Category: Miscellany

Auto Added by WPeMatico

2020 While I Was Reading Challenge

On December 31, 2020

I’ll talk more about the 2020 Reading Challenges I took part in soon, but I want to focus on the 2020 While I Was Reading Challenge today. And not just because it’s the only one I completed.

This was the third year for it, and the third year I participated and managed to complete. I really enjoy the categories that Ramona puts together, and a few times has made me think about books/titles in ways I wouldn’t normally. And yes, I’m coming back for the 2021 Challenge.

I finished the last one on this list Tuesday night (“A book that’s been on your shelf for more than a year” YES! One more off the TBR!!), a little closer to the 31st than I’d like, but…eh. Whatever. I’ve written at least a little about all but one of them (although, I thought I’d written about it, too, until about an hour ago), you can read that if you click the links.

2020 While I Was Reading Challenge Categories

A book with an emotion in the title: City of Hate by Timothy S. Miller
A young adult novel: Venators: Legends Rise by Devri Wells
A book translated from another language: Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling, Jamie Lee Searle (Translator)
A book that’s centered around a holiday: Silent Bite by David Rosenfelt
A novel based on a true story: Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart, Christina Moore
A book with song lyrics in the title: Back to Reality by Mark Stay, Mark Oliver, Narrated by Kim Bretton
A book that’s been on your shelf for more than a year: Light It Up by Nick Petrie
A book with a non-human narrator: Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn
A book with a month in the title: May Day by Josie Jaffrey
A book you heard about on TV/Radio/a podcast: No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox (heard about on WTF with Marc Maron Podcast Episode 1176)
A book set in the state you live in: Rattlesnake Rodeo by Nick Kowalski (I actually read 5 books that would meet that this year, never read so many set in Idaho before. Maybe one a year, max. Very strange year)
A romance novel: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan, Narrated by Ryan Gesell, Tara Sands

Thanksgiving 2020

By HCNewton

On November 26, 2020

In Calendar Items, Miscellany, News/Misc.

Even in the midst of this dumpster fire of a year, there’s a lot to be grateful for–not just the fact that we got two Dresden novels from Jim Butcher (but definitely that). I do a semi-serious/semi-jokey post on this day, but this year, I think I’ll just simply say a sincere thank you to everyone who’s read this blog, commented, (re)tweeted a post, tweeted at me, recruited me for a Book Tour, asked me to read their book, wrote/published a book I’ve read (and/or bought with the intention of reading someday).

I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving—full of whatever it is that you like to fill the holiday with.*

* or, y’know, a good Thursday for everyone not in the U.S.

Claw & Order: Coming Soon to Kickstarter

By HCNewton

On October 1, 2020

In Anton Strout, Miscellany, News/Misc., Urban Fantasy

After teasing fans for years with kickstarting a project, Anton Strout is coming to Kickstarter next week with Claw & Order, “a collection of stories that tie into the worlds of my Simon Canderous and Spellmason Chronicles book series.”

Am a big fan of both series–and I cannot wait. Click here (or on the graphic above) to be taken to the pre-launce page so you get notified when it goes live. Day one backers get an exclusive Dept of Extraordinary Affairs badge pin—and the feeling of satisfaction that comes from supporting a heckuva writer.

If you don’t know who Strout is, or what his series are about. Head on over to https://www.theonceandfuturepodcast.com to check out his podcast, The Once and Future Podcast, or either series—The Simon Canderous Novels or The Spellmason Chronicles. You’ll be glad you did.

Just kick the start first.

WWW Wednesday, July 8, 2020

By HCNewton

On July 8, 2020

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

It’s the 190th day of 2020, which happens to be a Wednesday, so we might as well do a WWW Wednesday, right? (every time I previewed this, at least one image didn’t show up…hey, look, the host transfer issues I worried about are showing up!)