BOOK REVIEW - Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Written in the first person, this dark but touching novel grabbed my attention from the first. It was the author's well paced and thought provoking intro that convinced me this was a novel I would enjoy. It's one of those stories in which the plot isn't complex or in your face, but the characters in this novel are so well written and so full of depth you are seeing a much bigger picture and understanding their motives so completely.
You will have very strong opinions about each of the characters and, even if you don't like one of them, you will not be able to stop yourself caring about what happens to them.
I believe this is a first novel by this writer and I'm looking forward to reading more from her. I highly recommend this book of you want an honest, heartfelt and well written read.

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My Latest Song

I put aside fiction writing to write and record a new song. The first song I've written - completely finished - in a very long time. And here it is:

I hope you enjoy it. If so a Like would be nice and maybe even a Share - if you're feeling generous 😊

Getting Creative

Since finishing another edit on a manuscript, which I recently sent off to my agent, I put the fiction writing process to one side and decided to get back to some song writing.

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

A couple of posts ago I put up a link to an album collection of some of my old songs. It's been a long time since I added a song to my discography. My last recorded songs were written around 2014. I have had a few song ideas and recorded some rough demos since then, but I hadn't hit on anything I was happy with.

I've been so busy writing fiction that my musical pursuits have been limited to gigging and conducting my choir (but not since #lockdown) and giving singing lessons (now only on #Zoom). Don't get me wrong, I love all of these but it's so satisfying to have composed a song that you really feel and enjoy.

Yesterday I recorded the video of Give Me Time, my latest song. I could pretend I was a rock star for the day🤭. It was really good fun and I'm looking forward to video editing and mixing the recording. I'll post the results, hopefully soon, here. Let's see how it turns out!!

What's In A Pseudonym?

It's a rainy Wednesday morning. I was up early, went for a brisk walk, did some weight training and followed that with a yoga session. After a shower I sit at my desk, contemplate my work for the day and start looking forward to breakfast. Everyday is the same, barring a few exceptions. For me it's a great way to start the day.

Everyday I write, but each day I don't write as the same person.

I began my writing career as a Women's Fiction writer. My first published novel was considered Literary Women's Fiction.

When I began writing books that were not literary but fell under another sub genre of Women's Fiction, I felt obliged to assume another name to publish those books. The name Rosa Temple was born and was the name I used when I wrote under the contemporary romance sub genre of Women's Fiction. Confused? I was at first, but I followed the advice that was out there about how books are marketed and felt it was necessary to take on another writer name.

Photo by John Jennings on Unsplash

So, every day, when I sit down to write, I have to ask myself, who am I? Who is writing today? Fran or Rosa? The most difficult thing is that I don't feel as if the two are different people. I just think I'm a writer who doesn't want to have to stick to writing in one genre.

Last night I sent off a book to my agent - a Rosa Temple book. Today I have an idea for a new book. But who am I today?

Sketches

Though it's been a long time since recording an album, we've decided to bring out a special recording.

To coincide with my wedding anniversary, June 27th 2020, the tracks on Sketches have all been beautifully remixed and produced by Pete Clark. Each track was written several years ago and either didn't make the cut for either the To Fly or the Beautiful People album, or it didn't survive in the version found on Sketches.

I hope you enjoy the songs.

As I continue to write fiction I will also be writing and recording new songs this year so please look out for these!

Happy listening x