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!

Halloween Reads

This time of year is by far my favourite! I get to carve pumpkins, dress up and scare kids, and hand out lolly bags. Yep, it's the fun part of the year.

It's also fun to get in and read some good horror too; and as a lot of you know, I'm a big Sai King fan. I love 'Christine' and 'Salem's Lot' as well as 'The Stand' and 'The Talisman' and 'Black House'. There's also Sai King's 'Dark Tower Series' - which I'm still up to book 4 of; if I can find it around the house! I did have it around here somewhere. Yes, it's in a safe place. And you know what happens with safe places, they turn into a wormhole; a bit like where the Tardis vanishes into every now and then.

But it's the way Sai King writes his works which pulls me in. I always feel as though we're sitting by a camp fire - or having a cup of coffee in a local cafe - and he's telling us a tall tale while we're all leaning inwards waiting with bated breath at what what will happen next!

Then, bang!

He says (writes) something which makes sure when you go to bed that night, you turn to switch off the bedside lamp, and well, you hesitate and wish you didn't have to. King's words whisper in the back of your mind and you wish you hadn't read that book - or that part of the book - this afternoon. But then, he's your favourite writer. 

Well, he's mine. And he's why I enjoy his work so much. His work has influenced how I work my own work, my own writing, as well. And you know, it's not easy to pull in an audience, to scare them, to make them feel something with just the words you write. This takes effort, emotion and letting people into your deepest thoughts and feelings - and that's harder than you'll ever think possible. 

And so my favourite Halloween reads have to do with how a book is written. I do enjoy the books I mentioned above, truly, and I've reread them a few times as well as watched the movies. However, the books are always better. And even though I have an extensive Stephen King collection, I haven't read all of them, it's just the status of owning them all which makes me want more of his written work. 

So, how about you? Who is your favourite horror author and how do they keep you coming back for more? Do you write because of them or do you just enjoy reading their work because it takes you places and scares you really good? Until my next post, happy reading and Happy Halloween.

Happy New Year!

Hey! It's 2019 and I'm happy to say that I'm getting into new and used books, and books which have been given to me, books which I've written and books which are just been sitting around my place lookin' at me, gatherin' dust...

Yep, this is the year for me to catch up on my reading and reference my arts, my cooking, my gardening... read up on what I can do with herbs, spices and how to grow plants and how to work on things with paint and drawings.

This is the year where I'll be utilising books to the full of their extent! My non-fiction section will be pulled apart, searched and read and found out about and loved - unlike in previous years - and I may even give some of it away... ya never know!

So, what are you hoping to do this year? Which books are you whale? Which books did you finish last year? Which books did you get for Christmas and have been delving into over this holiday season? What books are you going to read - as you have promised yourself over and over from the past years and have never reached up onto your bookcases and pulled down, opened that cover and fallen into those lovely printed pages of another world? 

Aah, yes! Where are you going to go this year, without actually leaving your home? 

This is what I'm asking. Do tell us. We'd all love to know. 

Holiday Reading

It's humid and rainy outside and perfect weather for reading here in Queensland; as we have our first Tropical Cyclone show up for the season... and just in time for the Christmas Comet and the meteor shower most of us got to miss due to cloud cover.

Yeah. It's a typical Christmas of storms, rain and other sticky, hot-weather stuff happening while we're trying to celebrate with food which is definitely Northern Hemisphere origin. 

But in reality, I'm looking at what I'm hoping to read over the next month or so; and while it's tempting to sit down in front of Netflix for the next few weeks, it's also just as good to grab a good book from my library and enjoy it too.

So, what have you got your nose into this Festive Time? I'm still struggling with 'The Shining' by Stephen King. However, I'm looking at reading some other books which I've overlooked in past years; some Australian authors this time. I'm looking into reading some Tim Winton, Thomas Shapcott and Janet Frame as well. 

I'm also writing a book right now. It's interesting in its theme, as it's non-fiction and not about my life or anything that boring. It's about something I've been thinking about for the past six months. Well, until my next post, happy reading!

Incomplete

Well, I didn't complete the NaNoWriMo this year. Never mind. I got to almost 30,000 words and that's something, isn't it?

When I arrived home, so much had to be done that I dropped the ball on my writing. There was so much cleaning up around the house I had to do; not to mention shopping, gardening, laundry and other things I needed to catch up on that I just forgot to sit down and get into my writing.

I also wanted to finish a painting I had started down the coast and that's always fun, you know, when you're on roll with something you've been working on. So, I finished it and now it's being hung in the Able Gallery at the Logan Artists Association as I write this, and yes, it's for sale.

