reading
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Excerpt: A Hundred Pages
These days I really have been procrastinating edits by writing short stories. I’m not sure what I’ll do with them all, but some I am really happy with; I will be sharing excerpts. I don’t know how long all of them will be, and most will probably be serialized. Briony’s story is still in progress,…
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3 Reasons I Want to Read Slowly
A while back, I was obsessed with learning to speed-read. I tried all these iPhone apps that supposedly help you read faster. I timed myself whenever I opened a book. I gave up on those weird apps almost at once, but over time did learn to speed-read. Though I’m not the fastest reader I know,…
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Book Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Much has been said about Me Before You. While some people loved it, others disliked the premise enough to boycott the book. I tried reading with a neutral mind, but that didn’t save me from the heartbreaking conclusion. It felt like a punch to the gut, even though the whole time I suspected how the story would end.…
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Book Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
What if there was a character who wanted to escape the pages of his book? How far would he go to live among readers? Between the Lines tells the story of Prince Oliver, who wants to do just that. He’s lived in a book for as long as he can remember, and doesn’t see magic…
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5 Acceptable Ways to Procrastinate Editing
Experienced writers know their work isn’t through after the first draft. The opposite is true: Your first draft is the beginning of a long, tedious cycle. Quality work comes from months of writing, editing, and rewriting. Most of a writer’s stress emerges in the editing phase. If done without pause, editing can make you sick.…
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Book Review: Unrivaled by Alyson Noel
Success can be a vicious game. Unrivaled by Alyson Noel follows three young people participating in a competition to best promote the hottest new clubs in downtown LA. They all hope to win best promoter and use their victories to pursue other ambitions. None of them could foresee how fiery the race would become. Aster,…
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Book Review: Char by Kristina Wojtaszek
I accepted a review copy of Char, having been told beforehand that it was a good read. I think I expected it to be a good read anyway, because I love stories about faeries. The book did not disappoint me; I was excited to read this book and see what I’d find. It was an…
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Book Review: Under the Trees by Ashley Maker
Desperate to prevent an abusive arranged marriage, Princess Araya flees to a neighboring kingdom, only to land at the mercy of the impulsive Crown Prince Thoredmund, who provides refuge in a secluded forest and teaches her survival skills. Her surprise at the unexpected hold the prince has on her heart mirrors his shock at falling…
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Book Review: Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Ship of Magic sweeps us into a world of pirates and sailors, traders and sea serpents. Don’t let the length of the story frighten you: There’s hardly a dull moment in this novel, the first installment of Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders trilogy. It’s crafted with so much care, I found it difficult to tell who…
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Review: Be Your Own Fairy Tale by Alison Davies
From the beginning, Be Your Own Fairy Tale looked promising—a book any lover of magic and dragons ought to have on their shelf. With lovely illustrations, it was impossible to ignore; however, it wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would offer more in-depth history of fairy tales, introducing undiscovered gems. Instead, Be Your Own Fairy Tale…
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Authors Ridge: A Resting Place for Storytellers
Surfing the Internet years ago, I learned of a place in Concord, Massachusetts called Authors Ridge. It’s a corner of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery; if the mention of Sleepy Hollow doesn’t bring to your mind the Headless Horseman, don’t worry. The symbolism behind Authors Ridge deepens. This is a place where several greats of literature are…
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Review: After Alice by Gregory Maguire
Written by a master storyteller, After Alice might be the richest Alice in Wonderland retelling available if you’re looking for lyrical writing and elaborate description. I wanted to quote every other sentence or store it away in my memory, hoping Maguire’s genius might rub off. The plot, however, is okay at best. Our main character, Ada,…
Mariella Hunt & the Tearoom 