Reading and Writing Wrap-Up: September

Fall is finally here and for once I'm managing to get this post out on time! The last few weeks have been busy as far as my personal life is concerned. Work has kept me busy, but I managed to get a little reading and writing done last month.

READING:

Books Reviewed in September:

I was really close to finishing Lost Wages of Sin by Rosalie Stanton, but I have a few more chapters to go. So, you will see that review this month.

Books Read in September:

I nearly finished Lost Wages of Sin by Rosalie Stanton. I like this book but it does edge into that erotica territory for me. It doesn't seem to be specifically labeled as such, and the plot and characters are solid, but there's a little more crude language than I'm used to and some seriously spicy scenes. 

Books to read in October:

I've yet to pick my next book. And while I'm super behind on my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge I'm considering reading something mainstream. I have a few books on my shelf I've been waiting to get to including Moonlight Sins by Jennifer Armentrout.



WRITING:

Betaing for Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) has slowed a little, but I'm still moving forward with that. Other than some betaing I didn't really do much writing last month.

BLOGGING:

I've been slacking in the blogging department. Sorry about that. The  #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge page did get updated last month. So, if you're looking for an indie read this fall, check it out. I'm already making plans for #IndieBookGoal2019 and I think there will be some changes to the rules for next year. I'm hoping to get more bloggers involved. So, stay tuned for that.

PERSONAL:

I've been super busy the last few weeks with work and spending time with family, but overall things have been good.

What are you planning to read this fall?

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up: August

Once again my monthly wrap-up post is late. But, I'm glad to say that I'm reading a little more consistently, writing more, and have even gotten through some beta critiques on Unraveling in the Night. It's still been a little slow going, but I'm working to revise some of the ways I used to do things to be more efficient.

Whether you're a writer or just a reader you know that there are times when you have to make time for the things you love, aka: books, and I think I've been doing a little better at that lately.

READING:

Books Reviewed in August:

I finished Spark of Fire by Grace Anthony. This was definitely a worthwhile read. It was fun and fast-paced and it's a YA book that I think would appeal to younger readers. This book was a part of my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge.

Books Read in August:

I started Lost Wages of Sin by Rosalie Stanton, and I'm definitely sucked in. Definitely, an adult read, but it hasn't delved into erotica territory so I'm happy with it so far. A little more crude language than I'm used to, especially after just finishing a YA read, but the plot is solid and I'm in love with the characters.

Books to read in September:

I will be finishing Lost Wages of Sin, and despite being crazy busy I should be able to start one more before the end of the month. Not sure what I'll pick yet. Since I'm super behind on my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge it should probably be another Indie Pledge Book.



WRITING:

Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) is finally on Scribophile and I've been getting feedback from betas!

BLOGGING:

Bah, when did blogging become so hard!? I know my posts have been fewer, farther between and less consistent. I've been considering revamping what I post about and when to get into a new routine. So, stay tuned for that.

I do have an update on the  #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge. I haven't updated the list in a few months, but will be doing so today! If any of you have pledged to read Indie Books this year, I'd love to hear about what books you've read and where you are in achieving your goal (whether you've pulled books from my list or not!). Please comment below.

PERSONAL:

I have been busting my butt in my yard trying to get some plants in the ground before summer turns into winter -- because inevitably fall will somehow end up getting skipped over. The weather here has still consistently been in the 80's and I have a feeling it will stay like that until it snows. Can't I just get a nice 70 degree day, please!

How was the end of your summer?

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up: July

So, if you follow my blog on a regular basis, I'm sure you noticed that I was MIA all of July. I kind of just fell off the map for the month. No blog posts, no activity on Twitter or any of my social media accounts. I just disappeared. No, I'm not dead. I'm perfectly fine.

I just needed a break.

Any blogger or writer out there will tell you that keeping up with making content to put out to the world can wear on you after a while -- especially if on top of your writing career you also work full-time.

So, I took a break in July, and I'll be honest. I needed it. I feel like I've been working so hard just to try and keep up this year that I've stressed myself out to the point where I'm barely reading and writing has felt forced. So, instead, I spent some time working on my house. My husband and I bought a motorcycle, and I spent a few nights vegging out to some Netflix-binging.

