Category: Discussion Post

Moving Is Never, Ever Easy

Posted January 15, 2016 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

iStock_000020130958_ExtraSmallWe have a family move coming up in the next few weeks.  Finally leaving apartment living and going to the house.  I cannot wait!

It’s the getting to the finally unpacked and home part that’s the major pain in the butt.

This opportunity came up suddenly – but it was impossible to pass up.. so I’ve a lot of packing to do, changing address forms to fill out and sleepless nights ahead.  But I’m telling myself I can sleep in the new house with no neighbors loud music or fire alarm bells ringing (usually false but still) – I may sleep for a week but it’s gonna be So Worth It.

So, why this post?  Well, I’m going to be offline a lot in the next few weeks.  I’ve some scheduled posts up and coming – plus I’ll try to hop on for an hour or so during coffee breaks when I can.

I will apologize from my heart for any inconvenience this sudden move will make on my reviewing commitments.  But frankly – this was something I simply could not say no to… so I’ll be around just not as much until some time in February.

…now where did I leave that masking tape and marker?

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Happy New Year ~ May 2016 Bring You Joy

Posted December 31, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 6 Comments

Happy New Year 2016 replace 2015 concept on the sea beachWe’re on the final countdown.  Hours to go.

How did yet another year get away from us?

Here at Keeper Bookshelf I’m ending the year with a good feeling.  While I may not have accomplished all of my goals – I’ve made a darned good start, and I’m content with that.

On a completely personal note, I got some disturbing news recently.  Seems that the blurry and fuzzy words on my monitor and Kindle cannot be fixed with a new glasses prescription.  Instead, next week I’ll begin to find out how bad and what can be done with a cataract on my left eye.  Funny, I always thought I’d be able to see one of those suckers on my eyes – but apparently not always.  For someone who loves to read as much as I do – aside from having several bookish blogs that need daily attention… this kinda hit me hard emotionally.  Oh, I know it can be fixed.  It’s just something that happened to my grandmother – not me.  *sigh*  How silly we are at times, right?

Anyway, because of the strain I’m putting on my eyes right now (current glasses don’t work and cannot get new ones because they wouldn’t work either)… I’m probably going to slow down just a bit on my reviews.  I don’t want to – but I think until this is resolved, I need to.  I imagine I’ll still be posting at least once a day – and I have tons of posts and reviews that are scheduled, so you may not actually see very much difference.  But I’ll know what’s happening in the background so I need to effectively deal with that mentally and emotionally.

2016 will offer up challenges for us all – that’s not anything new..  My wish for you is to have a safe New Year Eve’s celebration — and then enjoy the rest of the year doing what makes you happy.  Big – small – it doesn’t matter, but doing what you love is a gift we give to ourselves every single day.  I wish that gift for you.

May 2016 bring you every happiness you ever dreamed of – and may you go through it with your sense of humor, faith and love intact.  Can’t wish for much more than that, really.

Happy-New-Year-2016 pop

 

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Getting Ready for 2016

Posted December 26, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 4 Comments

heartWell, look at that.  We made it through, well almost through, 2015.  Five more days to put the finishing touches on the plans for 2016.  And then we’re gonna start all over again.  Gotta love dedicated readers like us, right?  🙂

And I’m just abut a week away from having Keeper Bookshelf up and running on a daily basis for its first complete year.  Not bad at all.  This is an accomplishment I certainly am proud of.

I learned a lot.  Certainly embarrassed myself at times.  Met some amazing book people.  And talked to authors for the very first time.

And I guess most importantly – I didn’t give up on the dream, the plan – the crazy idea to take what I love doing, reading, and create something about that personal joy of mine.  I’ve got a long way to go, but I kept at it for this first year.  Day after day, even when I was certain no one even knew this place existed.  But I did – and that’s all that mattered then.

So here I am, late in the evening letting my mind wander to all the things I want to do this coming year.  And wondering just how the heck I’m going to manage it.  I’ve got this notebook that I’ve jotted stuff down in all of 2015 – you too?.  So now comes the time to take the ideas and make them reality.  That is the scary part, but also the adrenaline pumping part too.

I simply wanted to say to all of us who sit and read, find that extra moment to get lost in another world for a bit – to those of us who call ourselves review bloggers or book bloggers… Good Job.  Take a bow, we’ve earned it.  Okay – now back to work.  The new year is about to start and it’s time for us to jump in to the reading frenzy for another round of the stuff that we consider fun.  Yeah, maybe a bit crazy but someone’s gotta do it.

