Reading Challenge! Heck, Yeah!

Add a twist to your reading list and complete these fabulous reading challenges!

It’s a new year and the perfect time for reading goals! I’ve set my Goodreads goal for this year. It’s only twenty-four books because I will devote most of my time to writing. Whether you want to read one book a month or seventeen, I have some fun challenges to add some variety.

Besides writing, I’m an administrator for SBCO Silent Book Club Online (a licenced branch of Silent Book Club). I thought it would be fun to share them with you, too.

The WHERE Challenge

Here are twenty-five PLACES to read. Reading is a healthy habit that expands and sharpens your mind. Little challenges like this can help reinforce that habit.

If you would like a printer friendly PDF without the colorful border, scroll to the bottom of this post.

The WHAT Challenge

If you aren’t planning on reading twenty-five books this year, no problem. Part of the challenge of this list is to see how many you can check off with a single book.

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I Take My Coffee Black Review & More

I just finished I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt and am blown away. I laughed out loud (awkwardly in front of others) and cried (like fat, hot tears down my cheeks). This book gave me all the feels. And most importantly, this book is a poignant need-to-read. In the most gentle, reasonable, and loving way he tackles the hard topic of racism and so much more.

Full disclosure, I know Tyler Merritt. I haven’t seen him in years, I lost track of him after he moved out of the Bay Area. Not because I wanted to, but life gets busy sometimes and people you adore slip out of your life. But, I still count him as a friend. He is one of those larger-than-life people who, at the same time, is one of the most authentic people you can meet.

I had the privilege of working with Tyler on multiple shows. So, I can say things like, “Remember when we were in that post-Apocalyptic street gang and I tried to kill you?”

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Storm & Solace on Kindle Vella

It is finally happening! I’m releasing new fiction!! Woo hoo! Cue the fireworks! I give you Storm & Solace, a role-reversal Beauty & the Beast mashup that takes place in the Viking era. Storm & Solace is now available on Kindle Vella.

In this role-swapping mashup, Saxa is stripped of her powers and cursed by her two sisters. She has twelve weeks to change her ways or lose everything—including her life.

Brandr, shipwrecked after a terrible storm, is swept into the world of gods and goddesses. When he trades his life for his brother's, he sentences himself to a world he knows nothing about.

When their paths collide, nothing is as it seems. Who will survive this game of immortals?

Exciting New Format

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Author Interview with Heather Hansen

Welcome to my blog interview with novelist and children’s author, Heather Hansen, author of Rogue Wave, the first book in the exciting Rogue Wave Series.

Heather is a wife and a mother of two wonderful children. She was a preschool teacher for nearly ten years, before she left to homeschool her kids and begin her journey as an author. She grew up in a small, country town in CA where she still lives today.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

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Guest Post: Notes from an Editor

Want to become a better writer? Ever wonder what editors look for? Want to know how to proofread your own work? Here are some items to check before you send it to your editor:

anonymous female using laptop and taking notes on street — Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels.com

5 Things I LOVE to See in Writing

Story Flow. Keep it going! This may sound simple, but sometimes you can be writing and not realize that you’ve gotten sidetracked. When you read through your finished product, make sure everything flows smoothly and is connected to the plot. If something causes your mind to wander from the story line, change it or take it out. If your story wanders, so will the minds of your readers. Keep it tight.
Varied Sentence Length. You’re a writer! Make use of that. Variety adds interest. If you have too many short sentences strung together, your story will seem choppy. Or, if you have too many long sentences, it can seem long-winded. Be kind to your reader and vary the length to keep them engaged.
Imagery. Similes and metaphors are powerful tools that can add depth and complexity to you work. But there are a few cautions: they shouldn’t be overused, they need make to make sense, and they can’t derail the story.
Commas, Commas, Commas! I think these are the forgotten piece of grammar. Independent clauses need commas, but dependent clauses DO NOT.