I'm gonna keep this post short this month. I barely read in July, though I do plan to finish  Spark of Fire by Grace Anthony soon, and I'm only now getting back into the writing groove.

I'm going to try and focus all my energy toward getting Unraveling in the Night ready to go as I'd like to publish it this fall, and that's about it for now.

You may see my blogging and social media presence continue to be a little more spaced out than it was, but I promise. I'm not going anywhere.

How was your July?

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up: May

It's only May, but Summer is here, and I've gotten a little distracted from my writing and reading by the sunshine. But, I do have some things I've been working on and some things to share. So, read on to see what I've been up to.

READING:

Books Reviewed in May:

I posted my review of Snatch Girl by LJ Kane. There were things I liked and some things I didn't. This book was a part of my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge.

Books Read in May:

I started Spark of Fire by Grace Anthony in May. I'm not quite halfway through with this YA Fantasy read yet, but so far it has a solid plot.

Books to read in June:

I plan to take a break from the Indie Book List this month. I purchased Jennifer Armentrout's Moonlight Sins last month and I'm excited to start that.



WRITING:

I'm still working my way through editing Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles). I've also been tinkering with a few other WIP's. I have a (non-superatural) psychlogical thriller that's been playing at the back of my mind for some time. With all the other things I'm working on it will probably be some time before that one sees it's way to publication, but it was fun to work on for a bit.

BLOGGING:

May was another slow month for blogging. I'm still trying to get back into my groove.

My Favorite Blog Posts in May:

Favorite Post Written: I feel like such a bad blogger this month because I didn't really write anything blog-wise. I had my standard Book reviews, Monthly re-cap, and my made up word of the month, but that's it. Sorry guys.

Favorite Post Read: Okay, so along with being a bad blogger last month I didn't really read much blog-wise either... Honestly, my internet time was consumed by the #SaveLucifer movement. If you follow me on twitter @LaurynApril you probably already know this. I LOVE that tv show and was literally devastated when it was canceled by Fox. But, I'm not giving up hope yet. Someone needs to pick it up.



PERSONAL:

We finally got some sunshine here in Wisco and I've been soaking up every minute of it. My husband and I have gotten the boat out and we've also been working on some gardening projects.

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up: April

We finally got some decent weather at the end of April and it did great things for my mood and the writer's block I was dealing with at the beginning of the month. After a rough month, feeling like I didn't have any time to write and suffering from writer's block, things are finally starting to look up.

READING:

Books Reviewed in April:

I finished Snatch Girl by LJ Kane. There were things I liked and some thing I didn't. This book was a part of my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge.

Books Read in April:

After finishing up Snatch Girl I downloaded a few more sample books, but haven't started any yet. I tried cracking one open last night, but my Kindle died on me. I hate when I forget to charge it.

Books to read in May:

I plan to start another book from my Indie Book List. I have a few books in mind that I plan to look at next, but I haven't officially picked one yet.



WRITING:

I got Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) back from one of my betas already, and I've been working my way through her notes. I've also been spending time Scribophile and should start posting there soon. I wanted to get it up on there last month but didn't get around to it. So...this month. Hopefully.

BLOGGING:

April was a slow month for blogging. I was kind of in a rut all month and not really writing much at all, but I think things are starting to turn around.

My Favorite Blog Posts in April:

Favorite Post Written: Why I Feel Like Giving Up on Writing Yes, this title is a little depressing. But, writing can be a form a therapy for me and putting my thoughts and feelings into a blog post definitely helped.

Favorite Post Read: Normally I have a recent post to mention here, but this time I stumbled across something from a few years ago. The Perils (and Benefits) of Reviewing Indie Fiction is well written and honest and goes along well with my #IndieBookGoal2018 challenge.



PERSONAL:

I mentioned last month that I started a new job in April, and while I love it, there's been a lot to learn. I have a new schedule to get used to, and it's been hard to balance writing and life. But, I think I'm starting to get into the swing of things a little better. Other than that, we've had pretty crappy weather here in Wisconsin. Rain. Snow. Grossness. But, the sun has been out lately, and hopefully it stays that way.

