Author Archives: authorlindaruequinn
Big Box Retail
I started as a part-time cashier at nights so I could still homeschool my kids. As soon as they figured out I had a brain and could do more than rote tasks (a few weeks), I worked on the service desk. Then we were moving to a larger store and the Photo Lab Manager begged me to work for her. That was a no-brainer and I liked challenges, but as a joke I told her I would only accept the position if she would get down on her knees at the next store meeting and beg. She did! I was JOKING, really. All I remember about her is she tended to panic and she kept wanting me to work full-time hours even after I explained that my kids were my priority. She begged me for about six months to work more hours, and I was tired of it all, so I quit.
I wasn’t done with that Big Box chain, though. It would come back to haunt me and to help me at the same time.
More to come….
Writers Digest Review for The Apple Fell
WRITERS DIGEST REVIEW
The Apple Fell
Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 4
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5
Plot and Story Appeal: 4
Character Appeal and Development: 5
Voice and Writing Style: 5
Writer’s Digest Judge’s Commentary:
In Linda Rue Quinn’s The Apple Fell, she skillfully takes a common tragedy that many women face and puts her main character into an uncommon situation. This creates a series of domino-style events that will surely grab readers early in the story and not let go until the last page is turned. The opening scene immediately creates a bond between Heather and the reader, and it doesn’t let up as the book progresses. In fact, I found myself feeling what this courageous woman must have felt as she faced one problem after another. Great job with characterization! There were a few spots where the writing became unnecessarily passive. It’s okay to have some to-be verbs, but make sure you use them sparingly and only to make the prose flow smoothly. Taking out the ones you don’t really need (like on page 17, first and second sentence after the line break), you’ll naturally tighten up the writing. I liked seeing the hooks at the end of each chapter. This will prevent the reader from whipping out the dreaded bookmark at the end of the night. Don’t be surprised when people complain about staying up until the wee hours to finish the book. The front cover of the book is eye catching and easy to read from across a crowded room. The back cover blurb is intriguing. The author’s bio tells about an interesting and relatable woman.
The Writers Digest review of The Apple Fell
WRITERS DIGEST REVIEW
The Apple Fell
Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 4
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5
Plot and Story Appeal: 4
Character Appeal and Development: 5
Voice and Writing Style: 5
Writer’s Digest Judge’s Commentary:
In Linda Rue Quinn’s The Apple Fell, she skillfully takes a common tragedy that many women face and puts her main character into an uncommon situation. This creates a series of domino-style events that will surely grab readers early in the story and not let go until the last page is turned. The opening scene immediately creates a bond between Heather and the reader, and it doesn’t let up as the book progresses. In fact, I found myself feeling what this courageous woman must have felt as she faced one problem after another. Great job with characterization! There were a few spots where the writing became unnecessarily passive. It’s okay to have some to-be verbs, but make sure you use them sparingly and only to make the prose flow smoothly. Taking out the ones you don’t really need (like on page 17, first and second sentence after the line break), you’ll naturally tighten up the writing. I liked seeing the hooks at the end of each chapter. This will prevent the reader from whipping out the dreaded bookmark at the end of the night. Don’t be surprised when people complain about staying up until the wee hours to finish the book. The front cover of the book is eye catching and easy to read from across a crowded room. The back cover blurb is intriguing. The author’s bio tells about an interesting and relatable woman.
