M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
As I said in Monday's post, I am going to go forward with my reviews by doing many of them as short takes and put several in one post. Through a Darkening Glass by R.S. Maxwell: 3 of 5 stars This one disappointed me. The blurbs talked about ghosts and witches, and hinted at a … Continue reading Friday Reviews: Some Books I’ve Read
My rating: 4 of 5 starsThis is a fascinating look at how we eat in the US, and what is wrong- and right- about it. The book basically follows Pollan's journey through four meals that he prepares from start to finish. And by that I mean he does everything he can to follow the food … Continue reading Friday Review: The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
My rating: 3 of 5 starsThis is another on my list of “books on writing that I have collected and never read”. One of my goals this year was to get to taking some of those off the TBR list.This one says it will help you learn to create openings to stories that will almost … Continue reading Friday Review: Hooked: Write Fiction that Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars The cover describes the book being “On light pollution, night ecology, and the ancient rhythms that sustain life.” That’s a decent description of what this book is about. It was written by a Swedish scientist who specializes in ecology, bat vision, and light pollution. He is affiliated with Stockholm … Continue reading Friday Review: The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms that Sustain Life by Johan Elkof
If you look at the title of the book, you will likely think it is full of writing advice on how to "write that book already!" It's not. This book is all about the publishing process after you've written and polished that book. In that, the title does seem a bit deceiving, and I am … Continue reading Friday Review: Write That Book Already! by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark
My rating: 3 of 5 starsFirst, I will say that I picked this one up because revising has always been a chore for me. I know it needs done-my drafts are generally a mess! But it always seems such a daunting task that I get bogged down and end up procrastinating no end. I thought … Continue reading Friday Review: Getting the Words Right by Theodore A. Rees Cheney
My rating: 3 of 5 starsAs with the other titles in this series, this one is particularly focused on books in a series, rapid release of those books, and Kindle Unlimited readers. Those conditions don't apply to every author out there, so some may find it more useful than others. I don't limit myself to … Continue reading Friday Review: Pricing Strategies: Maximize Your Bottom Line for Long-term Financial Health by Craig Martelle
My rating: 3 of 5 starsCraig Martelle knows the indie publishing world. He has made a decent career for himself with publishing his own books, as well as his series on how to be a successful indie author. While there are bits of information in this book that are valuable to anyone considering publishing independently, … Continue reading Friday Review: Release Strategies: Plan Your Self-Publishing Schedule for Maximum Benefit by Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle
I know- it says reading, not writing. But, as writers, we should also be readers, and I saw a thing recently on the internet (of all places!) that made me think a little. The person posting said (and I am paraphrasing here) that if you are reading a lot of fiction, you are wasting precious … Continue reading Wednesday Writer: Is Reading Fiction Bad?
My rating: 4 of 5 starsAt 52 years of age, Noah Adams, NPR host and news reporter, decided to buy a piano and learn to play. This lovely little book chronicles his first year as a piano student, with all the ups and downs, triumphant moments and frustrating setbacks. It's also a love story to … Continue reading Friday Review: Piano Lessons: Music, Love, and True Adventures by Noah Adams
And So On... 