Thank you for a fantastic 2015 — and here’s to an amazing 2016.

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This Is Why I Try To Make My Reviews Spoiler Free

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

Hawn Leia MatureUnless you’ve been living under a rock recently you might have heard of a pretty big movie release – a little film called Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Yeah, pretty big deal for us Star Wars fans.

I was lucky enough to see it this past Thursday, December 17th thanks to my son staying online for about 4 hours to get tickets to the day before release viewings.

The Force Awakens is, in my opinion pretty amazing.  The new adventures, the chance to catch up with old friends.  It met my every hope and then some.

I will be the last person to talk publicly about the film.  Yes, I absolutely loved it.  Would recommend it to fans and new to the franchise movie goers who want to see what all the fuss has been about all these years..  But I won’t talk about it.  For one main reason.

Why would I (or anyone) want to spoil this movie for those that haven’t seen it yet?  I do not understand that concept.  Especially when there are parts of this film that even Disney managed to keep under wraps right up until release.  Why would I mess that experience up for anyone?

Yet there are already headlines and Twitter comments, Facebook posts, blog posts, television reports and media of every sort out there ready to spoil the experience for any person who happens to run into those comments.  I have friends who have shut themselves off from social media in order to try to not hear tidbits about the film before they get to the theater themselves this weekend.

So what does Star Wars have to do with book reviews you ask… well, everything.  I feel about books the same way I feel about people blasting the entire plot of a movie I haven’t seen yet.  I don’t want to know.  I want to experience it for myself – not have someone, a reviewer (be it movie or book reviewer) tell me the entire story in minute detail.  That SPOILS IT FOR ME.

Come back in say… a year, and we can discuss plot twists until we’ve exhausted every tidbit of the movie or book.  But right now – on launch day, on release day… let me experience it myself.  Please.

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Who Else Loves Christmas Giveaways?

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

ID-10069329I don’t know about you – but I love getting gifts.  So, yeah Christmas is a really explosive fun time around my house.

There is a fun, and gift filled giveaway going on over at  Indie Romance Authors Christmas Kindle Giveaway.  A Paperwhite Kindle and lots of ebooks to start off stuffing your brand new Kindle.

Fill out the form, answer the questions and someone is going to be picked to win big time.  So, if you like giveaways, contests and just plain fun head on over and check it out – maybe it’s something you’d like to take part in.

I learned about it from author Caroline Mickelson whose stories I always enjoy – right now on Keeper Bookshelf I’ve got a bunch of her Christmas stories up for the Christmas Daily Feature.

So excuse me – I gotta go put on my thinking cap and enter a contest.  Happy Christmas everyone!

 

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COYER Back to Basics

Posted November 22, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

COYER going back to basics 12-19I don’t know about you – but my Kindle is stuffed with so many books just waiting patiently (or impatiently) for me to get to them to read and review.

I might have a one click addiction – but, heck, there are so many books out there just calling my name.  There just isn’t enough time to do all the reading that I truly want to spend time doing.  So, I’m going to join in on the COYER Back to Basics event that begins December 20, 2015 and start whittling down my obscene amount of stories on my e-reader.

If you’d like to learn more just click on the graphic or go here to:  COYER Back to Basics sign up page.

I honestly do not have a goal in mind.  But in three months I figure I can get that over stuffed Kindle on a slight diet by simply slowly ticking them off – one by one until March.  It’s all in good fun, with great company.  So if you have books on your e-reader that meet the easy requirements then head on over to the sign up page, read the super easy “rules and explanations” and you’re good to go.

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2016 New To You Reading Challenge

Posted November 6, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

2016 New To You Reading ChallengeThis Reading Challenge is simply for pure fun — and adventuring out beyond my own comfort zone in the genres that I don’t normally read.

I honestly don’t intend to get caught up in Challenge madness this year.  The three Challenges that I’ve posted about this morning will probably be the only ones that I do this year.  I have a better idea of my time limits going into this second year of book review blogging.  I’m not super blogger by any means *grin*  I wish.

The New To You Reading Challenge is simply reading an author that you’ve just discovered, or trying out a far different genre than you usually read.  It’s simple, uncomplicated and just about anyone could do it.

So head over to the sign up page at The Herd Presents and check out the rules and suggestions.  I’m going for Level 4 of 50 books.  I believe I can master that, after all I’ve got an entire year.  🙂

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2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge

Posted November 6, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Blogger Shame Reading ChallengeThis Reading Challenge is a bit different – but so needed.

