Category: Discussion Post

And The Winners of the 2015 RWA Awards Were…

Posted July 27, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

May I wish a warm congratulations to all the winners of the various Romance Writers of America awards.  And may I wish an equally warm congratulations to all of the nominees as well – to my mind, as a reader, it seems an amazing thing to be nominated.

I read a lot of books, all different types of genre – so I don’t have any trouble picking up something that I’ve not tried before.  I got to thinking while watching the live stream of the awards (well, most aside from a few tech. difficulties *cringe*) ,and following the chatter over on Twitter that it might actually be fun to read and review the 2015 RWA award novels.  There’s a variety of length and genre, and best of all romance is at the center.  So that is a project to come.  But in the meantime, I’m going to list the Categories and the amazing authors who were awarded for their work this year… not only an acknowledgment of the novels and their authors, but a handy list to go by as I read and review those winners.

Here are the 2015 RWA winning authors and their novels:

Best First Book – Run To You by Clara Kensie

Contemporary Romance: Long –  Baby, It’s You by Jane Graves

Contemporary Romance Mid-Length –  One In A Million by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Romance Short –  A Texas Rescue Christmas by Caro Carson

Erotic Romance –  The Saint by Tiffany Reisz

Historical Romance: Long Romance –  Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran

Historical Romance: Short Romance –  Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Inspirational Romance –  Deceived by Irene Hannon

Paranormal Romance –  Evernight by Kristen Callihan

Romance Novella –  His Road Home by Anna Richland

Romantic Suspense –  Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

Young Adult Romance –  Boys Like You by Juliana Stone

 

And by now we all know that Carole Mortimer was awarded the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award... and so very well deserved.  Ms Mortimer is an amazing author and I have spent many years in her stories – and hope to have many more enjoyable hours with the products of her imagination.

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Caught Up In The Past – Books That Is

Posted July 24, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

book pileThe last week or so I’m finding myself picking up older novels to read.  Not even necessarily for review (but I end up reviewing them anyway) – just I seem to be drawn to novels that I missed over the recent past.  Some are authors that I’m catching up on their back lists.  Others are series that I want to get caught up in so I can continue with the current stories and not be lost.

I have to admit that my Kindle Unlimited subscription is really getting a workout lately – and I suppose the more novels I borrow and read, the better the monthly deal is, cost wise.

I have several newer releases on my Kindle and the physical bookshelf that I should be reading and reviewing — I’m simply drawn backward in time at the moment.  I’m sure it will even itself out soon, it always does.  And I can’t complain because I’m reading some amazing stories.

Wondering if I’m alone out here in my trip back in novel time.  Anyone else get caught up in reading the “should have read this years ago” syndrome too?

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So Many June 30th Releases!

Posted June 27, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

cropped-pink-reading-girl.jpgAs of this moment, I have 14 or is it 15 launch day reviews that will go live on June 30th.  There are some really, really good novels about to hit the book (or e-book) stands.

In the last few months I’ve really tried to get my reviews out on release blitz day.  Oh, they’re all written up, I could release them right now but I hesitate.  It’s true, sometimes life gets in the way and I miss a release date, and while that bothers me personally – it’s also life, ya know?  Not everything goes exactly as planned, but I’m trying my best to get as many release day reviews out as I can.

Now comes my question – mainly for authors.  Do you prefer to see reviews up for your new release the week before launch or on release day?  Which would you, not the publishing company, but would you rather see?  Does it even make a difference as long as there are tons of reviews to get the word out about your new work?

I’m simply really curious and would plan my review releases in the way an author would prefer, if at all possible.  Any feedback would greatly be appreciated.  It’s your work after all.

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Happy National Bourbon Day!

Posted June 14, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

nat bourbon day 6-14June 14th is National Bourbon Day.  Yeah, it’s true… this amazing booze has it’s own personal day of celebration.

I don’t know why – but for me when I think of bourbon I think of steamy Southern nights – a mystery – or simply sitting on the deck enjoying the sunset.

There’s no bad reason to love bourbon – after all there’s a very famous street named after it.  *wink*

Remember, enjoy National Bourbon Day – and always drink responsibly.

Cheers!

 

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Would you read Christian Grey’s viewpoint?