The easiest way to decide if you need a comma after your “and” is to ask yourself, “Can this phrase before the ‘and’ be a sentence all by itself (independent clause)?” If the answer is “yes,” give it a comma.

Also, when reading your writing out loud and there is a pause needed, put a comma.
Active Voice. Your story is much more alive and flows when written in the active voice. It makes your writing stronger, more direct, and more interesting to readers.

black and red typewriter — Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

5 Things I HATE to See in Writing

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Guest Post: Starting Your Children’s Book

By Author Ellwyn Autumn

person reading a book — Photo by Lina Kivaka on Pexels.com

Getting Started

So, you want to write and self-publish a children’s book? Good for you! You’re just itching to transcribe your idea to the page. But there’s one obstacle, you don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

First things first, write your idea whichever way is most comfortable for you: a list, a word web, notes. It doesn’t matter, just get it out before you forget.

I suggest going to the source after you’ve written it down. What does that mean? Read children’s books. Go to the library and check out a few. Take notes on what you like and dislike about the books.

You might also want to look at my article ‘4 Elements Good Picture Books Need’.

Many people think creating a children’s book is easy. Let me tell you from experience, it isn’t. It’s fun, it’s fulfilling, but easy is not a word I’d use to explain the process.

Finding Support & Inspiration

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New Watcher Series Book

New Book, Hardbacks, & Watcher Apparel

We are celebrating the new Watcher Series book with hardback editions and apparel.

New Book

Have you been missing the Watcher Series? Do you want your burning questions about the series answered? I saved fan questions for years and have answered many of them by writing short stories and extra scenes.

And for those of you who loved drunk Tyran in The Fallen, I give you fake drunk Tyran:

“Smithy,” he slurred. “I have a job for you.” Then he seemed to take note of the extra men. “I didn’t realize you had company.” He stumbled backwards teetering and landing squarely on his backside while hoisting the wine up to prevent a spill. He laughed at his success. “See, I have not had too much to drink, observe.” He grinned at the vessel of wine again, taking another swig. Then, he loudly whispered to the wine, “That barmaid was wrong. I am handsome and I can clearly drink more.”
Fake drunk Tyran in LIGHT & SHADOW’S “One Loved”

Light & Shadow by Robin Woods is the new addition to the Watcher Series.

Light & Shadow is now available on Kindle and in paperback.

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Win an Advanced Copy of Light & Shadow

Want to be the first to have the new addition to The Watcher Series before it comes out in October?

This book has been a long time in coming and I can’t wait to share this with all of you. It’s been both a passion and a labor of love writing stories to answer all of the fan questions.

Here is a first look at the full Table of Contents (with a few notes):

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Author Interview with Danielle Cotton

Welcome to my blog interview with children’s author, Danielle Cotton, author of Tajja and the Legend of the Queens. I’ve been friends with this wonderful woman for a decade and am always amazed at her strength and passion. She’s written a delightful book with a poignant message about embracing your heritage and taking responsibility.

Danielle Cotton is a children’s author, history teacher, and proud mother of two high-energy girls, Sofia and Zoe. She writes to create books that celebrate their black beauty and the legacies of strong black women in history. When she isn’t on an epic adventure with her daughters, she’s trying to find a sunny spot in which to write or read.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

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New Release—Picture This: Creative Writing Photo Prompts & Inspiration

Picture This: Creative Writing Photo Prompts & Inspiration by Robin Woods | 144 prompts with 422 combinations (Over 50 original full color photo prompts with NO stock photography). Empower your creativity.

I’m very excited to announce the pre-order release of PICTURE THIS: Creative Writing Photo Prompts & Inspiration (The digital cousin of Prompt Me).

I’ve had tons of requests for color photo prompts, so this is for you—over 50 of them! Plus written prompts, fun facts, tips, and master lists.

All for the bargain price of $4.99. Thank you so much for all of the support. 😀😁 https://amzn.to/2B4qBsc

Sample from “Use These Phrases” and “Choose Your Path”: