Aug 04 2023

Library Maintenance – Yay or Nay?

Author: Jamie DeBree

Photo of the Week

A friend of mine from work was giving away this bookshelf. Look how perfectly it fits on top of the one we already had in the bedroom! Yay more book storage! I need to add those shelves to the indexing program, now.

Bagging & Boxing & Shelving…Oh My (Books)!

I know some readers who “read and release”. That is to say, they get a book, they read the book, they give the book away (or turn it in to the nearest library or used bookstore). My mom does this, and she seems perfectly happy to have read the material and passed on the actual object. She does have an ereader, but she doesn’t really use it much. My dad, on the other hand, reads ebooks almost exclusively. It’s easier for him, as he’s dyslexic and the digital text allows him to adjust settings for maximum ease of reading.

I, on the other hand, am a collector. While I do read ebooks occasionally, my physical library brings me joy just by existing, the sight of all those books on the shelves (and piled up…uh…everywhere) makes me feel calm and peaceful. Unfortunately, I don’t have room for all the books (there’s never going to be enough room – it doesn’t matter where I live), but I have a hard time parting with any of them, so…cleaning out doesn’t happen often.

Books recently liberated from a storage unit, waiting for shelf space.

I also read comic books, and unlike novels, they don’t tend to stay in tall stacks very well. I also can’t just shelve them, though I do keep some of mine shelved in binders. The rest have to be bagged and boxed, to keep them in good condition and stored away efficiently. It’s the one place in my life where I don’t balk too much at using plastic, mainly because I expect the plastic to be in use protecting the books for a very, very long time.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my “finished” comic book stack was getting too big for the space it was in, and decided it was time to bag, board and box a bunch. I bought some new boxes and bags at the comic shop, and that Saturday night, I spread everything out in the living room to work on while I watched a movie with my husband (The Out-Laws, for anyone curious…it’s mildly amusing, but not something I’d choose to watch again).

This year, I’ve been reading one issue per day (I got way, way behind for a few years, and kept buying, but wasn’t reading, so..it’s catch-up year), and because I do that before work, I don’t have a lot of time to keep things organized. So I just toss each issue on the “to be indexed” stack, and call it good. This results in a stack of mixed issues that are in backwards numerical order (apparently it’s too hard just to turn them upside down before I toss them on the stack). So my process when storing them is to grab the bottom of the stack, sort by issue and series, and then bag one, scan the barcode, index it, and then put it in the respective box or binder.

It’s not a difficult process, but it does take time, and tends to be a bit tedious. And if I wasn’t using an indexing software to keep track (I use CLZ Comics – link below in the Recommendations section), I’d be totally lost when I have to stop for any length of time and then try to remember which issue I left off with (especially since comic series are notorious for spin-offs and “series within a series” type stuff, resulting in odd issue orders here and there).

In any case, I got about 50 issues bagged and boxed in that session (I had to do a lot of sorting before I started), and then I ran out of boards. For those not familiar, the “boards” are just a piece of thick stock placed in the bag behind the comic book to keep it flat while it’s stored. So, I’ll need to grab more of those before I can continue my archiving project – I’ll do that in a couple of weeks after payday.

More TBR books – that get moved from this vanity chair to the bed every morning, and back at night. *eyeroll*

A few years ago, I decided I also should index all the “normal” books…which is a project I still haven’t even come close to finishing. But I do try to add any new book that comes in to the index, along with a general idea of which shelf it’s on in case we need/want to find it again. Which is why you’ll see labels with numbers on most of the shelves in our house. Those numbers correspond to a number in my library indexing program. I use CLZ Comics for my comic books, and CLZ Books for everything else. Currently I only keep subscriptions for the phone apps ($15 per year each, which isn’t unreasonable, IMO), because that’s the most useful – I can just scan the barcode to enter a book, and unless it’s something really obscure, it’s generally already in the database. And then I have a good chunk of our books in my pocket all the time, so when we’re shopping we can avoid buying something we’ve already read or bought.

