As a writer, it's also important to read as much as you can. Not only is it entertaining, but you can also learn a few things from other author's writing styles. I recently participated in a review swap with author Kevin Berry. Mr. Berry co-writes medieval humor with Diane Berry. The pair have two books available on Amazon.com:
Growing Disenchantments and Dragons Away. For my review, I selected
Growing Disenchantments, and am glad I did. It is one of the most humorous, well-written stories I've read in a long time. And the dialogue is pretty amazing as well.
Here is my review posted on Amazon.com and Goodreads:
There is much to be said about
Growing Disenchantments by K.D. Berry, but to sum
it all up in one word, I would call it brilliant.
Growing Disenchantments is a
humorous medieval drama that follows several main and supporting characters,
including Ragonnard, a sorcerer who has his sights set on obtaining an amulet
worn by fellow sorcerer Syranax, whose soul has been trapped in a painting for
the better part of five hundred years. Ragonnard believes he knows the spell to
obtain the amulet from the painting without disturbing Syranax. To aid him in his pursuit, Ragonnard
recruits the assistance of Ganfrey, a thief whom he catches after she breaks
into his home. After successfully stealing the painting from the palace where
it's kept, Ragonnard casts a spell to obtain the amulet. However, not only does
his spell free the amulet he desires, it also freed Syranax, too. Syranax,
arguably the most powerful sorcerer of his time, immediately traps Ragonnard in
the painting and proceeds on a quest for retribution from those who
imprisoned him, using his magic to take over the kingdom from the unassuming,
child-like King Credos.
An unlikely group of characters including
Ragonnard, Ganfrey, Lautrec, the head of palace security; Dewdrop, King Credos'
trusted sorcerer/advisor; Velasco, Dewdrop's family and constant thorn in his
side; time traveler, Ned Merrivel; and Desquartz, a palace gargoyle who becomes
animated by one of Syranax's spells rally together in a bid to regain control of
the kingdom and banish Syranax once and for all.
Growing Disenchantments
is chock full of action and drama, but it's the brilliant and witty humor that
makes it a must read. It's a story that doesn't take itself too seriously with
puns abound, especially at the expense of palace guards Fowid and Holt and
numerous other instances including Ragonnard's animated windows
being "paned" and the broom's "bristling". There's also a very humorous instance
where, after having been animated, gargoyle Desquartz seeks the use of the
facilities to wash away years' worth of bird poop that has accumulated on
him.
In all,
Growing Disenchantments is nicely paced with very unique and
likeable characters who set aside their differences in the pursuit of righting
wrong. There's also a bit of a love story for us women folk, too. I highly
recommend this book to everyone as I believe it will appeal to a broad range of
readers and am looking Fowid :-) to reading other works by K.D. Berry.
Growing Disenchantments can be purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Disenchantments-ebook/dp/B008F5DQTE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357106822&sr=8-2&keywords=Growing+Disenchantments
There has been a series of bombings across the USA, perpetrated by 'The Man in Black', and Celaine's family has been caught up in one of the most devastating, changing Celaine's life irrevocably. This is powerful and emotive storytelling and we are drawn into Celaine's world from the start as she tries to put her life back together. 
