Wednesday 30 October 2013

Review of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick


Description (From NetGalley)


cover links to amazon
In addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I'm sorry I couldn't be more than I was--that I couldn't stick around--and that what's going to happen today isn't their fault.

Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.


But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart--obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.


In this riveting book, acclaimed author Matthew Quick (Author of The Silver Linings Playbook) unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made--and the light in us of all that never goes out.



My Review


This book manages to deal with several very difficult subjects with such raw honesty that you can't help but be moved by it. Although the story is dark, there are glimmers of light here and there that you pull you through and give you hope.

As a mother I found it particularly heart-wrenching and wanted to reach through the pages of the book and do anything I could to help the main character. It really brings home just how important it is to take the time to really listen to our children.

I think this is a very important book that could teach us all a little something about looking out for others. I highly recommend it.

I give Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock 5 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Monday 28 October 2013

Can You Write A Novel In 30 Days?

It's that time of year again. On November 1st thousands of people will embark on the seemingly impossible task of writing a novel in 30 days as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). If you have never heard of this challenge I strongly advise checking out the website here.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / freedigitalphotos.net
The first time I took part back in 2009 I had never written anything longer than flash fiction. I had always wanted to write but at that time it was a dream I had kept hidden for years, jotting down flash fiction pieces every now and then but never really taking it seriously.

So what changed in 2009? I had my son. I wanted him to grow up to believe that he could do anything if he set his mind to it and put in the work and when I heard about the challenge I figured it was my job to lead by example. With only a week to go before the start of the challenge I played around with a few ideas and jotted down some notes but I basically started with very little idea what I was going to write. Even so, I did it. At the end of November I had a completed first draft of my first ever novel, I was over the moon and so proud of myself. I even admitted to those closest to me that I dreamed of being a writer.

Unfortunately, when I read back through what I had written, I hated it. There were some great elements in there but it was too meandering and there wasn't enough structure to it. At the time I didn't really know enough about the craft to even start fixing it, so I put it away in a draw with the promise I would get back to it one day.

Roll on November 2010 and while I had written a few more flash fiction pieces and worked a little on craft, I still hadn't really achieved very much. I decided to give NaNoWriMo a go again. This time I plotted out quite a bit of the novel before hand and once again I finished the month with a complete draft. Although much better than my first attempt at writing a novel, it still needed a whole lot of work and probably a complete re-write.

A little disheartened I decided I would concentrate on learning the craft before attempting another novel length piece. Unfortunately, reading about the craft seemed to take over and I spent less and less time actually writing. If anything, I think I read so much writing advice that when I was faced with the blank page I became paralysed, how could I ever live up to all that advice? Everything I wrote felt wrong.

This year I decided it was time to make a drastic change. I stopped keeping my dream a secret and told everyone. I started this blog to try and encourage other writer's to have more belief in themselves and their dreams as I was trying to do. I took several writing courses that actually involved me writing instead of just reading about the craft, and the feedback I received really boosted my confidence (one short story was compared to Stephen King!!!). I became a book reviewer (another long held dream), and with all of the craft knowledge I have gained over the past couple of years I could easily work out what worked or didn't and why. In fact, being a reviewer and picking these books apart to see how they tick has probably been the best training yet. I also discovered #ROW80, and the goal setting and support that comes with it has been immensely helpful.

Now, November is nearly upon us again. I have a fully formed story road map and I am better prepared than ever before. This time I am confident that I will come through the other end with a draft that I will actually be able to work on and polish into something great.

Although those earlier attempts were cringeworthy, they were a necessary part of the process. Writing them taught me so much and with every project I take on I get better and better. 2012 has been a great year for me professionally, but it was that first NaNoWriMo that kick-started it all. If you have never taken part before, I can highly recommend it.

How about you? Are you taking part this year? Have you taken part in the past? If so, what was your experience like? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

If you want to connect with me on the NaNoWriMo forums my username is Polgara.


Sunday 27 October 2013

Sunday Check-In - #ROW80


I had to really push the boat out this week as next week is half term and I will have my four-year old at home, and we have plans for every single day of it, so I know I will struggle to get as much done. Over all, I ma really pleased with how it went.