On the occasion I get into a heavy indexing phase of older books, I’ll pay for a month or two of the web app as well, so I can enter the books a bit easier with the larger interface, since those barcodes are less likely to actually be found in the system. It all connects to my same account, so all the data is going to the same spot, it’s just the different interface I’m paying for in that case.

Then there’s my Kindle and ebook library. I used to keep my Kindle books organized into folders and such, and then just sort of gave up, but I really wish they were more organized. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my Paperwhite to the new version (just for a little faster processor), but I also use the Kindle app on my phone, so…it would behoove me to get things organized one of these days.

The rest of my ebooks (non-Kindle/Amazon), are all sitting on a folder in my Dropbox account, loosely organized by non-fiction and fiction, and since I get so few PDF books anymore, it’s not really worth my time to organize them any further than that. I really should go through my crochet/knit ebooks though. I often get those in PDF so I can load them on my reMarkable and keep track of my stitch counts as I go. One of these days. Maybe. Sounds like a winter project, doesn’t it?

So, do you keep your library organized/indexed? Or do you prefer the excitement of a hunt every time you’re looking for something to read or reference?

Writing & Publishing News

It’s been a bit slow-going lately, but I’m still moving forward. The biggest news is that MacKenzie Saves the World will finally be out in print August 11th! So for anyone who likes romance in print (ironically, I read most of my romance in digital form), I’ll have links up then, and it will be available at our local bookstore soon too (whenever the shipment gets here). So that’s fun. Personally, I think it’s the best romance I’ve written yet…until I finish the Magpie stories, anyways.😉

I’m working away on Magpie Shiny, slowly but surely, and I also got started on a hopefully fall release for my horror alter-ego this past week as well. So, aside from getting distracted by health issues here and there (stupid body), I’m feeling pretty good about hopefully having some fun new releases coming soon(ish).

I’m also going to take advantage of Ingram’s new mass market paperback size, and work on formatting some of my alter-ego’s short stories into MMPs. I love that size book, and while the preference for trade size seems to be trending, I think MMP is still perfect for shorter stories. That’s my next print project.

Recommendation(s)

For anyone interested in indexing your personal library, I highly recommend CLZ Books, and CLZ Comics. They also have modules for movies, video games, etc – check ’em out!

Screenshots of my indexes…I thought I had more covers in the books one…

That’s it for this week! If you have a favorite thing to share, or want to recommend a book, TV show, video or podcast, comment below, email me at jamie@jamiedebree.com, or catch up with me on Facebook or Instagram.

Feb 21 2023

Ever Forward

Author: Jamie DeBree

We have a local bookshop here (linked below!), and I’ve been a supporter since it was just a conception. When it opened, they agreed to carry my print books, because I’m a shareholder (so basically, I bought shelf space…and then I literally bought shelf space for awhile too). I think I gave them two copies each of Tempest and Desert Heat, the first books I published. My memory is sketchy, because it’s been several years, but I think they may have sold one of those at some point, plus a copy of Indelibly Inked which they ordered directly from me when someone requested a copy, because at the time, I was only publishing paperbacks through CreateSpace (which is now part of Amazon Kindle). Independent bookstores don’t like ordering books through Amazon, which is completely understandable.

A couple years ago, I thought I should publish those books through Ingram so they’d be easier for independent bookstores (or bookstores in general) to order. So I took Tempest and Desert Heat out of expanded distribution at Amazon, in anticipation of setting up print copies at Ingram. I had to wait a bit for them to be delisted from places that weren’t Amazon, so I could register the ISBN with Ingram as well, so I waited, and then set up the title record for Tempest at Ingram.

Problem is, by then, the book had been out for nearly ten years, and I’d switched computers several times. Long story short, I lost the original print file I’d uploaded to CreateSpace all those years ago. I had also decided to update my ebook covers for those books, so I figured I’d wait until I had that done, so I could update the cover for those paperbacks too. Needless to say, designing the new covers took longer than I thought it would, and then I was still facing a complete reformat of the print file before I could put the paperback on Ingram.