This doesn't mean I'm not reading things. I'm still struggling with a few things - like focusing on 'The Shining' by Stephen King. But I think it's because I've got so much going on right now that I'm not focused enough to read anything. Oh well, can't have my cake and eat it too, right? So, how did you go in NaNoWriMo? Did you win? Or did you just participate, like I did?

Until my next post, I hope you are enjoying your Christmas shopping - or are you making your presents? Happy reading.

Haven't Been Reading

But I have been writing.

And that's a good thing. I've been writing Flash Fictions over Christmas - about Christmas - and have been working on my NaNoWriMo book from last year - and it's looking good too!

Okay, there's a few inconsistencies but I can work through them; as any good writer will tell you, we can make anything work.

I've been slogging through 'The Shining' but with this horrible heatwave, my focus just isn't on it just now. It's just not working for me... and so I'm trying to sleep more and ignore the heat.

I know that sounds terrible; but the book is next to my bed as are my reading glasses! They are right where I'd grab them when I can't sleep, but I've found myself reading the same page three times before I realise I'm not getting anywhere in the book.

So, I'm not reading - and haven't been - since this heatwave started just around Christmas, and I'm looking very forward to the time I can and will read more soon. But writing and editing my NaNoWriMo is something at least; especially seeing I'm in an air-conditioned room while I'm doing it. 

Well, that's all from me for now... how's your reading world - and writing world - going, especially after the crazy season of Christmas and New Years Eve? Mine's pretty quiet... the car's power steering died, and my little green car's at the mechanics. While she's there, I'm driving Mum's 'Green Beastie' Pajero... and it's a hell of a 4X4. Keep forgetting how much power it has. Otherwise, at least it's getting me places. 

Happy New Year!

Well, it's the first day of the new year and I'm excited!

I've been writing in the last month or so of 2017; and editing a book as well. I've also been trying to get my Mum to read 'The Tour Guide' which is a book I wrote in 2016 for NaNoWriMo - but she's yet to get in and do that. 

Might get it off her and have somebody else read it for me. I'd like to get in and do something with it.

But I've been reading lately... well, okay, in the last half of 2017, I got in and read a bit - around 6 books in 4 months; which isn't bad really. But, I really should read more this year. 
And I'm going to start with 'The Shining' by Stephen King. I started that over Christmas; and will finish it over the next month or so, as I'll plug through around 10 - 15 pages in each sitting. 

I will get through this book - then start reading 'Doctor Sleep'; the second book to it.

And then, I'll see what I can do about the Mt TBR by the door of my office; see if I can make it reduce by a little if I can. 

I have read a little bit of poetry by Robert Browning lately - through a book I bought myself for Christmas; and found I love his words. They are just so wonderfully written - as though he's writing down every thought... even if they're a bit muddled.

Otherwise, this year will be a year where I will finish books, instead of starting books and then not finishing them. 

What are you hopes to do this year in the reading stakes? Until my next post, happy reading!

Been Away On Holidays

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry I couldn't put up a post where I was because the laptop I was using has memory problems; and that means no blogging.

But I arrived home yesterday, did a spot of grocery shopping, chucked on the laundry, soaked the lawn - as it's been so darn dry here in Brisbane - and then unpacked my clothes! 

...and now? Well, I'll let you in on what I've done with my time at Brunswick Heads.

I caught up with my reading. I read over 50 pages of 'The Shining' by Stephen King! Yes, I'm up to part 3 where the Overlook Hotel is closed and Jack Torrence is beginning to fix the roof and everything seems okay.
I also got in and did some editing work on my NaNoWriMo piece. I'm on my first sweep of it and it looks great so far... but it looks like I'll be working on the chapters individually, not the whole pdf; as it just doesn't seem to make sense yet. Oh well... I'll see what happens when I do get it finished.

Then, I went op-shopping for Christmas pressies - as Brunswick Heads is chock-o-block full of op-shops and I found 2 books for my Dad. One is about Doc Hollywood - his memoirs actually; and the other is about a sea captain who was also a writer, artist and an actor! Woah! Talk about talent! But I guess we'll have to wait and see what goes on with that one, right? Well, I don't have any photos of either book as I have already cleaned them and wrapped them up and their under the tree for the day the Big Guy in the red suit shows.

So, there you have it: my 4 days away and I did really well in the reading, writing and op-shopping book-shopping stakes. Well, how are you all doing at this time of the year? Until my next post, happy reading!

