Long Time! But First...

 Hi there. First off, I've got huge apologies to make. 

I haven't been able to write on here for a long time due to my health being awful. Since 2020, I started out being okay - with Covid making the world a really strange place to live, we all had to be a little kinder, a little more patient, a little more interactive in our own homes.

But then, in 2021, I got the vaccine and had an adverse reaction to it and my health declined from there. First my appendix came out - and I had a pile of books to read but that went by the weigh-side when I caught an infection with caused me to not want to do any reading and feel nothing but sick all the time. Then, my immune system crashed on me - no thanks to the gut infection I caught at the hospital.

So, I've been struggling with my immune system and trying to stay well. 

This year, I caught Covid - a flu - for the first time in my life I caught something I had no control over. And it wiped me out. After that I have been catching all kinds of weird things.

But I'm back into reading. 

I've been looking at my Stephen King collection and jumped in feet first with what I've missed out on. And the first book I read was an oldie but a goodie:

'Cycle of the Werewolf' by Stephen King

A brilliantly-written, early book by the King of Horror. Not a thick book - unlike his usual works - but I loved it. It's a quick read and went under a different title to begin with ('Silver Bullet') and I believe it was made into a film (I'm not sure) and there's great illustrations as well. I love it as a quick read and do recommend it as something for somebody who doesn't want to get bogged down into his bigger works.

'Duma Key' by Stephen King

As a newer work, I didn't know what to expect out of this one. But seeing I'm an artist, as well as a writing, I was completely under this books spell by the end of chapter one. It was about a man who was an amputee and had been through a huge physical and mental change in his life - as well as marital - and he was suggested to move himself to a different place complete and start his life over.

Boy! Did he ever do that! And this guy moved to Duma Key in Florida just to get a fresh start. So, he rented a house for a year and found that his prior love for art came in handy as well for the times he wanted that escape - but the house 'Big Pink' was doing some strange things to him at night and during storms. And he found his paintings were spell-binding in more ways than one. Some of them were filled with murder as well... 

'Joyland' By Stephen King

Nothing like a Summer job to earn some money, right? Well, yeah, kinda. But throw in a couple of carnies who have hidden pasts and a disabled kid and his Mum who doesn't trust anyone and a carnival which is on the verge of closing down, and one guy in who runs the Ferris Wheel who doesn't seem to take his gloves off no matter what the weather and you've got a young man who is about to crack a serial killer murder mystery wide open.

'Later' By Stephen King

This book was weird. There are stories on stories in it, written from the young kid's point of view and once you got through it, you wanted to read it again. Not only can the kid talk to dead people, but he can open portholes into other dimensions - which his mother seems to hate that he can do, and tries to discourage him from doing. But her best friend - who is also a cop (and not a good one either) wants him to push himself to do the best his can do with his new powers... why? Well, because she's greedy (like most Humans), but it ends ugly - as always - in a lot of ways.

'Fairy Tale' by Stephen King

In this great book, there's a teenaged boy, a single Dad, an old man, a viscous-looking dog named Radar, and a huge, old, crappy house with a hut in the backyard which leads to another world. The old man gets sick, and the teenaged boy helps him, the dog turns out to be nice, and the hut? Well, it's something you'll have to read, otherwise you won't believe me about it. There's love, hate, adventure, greed, and sadness. You'll hurt, and cry over this book. I loved it so much I gave my copy away to a friend's son for his 21st Birthday... and bought myself another copy, so he could enjoy it.

So, there are the books I've read this year so far. I'm currently reading 'Cell' by Stephen King and enjoying it. And it's as creepy as it can get with this book. I hope you enjoy reading books as much as I do.

Again I apologise for the long wait between posts. 

Happy Reading!

Busily Writing - Finally

 Every November, almost on schedule, I tend to get the best ideas and I'm jumping on the computer and writing them down.

This year is no different. I've been taking part in National Novel Writing Month since 2015, and it's been fun and interesting for me to do it. There's different badges you can accomplish, NaNoWriMo camps you can go to - a virtual on this year - and groups to take part in as well. However, I'm one of those to usually take things like this on my own. And you know, since I was young, I was always better working on my own than in a group. 