I put it off for quite some time, got busy, etc, and this whole time, the paperbacks were only available on Amazon, and not even out in expanded distribution for places like the Book Depository (which apparently has no issues listing books from the Amazon catalog). Last week, I decided I really needed to finish this whole book migration project, and I spent the majority of a day reformatting Tempest, only to have it end up at a different page count that the original file. Then I started digging into ISBNs and when to use a new one, and as it turns out, doing the reformatting and clean up and new cover all together basically qualified as a “new edition” of the book…which would require a new ISBN.

I have exactly one ISBN left in my coffers at the moment, and won’t be able to buy more for a couple of months (they’re expensive here…if you live in a country where they’re free, consider yourself lucky!). And I was still facing fixing the cover, which was what I had planned for today.

The whole time I was working on this redo, I asked myself why I was spending so much time updating old books that I haven’t sold a copy of in years. Yes, the remaining copies at the bookstore were purchased, but it was a “thank you” purchase of sorts, not a purchase by someone who just thought they looked interesting and wanted to read them. Which is fine, and I appreciate it, but I also have to take into consideration the fact that…those books aren’t generating interest or sales for other books. Nor are people buying them currently, and putting new covers on the ebooks didn’t change that, so…why was I spending all this time on them, instead of working on getting books that haven’t been in paperback published in that format, and working on writing and publishing new things that might be more appealing to readers, given my growth as a writer in the twelve(?) years since those first books were published?

Then I took a shower today before I was going to sit down and finish the new paperback cover for Tempest. As I’ve said many times before, the shower is an excellent place to think.

There’s a marketing school of thought that putting new covers on your old books, rewriting the blurbs, and generally bringing them up to date can breathe new life into sales for them. And that may be true, but with the limited time I have, I think the time I’ve been spending on old books could be far better spent on writing and publishing newer stories that might appeal more to today’s audience. Not that there’s anything wrong with the older books, but they are dated, and while I did the best I could writing them (and I still like the stories, personally), I know I can do better now.

So today in the shower, I decided to stop spending time on my old paperbacks. It’s okay if indie bookstores don’t want to order them from Amazon – they can still order from me, and I’ll put up a way to order from the BSB site directly so they don’t have to really deal with where it’s coming from if they don’t want to. I doubt I’ll get many orders for those anyways, because as I said, they aren’t selling.

I’m going to put my energy and time into my newer books instead. MacKenzie Saves the World has never been out in paperback, and neither has When She Cries by my alter-ego, Alex Westhaven. I can publish those paperbacks through Ingram to start, and they’re pretty close to ready. And I want to keep moving forward with the books I’m setting in the Magpie, Montana world – I have a couple drafts written that just need revisions, and the draft in progress that I’m really excited to finish and get published.

Someday when I have time and energy, maybe I’ll go back and revise, reformat, and recover some of my older books. Heck, maybe I’ll even pick up where I left off with the Fantasy Ranch series, after revising the first of those – I have several more story ideas for that particular world.

But for now, forward, not back. Prioritizing books that might appeal to more readers, over things that are…well, largely sentimental at this point.

As for Tempest and Desert Heat, they are available again via Amazon’s expanded distribution, which means the paperbacks should be available in most online stores again soon. I’ll set up a simple way to purchase directly from my Brazen Snake Books site in the next month or so, and let everyone know when that’s available.

In the meantime…back to my little community of Magpie, where the secrets kept by people are deep, but the secrets held in the mountain are deeper.

Sep 13 2022

On Shelf & Screen in September 2022

Author: Jamie DeBree

It’s been awhile since I could read for pleasure, but having finished my duties as an award judge, I’m finally getting back to my “normal” book fare. And the contemporary romance novel I’m reading right now is Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis.

I love Jill’s stories – they’re funny and heartwarming and her heroines are real and down-to-earth, for the most part. They’re almost like a palate cleanser for me – in life, not just in the book sphere. She’s one of my “always buy” authors, and while I’m not too far into this one yet (a couple chapters), I’m already loving it. If you are one of those people for whom anxiety is a very real and crippling ailment, you’ll definitely identify with Lanie Jacobs, the main character.

