Category: Blog Series Page 125 of 220

Book Blogger Hop: Synopsis vs. Cover

On September 10, 2021

Hey, look, after 1.5 years of meaning to get around to it, I’ve finally dipped my toe into the Book Blogger Hop. I generally find the topics interesting, but have over-thought my responses. By imposing a strict time-limit on myself for answering the question, I figure I can join in the fun.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Julie @ JadeSky:

Are you more likely to choose to read a book based on the synopsis, or the cover?

98.6% of the time, I’m choosing to read a book based on the synopsis. Covers lie and/or mislead. Well, synopses do, too, I guess. But really, those are the exceptions (and those who produce those need to be punished). Whether it’s the official inside-the-jacket-flap/back-of-the-book/author-or-publisher-website synopsis, an elevator pitch I hear on podcast interview with an author, or a blogger’s version of the synopsis–it’s knowing what the book is about more than whatever picture is on the front that’s going to get me to read a book.

At the same time–outside of getting a recommendation from a blogger/author/etc. it’s going to come down to the cover to get my attention and get me to read the synopsis (even if it’s just the author’s name on a cover).

What about you?

COVER REVEAL: Always the Dead by Stephen J. Golds

By HCNewton

On September 10, 2021

In Book Tour, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Welcome to The Irresponsible Reader’s part in the Cover Reveal for Always the Dead by Stephen J. Golds! Before we get to the striking cover down below, I’ve got a few words to share about the book.

Book Blurb

Los Angeles, California. 1949.

Scott Kelly is a World War Two Marine veteran and mob hitman confined to a Tuberculosis sanatorium suffering from consumption, flashbacks and nightmares from his experiences in The Battle of Okinawa and a botched hit for Bugsy Siegel.

When his movie actress girlfriend disappears, he bribes his way out of the sanatorium to search for her.

What follows is a frantic search, a manic murder spree, stolen contraband, and a briefcase full of cash.

A story that stretches from the war torn beaches of Okinawa, all the way to the playground of the rich and famous, Palm Springs, California.

An exploration into the depths of L.A crime, PTSD and twisted love, this is a semi-fictional novel based around the disappearance of Jean Spangler.

And now…

The Cover

Always the Dead

Once again, Red Dog Press wows with a cover. They’ve got to have one of the better batting averages for covers out there, right?

As good as the cover is, I’m betting the interior of the book is better–you can pre-order this now at: Red Dog Press.

My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this reveal and the materials they provided.

WWW Wednesday, September 8, 2021

By HCNewton

On September 8, 2021

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

I’ve read a couple of killer books in a row, the kind of reads that I’m intimidated to try to write about, you know? Anything I say will be a disservice. But that’s a problem for another time, now, it’s time for the check in that is 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 just started Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza, which I’ve been looking forward to for a while, and am listening to the fairly amusing Yearbook by Seth Rogen (and a supporting cast) on audiobook.

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What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Lee Matthew Goldberg’s Stalker Stalked, which was just stunning, and the unimpressive Robert Ludlum’s The Treadstone Exile by Joshua Hood, Ron Butler (Narrator) on audio.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be a little Christmas in September with Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt and my next audiobook should be Bound by Benedict Jacka, Gildart Jackson (Narrator).

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Hit me with your Three W’s in the comments! (no, really, do it!)

TRUE DEAD TOUR: A Q&A with Faith Hunter

By HCNewton

On September 6, 2021

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood, Urban Fantasy

Thanks to an overactive Spam filter, I missed the invitation to submit questions. Thankfully, Audrey at Let’s Talk came through for me and got me this Q&A. I enjoyed it, hope you do, too.

What was your inspiration for Jane’s character/storyline? Was it the Katie’s Ladies idea or something else. You have probably already answered this 1000 times.

It’s always a great question. I started out with Katie’s Ladies. The first time I thought about writing an urban fantasy it was with the description of Katie’s Ladies running through my mind. I had the idea of a vamp bordello and the madam trying to figure out who had killed her girl. But it very quickly morphed into a Cherokee chick solving paranormal crimes and getting sucked into working for the master of the city. I love writing mystery and thrillers, and in fact spent the first 15 years or so my career writing just that under the name Gwen Hunter.

When you started writing Skinwalker, did you envision how many books this would stretch to?

