Book Review: Crime Scene by Cynthia Pelayo

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What lives in dark woods
What emerges from depths
What creeps within alleyways.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Cynthia Pelayo sings a song for the least of us, the victim we want to forget as soon as possible, the one who disappeared before ever really appearing. With a fairy tale gaze and a heart bigger than the world, her siren song insinuates itself past our defenses, past the hardened calluses and apathy we’ve erected to protect ourselves from the everyday horror of another missing girl.

Pelayo relates the familiar story, poem by poem; a body is found, a brutal crime investigated, clues take us in circles, and lead us nowhere. We are on an epic journey, the hero’s journey, and it must play out to the end in all its painful, ticking moments. Pelayo imbues her hero, Agent K, with the entirety of our dedication and that crumb of hope we’ve been hiding, saving for later. We will need to save for years, for decades, if we want to come out the other side. The job takes its toll, the answers are never complete and whys fracture, crack and spread. Still there is no turning away. We must bear witness, though it changes and contorts us.

GRADE: A+

REVIEW:

This poetry collection recently won the Bram Stoker for best poetry collection of 2022 and with good reason. But this isn’t your typical collection, as it reads more like an epic poem in the way one would read Homer’s classics like The Illiad or Gilgamesh. This collection opens with a horrific discovery of a body, and soon Agent K is tasked with trying to find the killer of the victim, and it’s a race against time. Each poem is titled as police report numbers, which packs a punch as a reminder that this isn’t just a story, this is real life. As we learn more about Agent K, we know that she had her own tragedy that sparked her reasoning to become a detective. Pelayo paints such detailed, dark imagery that stays with you long after you’ve reached the end. This is an excellent, heartbreaking tale, that sadly feels very close to many of the true crime stories we see time and time again, adding to the tragedy of how no matter how many victims there are, there never seems to be an end to this kind of story.

I absolutely recommend this if you love horror, true crime, and lyrical poetry with dark imagery.

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3 Horror Movies to Stream Right Now!

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EVIL DEAD RISE

A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Now streaming on MAX.

CLOCK

A woman enrolls in a clinical trial to try and fix her seemingly broken biological clock after friends, family, and society pressures her to have children.

Now streaming on Hulu.

WATCHER

As a serial killer stalks the city, a young actress who just moved to town with her boyfriend notices a mysterious stranger watching her from across the street.

Now streaming on Shudder.

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Book Review: Rouge by Mona Awad

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If I told you it wouldn’t be a secret, now would it?

PLOT SUMMARY:

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

GRADE: A

REVIEW:

A fever dream, a fairytale, a nightmare. This book is all those things and more. As someone who is as skincare obsessed as Mirabelle, this novel resonated a lot with me. Awad writes some of the best mad, unhinged women in literature, and I’m absolutely here for it. When her mother unexpectedly dies in a tragic accident, and Mirabelle leaves Montreal for So-Cal, her descent to madness doesn’t take that long. Much like her previous books, Awad manages to capture the protagonist’s slip from reality in a way that is both poetic and terrifying. This novel is steeped with silent rage, mommy issues, and the color red. Often, as the reader, you can’t tell what is real and what is madness, a bit of an Alice in Wonderland moment, if you will. But one thing is certain, you can’t look away, and you continue down the proverbial rabbit hole along with Mirabelle, trying to make sense of the craziness as best as you can. This is one wild ride that explores our obsession with beauty and youth and to what lengths one might go to be beautiful.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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3 Horror Books to Read by Bi-Authors During Pride Month

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RELUCTANT IMMORTALS by GWENDOLYN KISTE

2023 Lambda Literary Award Finalist
2023 Bram Stoker Award Finalist for Superior Achievement in a Novel

Reluctant Immortals is a historical horror novel that looks at two men of classic literature, Dracula and Mr. Rochester, and the two women who survived them, Bertha and Lucy, who are now undead immortals residing in Los Angeles in 1967 when Dracula and Rochester make a shocking return in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

Combining elements of historical and gothic fiction with a modern perspective, in a tale of love and betrayal and coercion, Reluctant Immortals is the lyrical and harrowing journey of two women from classic literature as they bravely claim their own destiny in a man’s world.