Next on my to-read list for romance:
The Gilded Girl by Pamela Kelley, which is supposed to be a “Cinderella story – sort of.”

As for other entertainment, I’m still working my way through The Good Witch TV series on Netflix (originally Hallmark). I love Catherine Bell’s character, and the whole series has been/is loosely inspiring for the core part of my Magpie, MT project. I like the relationship interplay and chemistry between the characters a lot, as well as the slower pace of the overall story – a nice change from all the fast-paced shows I normally watch.

The last romantic movie I watched was on Netflix also – A Perfect Pairing. It’s a romance set “down under” in Australia involving both sheep ranching and wine that was cute, amusing, and a relaxing way to spend an hour and 40 minutes or so.

What are you reading, watching, or listening to this month? You can reply here on the blog, reply to the email (if you’re a blog subscriber), or comment on your favorite form of social media. Don’t be afraid to jump in – I’d love to hear from you and add your recommendations to my lists!

Jul 19 2022

Book Chat: A Non-Fiction Interlude

Author: Jamie DeBree

Reading List:
Secret Non-Fiction books

Last month, I was asked if I wanted to be a judge for a regional book awards contest, and I said yes. Which is how I came to be taking an extended reading interlude into the non-fiction book realm. While I can’t talk about the books I’m reading, it did get me thinking about the last non-fiction book(s) I’ve read. Here are the last three:

Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque
How to Become a Dictator by Kevin J. Anderson & Martin L. Shoemaker
15-Minute Dictation by Sean M. Platt and Neeve Silver

Needless to say, I’ve been studying up on how to write faster, and keep in touch with readers more efficiently. And I can highly recommend any of the above books if those are things you’re interested in (the second one is *not* instructions on how to take over a country, or any other group of people – sorry!).

I’ve only published one non-fiction book, which is the featured cover this week: Flash 52: 52 Writing Prompts for a Year of Flash Fiction (clearly not a “flash” title). But it does sell a few copies most months (and it’s on sale at Smashwords this month), so hopefully some people are finding it helpful. I’m considering doing some more things with prompts, actually. Lord knows I have far too many ideas and far too little time to get to them all.

What’s the latest non-fiction book you’ve read? Or are you a strictly fiction reader?

If you write non-fic, what’s the latest book you’ve written?

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Jun 14 2022

Book Chat – June 14, 2022

Author: Jamie DeBree

Reading List
The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (cozy mystery)
In Defense of Plants by Matt Candeias, PhD (non-fic)
The Hand in the Dark by Arthur J. Rees

I’m half done with The Magpie Murders, after a spate of reading, followed by nearly a year-long break, and now a couple months more of steady progress. I’m not normally a cozy-mystery reader, but this book sounded interesting and a little different. My husband read it, and he liked it quite a lot, which is why I decided to give it a try.

The way it hit my brain is rather odd, because when I put it down the first time, I’d read nearly half, and decided it just wasn’t really grabbing me. But when I picked it up after all that time away, I could easily remember everything that had been happening when I left off, which isn’t normal even for books I’m really enjoying. I normally have to go back quite a ways to pick up in something I’ve left that long (or just start over), but I easily just picked up the thread and kept reading with this one.

So the mystery stuck with me, even though it didn’t feel like it would. And then…I got to another part that reminded me that it’s actually a story within a story, which was disorienting again.

It’s…just a bit odd.

Have you read it? Did you like it?

In Defense of Plants is just a really beautiful little book. I started reading it on Earth Day and then put it down when I picked up The Magpie Murders again, but I have no intention of leaving it unfinished. The writing flows easily, the illustrations are gorgeous, and even just the whole feel of the book from the cover to the page paper is aesthetically pleasing to me. More books should be published like this, with so much care to the package as a whole. I really just love picking it up, honestly.