Oh heck no. I planned on three. The end of book three was supposed to be Rick and Jane riding off into the sunset together, a reformed bad boy werecat and a skinwalker. Then while I was writing that book, Charlaine Harris (yes, the Charlaine Harris) posted in her blog that she was reading Skinwalker. I was at Dragon Con when I learned that my book sales took off and Penguin wanted three more books. Soooo. Things changed. I owe it all to a friend who had no idea that Faith Hunter was the Gwen Hunter she met back in my mystery writing days at Mystery Writers of America. The kindness of successful writers helps to make other writers successful. We depend on each other so much!

Did Jane ever have a pet? I know dogs are afraid of her scent, but what about other cats?

No, Jane never had a pet. Well… except Beast. (Wanders away laughing as Beast chuffs with irritation)

How do you decide who will die and does it affect you the same way as it does your readers?

If a character needs to die, I usually know it as I’m writing the outline for that book, but not always. Sometimes it happens as I write the scene and I have been known to have to go back and alter the outline for a whole book when a character dies. And then there are the characters like Adrianna who keep coming back because times change and Leo doesn’t want her dead. Of course, Leo doesn’t want the Sons of Darkness dead either and Jane kinda ignored that all around.

Is Ricky Bo based on an old boyfriend?

Nope. Physically, Rick is based on my first cousin, Frenchy black eyes, Frenchy black hair, lean and rangy, long-lived, and self-contained. Emotionally Rick is based on a template of player, overlaid with cop-think.

My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour, this Q&A, and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

EXCERPT from True Dead by Faith Hunter: Vengeful Cat

By HCNewton

On September 6, 2021

In Book Tour, Faith Hunter, Fiction, Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood, Quotations, Urban Fantasy

from Chapter One of True Dead by Faith Hunter

(Beast)

Beast growled low, showed killing teeth again, eyes still on Koun. Sat with cow meat between claws. Ripped cover off meat and spat to floor. Tore meat off. Ate. Swallowed. Ate chunks. Water-blood ran across floor.

“You are angry. So, the messy kitchen is a lesson for Eli. What are you going to do to George? Hack up a hairball onto his pillow?”

Beast chuffed. Ate more meat. Belly was full. Dead cow meat was gone.

“Tell me, Vengeful Cat. Would you like to join the vampire hunters? The Chief strategist of Clan Yellowrock would be happy to follow you into battle.”

Beast ear tabs perked high. Venge-ful Cat. Was good name. Beast nodded as human does.

“Do you go in cat form, or do you shift into Jane?”

Most vampires and humans in Winter Court of Dark Queen did not know the I/we of Beast was not always Jane. Most did not know how to talk to not-human-forms. Koun knew how to talk but did not always act with knowledge. Koun asked two questions at one time. Could only ask one. Beast waited. Stared at Koun.

Koun pursed lips, thinking. “Do you hunt vampires in cat form?”

Beast licked paws and muzzle free of blood, rough tongue getting all blood and meat-bits from paws and toes and off pelt. Shook head no.

“Shift then. I’ll weapon up.” Koun turned and left kitchen, closing door softly.

Beast looked at office area. Met Brute eyes, blue as sun on ice. Brute shook head and went back to big mattress in office corner. Turned three times and curled into ball with lizard. Beast raced up stairs and into sleeping room. Went to place where Bruiser kept clothes. Nosed open door. Found Bruiser best shoes for dancing. Carried one to empty room and hid in empty closet. Could bite holes in dead-cow-skin-shoes with killing teeth, but did not want to make Bruiser sigh. Hiding shoe was enough. Chuffed. Padded back to bedroom, to bathroom, and leaped into place where humans lay in hot water. Was cold on Beast belly. Took claws off of Jane.

What the heck are you doing? Jane shouted at Beast.

Beast reached into Jane skinwalker magics and thought about Jane half form. Did not know what would happen when shifted. Did not know what form I/we would be. Most of Jane people did not know of Jane shifting problems. Some knew secret. Beast liked secrets. All cats liked secrets.

Read the rest in True Dead by Faith Hunter to see what happens from here—and just why Eli needed to learn a lesson.

My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT (and Giveaway): True Dead by Faith Hunter

By HCNewton

On September 6, 2021

In Book Tour, Faith Hunter, Fiction, Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood, Urban Fantasy

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the next Jane Yellowrock novel, True Dead by Faith Hunter. I’m not exaggerating when I say that that this is one of the novels I’ve been most looking forward to in 2021–and the release is just around the corner. Along with this spotlight post, I have a fun excerpt to share, as well as a Q&A with Faith Hunter. 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.

