Improving with Age

 

Any writer worth his salt is going to improve the more he writes and the longer he writes.

When I look at my earliest poems and compare them to poems written 20 or more years later, I often cringe. “How on earth did I have the guts to show that to someone?” I ask myself.

Yet I did. Those early poems, as “bad” as I tend to think they are, were the best I could do. 

The good thing is I didn’t give up. And 20 intensive years of writing poetry and writing well over 1500 poems enabled me to become a decent poet.

It is the same with my fiction. My earlier fiction, while I think it provides a decent read, isn’t as good as my current fiction.

For me, my novels and short stories have gone from good to much better, and hopefully in the future they will move to the very best I will ever be capable of.

I think that is the case with most writers. Very few start out at the pinnacle of their ability.

Of my own series, my favorite is the Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries.

The early books are good. Would I do things differently if I wrote them today? Of course. I’m a better writer today then I was 10 years ago.

And if you compare my books in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series with the later Justinia Wright books, I think you’ll find the Tina and Harry books on the same level as Magnolia Bluff in giving you, the reader, enjoyment and pleasure. They are very satisfactory reads. I like them a lot.

But then I like all of my books. I’m not ashamed of any of them. I don’t think there is a bad one in the lot.

What do all of my books deliver? They give you humor, quirky and lovable characters, interesting story lines, and good writing. What’s not to like?

All of the books in the Justinia Wright series are standalones, although there is a character arc that spans the series.

The main complaint I’ve gathered is that some readers think the beginnings of the first couple books are slow.

But then they aren’t thrillers. You have to wait awhile for things to start blowing up and the suspense has you on the edge of your chair.

Nevertheless, you might want to read the later books first and then go back and read the beginning of the series.

So start perhaps with 

When Friends Must Die

Death Makes a House Call

To Right a Wrong

Then go back and read Festival of Death, which I truly like. It has one of my best endings.

Once I’ve completed writing my next offering for the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series (to be published January 2025), I’ll be going back to my favorite series and write more Justinia Wright mysteries. Tina and Harry are my favorite people.

Here’s a review by the late Caleb Pirtle III of To Right a Wrong:

I have a deep appreciation for old-fashioned mysteries when private detectives gathered clues, some real and some imagined, sorted them out, and gathered various and sundry suspects together, usually in the drawing room of a mansion, before revealing the villain in an atmosphere filled with bitterness, fear, jealousy, and suspense.

In his newest mystery, To Right A Wrong, CW Hawes has managed to assemble all of the key ingredients of those old-fashioned, drawing room mysteries of Nero Wolfe and Agatha Christie and bring them into a modern world replete with cell phones, GPS devices, and phone hacking systems.

The investigation is orchestrated by one of the most intriguing literary private eyes of all time, the unflappable Justinia Wright, who stands six-feet tall, smokes cigars, drinks high-dollar vintage Madeira wine as though she’s sipping water, once forged art to make a fortune, and drives as though she should have arrived yesterday even though she only left this morning.

To right a wrong, Justina only has to find one answer. Who was the greediest suspect of the bunch?

The story moves along at a leisurely pace, the dialogue is laced with biting and sometimes dark humor, and in the seedy rich man’s world of lies and deceit, the first liar never has a chance. To Right a Wrong is my kind of mystery. Modern technology doesn’t solve the crime. Old-fashioned investigative work does just fine.

Caleb was spot on in this review. And if this is the kind of book you love to read, then the Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries are your cup of tea.

Here are two reviews for Festival of Death:

A PI mystery with humor and wit!

Festival Of Death is Book l in the Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries. And what a fun introduction to this delightful duo it is. 

Although the plot is suspenseful and well-timed, the unique characters absolutely make this story entertaining and fun. 

Justinia, who owns the PI agency, is an ex-CIA agent with a colorful past. Enjoying the finer things in life, she marches to the beat of her own drummer, picks and chooses what she deems worthy of her time and does things at her own pace. 

Harry, the narrator of the story, is “Tina’s” assistant/butler/timekeeper/chief cook and bottle washer/voice of reason/PI, and her older brother. 

It is Harry’s quick wit, dry humor, pragmatic opinions, and laissez-faire attitude toward people and relationships and Tina’s quirkiness that brings this story to life. Add the “just the facts, ma’am” writing style and it is a winning story. 

The story is cleverly intertwined with the character’s interests (spelunking and chess are a few) that are effectively used both literally and metaphorically in solving this well-crafted mystery.

The case involves finding the missing adult son of a wealthy couple. There are few clues and numerous possible motives for the disappearance. Not a case Tina would normally take, but big brother knows what’s best, and what’s best is to make sure the bills for the expensive mansion, cigars, imported tea, madeira, and culinary delights are all paid for. 

You will love this unique and quirky brother and sister team! —Joy Shelton-York

I'm always excited to find a new author, especially one that writes this well. The plot is exciting and keeps your peepers glued to the page in what is a remarkably quick, fluent read. The main protagonists draw you in with their delightfully acerbic banter and the surrounding cast of characters are as interesting as they are varied. ...the novel is a thoroughly entertaining read and one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. From a Goodreads Review

If you’ve read my books in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series

Death Wears a Crimson Hat

Ten Million Ways to Die

Who Mourns Elektra?

