Recommended Reading - December 2013

Well, December saw the end of The 2013 Goodreads Challenge, and I am thrilled to say I accomplished my goal of reading 100 books in 2013. I also learned a few things along the way….

The challenge was a great reminder of how much I love to read. I'd gotten lazy - leaving the TV on, checking email more than necessary, surfing the web. The challenge brought me back to my books and my books back to me.

But toward the end of the challenge, reading started to feel a little like homework, and that I didn't care for at all. So, for The 2014 Goodreads Challenge, I'm going to aim for 85 books to give myself a little wiggle room, a little time and space to maybe get up off the couch and go outside…without a book in hand. Gasp!

*****

Total Books Read in December:  12

Total Books Read in 2013: 101

Standouts:

Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson - If I was going to go all geek fangirl on an author (okay, another author), it would be Ms. Jackson. This novel is a love story taken to another level, offering up love in different forms - hopeful and hopeless - and baring its complexities, including its rawness and its sharp edges, its softness and its strength.

*****

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley - This novel is a great reminder of how, when those cracks develop in the foundation of our lives, of our families, they're so easily and insidiously filled in with lies and secrets and silences. I'm a big fan of Ms. Buckley's first novel, The Things That Keep Us Here, and this one has all the same tension, suspense and deep family dynamics.

I received an ARC through the BookBrowse First Impressions program.
The novel will be available February 2014.

*****

Swimming in the Moon by Pamela Schoenewaldt - I'm a sucker for good historical fiction and this second novel by Ms. Schoenewaldt did not disappoint. We're immersed in Lucia's world whether it's in Naples or in Cleveland, the villa or the boarding house, the vaudeville stage or the union hall. Lucia is a true heroine, one you will root for, cry with, and cheer on with every turn of the page. And the ending - even though you'll need tissues - is perfect.

*****

And speaking of tissues . . . .

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Must. Have. Tissues. Handy. That's all I'm going to say about this one since I am late coming to this novel, there's already been a ton of reviews and there's a movie in the works.

*****

Have you read any of these Standouts? Will any of them make your To Be Read list in 2014? What have you read lately that you've loved? Taking part in any reading challenges this year?

'Tis More Blessed Giveaway: WINNERS!

Last week, I participated in Milo James Fowler's 'Tis More Blessed Giveaway, where I raffled off two copies of my flash fiction collection, The People We Used to Be.

The tortoises were in charge of picking the winners. Here's what happened….

As you can see, Larry went at this with the same gusto he has when attacking a basil plant. Mrs. Larry? Not so much.

Once Larry picked a name, we moved him away so Mrs. L could pick a winner. But apparently, she had no desire to be involved in something as pedestrian as a raffle and thus, she turned her nose up at the whole affair.

So, we let Larry pick the second winner, since he obviously has no qualms about participating in games of chance.

And the winners are - 

JULIE

and

MICHELLE

If you send your email addresses to Madeline Mora-Summonte (at) hotmail (dot) com, I'll get The People We Used to Be out to you ASAP. I hope you enjoy reading it!

IWSG: Does Lightning Ever Strike Twice?

Visit HERE for more information

It never fails. In December, I look at my NaNo draft and think. "Did I really just spend a whole month writing this…drivel?" (I actually use a different word but this is a relatively family-and-tortoise-friendly blog.) Then I start thinking about all the other things I could have, should have, done instead, and I want to throw away the whole manuscript and all the notes I can't read and that make no sense. For example: "The bag is gone!" Whaaaat? What bag? Whose bag? Is that even what it says or could it actually be "The dog is gone!" or "The bag is bone!" Knowing me, that "bone" one makes more sense….)

But I think what hangs me up the most is that every year I look at the NaNo draft as potentially "THE ONE" - the novel that will get me an agent, a publisher, great reviews, loyal fans, etc. That's a lot of pressure to put on a pile of paper and a half formed - at best! - story. Part of that comes from my first ever NaNo experience - many, many years ago - when I did actually snag an agent with that revised manuscript. Nothing ever came of it though, and the agent and I parted ways amicably.

But I continue to see many published authors saying their newly published novel was a 2008, 2009, 2011 NaNo project. I worry that the lightning won't strike twice for me. I wonder what I'm doing wrong. 

But then I look at that pile of paper, and I think the time was well spent after all. I met some interesting people in those pages, and I rode some interesting roller-coaster plot twists.  

And really, what else was I going to do in November anyway? Clean my house? Yeah, right.

'Tis More Blessed - Giveaways!

Last month, author Milo James Fowler started his Creepy Freebies giveaways. It turned out to be such a huge success, he decided to keep the concept going into December. So, here we are!

Every Friday in December, some of your favorite blogging buddies and authors are giving away all kinds of literary goodies - books, ebooks, short stories, collections. 

As a reader, I'm excited. I can't wait to enter some of these giveaways!

As a writer, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to give away a copy of The People We Used to Be on Friday, December 20th. (Even the tortoises are prepping to pull that name out of their food dish!)

*** For all the details, head on over to Milo's blog. ***