Oh, and don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of this post to enter a Giveaway for a cool prize or two.

But first, let’s take a look at True Dead.

Book Details:

Book Title: True Dead by Faith Hunter
Publisher: Ace Books
Release date: September 14, 2021
Format: Paperback/ebook
Length: 384 pages
ISBN: 9780451488732

Book Blurb:

Jane Yellowrock goes back to the city where it all began in the newest installment of this thrilling New York Times bestselling series.

Jane used to hunt vampires, but now she’s their queen. She’s holed up in the mountains with the Yellowrock Clan, enjoying a little peace, when a surprise attack on her people proves that trouble is brewing. Someone is using very old magic to launch a bid for power, and it’s all tied to the place where Jane was first drawn into the world of Leo Pellissier—the city of New Orleans.

Jane is compelled to return to NOLA because someone is trying to destabilize the paranormal world order. And because she now sits near the top of the vampire world, the assault is her problem. She will do what she must to protect what’s hers. Her city. Her people. Her power. Her crown.

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-a-Million ~ IndieBound ~ The Book Depository ~ Kobo ~ Google Books ~ Apple Books

About Faith Hunter:

Faith Hunter is the award-winning New York Times and USAToday bestselling author of the Jane Yellowrock, Soulwood, Rogue Mage, and Junkyard Cats series. In addition, she has edited several anthologies and co-authored the Rogue Mage RPG. She is the coauthor and author of 16 thrillers under pen names Gary Hunter and Gwen Hunter. Altogether she has 40+ books and dozens of short stories in print and is juggling multiple projects.

She sold her first book in 1989 and hasn’t stopped writing since.

Faith collects orchids and animal skulls, loves thunderstorms, and writes. She likes to cook soup, bake bread, garden, and kayak Class II & III whitewater rivers. She edits the occasional anthology and drinks a lot of tea. Some days she’s a lady. Some days she ain’t.

Find Faith online at:

Website ~ Facebook (official) ~ Facebook Fan Group ~ Twitter ~

Yellowrock Securities website ~ Gwen Hunter website

Giveaway!

Enter to win some fabulous prizes! Giveaway is open to US residents only.

3 winners will receive a bag of Faith’s tea blend + a signed manuscript revision page
3 winners will receive a signed manuscript revision page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(in case the Rafflecopter widget doesn’t appear, just click here)

My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

Saturday Miscellany—9/4/21

By HCNewton

On September 4, 2021

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

There was a point this morning I really wondered if I’d be able to post this today–I had so many problems–my password manager, browser, and then operating system all had strange glitches–consecutively, mind you. I felt like a Pakled, I just wanted someone to “Make it go.” It literally took me an hour to get to the point I could start assembling the post.

Remember when computers were going to make our lives easier?

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 Writers notes: the record label remixing novels into music—This is such a weird idea, but I’m curious about it—has anyone out there listened to something like this?
bullet The Brilliant History of Books, From Egyptian Scrolls to E-Readers—yeah, this is sort of a “history of books in 2 minutes” approach, but it’s a good summary
bullet Picking up a book for fun positively affects verbal abilities—I almost just put “duh” here, but that seemed to counter the premise. Most readers of this post know this, but it’s always nice to get some confirmation, right? I know when I’d have a major paper in college/grad school, I’d crack open a Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin novel before writing—it always got my mind cranking in the right way.
bullet The Only Way Out Is Through: On Reading Slumps—I think there’s actually a new-to-me recommendation in the last paragraph (and one I should implement)
bullet What Makes a Book ‘Appropriate’ for School?
bullet What to do when you run out of bookshelf space
bullet Why William Gibson Is a Literary Genius—well, yeah.
bullet A Reacher Relay Race: PW Talks with Lee and Andrew Child
bullet Fran Lebowitz: ‘If people disagree with me, so what?’—a good interview with Lebowitz. I wish she’d find a way through the block, I could use something fresher than the Reader (not that I don’t occasionally re-read a piece or two from that to this day)
bullet I Stopped Writing My Series Years Ago. But Something Kept Calling Me Back.—I’ve never heard of the series in question, and I don’t think I’ve heard of the author, but I love his story…and am tempted to dip a toe in the water of the series.
bullet The Dragonlance Books Launched My Lifelong Love of Fantasy
bullet The D&D Connection: Authors and TTRPGs—Witty & Sarcastic Book Club had a great series this week on D&D and the effect it had (or didn’t have) on various authors.
bullet This Gentlemen Bastards Quote Thread! (Non-Spoiler) from @BookMeanderings almost made me abandon my books for the week to reread The Lies of Locke Lamora
bullet How to create a reading routine that works?—Frankly, I preferred it when Nonfictionality produced articles rather than videos, but this is worth the time.
bullet Embracing the DNF: 3 Reasons It’s Okay to Read Something Else
bullet Announcement: Novels & Waffles is Moving to Bibliosmile.com—While I’m going to miss Novels & Waffles, I’m glad she found a way to stick with blogging in a way that works for her, and am looking forward to seeing what happens with it.

