This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
At last – a week that wasn’t quite so full-on. I’ve still been busy working towards the blog tour for Dying
for Space and my teaching commitments have continued, but a break in the Fitstep and Pilates classes meant that I had a full day on Wednesday to work.
On Thursday my writing buddy came over and helped me sort out how to register an ISBN for Dying for Space and upload the ebook onto Amazon in readiness for the Publication Day on 14th December. I will get more technically proficient in due course, but I’m finding the world of self publishing a steep learning curve… On Friday evening, Himself and I were invited over to my sister’s for a meal and afterwards we played several hands of Dobble. It was a lovely, convivial evening – even though it got quite cutthroat by the end – that game takes no prisoners!
Yesterday, my sister and I went shopping as she wanted Christmas decorations for her flat. I’m going to have to curb these excursions with her – a short jaunt to get a bit of tinsel and a small tree somehow morphed into a major spree where I returned with jewellery, make-up and new pair of boots… I’d like to claim they were pressies for the long list of birthdays I have coming up (mother, daughter, granddaughter, mother-in-law) all before Christmas. But no… they were all for me!
While the weather has become distinctly chilly with frosts at night, the last few days have been beautifully sunny and bright.
This week I have read:
The River Keepers by Michael F. Stewart
What would you do if your sister turned into a skunk? How about a mouse? Or a frog? Would you want to be a snake? Have you ever wished to swim like an actual fish? Wouldn’t you worry that a snapping turtle might take a bite out of you? In The River Keepers, two sisters must rise to meet an unexpected challenge. It’s a story infused with the magic and drama outside their backdoor — perhaps yours, too.
This children’s story is enjoyable and well-written, although the blurb led me to expect something a bit different. I shall be reviewing this one during the coming week.
Mother of Eden – Book 2 of the Dark Eden series by Chris Beckett
Civilization has come to the alien, sunless planet its inhabitants call Eden. Just a few generations ago, the planet’s five hundred inhabitants huddled together in the light and warmth of the Forest’s lantern trees, afraid to venture out into the cold darkness around them. Now, humanity has spread across Eden, and two kingdoms have emerged. Both are sustained by violence and dominated by men – and both claim to be the favored children of Gela, the woman who came to Eden long ago on a boat that could cross the stars, and became the mother of them all.
When young Starlight Brooking meets a handsome and powerful man from across Worldpool, she believes he will offer an outlet for her ambition and energy. But she has no inkling what lies ahead of her…
I read Dark Eden a while ago and have never forgotten this disturbing, engrossing science fiction adventure set on a hostile planet. So when I spotted the sequel in the library, I immediately scooped it up – and I wasn’t disappointed… The review will be posted in due course.
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 19th November, 2017
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring Deadly Dance – Book 1 of the D.I. David Vogel series by Hilary Bonner
Review of A Plague of Giants – Book 1 of the Seven Kennings series by Kevin Hearne
Friday Face-off – In the bleak midwinter – featuring Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of The Hidden Face – Book 1 of the Fifth Unmasking series by S.C. Flynn
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Flashback Friday https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/flashback-friday-2/ This delightful article was written another world ago when Rae was a teenager keeping a journal – and charts an incident that makes me very glad I had two sisters instead of a brother!
16 Mottos Every Bookworm Can Live By https://mccullum001.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/16-motto-every-bookworm-can-live-by/ I loved these – how true!
The Book of Forgotten Authors: Forgotten Writers Who Are Worth Reading https://interestingliterature.com/2017/11/24/the-book-of-forgotten-authors-forgotten-writers-who-are-worth-reading/ Once more this gem of a site delivers the goods – I, for one, would LOVE to wake up on Christmas morning and find this in my stocking…
5 New Poetry Collections to Watch Out For https://librarystaffpicks.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/5-new-poetry-collections-to-watch-out-for/ And because Christmas is closing with the speed of a torpedo, this might be just the ticket for the poetry-lover in your life…
Thankful for Books? https://lynns-books.com/2017/11/21/ode-to-all-things-bookish/ This was the theme from the Broke and Bookish this week – but instead of listing her books, Lynn chose to list the reasons why she is thankful for having books in her life. Loved it!
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 
Sounds like you were busy. I try to only go shopping with a shopping list to keep me from over spending. There are way too many fun things to buy, so I need something to keep me in check.
And normally, I’m a really good, careful shopper who DOESN’T go off-piste and buy a lot of stuff just for me! Except when I go shopping with my sister…
I can’t even imagine how to self publish a book. I;m sure enjoying your series! We play lots of games in my family and we have a swear jar. $1 a swear word. LOL We are fiercely competitive! And those little shopping jaunts can be costly.LOL
My Sunday Post
Thank you – I’m glad you’re enjoying my books:). Lol… we haven’t needed a swear jar, yet! But it does get a tad intense as we’re desperately trying to find a matching symbol. Yes – I was a bit winded when I got to the checkouts and found how MUCH I’d spent!
Oh, I forgot to mention it’s the same with me. I do fine shopping by myself, but when I go with my mother we both get the spending bug. LOL
Yes… my sister is certainly leading me off the straight and narrow – and it’s SO MUCH fun!