How was your April?

Reading and Writing Wrap-up: March

March was a rough month for me. Book sales weren't great, and I've fallen into a bit of a funk. 

READING:

Books Reviewed in March:

I finished Veiled by Stacey Rourke - 4 Stars.

I also reviewed Where Worlds Meet by Lucinda Elliot - 4.5 Stars

Both books were for my #IndieBookGoal2018 pledge

Books Read in March:

After finishing up Where Worlds Meet I downloaded a few sample books, but haven't started any yet.

Books to read in April:

I plan to start another book from my Indie Book List. I have a few books in mind that I plan to look at next, but I haven't officially picked one yet.



WRITING:

Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) has already been sent off to a few betas. I've also been busy on Scribophile, earning Karma points, to post it there for feedback as well. I plan to start posting on scrib, and hopefully hear back from a beta or two by the end of the month.

BLOGGING:

I didn't blog a ton in March other than posting a few reviews and my usual Made-up Word of the Month, but I have been posting to my Instagram account! You can now follow me on Instagram at laurynaprilwrites. 

My Favorite Blog Posts in March:

Favorite Post Written: Fictional Bucket List was a fun random post about all the things I wish I could do if fiction people and places were real.

Favorite Post Read: I didn't do a lot of reading last month. :(



PERSONAL:

I quit my job in March and started a new one April 2nd. Between just those two things I had a lot of transitions and was feeling a little overwhelmed. I had a lot of things to wrap up at my old job before leaving, and working with kids meant having to manage some sad goodbyes. But, that place was really burning me out so it was a good move. I love my new job, but it's still very new and I have a lot to learn. Hopefully I'll be getting back into the swing of things in April and have more time for writing.


How was your March?

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up February

I know February is a short month, but it feels like its short a week instead of just a few days. This month flew by and I definitely didn't get as much done this month as I wanted.

READING:

Books Reviewed in February:

None. :(

Books Read in February:

I'm almost done with Veiled by Stacey Rourke. So far it feels like V for Vendetta meets Buffy. 

I'm also about halfway through Where Worlds Meet by Lucinda Elliot and have been enjoying that as well.

Books to read in March:

I plan to start another book from my Indie Book List after I finish Veiled and Where Worlds Meet. I have a few books in mind that I plan to look at next, but I haven't officially picked one yet.



WRITING:

Big picture editing for Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) is officially done. I'm currently doing some "search and destroy" of my usual overused phrases and I plan to start stage one of beta reading this month. I like to get chapter by chapter feedback from betas on Scribophile, and after that, I'll be looking for a few betas to read through the book as a whole.

BLOGGING:

I didn't blog a ton in February, but I did finally create an Instagram account! You can now follow me on Instagram at laurynaprilwrites. 

My Favorite Blog Posts in February:

Favorite Post Written: Ways It's Gotten Harder to Self-Publish: I vent a little in this post talking about things that have changed in the self-publishing world since I published my first book almost six years ago.

Favorite Post Read: What is Magical Realism on Book Riot: This is a genre that's interested me and Book Riot does a good job explaining just what it is.



PERSONAL:

My day-job this past February was a little less crazy than it'd been in January, but I was still working a lot of overtime. The snow also started to melt and my yard has been a mud-puddle for weeks, except for those two days where everything froze solid, but that's Wisconsin for ya.


How was your February?

Reading and Writing Wrap-Up January

January was a crazy month. I posted the 2018 Indie Book List and plan to keep adding to it over the year. I've already picked out my first few reads from the list to meet my pledge of reading 10 indie books this year. I also started a new monthly post called Made-up Word of the Month that will post on the last Monday of every month.

READING:

Books Reviewed in January:

I finished Mind Hunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. It took me a little longer to get through this book than I planned as parts drag. Overall it's just a really long book, but it is really interesting.

Books Read in January:

I'm working my way through Veiled by Stacey Rourke and liking it so far. The writing is witty and entertaining.

