Category: Blog Series Page 106 of 230

WWW Wednesday, November 9, 2022

On November 9, 2022

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

While all of us in the U.S. are celebrating or grousing (or a little of each) about the election results (and you’re formally invited to not comment on them below), I’m going to take a quick break to tackle today’s WWW Wednesday!

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the ARC for NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority by Marshall Karp (an actual paper ARC, it’s been ages since I got my hands on one of those) and I’m listening to All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor, Ray Porter (Narrator) on audiobook, I’ve barely scratched the surface and Taylor has already upped the stakes more than I expected.

Blank Space

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Andrew Sean Greer’s Less and Screwed by Eoin Colfer, John Keating (Narrator) on audio. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve listened to and read two books with such divergent feels simultaneously.

Blank Space

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Desert Star by Michael Connelly and my next audiobook should be Missing Pieces by Peter Grainger, Gildart Jackson (Narrator) it’d be easy to draw a lot of parallels between these series at this point in their runs, but I know the voices are so different, that I’m not worried about them being too similar.

Blank Space

Have you been reading anything interesting lately?

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas

By HCNewton

On November 8, 2022

In Book Tour, Comics, Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the graphic novel, Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas (which happens to publish today, something you should take advantage of). It’s a fun read and I’m happy to spend some time today highlighting it. Along with this spotlight post, I have my take on the graphic novel later this morning. (That links will work when the post goes live.) Be sure to check out the rest of the highlights, reviews, and other posts associated with the Tour here.

First, let’s take a look at Terry’s Crew.

Book Details:

Book Title: Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: November 8, 2022
Format: Hardcover/Trade Paperback/Ebook
Length: 208 pages
ISBN: 9780316499989

About the Book:

Actor-author-athlete Terry Crews digs into his childhood in Flint, Michigan, to tell a story of fitting in and finding your place in his showstopping debut middle-grade graphic novel, the start of a series.

“Terry’s Crew is a true delight from beginning to end. It’s sure to provide a much-needed mirror and sliding glass door for countless kids.” —Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give

“A delightful, powerful, readable retelling of Terry Crews’s adolescence. Readers young and old will be captivated.”
—Sharon M. Draper, author of Out of My Mind

“A must read for all those kids who allow themselves to dream in a variety of big ways. Bravo!” —Pablo Cartaya, author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Young Terry Crews has a Big Dream Plan: He wants to become a MULTIHYPHENATE. That means he wants to be an artist. And a football player. And a musician. And maybe a NASA scientist, too! OK, maybe it’s ambitious, but his parents worked hard so he could go to a new school—Rock City Academy, a prestigious institution (read: rich kids go there) where he’s sure he can make his mark at the talent show. He plans an elaborate performance with his new friends, Rani, a passionate engineer, and Xander, a shy kid with a head like an encyclopedia.

Along the way, Terry’s plan is threatened by his grades, which slip below Mom-and-Dad-approved levels, as well as the schemes of the school’s football star, Rick, who won’t stop until Terry quits the talent show altogether. No matter what challenges he faces, though, Terry knows that he always has his crew to back him up.

Purchase Links

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Indigo ~ IndieBound

About the Author:

Terry Alan Crews (born July 30, 1968) is an American actor and former American football player. He is best known for playing Julius on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, Sergeant Terry Jeffords on the NBC comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and for his appearances in Old Spice commercials, as well as films such as Friday After Next, Idiocracy, and The Expendables series. He is a host of America’s Got Talent.