Weekly goals:

  • Two book reviews a week. Done. I managed to read and prepare the reviews for 4 books this week. I also read a third of another but have since declined to review it. The writing itself was beautiful but nothing actually happened and I was so bored and disinterested I couldn't bring myself to finish it, and I will never review I book I haven't read all the way through as that would not be fair.
  • Write a minimum of 100 words of new fiction every weekday. This didn't happen every day as my planning for NaNo and reading took priority again, but on the days that I did I far exceeded the word count goal, so I ma considering this as a success.
  • 5 blog posts a week. Done
  • Visit and comment on the blogs of at least 5 other #ROW80 participants every week. Sadly not this week, but I will make up for it by doubling this goal for next week.
  • Concentrate on one room a day and have a good clear out. Not completely finished, but only one room left.
  • Exercise at least three times a week and eat more healthily. I managed the exercise and there is not a single part of me that does not hurt, but in a good way, and I feel much better for it. The healthy eating on the other hand went completely out of the window this week.

Monthly goal
  • October - Complete the NaNo Road Map course. Done. Just waiting for feedback on a few points and a little bit of last minute prep before it all kicks off next Friday.
How about you? How did you get on this week? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you. And remember, if you want to visit others in the #ROW80 blog hop you can use the links below.


Saturday 26 October 2013

Review of The Divided Hearts by Karla Darcy


Description (From Amazon)

cover links to amazon

At the death of her mother Lady Judith Hallowell decides to visit her father in America. She agrees to find out if her Godmother's grandson is still loyal to England. Despite her father's high praise of the man, she is stunned when Nathanael appears as a pompous dandy with powdered hair and peacock clothing. As she falls in love with a new country, she can't understand how she can have feelings for someone so shallow and yearns to find someone like the mysterious Palatine who is considered a hero in the fledgling colonies on the brink of war?


My Review



I'm a little bit on the fence with this one. I really enjoyed the romance aspects of it, and the characters were all great and individual (I especially liked Patrick and Simon). However, I found that the descriptions of the surroundings and the historical aspects seemed to drown out the rest. Until the last quarter of the book, there just didn't seem to be all that much going on (including romance) and I found myself skimming a lot of the needless details.

That being said, for the price of it, I still think it is worth a read if you are a fan of historical romance.

I give The Divided Hearts 3 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Friday 25 October 2013

Weekly Inspirations #30

Image from Animal Talk


Here are my favourite links from the past week. Have a great weekend.

Showing Up and Paying Attention () via So true & something I need to keep reminding myself

Freedom is the Best via

Random Thoughts: When my writing is bleah via

Protagonists Should Climb in the Front Seat via

Modern Storytelling via

Why Voice Is Becoming More Important in Today's Market via

Writing and the Creative Life: What if… | The Creativity Post via

Use Camera Angles to Supercharge Your Novel via

Nothing to do with writing, but hilarious:

Cats Versus Dogs Brilliant!!

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Review of Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland


Description (From Amazon)


cover links to amazon
What if it were possible to live two very different lives in two separate worlds?

What if the dreams you awaken from are the fading memories of that second life?

What if one day you woke up in the wrong world?

Only one person in a generation may cross the barrier of dreams to reach the other world—a world of war-scarred countries and fallen faiths. When a Chicago-born journalist finds himself on the far side of his dreams, he must hurl himself into battle to save a princess from her own people, two worlds from annihilation, and himself from a dream come way too true.




My Review


I have read K.M. Weiland's writing craft books and really enjoyed them, but this is the first of her fiction books that I have read and I wasn't sure what to expect. Let's just say, now I know why her craft books (especially Structuring Your Novel) are so good. This is one writer who really knows how to structure a good story.

At 546 pages, Dreamlander is far from a quick read, but at no point did the story feel like it was dragging or that it could be sped up in any way. The plot, and the characters, had me hooked from the first page to the last. A large cast of characters can sometimes be a little confusing, but K.M. Weiland handles this perfectly. Each character is so unique, with their own set of quirks and way of speaking that I could easily visualise each and every one and never got a single one of them mixed up (this has to be a first for me with a cast this size).

The story world became so real for me that I can still picture every detail. Someone needs to turn this book into a film.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dreamlander and, if you like fantasy, I highly recommend it.

I give Dreamlander 5 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Monday 21 October 2013

Groping Around In The Dark

"How do I work? I grope." Albert Einstein

Image courtesy of papaija2008 / freedigitalphotos.net

This is exactly how I feel at the minute. I am trying to work through a beat sheet for my current wip in preparation fro NaNo next month and it is going excruciatingly slow. I have a lot of the basic scenes worked out and quite a few in between but there are some pretty big gaps that I need to fill and I do feel like I am groping around in the dark, trying to make my way out to the other side.