Been... well... Busy

I've been busy.
I've been sick.
I've been doing a lot of things lately.

There's been so much going on that I haven't had time to turn the calendar over in the kitchen - and yet I've turned the one over in the office upstairs. How weird is that? 

Well, I'm working hard on the first Flash Fiction book - and am around five stories from finishing it off. I can't wait to get it all finished up and sent off! It's going to look great! I just hope it sells!

Then, I can sit back for a bit and see how it goes.

Otherwise, I'll begin editing the second one quietly and slowly and it'll begin again - the late nights, the afternoons zipping by and the gallons of coffee I'll consume - to get the next book finished up and done. But it may take longer as I have written other books which really need looking at. There's 'Fry Nelson: Bounty Hunter' and 'Angel Love'... and of course 'Another Quick Read'. 

Did I bite off more than I can chew? Or is this just how I like it? Most probably the latter... I'll never know until I jump in feet first and see how the water is (or is the floor made of lava today?).

Otherwise, I've been skipping out on the computer late at night; opting to settle down in the comfort of my bed and reading until I drop off to sleep at around midnight. It's lovely, and warm, and I feel so much better when I can just slot in the bookmark and turn off the light instead of spending another half hour getting ready for bed... I'm already there, relaxed after an hour of reading.

Yep, the computer can wait late at night... after two or three hours of 'Supernatural' or 'That 70's Show' or Buffy' - all on dvd - as there's nothing really worth watching on free-to-air television anymore. I love losing myself in those worlds where nothing is real and yet fiction is better than real life.

Just like a book, right?

Yep, I've been... well... busy. Until my next post, happy reading!

A New Year of Reading!

It's a New Year and I'm back!

I hope you're all back here too. 

Well, I was hoping to write here over the New Year period on Mum's laptop at Brunswick Heads, but Dad kept walking past and asking: 'You still on that?' Well, yeah... that's what a writer does after 3 days of reading a book, writing poetry and sleeping in: we jump online to see what's been going on in the world.

I did have a great time down the coast. I got in and did some reading. I read over 82 pages of 'Life After Life' by Kate Atkinson in about 3 days. So far, it's a great book. I'm looking forward to reading more of it as this author is fantastic with her descriptions.
Then, I started Chapter 4  (page 98)of 'The Haunted Bookshop' by Christopher Morley; and only got to page 108 because I really need to concentrate to read this book - and it's such an old-fashioned book that I can't just sit and read a few pages and be done with it. I have to have a couple of hours to read a good 15 pages and really get into it.

Oh well. It doesn't matter how much I got read of that, so long I got something read of it. 

I also started a poetry book I titled 'Vertical Thoughts' and got a few poems written. I also got back into journaling again - which I'm happy about. It's nice to get back into the long-winded way of writing after a year of keeping things really short. The 'Day-by-Day, Page-by-Page' journal was interesting, but I did find it very restrictive. So, to get back into writing longer posts was a relief. 

So, do tell, what have you been reading - or writing - over the Christmas and New Year period? Did you get more than one book read? Or was is all family time and no reading done at all? Until my next post, happy reading!

Re-Reading Old Favourites

I love to re-read old favourites from my collection. But then, we all do. It's something of a comfort to do this kind of thing when you really don't want to be delving into anything new right now.

A lot of the times we do this when we have had a huge thing happen in our lives. When we've been dumped by that person who we thought was 'the one', we delve into our romance novels or the favourite Stephen King novel (and imagine the person who dumped us as the first person who gets killed in it. I don't know why, but this is a comforting thing for us to do). 

But re-reading our old standards is like slipping into a comfy pair of slippers on a cold night. It's the fact you know what's going to happen in each chapter, to each character and what's going on throughout the book. It's like rewatching your favourite television series, years after it's been yanked off the air... it's nice because it's a safe place to be. It's nice to see those actors at the very beginning of their careers and see them so young.

I like re-reading 'The Stand'. It's an old favourite of mine when I just want to sit back and read something in the middle of Winter. You see, this book is set in the middle of Summer, so it pulls me out of the blues and right in the middle of a horrendous cold and flu season, which turns lethal... but it does have a good lot of twisting and turning before it turns out right - as all books do.

Re-reading your old favourites is a good thing for you. It's not that you can't move on from them, I think it's because you want to set yourself up for something different; something more and something lovely in the future. Re-reading great books - just like re-watching old tv shows - is relaxing and fun. And it's something to kick back and chill out with... it winds us down and lets us know that we don't have to be working the old imagination all the time. Until my next post, happy reading.

