This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
Where has the week gone? It seems only five minutes ago I was sitting down writing this article for the first week of the new year… It’s been a week of new starts – my Creative Writing classes at Northbrook resumed and I gave the introductory class on ‘It’s Only Words’ which is this term’s teaching focus. It was lovely catching up with everyone after the Christmas break. I also attended my first Pilates class for the first time in months – and was delighted to find it wasn’t the hard grind I’d feared.
Wednesday evening found me sitting in front of a log fire with our writing group reading and talking writing while nibbling snacks and laughing hard enough to make my ribs ache – it’s a hard life, but someone’s got to do it… On Thursday evening, I attended my first West Sussex Writers’ meeting for months to take part in a wonderful workshop on short story writing by Melanie Whipman. It was lovely meeting up with her again, as she’d been one of our party at the writing retreat in Somerset that I’d attended last September. Not only was the talk excellent, I was also delighted to get a chance to catch up with a lot of writing friends I hadn’t seen in far too long.
On Friday, Mhairi and I had lunch at Haskins, before returning home where she formatted Dying for Space for the paperback version and I’ve spent the last two days line editing the result, adding italics where they’d disappeared and removing them where they’d sprouted like weeds… If anyone has a pot of glue to stick italics in place so they don’t move, do let me know. Himself has today off, so chores like the shopping need doing, before he cooks us a roast dinner tonight and we settle down to enjoy the likes of Ski Sunday. Perhaps this is the start of that boring middle age I was promised, if so – keep it coming! To date, my life has been much too interesting…
Last week I read:
The High King’s Vengeance – Book 2 of the Malessar’s Curse series by Stephen Poore
“I am the Heir to the North.”
Malessar’s Curse is broken, the wards around Caenthell destroyed. The Warlock himself lies, exhausted and gravely wounded, in the rubble of his own house. And while the dire spirits trapped behind the wards for centuries are unleashed into the world once more, Cassia is confined to a cell deep in Galliarca’s grand palace. Yet Caenthell calls to her, and Cassia must answer. As Heir to the North, the throne and the power behind it belong to her. But the twisted hunger of Caenthell’s spirits appals her and Cassia vows to do everything she can to defeat them.
I loved the first book in this series – Heir to the North and this epic fantasy sequel, brimming with tension and adventure doesn’t disappoint. However, don’t pick it up before reading Heir to the North. Review to follow.
And that’s it. One book. I suppose that’s what happens when I’m out four nights in a row…
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 6th January 2019
Review of Caraval – Book 1 of the Caraval series by Stephanie Garbar
Teaser Tuesday featuring The High King’s Vengeance – Book 2 of the Malessar’s Curse by Stephen Poore
My 2018 Reading Year – the Statistics
Friday Face-Off featuring Dark Fire – Book 2 of the Matthew Shardlake series by C.J. Sansom
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Breath of the Wild (1) – Yes, This Is My Beautiful Soulscape https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2019/01/10/breath-of-the-wild-1-yes-this-is-my-beautiful-soulscape/ Indie author and college professor Charles French reblogged these stunning pics…
I was approved to view a Netgalley title but the publisher archived it. What do I do? https://thisislitblog.com/2019/01/09/what-do-i-do-when-i-was-approved-to-view-a-netgalley-title-but-the-publisher-archived-it/ Another really useful tip from reviewer and blogger, Shruti.
Feeling Dated, and Not So Much https://littleredreviewer.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/feeling-dated-and-not-so-much/ A great discussion article on which vintage sci fi authors hold up well and why.
12 Anticipated Books to Read in the First Half of 2019 http://booksbonesbuffy.com/2019/01/08/12-anticipated-books-to-read-in-the-first-half-of-2019/ I’m conscious though this one caught my eye – I haven’t yet visited the site to actually comment. But Tammy’s choices are always worth tracking – she is responsible for introducing me to a lot of authors who have become solid favourites…
In the meantime, many thanks for taking the time to comment, like and visit my blog – have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much for adding my post, Sarah! I really want to get started on Pilates! I think I’ll sign up for a class in the coming weeks. 🙂
You’re very welcome! I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t know about this and found it really useful. As for the Pilates, I’ve found it really helpful in keeping fit without yet again injuring my rather fragile back.
Sounds like you had a busy, but fun week, Sarah. I plan to go check out some of your posts from this last week as well as some links on this blog post. Hope you have a great week!
Thank you, Jan – and best of luck with that snow…
What a refreshing post and refreshing catch-up. Yes, sometimes doing nothing brings about the best something (paraphrase from Winnie the Pooh in the movie Christopher Robin. If you haven’t seen it you MUST! Hopefully some of the “good things” I wished for you in the coming year are coming about. My week was a s frantic as yours was calm, but that’s life. I promised myself to “do better” this coming week.
