It’s again time to share my weekly reads and other enthralling exploits. And when I say enthralling, naturally I mean ‘vaguely interesting’.
What I read
My weekly reading went almost to plan. I started the week with Confessions of a Once Fashionable Mum which I really enjoyed. Other than the whole ‘not being a mother or fashionable person’ thing, I could seriously relate to the self-deprecating lead character Ally.
I moved on (as planned) to Candace Bushnell’s Killing Monica and Nicole Trope’s Hush, Little Bird—a book in my genre wheelhouse and one I enjoyed. I’ll also be publishing both reviews coming days.
Book number four differed from that planned as I was reminded I’m taking part in a blog tour in July so, while I have some time until my review will be posted, I’m doing a Q & A with the author so needed to prepare and submit some questions. A Time to Run by JM Peace is a crime thriller set here in my home state of Queensland.
What I wrote
I started the week pondering my desires. And before you think that sounds creepy or salubrious, my contemplation was focused around our desire to be envied, or pitied. The consensus from my lovely readers was pretty much that the two words themselves are very emotionally / judgementally loaded. Many could relate instead to a desire for sympathy and / or admiration.
I posted my book review of Confessions of a Once Fashionable Mum by Georgia Madden—a book I’ve already mentioned I enjoyed.
And I ended the week with my interpretation of a Gilmore Girls 10 Year Reunion Show. There’s been a bit of talk about a movie or reunion show so I’ve made some “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” suggestions. #yourewelcome
What I did
I haven’t ‘really’ done any pitching as planned, but did some planning. If that makes sense.
I’d decided to submit this piece on friendships to a local weekend newspaper lift-out; but when I examined the lift-out more I realised it seems to have themes on each page and none of which are generic enough for my piece. So I’ll look elsewhere for a home for it. I did however approach two other sources about writing book reviews for them—or more specifically if they’d be open to me regularly pitching / sending reviews to them for publication (and ideally, get paid). I’m not sure I’ll hear anything back… but you never know.
I accompanied my mother to a book signing for a local author of a slow-cooker cookbook. I introduced my mother to the Facebook group (Slow Cooker Recipes 4 Families) and the creator’s subsequent website, Slow Cooker Central over a year ago. The website development company I was working for assisted in the development of the crowd-funded website. I’m actually in the midst of interviewing the creator about her success cos the whole thing is astronomical. The FB group has grown by over 140,000 members since I’ve been following and her website stats are phenomenal.
Next week’s reading
As I didn’t get to it last week I’m planning to read In My House by Alex Hourston. And then I’m looking forward to a new arrival, The Other Side of the World, by Stephanie Bishop.
I hope to get more reading done, but my unwritten reviews are piling up so I might take a night or two off reading to catch up. And, assuming I catch up, according to my simple little Trello project management dashboard, The Dying Season by Martin Walker is next on my reading list.
I’m actually also thinking of starting to open comments on my book blog posts after a conversation about the issue on FB. I’ve kept them closed as I’ve felt bad for local authors who might not get many (or any) comments. And I’m conscious of my non-book loving readers who will feel obliged to drop by and leave a comment even if they’ve nothing to say on the book or it doesn’t interest them. I think I’ll trial it for a month or so and see how it goes.
What’s on your agenda for this week? Do any of the books I’ve shared interest you?
I’m linking up with the Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post and Book Journey for ‘It’s Monday!”
June 21, 2015
I was going to ask why you close comments on your reviews. I’d like to see them 🙂 I look forward to reading the book reviews in our local newspaper lift out and always look for them in the Sunday Mail but they don’t have them. Why don’t you approach the Sunday Mail Deb!
June 21, 2015
I approached the Saturday Courier lift-out. Not sure if I’ll hear back but they have those few tiny reviews at the bottom of the page as well as a feature. Would be more than happy to submit the occasional review in case they accept them!
