What’s Your Reading Goal?
February 5, 2025 by Tracy Reed in category WritingHappy New Year. I am so excited about this year. I haven’t completed my goals yet, but I’m being careful not over estimate what I can realistically accomplish. There’s one goal I am going to expand on, leisure reading.
In 2023 I returned to serious pleasure reading. In the past, I was so consumed with writing and trying new marketing things, I hadn’t spent much time reading for fun. In an effort to read more, I paid myself $5 for each book I read. I think I ended the year with $180…36 books. I was very proud of myself. The list also included my books because I was proofing books for publication. A read book is a read book.
Last year, I attacked my task a little different. In addition to solo reading, I hooked my parents onto audio books. When we’re in the car together, we listen to audio books. My goal for last year was 60 books. I was feeling ambitious when I set the goal. To be honest, I wasn’t too sure I was going to make it, but I did. In fact, I ended the year with 85 books.
I have met readers who read several hundred books a year. Hearing that also encouraged me to amp up my reading goal. I belong to a Facebook reading group where we share what we’re reading and our reading goals. There was a woman in my group who had read over 500 books last year. The number one question in the group was “How?”. She answered, “I don’t watch much television”.
How did I achieve my goal? I read several books at a time…audio, print and ebook. Technically, I listen to two audio books at a time…one in the car and one while I work out.
This year my reading goals is 100 books, which I believe I’ll accomplish. In addition to that lofty goal, I’ve taken on another daunting task…reading the Bible in a year. I went to a Christian university and reading the Bible was a requirement. I am almost ashamed to say I skirted around that assignment, but this is the year I rectify it.
Determination to reach my reading goal introduced me to several new authors. It has also helped jumpstart my creativity. I’m working a couple of series with a strong make voice. Unlike my series The Alex Chronicles, centered around females. This series will center around men and their pursuit of love. In order to write them, I need to get into their mind and speech…language. Men talk different from women and their word usage can be a little brash. My leisure reading is also my craft homework.
What’s your reading goal for this year?
Picture Perfect
January 30, 2025 by Dianna Sinovic in category Quill and Moss by Dianna Sinovic, Writing tagged as beach, fiction, short fiction
Shaun held the framed photo of his grandfather and traced the image with his finger.
“He was such a great man.”
Granddad had died four years ago, but the rawness of grief still gnawed at Shaun. He’d lost the man who had raised him when his own parents couldn’t—or wouldn’t.
And here he was, reviewing plans for his wedding, his fiancée at his side. Erin would never meet the person he owed his life to.
“I see where you got your good looks,” Erin said. “Too bad I never knew him. My own grandfather died when I was just a baby, so I never knew him either.” She paused, and looked down at her notebook. “Maybe we can honor your grandpa in some way at the reception?”
She launched into an update on the guest list, the bridal party, and other wedding details he honestly didn’t have an opinion on. They were getting married, and that was enough. If only Granddad were here . . .
Once again he touched the photograph, taken when his grandfather was Shaun’s age, his eyes sparkling in laughter, his ever-present Tilley hat pushed to the back of his head. In the background, the surf at Brigantine crashed onto the sand, a gull winging overhead. Shaun had framed the photograph after he reached adulthood and went out on his own. He wanted to be reminded of how far he’d come, thanks to the man.
Erin continued her updates, and he closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he was standing on a beach, with the waves rolling in below a clear sky. Gulls cried above him, and a briny breeze flowed off the ocean. Erin was looking at him, her mouth agape.
“Where are we?” she squeaked.
“Not sure,” Shaun said. “The Jersey Shore, I think.”
The beach was deserted except for a man walking toward them—the guy definitely had them in his sights. As the man drew closer, Shaun knew who it was, but not how or why.
The face was younger but unmistakable. “Granddad?”
In the warm summer sunshine, the man wore jeans and a tee, his head topped with his usual brimmed hat. His smile enveloped Shaun, and he followed that with a bear hug.
“Shaun, my boy,” the man said. “Good to see you.” He turned to Erin, shock still etched across her face. “And this must be your fiancée.” He extended a hand. “A pleasure, miss. You’ve got yourself a real catch in Shaun.”
Erin slowly put out her own hand, and the man covered it with both of his.
“But how . . . ?” Shaun said, his voice trailing off until the roar of the surf absorbed it. “You’re young—my age. And you’re here. It’s impossible.”
“Not impossible, but complicated,” his grandfather said. To Erin, he said, “You can call me Paul. I’ve known Shaun for years.” He offered his arm to her and winked. “I think it’s time to take a walk on the beach. Beautiful day for a stroll, don’t you think?”
For the next few hours, that’s what they did, talking and laughing as the waves tugged at their feet. With every step, Shaun tried to make sense of what was happening. Erin, trading jokes with Paul, was at ease as if she’d known the man for years, not just an afternoon.
Finally, Paul came to a halt and turned to Shaun. “You’ve done well, grandson. I’m proud of you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver dollar. “Take this. When the time comes to say your vows, this will stand in for me, since I can’t be there.”
Shaun took the coin, felt the smoothness of the metal, its unyielding strength.
“Thank you,” he said, content to remain in this must-be-a-dream state as long as he was allowed.
The wind gusted, sending up spray from the surf. Paul grabbed hold of his hat and settled it on the back of his head.
Erin, still at Paul’s side, reached up and adjusted it. “There, that looks better,” she said, smiling. “And it keeps the sun out of your eyes.”
Shaun shaded his own eyes in the brightness, closed them briefly—and he was again in his living room, the framed photo of his grandfather back on the side table where he kept it.