Christmas Holiday Reading List

Wow! It's that time of year again... you know that time, where Christmas Carols are heard pretty much everywhere and you never have enough money to do anything but buy presents for people in your family. It's either stinking hot during the day, with lightning storms in the middle of the night; or freezing cold with 6 feet of snow and closed schools and roads and no way of getting to the store.

Either way, we all have to celebrate Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, St Nicholas Day... and really, it's the biggest thing on our calendars. 

I plan ahead for presents for my family - the immediate family; as I can't afford to really buy anything for cousins and Aunts and Uncles - and so, I make sure I have my immediate family covered first. If I can score a few little presents for others, I'll do that. I buy for myself last... if I can't afford my presents, I'll get myself those presents at the After Christmas Sales. 

But what I look forward to at this time of year is reading something decent. You see, I head to the coast and chill out with a couple of books in my hands; and I'm hoping to get in and do some serious reading at Brunswick Heads while I'm here. You see, they don't really have a decent bookstore... and that's not a great thing for a place with such a colourful public library. So, I take down my own reading material.

'The Haunted Bookstore' by Christopher Morley
'Good Reading Magazine' (monthly publication)
'Life After Life' by Kate Atkinson
'Magical Thinking' by Augusten Burroughs

Yep, three books and a magazine. I'll also be taking my notebook computer to edit my novella as well which I wrote during NaNoWriMo. Otherwise, I'm hoping to get a bit of reading done during the day and editing done at night - the best time of the day to do anything is in the cool of the night. 

So, what are you going to be reading over the Christmas and New Year period, once all the overeating and celebrating is over and done with? Anything wonderful, relaxing or chilling? Or are you all going to just take a well-earned break by the pool, river or fireplace and enjoy a rest from the words on the page? Until my next post, happy reading. 

Now.... the Fiddly Part

Or is that the fun part?

It all depends on how you look at book-writing. Some people enjoy the editing and fleshing out of a book, while other detest it.

I love it.

I can fill in the details of people's lives, the feel of a city or the countryside, what they're wearing, how people stand, what colour their hair really is and how their personality really is like. It really is the fun part for me... and it also means that the word count fluctuates in huge way.

I am heading towards the 20,000 word mark and - if you count up the words on the sidebar - you'll see I'm well on my way to making my book what I hope it to be; even if it's just a little novella and not a proper novel. 

Well... I've got another few books to read over Christmas and I'll get my nose into them over the next few weeks. Until my next post, happy reading!

Easter Long Weekend

It's the 4-day weekend we all look forward to - well, most of us - and I'm wondering: what are you all up to this weekend?

Today, being Friday, I've already gotten out 3 loads of laundry, put out the rubbish, washed up and put away the reusable shopping bags and folded all the towels and put them away and it's not yet 11am. Yep, I'm an early riser today (and not by choice - as neighbours screaming at each other woke me). 

Otherwise, I'm off to lunch with an online craft group of ladies tomorrow. It's going to be lovely to catch up with them all! I can't wait.

In between my housework and socialising, I'm hoping to read some of 'The Silmarillion' by JRR Tolkien and get into looking at 'Simply Too Good To Be True 6' by Annette Sims (it's a whopper of a volume this one). And I'm hand-writing a couple of books too. 
I've been doing my one-page-per-day experiment since Christmas last year and it's turned out to be harder than I first expected. Some days I can't find the space on that one page to get out what I want to say, while other days I just can't fill the page - how weird is that? Otherwise, it's a good writing exercise on how the mind works. 
I'm also starting to write another book about living in unit complexes and apartment buildings. Seeing that all I've lived in all my life is these places, I thought to give it a try - to write about life in one of these places - and let people know what it's like to see what I've seen. I'd say the public will never see unit/townhouse complexes exactly the same way ever again; nor believe some of the stories that I'll tell.

Well, this long weekend is sure to be an interesting one. Until my next post, happy reading.

Star Wars Adjacent

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' is a huge thing right now - well, okay, it's been going on for well over 30 years; since 1977 - and it's still going.

I think I saw the first one, but was too young to remember seeing it. But by the time the next few came out, we did go and see them; and I was old enough to remember seeing them and have the Star Wars fever that accompanied them.

Now, there's an author out there who's writing books about Star Wars: Chuck Wendig. He's written a book I'm currently reading titled 'Star Wars Aftermath', and it's the first in a trilogy. I first heard about it when it came out in September - but only online. So, when I found it in a local bookstore, I jumped on it and bought it immediately. 