Books to read in February:

I plan to read Where Worlds Meet by Lucinda Elliot this month. It's one of my #IndieBookGoal2018 books and a sequel to a book I read a few years back, so I have high hopes that I'm going to like it.



WRITING:

I did some major big-picture editing of Unraveling in the Night (Book 2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles) last month. I have one more major scene to do edits on then I plan to start posting it on Scribophile for line edits. I've also been poking at my fantasy WIP a bit. If I could just figure out how to stay focused on one project at a time I might actually get something done.

BLOGGING:

I've put together the list for the #IndieBookGoal2018. If you're looking for an indie book to read this year, check it out. I'm also still accepting suggestions and will update the list throughout the year. I've also decided to add a new monthly post to my blog schedule that I'm calling Made-Up Word of the Month. January's word was Prebookupied. Check back on the last Monday of the month to see the next word.

My Favorite Blog Posts in November:

Favorite Post Written: Made-up Word of the Month: Prebookupied: As I mentioned before, this is a new monthly post I'm going to be doing and it's been a lot of fun creating these words.

Favorite Post Read: 6 Paths to Diversity in 2018 on Book Riot: I'm always interested in reading books from different viewpoints. This post gives some suggestions to diversity your TBR pile in 2018.



PERSONAL:

I worked A LOT in January, and not like writing-work -- work-work. My "real" job has been really stressful lately and I've been working some crazy hours. I barely had time to read all month. Here's to hoping February finds me with more free time to read and write.


How was your January?

December Reading and Writing Wrap Up

I have so many fun things to share from last month! First, my website, blog and all of my social media outlets got a facelift. I hope everyone likes the new look. Second, I did a lot of planning last month to set up the awesome indie reading challenge that I posted on New Years Day! And, finally, there was plenty of reading and writing that got done.

READING:

Books Reviewed in December:

I finished The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware last month. I liked this book. It was a good mystery and I found the ending satisfying.

Books Read in December:

I'm almost done with Mind Hunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. I really wanted to finish this in December, but I lost interest in it as I got toward the end. Really, it's a fascinating book, it just felt a little too long.

Books to read in January:

I'm reading  Veiled by Stacey Rourke. I just started this so I don't have much to say yet, but I am liking it.



WRITING:

I'm back on the Cereus Vampire Chronicles bandwagon. I've been editing the sequel to Unearthed After Sunset and hopefully will be sending it off to betas soon. I know I said this a few months ago, but then I added a few new scenes and had to do another read through. 

BLOGGING:

As I mentioned earlier, the blog got a new look just in time for the new year. I also had a lot of fun last month setting up the Indie Book Goal Movement. I'm pledging to read 10 indie books in 2018, and I'm hoping other readers, bloggers and writers will join me in this pledge. I'm really excited to see what books people suggest for me to read. I'm also still working to grow my mailing list and am still giving away FREE copies of Into the Deep to anyone that joins.

My Favorite Blog Posts in November:

Favorite Post Written: Writing Bad-Boys and Unhealthy Relationships: I really liked writing this post because I think this is a really important thing to discuss, especially when we look at YA fiction. I really wanted to look at how to write a redemption arc for a tortured anti-hero the right way. I love bad-boys in books, but authors need to be wary of romanticizing unhealthy relationships.

Favorite Post Read: 5 Tips On How To Properly Write a Love Scene at Falling Down the Book Hole: Love scenes can be some of the hardest scenes to write and this guest post offers some great advice.



PERSONAL:

Christmas was busy. My husband and I split the holidays between our families so we did a lot of driving, but we had a wonderful time getting to see everyone.


How was your December?

November Reading and Writing Wrap Up

I just want to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving. I have some fun things planned for the rest of the holiday season. Unearthed will be going on sale soon, so keep your eyes out for a post about that, and I have something really cool planned for the New Year.

READING:

Books Reviewed in November:

I finally posted my review of The Gunslinger by Stephen King. I was a little dissappointed with the book, and probaby won't continue with the series right now, but I've heard it gets a lot better after book one. So, I'm not going to rule out returning to it later.

Books Read in November:

My review of The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware will be up soon. This was a nice murder mystery, but won't be getting added to my favorites anytime soon.