The Friday 56 for 9/3/21: The Run-Out Groove by Andrew Cartmel

By HCNewton

On September 3, 2021

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:
The Run-Out Groove

The Run-Out Groove by Andrew Cartmel

“…for all these reasons, singles are ten times as hard to find as LPs. And when the record is rare to start with, as in the case of Valerian…”

“It’s almost impossible to find.”

“Yes.” Nevada rolled over, leaning on her elbow and looking at me. “And yet,” she said. “And yet I don’t sense any hopelessness in your voice.”

“Don’t you?”

“Not even any fashionable cynicism.”

“Oh dear.”

“In fact what I sense, when you expound at such great length on just how fucking impossible it is to find this record of Valerian’s, is quiet confidence.”

I smiled in the darkness. She could see right through me. “That’s because | think I know someone who’s got a copy,” I said.

COVER REVEAL: The Case of the Missing Firefly (Stonebridge #4) by Chris McDonald

By HCNewton

On September 3, 2021

In Book Tour, Chris McDonald/Frost, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, The Stonebridge Mysteries

Welcome to The Irresponsible Reader’s part in the Cover Reveal for Chris McDonald’s The Case of the Missing Firefly! This means 2 things:

I have a nifty image to share (I wrote this before I looked at the image, but based on the previous three covers, I feel safe saying that)
In about a month I’m going to have a pleasant day with the book and will very likely be saying something complimentary things.

But before we get to the cover down below, but before the picture, I’ve got a few words to share about the book.

Book Blurb

The notoriously hard-drinking, backstabbing Stonebridge Radio crew are having their Hallowe’en party on Winkle Island, rumoured to be the most haunted place in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, Adam and Colin are there too, having accepted an easy payday from Colin’s event organising mother.

At dinner, a shocking announcement is followed by an even more shocking murder, and the theft of a priceless Firefly necklace. To top it all, thanks to a raging storm, everyone is trapped on the island.

Faced with devious radio presenters, a strange tour guide, and a rampaging murderer, Adam and Colin are back in business.
The Case of the Missing Firefly is the fourth in the Stonebridge Mysteries series of cosy crime novellas.

Publication date: September 28, 2021

About the series

Stonebridge is a small town on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Most of its inhabitants are friendly, happy people. Most of them… Because bad things happen even in the happiest of places. It’s a good thing, then, that Adam Whyte and Colin McLaughlin call Stonebridge home.

Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of detective shows, a misplaced sense of confidence and a keen desire to see justice done, these two are the closest thing the town has to saviours. Which isn’t that reassuring…

About the Author

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, published by Red Dog Press in 2021.

And now…

The Cover

The Case of the Missing Firefly
The cover designers at Red Dog have done it again, this is probably my favorite so far.

Again, this book comes out on September 28th, but you can pre-order this now at: Red Dog Press.

My thanks to Chris McDonald for the invitation to participate in this reveal and the materials he provided.

WWW Wednesday, September 1, 2021

By HCNewton

On September 1, 2021

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

Running a little late with WWW Wednesday today, but here it is.

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 currently reading the ARC of True Dead by Faith Hunter in preparation for a Book Tour Stop Monday. Also, I’m revisiting Bone Canyon by Lee Goldberg, Nicol Zanzarella (Narrator) on audiobook because it was so fun and I wanted to remember a couple of details before book three hits this fall.

Blank Space

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished Andrew Cartmel’s The Run-Out Groove, the second Vinyl Detective novel—something that’s been sitting on my shelf since 2018. I also just finished the audiobook for the very clever The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz, Rory Kinnear (Narrator) on audio.

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What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever by John McWhorter, because it sounds amusing and interesting—also, I haven’t read a non-fiction book in so long, I feel like I’ve forgotten how. My next audiobook should be Robert Ludlum’s The Treadstone Exile by Joshua Hood, Ron Butler (Narrator).

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What are you reading to kick off September?