June 21, 2015
Sounds like a relatively productive week. I jumped over & had a look at that Slow Cooker group…fudge in the slow cooker? Who would have thought it? Oh and re Gilmore Girls- I’m embarrassed to confess it…but I’ve never seen an episode.
June 21, 2015
You wouldn’t believe what they make in the slow cooker – cakes, fudge etc. Fudge is huge at the moment and they had fudge at the book signing yesterday.
June 21, 2015
I was about to email u about the comments being closed 🙂
June 21, 2015
Yes, someone suggested (on my personal FB page) that I open them. Not sure why I stress so much about authors feeling a lack of love (though I don’t worry about the famous authors!!!).
June 21, 2015
A Time to Run look good so can’t wait for your review on that one, also curious about The Dying Season. I have often wondered why your review post were closed as I have wanted to comment and never could.
June 21, 2015
Yes… I think I had them open in the early days (a couple of years ago) but it was really just my previous (non-bookish) readers and I’d feel as if they just felt like they needed to say something to be nice so I felt guilty. But… I have more book-related readers now I guess. (Of course I know I need to ease up on the guilt stuff as well!)
June 21, 2015
Hush, Little Bird looks good…and after watching all the seasons of Gilmore Girls on Netflix, I am itching to see more…a reunion show would be fab.
I saw the guy who played Luke in a movie recently (a Lifetime movie), and he played a bad guy. I didn’t recognize him at first….
Thanks for visiting my blog.
June 21, 2015
No worries Laurel and I can’t imagine ‘Luke’ playing a baddie! 🙂
June 21, 2015
I always enjoy your humour, I can expect to chuckle at some point and did so at the very first paragraph. I saw a review for Hush Little Bird in one of our local NZ women’s magazines, it sounded good although probably not for me. Interesting about the book commenting, will be interesting to see what you find.
June 21, 2015
Yes Kathryn I figured I might as well try it.
Hush, Little Bird was different to what I expected it to be. I think I assumed there’d be this unlocking of a big secret… but there wasn’t. You know where it’s going from the beginning but I think the two lead characters are interesting heads to inhabit. The book’s actually very topical – TV star accused of sexually abusing young children he came in contact with (many years later). We’ve had a similar case here in Australia in recent times. (Well, at least one!)
June 21, 2015
Hi Deb. I’m a fan of Nicole Trope – so looking forward to that one. Enjoy ‘The Other Side…’ The writing is gor-juss. And it’s stayed with me for a while now because of what it had to say. Cassie
June 21, 2015
Oh great! I’m looking forward to it!
June 21, 2015
It sounds like a busy week! I wish you all the best in getting your reviews published in the paper! It’d be great if you could make money from it too! I have open comments on my reviews, but I still monitor them. I get quite a bit of spam but aside from that the few comments I have had are positive towards the books.
Have a great week,
Amy x
June 21, 2015
Most of my spam gets caught via Askimet thankfully although it’s often quite interesting and non-sensical!
June 21, 2015
I’m always looking for more slow cooker recipes, thanks for sharing the links! I have A Time to Run and The Other Side of the World on my reading list 🙂
Have a great week,
June 21, 2015
Thanks Shelleyrae. The FB group and SCC site have a stack of good recipes. My mother’s constantly talking about new things she’s tried. I’ve tasted quite a few and they’ve been great.
June 21, 2015
I am a super huge Gilmore Girls fan. I always watch the reruns now. That post was a lot of fun. Hope you have a great week and enjoy your reading!
June 21, 2015
Thanks Grace and yes I’m enjoying the reruns too. I hope the station just plays them straight through until the final season and doesn’t decide to pause them for any reason!
June 21, 2015
I noticed your coms were closed when I tried to leave one 😉 Tme to run and Dying season look good ! I’m currently reading my arcs ahead so that I have enough time to write the reviews in case of serious procrastination… Have a great week 🙂
June 21, 2015
Ah yes, I headed to the bath with a new book tonight (Sunday) thinking I was only 4 reviews behind (though I’ve got notes for 2 of them) but then remembered it’s 5 not 4! So I put the book aside and flicked through a magazine instead! Hopefully I can catch up on the reviews tomorrow and start reading tomorrow night.