I am taking comfort in the fact that if this is the way Einstein worked, it can't be all bad!

How about you? Do you ever feel like you are groping around in the dark? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you.

Sunday 20 October 2013

Sunday Check-In - #ROW80


Not a bad week, but could definitely have been better.

Weekly goals:

  • Two book reviews a week. The long book I mentioned last week turned out to be brilliant and I managed to read it in four days, giving me time to read another 2 books after that. I am trying to get as far ahead with these review books as I can before the madness of NaNo starts next month. Also, I usually read at night once my son is in bed and the house is nice and quiet but there is a chance my husband could be home by mid-november (he's in the merchant navy and been at sea since mid-July) and I rarely get any reading done at all when he's home (needless to say I prefer to spend my evenings with him when I can). I still have another 14 books to get through by the end of the year and I would be a lot more comfortable if I can get through at least 10 of these before he returns (wish me luck on that one!)
  • Write a minimum of 100 words of new fiction every weekday. Aside from the planning I have been doing for NaNo next month, getting through the books I have committed to reviewing has taken priority.
  • 5 blog posts a week. Done
  • Visit and comment on the blogs of at least 5 other #ROW80 participants every week. Done
  • Concentrate on one room a day and have a good clear out (I already did the kitchen today, so getting a head start). Aside from a general clean the de-cluttering hasn't gone to plan and I only managed two rooms.
  • Exercise at least three times a week and eat more healthily. Epic fail. I came up with perfectly good excuses every day to put things off till tomorrow, but can't seem to remember any of them now. Must try harder!

Monthly goal
  • October - Complete the NaNo Road Map course. On target. Sent in my partially completed Road Map yesterday and have another week to fill in all the gaps. Some serious brainstorming sessions ahead this week!
How about you? How did you get on this week? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you. And remember, if you want to visit others in the #ROW80 blog hop you can use the links below.

Saturday 19 October 2013

Review of Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund


Cover links to amazon

Description (From Amazon)


In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate. 

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice.



My Review



What can I say. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. The characters, the setting, the conflicts they had to face - it was all so well written that I felt I was there with them.

A good mix of harrowing and heart-warming, this a one of the most beautiful historical romances I have ever read (with a good dose of mystery thrown in too), and one of the best books I have read this year.

If you like historical romance, you have to read this book. I have now added all of Jody Hedlund's other books to my Christmas wish list.

I give Rebellious Heart 5 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Friday 18 October 2013

Weekly Inspirations #29

image from Animal Talk


Here are my favourite links from the past week. Have a great weekend.

Getting to the Core Idea in your Novel via

Strong Character Is Strong? via

25 Things You Need To Know About Writing Mysteries, By Susan Spann via Great (and funny) advice

Plotting: How to Know Which Scenes to Include in Your Book via

How Novelists Can Create Image Systems for their Story via Really useful post, gave me lots of ideas


Wednesday 16 October 2013

Review of The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier


Description (From NetGalley)


cover links to amazon
Dr. Schenk, I don’t know if what I’ve written amounts to a breakthrough or not, but I hope you know how difficult this was for me. I also hope this proves how serious I am.


Todd knows he is in a bad place. That’s why he went to a therapist in the first place, and that alone took a lot of doing. So when Dr. Schenk threatens to stop their sessions unless Todd puts in more effort, he grasps at the last available straw: a personal blog that will force Todd to confront his demons.
Ever since he lost his wife, Todd has not been the same. He’s been forced to Single Adult activities at church, and everyone seems to expect him to just forget Marci and get married again—especially when he meets Emily, who makes him smile and starts to bring him out of his depression. But dating again is hard when Todd has three kids of his own, not to mention an overbearing father and friends with their own problems.
This beautifully woven and emotional tale is both heartbreaking and humorous. Championing friendship, love, and family, Ryan Rapier deals adeptly with the everyday struggles we face as well as the strongest ties that keep us together. You’re sure to fall in love with this magnificent tale of redemption, forgiveness, and new beginnings.


My Review


This has to be one of the most emotional books I have read in a very long time. It's not unheard of for me to cry whilst reading a book, but it is rare and when it happens it is usually only at one particular scene. With The Reluctant Blogger I lost count of the number of times I had to reach for the tissues.