TO BE DEVOURED by SARA TANTLINGER

What does carrion taste like? Andi has to know. The vultures circling outside her home taunt and invite her to come understand the secrets hiding in their banquet of decay. Fascination morphs into an obsessive need to know what the vultures know. Andi turns to Dr. Fawning, but even the therapist cannot help her comprehend the secrets she’s buried beneath anger-induced blackouts.

Her girlfriend, Luna, tries to help Andi battle her inner darkness and infatuation with the vultures. However, the desire to taste dead flesh, to stitch together wings of her own and become one with the flock sends Andi down a twisted, unforgivable path. Once she understands the secrets the vultures conceal, she must decide between abandoning the birds of prey or risk turning her loved ones into nothing more than meals to be devoured.

THE REYES INCIDENT by BRIANA MORGAN

A local legend gone haywire.

A small-town cop.

An impossible eyewitness testimony.

Which is easier to believe—that killer mermaids exist, or that one person is worth risking everything for?

For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Into the Drowning Deep comes a chilling horror story steeped in urban rumor.

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Review: Ice Cream Liquid Lipstick from Dito Cosmetics

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What It Is: A vegan liquid lipstick.

Verdict: First things first, the packaging is incredibly adorable, and why I selected it as one of my items for my June Ipsy bag. When you first apply this lipstick, it smells heavenly – like actual ice cream. The lipstick feels lightweight and the colour is really pretty, a berry shade. Now, the issue I had with this lipstick was that after four hours it began to BLEED/FEATHER (what this means is that it began to run over the natural lipline, into the skin). By the time it was 6pm, the lipstick looked like the Harley Quinn smudged lipstick. Usually, all the liquid lipsticks I’ve used from Urban Decay or Maybelline have lasted me from 7am-9pm sans bleeding/feathering, or smudging. So to have this one start to bleed after only four hours, it was such a letdown. So I can’t really recommend this lipstick if you’re looking for longevity, because it’ll turn messy and I’m not a fan of messy lipstick AT ALL.

Price: $35

Where To Buy It: https://ditocosmetics.com/

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5 Ways to Improve Your Writing That Have Nothing to Do With Grammar by Stephanie Haywood

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It doesn’t matter whether you write fanfiction, marketing copy, or a blog delving into your innermost demons; at the end of the day, you want to write your best. That’s why The Inkblotters have put together these five non-writing tricks you can use to help the words flow more freely and smoothly.

Create a positive home environment.

Writing requires silence for some, busyness for others, and something in between for others, still. Whatever you need to focus your mind on is exactly what you should do. Leadership coach Ciara Conlon recommends dedicating a space in your home just for the task at hand. You’ll also want to pay attention to the rest of your home. If it’s filled with negativity, you’ll take these emotions into the place that is supposed to be your safe space. Clear out negative energy by cleaning and decluttering, or take a tip from ancient Native Americans and burn sage to symbolically banish bad spirits.

Get to know your subject.

You’ve heard the phrase “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” your entire life. As it turns out, this is simply the act of feeling empathy, and it can be a huge help when writing. When you can walk someone else’s proverbial path, you can write in a way that’s more accurate to how they might react to certain situations. Similarly, you must take the time to get to know the era in which your story is set. If you’re writing a book about mythology, for example, you’ll find plenty of resources to immerse yourself in this world on this list from Redeemed Reader.

Read often.

It’s true that reading often will help improve your writing by increasing your grammar skills and vocabulary, but there are other benefits as well. When you read many different types of works, you expose yourself to new styles, which you might want to incorporate into your own manuscripts. Importantly, reading someone else’s words takes your mind off your own. This will give you an opportunity to look at your keyboard/screen with a fresh set of eyes if you experience writer’s block or other delays.

Learn to spot fluff and remove it.

Words are beautiful things, but not every word belongs in every piece. When writing for an audience, remove fluff and filler, get straight to the point, and keep redundancy to a minimum (unless you’re trying to make a point by over-accentuating a thought, feeling, or action).

Visit faraway places.

If you want to be a better writer, travel. Like getting to know ancient civilizations, visiting faraway places will add authenticity to your tales, and it might even help you come up with a new storyline for your next great work. The Creative Penn blog also asserts that traveling can help extend your network, especially if you attend a conference or writer’s retreat in another country.