I'm also finishing up Mind Hunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, so I'll be posting that review soon as well. Being non-fiction this is a really different read for me, but I'm liking it so far.

Books to read in December:

I really want to read an indie book once I finish Mind Hunter and I've downloaded a few samples of different books onto my kindle, but haven't picked one yet.



WRITING:

I've taken a break from book #2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles to poke at some short stories and other WIP's. My fantasy novel is also on the back burner right now. I'll be honest I've had a bit of writer's block lately so, I'm trying to get creative with some other projects until my muse returns.

BLOGGING:

I finished a few fun posts last month that I had a good time writing. I really enjoyed posting about the differences in publishing through IngramSpark compared to Amazon. I've also been working to grow my mailing list and am still giving away FREE copies of Into the Deep to anyone that joins. Finally, I have plans for a really fun post I have for the New Year. I don't want to give away too much about it, but it will be something that everyone can get involved in.


My Favorite Blog Posts in November:

Favorite Post Written: Writing Dual POV's with Distinctive Voices: When I was writing Unearthed I researched this quite a bit and had trouble finding posts that were really helpful. So, this is a post about all the tips I applied to get Archer and Caroline's chapters to sound distinctive in Unearthed.

Favorite Post Read: Abuse is being Romanticised at A Magical World of Words: I'm a fan of writing complicated relationships and I love a good bad-boy story arc, but there have been a lot of books that take this arc and go in an unhealthy direction with it, which in itself can be fine depending on how a writer addresses it. But, if a book then says that unhealthy relationship with that abusive bad-boy is normal and okay, then we have a problem. I really appreciated Amy posting about this issue.



PERSONAL:

Things have been a little crazy in my personal life. My day job has been more stressful than usual. Right now, I'm just working to get through and hopefully have more time for writing in the future.

October Reading and Writing Wrap Up

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween and a scary Friday the 13th last month. I'm late once again gettng this post out, sorry for that. I had a busy month writing, wrapping up the blog tour for Unearthed, which as you all know was released on the 15th and is currently available on Amazon, Barnes, and Noble, Kobo and I-Books.

READING:

Books Reviewed in October:

I didn't review ANY books in October. Gasp. I did finally get around to writing my review for The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1)  last Thursday, so you can check out.

Books Read in October:

I finished The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. I'll have my review of that up soon.

Books to read in November:

I'm currently reading Mind Hunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker which so far is AWESOME. It's definitely outside of my normal read being non-fiction, but the storytelling is really good.

I want to pick up an indie after this. It's been a while since I've read anything self-published or put out by a small press. So, I'm on the lookout for a good one.

WRITING:

Book #2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles is nearly ready for beta readers, but I've taken a break from it to poke at some other WIP's. I'm nearly done with the first draft of a fantasy novel I've been working on which will be Upper YA/NA and involve an entirely new world with castles and magic and all those classic fantasy elements -- with my own twist on them of course. I'm currently at 70,000 words and it will probably be about 80+ so I'm close to the end.

BLOGGING:

I've been a little behind blogging. Focusing on the Unearthed Blog Tour last month kept me busy. I do have some fun ideas for some new posts. I've also been spending a lot of time of Pinterest and been doing more with group boards. You can follow me on Pinterest here, and if you're interested in joining one of my group boards, just message me!

My Favorite Blog Posts in September:

Favorite Post Written: Taking Cliche Vampire Themes and Making Them Your Own: After writing a vampire novel this was a fun post as I was able to talk about some of the stereotypes I tweaked in Unearthed.

Favorite Post Read: 10 Annoying Questions Bookworms get asked that just Make No Sense on Paper Fury. In general, I love this blog for posting things that are just different and fun, and this post was just that.

PERSONAL:

I spend the first week of October in Rome for my Honeymoon and had an amazing time. Since getting back my husband and I have been back to working on building our new garage, which is nearly done, and I've been planning for a few weddings that are coming up soon.