Author Links

Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

My thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

Saturday Miscellany—11/5/22

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I don’t think I have much to say today before diving into things (I rarely do, probably, I’m just rarely self-aware enough to stop talking), so let’s skip my blather and get right to the good stuff:
Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Words we think we know, but can’t pronounce: the curse of the avid reader—Been there, done that. I particularly enjoy when strong Jeopardy! contestants display this. If those masters of the minutiae stumble, I can get away with it, too.
bullet On the Cult of Craftism
bullet ‘It provoked an erotic shock in me’ – Marian Keyes, Nick Hornby, Leïla Slimani and other writers on the books that changed them
bullet Five Mysteries That Inspire Serious Childhood Favorite Vibes: Find out what mystery you should read next based on your favorite childhood books.
bullet A Milestone, of a Sort: One Kay for The Iron Gate—Harry Connolly (who I will convince more of you to read if it’s the last thing I do) looks at his sales and ponders the state of his career
bullet My First Thriller: S.A. Cosby—A great profile of Cosby and his first novel.
bullet Thoughts on Cozy Fantasy by K. R. R. Lockhaven—Lockhaven dropped by Fanfiaddict to offer some thoughts on the subgenre. Apparently, I’ve been reading it longer than I realized.
bullet Dolls, weirdness, and imaginary numbers…—Fahrenheit Press announces an upcoming release. All I can say is that you have to read about it. (and probably order it)
bullet #R3COMM3ND3D is back! This is likely my favorite annual blog series and I’ve already been tempted by too many books to read (and I’ve been happy to see some familiar titles, too).
bullet …with #BookBlogger Lorna
bullet …with #BookBlogger Ally Parsonage
bullet …with #BookBlogger Carla
bullet …with Author Anne Coates
bullet …with Reviewer Me And My Books
bullet Transmissive Authors: A Theory and Thoughts
bullet A Blogger’s Life: Anxiety Ridden Mind of a Blogger—The Withering Blog talks about resuming blogging, or “My Return from Exile”
bullet Books, books, and more books—shelves to admire and a habit I can relate to

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet The Flood Circle by Harry Connolly—Fresh on the heels of The Iron Gate, Ray and Annalise are up against their greatest challenge yet—with the greatest rewards. I’m trying to work this into my schedule ASAP. If I go without sleep this week…
bullet Racing the Light by Robert Crais—Elvis Cole (with some help from Joe Pike and Jon Stone) hunts for a missing/abducted podcaster. I had a few enthusiastic things to say about it.
bullet Gardens by Benedict Jacka—an action-packed novella in the Alex Verus universe. .

EXCERPT from Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey: A Fish Slipping Its Net?

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction, Quotations

from Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey

The men throwing hounscozza cubes erupted into cheers and raucous teasing. Their noise proved enough for the reader. Slamming his book closed, he tossed back his drink and stood. Now that she could see his face, Kestrel realized she’d seen him before. She pressed her hands flat on the table, letting the residual ache remind her to stay calm. On Eldraga, after her fight with the knife-fighter. This was the strange man who stopped at her table and made the vague threat about the fish slipping its net, one she hadn’t put any stock in at the time. Yet she’d heard the threat more and more, and now here he was. With all that had happened, she wasn’t in a mind to think it was coincidence.

The man squinted at her. He smiled slowly, no trace of humor in his eyes. He rubbed his free hand over his belly, and marched out the door before she could say anything. The Islands weren’t so big that a person wouldn’t run into people this way, but something was wrong.

“Shadd,” she said. When the big man glanced over, she beckoned him to her. “That man who was reading in the corner — did you notice him leave just now?”

He furrowed his brow. “I think so, Captain. Is somethin’ amiss?”

“Can you follow him a bit? And tell me where he stops?”

“On my way,” he said. He stopped at his table and muttered something to McAvery, then sauntered out the door, as if he’d meant to go all along.

“What’s wrong, my girl?” Binns asked.

“Did you know that man?”

“Can’t say I do. He usually orders a drink and reads until his mug is empty. Hasn’t given the barmaid any trouble.”

Of course not. There’d have been no reason to draw attention to himself, not if he was waiting for someone. For her. “He approached me on Eldraga. Very mysterious. He said something strange to me about a fish not staying netted, then walked away.”
Binns’ eyes widened. “Did he say anythin’ else?”

“No,” she said. “Why?”

He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “I had a network of informants, back in my day. You might recall one of ’em givin’ you a message about roses and thorns one time.”

She did remember. On Eldraga, the night before Binns was arrested and jailed, and his ship stolen from the harbor. She’d believed the messenger to be a drunken tramp at the time, talking nonsense. “You mean that was one of yours?”

“He wasn’t. But that phrase, ‘fish not staying netted’? That was one o’ mine.”

“What did it mean?”

He frowned. “It means someone you thought safely locked away may have gotten loose.”

Interested in the rest? Go grab your copy of Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey now!

