Nadaness In Motion: Reading

Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Nadaness In Motion's To-Be-Read List for 2020

I saw a fellow book blogger (Armed with a Book) write a list of books they have reserved for 2020 and I was inspired to do the same.

There are many books I wanted to squeeze in 2019 but couldn't so including them in my 2020 to-be-read (TBR) list was the logical next step.

Also, having this list would keep me on track on how I was progressing with books I want to read.

With the Cairo International Book Fair launching in late January and with new books being written, published, and discovered, and review requests coming in, this list will probably get larger - the bookworm's dilemma. But for now I'll like to see if I can finish this list in 2020.

So here's the list, including fiction and non-fiction.

1. No Longer Safe by A.J. Waines

I've had this book and another by Waines on my TBR pile for a while, but I don't want to rush them because they're psychological thrillers and Waines was a psychoanalyst so I want to dive into her books without distractions.

I've previously featured A.J. Waines on my blog through an interview and excerpt of No Place to Hide and another interview about No Longer Safe.

Update: I've read this book and gave it a 3.5-4-star book review.

2. A Fantasy Writer's Handbook by Richie Billing

Another book I planned to read in 2019; this was a review request that I wanted to dedicate time and energy to. It's about 300 pages long and I wanted to take my time with it as I work on my own fantasy novel(s).

3. Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa

I originally added this book to my TBR pile in 2018, but haven't had a chance to start it. I was told that people studying for their Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) had this Nobel-Prize-winner as part of their syllabi so I figured I'd read it as well. It's short, about 130 pages, and so far the index indicates it would be a good read. Will read it in 2020 and let you know.

4. Reading Like a Writer, a Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose

Another book that I was told was part of the MFA program and that I included in my TBR pile. The book title is catchy and while I've been critiquing books for some time (You can see that on my Book Reviews page), I'm curious what and how others look at it.

With these types of books and with book reviews, it is likely there'll be parts I agree with and others that I don't. But I won't pass judgement yet.

5. Atomic Habits by James Clear

I've heard a great deal about this book and I found that my cousin, whose Kindle account we share, had downloaded it. Atomic Habits moved from my I'm-considering-this-book-but-won't-add-it-yet pile to my ever-growing TBR pile :D

So, will see what the hype is about.

6. Bound (ADoyle Cozy Mystery) by Kirsten Weiss

I love reading Kirsten Weiss' books, in fact I've already reviewed several of her works. But this one is a paranormal cozy mystery so I couldn't pass the opportunity when I downloaded it free (it was on sale for subscribers to Weiss' newsletter).

I have several other books by Weiss on my TBR pile, but I'll focus on this one first.

Books I've reviewed for Kirsten Weiss include: The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum (Book 1 in a series by the same name), Pressed to Death (Book 2 in The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series), Tales of the Rose Rabbit (a poetry collection that's part of the Doyle Witch series).

Last but not least, I interviewed Kirsten in October 2019. Here's our interview.

7. Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business by Frances Frei & Anne Morriss

Another book I found on the shared Kindle account but one with a really cool and quirky cover. Also, as I delve into non-fiction, business development, and marketing, I feel this book would be great to read, review, learn from, and perhaps write about.

8. Achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals

One of the things I've developed an interest in over the course of 2019 was green technology and renewable energy. Something I plan to write and blog more about via LinkedIn (and my upcoming freelancer writer's website).

9. Magora: The World Beyond by Marc Remus

The last book in the middle-grade Magora series by author and artist Marc Remus, the most-likely-epic conclusion to this amazingly artistic and magical series.

I'm super excited about this. In 2018, I read the first 4 books in the series, this year I read the 5^th and as far as I know the 6^th book will be released in 2020. Remus will tie up all the loose ends, Holly will come face to face with the Duke of Cuspidor and hopefully all the questions from previous books will be answered.

Here are my reviews of the previous books: Magora: The Gallery of Wonders (Book 1), Magora: The Golden maple Tree (Book 2) Magora: The Bridge in the Fog (Book 3), Magora: The Uprising, and Magora: The Woodspeople. I've finished reading book 5, but will provide the review later.