June 21, 2015
Yay for planning for pitching! And yay for approaching book review gigs. Great idea! At the moment I’m reading The Soldier’s wife by Pamela Hart and am really enjoying the way she paints her words on the page. I feel as if I’m the main character – which is totally how I want to be able to write one day.
June 21, 2015
I didn’t read that one Jodi but I know a lot of others who enjoyed it. I know what you mean about identifying writing you’d like to emulate… When I was doing my draft manuscript in NaNoWriMo it occurred to me that I love witty quirky characters and writing. I’m naturally v.sarcastic etc and yet (in fiction) I don’t write that way at all… but I realised that I wished I’d written my character in that voice. (Of course it’s not too late as I’ve done nothing with it since 30 November!)
June 21, 2015
You sound like you had a productive week. Hope this week is as great and you get some reading and writing done 🙂
June 22, 2015
Thanks Megan.
June 21, 2015
I just finished a Time to Run , it was gripping and some nights I could not put it down. I look forward to hearing your Q & A (reading).
June 21, 2015
I actually finished it about 24hrs ago.
June 22, 2015
Ah yes… must get working on those! It’s always hard when it’s part of a blog tour and you’re doing it in advance as you don’t know what others are asking and you don’t want to ask them the same questions again and again!
June 21, 2015
Deb you should participate in the Book Vixen’s Reviewathon which is going to be held next Friday through to Saturday 26-27, it’s a 24 hour Review-a-thon so write as many reviews as you can in 24 hours.
I’m going to check out your Confessions of a Once Fashionable Mum review as I was intrigued by it when I first saw it in your book haul post.
My Sunday Post
Have a great week!
June 22, 2015
I’ll check it out Angelica cos I seem to have A HEAP of books being published at the end of June and early July!
Deb
June 22, 2015
A Time to Run sounds like it will be good, especially looking at the rating on good reads. Love. The cover of other side of the world. I would buy it for that alone.
June 22, 2015
It’s a lovely cover, isn’t it?! Looking forward to it.
June 22, 2015
I look forward to your review of Candace Bushnell’s book, since we have similar tastes. I always think I’m going to like them and I don’t. I’ve DNFed her twice.
June 22, 2015
I’m a little torn about it Elizabeth. I’m going to include it in a wrap-up monthly post I do for another blogger, but it wouldn’t be in my favourite reading list. It has potential but I’m not completely impressed with the structure – it starts but then goes back in time for a LONG TIME – before returning to the present. And ends with a ridiculously OTT comedic-type scene or two. I suspect it’d translate well onto screen (slapsticky) but…
June 22, 2015
I didn’t realise you where in Queensland. My father in law and two sisters in law live just outside Brisbane. I visited back in 1999, I remember the flights took ages but Queensland was beautiful and would love to go back one day!
Hoping you have a great week!
June 22, 2015
Heather I lived in Brisbane before my seachange nearly 3 years ago when I moved back to near where I was born. I’m on the Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay, near Fraser Island) which is about 350-400km north of Brisbane. And yes, we certainly have a lovely spot. It’s winter but our days are still about 20C.
June 22, 2015
Hopefully the book review pitches will work out! I have thought about approaching my local paper too and asking them if they would be interested. I’m not even looking for payment, I’d just like the experience of it.
June 22, 2015
I’d like payment (ultimately) but did something for our local paper which didn’t pay – the freelance article writing thing is new for me so I understand that I need a bit more experience before I can expect payment, but I’d like to think the book reviews are a bit different. Particularly the ones printed in the paper I pitched to. They’re super short (150-175 words) so would need a lot of finessing!
June 22, 2015
Looks like you had a great reading week! Good luck with your writing endeavors!
Thanks for stopping by the The Local Muse
June 22, 2015
Thanks Mallory!
