Category: Discussion Post

A Reader’s View of the RWA Implosion

Posted December 29, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Before any other words are typed:  I am a reader above everything else, a reader of many genres but mostly Romance in one form or another.  I’m not “Just” a reader for my thoughts have as much validity as anyone else’s.  And, yes, I am a book review blogger – a small blog where I get enjoyment from sharing my thoughts about the various books that I read.  But, today, I’m writing this post as a reader for, at the heart, that is what I honestly am.

December 23rd/24th is a time that will live on in my memory for it was the beginning of such eye-opening experiences that I’m still grappling to put them into some order.  At that time author, Courtney Milan was handed down a harsh sentence by the RWA (Romance Writers of America) because simply put. she dared to call out the racist mess that was another author’s book written in the 1990s and reissued recently.  Ms. Milan has been a champion of/for marginalized authors as she is bold, brave, and tireless in calling out people on their BS.  You can (if you somehow have missed this implosion) look over the events from the beginning by logging onto Twitter and going to @CourtneyMilan.  An excellent post about The Implosion of the RWA can be found at this text link, the timeline says it all really.  Or do a simple Google search, it will not be difficult to find.

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Still Missing the Most Bad Assed Princess of All – Carrie Fisher

Posted December 27, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

On the anniversary date of one of the biggest losses in the entertainment industry – to me.  I’m just going to leave this here with the memories of one amazing woman running through my mind.

Carrie, you are sorely missed.

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually, the confidence will follow.” – Carrie Fisher 1956-2016

“No one is ever really gone.”

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Thank Goodness This Week Is A Wrap! #1

Posted November 23, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

In the six years (or so I forget the exact day I officially started the blog) that I’ve been reading and sharing my thoughts about those stories through reviews, I’ve never done my own “Wrap-Up” posts.  I don’t actually know why.  Perhaps early on I thought I was too new for anyone to be the least bit interested in, I dunno.  I do know that I’ve a check-list of things I intend to change or add next year and a Wrap-Up was part of that.  Yet today – well, after the week it’s been around here I figured why wait?  Just jump in and see how it flies.  🙂

To be frank, the blog suffered this past week — and a nasty, contagious, insidious stomach virus is at the heart of the bad stuff of this week.  This bug ran through my family and friends for a week now (and counting) and it’s only this morning that I’m starting to feel somewhat human again.  Somewhat – the day’s not over yet.

Fortunately, I’d read quite a bit in the days right before this hit so I could get out a few reviews, and scheduled reviews are a life-saver I hope you know that and use them well.  My scheduled posts are winding down for the year, and this is a really good wake up call to keep up with that scheduling.  I’ll be writing like crazy this weekend trying to get caught up a bit (and I hope it doesn’t come across as spammy to those who get email notifications) but honestly, I’m behind and these books need their reviews up right now.  I’m a fast reader and a note-taker, so I’ll soon be where I should have been all week – I just hate dropping in all those reviews at once.

The saddest realization of this crazy, messed-up week?  I haven’t cracked the Kindle cover on a single title that I BOUGHT!!  Not One.  There’s been no time for pleasure reading – and I seriously think that’s something that has to be added to that list of changes for 2020.  Sometimes it’s the craziest things that make you sit back and go “Hmmm… that needs to change.”  Well, I certainly got that wake-up call in November.  It’s probably too late for 2019 but the planning for 2020 isn’t done yet so there’s time and hope.

My week has been crazy, fighting a stomach virus, trying to do something normal like wash clothes but for the most part it was a wash of a week spent mostly in naps and quick moments of activity (until the exhausted hit and then back to the naps).  I hope yours was so much better.  🙂

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It’s Time To Be Thinking COYER Winter 2019!

Posted November 10, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Yeah, it’s early but then December is right around the corner so if you love getting involved in the COYER events well — December 1, 2019, to March 7, 2020, is now ready to take off!