I had better ideas, could think them out, work them out and execute them in a better manner on my own, than if I was in a group. Groups made me feel as though I was inferrior somehow. But if I was on my own, I made up my own rules and could work through the problems which cropped up, without anyone confusing me, battling against me or locking horns with me about my ideas. Okay... I may not have been the most confident person around at school, but when I did try to put forward my ideas, other kids poo-pooed them in a horrible way: 'Yeah, yeah... don't think so.' without even hearing my idea. So, in the end I'd just keep my mouth shut and they'd tell the teachers I 'was no help.'

Thus why I work better on my own... even when I'm doing NaNoWriMo. I get in, do my work and then see how far I get with the book-writing. It's a quiet, lonely and enjoyable kind of thing for me. And with the pandemic, it's something which makes my work even more enjoyable.

In the first week, I passed 25,000 words! Oh yeah, I was kicking butt in the word count - but I crashed and burned in myself. I didn't take care of myself and ended up falling asleep in front of my television at 8pm at night by the weekend. Yeah, that's not good, is it?  But once you hit that 25,000 words, in the first week, you can take your time with the other 25,000 words... yeah, I've figured out that much with this. 

And the book I'm writing is fun! There's magic, warlocks, demons, two young kids who find love in the oddest places, gargoyles and ... well, it's very cool. I enjoy something which kinda writes itself. I've just thrown my characters in and let them go with it - and that's the fun part of writing, letting the characters do the story-telling. 

So, how are you doing with your NaNoWriMo? Are you taking part this year? If so, is it going well? If not, why do you think that's so? Until my next post, Happy Reading and Writing!

A Nano of a Blog

 This year, I decided to be different... and I created a NaNoWriMo blog, so if you want to follow along with the chapters I've written, you can. 

Just follow this link, and you'll find it:

NaNoWriMo 2020

Enjoy, and comment if you wish.

Remember, the chapters and writings are a first draft, full of mistakes and problems and are written out in a rush - but lots of fun. They are not finished, and you'll get a taste of what I'll be doing with them in about a month or so after I've fiddled with a few of them, and reposted them... :D

NaNoWriMo Around The Corner!

 Well, it's that time of year again, where we all sit down for a whole month and write a 50,000 word book! Yep, it sounds easy, but it's not really.

We get the idea in our minds and no matter how much prepping, research and brainstorming we do, sometimes, it's just too difficult to get out those words every day.

But then, you might be the prolific writer who can hit those scores of words without trying; and hey, lucky you! Personally, I've never really been able to sit down and set myself a number to hit and do that... I know that sounds weird but really I find it kinda morbid to do that.

So, just like every year I've been in this - my 4th year this year - I'm going to do my very best and see if I can get past the 50,000 word mark. And you know? I did not have a single clue what I was going to write until last night, when I had the weirdest, out-there dream which turns out to be the best story idea I've had in a very long time.

And no, I'm not discussing it with you guys - my rule number 1 is to not tell anyone about anything I'm writing or thinking of writing about. I'm not worried about it being stolen, I just don't like sharing my ideas I'm working on or thinking about.

Anyway, I hope you have a good time with NaNoWriMo this coming month and best of luck writing your book. Until my next post, happy reading and writing. 

Late Night Scribblings

In the past few weeks, I've gone out and bought myself a brand spankin' new tablet! Yep, it's gorgeous little thing, and I love it. My phone made friends with it and digitally moved everything I wanted to move everything from it to the tablet over... so cute and yet so... very, um... 2001 Space Odyssey. Yep, it felt as though Hal was right there in my Mum and Dad's house taking over my devices and I had no control.

Okay, it wasn't really that bad. But I watched it to this and it was really creepy.

Anyway, it's been a few weeks, and at night, after I've finished watching my regular shows on television, I'll turn on the tablet and start writing on the Notebook app I moved across from my phone. I've decided to try to write my life story - again. It's interesting what happens when you try this kind of thing and take it from a totally different perspective. 

