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Starting Something New
It is always daunting to take on a new project.
There is the hesitation before starting a new book (reading or writing). Is it truly such a great read as people keep claiming? (I just finished Throne of Glass, for instance, and while I enjoyed it, I expected more. But I’ll blog about that later).
(I enjoyed it. Truly. I did!)
There is the cold sweat before you reach out to someone in the hopes…
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Review: The Two Bells of Christmas by Joanna Barker
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. In my opinion, one of the best parts about this season is the literature. Christmas-themed books turn up across genres, and these stories bring in the festive mood so well!
Regency Christmas novellas are among my favorite books to read in this time. I’ve got plenty in my Kindle, and on occasion revisit old favorites.
This year, I read The Two Bells of…
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Review: Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro
Difference, children, is not monstrous. It is nature at work.
from Ordinary Monsters
The first time I saw Ordinary Monsters, it was in eBook form. I had clicked the ad on Facebook because I loved the cover–covers do make an enormous difference–and when I saw on the Amazon page that it was a deliciously long book, I knew I had to read it sometime.
However, there are so many books in my wishlist…
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The Sea King Arrives
December 8 was my planned release day for The Sea King as an eBook. It was a happy coincidence that my proof copy of the paperback arrived that very same day.
While it’s still not yet available to purchase as a paperback, I’ve been having fun carrying the book with me, reading the chapters with interest, as if I was not the very person who wrote them. It was the same when The Sea Rose was…
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Announcement: Sequel to The Sea Rose
I’m convinced that self-doubt and impostor syndrome are to blame for many, many good books never getting published. Indeed, a nervous writer might never even allow her friends to look at her work if it is less than perfect in her eyes.
The truth is that nothing we write will ever be perfect; even our favorite traditionally-published authors might often struggle with “cringe syndrome” while…
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Guest Post: The Journey to Finding My Voice by Author Kate Seger
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Ah, the captivating world of writing—a dimension where I’ve always felt both entranced and, for a long time, somewhat astray. As a young, aspiring author, I admired a pantheon of literary greats, trying to find my footing by echoing their voices. Each narrative I spun felt like an act of mimicry, a parrot’s squawk rather than a nightingale’s song. I remember poring over other…
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Review: The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts
Purchase here!
Perhaps Halloween season is to blame. I’ve been enjoying books about witches or set in relevant situations. The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy set it off. It hooked me into wanting to read more about these oft-misunderstood characters.
I like that witches in literature can be good or bad. Some do follow the black magic tradition of curses and steaming cauldrons. Other…
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3 Things I Love in a Protagonist
We all look for different things when reading a book.
Some people appreciate an elaborate world, like that in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; others find such details distracting. Some enjoy it when an author ‘breaks the rules’ with their plotline.
Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a book people either love or do not. It breaks so many storytelling rules that I found it confusing.…
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Books of Octobers Past
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
― George R.R. Martin
Books don’t become any less exciting with time—good ones, anyway. They change the colors of an otherwise dull day, or year, or life.
Classics are evidence that a story can be visited several times and always manage to surprise. While I still have not achieved my goal of reading all the…
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Sealskin by Su Bristow
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I write about Merpeople, so I enjoy finding books that take place near the sea. Of these, my favorites are those so well-written, I can feel the chill of the sea air and smell the salt in each breath. I can only hope to one day be able to describe things in such a way.
Sealskin by Su Bristow is not a tale of merpeople, but selkies. Though they are different creatures, they share…
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All Hallow’s Eve
Over the campfire, magic happens on All Hallow’s Eve.Of course, a devout skeptic would be hard-pressed to believe.
I like to say it’s not dependent on the holy-day,That it is nothing but a whim, when fair-folk come to play.
Ladies in billowing skirts of smoke do pirouettes in mid-air.If you lean in, you might see the old stars in their hair.
Ghosts dressed in their Sunday best take turns about…
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In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
Having introduced characters to my stories who will spend a significant time at sea, I’ve become interested in nautical books. I’ve been on the hunt for histories of pirates, sailors, and other aspects of life near the ocean. It’s also become a goal of mine to read more nonfiction. With nonfiction, I am picky; so much of it sounds so dry to read!
It was a treat, then, to pick up Nathaniel…
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Teaser: Lady Meredith’s Letter
“Perhaps there is more to your story than all that you said last night,” said Theo, opening a drawer in his writing-desk. “I have been debating whether it would be wise to give you this so soon after your return, but I trust you can grapple with it in a collected manner.”
From the drawer he took a letter. Peter eyed it warily as Theo explained.
“Lady Meredith’s maid sent this my way. Her name…
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What Multi-Genre Author Really Means
What Multi-Genre Author Really Means
Guest Post by AR DeClerck
AR DeClerck is a multi-genre author with stories including sci-fi romance, fantasy romance, cozy mysteries, horror and serial fiction. You can find all AR DeClerck books and stories at linktr.ee/ardeclerck.
I started writing with the intention to publish in 2010. Back then, I was a young mother of 2 kids who was working full time. It didn’t seem like the smartest move…
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Guest Blog Post — Author Danielle Renee Wallace
Guest Blog Post — Author Danielle Renee Wallace
Hello everyone! My name is Danielle Renee Wallace. I’m nineteen, and I’ve published five books. Today I’m going to be talking about my author journey!
Originally, I never planned to be an author. Unlike some, it wasn’t something I dreamed of since I was a little girl who was learning to read. The thing is, it just happened. A series of random events lined up to make me write—and write to…
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Guest Blog Post - Author Angela Johnson
Guest Blog Post – Author Angela Johnson
Merry Christmas Eve, dear readers! A project of mine I am proud to be starting with the new year is this: I will feature authors every Saturday. These authors might be friends, new indie authors who deserve a spotlight, or those who have written books I really loved.
I am pleased and honored to have Angela Johnson on board as the first author to guest blog on my site. Her novel Mr. Fernley and…
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A Dream with a Plan
A Dream with a Plan
When you’re writing a novel, the concept of the actual book can be incredibly fleeting. If you’re like me, prone to rewriting and making changes, you can’t imagine there’ll ever be a time when everything is just right and it can be printed.
The Sea Rose is a project about four years in the making. The original version is nothing like that which I have been publishing on Vella. Rewrite after…
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