The Hand in the Dark was included with the big box of antique books I got for $20 at our local bookstore (see last week’s post), as an example of the types of books that would be included in the box. I’ve only just read the first chapter, but I’m excited already. There’s a house with a long and spectacular history of burning and rebuilding and defense and generational warring…all on a patch of land surrounded by a moat (naturally).

I’m both intrigued and anxious to find out what’s coming next!

What are you reading? Anything interesting I should add to my TBR pile?

May 31 2022

Variety News: May 31, 2022 – Ebook Release Week!

Author: Jamie DeBree

General Discussion – Release Week! And a Windowed Release.
After four dry years, it’s finally release week again!

As I’ve mentioned, my alter-ego, Alex Westhaven has been working on a book about beets. And that book is finally ready being released this coming Friday, June 3rd. Beet It is a short story in the Death by Veggies series, and it’s available for pre-order on Amazon now. I’ll post the blurb below for anyone who reads horror and might be interested.

I’m doing an experiment with the release this time, and I’ve been working really hard to get this book out ASAP in order to do that. I follow some big name authors online, and occasionally they ask their fans how they like to read. I read the comments, naturally, and I was honestly surprised by how many readers read exclusively from Kindle Unlimited books.

I’ve never put my books in KU before, simply because Amazon requires exclusivity for at least 90 days to be in the program. Which means if a book is in KU, it can’t be available anywhere else, which has always rubbed me the wrong way. I want anyone to be able to read my books on whatever platform they prefer, so I’ve steadfastly refused to give Amazon those exclusive rights to my ebooks.

But…what about the readers who only read in KU? I want them to have a chance too…if there are enough of them to make it worth my while.

I want to publish a Death by Veggies collection in October (pulling together all four stories plus one more), and I want that to be available all over from the start, so I needed to make sure that Beet It would be out of its exclusive contract by then. Hence the rush to get it published in early June. This way it will be out of contract by early September, which is plenty of time to publish it on all my other normal platforms, and also include it in the collection this fall.

Obviously I still want those who aren’t in KU and don’t use Amazon for reading to be able to get a copy of the book before the KU period is up if they wish, so I’m also publishing the paperback on Ingram and Amazon. That will be out on June 10th, and it will be available everywhere, including for bookstore ordering.

So we’ll see how this windowed release model does, and when it’s over, I’ll decide whether I want to try it again with other books, or just stick with publishing widely so I don’t have to give that 90 day exclusive period to Amazon.

Now, if you’ve made it this far, here’s the blurb for Beet It. If it sounds like something you or someone you know might like, feel free to pre-order it!

The beets Tara Pyle grows gives her body extraordinary healing powers. But when she tries to share the bounty with her boyfriend, Colin, the results are devastating. Under the scrutiny of both the police department and the hospital staff alike, Tara turns to the one person who can help her unravel the mystery of her precious beets. But will she be able to handle the unsavory truth?

Pre-order Here

Reading List
A flash fic piece by Carol R. Ward (editing!)
My Evil Mother by Margaret Atwood (short story)
In Defense of Plants by Matt Candeias, PhD (non-fic)
The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Watch List
The Lincoln Lawyer (Finished – I seriously hope there’s another season in the works.)
Outer Range (Finished – that last episode was…what? I have more questions than answers. Season 2 please! )
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount)
The Equalizer (Paramount/CBS)
NCIS (Paramount/CBS)

Listening List
Writing Excuses
The Creative Penn
Alli’s (Alliance of Independent Authors) Self-Publishing Podcast

Pop Quiz!
Are there any vegetables you hate?

I actually don’t hate any vegetables – I really like most of them, if prepared correctly. I’m trying to think of the last time I actively didn’t like a vegetable, and…I can’t think of one!

Post Round-up
Alex Westhaven (last updated: May 27, 2022)
The Writer’s Desk (last updated: May 28, 2022)

Jul 01 2015

Talkin’ Books, July 1, 2015

Author: Jamie DeBree

The print TBR pile - The Blue Labyrinth is on top only because we just bought it. The hubby will read it first.

The print TBR pile – or part of it, anyways (I have plenty of books sitting in my office waiting to be read as well).The Blue Labyrinth is on top only because we just bought it. The hubby will read it first.

