If you’ve hung around here at The Spinning Pen at all, you’ll know a fun fact about us that isn’t very surprising: we all LOVE to read.
Last week, Caleb talked about the Reading Only Challenge he’s embarking on, and I thought I would add a little writing tip to go along with his fantastic idea. Missed his post? Check it out at the link above. Continue reading
It seems like more and more, the holiday season is just jam-packed with wall-to-wall everything, and that can be both exciting and utterly exhausting. It starts in October and doesn’t really let up until the beginning of January.
And with everything that’s going on during the holidays, how on earth are we supposed to tackle our amazing TBR piles of glorious books, much less spend time with those novels we’ve been writing?
I’ll tell you what, Pen Friends, I’m staring at an absolutely insane schedule this week, between the day job, a very tight freelance deadline, rehearsals for a play, and getting ready for Christmas (say what?! Christmas is in less than a week? How did that happen?), and I’m sad to say there will be little to no time for books this week. So many tears.
If any of you are in a similar space with too much to do and not enough time for holiday cheer, I have a suggestion! Make time for it. I know, I know, I’m crying just thinking about how I can cram another thing into my schedule, but hear me out. I’m going to try to listen to myself, as well.
True bookworms find clever ways to do bookish things (and this can apply to anything you care about, even if you’re *gasp!* not much of a reader). Sneak the important stuff into the gaps of your day.
Even if you’re just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of activity swirling around you, you can–and should–take a few minutes to just sit and be quiet. Make a list of the good things that have happened this year while brushing your teeth. Plot out your antagonist’s troubled backstory while cleaning your house for the ugly sweater soirée you’re hosting. Sneak in another chapter during your lunch break.
Here’s my idea for making the season bright and nerdy. Let’s take a page out of my favorite Icelandic Christmas tradition: every year, most Icelanders get at least one new book as a Christmas gift. Since they traditionally open gifts on Christmas Eve, once everyone receives said new book, they then all spend time quietly reading together.
How wonderful is that? It might not be the most spirited way to start a holiday party, but it sure sounds like a great way to wrap one up. If you’re having a gathering, invite your friends/family to bring a book they love, wrapped up all pretty. Then, let everyone open one, and voila! New books for all! You can even trade around until everyone has one they’re excited about. Finish the night with some reading time. (Have a bunch of extroverts in your group? Stage dramatic readings of your new books for added excitement!)
I hope you have a chance to slow down for a bit and experience some of the joy that this season can bring. And of course, may you be filled to the brim with great stories of all kinds.
Dana, signing off to go find some hot cocoa.
Pen Friends ~ We have an amazing guest with us today with an amazing topic to share. Megan LaCroix is a YA author, major book & author advocate, #BookRave creator, #PitchWars Mentee, blogger extraordinaire, and an explosion of inspiration and wisdom!
In her writerly way, Megan La Croix is going to share how to hero your favorite books and support authors you know! (Can all the authors out there say, Amen?)
Be a Book Hero: Ways to Support Your Favorite Authors
If you read a book and you can’t stop thinking about it, consider going the extra mile to spread the word. Authors depend on word of mouth as it creates the best buzz, and this is where you can help. Here are seven ways to support authors—whether that person is a close friend, a CP, or someone you just discovered and fell in love with—so they can keep on publishing those words you crave! Continue reading
Summer is drifting away before our eyes here in the Northern Hemisphere. And it’s been quite the season! Here at the Spinning Pen, we’ve been traveling the globe, indulging in iced coffee, soaking up the sun, writing stories, and of course, READING ALL THE BOOKS!
If you’ve been hanging out with us for long, you’ll remember that we launched the first SP Summer Reading Challenge, and now that it’s September, it’s time to wrap it up.
We’re dying to know: what books did you read this summer? Did you find a new favorite? If you checked out any of our recommendations, we’d love to hear from you. And if you discovered a gem somewhere along the line, we want to know that, too! We are all about sharing stories with friends.
(Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the prize!)
If you read at least two books this summer (between June 1 and today, September 11), you are eligible to enter our giveaway for MORE BOOKS! That’s right, the winner will receive a $15 USD gift card for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or my personal indie favorite Powell’s Books (can be used online if you’re not in the Portland, Oregon area). Never fear, international friends! You can enter, too! And if you win, I’ll send you a book of your choice (valued up to $15 USD) through Book Depository, provided that they ship to your country of residence.
Just use the Rafflecopter link below to enter. You’ll get 2 bonus entries if you read a book from our list of recommendations. (Open until 9/17/17.)
Dana, signing off to enjoy one last iced coffee and a good book!
Raise your hand if you were ever that kid who couldn’t wait for the summer reading program at the library. I know it wasn’t just me.
We might not be quite so little anymore, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t look forward to a stack of glorious books in summer! With that in mind, we’d like to present you with:
Veronica doesn’t think she’s going crazy. But why can’t anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.
But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.
Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna’s great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica’s daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they’ve longed for…or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.
DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation.
I’ve got to be honest. I was hopelessly addicted to this series. So much love for these characters, and their story. It pulled on every string in my heart. The series brims with hope, innocence, adventure, faith, love, power, risk, dreams, truth, and power.
One of the coolest things in the book was the friendship between Veronica and Mackenna, the two protagonists. These best friends surprised me and quickly become my friends too. Lorie and Carey talk about these characters here in an interview I did with them.
Lorie and Carey co-authored the series, which gave them a unique advantage with their characters’ voice. Each MC was so different, so likable, so full of quirks and personality. I loved that the moment one of them spoke, I knew who was speaking. Best of all, Mackenna and Veronica were relatable in every way.
Through the book, and the series, I enjoyed the hilariousness. The musical obsessions. The Shakespeare. The references. The sense that we are made for more. The fantasy. The power of the love calling. And the desire to enter into other realms. I was drawn to Doon just as much as the girls!
And what of the two swoony, Scottish princes, you ask? Jaime and Duncan put on such a good show! They continued to impress or drive you crazy or melt your heart the entire series! **Kudos, ladies.
On world building. For someone who has lived in the UK, spent time in Scotland, and Italy, and around the world, I was smitten with the use of language and culture and setting, and even how in DOON it took on so many other cultures. Guys, it seriously made me want to hop on a plane…and I mean, searching internet prices. 🙂
Now here’s an confession.. the book cover gave me a different idea of what the story might be like. I almost didn’t read it! How silly is that? But we do judge books by their covers…Thank God I kept flipping!!! When I read the first chapter, I was enthralled with the voice of the book.
The plot was fast paced and not predictable. It held my interest the entire series.
In book one, I was drawn more to Veronica and Jaime’s story. When I started book two I didn’t think the plot or their love story could be as good or better…but wow. I was wrong!
Highly recommend this series 🙂
Book 2: Destined for Doon
Mini Review: LOVED this book.
The love story between Mackenna and Duncan was so different to Jaime and Veronica’s and the plot so vastly new, again, I was so impressed and sucked in. I finished so quickly, it was one of those moments you were happy that you didn’t know about this series until all of them were out so you didn’t have to wait!
Book 3: Shades of Doon.
Mini Review: Again, by this time, you are so invested in the characters that you love doing things with them. This book adventured, and dreamed, and did again, new things! It was one of those books you didn’t want to be over, and Lorie and Carey gave me that in this book.
Book 4: Forever Doon
Mini review: Finally, I knew this was the end. The last book. It had better go out with a bang.
Then of course, what we don’t want to happen, happens. But the book does something new yet again and it does not disappoint.
Final word? Read it!
Nova, signing off.
The Spinning Pen 