You see I just went on vacation from my day job. You remember? My alarm wakes me up at 3:00 am. I'm in the office by 4:00 am. I have over one hundred employees. I work about 11 hours a day. As they say, it's a living.
In any event, I am now on vacation for two entire weeks. I have a post that is due for Wicked Writers this Friday, and I have an article due in early January for Kings River Life Magazine, but other than that, my schedule is clear. Couple that with the fact that the manuscript for my second novel in the Dance on Fire series, "Dance on Fire: Flashpoint", has been mailed to Vamplit Publishing, all I really want to do now is enjoy my decorated house...and read.
You see, with the hours I usually work and the schedules that I had been maintaining with regard to articles and posts, there has been no time for reading. So that's really want I want to do now.
For those of you who know me on Goodreads, you may have noticed that it claims that I have been reading "The Passage" by Justin Cronin for a long while. The truth is I abandoned that book a long time ago. I really enjoyed the first 100 pages or so, but could not stay interested once the first batch of characters had made way for another. I recall that the novel was getting really good buzz; however, unless some of you encourage me to keep trying, I'm walking away.
But that's okay. My Kindle is now full of new novels by several of you that I really want to read. I just began "The House on Blackstone Moor" by a great friend of mine, Carole Gill. With any luck she will be joining us on Wicked Writers very soon and I cannot wait. This girl has some series skill. I am just under 20% of the novel and I am really loving it. I'm not sure where it's going, though I do have my suspicions. We'll see whether Carole has tricked me or not.
Another novel that I want to get into is "Grave Echoes" by Erin Cole. I have read a few of her stories and I am intrigued to see what she's got up her sleeve. I also have "The Dark Road" by Marissa Farrar. Her first novel was very good, and I'm not just saying that because she's my pal, or because we're both on Vamplit. I've also picked up a few others: "The Strangers Outside" by Vanessa Morgan, "Shredder" by Garry Charles and "The First Kill" by Darcia Helle.
In the not-exactly-my-genre-but-am-very-interested-none-the-less column, I have "Revenge of the Siren Song" by Michelle Stinson Ross and "The Hating Game" by Talli Roland. Many of us watched excitedly and rooted for it as Talli's novel attacked Amazon during the first day of it's release.
If I have enough time, I would also like to tackle a couple of big time authors: Patricia Cornwell and Pat Conroy. Cornwell has a new novel in her Kay Scarpetta series, entitled "Port Mortuary". Conroy has a new offering about some of his favorite books, entitled "My Reading Life".One of the things I haven't managed to do very well is offer reviews. I hope to change that during this holiday season. We'll see.
I hope the holiday season finds you well and hopeful.
We'll talk soon.
Thanks for the shout out, Jimmy! I too am looking forward to getting into Carole Gill's novel. It sounds right up my path. Just hoping that I've been very good this year and that Santa will bring me a kindle!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you! Enjoy your time off!
Some great books, and I'm honored that you have mine up there, wow! Let me know if you want a better jpeg pic.
ReplyDeleteI'm digging into some too: The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson, Handling the Undead - John Ajvide Lindqvist, The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman, and Dance on Fire - James Garcia Jr.!
Happy Holidays
Marissa - Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm half way through Carole's novel and haven't been disappointed by anything so far. It feels great to be able to actually sit and read again. Hopefully reading will transfer into reviewing. Good luck with that Kindle. If I don't get a chance later, Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteErin - How are you my friend? It's been too long since we've said hello. You'll have to let me know about Gaiman; I hear his name mentioned a lot. I may have to do some investigation... I'll let you know about that jpeg photo. Happy Holidays to you and yours, too.
Thanks again, Ladies. May Santa deliver exactly what you're asking for this season.
Yay for 2 weeks off! What a perfect way to spend it, cozied up with a book (or several) and holiday decorations. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you a relaxing, magical, love-filled Christmas and a spectacular 2011!
Hugs,
Lola
Thank you, my dear. I really appreciate you surfing over and blessing me with your presence. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you have some down time this holiday season. Enjoy! Here's something quirky about me that I was reminded of as I read your post: I can't abandon a book once I've started reading it. I have suffered through many horrid reads that others, I'm sure, have thrown across the room in frustration, but I pushed on to the bitter end. I wish I were different! I've tried to quit reading a book I wasn't enjoying, but there's something stubborn in my psyche that won't allow it. Maybe that's something I'll work on in 2011. Ha! Life's too dang short to waste on crappy novels!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays, James! Wishing you and yours the very merriest of Christmases!
Thank you so much, my friend. I just hope that when you decide a novel is too crappy that it won't be mine that you fling across the room!! Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope everyone in your family is well come Christmas morning.
ReplyDelete-Jimmy