"Bleeder is an intelligent, deftly written mystery that offers a skillful blend of reason and faith. John Desjarlais skillfully combines a wounded scholar, a stigmatic priest, and Aristotle himself in a fascinating tale of a death that's either a miracle or a murder."
What do you get when you combine a story about an alleged stigmatic priest, a town seeking healings from this priest, a skeptic who is not a cynic, and then the death of this priest on Good Friday? You get Bleeder: A Mystery , a well crafted and engaging story.
I was pretty well hooked from the first pages on and the novel never disappointed. The story is written as a mystery as to whether the priest was murdered and the various motives of people none too happy to have him there in their midst. It certainly kept me guessing. Plus the novel is more than a mystery novel in that it also uses mystery in the Catholic sense. There is a sense of the mystery of God throughout. And the author does not try to dot every i when it comes to answering these mysteries, but gives them the proper place. The theology presented in this novel is pitch perfect, though it is not a preachy novel that hits you over the head with Catholicism. Rather, it’s an excellent mystery novel with some theological elements. Highly recommended.
...plays a part in my forthcoming mystery, VIPER. Her feast day is today.
I had truly hoped to be done (or nearly done) with a draft of the book by today, but schoolwork, a terrible chest cold, household injuries and 2 very sick dogs (one had a stroke, the other was diagnosed with cancer) have really slowed me down. New deadline: May 1, the first day of "Mary's Month." That will give me the summer to work closely with my editor in revision and have a fast turnaround time.
This year's Catholic Writers’ Conference Online, which will be held February 26-March 5, 2010, will focus on the practical things the writer needs to succeed.
The conference is held via chats and forums at http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild, the online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels who register between October 1, 2009 and February 15, 2010.
"We've always concentrated on workshops and chats that teach the writer skills or provide information in the areas of crafting, publishing and marketing their works, but this year, we're adding critique workshops and some incredible opportunities to pitch to leading publishers," said organizer Karina Fabian.
This year, publishers hearing pitches include well known Catholic publishers like Pauline, large Christian publishers like Thomas Nelson, and smaller presses like White Rose. Thus far, eleven pitch sessions are scheduled, running the gamut from Christian romance to Catholic theology.
In a new program, at least fifty attendees will have the opportunity to have pieces of their work critiqued by successful editors and writers. In addition, there will be forum-based workshops and chat room presentations covering topics from dialogue to freelancing to how Catholic fiction differs from Christian fiction.
"Even in good economic times, it's hard for writers to attend live conferences," said Fabian, "but this year, we think it's even more important to help careers by utilizing an online format. We're so grateful that our presenters are willing to share their time and talent."
Early registration is recommended. Although the conference is offered free of charge, donations are accepted; proceeds will go toward future conferences. Non-Catholics may attend, as long as they respect Catholic beliefs and the conference's Catholic focus.
A former producer at Wisconsin Public Radio with an MA in Media (Columbia U) and an MA in Writing/English (Illinois State), John teaches journalism and English at Kishwaukee College. A member of The Academy of American Poets and Mystery Writers of America, he's listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and Who's Who in Entertainment.