September Reading and Writing Wrap-Up

I spent a LOT of time marketing in September. Unearthed After Sunset releases on October 15th, so I was super busy trying to set up a blog tour and line up some reviews for the book before release day. I forgot how hard the marketing part of self-publishing is.

READING:

Books Reviewed in September:

I didn't review ANY books in September. I finished The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1)  a little while ago. I'm just behind on writing up my thoughts. So, that is coming soon.

Books Read in September:

I'm almost done with The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. I'm liking it so far.

Books to read in September:

I also added Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris to my TBR list.

WRITING:

OCTOBER 15th is the official release date for Unearthed After Sunset. It's all set up and ready to go on Amazon, and I'm finishing the last tweaks on Ingram Spark so hopefully, I can make my release date on all platforms, including B&N, Nook and I-Books. You can pre-order it now for 99cents. In between all the fun marketing for Unearthed, I've been working on book #2 in the Cereus Vampire Chronicles. The first draft is done, and after a read through I decided to add two new scenes to that I'm not quite done with. Once I finish those I'll probably do two more read-throughs before I start looking for beta readers. I also have a greek mythology book I've been tinkering with and a fantasy novel I've been working on when my scatter-brain ways get the best of me.

BLOGGING:

I've been getting back into the swing of blogging. My upcoming release for Unearthed has eaten up a lot of my time, but I did get a chance to put together a few fun posts this month, and I posted a few author interviews. I also typed up a bunch of guest posts for the BLOG TOUR that's happening in October for Unearthed After Sunset. I really wanted to do a few really fun posts, so while there are some reviews and some author interviews I also wanted to write a few "Song for a Scene" posts and there are some Excerpts. Every stop on the tour has something different! You can follow the tour HERE.

My Favorite Blog Posts in September:

Favorite Post Written: 3 Must Have's for Chapter One: Writing a killer first chapter is essential to getting readers into your story. The last thing you want is to bore your reader with the first chapter and have them put your book down before they see how awesome it is.

Favorite Post Read: If Practice Makes Perfect: I liked this post on Y's Words because Yvonne discusses some of her frustrations with both Amazon and Ingram Spark. I'm currently having some of the same frustrations with Ingram, so it was nice to see that I wasn't alone.

PERSONAL:

I went to a wedding this month and had a blast, and I'm currently in ROME for my honeymoon! I'm curious to see what story ideas this city might inspire. 

How was your September?

August Wrap-Up

Lots of Unearthed After Sunset updates this month! I can't wait to share them with you all. I have a release date picked and I'm planning a blog tour! As I've gotten into publishing and marketing mode I haven't been reading much. But, I have some awesome books I added to my TBR list last month so I'll be getting back to reviewing soon.

READING:

Books Reviewed in August:

I didn't review ANY books in August. *Gasp* But, I'll have one posted for The Gunslinger soon.

Books Read in August:

I finished reading The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King. I liked it but didn't love it. The review will be coming soon.

Books to read in August:

I just downloaded The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware and I plan to finish that before the end of the month. I've been in the mood for another suspense/mystery novel.

I also added Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris to my TBR list.

WRITING:

OCTOBER 15th is the official release date for Unearthed After Sunset. I've already been giving away ARC's (and am willing to hand out more - e-mail me at laurynapril@gmail.com if you're a blogger who's interested). I'm also planning a blog tour and to give away some signed paperback copies of the book. I have spaces available for the tour still. So, stay tuned, more goodies are coming.

BLOGGING:

August was a busy month as I started preparing for the release of Unearthed After Sunset. I know my posts were a lttle skimpy. I did an author interview this month, which is not something I normally do on my blog. You'll see a few more of those in September. My plan is that while I'm trying to promote my indie book, I'm going to promote some other indie authors and pay it forward.

My Favorite Blog Posts in August:

Favorite Post Written: 5 Profound Book Quotes. I wrote this post as I was thinking about the different books that have inspired me in one way or another, and I had five quotes that have stuck in my head. Reading can take us to new places and also open our eyes to things in our own world.

Favorite Post Read: 10 of the Weirdest Things about the Online Life of a Book Blogger, I loved this post not only because it looked at what it's like to be a book blogger, but also about how the internet has changed how we interact with people.