The idea of improvement is unique to all of us. But the tips above, from creating a more positive environment at home to traveling, reading, and getting to know your subjects, can help you be a better writer, no matter what it is you write. Tell your stories with as little fluff and filler as possible, and don’t be shy to look for ways to enhance your technique that don’t include getting to know the inner workings of the English language.

Guest blog post by Stephanie Haywood, read her previous guest blog post HERE and HERE.

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Skin Cycling – Discover the Derm-Approved Skincare Routine That’s Gone Viral

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Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

What is skin cycling?

Skin cycling may sound complicated, but it’s actually based on a less-is-more approach that helps you achieve healthy-looking skin and protect your skin’s barrier. To start, you’ll follow a four-day evening routine with one key type of product designated for each night.

The rotation begins with exfoliation on the first night, followed by retinol on the second night. The third and fourth nights are dedicated to recovery skin barrier-protecting serums and moisturizers. Then, the cycle repeats.

Every Day & Night: Some products are too essential to skip out on and should be used every day of your routine. This includes serums and moisturizers.

Night One: Exfoliation

Kick off your cycle with an exfoliating formula to help minimize the look of your pores, buff away dull or rough skin, and prep your face to receive the benefits from the rest of your products throughout the cycle. First, cleanse your face and make sure it’s 100% dry. Then, apply your chosen exfoliating product. For this step, some of my favorite exfoliating creams are Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator or Glam Glow Brightmud Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment.

Night Two: Retinol

The star of night two, retinol is a common yet powerful form of Vitamin A that can accelerate skin renewal and, over time, help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Just like night one, cleanse and dry your face completely before using your retinol. Then, apply a retinol formula. I personally love Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer, Shani Darden Retinol Reform, and Boscia Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment.

Nights Three & Four: Recovery

On nights three and four, focus solely on recovery with your serum and moisturizer. After cleansing, apply the serum of your choice (my personal fave is Beautaniq Beauty Raindrench Serum) and gently smooth all over your face. Follow with your moisturizer of choice (my all-time fave is Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer and my current fave is Keys Soulcare Transformation Cream).

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Review: M.A.C Magic Extension Mascara

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What It Is: A fiber mascara.

What It Does: Delivers volume and length, almost giving the illusion of false lashes.

Verdict: I’m on the fence with this mascara because it does deliver in the sense of lengthening your lashes, but I’m not really a fan of the formula. The formula is kinda gloopy and clumpy, and tar-like. I can see this working if you do one coat of the mascara and then use a clean mascara wand to fix up any clumping the mascara creates. Sadly, this is the issue with mascaras that have fibers, they do give you maximum length and volume, but there’s a learning curve on how to apply it without creating a total mess. It also flakes a little by the end of the day or if you nap. I don’t completely hate this, but there are so many other amazing mascaras out there for less price that I don’t necessarily recommend it either.

Price: $26

Where To Buy It: MAC, Ulta, and Sephora.

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Book Review: The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni

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I have suffered, but it is the suffering of a man who has created his own torture chamber.

PLOT SUMMARY:

All the world is a puzzle, and Mike Brink—a celebrated and ingenious puzzle constructor—understands its patterns like no one else. Once a promising Midwestern football star, Brink was transformed by a traumatic brain injury that caused a rare medical condition: acquired savant syndrome. The injury left him with a mental superpower—he can solve puzzles in ways ordinary people can’t. But it also left him deeply isolated, unable to fully connect with other people.

Everything changes after Brink meets Jess Price, a woman serving thirty years in prison for murder who hasn’t spoken a word since her arrest five years before. When Price draws a perplexing puzzle, her psychiatrist believes it will explain her crime and calls Brink to solve it. What begins as a desire to crack an alluring cipher quickly morphs into an obsession with Price herself. She soon reveals that there is something more urgent, and more dangerous, behind her silence, thrusting Brink into a hunt for the truth.

The quest takes Brink through a series of interlocking enigmas, but the heart of the mystery is the God Puzzle, a cryptic ancient prayer circle created by the thirteenth-century Jewish mystic Abraham Abulafia. As Brink navigates a maze of clues, and his emotional entanglement with Price becomes more intense, he realizes that there are powerful forces at work that he cannot escape.

