Writing Fiction for Dummies, by Peter Economy

How many people dream of being a famous writer?  But how in the world do you get from plunking away on your laptop to actually getting published?  There are lots of things you need to do to get from point a to point b, and this book will tell you most of them.  Discussions on character development, plot, story line, and theme are just a few of the tools this book contains.

This was the first time I actually read one of the "for dummies" books, because I had a chance to get a good deal on it, and it pertained to an interest of mine.  Which, lets be honest, is probably why anyone would read any of these books.  No one reads about how to write fiction out of sheer curiosity.  And good thing, because they would probably be a little bored.  There is a reason I do not read much nonfiction, and that is because I find it incredibly boring, through no fault of its own.

I thought the book actually contained a ton of great information, was well organized, and easy to read or use as a resource.  It just is not my kind of book, which is absolutely not a flaw.  I am sure I will refer to this book  as a resource if I ever get around to writing.  A bit of the information regarding publishing was a little dated, since self publishing of e-books and small publishers have really changed the market over the past few years, but still the information was valuable, and hopefully will come in handy for me some day.

This book is from my personal library.

The Unofficial Harry Potter Party Book, by Jessica Fox

Whether you are a squib, a muggle, or a well known wizard, the ideas in this Harry Potter Party book will be sure to turn your party from humdrum to heroic in a way that is purely magical.  With tons of ideas for crafts, decorations, games, and goodies, kids of all ages will enjoy being transported to the world of Harry Potter.

I will admit it, I have read and loved all the Harry Potter books, and have seen all the movies but the most recent.  If I were a kid, heck even as an adult, I think I would love to have a Harry Potter themed party, whether for a birthday or perhaps for a movie release.  This book is chock full of fantastic ideas that fit nicely into any budget.

I first love the various crafts that can either be used to make decorations or as activities at the party.  Each has a rating of difficulty, as well as a price estimate, so you can pick and choose what works best with your budget and party age group.  The activities range from simple to complex, again depending on your preference.  A big trend with child birthday parties is to have crafts or activities related to the theme, so I think a lot of parents will find these ideas helpful, and the kids will love them as well.

My absolute, hands down, favorite part of the book is the section of recipes for snacks and drinks.  Again, the creativity and variety are simply fantastic.

In short, this book is extremely helpful for anyone planning a Harry Potter themed party of any sort.  Parents will find the ideas helpful and easy to execute.  One does not need to be magical to pull off a great party, all thanks to this book!



I received a review copy courtesy of the author.