Another of my favorite authors is Laurie R. King. Her Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russel stories are set just after the Great War and I love all the historical and geographical details she drops into the books.

In these stories, Holmes has met his match in his young protege Miss Russell, whose mind rivals his own. The two team up for several mysteries before … well, I won’t spoil the surprise. Suffice to say it’s a logical decision.

I’m rereading the stories because Ms. King has a new book coming out very soon, wherein Holmes and Russell travel to Transylvania. Should be a fun read! I love the lyrical language in the books. Ms. King really knows how to turn a phrase. I’d love to learn how to do that — my characters tend to be wisecrackers who’d rather let go with a snarky comment than a poignant line.

If you like historical mystery novels, especially if they feature Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Mycroft — and of course Mrs. Hudson! — you should read these books. I’m off to reread my favorite sections again…

If you like horse stories, you should try this one by Heidi Thomas. It’s the first in a series, so I’m looking forward to trying Book 2.

Sam has a dream: to buy back her grandparents’ Montana ranch and raise Thoroughbreds from her rescued mare. However, life seems to have other plans. Her boyfriend abandons her to the Montana winter. She manages to find a job at a dude ranch, where she meets a troubled teen who will become an important part of her new life. Then she gets word of another neglected horse who needs rescuing. With the last of her savings, Sam buys the emaciated horse — only to be caused of stealing him later on. As she tries to fight these charges, a bunch of strangers move into town, offering to buy up local property at ridiculous prices. What are they up to? And is charming Brad on their side — or on Sam’s? There are plenty of twists and turns to this story and you won’t be able to guess the ending! It’s a good old-fashioned horse story, and I do like a good horse story. Pick up a copy and try it out for yourself!

I’ve been reading a lot lately — some of it is required critique submissions from my writing group of course — but most of it has been nonfiction along the “How to Write and Publish” lines.

One of the really useful books I’m reading is Getting Published by Harry Bingham (from the Jericho Writers group). Once I finish this one, I’ve also got his 52 Letters (A Year of Advice) to look through.

I’m also reading Story Trumps Structure by Steven James and Story Engineering by Larry Brooks.

Lots of good information in this little quartet. I’m also attending the League of Utah Writers’ Quills Conference (virtual this year of course) and have signed up for some pitch sessions with agents and editors. I’ll keep you posted on what’s going on.

I’ve been rereading Anne’s delightful Harper Hall series: Dragonsong and Dragonsinger. I like Dragon Drums well enough, but the first two books are my favorites.

On the planet Pern, deadly Threads periodically fall from the skies, searing life from anything they touch. Only the great fire-breathing dragons can destroy the alien life-forms before they reach the ground. Ordinary folk look up to the Weyrs for protection, and teach their children to respect the dragon riders.

One such child is Menolly, a teenaged musical prodigy born into a stolid family of fisher-folk. She’s been allowed to spend her free time with the hold’s elderly harper, mostly because he insisted, but partly because her parents felt someone should look after the old man in his dottage.

After old Petiron dies, Menolly is expected to give up music and grow up to be a hard-working member of her family. Unable to face such a future, Menolly runs away to live in a cave along the shore, where she faces not only the dangers any teenager would face trying to live on their own, but also deadly Threadfalls.

One unexpected adventure results in Menolly’s befriending nine fire lizards, tiny cousins to the great dragons. Caring for her new friends takes up so much of her time that she hardly has room for worry — until she finds herself and her friends far from her cave with the leading edge of Threadfall rapidly approaching.

Unbeknownst to Menolly, the Masterharper has been searching for old Petiron’s missing apprentice, whose musical talent is greatly needed by the harper hall. As Menolly tries to outrun Thread, destiny sends her closer and closer to the Masterharper.

In the second book, Menolly must adjust to life in the harper hall. Though her life is not threatened as it was in her cave, she has many things to learn before she can become a professional musician.

Anne McCaffrey was a manster storyteller, and if you like science fiction, you should read her Pern series. I like everything she wrote, but Menolly’s story is my favorite.