My thanks to Psst…/Let’s Talk Promotions for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT (and GIVEAWAY): Kestrel’s Dance by Misty Massey

By HCNewton

On November 5, 2022

In Book Tour, Fantasy, Fiction

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the second Mad Kestral novel, Kestral’s Dance by Misty Massey. Along with this spotlight post, I have an excerpt from the novel to share, then I’ll be giving my take on the novel (a little later. Those links’ll work when the posts go live in an hour or two. If you scroll down to the bottom of this post (or, you know, read it), you’ll find a nifty giveaway.

First, let’s take a look at Kestral’s Dance.

Book Details:

Book Title: Kestral’s Dance by Misty Massey
Publisher: Lore Seekers Press
Release date: June 24, 2022
Format: Ebook/Paperback
Length: 319 pages
AISN: B09YC8JSP5

About the Book:

Kestrel, the King’s Privateer, is preparing to wait out the annual storm season when she receives an unexpected royal order to capture and deliver a rare creature for the king’s menagerie. Before she can weigh anchor, news reaches Kestrel of a long-ago friend in desperate need of help—in the opposite direction of her assigned voyage. In addition, her ship may be haunted by something big, loud, and terrifying.

Before Kestrel can plot a course, she crosses paths with an enigmatic dancer who offers an enticing bargain: sail her home to the Continent, an ocean away, and she’ll reveal the mysteries of magic Kestrel has longed all her life to know.

The temptation of answers endangers her crew and might ruin her privateer status. Worse, taking on this passenger could thrust her into the clutches of the ever-watchful Danisoban mages who lie in wait for her to make the perfect mistake.

Every decision is fraught with danger. Each wrong turn may mean her death or the death of her crew. And Captain Kestrel can walk away from none of them.

Kestrel, the pirate who can whistle up the wind, returns in book two of the Mad Kestrel Series. Captain Kes will defy the king, gamble with her friends’ lives, and run the risk of capture by evil mages to get her hands on the magical knowledge so long denied to her.

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ Try Book 1: Mad Kestral

About the Author:

Misty Massey is the author of Mad Kestrel, a rollicking adventure of magic on the high seas, Kestrel’s Voyages, a collection of short stories featuring those rambunctious pirates, and the upcoming Kestrel’s Dance. She is a co-editor of The Weird Wild West and Lawless Lands: Tales of the Weird Frontier, and was a founding member of Magical Words. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and she’s working on a series of Shadow Council novellas for Falstaff Press featuring the famous gunslinger Doc Holliday. When she’s not writing, Misty studies and performs Middle Eastern dance and will, on occasion, surprise everyone with a batch of home-baked snickerdoodles. She’s a sucker for good sushi, African coffee, SC Gamecock football, and the darkest rum she can find. You can keep up with what Misty’s doing at mistymassey.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Social Media Links:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ TikTok ~ Instagram

GIVEAWAY:

There’s a tour-wide giveaway for a Gift Card for Barnes and Noble or Amazon—Winner’s Choice
a Rafflecopter giveaway

If the Widget isn’t showing up, just click here: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9751c04276/?

My thanks to Psst…/Let’s Talk Promotions for the invitation to participate in this Book Tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

The Friday 56 for 11/4/22: Gardens by Benedict Jacka

By HCNewton

On November 4, 2022

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Post it.

from Page 56 of:
Gardens

Gardens by Benedict Jacka

He nodded off into the forest. “You can go now.”

“While you do what?” Jess said.

“Not your problem.”

“Don’t let him—” Shirazad began, before Deathgrip twisted her arm, making her cry out in pain.

“You still here?” Deathgrip asked Emmanuel.

“So how do we get paid?” Emmanuel asked.

“Guess you’ll just have to keep your advance.”

“We didn’t get an advance.”

Deathgrip raised his eyebrows. “Sucks to be you.”

WWW Wednesday, November 2, 2022

By HCNewton

On November 2, 2022

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

So life interfered last week and I’ve had to skip two books on my schedule so I can meet some commitments. I’m not sure when I’m going to be able to double back and get those I skipped, either. I tell ya, I should just retire early and do this full-time. The only thing that stands in my way are trivialities like my need for food, shelter, an Internet connection, and the ability to buy books.

While I put together the inevitable gofundme drive, why don’t we try this WWW Wednesday?

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?