Despite some ongoing antipathy re my apartment building and body corporate (as I mentioned last week), I’ve actually had a relatively good week.
It’s rare that I’m peppy and positive, so I thought I should write this while I’m under the influence of happy hormones rather than my usual bitter and twisted take on the world… that results in me being overly sarcastic and swearing a lot.
What I read
I started the week with The Beekeeper’s Secret by Josephine Moon, as planned, and then started on Laura Elliot’s Sleep Sister. I wasn’t overly enamoured with the latter so eked it out over three nights.
And finally I got to The Obsession by Nora Roberts which I’d had sitting in my TBR pile for weeks and weeks! #waitingitsturn
I’m also listening to an audiobook – Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett and narrated by Aussie actor David Wenham. Favel’s beautiful, When the Night Comes is one of my favourite books ever and I’m loving this as well.
What I wrote
I’m continuing with my 30-day blogging challenge in April and so far I’m surviving. I’ve posted three book reviews:
The Beekeeper’s Secret by Josephine Moon
Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Plus:
The day I forgot to go home – about my current apartment and body corporate (strata) angst
Things we need to stop celebrating – like men who are feminists and plus sized women on magazine covers
Failure & Creativity – the impact a fear of failure has on creativity (a podcast by Elizabeth Gilbert and Brene Brown)
And of course this Sunday Post makes seven. Seven blog posts. Ha Ha Ha… *Cue maniacal laughter of Sesame Street’s Count here*
What I did
I blogged every day. Did you catch that? I had some work travel so had to pre-prepare one of the posts (a book review) but essentially ensured I wrote a blog post every single bloody day. (In case you’ve forgotten I’m blogging every day in an attempt to find my voice and rediscover my blogging mojo!)
I also had a close friend staying. She moved here (to Hervey Bay) at the same time I did, but left a year ago. She’s now in Melbourne and I haven’t been down to see her but she travelled up for a wedding and had a night with me. We caught up with a range of friends involving a couple of meals out – which is always a good thing. 🙂
What I will read and do
It’s a short working week for me (yay!) and I’ll be driving a few hours on one of those days so will continue with my audio book. I’ll also make an attempt to keep up my daily blogging as I’m mostly enjoying it.
I had some new arrivals this past week (below) and am yet to insert them into my anally chronologically-organised TBR pile, so I seriously have NO IDEA what’s next!
As usual I’m linking up with Kimberly from Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post and Kathryn from Book Date for ‘It’s Monday!’
What’s on your agenda?
April 10, 2016
You’re rocking the blog a day thing so far! Looks like a nice week- some thought provoking post and nice pics too! I hope the situation with your apt works out- whichever way you go, good luck!
April 10, 2016
Thanks Greg!
April 10, 2016
Great job on the full week of posts! I finished The Obsession last week and really enjoyed it, so I’m interested in seeing what you think of it.
Have a great week! My Weekly Wrap-Up
April 10, 2016
I mostly enjoyed it Laura. I think I’ll post that review on Tuesday!
April 10, 2016
Yay for working to find your mojo and blogging on the daily. I hope you loved the Obsession as much as I did. Sometimes sarcasm and cursing like a sailor are good for the soul! I hope this week bring more daily blog posts!
April 10, 2016
Thanks Kimberly. I did enjoy The Obsession. Sometimes Nora Roberts is a bit hit and miss for me. I probably didn’t love this as much as you, but did enjoy it!
April 10, 2016
You are doing a great job blogging daily! Sounds like a nice weekend too! 🙂
April 10, 2016
Thanks Jess. xx
April 10, 2016
Sounds like you’re doing awesome with your blogging every day thing! That’s more than I’m doing lol. And the food in those photos looks absolutely delicious. It sounds like you had a great weekend with friends 🙂
April 10, 2016
I did and it was lovely to catch up with an old friend (and others).
April 10, 2016
Well done blogging every day, Deb! That’s a feat, and I’m glad you’re feeling more positive these days. I’m sure some quality time with your friend, as well as some meals out helped with that 🙂
Have a great week ahead and happy reading.
April 10, 2016
Thanks muchly Lexxie! x
April 10, 2016
Congrats on blogging every day! I always feel pretty good when I pull that off myself. Your food pics look amazing and they definitely made me hungry! Hope you have a great week.
April 10, 2016
Thanks Kimberly. I’m hoping to keep up the blogging as it’s helping me feel a bit more contented!
April 10, 2016
It sounds like you had a good week Deborah. I hadn’t realized you have a bitter and twisted view of the world?! LOL!! I’m probably the same a lot of the time. 😉 And congrats on blogging everyday.. that’s definitely a great achievement.
Don’t you just love Nora Roberts? Sigh..
