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What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011


I'm one of those readers who finds it difficult to sit through an entire reading of one book and not look at another in the process. I've discovered in a very short period of time that the Kindle has fed that flaw or strength of mine. Because I found so many fun free books to download or sample when I received my Kindle I got a little carried away. For starters I am currently jumping back and forth between several books on my e-reader. They are the ones I downloaded at no cost.





  1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  2. Medical Error by Richard Mabry
  3. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
  4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
  5. Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman

I love romance, mysteries and suspense. Research is a blessing and a curse. I can get so immersed in research that I have a hard time pulling back and  getting on to other responsiblilities, uh, like writing a book. I love all things medical, whether it's historic or contemporary.

I'm beginning to wonder if I haven't developed a new type of Attention Deficit Disorder. Or maybe it's just caught up with me but now it's called "aging." Yikes, could it be that I'm getting scattered or perhaps I'm actually more focused. Is it the curse of technology or the blessing of opportunity?

Okay. Now I told you what I downloaded for free. Here's what I paid for:

  1. Watch Your Back by James Scott Bell
  2. Crockodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
  3. The Regency Underworld by Donald A. Low
  4. Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester
  5. English Society in the 18th Century by Roy Porter
That's what I'm reading. Now this is what I'm writing.

My first book, Secrets of the Heart: The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book One is finished and ready to make it's way into the world on May 3rd. I'm currently working on Book Two with the working title, Chameleon. It takes a lot of work to complete a book, but it's not the only thing you can write. Maybe you want to write non-fiction, a novella, a poem, even a letter. Do you journal?

Just think about all the different types of writing there are. Magazine articles, newspaper articles, scripts. I'd encourage anyone just getting started to write something they can finish first. Then set your goals related to what comes next and why. Why do you want to write anything? What is driving you?

So what are you reading? What are you writing?




6 comments:

  1. Fun to know what you've downloaded to your Kindle! I've certainly loved the "free" downloads as well but now I fear I'll never catch up with all I have to read!

    I just finished reading: Letters from Home, Kristina McMorris
    Onto: Michal by Jill Eileen Smith and Whisper on the Wind by Maureen Lang (so excited for those!)
    Listening to audiobook: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    Research-oriented reading: One Place Across Time - Vancouver National HIstoric Reserve.

    And what I'm writing: World War II era romance tentatively titled Lillie Among Thorns - a woman framed for murder finds sanctuary at a horse ranch and discovers true faith and healing. Tying together horses and history - my favorite combination. :-)

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  2. Hi there, Nicole!
    I love hearing what you're reading and writing. I won't even pretend to be capable of keeping up with what I'm reading on my Kindle. I've also started downloading the sample chapters.

    Sample chapters will be even more important to readers and writers with the use of e-books. Those of us who write better be writing killer first chapters or there is little chance that readers will choose to buy what we write based on our first chapters. Scary but necessary.

    I'm a horse nut too. The horses in my books that are owned by hero and heroine will always have names.:) My hero's horse is named Hippocrates and my heroine's horse is named Shakespeare in Secrets of the Heart.

    Lillie Among the Thorns sounds fascinating with the horse ranch and healing in it since I grew up on a farm. Thanks for sharing your information. I'll have to check these out eventually.

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  3. I am reading Ann Tatlock --promises. So far I love it. Writing? Just doing my revisions on my women's fiction plus readind some of my CP's romances:)

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  4. Hi Terri,
    I love Ann.She's a great person. I've met a couple times at Blueridge, but haven't read her yet.
    I think you should give yourself more credit. Whe you say, "Just doing my revisions," etc., it sounds like it's not a big deal when in fact it's a huge deal. You're working hard. Hope you plan on rewarding yourself.
    Blessings,
    Jill

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  5. On my Kindle app I have A Time to Love, by Barbara Cameron and Daughter I Am, by Pat Bertram but I've only peeked into them so far. I just finished Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and on the top of my TBR pile sits Jodi Picoult's new book, Sing You Home. I bought it yesterday and am trying hard *not* to start reading it because I'm already behind with my March goals. (Taking part in Denise Jaden's March Madness Challenge.) I'm trying to revise my last story and ignore a new idea that's waiting in the wings. There's always so much to do and so little time!

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  6. Hi there Carol,
    I've been writing almost all day. Now just 2,000 words away from my goal of 75,000 words. Yippee! And then it will be time to revise for about 3 weeks before I turn it over to my editor. You're right, there is never enough time and now tonight we lose an hour. Oh but we gain that sunshine. :) Thanks for sharing what you are reading. Another interesting list. Hang in there with your goals.

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