This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
This was the first full working week since I recovered from the flu, so Monday and Tuesday saw me teaching
as usual. I am now on the last lap of the final edits for Dying for Space which is the sequel to my debut novel, Running Out of Space, and am planning to release it on 14th December. So I am in the process of preparing for the blog tour – Lola is once more organising it for me to run from 14th-31st December. And I was a bit startled to realise when about to publish my usual Friday Face-off blog, that it was my 1,500th post…
On Wednesday I returned to Pilates and Fitstep, taking it easy, which was just as well as I was horribly unfit and Friday found me stiff in places I didn’t even know I had muscles. On Thursday, Mhairi came over and offered her usual awesome help and companionship. On Friday evening Himself and I actually had a date night – we went out to The Dragon, our favourite restaurant and afterwards returned home to snuggle up on the settee and watch the final two episodes of season 7 of Game of Thrones. Oh my goodness – what a finale! It was raining yesterday – of course it was as we were due to pick up the children. My daughter invited us to stay for brunch, which was wonderfully good. On the way home we swung by Worthing for some shopping and in the afternoon my sister came over for a meal and we sat and watched Strictly with Oscar, aged 7, passing judgement on the dancing and the judging.
Today, I will be spending most of the day filming Tim’s script in a converted barn for the medieval scenes. We are nearly at the end, so fingers crossed it doesn’t rain and the light levels are good. I hope everyone is also having a great weekend.
This week I have read:
Gnomon by Nick Harkaway
Gnomon, which took Harkaway more than three years to complete, is set in a world of ubiquitous
surveillance. Pitched as “a mind-bending Borgesian puzzle box of identity, meaning and reality in which the solution steps sideways as you approach it”, it features: a detective who finds herself investigating the very society she believes in, urged on by a suspect who may be an assassin or an ally, hunting through the dreams of a torture victim in search of the key to something she does not yet understand; a banker who is pursued by a shark that swallows Fortune 500 companies; Saint Augustine’s jilted mistress who reshapes the world with miracles; a refugee grandfather turned games designer who must remember how to walk through walls or be burned alive by fascists; and a sociopath who falls backwards through time in order to commit a murder.
This took me some time to complete, but it was worth slowing down my normal reading speed to savour the dense prose and keep track of the characters. An unusual, rewarding read with some surprising twists and a poignant, powerful ending.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang
Orphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasn’t like other people. But when he single-handedly stopped that tornado on a stormy Christmas day in Oklahoma, he realized just how different he actually was.
This is another quirky, unusual read which defies strict genre classification. It’s a lovely, warm-hearted tale that nonetheless avoids sentimentality. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
The Prisoner of Limnos – Book 6 of the Penric and Desdemona novella series
In this sequel novella to Mira’s Last Dance, Temple sorcerer Penric and the widow 
Nikys have reached safety in the duchy of Orbas when a secret letter from a friend brings frightening news: Nikys’s mother has been taken hostage by her brother’s enemies at the Cedonian imperial court, and confined in a precarious island sanctuary.
This little gem is yet another excellent addition to this entertaining, unusual series and takes the story that halted at the end of Mira’s Last Dance onward, encompassing yet another exciting adventure.
Ironclads by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Special limited edition sceince fiction hardcover novella by the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author. Only 1000 copies.
Scions have no limits. Scions do not die. And Scions do not disappear.
Sergeant Ted Regan has a problem. A son of one of the great corporate families, a Scion, has gone missing at the front. He should have been protected by his Ironclad – the lethal battle suits that make the Scions masters of war – but something has gone catastrophically wrong…
This supposes that in a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce, corporations are involved in the inevitable wars with the top families encased in top-of-the-range armour that makes them almost invulnerable. Needless to say when the dirty jobs are handed out, it’s the regular grunts that end up having to pick up the pieces…
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 29th October 2017
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring Artemis by Andy Weir
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Hostage Heart by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Gerry Rafferty: Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway https://theimmortaljukebox.com/2017/10/31/gerry-rafferty-her-father-didnt-like-me-anyway/ Once more Thom at The Immortal Jukebox presents a gem of a tune, complete with knowledgeable analysis.
Pirates for Halloween? https://zenandtheartoftightropewalking.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/pirates-for-halloween/ Viv discusses this ongoing blight that steals income from authors – and how it can also cause other serious consequences..
Halloween Special: Petticoat Loose https://inesemjphotography.com/2017/10/29/halloween-special-petticoat-loose/ In amongst this marvellous scenery lies a spooky tale…
10 of the Best Seduction Poems https://interestingliterature.com/2017/11/01/10-of-the-best-seduction-poems/ As the weather cools and we start snuggling up together for warmth, we reflect on other ways to generate some heat…
When I’m Almost Done Reading a Good Book… https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com/2017/11/01/when-im-almost-done-reading-a-good-book/ Yes… I think we’ve all been there.