This time, I'm just writing about things I remember clearly, and putting in my own opinions of them. It's kinda like automatic writing, but I've put in some feelings and I'll fill it out more when the time comes to putting it onto the computer. 

You know, I can't wait until this second part happens. It's something I do enjoy - the fleshing out part - as it brings the story to life. Right now, though, I'm just writing what comes to mind, and it'll work out for the moment.

So, what are you getting yourself into? I'm also reading a book my brother bought me in India when him and his girlfriend were travelling overseas earlier this year. He found a book by Mahatma Gandhi - two volumes in one! How great is that? I've read the introduction and am up to chapter one. I'm reading a bit at a time in the afternoons. Until my next post, happy reading and writing!

Reading and Writing

It's been a while since I last wrote; and there's a good reason: I don't really have much to write about... well, not until now. 

I've been sorting through my written work and put the finished books and works onto a flash drive where I can edit them and sort through them and get them ready to publish. I have found this much easier on how I've been finding my writing lately.

Then, I have begun reading a funny book titled: 'Wicked Appetite' by Janet Evanovich. I have got most of her series of funny crime books which are numbered with witty titles; but I haven't read them yet. I'm that kind of person where I have to have the whole, completed series before I can read it. I know that sounds weird, but it's how I can go from one book to the next easily.
Well, I've been reading this 'Wicked Appetite' book and have been getting some good laughs while reading it, simply because it's so easy to read - and I've seen the movie based on 'One For the Money'.

Well, that's what I've been doing in my reading and writing life at the moment. I'll be doing a lot more soon as time goes on. Until my next post, happy reading and writing.

Not Much Going On

I haven't been in here much, mainly because there's not much going on with my reading. I haven't read any books while in isolation - but... I have begun writing again.

I've been getting a new book together, and with the help from a fellow writer, I've been pulling my ideas together and writing it little by little.

It's not easy when I'm normally writing a lot of imaginative works over the past few years so easily. So, what I'm doing - when I'm stuck - is going back over my older work, which isn't edited yet, and reading over it. This gets met into the writing mood.

If you're a writer, what do you do to get yourself into your writing mood? Do you read over your old work, do you meditate? Do you listen to loud heavy metal (like I've heard Stephen King does)? Or do you go for a long walk with a notebook - seeing we're permitted to do that now. 

Yes, this Covid-19 is really taking our most-loved privileges away from us, isn't it? At least it's not taking away my love of my books and writing from me... or my painting. 
Truthfully, I think it may be that my social life is gone that I can't write what I want to. I know that sounds weird, but when I don't get out to where I want to, in the way I used to, it effects the way I write. 

How about you? Has this virus affect your life this way too? Until my next post, Happy Reading and Writing.

Reading or Writing Time in Isolation!

So, it's been a few months since Corona Virus has hit this planet in a big way, and we're all going a little bananas in our homes.

So far, we've probably become very accustomed to washing our hands for 20 seconds every 20 minutes... which really drives me around the twist, but I understand it.

I've wiped down all my books - no matter how long they've been in my house; they're squeaky clean. And recently, the computer has seen more company than I have with computer people coming to look at it and the inside of it more than they were talking to me... yeah, my computer had a better social life than my wheelie bin and me put together!

And still the computer didn't work by week five of me being home. I ended up taking it to a guy who I Googled about over breakfast this week - and I had never heard of, but his reviews were fantastic.

Anyway, the computer is back on track, and so am I. And this is why I've been off-line with my blogs for so long. I'm really sorry about this. Anyway, I hope you can all forgive me.

I hope you're all going okay with the lock downs around the world, and keeping up your reading and writing. I've been trying to think of what to write... let alone read; as my focus is still not complete here since my friend died. But I'm getting new ideas for stories, and writing them down. So, that's a good thing - that I'm not completely done for, right? 

Well, I hope you're doing better than I am. I haven't read any more books since 'David Boring', but I am looking at what to read next... and it might be something Stephen King wrote way back in the 70's (no, not 'The Stand' - too close to home and way too creepy to read right now). 

Hey, why don't you guys let us all know what books you've read so far this Isolation time, while you've all had the time to read. I know a lot of us aren't sleeping well either - which is a good time to get in and read too. Until my next post, happy reading - or writing!