His right hand still gripped the silver dollar, and he opened his palm. The coin was real enough; he hadn’t dreamt that.
Erin shook her head, her eyes dazed. “What just happened?”
“I’m not sure,” he said.
He glanced at his grandfather’s photograph. It was the same, and it wasn’t. The Tilley hat perched on the back of his grandfather’s head was now straightened, and his lips curved in a friendly smile.
Never Too Late by Kitty Bucholtz
January 19, 2025 by Kitty Bucholtz in category Writing tagged as It's Worth It, Kitty Bucholtz, readers, Series novels
A few months ago, I was wandering through the Sci-Fi Bookstore here in Malmö (Sweden) and picked up a book whose cover caught my attention. I turned it over to read the back cover and decided this looked like something I’d be interested in. Then I realized it was book fourteen in a series I’d never heard of.
I opened up the library’s website on my phone and – voila! They had the first several books of the series! The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs about a woman who shapeshifts into a coyote, was raised by werewolves, and now lives in Washington State as a mechanic with her own shop.
I immediately read book one and it is AWESOME!! I love it!
I’m now on book six, and the friend I told about it just finished book twelve already! I love this series so much – the characters, the character and story arcs, the surprises, and mostly just how believable it all is! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve closed the book after a chapter and thought, I want to write this well.
My point to you, my writer friend, is this: book one was published in 2006. That was nineteen years ago. Nineteen years! And at least two people are going through the series for the first time and telling their friends. It’s never too late to find more readers. Never too late to make more sales.
So don’t give up. Keep writing. Keep promoting. Keep looking for your readers and encouraging them to try the books they haven’t read yet. It’s never too late to find new fans – or even super fans!
0 0 Read moreCelebrating Two Months of Mac and Cheese in Outer Space
January 15, 2025 by Renae Wrich in category Writing tagged as Childrens Lit, new release, writingHello, dear readers! I am beyond thrilled to share the overwhelmingly positive reception of my book, Mac and cheese in Outer Space, since its release just two months ago. The journey of bringing this story to life was a labor of love, and seeing it resonate with so many has been nothing short of a dream come true.
From the heartfelt reviews to the kind words shared on social media, the support and enthusiasm have been truly humbling.
So what comes next? My daughters have already determined the setting for my next Mac and Cheese book, and let’s just say that I decided it would require some much needed research. 🌴 🏖️ (Especially when the weather in Minnesota is a balmy 3-degrees as I write this).
Thank you for all the support of Mac and Cheese in Outer Space!
With gratitude and excitement,
Renae
Once upon a story… never gets easier and why I’d rather be cleaning the bathroom by Jina Bacarr
January 11, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as Jina's book chat, romance', writing, writing historicals, writing tips
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We live in a world of instant communication. Instant oatmeal… instant noodle cups and instant coffee. Pods, anyone? (God help me, I refuse to succumb to the latter.)
But there’s no such thing as instant book writing. Instant brilliant idea, yes. A wonderful story can come to you in a flash, but writing the dang thing can be pure terror.
It never, I repeat, never goes according to plan and it’s times like that I’d rather clean the bathroom. Your characters complain about everything. Their age, weight, hair color (blond, anyone?). And if you write historicals, you can’t change dates because your heroine wants you to, new characters pop up and you can’t get rid of them, and oh, getting everyone’s names, you feel like the old woman in the shoe naming her brood. Characters complain about that, too.
So, why do we do it? I’m on a merry go round with my latest Paris WW2 novel. Finding the focus, etc. I’ve wanted to get off several times but something keeps me hanging on.
What is it? Not sticky glue.
No, because this is a story that must be told. A brave circus queen who rescued children from the Nazis while flying fifty feet up on the trapeze in Occupied Europe. I know where I’m going, finally, but getting there is hell. That’s where craft comes in.
So here are my 6 Helpful Tips for Historical Writers:
1 — Take a break. Read a book that’s NOT for research. Your brain will love you.
2 — Call a friend. Writer-friendly. Someone who ‘gets it’ when you lament your hero ‘won’t open up and tell you his secrets.’
3 — Butt in chair and write ANYTHING that comes into your head related to your story. Some of mty best stuff comes from that. Don’t be afriad it will sound dumb. It’s called ‘editing’ to get the best stuff out of it.
5 — Meditate with your heroine — go into deep pov with her, who she is, what she wants more than anything, what she swears she’ll never do and then make her do it.
6 — Be flexible. Are you writing in the right time for your story? Are you trying to cover too much time in your story? History is fascinating but figure out the core of your story. You may have to adjust the year or era. Yes, it’s a pain, but you’ll be happier without the pressure of trying to make the shoe ‘fit’ when it never will.
It’s taken me a while, but yes, I feel good about my story. I shall leave cleaning the bathroom to next week… the week after maybe? Back to writing… with a smile on my face and the toilet brush back in its proper holder.
And oh, I bought fresh coffee for tonight’s writing session. Real coffee. Gelson’s Columbian brew I got on sale. Now that’s what I call ‘heavenly’ inspiration.
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My latest 2 book series about PARIS WW2:
2 sisters at war with the Nazis… and each other https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-2
from BoldwoodBooks
In my story Justine is the victim of sexual assault by the SS. ‘Sisters at War’ explores wartime sexual assault and how it affects the lives of Justine and Eve Beaufort in Wartime Paris.
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I drew on my own experiences when I started a series of historical novels set in Wartime Paris about the brave women who fought in the French Resistance.
Who are the Beaufort Sisters?
They’re beautiful
They’re smart
They’re dangerous
They’re at war with the Nazis… and each other.
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