Reading and writing and blogging - a balancing act!

When the Moon Breaks Down - Robbert Van Der Steeg

What happened to June?  The month seems to have flown by and Summer has arrived with a vengeance with our typical hot, hot days.   The one thing I love about the summer months are the early mornings sitting out on the patio reading and writing.  For some reason, my imagination soars and I feel more creative.  I've decided to dedicate the month of July to writing and going to do my own mini nanowrimo, plus join Sarah in her 50,000 Words in 50 days challenge.  I need to finish Eyes in the Ashes and father has been bugging encouraging me to finish it so he can read the rest of the story.  He wants to know what happens...that's so cool! It's also time for me to get started working on my free form application and story for Literary Labs,  Notes from Underground Contest. I have a few extra scenes from Floating on the Surface that would actual make a good 10 page story.  So, if posts and blog visits are a bit sporadic for the next month, you'll know why.

On the reading front, I joined up with eleven other bloggers to read all of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Masterworks published by Orion Imprints Gollancz and Millennium.  The project is the brainchild of Patrick from Stomping on Yeti and we will each be reading and reviewing at least one book a month and all the reviews will be posted on a special website -  SFF Masterworks. The site will be live as on July 1st and bio's of all participants will be posted along with the lists of books and what the reading challenge is all about.  There are some great science ficton /fantasy books dating from the 1950's onwards on the list. SF Site is a great site with overviews of all the books, synopses and some excerpts so be sure to check it out. We have a rather eclectic group of folks including:


Patrick from Stomping on Yeti
Adele from Un:bound
Gav from Nextread
Ken from Neth Space

I'm feeling a bit out of my league at the moment because they all write long, very analytical, in depth reviews.  They are a very verbose lot so I'll have my work cut out for me.  I'm currently reading #72 on the list "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein and will post a link to my review when it's ready. 

In my meandering around the web the other day I discovered Litopia Writing Colony and one of their cool features is Radio Litopia.  Last Friday, I tuned in to Litopia After Dark, a live radio show which started at 8 p.m. UK time, so is 3:00 p.m. Est and 12:00 noon pacific time. I just happened to catch Thinking yourself to Death and joined a group of folks in the chat room, while watching live video of the show and listening to the discussion.  They read off what folks were saying in the chatroom and mentioned my comments a couple times.  I didn't know they were going to do that so it was a surprise, but neat.  

I broke my book buying ban the other day and visited my local indie bookstore.  I had to restrain myself because there were so many good books and thanks to all your reviews, I'm recognizing more authors.   I picked up: 



61 Hours by Lee Childs 
Book of Souls by Glenn Cooper 
Causing Havoc by Lori Foster 
Rules of Prey by John Sandford 
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick


I'm so bad and have given up trying to read all the older books in my stacks first.  Now, I'm just reading by mood or if I really can't make up my mind, using Random.org to pick a book off my list. Not sure what I'm going to read next. Will have to wait until done with Heinlein's book. May need a couple days to decompress.


What's your next summer read?


6 comments:

  1. Don't sell yourself short in the review department. You can hang with the best of them. I've known you long enough to know.

    As far as reading, you know me. It's something new each week and I no longer pre-plan. I read what I want when I want. And if I don't want to read, I don't. This is way different than my mentality in the book blogging days.

    Kids and novel writing take priority. The rest is done if I have time and feel like it. I have way less stress now...and gosh, it feels so good!

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  2. As a teacher, the summer months are heaven for me, in terms of writing. Every day unfolds like a gift, and I don't want to waste a single one!

    I have more time to surf the blogs -- you know, the ones I keep on my blog roll but don't usually have time to read. Now, I've got the time, and I am delighted to see what everybody is working on and thinking about.

    I hope to read and review as well as write and blog. I've got two books sitting nearby -- The Iron King and Jock Stewart and the Missing Sea of Fire. I read chapters out of them like popping down peanuts while I ponder what happens next in my WIP.

    Sounds like you have made some tough goals for yourself. I hope you are successful!

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  3. I too enjoy sitting out on my front porch, drinking my coffe, reading my book and just relishing my quiet time. I think your reviews are great. I have done that a time or two (comparing my reviews to others, but I stopped because I'm me and there's no changing it.) Keep writing and good luck with your goal for July!

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  4. I'm exhausted just reading your post. (Smiles) I'm trying to enjoy summer but it's going much too quickly. Good luck with all of your reading and writing. Blessings, Buffy

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  5. I try not let my TBR pile stress me out. And I prefer to read by mood than by deadline. Your reviews are wonderful and I wish you the best in meeting all your goals.

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  6. Ditto! I love early morning reading & writing too. And I've stopped trying to organize the stacks on my shelfs and desk and am just going by mood. I was going to read Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey next, but decided I was more in the mood for Ian Mortimer's The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England. =)

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