I was already reading one of her works - - a collection of interviews with the authors from the last Block Party - - so this writer was a logical pick for my next recommendation piece.

kriskosach

"Wattpad Block Party: Insiders Guide"

"Young Poe Chronicles: Excerpt"

"Illuminati Garden Club"

I'll deal with the books in the order that I read them - - which works just fine, since that means I'll be saving my favorite for last!

There's really not too much that I need to say about "Insiders Guide;" it's a collection of interviews Kris has done with some of the participants from the Block Party earlier this year. Full of great questions and insights, from what advice they would give their fellow writers to what they like to do for fun, it's a wonderful companion piece to the Wattpad Block Party, and it has a bit of a behind-the-scenes vibe, which I love. In particular, one of my favorite questions she asks the various interviewees is what inspired the pieces they ultimately chose to write for the event.

Kris does a fantastic job interviewing, and I think it's a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the official Wattpad Block Party entries, as well as anyone who wants to get an insight into any of the writers she talks to in the book.

Moving along, the "Poe Chronicles" excerpt is a short read but a fascinating one. It gives us a taste of the historical fiction she's written, which focuses on the teenage years of Edgar Allan Poe. Written from a first-person perspective, this work may be fiction, but is largely based on actual events, and the author put in five years of research to make it happen.

It first describes in vivid, haunting detail the events of the Richmond Theatre fire, then switches gears as readers are given the opportunity to get a sense of Poe's personality and his relationships with various people - - his father, his friends, and the girl he secretly likes.

This excerpt is just meant as a taste of the larger work, and it's certainly whet my appetite! In one of her replies to a reader, Kris mentions that she's considering uploading the entire book to gauge interest in the project before trying to sell it to a publisher. If she does go this route and upload it here (do it!), I'll definitely be one happy reader!

Ah, and speaking of happy readers...it's time to talk about my favorite book of the lot: "Illuminati Garden Club."

As I mentioned after having read the synopsis of the book, I'm one of those people who loves it when things like conspiracy or Illuminati themes and references are included in movies and TV shows (if you know any good ones, feel free to recommend!), this book naturally piqued my interest. Plus, it has one of those titles that makes you say "What the heck?" and all but forces you to take a look and find out what on earth this author is talking about.

I've said about some of my previous recommended books that they aren't really suitable for curling up with as part of a relaxing evening. This book, however, is - - I ended up binge-reading the whole thing late at night while eating...and enjoying a not-so-proper cup of green tea. (Don't worry, there was no impropriety here, ladies and gents - - it's a story reference. Read the book and you'll get it!) I gotta say, I think it really helped set the mood for the book.

"Illuminati Garden Club" is centered around Sam, a feisty seventeen-year-old girl whose hippy of a mother has a rather unusual background - - despite her vibe of being against "The Man," she's actually from a wealthy family. Her family pretty much IS the establishment, and for reasons Sam cannot understand, her mother has broken off from them and refuses to look back. However, as mysterious and frightening events begin to occur, she starts unraveling the layers of secrecy.

As I was reading this book, I started to get the feeling that this writer has us readers under her spell like a fish on a reel or cats playing with those little lure toys. She has this way of teasing us, gradually revealing things as she goes along, always keeping us alertly waiting for her next move as we're slowly reeled in deeper and deeper.

I think it's reflective of how real life works. Life usually doesn't just leave us with a bunch of bombshell answers and discoveries all at once; it's a journey of gradual discovery, and includes plenty of twists, turns, disappointments, and random events that somehow lead us to completely unexpected places. I've personally experience the fact that it can be seemingly minor, random choices and moments that lead to some of the best and most exciting things in life.

Here's the thing, though: even though the pacing is gradual, and the material covered may not be what you expected (oh, what you're looking for will come, though...just not when you expect it), you don't feel the need to rush or speed things up. The smaller sub-journeys and battles keep you watching with bated breath, turning the pages as you wonder how Sam will get herself out of these more immediate jams. There are also some pretty hilarious moments to be found. I think "Minnie The Thug" is my favorite thus far - - that one had me in absolute stitches!

Another aspect of this I love are the characters and the worlds they live in. There's so much detail and richness to the people and their environments. You feel like the author has really hung out with her characters, taking in all of their idiosyncrasies, and spent some time just casually strolling around the places where they live, from their individual houses to the communities as a whole.

I think she also does a great job of conveying aspects of Southern life and culture. And may I just say, I love Aunt Charlotte. I always imagine the character of Brenda Leigh Johnson, played by Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer" - - a favorite TV show of mine. I think she has the perfect accent and smile for it, and those of you who watch the show know that she has this way of seeming so sweet and charming, even when she's threatening to bury your sorry tail. (Gotta love characters like that, although I think they must've taken that classic "killing with kindness" line entirely the wrong way!)

There's also some romance in this book, and I love the way it explores the various relationships - - family, friendship, romance - - and the nuances within them. People aren't just stuck to one role or type of interaction; there's fluctuation. One moment things will be going well, but then you put your foot in your mouth, and manage to have someone ticked at you for a while. The sweet, proper old lady across the street turns out to be a smart, tough woman who can be patient when it's called for, but doesn't take mess from anyone. (She's another favorite character of mine.) The flighty hippy is a Southern blue blood who might be more responsible and burdened than she seems. The mean cheerleader is...well, you'll see.

What's more, the book as a whole is written in Sam's voice, and I think the author does a great job of expressing the thoughts and feelings of a character that age and of that type of personality.

The story is still ongoing, with updates on Sundays, a la TV shows! (Hey, don't look at me like that; that's what the author said!) Well, believe you me - - I plan to keep on "tuning in!"

Update: If you loved Insiders Guide as much as I did, you'll be thrilled to know Kris Kosach has done it again, writing Wattpad Block Party Author Interviews - - SUMMER EDITION. (Is it just me, or is that a mouthful?!) If you want to know things like how Fifthproject, first discovered Wattpad, or what inspired Steve Bevil to become a writer, then this companion to the Wattpad Block Party: Summer Edition is just the book for you!