I warmed to main character (and his use of sarcasm) immediately. The highs and lows he goes through during the course of this book are written with such honesty I felt every emotion along with him.

I was a little concerned at first that I would find the religious side of the story (the main character is a Latter Day Saint) slightly off-putting. As it turns out I actually found it fascinating and feel that it really deepened and enriched the experience.

The only down-side for me, and I may be completely alone on this one, is that I don't feel any of it read like blog posts. I don't know anyone that can recall a conversation they had several hours earlier word for word and yet that is what is supposedly happening here. I understand why it was written this way and it's importance to the plot, but I can't help feeling there was another way to achieve the same end result. The first chapter is from Dr Schenck's perspective during one of their sessions and the next is Todd's recounting of the same session in a blog post. A lot of the information is word for word the same and I was tempted to give up there and then, but trust me, after that it is brilliant and well worth sticking with.

I knocked a star off for the reasons in the above paragraph, but this is still one of the best books I have read this year and I would highly recommend it. Just make sure you have the tissue box handy!

I give The Reluctant Blogger 4 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Monday 14 October 2013

The Origin of The Flawed


Today I have a guest post for you from Becca Campbell, the Author Empath, the first book in The Flawed Series. Becca is here to talk about the new book, and where the brilliant idea for it came from. Take it away Becca.

Welcome to the Empath Blog Tour! During the tour, Empath (The Flawed Series Book One) is on sale for a discounted price of $0.99 (77p in UK). Read on to find out more about how the idea of the Flawed series came about and why I enjoy writing about people with superhuman weaknesses.


A New Twist on an Old Concept

Cover links to amazon
Four and a half years ago, I decided to try a creative experiment. With no prior writing experience, I wondered if I had it in me to write a book – a full-length novel – from start to finish. The question nagged at my mind like a dare while the very idea of such a massive undertaking thrilled me to the core. So I decided to take the leap.
Before I put pen to paper (or more accurately, fingers to keyboard) I needed to have an idea. Not just a generic plot, but that perfect, riveting idea that would keep me going long after the honeymoon of inspiration had worn off. To do that, it had to be unique.
I began by considering the type of stories I like to consume via books, movies, and television. I’m a geek at heart and there’s always been something intriguing about comic-book-type stories in which people have superhuman powers.
I didn’t want to start with an overused concept as the diving board into this writing adventure. So I tried to think about how to put a twist on the typical stories in the genre. What could I do to really be different? I asked myself one question that was key: what’s the opposite? Using that, I discovered a fresh way of using an old trope for my own purpose. I explored the idea of people with superhuman weaknessesThe concept instantly struck a chord inside me, and I knew it was something I could write about. I had no idea it would turn into a series.

An Empathic Sense - A Handicap?

When I tell people I write books about people with superhuman flaws, I usually get a blank stare. That's probably because it sounds like an oxymoron and doesn't make sense to most people until they hear specific details.
Jade Edwards, the main character of Empath, has supernatural empathy as a character flaw instead of a superpower – in other words, this young woman is inhabited and controlled by the emotions of the people around her. Not only is she powerless to influence them, she can't even experience her own feelings when around others. Jade was sheltered from stray emotions by her parents since she was a young child. Here's a little peek inside her head as, now entering society, she wrestles with her first day of college.

Excerpt

"When she heard the teacher enter and begin talking, Jade’s eyes flicked back open. She sat up and gripped her pen with a shaking hand.
A wave of irritation hit her like a slap in the face, jerking her away from the professor’s words. Her shoulders hunched and she dug her toes into the floor as she fought the compulsion to kick someone. The pen in her tightly clenched fist gouged into the table’s surface. She dropped it and clamped her hands together in her lap, scanning the classroom. Where was the source of this anger pounding through her skull and flooding her veins? There—a guy on the end of the third row scowled, shaking his head at the professor.
Without warning, excitement replaced the agitation. Jade straightened in her chair and fought the urge to bounce in her seat, though she couldn’t keep the dumb smile off her face. Farther down her row, one girl whispered something about a vacation to the Bahamas and another girl nodded enthusiastically.
She was gulping quick and irregular breaths, telling herself to regain control, when a surge of intense attraction hit her, knocking the wind from her lungs. Her heart beat faster and a hot blush crept over her face. She was acutely aware of every male in the room. Forcing herself to stop ogling the guy in front of her with the armpit stains, she distracted herself by searching for the culprit. Her gaze froze on a girl who was gazing at a guy two rows up. Oblivious, he seemed to be one of the few faithfully taking notes on the current topic: modern rationalism and the theories of Descartes.
Jade dropped her head into her hands and pressed on her temples, wishing for the hundredth time that she could turn off her empathic sense. She squeezed her eyes shut again and tried to focus on only her breathing. She had to escape."