PERSONAL:

My best friend had a baby! That was pretty crazy and exciting. My husband has been practically living in our backyard as he works on this garage. Oh, and I've just now started studying Italian for my Honeymoon/Anniversary Rome trip at the beginning of October. So, I gotta cram on that. 

How was your August?

July Wrap-Up

Hello lovely readers, summer is flying by, and though the days are longer it feels like I have less time than ever. I am glad to say though that I have made some progress with Unearthed After Sunset. Here's everything I've been up to in July.

READING:

Books Reviewed in July:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - I was expecting this to be a YA murder mystery, and it was, but it leaned more to focusing on YA issues when I think they could have gone a little darker.

Books Read in July:

I started reading The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) by Stephen King last week. I can tell this book is setting up the series, and while there's been some action the pacing has been a little slow.

Books to read in August:

I'm planning to finish The Gunslinger, then after that, I'm not sure what I'll move on to.

WRITING:

Unearthed After Sunset is all ready to go. I'm making a plan for marketing and will hopefully have a release day planned soon! That means ARC copies will be coming soon, and if you want one I'd suggest *hint hint* joining my mailing list on my website www.laurynapril.com.

BLOGGING:

July was another busy month, but I did have some fun blogging. I've also been spending more time on Twitter, so if you don't already follow me, my handle is @LaurynApril.

My Favorite Blog Posts in July:

Favorite Post Written: Three Books I Wish would have Ended Differently, I mostly wrote this post to vent about some books that would have been perfect if they'd ended differently. 

Favorite Post Read: This past month, I checked in on some of my writer friends blogs to see what they've been up to. I read The Delights of Good and Bad Writing by Lucinda Elliot where she talks about cliches, and how sometimes we still love those tired old tropes. I also visited author Jennifer Ann at her blog where she recently talked about how much Goodreads reviews (and really all reviews) mean to authors in Goodreads Ratings (A Public Service Announcement).

PERSONAL:

I'm building a garage... well, more accurately, my husband is building a garage and I'm trying to be involved so it doesn't end up bigger than my house. The crazy amount of rain we've gotten hasn't helped, but we've made some progress. 

How was your July?

June Wrap-Up

Happy Fourth of July! Also, I'm sorry that this post is late. I try to post my monthly wrap-ups on the first Saturday of the month, but I had a busy week so I'm four days late.

READING:

Books Reviewed in June:

Oblivion by Jennifer Armentrout - I LOVE the Lux series and revisiting the first three books through Daemons POV was awesome!

Big Little Lies by Liana Moriarty - This was interesting, but a little slow for me.

Books Read in June:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - I was expecting this to be a YA murder mystery, and it was, but it leaned more to focusing on YA issues when I think they could have gone a little darker.

Books to read in July:

I have nothing planned for July. *Gasp* but for good reason. I have some other things in the works *smiles*. Keep reading for details.

WRITING:

I got Unearthed After Sunset back from my editor last week! I will be working through her suggestions in July. Also, I've been busy working on the third book in the Unearthed series. I'm about a third of the way done with that book. The first draft of Book #2 is done!

Also, I've been working on putting together an official website. So, hopefully, I'll be debuting that in July!

BLOGGING:

Again, I feel like I was slacking a bit in June when it came to blogging, especially with getting my monthly wrap-up out late, but I've been busy writing!

My Favorite Blog Posts in May:

Favorite Post Written: A-Z Book Tag - I love these book tags. After my long hiatus I only just discovered them this year, and I am obsessed. This was a fun one.

Favorite Post Read: Sex in Young Adult Books by The Butterfly Reader. This discussion post caught my eye because it's a topic I've looked into as well. YA books like to tackle coming of age issues that affect teenagers and young adults, but often sex is avoided or glossed over. I wrote a post called YA and the Need for Adult Themes back in 2012 where I shared similar thoughts as the Butterfly Reader about the issues I'd like to see more YA books tackle.

PERSONAL:

My husband and I went to Summerfest this past weekend. This year is the 50th anniversary of "the world's largest music festival," and we had a blast.

How was your June?