Very cool!

And yes, this Star Wars is everything to do with the Star Wars everyone is watching right now. I love it in every way. It's written in first person, it's filled with action, filled with page-turning adventure and passionately written! 

I haven't gotten halfway through the first book yet. 

So, while everyone is rushing around the stores looking for that last minute present for the person they forgot on their list, go out and buy this book. It's well worth it! Or better still, buy it off Amazon and get it delivered before Christmas, so you have something to dive into while everyone is in the food coma over the New Year. 'Star Wars Aftermath' by Chuck Wendig... I love it! It's got everything about Star Wars... it's adjacent to Star Wars, and it'll keep your mind and imagination ready for the next one - yes Star Wars VIII; seeing you've just see VII. Until my next post, happy reading.

What Are You Reading?

It's almost here; silly season, Christmas! The time we all put up with our family, give expensive presents after maxing out the credit card on not only those things, but also food and decorations and lights.

But this time of year is also for reading. I love catching up on those great faves of mine - clearing off a few from my Mt To Be Read... yes, that gargantuan pile of books collected over the year that i have been meaning to read, well, i try to get in and read as many of them as possible at this time of year.

i do it now before i don't get the time to during the year because life gets in the way while you're busy making other plans - so John Lennon was right about that, right?

so far this season, I've knocked over 'Revival' by Stephen King. i had the book already half-read, and i read the other half in just 2 days! i'm currently 170 pages into 'Night World - Vol 1' by J.L Smith and have read 40 pages of 'Star Wars Aftermath' by Chuck Wendig. i can't wait to get more reading done soon. so, what have you been reading - and are planning to read - during this season of Christmas? 

School Holiday Reading

It's the first week of the Spring School Holidays here in Australia, and I'm just wondering... what are you guys reading?

Okay... for you peeps in the Northern Hemisphere, it's well and truly coming into Autumn/Fall, and so do tell us all what you're getting your nose into as well.

As for me? I'm finally getting my nose into '1984' by George Orwell. I've read the first few chapters and put it down a few times, but this time, I'm determined to finish it.

Well, until my next post, happy reading!

Books-a Travellin' With Me

I love to travel and I love to read... thus meaning when I go on holidays, I take some books with me. However, I do come home with a box - or two - more in the boot of the car.

Last Thursday, I stayed overnight at a friend's house to work on a new painting and took a couple of books with me to read before bed. However that never happened - even though I put the Kurt Vonnegut bok on the bed with my glasses case next to it. Instead, I just snuggled down under the covers with my hand on the book and closed my eyes 'for a second' and crashed.

I woke up to my alarm at 6am the next morning in the dark with the book and my glasses case neatly on the floor next to my bed. My friend's husband had come in to turn off my light and found my attempt to read my book 'rather charming' and took it upon himself to make sure I didn't harm the book or my glasses case and put them onto the floor for me.  Yeah, I have great friends who know I love my books enough to not want to leave them where I'd probably damage them - or my glasses case.

But I do love to travel with my reading material so when I do get the time to read, I can just sit and read. What books to you love to take with you when you go on holidays? A bit of suspense and thrills? Or do you love being scared by some horror? Or are you at the other end of the scale where you're a big romantic? Me?  I love to read short stories and some non-fiction about writing and publishing. Until my next post, happy reading! 

Back Home, But No Computer

Hey there, readers and lovers of books, I'm back home and safely in the place I enjoy to read, collect my books and love to watch my dvds of 'Supernatural'... however, I'm not currently on my own computer.

My computer has been in the hands of my next door neighbour who I asked to look it over and it turned into a mammoth task of trying to figure out why it won't start up again - once he told me that I was hacked! So, this post is being written on their computer while they're out and about as they offered up their internet while my computer is dismembered in my home... hmmm, sounds kinda sad to hear about that; and looks it too.

Well, I had a safe drive back up the coast in my little green car.  I do miss Brunswick Heads very much, but I got so much reading done there!  As you can see from the posts I've written, I've read all the books I had planned to - and have yet to write a review on my last audio book from the last day or so of my holidays.  But worry not, it will be written over the next day or so.

So, what did you get to read over the holidays and NYE period?  Me?  Well, it was raining at the coast for a good lot of the time, so reading was called for.  And when it wasn't raining, it was boiling hot and sticky, and too boiling to go outside.  So, I was stuck inside reading.  Not bad if you ask me.  So, do tell us all, what did you read, what did you buy?  What bookstores did you discover?  Until my next post, happy reading!