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to visit, like and comment on my site and may you have a great week.
Brainfluff 
So glad you are feeling better. A bunch of great books here, I will look up the Gnomon when I am back from visiting with my family. And thank you very much for the mention!
You’re very welcome for the mention – it is a fabulous article:). As for Gnomon – an unusual and slightly demanding read, but well worth the effort. I’d love to hear how you get on with it!
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, I have it on my plate to read soon. Looking forward to your review!
Yes – I shall certainly be reviewing it soon:))
Hope the weather held out for you – it’s been glorious, if cold, here. Glad you are feeling better for the flu (hopefully that is your illness for the year).
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Emma. It was lovely and sunny here – but cold and by the time I got home I was frozen. But we managed to finish off filming a major scene and the finale number:). The youngsters are all delightful – but trying to keep them focused is a bit like herding cats. Have a great week!
I’m looking forward to Dying for Space coming out so soon, Sarah! I just read the first Penric book and really liked it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the books in the series. You’ve got other interesting books for me to check out as well as lots of interesting links. I hope you have a great week.
Thank you, Jan – I’m just completing the line edit on DYING FOR SPACE after my last major rewrite:). Let me know if you want a review copy – I’d be only too happy to let you have one. I’m delighted you enjoyed Penric and the Demon – I’ve just finished reading the 6th book in the series and will be reviewing it soon. Have a great week, Jan:)
Recovering from the flu is definitely a process…glad you are feeling better. Congrats on your sequel!
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Yes – thank you for your continued good wishes, Laurel – I think I’m now back to normal. And it’s great to have DYING FOR SPACE nearly ready to go:)). Have a great week, Laurel.
Dinner and Game Of Thrones. Sounds good to me. That season wrap up was something wasn’t it! And I signed up for your second tour too. Can’t wait to read more of your series, Sarah!
My Sunday Post
Oh wow! Thank you so much, Laura – if you want a review copy, let me know. I’d be only too happy to let you have one:). Yes – the meal was lovely and snuggling up together for that season finale was very romantic:)). Have a great week.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, and I hope you have a great week!
Thank you for your good wishes, Aj:) I hope that you, too, have a wonderful week.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. I hope the Blog tour’s going great. SO happy for you. Have a wonderful week and happy reading. 😁❤️
Thank you, Geybie:) The blog tour was marvellous fun – so much so, I’m now in the process of planning another for the sequel!
Game of Thrones final season is going to be pretty exciting by the look of it but it feels like a very long wait! I don’t do blog tours personally but I’m happy to do another promo spot for your sequel while the tour is on. Good luck!
Yes… we’re now impatiently waiting for the final season. Though at least we’ve now got all the previous episodes to view again in the interim. Thank you for your kind offer regarding a promo spot for DYING FOR SPACE – I’ll gratefully take you up on it!
I just got over being sick, too, so I’m right there with you. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly in all of your projects and you get time to rest and relax!
Thank you, Deb. Hope you are now fully recovered and have a great week.
I keep forgetting that you’ve already written the entire Sunblinded Trilogy. It’s mind-boggling that Book #2 will be coming out so soon!
And I agree, that was quite the finale for Season 7 of GoT, wasn’t it? 😉 I’m not sure if it’s more appropriate to say I’d been “expecting” or “looking forward to” that final scene for a long time… but it was both incredibly exciting and terrifying. I’m actually in the middle of a series re-watch, since I recently convinced my hairdresser to finally watch it, and I’ve gotten as far as the end of Season 3.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance sounds pretty interesting. I’ll keep an eye out for your review. Right now I’m about 100 pages away from the end of N.K. Jemisin’s Kingdom of the Gods. You’ve read all of her Inheritance novels, right?
Yes… I’m a bit boggled it’s coming out so soon, too!
Yes – we were the last people in the world to get hooked into the GoT franchise – I bought Himself the first six series for his birthday and he’d already recorded the seventh series, so we’ve been watching them. I can’t get over the quality of the acting and the magnificent production values!
Yes – I was very impressed with Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances. Glad you’re reading Kingdom of the Gods and hoping you’re enjoying it. Yes… I’ve read the Inheritance novels and was blown away by them:).