10 and 11. The Laws of Jartin Books 2 & 3

I picked up the first book in this Arabic paranormal-ish series as

part of a book club. It's been a while since I've been hooked on an Arabic book. It's not amazing but the writing style is definitely similar to many English books I read.

I plan to buy books 2 & 3 during the Cairo International book Fair in January and read them during the course of 2020.

Book review of Book 1 is a work in progress.

12. Past Deeds by Carolyn Arnold

A thriller that is similar to the series Criminal Minds. This will be the second read for me in this series by Carolyn Arnold.

The first was On the Count of Three in December 2018.

13. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan but for some reason I've been delaying reading Harry Potter and The Cursed Child even though it's been on my kindle for some time (A couple of years?)

No more delaying. When I wrote this list I had actually forgotten about this book/play but decided to add it halfway through 2020, when I started reading it.

And these are just the books I already have planned, aside from the requests that keep coming in and books I pick up as part of a book club I joined. :D

In 2019, I published a post titled Why I Fear Reading Self-Help Books, but since then I've not only overcome this fear but have developed an appetite for non-fiction, seeking as much knowledge as I can.

As much as I can, I'll be publishing book reviews for all of the above-mentioned books. If you've read any of them or plan to read them, let me know, and we can do a short talk or we can compare notes (especially for the non-fiction books).

Don't forget to Check out My Top Books of 2019.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Gearing Up for Writing Time by Lida Sideris - Guest Post

Today, I'm exciting to feature an author, who every time she has a blog tour, I'm backed up but will one day read her cozy mystery books. J

Join me in welcoming…. LIDA SIDERIS!

I previously hosted Lida Sideris with a guest post titled The Magic Behind Success. Today, I'm re-featuring Lida with a guest post about writing and finding motivation to write. It's what keeps her going and what has probably contributed to the writing and release of her new book Murder: Double or Nothing, book 3 in the Southern California Mystery Series.

Gearing up for writing time, a guest post by Lida Sideris

First some book info

Book: Murder: Double or Nothing
(A Southern California Mystery, 3rd in Series)
Author: Lida Sideris
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Level Best Books
Publication Date: 22 July 2019
Print Length: 285 pages
Digital ASIN: B07VMB2DSN

Synopsis:

Corrie Locke, newbie lawyer and daughter of a late, great PI, is learning the ropes at the Hollywood movie studio where she works—and where things are never what they seem. Life imitates art when a fictional murder attempt turns real—right before her very eyes.

With more than a little help from friends and a crazy movie legend, Corrie trips down a trail littered with wisecracks, mysterious messages, and marginally legal maneuvers to track down the killer. Meanwhile, clues keep disappearing and Corrie makes an enemy whose deadly tactics keep escalating. Will her impromptu sleuthing skills be enough to catch the mysterious assailant before he takes her down?

About the Author

Lida Sideris is an author, lawyer, and all-around book enthusiast. She writes soft-boiled mysteries and was a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America scholarship award. Murder: Double or Nothing is #3 in her Southern California Mystery series, published by Level Best Books. Lida is also the author of The Cookie Eating Fire Dog, a picture book for ages 4 to 8. She lives in the northern tip of SoCal with her family, rescue dogs and a flock of uppity chickens.

On to the Guest post

Gearing Up for Writing Time by Lida Sideris

(Exclusive to Nadaness In Motion)

There are times when I don’t feel like writing. I drag my feet, stay away from my writing desk and just plain waste time. But ultimately, I know if I don’t write, I’ll feel lousy, dejected, and dissatisfied. Not writing is NOT an option.

When my kids were little tikes, they weren’t too interested in going to sleep at night. So we created a pre-bedtime routine. We’d play a quiet game, read a gentle story and soon, they were nodding off. When I don’t feel like writing, I take a few minutes to find sources of motivation. It’s part of my pre-writing routine.

