Category Archives: Uncategorized

How I Finally Got On the Audiobook Bandwagon

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This year started off rather stressful. As a result, I was in a major reading slump for the first 6-weeks of 2019. I finished exactly 1 book and that was on January 1.

I had my Goodreads 2019 reading challenge set at 78 books (1.5 books per week).

By February 15, I was 11 books behind with no relief in sight.

If you know me at all, you know that reading is a major part of my life. I love all things books. I love literary places, literary nick-knacks, literary prints, bags, shirts, and literary references. Bookstores are a second home (and maybe my primary if I ever get around to developing my bookstore idea). And libraries are my haven.

So to go over a month and a half without reading, well let’s just say it didn’t help the funk I was already in.

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Where I Enter a Short Story Writing Challenge

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A couple months ago, I saw an advertisement for a writing contest by NYCMidnight—The Flash Fiction Challenge. It cost a little money to enter, but winners receive prizes (first place receives $5,000!).

Like the impulse buyer I am, I immediately signed up. Who can resist a writing challenge? But I promptly had buyers remorse. I’ll never win. What was I thinking? And then I proceeded to forget about all it.

Until two days ago.

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#BackpackEurope: Week 1 Wrap-Up

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On Monday, I started the Backpack Across Europe Summer 2018 Reading Challenge. This reading challenge, hosted by the awesome folks over at The Reader’s Room, is all about exploring Europe via literature.

The challenge has rules, special events, and travel obstacles making it like a virtual board game with reading. As you know, I opted to “fly”* into Heathrow on Monday and my literary journey started with English author Emily Brontë’s classic Wuthering Heights. Continue reading →

Mystery Blogger Award

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So What is Mystery Blogger Award?

“This is an award for amazing bloggers with indigenous posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging and they do it with so much love and passion.” Okoto Enigma Continue reading →

Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo: Planners versus Pansters

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Tomorrow starts NaNoWriMo 2017. (That’s National Novel Writing Month which starts November 1.) And after my weekend in Ellicott City, Maryland attending Hallowread and talking to many of the authors, I am rather stoked and motivated to write my 2017 NaNoWriMo novel.

Now if you’re familiar with NaNoWriMo, you know that traditionally NaNoWriMo divided writers into two groups—planners and pantsers. Continue reading →

A Crazy Step-Filled Week

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This has been a rather crazy week. It was Monday, then I turned around and it’s Friday already.

Happy Friday!

As a result, I have slacked on posting this week. I could blame part of that on work. But while I may have been a bit busier than normal, that doesn’t excuse evenings and early morning writing.

What really happened was FitBit. More specifically, a FitBit workweek hustle challenge. Continue reading →

On Writing Book Reviews (or What to Expect from My Reviews)

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Everyone has their own style and method to writing reviews of books. Some people choose to retell the premise of the book, often copying the book blurbs from the back of the book or from Goodreads. Others use cute or funny gifs and jpgs to express their opinions. Some simply quote passages of the book. Others do that with their opinions interspersed. One review I saw consisted of photos of the places discussed in the book. There was no real review one that one.

I saw one review that consisted only of photos of the places discussed in the book. There was no real review one that one other than the number of stars she gave the book.

To each their own. Continue reading →