Have you, by chance, noticed a little more sweetness around Bookworm Blather lately? That’s because I’m finally taking everything I’ve ever learned about branding to heart. I find I have time for such improvements when I finish a novel. (Hee! hee! See how I cleverly worked a plug in there?) There are so many fish […]
I've reviewed lots of books and written 20 of my own.
Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, book one), by Eoin Colfer, 2001, Book Review
Artemis Fowl is the first of an eight-book series, the last of which is set to release in July of 2012. I had heard of this book, but I jumped in without reading up on it, so I didn’t know what to expect. (Thanks, Tim, for Kindle-lending it to me!) In the words of the […]
How to Slay a Dragon (The Journals of Myrth, Book One), by Bill Allen, 2011, Book Review
I happened onto this book during a free promo and approached it very cautiously. You see, about five percent of the books I find for free do I actually finish—or even get beyond page fifteen. This one looked cute, however, and I was impressed with the sample text, so I settled in for a longer […]
The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald, 1872, Book Review
First published in 1872, The Princess and the Goblin is still a wonderful children’s story. I read an unabridged version that was a little wordier—more old-fashioned—than the abridged version I read in college, but I was amazed at all the layers of meaning I picked up on this time around that I missed back then. I […]
The Castle of Llyr (Chronicles of Prydain, 3), by Lloyd Alexander, 1966
The Castle of Llyr didn’t win any awards, unlike several other books in the series, but it is my favorite one yet. Within, Taran Assistant Pig-Keeper fights not for kingdoms but for the life of his friend, Princess Eilonwy. Containing all the wisdom and adventure of the first two books, this one attains a depth greater […]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J. K. Rowling, 2005
I stalled out on my Harry Potter reviews over the winter when my own novel was taking priority. This week it was so fun to set other stuff aside and read just for the sake of reading. And no place is more fun to escape to than Hogwarts. A LOT is going on in this […]
Eligere (Seranfyll, book two), by Christina Daley, 2012, Book Review – Bargain eBooks
Christina Daley’s second book in her Seranfyll series is well worth reading. I think I liked book one just a touch better, with its unexpected magic and the delightfully eccentric character of Domrey (read my review of Seranfyll), but this is a solid second installment. Domrey and his adoptive sisters and brother, Rain, Snow and […]
Orphan of Destiny (The Youngest Templar), by Michael P. Spradlin, 2010, Book Review
Of the three books in The Youngest Templar series, Orphan of Destiny was my favorite. At long last, Tristin reaches England. Pursued by Sir Hugh, he hides out for a time—in Sherwood Forest! Robard takes on his full role as Robin Hood (Robard Hode), the Thane of Sherwood, complete with a cast of thinly-veiled characters that […]
The Black Stallion, by Walter Farley, 1941, Book Review
I relived some of the best moments from my childhood over the last two weeks as I shared the all-time greatest book ever with my boys. As a young girl, I spent a good deal of time dreaming of horses. And much of the blame for that can be laid at the feet of Mr. […]
Setting Goals
For self-published authors, setting goals is tremendously beneficial. As writer, publisher and marketer, we have a lot to do. For me, written goals help me lay out my overall purpose, they establish baby steps to see that I get there, they help me prioritize, and they keep me accountable. Rather than talk this topic to […]