Kristina Adams

It appears that the only thing that Jack and Tate have in common is talent. Or is there more?

Songwriter Jack Cuoco’s career is in a downward spiral, but he has been given the opportunity to work with one of the most popular singer-songwriters in the business: a young talent named Tate Gardener. A hit together could get him back on the charts and in the public eye.

Jack and Tate come from very different backgrounds and their initial meeting does not bode well for a collaborative relationship. Author Kristina Adams skillfully draws her reader into the web created by mixing one’s very work driven lifestyle with the addictive life of the other. Somehow the two worlds merge as we see each try to navigate the other’s lifestyle while still holding on to the life they know.

We share the highlights of their success. We fall into the abyss when addiction again starts to take over. As readers, we feel the fear of each as they step into an unfamiliar world.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author just a couple of days prior to publication. No promise was made of a positive review. I have not read any of her previous books and can honestly say that I am glad that I decided to give her work a chance.… (lisätietoja)

I recommend this book to any beginning writer who needs a cheerleader on their side, someone who has survived the struggle against self-doubt and broken through the walls in the way of creating their dreams. It is full of practical tips on how to handle the sometimes unhelpful responses of others, and how to overcome the self-imposed obstacles to your productivity. It would have been more helpful to me when I first started writing since I have no intention of changing my daily attempts to put words into the manuscripts. Nevertheless, I found numerous tidbits of advice that rang very true. “Agile software developers don’t chase perfection because they know it doesn’t exist.” At some point, stop editing and let it go. “... when you’re only selling a book a month and wondering why you even bothered.” Been there, still am I guess. But write for yourself. You know you love it. “It’s a lot harder to think like a target audience when you’re no longer a part of it.” That I know, but Adams’ section on software apps designed to stop you from wasting time on the internet was a concrete example of the issue. You mean people really can’t control themselves with their phones and social media!? Oh those millennials!
Probably the best recommendation I can make for reading this book is the strange coincidence that happened. I was stuck on my current novel, unable to figure out a main technical point. I spent days revising computer code from courses I taught twenty years ago. I vacuumed the house. I tried to clean out my inbox. I found a message. From Kristina Adams. It wasn’t spam, I checked it out. I found her book, Productivity For Writers. So, politely, I bought it. She had a suggestion to “work on the ending, then fill in the middle.” I tried it. It worked!!! Thanks.… (lisätietoja)