Nerve Dick Francis “Art Mathews shot himself, loudly and messily, in the center of the parade ring at Dunstable races.” Thus begins “Nerve,” and thus begins Dick Francis’s career as one of the leading crime writers of the 20th century. Although “Nerve” was his second novel, it was the one in which he got the […]
Read more "“Nerve” by Dick Francis"Dead Cert Dick Francis “Dead Cert” wasn’t the first Dick Francis book I read–that honor belongs to “The Danger”–but it’s his first novel in what would turn out to be a long and storied career, so it seems fitting to start my “classics of Dick Francis” retrospective with it. Reading “Dead Cert” after becoming familiar […]
Read more "“Dead Cert” by Dick Francis"Horse & Writer: The Definitive Guide to Accurately Depicting Horsemanship in Your Novel or Story Who hasn’t shaken their head in amused scorn at the silly mistakes in our own areas of expertise that so often creep into books and movies? Whether it’s an inedible apple pie recipe, a mechanic who can’t drive stick, or […]
Read more "“Horse and Writer: The Definitive Guide to Accurately Depicting Horsemanship in Your Novel or Story,” by Victoria Rouch"“Dragonhorse” basically fulfilled all my childhood fantasies. In it, a young woman discovers she has magical powers, which she uses mainly to heal horses. I can’t tell you how much this idea gripped me (and continues to grip me). So if you, too, harbor fantasies of using magical powers to heal beautiful horses who become […]
Read more "“Dragonhorse and the Seeker of the Forgotten Knowledge” by Denice Garrou"
E. P. Clark: Author, Book Reviewer, and All-Around Literary Handiwoman 