Good luck this week and I hope you’re able to read a lot this week!! 😉
April 11, 2016
Ha! I assume my view of the world to be bitter and twisted Maureen… god forbid it’s actually as bleak as I see it! 😉
April 10, 2016
I like your sarcastic cursing normal blogging self Debbie but happy hormones are good too if they keep you blogging every single BLOODY day :). Your voice sounds great to me but I know what you mean about find it if you still feel you haven’t good luck 🙂
April 11, 2016
I think I’m finding my voice again Daniela but I need to make sure I feel confident in it again so hope to continue for the entire month!
April 10, 2016
You got some good books to read. I received Darkness out of the blue a couple weeks ago, and it looks good. 🙂 Hope you enjoy your new arrivals!
Happy reading,
Stormi
Week In Review
April 11, 2016
I think I requested Darkness Stormi as I’ve read some of Karen Robards’ work before! Hope you have a nice week as well.
April 10, 2016
I hope you get your mojo back and sort out your housing situation…there is nothing worse than nasty neighbours. I don’t think I could live in a flat again but think I would struggle to give up that view.
April 11, 2016
The annoying caretaker / manager slammed the office sliding door so hard today (after yelling at / for his wife) that it came off the runners and then had to get help to get it fixed… #karma
April 10, 2016
Way for mojo! I am glad you are feeling better this week.
Blogging everyday is what I would like to get back to but I am taking it one day at a time, it seems to be working for me for now 🙂
Have a great week, Debbie! Happy Reading!
April 11, 2016
Thanks… I think ‘forcing’ myself to blog regularly is helping me find my voice and feel a bit more confident. ‘I think!’
April 11, 2016
Great luck finding your blogging mojo again! I’ll be checking some of those links….so envious of The Obsession…want to read Britt-Marie Was Here…
So sorry you had to struggle finding my blog today…thanks for persisting! I will be doing the updates there for a while…I promise.
My game plan, of course, is to take everyone to all six of my sites…eventually! LOL
Enjoy your new week!
April 11, 2016
I can’t believe you manage so many sites Laurel. I used to have two (Debbish and Diet Schmiet). The latter was the more popular but I struggled to give both my attention. I merged Diet Schmiet into this as I wanted to keep this branding!
April 11, 2016
I read all your reviews this week and was curious about Josephine Moon, the cover and title do scream cozy but the plot sounds very complicated and definitely not a cozy type. I want to read the new Harlan Coben… because it’s Harlan Coben! Love him!
I like that you are blogging every day about whatever pops into your head. You know what, if someone isn’t interested in what you have to say on one day, they have another 6 days to choose from 🙂 So keep posting about whatever the heck comes to mind. I wish I could do the same.
You should mix up your TBR pile and get a bit reckless, ha! You don’t have to read them in exactly the order they come in (or review is due?). Just randomly grab one and go to town. They’ll all get read anyway 🙂 Enjoy!
April 11, 2016
Yes, I mostly read my books in the order they’re published – though I’ve put a heap aside that I missed in January – March. If I have a slow period I’ll get to them. I think I counted 6 books in my total pile which are being published on 12 April and I’ve read one so I’m a tad behind. Well, more than a tad!
April 11, 2016
Great job on blogging every day! And your books are amazing – Britt Marie Was Here is on my TBR and I can’t wait to read The Obsession! I’ve been on a big Nora Roberts kick lately.
You have my sympathy on the whole apartment situation. I haven’t had that exact situation but I’ve had really awful neighbors and that kind of unpleasantness around your home is so draining. I hope it gets better soon. How fantastic that you were able to spend some time with your friend and the food photos look so good! Have a great week!
April 11, 2016
I mostly enjoyed The Obsession Katherine. I must actually get the review done today because I’ve got work and travel for the next few days so will try to just need to polish it off then!
April 11, 2016
I did some post scheduling last weekend &, for the first time in literally months, did not write a word last week or over the weekend. I spent the weekend in Wellington with a friend. I’m back on deadline this week.
April 11, 2016
I saw that you were away and it looked like you had a lovely time! I’m sure you needed the break as you always have so much on the go. Perhaps you feel a little refreshed? (I ask hopefully!)
April 11, 2016
Refreshed? Amazingly so. Almost as if I’d been away for a month.
April 11, 2016
Excellent!
April 11, 2016
I’m impressed with your productivity. Makes me wonder if the productivity and positivity is linked. And if it is linked, what came first? The chicken or the egg?
April 11, 2016
I’m sure they’re linked Char. I feel much better when I’m writing and feeling creative and stifled and not-me, when I’m not. However… keeping it going will be the challenge!
April 11, 2016
You’re going very well, Deb. I’ve been trying to blog every day for my challenge but I think I skipped a day. My biggest fear is that everyone will get sick of me. But I’ve been reading yours and other bloggers’ daily posts and I don’t get sick of them so I should probably persevere.
