As preservationist Mary Carol Miller talked with Mississippians about her books on lost mansions and landmarks; enthusiasts brought her more stories of great architecture ravaged by time. The twenty-seven houses included in her new book are among the most memorable of Mississippis vanished antebellum and Victorian mansions. The list ranges from the oldest house in the Natchez region; lost in a 1966 fire; to a Reconstruction-era home that found new life as a school for freed slaves. From two Gulf Coast landmarks both lost to Hurricane Katrina; to the mysteriously misplaced facades of Hernandos White House and Columbuss Flynnwood; these homes mark high points in the broad sweep of Mississippi history and the states architectural legacy.Miller tells the stories of these homes through accounts from the families who built and maintained them. These structures run the stylistic gamut from Greek revival to Second Empire; and their owners include everyone from Revolutionary-era soldiers to governors and scoundrels.
#153567 in eBooks 2009-08-01 2009-08-01File Name: B00361F9ME
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Also for fiction writersBy Jeffery CottonWill Dunnes The Dramatic Writers Companion: Tools to Develop Characters. Cause Scenes. and Build Stories is one of several books Ive read that target playwrights and screenwriters. In this case I think thats a shame. as the exercises in this book. especially for character development. are useful to anyone who creates fictional worlds.Like Roy Peter Clarks Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. this book has you apply the exercises to your work in progress. rather than to synthetic prompts.For that reason. this is my go-to book for those moments when nothing is working.The Dramatic Writers Companion stands out because of the way it is organized. Many chapters are only a few pages long. and discuss the development of your story or characters out of a particular need you have. For example. take the chapter "Finding the Characters Voice." As in every chapter. Dunne provides a description at the top to let you know what its about:FINDING THE CHARACTERS VOICETHE QUICK VERSION: Hone and contrast the unique voices of two charactersBEST TIME FOR THIS: Any time you need to know a character betterThese "Best time for this" tags are invaluable. Here are some others:During early story development or any time you add a new characterAfter you are well into the storyAfter you have a working sense of the main characterWhen a character seems like nothing more than an evildoerDuring scene planningetc...In fact. these "best time for this" descriptions are so useful. I hope there will be an index of them in a future edition.For my writer friends fond of using the Dramatica Theory of Story to build story structure and characterizations. I have found that Dramatica maps easily into these exercises. which provide intense focus on relationship.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent. highly recommendBy mcernerI have been writing an amateur for years. I didnt put pen to paper until I studied up on all the techniques and methods for writing. including a good many books on characterization. Years later. I came across this one. and it is the best Ive read. Thorough and well organized. easy to read but also really gets you thinking about the basis of short stories and novels. the characters within them. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to write fiction of all genres.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I used to get stuck in Grad School. stuck ...By CustomerI used to get stuck in Grad School. stuck in deadlines. or just stuck anytime anywhere and when I took the time to sit down. and do a couple of these writing exercises. it opened up so much character and story to explore. At the very least. it puts the writer behind the steering wheel of momentum. Thats not to say i dont use it for several other facets of writing. because it literally generates entire worlds within which your characters and stories can operate.