Books Finished:
Still The One by Jill Shalvis
Ruby by Anna Skye
Her Imaginary Husband by Lia London
White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis
Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis

Kindle Books In Progress:
Enter Ruinland by CJ Anderson
The Indie Author Power Pack (Write, Publish, Repeat)

Print Books in Progress:
The Kill Switch by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood

Comic Books:
Silk #1
Harley Quinn #15
Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day Special
A few other issues of different series that I didn’t keep track of before archiving them

I know, it’s been awhile, but time’s been in short supply for the past few months. Or I’ve been lazy about blogging. Probably both.

I have been reading though, as you can see. Lots of romantic comedy (ala Jill Shalvis, my favorite), catching up with my comic books and working away on my print TBR pile which is growing by the week.

There are even a couple romances up there I’d classify as “new adult” – romances for the late teen/early 20’s set. I’m not normally into those, and I can’t say I am now either, but Ruby was surprising in that it’s written in first person (which I really don’t like) yet it held my interest to the very end. And then I was just annoyed at where it ended – not a cliffhanger, exactly, but the story isn’t finished, it’s just in a sort of “lull” with no real resolution. Not my cup of tea – it makes me feel manipulated into buying the next book (which I haven’t, and probably won’t). Plenty of people *do* like that sort of serialized novella format, so if you do, and you like new adult romances, I’d certainly recommend it – the writing is great and the story engaging.

Her Imaginary Husband is another young/new adult romance, though light on the romance, and more of a “coming of age” sort of story. It’s well-written, but the reasons for the central plot (a non-existent husband) seemed a bit overly dramatic/angsty for me, though true to the age/maturity of the character. Mostly it just seemed “young” in every way, which makes me feel old. LOL

There’s a reason I’m really not into the new adult romance trend – mostly that a lot of the plots and decisions seem silly and overly dramatic and could all be solved with a healthy dose of honesty and confidence/backbone – but they did when I was that age too. I’ve always been an “old soul” (and a very direct one at that), so the genre as a whole really just doesn’t do it for me.

Then we swing about 180 degrees in the other direction, and you have White Fire, by Preston and Child, my favorite adventure/thriller duo. It’s not as much of a page-turner as some of their others, I’m sad to report, but it’s still a good read, with a rather engaging mystery at the core.

And in yet another direction entirely, I’ve just started Enter Ruinland, by CJ Anderson. It’s a post-apocalyptic tale with a central theme of sociopaths being genetic “mistakes”. The writing style is quite different than the normal “mass market” fare, and it took me a bit to get into it, but the story itself is very intriguing so far, and I’m interested to see where it goes.

Next up from the print pile is the latest Tucker & Kane novel by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood – The Kill Switch, which I just started, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy because…Tucker & Kane. Tucker is the rugged and oh-so-manly guy Army Ranger who finds/extracts people and “stuff”, and Kane is his dog. Who also finds things, and protects Tucker, and is incredibly intelligent, handsome and pettable. My kind of guy. 😉

And of course Jill Shalvis and Tawna Fenske both have new books out this week (more romantic comedy – yay!), but I’m trying to convince myself to wait and see if they go on sale later. Yes, I know, I should support my fellow authors, but…well…I’m still kind of cheap when it comes to books (because I buy and read quite a few, probably).

That’s what’s going on in my reading world…if you’re so inclined, feel free to share what you’re reading as well…

Feb 11 2015

Talkin’ Books: February 11, 2015

Author: Jamie DeBree

Books Finished:
None

Kindle Books In Progress:
The Indie Author Power Pack

Print Books in Progress:
White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Comic Books:
None

Not much to report…again. *sigh* I have been working on White Fire quite a bit – it’s just one of those books that you pick up and think, “I’ll read one chapter before bed.” And then you look up again after the sixth chapter that night, realize you do actually have to get up in the morning, and reluctantly dog-ear the page before forcing yourself to put it down and turn out the light.

