If you want to be challenged to read, then may I make a suggestion? Become a book reviewer. My publisher, Celebrate Lit, has a publicity side, which offers blog tours for authors. Wondering what a blog tour is? It’s the updated version of a book tour. It used to be that an author received a book contract and then actually went on tour throughout the U.S. to promote it. These days, it’s not cost-effective or necessary. Instead, reviewers and/or bloggers will read the book and then post reviews and blog about it. With Celebrate Lit, the author has an “interview” section, and anyone who reads these blogs has an opportunity to win something—most often a $50 Amazon gift card.
If you’ve been following my blog at all, you’ve probably noticed that I am part of the Celebrate Lit Blog Team. I signed up last year when I wanted to be challenged to read more extensively and help my name get out there a little before I became a published novelist. I happen to work better under pressure, so when I commit to reading something, I get it done. If I’m doing it for my own pleasure, I’ll often get side-tracked and put a book down before finishing it.
Sometimes, as I did a couple months ago, I get a little excited about the books coming out and I don’t take into consideration my time limitations. About mid-February, I realized that I had seven books due within the next six weeks. That may not sound like a lot to many of you mega-readers, but I was also promoting and marketing for Surrendered, due to release on April 30th. It was all new to me, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. On top of that, my next novel, Illusions, is due to my publisher on May 1st. Add a week-long trip to California to attend a writer’s conference and you might understand my panic.
Well, all of the books have been read, reviews written, and six of the seven posted on my website (and Facebook, Twitter, etc.) I have one left to post, and that’s due on April 10th. All this to tell you that I was blessed by these authors and their works. It amazes me to see how many books some authors are able to write—and write well. Misty M. Beller who wrote This Daring Journey, is one such author. Her review won’t be posted until April 10th, but I want to encourage you to check out her books. If you’re a fan of series books, historical fiction and family sagas, this is your author. If you want to know more about her and her books, check back here on the 10th.
I was touched by Susan Barnett Braun’s memoir, I Love to Tell the Story. It was written and first published several years ago, but the story is timeless. It’s sweet and funny and brought back many of my own childhood memories. And it was a breath of fresh air to read about a positive church upbringing.
Do you like novella collections, historical fiction, romance and lighthouses? Then Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection is for you. There are seven stories in this collection and the book is extremely long. That won’t matter to you, because you can read at your leisure—finish one story and start the next on another day. However, this book was in the middle of my “time crunch” and I was in a bit of a panic when I realized how long it was. Not so easy to judge length on the Kindle app.
Another romantic historical fiction that I think you should check out is The White City by Grace Hitchcock. I loved the characters and the time period. It takes place in Chicago during the Word’s Fair when ladies are expected to be married by 19 and doing nothing more vigorous than needle-point (was that even a thing back then?) But Winnifred (or Winnie, as she likes to be called) has other ideas, much to the chagrin of her police chief father. The bad guy in this story is part of the historical portion—although I believe she took some creative license with the facts to make it more interesting.
And then there is a new book by Ginny Yttrup, who has (until now) written contemporary women’s fiction. Her debut suspense novel, Convergence, was an interesting read. May I suggest, before you pick it up, read the review I posted on March 30th. It was an edge-of-the-seat thriller and the setting is the Sacramento area. It’s always fun for me when I’m familiar with the setting.
These weren’t all the books I read in the last couple of months, but the last five. A Love to Behold by Sharlene MacLaren was awesome. Another historical romance, I absolutely loved her writing. It’s book three in a series, so I suggest you check her out and start with the first. If this is a genre you enjoy, you will not be disappointed!
Comments 1
I am impressed with the way this has pushed you to increase your reading, and I love your reviews. I feel I could pick up any of these books and enjoy them.
You have inspired me to join a blog tour.
Cheers, Blossom