Tuesday Book Talk

Let’s talk books!

Just Read

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (The Steampunk Chronicles) by Kady Cross

Why I picked it up: Lindsay Buroker mentioned it in her Fantasy-Steampunk E-Books list post and it was free. Win. This is a prequel to the Steampunk Chronicles of which The Girl in the Steel Corset (The Steampunk Chronicles) is the first book.

What I liked: Suspense with some horror, along the lines of Frankenstein, and the steampunk elements were seamlessly woven in. I thoroughly enjoyed the world Kady Cross built. The MC, Finley, was interesting without being over the top. While it stands alone, this freebie did exactly what the author was after…hooking my interest to read the series.

What I disliked: There was no real character arc but, as this is a prequel, I expect there will be more of that in the full-length stories within the series.

Reading

The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman

Why I picked it up: I’d seen it recommended. It sounded worth a try if I could get my hands on a used copy…which I did.

What I like: The way this book is broken down. The Characterization sections have some thought provoking exercises. In fact, all the sections have good exercises. I think the Journey section is my favorite so far with Profound (realization and action) and Surface (recognizable marker of growth) character journeys. I’m looking forward to the Suspense, Conflict, Context, and Transcendency sections. I may even try plotting the shiny via this book.

What I dislike: The Characterization sections are mostly lists and focus on the physical (outer) aspects of character before exploring the inner working of character which I feel is backwards. Overall, I’m finding more I like than dislike about this craft book.

Will Read

That’s a really good question. I’ve been struggling to start Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, Book 2) by Stacia Kane. I’m sure the problem is the amount of time since reading the first book and I may need to re-read Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, Book 1).

Perhaps The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor by Gail McMeekin

Why I picked this up: I saw a number of reviews and recommendations online. Words like “Empowering” and “Inspiring” and “Uplifting” peppered everything I saw about this book. One reviewer even said something to the effect of, “I felt I was sitting at the kitchen table getting the best news from a group of friends.” Sounded worth the read.

What I expect to like: The book is divided into three main “gateways” — Engaging Your Creativity, Mastering You Challenges, and Actualizing Creative Results (the Power of Positive Priorities). There are interviews, bit-sized memoirs, and quotes throughout. Each chapter has challenges, questions, that look like they are designed to help unlock creativity.

What I expect to dislike: Can’t think of anything from my glance though the book.

• And I’m looking forward toThe Third Fate from Nadja Notariani.

What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Sunday Summary & #ROW80

1. Do you have a writer on your list? If so, Jami Gold has the Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers. Psst, honey, check it out.
2. Are you on a budget with a writer on your list? Then you must check out K.M. Weiland’s 25 “Under $25″ Christmas Gifts for Writers. Psst, wee beasties, check it out.
3. Just a reminder: Maria Zannini’s DIY 12 Days of Christmas continues through the 22nd.
   There are giveaways Hope you’ll stop by!
4. A huge congrats to Lindsay Buroker for her RT Book Reviews mention!
5. This past week has been a huge epic failure for ROW80. I apologize for my silence! The power cord to my laptop died. My life is on that laptop, LOL. I can’t access Facebook or Twitter from the ancient — can you hear it groaning? — desktop. Trying to read and comment on blogs was a frustrating exercise I gave up on most days. Really need to spend some quality time cleaning out, upgrading the memory, etc. on this poor machine but considering it is coming up on nine years of age and still working, it has surpassed its life expectancy so I shouldn’t complain.
6. On the writing: I can access my backups via email but can’t print from the desktop. And as the desktop is also the wee beasties’ computer, I’ve been hard pressed to get on it to work, LOL. So, I’ve attempted to do some writing and outlining by hand but even that has been more fail than success this week.
7. So thankful I got most of my posts finalized and scheduled before I lost the power cord.
8. And winter break has begun. My house is full of the not so quiet stomping and yelling of the wee beasties. Seriously, why can’t they WALK down the stairs? Must they slide down the banister, swing around the landing, and take flying leaps? For an example, you can check out Jenny Hansen’s When Your Baby Scares the Stuffing Out of You post, a typical banister sliding morning is in the comments, LOL
9. Don’t forget to stop by on Tuesday when the Foxie with Moxie Pair will be here as part of the Bayard/Lamb Campaign Blog Tour.
10. I apologize for the lack of a picture with Beastie Girl modeling her new sweater. By the time I got home Saturday from errands — I have a power cord, yay! — and Christmas shopping she was less than thrilled with me. And strangely in need of a bath.

What’s on Your Keeper Shelf? Part 3: Fiction

In Part 1, I shared my non-fiction shelf. In Part 2, I shared my physical fiction shelf. Today, for Part 3, I’ll share my digital fiction “shelf” on the trusty Nook.

Now, this list is on the short side, just because I haven’t had my Nook all that long, and I haven’t got around to reading everything on it yet.

Without further ado, alphabetically, my digital Top 10 List:

1. Lisa T Bergren (Her River of Time series anyway.)
2. Joely Sue Burkhart
3. Lindsay Buroker
4. Liz Fichara
5. Larissa Ione (Actually, this is kind of a cheat because I have one series on the physical shelf and one on the Nook.)
6. Marjorie M Liu
7. Kait Nolan
8. Sloan Parker (Psst, Take Me Home, a friends to lovers story, released today.)
9. Sasha White
10. Maria Zannini