Shopping is not fun for me, so I tend to go to one or two places and I’m in and out quickly. Unless I’m at a bookstore. There I can linger. LOL.
Enjoy your new week, and thanks for visiting my blog. Have fun with your publishing adventure.
Most of the time I hate shopping too! And book shopping, ah… yes – I thoroughly agree with you, there:).
Thank you for your good wishes and I hope your week is enjoyable and filled with reading good books.
Bwahaha…shopping with friends is dangerous! It sounds like you had a good week. I would be good for your wallet as I loathe shopping and only do it when forced. I would make a great minimalist 🙂
And mostly, I’m with you Kimberley – I, too, hate shopping. But Mona and I sort of reverted to a pair giggling teens:)).
Shopping can definitely be dangerous. I totally get it. But sometimes we are allowed to have some fun right?! 😉
Have a great weke and happy reading!
Thank you Maureen – yes… I don’t tend to indulge in such shopping sprees very often! So when I realised that I’d had a bit of mad moment, I decided not to beat myself up about it. After all, we didn’t get to have a holiday this year…
I hope you, too, have a great week:)
I’m not much of a shopper, so I do most of my shopping for Christmas online. Our weather here has been cool during the day and cold at night. Frost on everything in the mornings. No snow yet, so there’s that at least. 🙂 Have a wonderful week.
My Sunday Post
No… oh please don’t mention the S word!! I’m SO hoping we can get through the winter without the white stuff… In the meantime, here’s hoping you, too, have a snow-free, wonderful week:))
I went Christmas shopping last week and ended up buying a bunch of stuff for me, so I can relate. Have a great week!
Thank you for the support:)). I do now need to knuckle down and so some serious buying – we have a posse of pressies to buy for major birthdays before Christmas, too! I have you, too, have a wonderful week, AJ and thank you for swinging by:)
I wonder why we spend more when were are with friends/family! It happens to me too. Have a great week.
Thank you Nise – basically I think it was because I was having SUCH a good time with her:)). It’s just lovely having her living up the road so we can do these things together after a lifetime of being apart… I hope you, too, have a wonderful week.
Looking forward to your review of Mother of Eden. I LOVED Dark Eden to bits. Apparently the third book is already out in the UK! Now I’m impatiently waiting for it to be released here 😀
My review of Mother of Eden is out! I posted it this morning:). I’m so glad you loved Dark Eden, too… And MoE is every bit as good. I’ve ordered Daugther of Eden from the library!
Excited about your book coming out 🙂 you even got an ISBN… It’s official! 🙂
Yes! It is exciting – and once I’ve got everything sorted out, I’m going to be over the moon, too:)). There’s still a fair bit to do – though whenever I feel a bit overwhelmed, I put my name into Amazon and look at the list of books and feel MUCH better! Thank you so much for your kind encouragement, Evelina:)x
When you put it that way about Amazon… that is so amazingly cool!!
Thank youx
You shopping with your sister sounds like me shopping with my mom…we end up with more than we ever intended to shop for. Lethal, especially at this time of year when things look so enticing. Here’s to a less expensive week x
Thank you Emma! Yes… it was an object lesson not to get too carried away:). I think Christmas shopping will be something I’ll do with Himself, who HATES shopping so we whip around at 100 mph – but that’s fine, because generally I’m not a fan, either.x
But the shopping you did was for gifts…for yourself! 😀 can’t forget the most important person in your life!
Have a great week 🙂
Lol… and of course that’s why I’m feeling guilty!! But you’re right – if I did this stuff 24/7, it would be all wrong, but I don’t.
Consider your shopping spree an early Christmas present for yourself. 😉 It happens to all of us now and then! And on a related note, the feeling about having birthdays on top of Christmas gifts. From mid November through early January, my mom, her twin sister (therefore my aunt), my brother, a great-aunt, and three friends all have birthdays! Some are easier to buy for than others, but I get it all done in the end.
Best wishes on another happy and productive week! 🙂
Thank you, Sara:) You are such a lovely friend to have – you can always see the positive side to some of my dafter moves.x I feel your pain regarding the rash of birthdays! Hope you are well on your way with your pressie-buying. I’m just getting mine sorted out… And I hope that you, too, have a wonderful, productive week:))
Great week.and thank you so much for the mention 😀
Lynn
You’re very welcome – it was a pleasure to read and one I wanted to share.
Congrats on your book, Sarah. Is it on amazon? I need to check it out. I hope you enjoy your books this week and have a wonderful week. Happy reading, my friend. Thanks for sharing. 😁❤️
The world of self publishing is mind boggling to me and that was before I ever realized you have to register an ISBN and upload the book to Amazon. I’m in awe! I love those kinds of shopping trips! Sometimes a Christmas present to yourself is just the best. Have a great week!
Thank you, Katherine:). Yes – I wore the new boots to work last night and was very pleased at how smart and comfortable they are. I hope you, too, have a great week.
It was a very nice post to read, so I’m here to remind you of a good time you had. (That’s going to be my excuse for being so late!)
I hope that learning self-publish, no matter how steep the curve is, is giving you a sense of accomplishment. 🙂
Oh yes, it certainly is. The steady stream of nice comments is certainly making it worthwhile:)