Tag: State of the Blog

Coming Attractions

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On August 28, 2017

In News/Misc.

I don’t have any books to post about today — as of this writing, I’ve got about 20 minutes of reading left in one book, am waiting on something from an author on another, and am in the middle of 2 short story collections, so I’m stuck for material for posts. But not for long! While I have a much longer TBR list — and another dozen or so books that I actually own, but haven’t gotten to — her’s what I’m calling my “Active TBR List” — those books that I intend on knocking out in the next month. I’ll probably get one or two others in, and not get to all of these right away, but this is my hope/plan. I’m curious — how far out do you guys plan? What’s on your list?

    and I’ve got these waiting in paperback or on my Kindle and I’m getting impatient with other things getting in my way:

  • The Song of The Swan by Michael RN Jones
  • Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
  • Rubicon by Ian Patrick

I’m not sure I should’ve listed it like this — it’s both exciting and overwhelming.

Looking back at 2016 for Books and the Blog

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On January 2, 2017

In Calendar Items, News/Misc.

As we kick off 2017, I wanted to take a glance back at 2016. 241 books read — I exceeded my goal (I don’t remember what it was at the beginning, but I revised it a couple of times and still beat it by 6), 444 posts (short of my goal by a couple hundred), I had some good gains in traffic — views and visitors (not as much as the previous couple of years, but that’s better than a loss). I’m also seeing good growth in followers here and on various social media fronts, which is encouraging as all get out.

So here’s my breakdown of books by genre, like the one I did last year. Mystery/Suspense took a hit this year percentage-wise, but not as much as I thought it did. SF and Fantasy jumped up to make up for that. it’s been forever since I’ve read a Western, I guess (at least one that wasn’t a hybrid with Urban Fantasy or SF or something). Theological books went down in actual numbers, not just percent — but I read some big, technical stuff this year that took a lot more time/energy to read, so I’m not too bothered by that. Still, for someone who doesn’t plan too thoroughly, the percentages stay remarkably the same from year to year — tastes (and series I follow) apparently stay the same.

Genre 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2012-16
Children’s 5 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)

 5 (0%)
Fantasy 31 (13%) 17 (9%) 11 (7%) 15 (8%) 12 (6%) 86 (9%)
General Fiction/Literature 27 (11%) 17 (9%) 7 (4%) 30 (16%) 30 (14%) 111 (11%)
Horror 1 (.4%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%0 0 (0%) 1 (0%)
Humor 0 (0%) 1 (1%) 3 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 4 (0%)
Mystery/Suspense 61 (25%) 64 (34%) 62 (37%) 63 (33%) 73 (35%) 323 (32%)
Non-Fiction 11 (5%) 8 (4%) 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 11 (5%) 36 (4%)
Science Fiction 37 (15%) 16 (8%) 17 (10%) 14 (7%) 11 (5%) 95 (9%)
Steampunk 2 (1%) 7 (4%) 3 (2%) 3 (2%) 11 (5%) 26 (3%)
Theology/Christian Living 33 (14%) 42 (22%) 42 (25%) 37 (19%) 10 (5%) 164 (16%)
Urban Fantasy 36 (15%) 19 (10%) 20 (12%) 26 (14%) 48 (23%) 149 (15%)
Western 0 (0%)

 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (0%) 1 (0%)

Backlog (writing and reading)

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On August 13, 2016

In News/Misc.

I’ve had a couple of weeks lately where I open up a file to write a review/review-like thing and nothing happens, there were 4 I tried to write this week that didn’t get done. This is extraordinarily frustrating.

Well, just to feel like I actually accomplished something today (other than finishing a pretty decent book), I just updated my Reviews in Progress page. I just added 23 books from this summer that I haven’t made/found time to write about.

The size of my TBR list is about the same. I’m tempted to make a similar page for it, but think I’ll hold off, as it fluctuates a bit.

Wow! I really, really, really need to get to work . . . Authors who are waiting, I promise I’m doing what I can.

Audiobooks and Other Programming Notes

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On June 16, 2016

In Audiobook, News/Misc.

Two days without a post about a book, which is pretty annoying — I’ve been working on a couple, but somehow I haven’t finished any since Tuesday. Sorry!

So my new job involves a lot of — I want to say mindless work, but that’s not true. Le’s just say that there’s a lot of work where you’re isolated and could use something to occupy part of your mind. So I’ve been listening to more audiobooks than normal. Many of which are books I’ve read before, so they’re sort of part of the Reread Project. But I’m working in a few new books, too. I need to get better a simply regurgitating what I’ve said before about these re-reads, I realize.

Let me just say, I’m really disappointed in the tastes of whoever it is in my library that borrows audiobooks. Based on the selection, there’s high demand for lousy books.

Come to think of it, looking at the shelves, that’s true of paper books, too — it’s just more obvious in the small sample size of audiobooks.

Anyway, when it comes to audiobooks, it’s impossible to just keep things to the writing itself, performance comes in to play, too. So I have to talk that some (and I’ve listened to a couple lately that have hurt the books, and a couple that have helped the books, one or two that made no difference). I want to keep the focus on writing, story, character — but part of the audiobook experience is the narrator(s). I may end up lumping a few write-ups into one post instead of several individual. Also, I’m going to try to keep the audiobook talk to Fridays (no reason, just wanted to pick a day).

So, that’s what’s going on with me — a little writer’s block, a whole bunch of good books, a new type of book showing up regularly, and me falling more and more behind on posts.

What are you reading lately?

Changes (no, not THAT Dresden Files book)

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On March 7, 2016

In News/Misc.

(there’s far less bloodshed here)

So, I started a new job today — which is exciting, and stressful, and good news and many other things. For the first time in almost a decade, I won’t be working the Graveyard Shift anymore — I get to sleep when it’s dark and be awake during the day like a Real Person™ (further proof that my life is not, alas, Urban Fantasy).