Grab Empath at a Discounted Price


Empath is on sale during the blog tour for a bargain price of $0.99 (normally $2.99)! Grab your copy today:
Or purchase it on paperback.

Book Blurb

Supernatural empathy isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Anywhere she goes, Jade’s emotions are replaced by those of the people around her.
Jade grew up in a suburb of Colorado Springs, protected from other people by her parents. Now she faces college—and the world—with nothing to shield her from unwanted feelings.
When Cam, a classmate with a major crush on her, unintentionally hijacks her emotions, Jade struggles to keep from being carried away in feelings of attraction. When Ethan, a psychopath with a thirst for fear, fixates on her, the emotional impact could be lethal.
Caught in a deadly trap, Jade must untangle the emotions and find a way to use her empathic curse to overcome this killer or be overcome by him.

More About Becca J. Campbell

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the New Adult Romantic Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, New Adult Romantic Paranormal Thriller Empath (The Flawed Series #1), and  Sub-Normal, a series of Science Fiction short stories.
An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

Sunday 13 October 2013

Sunday Check-In #ROW80


This round is off to a much better start than the last one, and this week has actually gone pretty well.

Weekly goals:

  • Two book reviews a week. Done, I have also read next weeks books and drafted the reviews. The next book is a long one though so don't expect to be this far ahead next week.
  • Write a minimum of 100 words of new fiction every weekday. I didn't manage this one in terms of writing new fiction as planned, but I have written over this amount on the planning elements of my current WIP - backstory details, characters arcs, plot structure etc
  • 5 blog posts a week. Done
  • Visit and comment on the blogs of at least 5 other #ROW80 participants every week. Done
Monthly goal
  • October - Complete the NaNo Road Map course. Half way there, I turned in assignment two yesterday.
I have another two goals for myself next week as well. After taking doctors orders to do nothing more strenuous than a gentle stroll a little too literally over the past couple of months, my house is in a very sorry state and looks like it belongs to a hoarder. For the same reason, my health and fitness levels are also in a sorry state.

  • Concentrate on one room a day and have a good clear out (I already did the kitchen today, so getting a head start).
  • Exercise at least three times a week and eat more healthily.
How about you? How did you get on this week? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you. And remember, if you want to visit others in the #ROW80 blog hop you can use the links below.


Saturday 12 October 2013

Review of Show Off Anthology Edited By Joe Bunting


Description (From Amazon)

Cover links to amazon

Ten stories about love, loss, betrayal, and hope chosen out the best of a years worth of stories on thewritepractice.com. Florene, a three-time beauty queen, is betrayed by the pastor she's having an affair with, but finds her own way to get revenge. Ray is a floundering Vietnam veteran who confronts the wounds of the past to help his controversial neighbors. A dying cowboy says goodbye to his horses after one last ride. These are the stories we hold in the secret places of our soul. These are the stories we rarely show off.


New fiction by Patricia W Hunter, Lisa Burgess, Tara Boyce, Nancy Vandre, Dominic Laing, Kristi Boyce, Morgan O'Connor, Bob Vander Lugt, Debra Atwood, and Marla Cantrell.

My Review


A great Anthologoly of short stories exploring a wide range of human emotions. They are all stoires from the heart and as such touch the heart. My favourites were, A Place To Call Home, The Ride, On Behalf of Love and The Driver.

If you are looking for a quick read, you can't go far wrong with this collection.

I give Show Off Anthology 4 out of 5 stars.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:
1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.
2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.
3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.
4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.
5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Friday 11 October 2013

Weekly Inspirations #28

Image from AnimalTalk

Here are my favourite links from the past week. Have a great weekend.

From Plotting to Writing to Editing to Submitting via

I Really Don’t Care What You Think via

How Novelists Can Use a Filmmaker’s Eye via

Have you ever asked yourself 'why do you write?'

Ways Novelists Can Brainstorm Plot and Scenes via @LiveWriteThrive

And a quote:

Keep a child-like wonder about everyday activities, even work :) ~  via @AineBelton