As book reviewers who blog, we sometimes get overwhelmed with books that need to be read and reviewed – like yesterday.  And sometimes books fall through the virtual cracks.  Anna of The Herd Presents and herding cats & burning soup has come up with a solution.  A fun way to challenge ourselves to get caught up, be accountable and do it in good company.

In the  2016 Blogger Shame Review Challenge  we are asked to go through our bookshelves and e-readers in search of books we needed to review (for whatever purpose) — the ones that got left behind for some reason.  You can click on that link above and go to the signup page with all the rules, suggestions and Mr. Linky.

I don’t have any official review copies that are old enough to qualify for this Challenge.  BUT... I do have both paperbacks and ebooks that I purchased for the express purpose of reading and reviewing.  It might have been a series I wanted to read or some new releases that got lost in getting the NetGalley deadlines met.  It is vastly important to me to get my Kindle and bookshelves cleared out in 2016 to a more reasonable amount of reviews that I’d like to do.  And of course there are going to be more books added in 2016  *sigh*.

If this sounds like a Challenge that is calling your name – head on over to the signup page and read all about this one.

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UPDATE:  Although Anna was gracious in allowing my non-arc idea to continue in this Challenge — I have reconsidered, and it really isn’t fair to ask her to let me do something that is not really, truly representative of her Challenge.  I love Anna, she is a rock star blogger and I simply cannot do anything that is not within her guidelines.  It was my choice to remove myself.  I will tackle my overloaded bought to review books in another fashion..

Best of luck to everyone who has ARCs to catch up with.  I just know everyone will be successful at this one.

 

 

 

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2016 Pick Your Genre Reading Challenge

Posted November 6, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 1 Comment

2016 Pick Your Genre RCI love the idea of Reading Challenges.  In January of 2016 I will have been back to dedicated, daily book review blogging here at Keeper Bookshelf for one year.  I know – still a babe at this really… but it’s been one solid, fun and exciting year.

I’m celebrating that year by being a bit more realistic about the Reading Challenges I join.  It is so easy to get caught up and join left and right (I see you nodding) but for me it simply wasn’t realistic since I was learning so many new things this past year – it got a bit overwhelming and I didn’t do near as well as I had hoped to.

So, this year Anna of herding cats & burning soup has come up with a simply brilliant Reading Challenge.  You pick what genre you want to read in this Challenge – it could be one category or it could be several.  It’s all totally up to you and the best part… it’s all in one place.  Now that is what I  need.

From what I understand, Anna has two places where you can sign up for this Challenge.  Since she is running all Challenges through her The Herd Presents website that is one link you can use to find out more and sign up.  Or there is a signup post on her herding cats & burning soup website as well.

I have decided to enter four genres for this Reading Challenge – Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical & Erotic.  But… I have a couple questions for Anna before I commit any further.  And I will update this post when I have those answers.  Sorry to be mysterious but I do want to know that something I have in mind is okay with Anna first… it is after all her Reading Challenge.  🙂

It’s not too early to think about your blogging plan for 2016 – and if that includes joining some Reading Challenges, this one might just be perfect for what you want to accomplish.  So click on any of the links or graphics in this post – go over to Anna’s and read the rules on the signup page and simply plan to have some fun next year.

I’m looking forward to this.  Thanks Anna!

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October Blog Ahead Wrap Up

Posted November 2, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Blog Ahead Oct 15Well, the October Blog Ahead event is over for 2015.  And it wasn’t a bad result for Keeper Bookshelf – although it could have been better if a family emergency hadn’t happened right in the middle.  But, life happens, ya know?

In total I managed to get 47 posts scheduled during this event.  Less than I was shooting for, but still not a bad number at all.  Most of my scheduled posts are for the Christmas Daily Romance reviews that I’m planning for the Holiday Season.  The rest were to get a bit ahead on my NetGalley reviews.

Actually the numbers aren’t the important part of the Blog Ahead Event – getting into the habit of scheduling posts for those times when life just gets in the way of blogging.  And we all know that happens to us all, far too often.  So just making a habit of taking a day or two a week and writing up posts, reviews, meme basics and such is simply a good tool for any type of blogging that we do.  Knowing that even if we can’t be at the computer, but the posts will still drop on the right day is such a stress reliever, ya know.  🙂

Anyway, I had fun, was productive and I’m looking forward to the Spring of 2016 when the next Blog Ahead comes around.  Thanks to Anna of Herding Cats & Burning Soup  and Kimberly of Caffeinated Book Reviewer for hosting and encouraging us all.

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