Isolation Reading Time

As the world goes into lockdown, it seems that Australia is way behind in doing what is right.

But a lot of us are voluntarily staying home - and I'm one of them. I have a medical condition which would make it easy for that virus to enjoy itself in my system; and it would do some real damage to me.

The libraries are empty of books because the government closed them all on Monday - and gave members up to 3 months to read them all. I have my own home library and it's all the books I'd ever want to read in my lifetime; which is a great thing, seeing I now have the time to do all the reading I want to do.

But I also want to do some writing and editing as well; as I wrote a book while I was house sitting at my brother's house. And it really needs a good look at... and seeing the virus is spreading quickly, it's advisable to stay at home.

It'd be great to know which books you've been reading since January - when the virus broke out - and which books you're up to. So far, I've read:

'David Boring' by David Clowes - Graphic novel.

I'm working my way through other books right now, and I'm also writing books as well. Until my next post, happy reading.

Social Impact On LIbraries

As the impact of the Corona Virus hits home for all of us, we have to really feel awful for the workers around the world who have been told to stay home - or have been laid off from workplaces; in particular, libraries which are closing up around the globe.

For some of these libraries, it's the first time in over a century - and for others, it's the first time ever. 

I used to frequent libraries on a regular basis, however, over the past decade I became a germaphobe and just can't stand the places - which caused me to form my own library at home of over 2,000 books. I'm pleased to say that all of my books are either brand new or second-hand (which are wiped clean with sanitiser when I arrive home before being added to the collection) and it does feel great to have a collection of what I want to read here in my house. Do you have a collection of books where you are? 
I do think that if you have your own library at home, it keeps your sanity? I most certainly do! It's something in a way of keeping in contact with the mind of other people through the written word. Music does the same thing - and that's why I have an extensive music collection as well.

Well, if you wish, please do drop a comment below and tell us all how you're doing in this global crisis. We'd love to hear about your reading commitments right now. How many books have you read so far? Are you well? Are you self-isolating? And most of all: are you okay? Until my next post, happy reading.

New Books and Old

It's a New Year and a new decade, and there's so much going on in my life right now. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to get in and read.

Last year, was dreadful for me - as was the year before. But I've been reading a couple of books over Christmas and it's been good for me to slow down and get into them. 

How about you? What books have you been getting your nose into lately? Or have you been hanging out with family and friends more? If you've been doing the latter, hey that's cool too. 

Well, until we all return back to the normal stations in our lives, I thought to tune into here and let you know what I'm currently reading:

'The Institute' by Stephen King
'The Secrets of the Monarch' by Allison Dubois. 

The second one is explaining a lot about my grief I've been working through during the past two years. And so, it's been good for me to read it. Well until my next post, happy reading.

Christmas Reading

Okay... it's a little before that crazy, weird time of year where we just simply won't have time to ourselves. We'll be out and about visiting family (or will we?) and we're blowing out the credit cards just to keep our kids and family happy.

But when the days come to an end, we all settle down into bed and pull out the reading glasses to read before the lights go out, and I'd love to know what you all get your noses into at this time of year.

Do you read a little bit of horror from Stephen King and Peter Straub. Or do you get into some Polly Evans? Or are you into Janet Evanovich and her witty, sassy look at crime-solving?

Right now, I'm reading two books - yeah, I love a challenge. I'm reading 'The Institute' by Stephen King. I bought this one at Target 'Country' for $16.00 at Ocean Shores, Northern New South Wales while I was on holidays there. At first, I was going to wrap it up and put it under my tree as a pressie for myself... but then, I began to read it, and just couldn't put it down!
The second one I'm reading is 'Secrets of the Monarch' by Allison Dubois. Now, I have three of her books, and found she's easy to read. But I'm reading them backwards. This is the book I should be reading last... oh well. It's a good read, and she makes sense too. She's not a heavy-handed writer either which is good for me at this time of year.

Anyway, I hope you're reading some great works right now, even while you're catching up with family at the same time! Until my next post, Merry Christmas, and happy reading!