April 11, 2016
Your blog is one I always read Michelle. I have several I read NO MATTER WHAT. Then some I read every few days when I get the chance. And then (mostly re book blogs) I go through my feedly reader and look at the books which have been reviewed and select a heap to read. I follow about 100 blogs via feedly and have them categorised so can pick and choose. But… I tend to do a bit of binge-reading and binge-commenting on the weekend now that I’m back at work (a bit!).
April 11, 2016
Congrats on being positive! I try to write when I’m feeling good too! I hope you enjoy your new books 😀 Darkness sounds really good!
Here’s my Weekly Recap!
April 11, 2016
Thanks Tracy!
April 11, 2016
Hmm I will be interested in your thoughts on The Obsession, possibly my kind of thriller rather than yours? I liked it, but then well… it had romance to flavour it! I see Nicky Pellegrino’s book in there, finished that and liked it, again more likely though to be me rather than you, but who knows!
All the best with that ‘bloody’ posting every day in April! May the short week be a good week for you.
April 11, 2016
Yes… it’s probably likely that the stuff I didn’t enjoy in The Obsession was more about my taste and comfort level than the book itself. I’m glad you liked the new Pellegrino. Def more your kind of book I think, but I enjoyed her last one, so hopefully…. #fingerscrossed
April 11, 2016
Yay for blogging every day and working on getting the mojo back!! Getting together with friends and good meals out are the best! Hope you have a great week!
April 11, 2016
Thanks Grace!
April 11, 2016
Blogging every day is fantastic, hoping you are able to keep it up. I have considered doing just that, but fear I would run out of things to post after a week or so.
April 12, 2016
I’m using a few writing prompts at the moment though a few things have come up in ‘life’ which have helped!
April 11, 2016
Blogging every single day for a month is quite the commit – it’s a lot more time consuming than one would think! It sounds like you’re doing great at the moment with that task, and with such varied content. I hope it is aiding in finding your voice once more.
The latest Nora Roberts seems to be being read by many recently! Happy Reading!
April 12, 2016
I think the Nora Roberts is out today Jade, so quite timely. I’m actually finishing my review at this very moment!
April 12, 2016
You mean EVERYONE doesn’t organize their TBR pile chronologically?? Maybe we are meant to be friends lol, I keep a pud-date calendar to organize my pile so I know what I have to read next
April 12, 2016
Same Lisa – I use this tool called Trello which allows me to sort my TBR pile by date (I enter) and then I have columns to move the book to as I’m reading it, reviewing it, sharing the review on Goodreads etc…
🙂
April 12, 2016
I am a new follower and I love your pop into your head style of blogging!
April 12, 2016
Oh thanks Patty, that’s very kind. And welcome!
April 12, 2016
Yay for enjoying blogging every day. It is nice you got to visit with your friend… I agree food is always good when visiting/sharing with friends. We did several meals with our son while visiting.
Your comments got me interested in Favel Parrett. I will have to look into her books.
I used Trello for a time on my review list. Now I keep a calendar in a doc file that helps me know what I have accepted and sets out estimated dates for the reviews. It helps me see at a glance if I am planning three, four or five reviews a week and when (if ever) I can fit in other posts (not often). 🙂
I hope this is a happy week for you.
April 13, 2016
My reading used to get ahead of my reviewing and posting Martha and I had book reviews scheduled in advance, but over the last few weeks that hasn’t been the case. I use a calendar plug-in on my WordPress site to help with the forward planning… although I’m just keeping my head above water at the moment!
April 12, 2016
Well done on blogging every day, I simply couldn’t do it! Not only do I never seem to have to time, I don’t know what I would possibly write about – my life feels far too boring to have anything to write about that anyone would want to read. 🙂
April 13, 2016
I’m the same Jane – though I do look at others’ blog posts and realise they’re also writing about stuff you’d not normally find interesting…. I’m using some prompts to help but have had some stuff pop up which have become topics for the day. Having the occasional book review scattered in each week helps!
April 12, 2016
It’s the second time I’m seeing Nora Roberts’ Obsession – I am definitely intrigued. We blog every day – I think we at GatheringBooks have been doing that for the past three or four years now. It does take an enormous amount of discipline and ensuring that posts are prepared way ahead of time; sometimes a month ahead. I am now seeing whether I can manage a two month advance posts since I will be traveling in June/July. I think it helps as well that there are three of us (although only two are active this year) sharing the load.
April 13, 2016
Wow – two months ahead? Very impressive Myra. And you’re right – it does take discipline. It’s actually good that I’m doing this as I’m having to rediscover that!
April 12, 2016
Busy, busy week.
Great you blogged every day.
Nice books for you.
ENJOY this week too.
All of your books look so good…LOVE the covers.
ENJOY your reading week.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
April 13, 2016
Thanks Elizabeth. Hope you have a great week as well!