenes. It’s not a statement about morality, but rather something that doesn’t do anything for me, personally, so I will usually skip over those stories. But…, this story is written in such a way that the sex does not overwhelm the plot, and the romance is tactfully written to support the story. Although the m/m relationship does play a key role, and in places, it is very graphic, there is so much more to this story.
Driven by a need to find his sister, Jeanette, who has been hidden away in the asylums and brothels of Paris and beyond by his father, Averille makes an alliance with Blaise Dancier, Parisian crime lord. It is risky business, but he feels he has no choice, and then finds himself surrendering to lust and wholly giving himself over to a man he knows he shouldn’t trust. In the search for Jeanette, it seems they are always at least one step behind his father, but Jeanette is resourceful and works toward her freedom at every opportunity. Their efforts bring them so close to crossing paths, but not close enough, and it is a race for time to find one another before their father can whisk her away once more.
A scandalous gothic thriller that will keep readers turning pages. I give A Harmony of Hells five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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An Eye on Art: Creativity as Emotional Release or Expression
Posted: August 24, 2026 Filed under: Art | Tags: An Eye On Art, Edvard Munch, Expressionism, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writing to be Read 16 Comments
We’ve all done it. As creatives, we allow our emotions to flow into our work, and perhaps, we even have a need to do so. Authors take real life experiences and write them into their stories, perhaps rewriting, so the endings that are preferred to real ones, because in stories, anything can happen. Songwriters pour their emotions into their music, and artists spill their emotions across the canvas for all to see. Creativity is the way we express ourselves and often, the way we interpret the reality around us.
The Expressionism of Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch was a noted Norwegian Painter and Printmaker who lived from 1863-1944. Plagued by a troubled childhood and difficulty in his adult relationships, the mental and social disruptions of a tormented mind are evident in his artworks, particularly in those done in his expressionistic style, which created the most controversy and made him famous. At an early age, he lost both his mother and his older sister, Johanne Sophie3, to tuberculosis, and later in life, another sister, Laura Katherine, developed a schizophrenic illness and was confined to a mental asylum. His romantic relationships were filled with turmoil and eventually he became rather reclusive, withdrawing more and more from human society.2
The expressionistic work of Edvard Munch employs distortion and vibrant colors to draw viewers’ focus; demanding patrons attention. The work titled, Vampire (1892), was so controversial in its time, that it closed down the Verein Berliner Kunstler exhibition of 1892; an event that catapulted Munch’s career into celebrity. In this work, the vibrant colors that are so typical of Munch are not seen. It is a dark scene with the orange-red of the female’s hair being the only color that really draws the eye, as she embraces the male laying across her lap. With this painting, Munch set out to make us see the fine line between love and pain with this painting, hence the original title, Love and Pain. It was mistakenly interpreted as having a vampiric theme, and the painting’s subjects do appear more as predator and prey than as lovers in consoling embrace, especially if one takes notice of the bluish hue of the male’s facial skin.1
The models for his works may have been real women in his life and are portrayed in Munch’s work either as life devouring vampires, sultry seductresses, or frail and naked, reflective of his own personal relationships. It is believed that Love and Pain depicts his at one time lover Tulla Larsen, a rich winemaker’s daughter, who he had a turbulent relationship with. Whereas Madonna (1894-95) depicts another ex-lover, Dagny Juel, reflecting her liberated sexuality in contrast in contrast the traditional idea of a chaste Madonna. It features a nude woman contorted, perhaps in the throes of passion, with a red, rather than white or golden halo.1 Ashes (1894-95) is thought to depict clandestine, but destined to end in despair, meetings in the forest with his cousin’s wife, Millie Thaulow.3
On the other hand, in The Weeping Nude (1913), the focus figure is much less distorted. Attention is focused on the nude, through his use of vibrant colors that contrast with her flesh colors, drawing the eye to the central figure. Sadness and depression are the dominant emotions that radiate from this work, and the emotion rises from the pose, and the concealment of the figure’s identity.
The haunting image of The Scream (1893) reflects feelings that all viewers easily relate to. At some point in life, we all have felt like screaming at the world, and so to, have felt as no one would hear or care. By far his most famous painting, the violent forms and savage colors are representative of contemporary sentiments. In truth, this image may not be a screaming figure, as most believe, but rather, it is his attempt to block out “nature screaming during a blood-red sunset”, (perhaps during a panic attack), according to Munch himself. This sky and setting appear in at least two more of Munch’s works done around the same time: Despair (1893-94) and Anxiety (1894). It is believed by some that the location was one in Oslo, near a slaughterhouse and the asylum where his younger sister, Laura Katherine, was housed, where he may have visited often, and which would have had a cacophony of screams between the dying animals and the mental patients’ cries.1
He was featured as the male figure in many of his works, including perhaps Ashes and Love and Pain, above, to further attest to the expression of emotions from his own life, revealing his inner soul. While not happy images, they are captivating, and they draw out our darker sides.
As authors, our stories should reveal so much. If you could look into the minds of horror authors such as Steven King, Peter Straub, Dean Koontz, and so many more, perhaps you would find similar histories, filled with pain and despair, to fuel their creative story telling. Or perhaps some are just meant to allow their darker sides to dominate and be expressed through their creative works.
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1 “7 Must See Paintings by Edvard Munch”. The Collector. June 11, 2025. Anastasiia Kirpolov, MA: 7 Must-See Paintings by Edvard Munch | The Collector
2 “Beyond the Scream: How Edvard Munch Channeled a Timeless Sense of Dread”. Art in America. March 17, 2021. Tessa Solomon: What Are Edvard Munch’s Most Famous Paintings?
3 “16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings”. Artistic Junkie: Art for All.: 16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings | ArtisticJunkie.com
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
______________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________________
This postis sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares: Coming in October, 2026