One simple means is picturing myself after I’m done writing – what a feeling of accomplishment! Plus, once I’m finished, I’ll have time to read, garden, and do whatever I please.

If visualization doesn’t do the trick, I’ll read from the pages of one of my favorite authors. That usually ignites a fire inside of me, making me jump up and get started on my own writing. I love the power of words to create images and page-turning stories. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll hunt down stories of really big authors and how they wrote some of their greatest work in conditions that were less than favorable.

Take Robert Louis Stevenson, for instance. He wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde one sleepless night when he was suffering from advanced tuberculosis. In his aggrieved state, he wrote the book in three days! How is that even possible?

Unhappy with the first draft, he ripped it apart, literally, and rewrote the whole shebang, again in his ill state, in three more days. That’s 64,000 words in six days! I have to pause right there because even in my well state, I can barely imagine writing as he did. Mr. Stevenson wrote more than 10,000 words…a day. Most writers consider 1,000 or even 2,000 words per day an accomplishment. At my best, I wrote 2,500 words a day for two days to complete my first short story. I do know that at least that much is possible.

What Robert Louis Stevenson showed us is that:

- All we need to do is try;

- Anything is possible if we set our minds to it; and

- Never, ever give up no matter what the circumstances.

These days, when I sit restless in my chair, and distractions are shouting out my name, I think of Robert Louis Stevenson and stay put. Thank you, Mr. Stevenson for showing us what we’re capable of accomplishing.

Connect with Lida Sideris via her Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Add Murder: Double or Nothing to your Goodreads' to-be-read list.

Purchase Murder: Double or Nothing by Lida Sideris via Amazon

Keep up with the rest of the blog tour, including spotlights, book reviews, guests posts, and interviews.

September 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT & The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

September 12 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
September 14 – Babs Book Bistro - SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Nadaness In Motion – GUEST POST & Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT & Diary of a Book Fiend – REVIEW

September 17 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 18 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

September 19 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 20 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author & Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHTS & Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST

September 22 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 24 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT

Friday, December 22, 2017

Nadaness In Motion interviews book chatbot SipOf.Ink - Video

This December I was glad to attend the RiseUp Summit in Cairo, Egypt. RiseUp is a three-day startup-focused event, held annually, featuring new and current startups, along with talks, workshops, and lots of networking.

This year, I was attending for the first time and also reporting and conducting interviews.

As a writer and book blogger, I was more than glad to come across SipOf.Ink, who have created a chatbot that is meant to help readers or as their co-founder calls them “knowledge seekers” find their newest to-read.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to SipOf.Ink, their work, and how you can use their free service.

There is an upgrade for around $2 per month.

Special thanks are in order for AbdelRahman Mohamed for the photography and Remon Maher for the video editing.

Find SipOf.Ink on Facebook

The interview is conducted by Nada Adel Sobhi aka Nadaness In Motion.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Delicious Murder: Cozy Mystery Authors under One Roof

Today, I'm featuring a host of cozy mystery authors and their books along with excerpts and a giveaway (scroll to the bottom to enter)

The Secret, Book & Scone Society

by Ellery Adams

Excerpt from The Secret Book and Scone Society

Still scanning the park square, Nora wondered where the trolley passengers had gone. The lodge’s green trolley was parked in its usual place, but no lodge guests strolled the sidewalks or meandered from the row of quaint shops on Bath Street to the Pink Lady Grill or the Gingerbread House.

Just then, a flash of red caught Nora’s eye and she groaned inwardly as a tall, shapely woman passed in front of the bookshop window. The woman yanked the door open, ignoring the riotous clanging of the sleigh bells, and settled into the closest chair like a queen awaiting the adulation of her subjects. Her pouty lips curved into a cat-with-the-cream grin. “Consider your next bibliotherapy session canceled.”

“Hello to you too, Estella.” Nora picked up the stray paperbacks a customer had left on the table next to Estella’s chair. “I assume you’re referring to the man I met on the park bench. Why isn’t he coming? Did you scare him off?”