I think you’ll love sister and brother PI team Tina and Harry Wright.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with three bestselling novels. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes

Successful People Read

Last month, Christina DesMarais wrote why we should read. Take a look at her article. It’s short — and eye-opening.

Today, I’m going to riff on her points.

Want to Be Open-Minded and Creative?

Then you need to be reading fiction. A study by the University of Toronto revealed that short story readers were essentially more open-minded than essay readers. Why? Because fiction encourages you to think and ponder. It stimulates the imagination. Lets you wander outside your box.

Much fiction, even much commercial fiction, is at base philosophy. The author is exploring different world views or philosophical questions — all disguised as a story.

Fiction sows the seeds for reflective thought. And in our current environment where people no longer dialogue, reflective thought can challenge some of our dearest and most cherished assumptions. And possibly re-open those dialogues.

Want to Live Longer?

If you do, then read a book. A Yale study found that book readers 50 and older lived nearly 2 years longer than non-readers or magazine readers.

Reading books develops thinking skills and concentration, as well as improving vocabulary. And a greater vocabulary allows one more nuanced verbal expression.

Reading a book for at least 30 minutes a day creates cognitive engagement. In other words, it gets your brain active. And many studies have shown that a key to defeating dementia and ill health in old age is to be mentally active. Reading helps us do that.

Improves Your Writing Skills

Whether you write on paper or type on your laptop, if you want to improve your ability to communicate by the real or virtual page then you need to read.

Reading a wide array of literature exposes us to different metaphors, allusions, words, illustrations, styles. All of which can enrich your own. 

If you are looking to express yourself better on the page, then read a book.

Reduces Stress

And who doesn’t want to do that?

Reading takes us into other worlds. And because we have to create the images of the fictional world in our mind, it takes us out of our present situation and transports us someplace else. By doing so, we get our mind off of our troubles for a little while. And that is good for our health.

Reading Provides Entertainment

Reading is an age-old means of entertainment that you can enjoy by yourself or with others. Reading a book with your family or a loved one is a fabulous way to spend time together.

It’s convenient too. Just open the book and you are there. Just turn on your e-reader or tablet and you are ready for fun.

What’s more, a book allows for interactive entertainment in a way a movie or TV show doesn’t. You can pause and reflect on a scene. Argue with the author. Discuss with a friend. All this can be done far easier with a book, than with video.

But I Don’t Have Time to Read

Actually, you probably do. As with anything in life, it depends on what you value. Those things you value, you do. So look at what you are doing. If what you are doing is so important it can’t be set aside, okay. And if those important things fill up every hour of your waking day, then they must be important.

However, I seriously doubt you don’t have wasted time in your day. Time spent in idle chit-chat. Time spent staring at your phone. I don’t have a smart phone. I find it difficult to imagine what the heck is so mesmerizing about those darn phones. 

Then there is time spent in commuting to work. What do you do in the bus or train or car pool?

Even at just 30 minutes a day, it’s possible to read a book a week. I know that sounds impossible, but it really isn’t. Try it. Pick out 3 books. Assign each book to a week, and dedicate 30 minutes a day to reading it. 

If you find that you don’t read fast enough, and some of us don’t, I’m a rather slow reader, don’t worry. Simply set aside 2 weeks to read the book. After all, that’s what the library gives you.

The point is to read each day something you enjoy. It can be poetry, short stories, essays, novels, non-fiction. What you read doesn’t matter as much as reading. Although I’d recommend a mix. Remember variety is the spice of life. And no spice = bland.

Those Who Don’t Read

The Pew Research Center discovered that 26% of American adults did not read even a part of a book in the past year.

That is a ghastly statistic.

As the number of non-readers increases, so does the number of violent acts. Are they related? That would make for a very interesting study.

At the very least, we are growing a population less prone to think, less likely to live longer, and less likely to have good mental health.

What Do I Read?

That’s easy: whatever you want! But mix it up, as noted above.

I read a lot of non-fiction while researching when writing my novels and stories. Consequently, I tend to focus on reading fiction. And I also happen to enjoy fiction more than non-fiction. I also read poetry on occasion.

I’m also partial to today’s indie authors and authors of the past. Undoubtedly, you have your own favorites — even if you don’t know them yet.

Years ago I worked in a library. The head librarian was a mystery lover and one day we were talking about mysteries. I said I liked Sherlock Holmes, but otherwise wasn’t all that interested in mysteries.

She took me over to the bookshelves and handed me a volume of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe. I took it home and read it. It was love at first read. I never looked back.

Today, I find myself reading lots of mysteries. Thank you Marilyn Gray for a lifetime of splendid enjoyment.

Here are a few authors I happen to like. They write well and are very imaginative. Just click on the name to go to their Amazon page.

Crispian Thurlborn writes horror and fantasy.

Ben Willoughby writes horror and fantasy.

Steve Bargdill writes imaginative mainstream fiction.

Jack Tyler writes steampunk adventure.

William Jackson writes… Well, wherever you put it, it’s entertaining!

James Vincett writes military science fiction.

Cordwainer Smith wrote highly imaginative science fiction.

Rex Stout wrote the incomparable Nero Wolfe mysteries, and other genres in his early days.

And if you want to check out what I write, here’s my Amazon page.

You can also check out my Facebook page where I post on Mondays the Book of the Week.

Comments are always welcome. Until next time, happy reading!