What does this mean for the blog? Hopefully, not much — after a period of adjustment. But last week’s minimal posting was due to me running around trying to get ready for this change, and I anticipate the same this week. Next week? I don’t know . . . time will tell.

Please bear with me, I’ve got a lot of balls in the air when it comes to this thing — a lot of plans and hopes, I’m not walking away, just making some adjustments.

February 2016 Report

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On March 1, 2016

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

So, here’s what happened here in February.

Books Read:

The Miracles of Jesus The Prince of Tides Guardians
4 Stars 2 1/2 Stars 3.5 Stars
Confessions of a Clumsy Christian: Unqualified The Highly Capable The Batgirl of Burnside
2 Stars 3.5 Stars 3.5 Stars
The Relic Master Thing Explainer</a The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
DNF
 4 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
Glory Veiled & Unveiled Some Assembly Required Talking to the Dead
3.5 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars
No Problem, Mr. Walt Freedom's Child Steal the Sky
3.5 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars
The Story of Lucius Cane        
3 Stars        

Still Reading:

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 1 Morning Star    

Reviews Posted:

How was your month?

January 2016 Report

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On February 1, 2016

In Books, Calendar Items, Currently Reading, News/Misc.

(I need to think of a catchier name for these posts…)

So, here’s what happened here in January.

Books Read:

Indexing: Reflections The Book of Unknown American Sex & Violence in the Bible
3.5 Stars 3.5 Stars 3 Stars
The Next to Last Word The Odd Fellows Society Hidden
3.5 Stars 3 Stars 3.5 Stars
In Defense of the Moth The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy The Sabbath
3 Stars 6 3 Stars
Songs of a Suffering King Sing a New Song Winter
3 Stars 4 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
The Storms of Deliverance Lessons from Tara Three Slices
3.5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars
Staked The Intern Missing Mona
4 1/2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars

Still Reading:

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 1 The Miracles of Jesus

Reviews Posted:

How was your month?

Thanks for a Great 2014

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On January 2, 2015

In Calendar Items, News/Misc.

So, that’s 2014, eh? 169 books read (short of my goal by 21), 211 posts (short of my goal by a couple hundred), almost triple the traffic over last year.

I did a quick breakdown of how my reading broke down by genre over the last few years. There were a few anomalies this year (what’s up with my Urban Fantasy and General Fiction numbers?) which makes it interesting for me, anyway — don’t know about the rest of you.

Genre 2014 2013 2012 2012-2014
Fantasy 11 (7%) 15 (8%) 12 (6%) 38 (7%)
General Fiction/Literature 7 (4%) 30 (16%) 30 (14%) 67 (12%)
Humor 3 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 3 (1%)
Mystery/Suspense 62 (37%) 63 (33%) 73 (35%) 198 (35%)
Non-Fiction 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 11 (5%) 17 (3%)
Science Fiction 17 (10%) 14 (7%) 11 (5%) 42 (7%)
Steampunk 3 (2%) 3 (2%) 11 (5%) 17 (3%)
Theology/Christian Living 42 (25%) 37 (19%) 10 (5%) 89 (16%)
Urban Fantasy 20 (12%) 26 (14%) 48 (23%) 94 (17%)
Western 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (0%) 1 (0%)

Hopefully everything will be higher next year — books, posts, and traffic. We’ll see — I’m doing the Goodreads Challenge again (same goal as the last 2 years, 190) and I think I’m going to try to work in The Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge
. I might throw in a couple other “projects” that I’ve been thinking about.

Putting the Irresponsible into the Blog

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On September 19, 2014

In Currently Reading, News/Misc.

The “irresponsible” in the blog title is supposed to mean that I read whatever, with only a regard for what catches my eye, not in an effort to better myself or be literary or live up to whatever standard — but it’s not supposed to be a reference to my posting frequency.

So what happened to me this week? Reread Project was up late (2 weeks in a row) and then . . . nothing. I got busy with the non-book part of my life (work, parenting, etc.) and had a hard time finishing that post. Almost decided to give myself a week off, put up a “Gone Reading” sign and let things go silent here. But I decided I needed the pressure of a schedule to get things done — mostly not getting behind again on reviews.

But if you look at the blog, that’s pretty much what I did. I did work on two reviews and one non-review piece that should’ve been up by now (no, really, I did) — the first review, Premonitions by Jamie Schultz is giving me a really hard time for some reason. I really wanted to get that one up, because it’s the kind of book that a lot of people should be saying many nice things about. That one should’ve been up Wednesday afternoon. Maybe, if everything goes perfectly over the next couple of days, it’ll be up Tuesday, with many more to follow next week.

As far as tackling the ol’ TBR pile goes . . . I’m torn between books that I’ve told authors I want to read, books with library due dates, and a few new books I actually bought a couple weeks ago and haven’t even looked at yet. I don’t mean to ignore Jacka’s Hidden. Really. Got it on release day, two and a half weeks ago. Maybe I can start that Thursday of next week. This morning, I technically started M. R. Carey’s The Girl with All the Gifts (read 4 pages before falling in to a much needed coma). Then this afternoon, I had about 15 minutes to sit in my car waiting for my kids at school and realized I forgot to bring it along. Thankfully, I’d just come from the library, so I had something on hand, namely Chelsea Cain’s One Kick. Wow. Just wow. What a beginning. Sure, the first 50 pages or so don’t do much beyond deliver what’s promised on the cover, but they deliver it with a bang. I am so hooked. Expect a rave from me on this one (unless it falls apart in a horrible way).

Anyway, that’s a lot of blather really — mostly about stuff that no one cares about, but just putting this up there will make me feel better about the posting frequency this week. Thanks for indulging me.

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