Thank you, Rae! And no… I haven’t seen the Christopher Robin move – but I really must as I’m a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan:)).
Thanks for the shout out! I’m glad you had a busy but fun week. I started the year off doing something new – I got a tattoo yesterday with my daughter! I’m going to check out Shruti’s article, I’ve always wondered about archived NetGalley titles😊
Ooo… aren’t you brave! No, I couldn’t possibly have a tattoo, but am very admiring that you have taken the plunge:). And yes – it turns out that it is really straightforward to get it fixed…
I am liking the scene in front of the log fire, eating and laughing…and having a productive writing session.
Enjoy your books and more get-togethers like that! Thanks for visiting my blog.
Yes – it was SUCH fun. It’s moments that like which make all the rest of it worthwhile:)). Thank you for your kind good wishes I hope you have some laugh-aloud moments in the coming week, Laurel.
You’ve been busy and it sounds like you’ve been having fun too. I look forward to weeks like that. They are coming, I’m told. LOL
My Sunday Post
Oh I hope you do get them, too, Laura! We all need weeks like that!
I love Pilates, Sarah. Such a wonderful exercise. This sounds like a busy week! I hope you have a lovely week ahead!
Isn’t Pilates great? Yes, I had a really enjoyable week, though I’m glad this week isn’t going to be so busy. I hope you, too, have a great week, Jennifer:)
Where have the last two weeks gone?! I can’t believe we’re halfway through January, or nearly so. Your week sounds wonderful: creative and busy and filled with people you enjoy.
Thank you, Lark – yes, it was a fabulous week. The only problem is that, as you say, the year is ALREADY sliding past far too quickly! Have a great week.
Your time has been well spent. If this is dull life, then bring it on!
Yes… I think boring has been much misunderstood – no one said it had to miserable. Just free of unexpectedness and lots of surprises, which are mostly unpleasant in my experience:).
Sounds like you had a busy week with many new starts. That’s nice your first Pilates class of the month went easier than you had expected. Your writing group session sounds like it was a lot of fun. That’s good you got to read at least one book this week, with the many nights out I can see why you didn’t find time to read more. I checked out that post about the archived Netgalley books, thanks for sharing that one, I didn’t know of that tip yet. Have a great week!
Thank you, Lola. Yes, the writing group session was great fun. Glad that the article regarding Netgalley is useful – I thought it would be:). I hope that you, too, have a really good week.
Wow, you had a busy week, but it does all sound wonderful, especially getting to catch up with so many of your writer friends. 🙂
It’s been lovely rushing around and catching up without feeling utterly exhausted:)).
I’m glad the classes are going well. Have a great week!
Thank you, AJ – and I hope your week is also a great one:)
Boring does sound rather inviting at times, doesn’t it? 🙂 I’ve been thinking that myself lately!
Your reading group meeting sounds wonderful! And I like the look of that fantasy series you showcased as well- I’m always on the look out for something new and good in that genre. Will have to take a look!
Yes – exciting is faaar too overrated! And if you do enjoy epic fantasy with a difference, the first book was a nomination for the British Fantasy Awards Best Novel of the Year…
It’s a wonderful sounding week, back in the saddle of your routine but with lovely connections with friends and family. Here’s to another great week! Anne – Books of My Heart
Thank you Anne – and it was a huge relief that jumping back into a really busy week didn’t leave me drained and overwhelmed the way it had before Christmas – so I’m definitely now all better! Let’s hope it’s another great week – for both of us:)).
One book!! One Book!!!!! What is the world coming to. Yes, that’s exactly what happens when you go out four nights in a row – you dirty stop out you!
Lynn 😀
I know *smiles smugly*. Now I’m better, I’m turning into a flit-headed party person. It’s all about fun, fun, fun!!!
It does seem the week goes so quickly! Hope this week is awesome for you. 🙂
Thank you, Melissa – I hope your week is a wonderful one, too!
Oh Sara, how frustrating to have to reformat your book. Glad you enjoyed yourself and went out several times, life is short, enjoy it all the time. Have a great week.
Thank you for the sympathy, Carla – sadly, it seems to be the lot of an author… Each time I need to change the version, the manuscript goes peelie-wallie. To be honest, I don’t mind all that much – it’s quite relaxing… And I hope that you, too, are having a great week, too!
The weeks really are flying by at the moment! It makes all the fun of the Christmas holidays seem like so long ago… 😦
Hope you have another lovely week!
Thank you, Nicci – I hope you, too, have a wonderful week:). And isn’t 2019 speeding past, already??