Posted June 3, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

Word is out that E. L. James will be releasing Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as told by Christian – just in time for his birthday on June 18th.  Here is the blurb from the Amazon page of this not yet pre-orderable item…yet.  I give you..Christian’s view:

 

Grey as told by ChristianIn Christian’s own words, and through his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.

CHRISTIAN GREY exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty – until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him – past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

I confess I probably will – we shall see what June 18th brings.

Thoughts?

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Hello June ~ Welcome Back Around

Posted June 1, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Hello-JuneThe wee hours of June 1, 2015.  The year is half over, or half is yet to come – depends on how you look at things, isn’t it?

I have a lot to accomplish this month.  And I’m certain that more will be added to that pile as the days move on.

Looking at my shelf over at NetGalley shows me I’ve some reading and reviewing to get done, but not overwhelming – at this point, anyway.  And thinking of the physical novels I bought yesterday plus the ones I downloaded from Amazon — *rolls eyes*  What was I thinking!  But, it’s okay, it will all get done, eventually.

The May ARC Sweep is ended, and I got a lot cleared out, reviewed and up-to-date, until June.  I’ll take that accomplishment and run with it.  Thanks to the Blog Ahead event, I’m doing well on scheduled posts ready to drop.  So for the two specific challenges for May – it went well and I’m satisfied with my personal results.

Speaking of Challenges – I really need to update the ones I joined back in January.  I know I’ve read the books *hangs head* – I also know I’ve been horrid about going and listing them either on the Challenge hosts blogs or on my own pages.  Something else to add to the June to-do-list.

I have definitely upped my time on Twitter this month – but still more needs to be done.  Not truly comfortable there yet, but that will come.  On my list for this month is working on Pinterest – gosh, I’ve been so bad about that.  Actually, as a shy person who usually isn’t very talkative – I haven’t done badly this past month – so I should cut myself some slack.  *grin*

I really, really need to spend more time on the genre specific blogs, and silly me, I added another one a couple days ago.  Logic says I “should” keep it all here at Keeper Bookshelf – but, I dunno.  It’s a brand that I’m working and I really should not water it down too much.  Yet I enjoy the idea of the diversity of the genre specific blogs… once I get a better handle on scheduled posts, I should not have to worry about them too much.  Time, there rarely seems to be enough time.  Aw well, again, it will get done eventually.

Anyway, enough of my mind wandering out loud here.  *sheepish grin*  Summer is upon us and I’m looking forward to complaining about humidity and high temps, you too?  Lots of novel releases to look forward to, new friends to make and brand new worlds to explore.  I’m looking forward to the chaos – I think.  *wink*

Happy June to you all – and I hope all you wish for this month comes true.

Marsha

 

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For All The Cat Lovers Out There

Posted May 29, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

I couldn’t resist.  And note to Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup?…. there are herding cats in this.  *wink*  Have Fun – Just Enjoy

Top Cat Commercials – you know you wanna take a moment and just laugh.  😉

 

 

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A Memorial Day Truth

Posted May 20, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

While we in the USA make our plans for the upcoming Memorial Day 3 day weekend – I’d like to put this meme graphic out there as a reminder.

To all who have served our country – thank you.  To all of their families, friend and employers who made that possible – thank you.  To all who serve and protect in any capacity – thank you.  God Bless you all.

memorial day truth

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Mini-Blog Ahead Results

Posted May 16, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 4 Comments

mini blogahead 400May Mini-Blog Ahead May 1-14 at Anna’s Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

Wheeew!  Finally done.  And much more successful than I originally thought I’d be, which is a very good thing to discover.

I was able to:

1.  Get some memes done or set up for 6 months in advance.

2.  Put together 8 discussion posts that will drop once a month, so far

3.  Finished 10 non-NetGalley reviews (owned books) to hit on those days I normally don’t review

4.  Made plans to now move this mini-blog ahead idea over to Haunted Bookshelf and work it on that paranormal blog of mine  (with the idea to do that on the others, in time, as well)

So, Anna ~ thank you so much ((virtual hug)) for helping get my butt in gear and a bit more organized for the near future.  I can see myself taking a day a week to work on keeping up with this idea, and that is an amazing help to me.  I jumped into this with a little train’s attitude of “I think I can, I think I can, oh how crazy is this but I think I can” —- and it worked.  So.  Thank you.  🙂

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