What an eventful week you had; and here I am just getting to the post on Monday. That’s because on Sunday, when I usually look for your Sunday post, I was busy grading papers and sitting on the bed with my foot propped up and splinted (toes) thanks to an examination (involving x-rays) Friday. It seems the toes that were operated on (and pinned for two months) back in 2014 are on the move again, towards the big toe which was surgically straightened out in the same surgery. All I know is the shots of steroids I had in the joints of BOTH feet hurt like h*** even today and I’m not walking without my walking stick. The surgeon offered to break the bones in my three middle toes (which are fused together) and re-set them in another surgery which would require two months no weight on either foot and just shrugged his shoulders when I asked him of the possibility of arthritis and/or more bone spurs (the condition now) after the surgery. The 2014 surgery has only lasted three years and in retrospect doesn’t seem worth what I went through. Sigh…decisions!
Oh Rae – I’m so sorry! Anything to do with feet is always agonising as there are so many nerves, muscles and tendons:(. I hope you manage to find some kind of solution that doesn’t involve too much pain and immobilisation:(. Thinking of youx
Thanks. Thoughts and prayers are always helpful. Right now I’m struggling not to get “down” about the latest news.
That’s not a surprise – but I’ll be sending healing thoughts at you. Take great care.x
Huzzah to your recovery! Hoping to know my own recovery this week–whatever the kids had over the weekend has passed on to the parents. Blech.
Oh nooo… Sorry to hear that! Of course littlies are so freely generous with their germs. I hope you very soon feel a lot better.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better! The flu is awful. The one and only (finger crossed!) time I’ve had it I was weak for ages. I love pilates but it’s so much harder than it seems! Hopefully those muscles get used to it and you feel less sore and more fit! Have a great week!
Thank you so much Katherine:) I hope that you, too, have a great week.
What an awesome week – packed! I feel exhausted just reading it all. Hope this week is proving as good for you.
Lynn 😀
Yes – though right now I’m very tired!
Wow Sarah! That’s amazing! 14 December is just around the corner!
Also huge congrats on 1500 posts!!!!!!!!! What a milestone!
Well done on getting back into the pilates and fitstep! I’m still going to gym and loving it – it’s just great to have all those endorphins and an outlet.
The Dragon sounds like a delicious restaurant.
GOT! How did you manage to stay away from spoilers this long! Those episodes were EPIC and I’m both scared and completely excited for the final season.
I’ve heard good things about Beasts and I’m glad that you enjoyed it too!
Glad you’re feeling better and I hope this week has been a good one too!
Thank you Di:)). I just need to get all organised and ready to go in time for the release! Yes – The Dragon is a lovely place. And I’m now a bit stiff and sore after yesterday’s pilates and fitstep session – but you’re right, it is such fun. I hope you, too, are having a great week:))
Filming a script? Is that what you do? Please tell me more. I am so curious 😀 must be something I missed in your previous posts 🙂
I’m part of a team that teaches a teenage boy on the autistic spectrum and he’s particularly keen on writing scripts, so earlier in the year we had the idea of actually filming one of his rom-com musicals – Robin Hood 3: This Time It’s Personal. There is a cast of 21 – some playing more than one character with 21 scenes and 12 songs. It has taken some 6 months of filming in a variety of locations, including an ancient barn and a local museum and we are now on the very last lap. Hopefully next week-end will see the end of the filming and once it is edited, we hope to show it in a local cinema, complete with a red carpet:).
Oh wow, that is just the coolest thing ever!!! Amazing project 🙂 I hope it works out with the cinema and all 🙂
Thank you Evelina for your kind interest – I’ll be keeping everyone informed of our progress:) Have a wonderful week.x
Congrats on the upcoming release of Running Out of Space! and final edits to book 2 as well?? that’s awesome! Great job Sarah!
haha I just realized I made a misread it! Congrats on the release of Dying for Space!!!! publishing book 2 BIG!!!
Thank you so much:). Running Out of Space is the book I released in October and I’m publishing Dying for Space in December. It’s all very exciting and new at the moment:).
Since I haven’t done it yet, congratulations on your 1500th post!
I’m always happy to read about your productive, busy, and positive weeks. We’re behind Game of Thrones (stopped some months ago at season 3, I think), so I appreciate no spoilers! 🙂
Thank you, Joanna:). I very much hope you don’t trip over any spoilers – I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about them, so try really hard not to give away any unnecessary plot points…
I think you’re doing a great job, especially when it comes to books. 🙂
All in all, I’m not a fan of spoilers, but I don’t rage about them. I still appreciate the considerate people who try not to spoil the fun for others. 🙂
I, on the other hand, become a tad rabid when there are examples of spoilers. I was FURIOUS over some of the covers of We Are Completely Beside Ourselves and if I’d been the author, I would have been spitting blood at the review in The Telegraph and The Guardian, both of whom saw fit to chatter about the twist as if it didn’t matter. Grrr!