You can access the sign-up page through that graphic over there <– OR using this link COYER WINTER WITH FRIENDS 2019.

Be sure to check out the rules in this year’s event, there are a couple of additions, a bit of a twist so head over to that sign-up page to get all the details.  I have so many books on my e-reader that easily qualify as free, under $2 (usually those 99¢ deals) that I just haven’t found (read that as made) the time to get to… so this is the perfect time for me.  I’ll bet for you, too.

Hmmm… one book to recommend – cost, age of the book doesn’t count for this one, but this is truly hard because there are so very many.  Okay, I’m going to go with LOST AND FOUND SISTERS by Jill Shalvis.  It’s heartbreaking, heartwarming, a touch of real life, and that unique bond that sisters truly have (even when they don’t think so).  That’s my choice.

I’ll be putting together my list of the books on my Kindle that I really want to get read for myself and for this event.  I’ll update this post when I’ve got that list complete – accountability I’m finding is my friend, even if I’m only accountable to myself (and my written words). 🙂  Have fun with the COYER Winter with Friends event!

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So Many Christmas Titles!

Posted November 5, 2019 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Discussion Post / 0 Comments

 

I’ve spent the weekend reading Christmas books, most for NetGalley reviews, but a few just for me.  And yet… that pile of Christmas Romances doesn’t seem to be getting any smaller.

In fact, I might have added to it since new releases have come out in November that, well, I needed.  You understand, right?

So now I’m looking at so many stories that I want to read – so many I need to read to fulfill commitments (enjoyable obligations I might add) and wondering how in the world I’m gonna get them all read before the end of the year.  *sigh*

How’s your Christmas reading working out?  Never enough?  Or… I love them but I’m getting too many!  Me?  I’m somewhere in-between, but I march onwards for I know there are even more releasing in December!  🙂

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Happy National Cat Day! My Leia

Posted October 29, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Let’s start today off with a celebration — Happy National Cat Day to my Leia and all the cuteness that is, well… cats, kittens.  I’d include tigers, lions, cougars, panthers, lynx, leopards – after all, they’re just bigger versions of cats, right?  🙂

Here is Leia looking cool but annoyed at being woken from a nap by some “human” taking a picture of cuteness.  Annoyed, Leia simply stretched and went back to sleep.  Ah, the life of a pampered cat.  🙂

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Fraterfest Wrap-Up for 2019

Posted October 15, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

October is almost here which means so are all the Halloween decorations, candy, costumes and… the 2019 edition of Fraterfest over at Caffeinated Reviewer!

Love Horror stories, do you escape with some Paranormal adventures, devour Shifter Romance or any other supernatural setting?  Then you’ll want to check out this five (5) day Readathon for fun, to discover some new authors, new blogs and maybe a prize along the way.  What’s not to love about that idea?

UPDATE:  Well, it’s the 15th and Fraterfest will be winding down today (until hopefully next year).  (I have one more book that I “might” get finished today – but no promises ‘cos life happens, ya know?) I had fun – I certainly wasn’t looking to win prizes, I simply wanted to be part of the book community by taking part in more events… and get back into my Paranormal Cozy Mystery addiction.  🙂

So my Paranormal Cozy Mystery books were a surprise to me.  I found one series that I will definitely continue with (I’ve read the author’s other series and had fun).  The rest of the titles were probably one time “test the water” reads that I enjoyed at the time but have no compelling need to return to that world.  Actually, that kinda makes me sad because I was hoping to add to my repeat read list by adding some new to me authors.  It didn’t happen this time around.

Books on my list this year:

  1.   DEADLY SPELLS AND A SOUTHERN BELLE by Amy Boyles (this is the one series I’ll continue)
  2.   This series I’ll not be continuing but the story was fun:  WITCH MYTH YEW HOLLOW by Alexandria Clarke
  3.   KICKSTART MY WITCH by Lotta Smith is one I “might” pick up the second story and see if it “clicks” with me.