So…good book, in other words. And getting better by the page…

I’m also still working on Write, Publish, Repeat from the The Indie Author Power Pack, and gaining a few nuggets of wisdom here and there.

What I’d most wanted to get to this week, and ended up having to forgo due to extra writing time needed and an impromptu aquarium swap, was my Harley Quinn comics. There are special Valentine’s Day Harley’s out this week, and I’m headed to the local comic shop on Saturday because they’re having a super-awesome sale, so I was hoping to get all caught up by then. Alas, I don’t think it’s gonna happen. But Valentine’s Day is a great day for reading anti-heroes, right? (Just nod & smile, nod & smile…)

Maybe if I get caught up with the writing, I can spend part of President’s Day (next Monday, and a federal holiday, so I’m off work) hunkered down with my comic book stack.

Now I think I’ll get this scheduled, and then head to bed for more White Fire goodness…

Jan 28 2015

Talkin’ Books: January 28, 2015

Author: Jamie DeBree

Books Finished:
Best Man For Hire by Tawna Fenske
Invasive Species by Joseph Wallace

Kindle Books In Progress:
The Indie Author Power Pack

Print Books in Progress:
White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Comic Books:
None

Another quick update as I’m knee-deep in revisions and formatting to get the latest book out by Friday and still get some new words written for drafts in progress as well…

Look at that – I finished two books this week! Good stuff, I tell you what.

Invasive Species is one of those books where you just keep thinking that the situation *has* to get better, and it just keeps getting worse instead. It’s both fascinating and horrifying, but ends on a hopeful note as well, though a different one than you might think. If you like suspense, it’s definitely worth the time & money, in my opinion.

Best Man For Hire was good, but as I mentioned last week, I just really haven’t been in much of a romance-reading mood lately. I go through cycles, and apparently I need something else for awhile. This book definitely has it’s moments, and it’s hilarious in spots (all Tawna’s books are), so I’d certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a rollicking good time.

I also made some progress with Write, Publish, Repeat from the Indie Author Power Pack. I found a few more nuggets of wisdom regarding blurbs that I think might help quite a bit, and a couple interesting tidbits on titles as well. I’m skimming a lot of the pricing/distribution parts, because I’m content with the way I handle those already, so we’ll see what comes up next…

And I also started White Fire by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child in paperback this week. I haven’t gotten too far into it, but I already know it’s going to be good…partly because they always are, and partly because my husband loved it. Good enough for me!

That’s it for this week…hopefully next week I can get back into my comic book stack. Harley’s getting lonely!

Jan 21 2015

Talkin’ Books: Jan. 21, 2015

Author: Jamie DeBree

Books Finished:
None

Kindle Books In Progress:
The Indie Author Power Pack
Best Man For Hire by Tawna Fenske

Print Books in Progress:
Invasive Species by Joseph Wallace

Comic Books:
None

It’s been a good week for print, but not much else, unfortunately. I’m about a quarter of an inch away from the end of Invasive Species, thanks to my new earlier bedtime (with half an hour built-in reading time). And now anytime I hear or read the word “thieves”, I think giant wasps, so thanks for that, Wallace…

As for the romance novel (Best Man for Hire)…it’s coming along, but lunchtime reading is always slow, and honestly? I’m not really as “into” this book as I’d like to be, sadly. I think it’s more my mood though than the book, as is so often the case. Just not so much in the mood for romance lately (I know – weird, right?).

No progress at all on Write, Publish, Repeat from the Indie Author pack. TV was good last week while I was walking, and this week, I’m off the treadmill until the new tattoo heals a bit more. I’ll get back to that Thursday, I think.

My plans to get caught up on my comic books this weekend somehow never materialized…mostly because I was too busy to think about it. Sad, but true…I may actually have too much reading material in this house (is that even possible?).

So, not much to report this week, but I’ll be finished with Invasive Species by the time you read this post, and back to my non-fiction slog by Thursday. Maybe I’ll put the comic books on my to-do list this weekend. A fun change/break from the tedium of weekly chores. 😉

Writer | DBA | Dog Wrangler