“Me?” Estella pretended to be affronted, but Nora wasn’t falling for the act. “I didn’t even get a chance to meet him. I was up at the lodge wasting my time on a man I thought had some potential, but he’s already making payments to an ex-wife and needs to send three kids to college. There’d be nothing left for me.” She waved a manicured hand in dismissal.

Nora was itching to reshelve the books and check on the coffee. Though she didn’t dislike Estella, she was rarely at ease in her company.

Recalling the strange sensation she’d experienced as the second train whistle blew, Nora felt an inexplicable prickle of dread. She jerked a thumb toward the window. “Where is everyone?”

Estella’s grin returned. “At the train station. They’ve been drawn there like flies to sugar. The sheriff rolled in a few seconds ago, and since he and I have never gotten along, I made myself scarce.”

Nora, who made it a point not to look people directly in the eye, forgot her rule and gave Estella an impatient stare. “What happened? Just spit it out.”

Crossing her arms in disappointment, Estella murmured something about no one being any fun, but eventually complied with Nora’s request. “When your man on the bench placed an order for one of Hester’s comfort scones, he asked her to box it because he was heading over here to see you. He left the bakery, box in hand, but he never made it to Miracle Books.” Estella leaned back in the chair and smoothed the skirt of her white sundress. “I’m sure he’d rather be sitting in this comfy chair than where he is now."

Nora knew she wasn’t going to like the answer to her question, but it had to be asked. “Which is?”

“On the tracks,” Estella declared breathlessly. “Someone pushed him in front of the three o’clock train.”

Book Links:

Add to Goodreads, Amazon, Apple, B&N, Google, Kobo

Connect with Ellery Adams via her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads

Blackberry Burial

A Berry Basket Mystery #2

by Sharon Farrow

Excerpt from Blackberry Burial

With a jubilant bark, Charlie burst out of the bushes towards me. I let out a sigh of relief as he pranced back and forth, tantalizingly out of reach. Trying to calm down my racing heart, I held out the doggy treat. With a happy yelp, he took the treat from my hand. He only needed two bites to finish it off. Murmuring endearments, I scratched behind his ears as I tried to slip the leash over his head with my other hand. Thinking this was a great new game, Charlie snatched the leash and ran off.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I raced after him. “Charlie!”

The leash clenched between his teeth prevented Charlie from barking, so I needed to keep close behind him. But he not only was the size of a small horse, he could run as fast as one, too. Five minutes later, he disappeared. This was ridiculous. Needing to catch my breath, I stopped and fished my cell phone from the messenger bag slung across my chest. I didn’t care if Piper was wearing designer stilts. Charlemagne was her dog, and she was going to come in here and track down her monster puppy.

Before I could call her, loud barks broke out to my left. This time I was the one to burst through the bushes. He wasn’t getting away again. But Charlie stopped barking as soon as he saw me. I knew now why he had been quiet for the past few minutes. He’d been digging away in the dirt, which he resumed upon my arrival. I looked for his leash and spotted it a few yards away, half buried by the dirt he flung to all sides. I picked up the leash before Charlie could get to it first. As soon as I did, I also spied what appeared to be an animal bone. Most likely a deer.

But when I turned to see what Charlie was digging up now, my heart sank. It was another bone, but not one belonging to a deer. In fact, it was far more than a bone.

It was a human skull . . .

Book Links: Add to Goodreads, Amazon, Apple, B&N, Google, Kobo

Connect with the author via her Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads

The Quiche and the Dead

A Pie Town Mystery #1

by Kirsten Weiss

Excerpt from The Quiche and the Dead

In the other room, the front bell rang.

“You’d better get that.” Charlene jerked her thumb toward the office door. “Petronella is on her smoke break.”

Eager to escape, I bolted out of my chair. It skidded backward and hit the wall. I didn’t hang around to inspect for damage, hustling to the counter.

A blond in a smooth-fitting, green workout suit strode through the dining area. Her ponytail bobbed, her long, lean dancer’s muscles moving smoothly, and I had to crane my neck to look up at her. On her jacket, Heidi’s Health and Fitness was emblazoned over her heart. She halted in front of the register.