And I don’t think I’ll finish the 4th in time.  The links above will take you to the review posts here at Keeper Bookshelf.  In all, I had fun and that was the point.

 

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Task It Tuesday Update – Well, sorta kinda

Posted October 8, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

January 1st looms and I immediately start making plans to do “whatever” better next year.  You, too?  I think it’s a contagious leftover mindset from getting ready for the holidays and all I didn’t get done.  Anyway.  I had plans to keep up with the monthly Task It Tuesday! over at Because Reading — it sounded like a great way to get better organized, and do I ever need that in my life.

And then life got in my way, both reviewing life and the other, the real everyday life.  And, well, things did not go as intended.  But… I did get some things better organized and will simply have to work on better habits going forward.

I managed to keep up with –

  • Combining or deleting categories from my blog
  • Streamlining the “tags”/shelves I use most often on Goodreads (that was getting out of control)
  • Keeping better track of books I’ve actually purchased (not on the one day TBR) — now if I could just get those books read and or reviewed on a better schedule
  • Using Google Calander more efficiently

I think of what I’ve managed to get a better handle on using the Google Calander is the best all-purpose reminder that I have.  I keep track of release dates, review due dates, when to read to get that review up in a timely fashion, purchased books, pre-ordered books… and even a reminder to water my poor plants that often are screaming for a drink of water.  It’s not perfect, things still slip through the cracks in life but it’s better – and I’ll gladly take that.

I haven’t done as well with Task It Tuesday! as I had wanted – but I’m not really disappointed either for I have made changes, and will continue to streamline my blogging routine.  I will definitely do better next year, for yes, I’m a glutton for punishment (mental) and I’ll do this again in 2020.  But for now, I’m good with what I’ve done.  I’ll update again the end of the year but as long as I keep this schedule/habit I should be on a good track to add more in the future.

So, how about you?  Have you made better blogging/real-life habits this year?  Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t kept up – life happens.  Picking myself up and beginning again is a habit I hope I never give up on.  🙂

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It’s Time To Get Ready for Fraterfest 2019!

Posted September 27, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

October is almost here which means so are all the Halloween decorations, candy, costumes and… the 2019 edition of Fraterfest over at Caffeinated Reviewer!

Love Horror stories, do you escape with some Paranormal adventures, devour Shifter Romance or any other supernatural setting?  Then you’ll want to check out this five (5) day Readathon for fun, to discover some new authors, new blogs and maybe a prize along the way.  What’s not to love about that idea?

While I devour Shifter Romance over at my Shifter Haven blog year-round, I’m going to be doing some catching up on Paranormal Cozy Mysteries for this Readathon.  I’ve gotten sadly behind in the cozies so now’s the perfect time to get back into some magical happenings.

But no matter what your favorite scary genre is I’m sure you’ll find some fun entertainment with this Readathon.  The link to the signup page is through the graphic over there <– or that link up above.  Come on – have some fun this Halloween with a good scary book.

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The Christmas Romance Releases Are Coming!

Posted September 12, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

It’s the most wonderful time of year — well, it will be for the rest of the world in a few months.  For those of us who review books, September is the beginning of the Christmas book rush where tons of holiday romances are released from now until a little after the New Year.

I happen to love a good Christmas Romance any ole time of the year, but you’ll begin to see more and more showing up on Keeper Bookshelf now.

So whether you wait ’til Christmas Eve to get everything ready or get an early start – there are a lot of Christmas-y romances coming your way soon.

Enjoy!

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We’ll Never Forget

Posted September 11, 2019 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

September 11, 2001.  A day that is burned into my memory, my brain, my heart, my soul.  There were many tributes in the after-days, yet this simple video that aired only once speaks the respect and the sorrow that my heart still feels.  I know that I will never forget the lives lost, the lives forever changed that day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1qEZHhJubY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1OD_e9ddCWNL_HTxqRun_1Jp7EGKZJQ-P1LvEtMjO66oedQBjKLXQCwlY

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