June 22, 2015
I had no idea that you’d helped in the slow cooker page and website. They’re ones that I’ve frequently used.
June 22, 2015
My old company only came on board to do the site (which is a very basic one). I wrote a post about her success in their blog when I was there. I know it’s not a blog but I’d love to hook Paulene (the site’s creator) up with The Remarkables (blogging agency) as I think they’d do great things!
June 22, 2015
A Time to Run looks good. Hope you have a great week!
June 22, 2015
Thanks Yvonne and yes it’s definitely a good debut novel.
June 22, 2015
I adore the cover of The Other Side of the World, hope the story is just as appealing. Looking forward to your review of Hush, Little Bird (and I will be commenting lol) … you worry too much Deb, I love reading your thoughts, you are such an entertaining writer. I haven’t come across people who comment because they feel obliged to, hmm maybe I’m being short sighted. Time is more my issue or my poor management of it, more to the point HA.
Have a great week 🙂
June 22, 2015
I’ve heard nice things about the writing in The Other Side of the World so am looking forward to that Teddyree.
June 22, 2015
Good luck with your publishing endeavors! Enjoy your week!
June 22, 2015
Thanks Jen.
June 22, 2015
Good luck with the planning, pitching and reviewing! I think bigger things will start happening for you. That interview with the creator of the slow cooker site sounds fascinating. I enjoy success stories they make me want to emulate their success somehow. Well don’t we all I guess.
June 22, 2015
It’d be nice if big things did start to happen… *sigh*
And you’re right. If we see that others can do it, we assume we can as well. (I guess that’s why weight loss stories are so popular!)
June 22, 2015
Dying Season sounds like a great read. Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful week.
June 23, 2015
Interestingly of the bunch of books I have coming up it appeals least. Which means I’ll probably enjoy it the most!!!
June 23, 2015
Interesting how that slow cooker group and book got so big. I am not sure if slow cooking is something for me as I am pretty impatient when cooking and hate waiting for long times, but it does sound like an interesting cookbook.
I like the cover for The Other Side of the World, I hope you’ll enjoy it. I hope that newspaper pitch you submitted get’s accepted.
I hope you’ll have a great week!
June 23, 2015
Thanks Lola. Nothing yet from the papers but I think if I don’t hear back in a week I’ll just submit something anyway. 🙂
June 23, 2015
I always have great intentions to use my slow cooker, but then never remember to get it going in the am! I am not a morning person. LOL Hope you have a great week.
June 23, 2015
I think slow cookers are great if you’re working or busy and have time to put it on in the mornings and come home 8-9hrs later to a delicious smelling dinner! I notice some people make bread and breakfasty option in there but putting it on overnight.
June 23, 2015
Sounds like a busy but good week for you Deborah! I definitely understand why you close comments on reviews, I’ve thought about it in the past but ultimately decided not to…mostly because I couldn’t figure out how and my mind moved on to other things, lol. I hope you have a great week!
June 23, 2015
I think I’ll give it a month and if there’s little engagement I’ll close them again. (I use WordPress so can close them easily by unticking a box on individual posts!)
June 23, 2015
The Other Side of the World looks really interesting! I had always wondered about your comments as well! As for the slow cooker… I have had one for about 8 years and have used it exactly zero times 😉 I am such a cooking fail! Hope you have a fabulous week, happy reading!
June 23, 2015
I don’t have a slow cooker Shannon – mind you, I have very few kitchen gadgets – but my mother LOVES hers. She had one back in the day we called them crockpots, when I was growing up. It was orange and heavy as it had this HUGE ceramic bowl in it.
June 23, 2015
I have never thought about cookbook signings. My local indie book shop never has them, and it is a shame because I have purchased several local cusine books there since it has been open. Maybe I will suggest it to the owner. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
June 23, 2015
Ah yes, the author of the cookbook has a big following. My mum bought a book and had it signed and took the chance to have a chat. (There was also fudge tasting – made in the slow cooker!)