Ranging from an upstate New York women’s prison to nineteenth-century Prague to the secret rooms of the Pierpont Morgan Library, The Puzzle Master is a tantalizing, addictive thriller in which humankind, technology, and the future of the universe itself are at stake.

GRADE: A-

REVIEW:

Having read Trussoni in the past, I was well aware that I would be in the hands of an expert author. Trussoni has a way with words and blending history with mystery, in a way that’s very gripping. The Puzzle Master is a thrilling novel that races against time. There’s much to love about this book, it’s action-packed and atmospheric, and the doll lover in me was thrilled that it also included creepy dolls.

After a traumatic brain injury, Mike acquired a rare condition known as savant syndrome. He uses this new skill to solve and create complex puzzles. Everything changes once he meets Jess Price, a woman convicted of murder who hasn’t spoken for five years. When Jess begins drawing strange puzzles with religious undertones, that’s when Mike gets involved and the enthralling journey begins.

For someone who loves multiple POV’s, this novel delivers in so many ways. It includes alternating timelines, letters, journal entries, and transcriptions. Trussoni expertly weaves so many genres into this novel, mystery, thriller, horror, and science fiction – so if you’re a fan of any of those genres, you will enjoy this novel. The Puzzle Master is a pulsating, addictive read that I highly suggest taking along with you when you go on holiday this year, you won’t regret it!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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6 Smart Self-Promotion Strategies for Writers by Stephanie Haywood

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If you’re an aspiring writer, and you’re working on building up your portfolio, you might be wondering how to make a name for yourself and succeed in your literary pursuits. You can find helpful guidance from The Inkblotters! Plus, here’s how to create a brand-new resume for your job hunt, design a portfolio website to host your work, and network with other writers.

Polish Your Resume

If you’re looking for jobs that involve writing, you’ll want to take some time to update your resume first. Whether you’re looking for an editorial role at a magazine or you’d like to land a job in content marketing, you’ll need to illustrate all of your relevant skills and experience on your resume.

Going with a PDF filler can help you conveniently write up a brand new resume with a clean format. Plus, if you use a PDF filler, you can edit the document afterwards if you happen to make any mistakes. You’ll just have to upload the file online, make any necessary changes, and then download it to share it on applications.

Create a Portfolio Website

Maybe you’ve had a few short stories, poems, or articles published, and you want to establish a central platform where you can share links to all of your work. Or perhaps you’d like to publish your own blog to flex your writing muscles. Every writer needs a website so that their audience can easily read their work! You can purchase a domain name, use a free design template, and add features like an author bio, a portfolio page, and a contact form.

Maintain a Submission Schedule

It can be tough to write consistently, submit your work regularly, and keep your chin up when facing rejection. But when you’re early in your career, it’s especially important to handle rejections with grace – don’t let it stop you from submitting your work to publications! Try to keep up with a daily writing schedule, and maintain a spreadsheet tracking your submissions.

Leverage Social Media

Social media can be a very powerful tool for writers. To get the word out about your work on social media, BookBub recommends focusing on building connections with other authors, agents, and readers first – focus on sharing pieces by others, responding to your followers, and dishing out compliments to writers you like!

Network With Other Writers

It’s also a good idea to check out local writing events and organizations so that you can meet other authors! You can learn a lot from befriending writers, especially if they’ve successfully published in your favorite genre. To make friends in your niche, Writing Blossoms recommends enrolling as a member in a professional writer’s association that hosts events and workshops in your area.

Read at Local Events

Reading your own work out loud for an audience can be nerve-wracking – but with practice, you’ll feel more confident standing in front of a crowd! Look for local open mics near you, and sign up to read at one each week. Make sure to brush up on the guidelines for performers in advance, and practice your reading in advance. For example, if you’re allowed to read for five minutes, go over your material at home to ensure that you’re not going over the time limit.

It’s easy to assume that writing is a solo activity – but as a writer, you’ll benefit greatly from a strong community who can support you in your endeavors. You don’t have to try to make it on your own! By fixing up your resume, sticking to a consistent writing and submission schedule, and making an effort to connect with other writers, you’ll go far in your career.

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The Inkblotters shares everything that blogger Azzurra Nox has learned about skincare, cosmetics, and healthy living. Connect with Azzurra today!

Guest blog post by Stephanie Haywood, read her previous guest blog post HERE.

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