Joe looked up from his bar stool, grinning, but his smile seemed a little pained.

“Hi.” Smiling, I laid a hand on the counter. “You must be from the new gym. I’m Val.”

“I’m looking for the owner.” The corners of her lips quirked, quick, professional, cool.

“That would be me. Welcome to the street. I was about to go to your grand opening.”

“I’m Heidi Gladstone.”

We shook hands, my knuckles grinding within her grip. Dropping my hand to my side, I flexed my fingers, restoring the circulation. “Thanks for stopping by. I baked a welcome gift for your grand opening,” I said, taking the quiche from beneath the counter.

“No thanks.” She shook her head. “I don’t do dairy.”

“I used almond milk.”

“Is there any cheese in it?”

“Only goat cheese.”

She reared away as if I’d suggested cyanide. “I don’t do dairy.”

Joe’s smile broadened.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the calming scents of baking fruits and sugar. “What can I do for you?”

“You can change your sign.” She pointed at the neon above me. “Turn your frown upside down? It encourages emotional eating. Sugar kills, and though it does give a quick emotional high, the satisfaction is fleeting. My customers are trying to rebuild their health. It’s not good for them to constantly see that negative reinforcement.”

I laughed. She was kidding. Of course. “Right. Good one!”

She frowned, a faint line appearing between her blond brows. “I’m quite serious.”

“But . . . it’s my slogan. It’s on everything—my sign outside, the menus, my business cards.” This had to be a joke.

“Exactly,” she said. “It’s a problem. Do you have any sugar-free pies?”

“My potpies are sugar free. And so is this quiche.”

“I advocate a vegan diet. I couldn’t eat a potpie or a quiche. Do you sell any sugar-free fruit pies?”

“Um, no.” Sugar free? I’d heard of such things, and this was California, where people could be more thoughtful about eating. But a sugar-free pie? That was unnatural and possibly un-American. Besides, fruit was full of natural sugars.

“I’ll bring some recipes by tomorrow.” She whirled, her ponytail coming within inches of my face, and marched out of the store. The bell over the entrance tinkled in her wake.

Joe wedged himself free of the bar stool and waddled to the counter, arms extended. “I’ll take that breakfast pie. And a fork.”

Sighing, I handed him the quiche. “All right. You win. Do you want a plate to go with that?”

“No. Why get a plate dirty? I’ll eat it from the tin.”

“How did you know she wouldn’t take it?”

Joe winked. “She kicked off her grand opening this morning with a lecture on the evils of gluten, lactose, and anything that tastes good. I figured at least one of those things would be in that breakfast pie.”

I nodded. I had yet to meet a gluten-free piecrust that really sang. He rubbed his stomach. “And the spread was awful, all twigs and health food.”

“It is a gym.”

Petronella stomped toward me in her black motorcycle boots, her brows lowered in a slash, a pie in each hand. “Are you working the counter today or am I?”

“You are. Sorry. You can have it back.” I edged away.

“Because I need this job, and if you’ve decided you can do it for me—”

“Nope, you’re still chief pie wrangler. Have at it.” While I wasn’t exactly afraid of Petronella, both she and Charlene were protective of their duties. And since Charlene made the best piecrust in five counties, and Petronella could soothe the most ferocious customer, I’d learned to stay out of their way.

There was a choking sound, and we both snapped our heads toward the counter.

Joe’s fork clattered to the linoleum. Bowed over the quiche, he gripped his stomach.

I froze, brows squishing together, coldness piercing my core. Then Petronella and I raced around the counter, bumping into each other as we fought our way through the narrow passage beside the cash register.

Joe fell to the floor, writhing.

I fumbled in my apron pocket for my phone and called 9-1-1.

Petronella clasped one of Joe’s hands. “Joe! I’m here. Val’s calling an ambulance. What’s happening?”

Joe went limp, his eyes rolling back. He didn’t answer.