Hi all!
In the upcoming weeks/months, there will be changes coming to this site. It'll be more of an official author website and less of a blog. I do, however, intend to continue my TBR Pile book reviews, just on a different site. If you'd like to continue following my reviews, they are now being hosted on The Never-Ending TBR Pile blog that I've created. You can also find my reviews on various books on my Goodreads' account.
I wish everyone a Happy Friday and hope you have a weekend filled with amazing books!
Blog for Author Wendy Lohr
Showing posts with label Goodreads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goodreads. Show all posts
Friday, February 21, 2020
Thursday, January 9, 2020
TBR Pile #6: The Arabian Nights
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads account.
Rich. Lavish. Elegant.
The Arabian Nights has been on my list to read for a long time now and as I finish my first read of it, I have to ask myself 'Self... why did it take you so long to read this?!' lol And the answer is probably because I was intimidated by the sheer size of this collection of stories. But I finally took the time to sit down and read it, from cover to cover, and I have no doubt I'll be reading it again in the future!
I don't typically read forewards of books, just preferring to dive straight into the good stuff. But I took the time to read this one and am glad I did. It prepared me in a way that allowed me to enjoy the stories even more, giving me a cultural and historical context that provided more richness to each individual tale as well as the over-arching framework.
As each tale unfolds, glimpses into a society, culture, and religion bring these tales to life. Before reading this, I had very little knowledge of ancient Islamic/Arabic society norms and practices. And I'm not saying this is a perfect history of that society and culture. In fact, it actually makes me want to learn more about that history in order to see how close to realism these stories presented of the times. The tales are rich in details pertaining to that culture and society, allowing the reader to envision what might have been everyday norms during that point in history and I look forward to diving into more research just to see how much of it came close to reality!
As for the supernatural, the fantastical, the adventures and romance, it's all in here! And every tale appears to have some sort of lesson or morality to impart to the reader. But there is so much more to take away from each tale than just a life lesson and each reader may take away something different.
There aren't many words to describe how much I truly enjoyed reading each and every story in this collection. And I can't recommend it enough to those who truly love tales of fantasy and adventure, love and tragedy, heroism and villainy, triumph and despair. Every imaginable aspect of story-telling is embraced in this collection of stories and is imparted in such a way to keep the reader turning the page to the very end.
So, if you are looking for something that, at first glance, seems to be a challenge, but with each turning page dissolves into one of the most enjoyable reads you'll find, then definitely give this book a chance.
Monday, December 16, 2019
TBR Pile #3: House at the End of the Street
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads account.
I'm not even sure what to write. The plot was uninspiring, the characters underdeveloped, and the climax underwhelming. I found the main character annoying and her relationship with her mother so full of teen angst it was unrealistic. I kept reading just to see what the deal was with Ryan, but I'm more disappointed than anything. This book just didn't do it for me.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
TBR Pile #1 - Great Paintings
So, I'm trying something a little different here. I want to add reviews of books on this site from time to time, sharing my thoughts about the various books that adorn my shelves. These reviews will also be posted on Goodreads. So here's the first book off my To Be Read shelves:
This is a great introductory book to the many styles/genres of art as well as artists throughout the centuries or it could be a great quick reference book. I liked the tidbits of information about each artist, about the paintings themselves, and the analysis of each painting. And the paintings themselves are well-presented in the high-res photographs provided for analysis. There was just enough information to have piqued my curiosity about several artists I was unfamiliar with before reading this as well as some of the greats that I've always admired. So I'll be looking for books that relate to those individual artists and their works to satisfy my growing curiosity!
Great Paintings: The World's Masterpieces Explored and Explained
Published by DK Publishing
This is a great introductory book to the many styles/genres of art as well as artists throughout the centuries or it could be a great quick reference book. I liked the tidbits of information about each artist, about the paintings themselves, and the analysis of each painting. And the paintings themselves are well-presented in the high-res photographs provided for analysis. There was just enough information to have piqued my curiosity about several artists I was unfamiliar with before reading this as well as some of the greats that I've always admired. So I'll be looking for books that relate to those individual artists and their works to satisfy my growing curiosity!
Friday, January 2, 2015
It's a Brand New Year!
Happy New Year, everyone!
Sorry I've been silent for so long, but as you can see by the progress bar on the right side of the screen, I've been hard at work on Two Worlds (The Soul of Arial #2)! It's coming along beautifully and I hope to have the full manuscript written by the end of this month.
So, speaking of the new year, what's in store? Definitely the publication of Two Worlds, which I hope will take place by March. *crosses fingers and toes* Then it's on to book 3 in the Galactic Dynasty series that I'm co-authoring with my Muse. If all goes well, I should have that book ready to publish between October-December.
On top of getting two new books out this year, I'll also be putting my editor/cover creator/formatter/publisher hats on and helping the other authors in the Cressen Books publishing family get their books out there to the masses. I also have two trips planned this year, one to Norfolk, VA and one to Indianapolis, IN as well as a possible third trip but that one's still in the works, so not sure yet if it will happen or not.
2015 looks as though it's already shaping up to be a busy, exciting year! On a personal note, I've challenged myself to read 50 books this year as part of my Goodreads Challenge for 2015. And I'll always be working on other writing projects that may or may not see the light of publishing. Never know! If any of the books I read this year turn out to be review-worthy, I'll be sure to post the review on the site here and share my thoughts with everyone as well as posting the review over on Goodreads. And if you're not a member of Goodreads, head on over and check the site out, maybe even send me a friend request while you're at it!
Okay, so I'm off of here for now. I'll try to be a more consistent blogger this year... one of my goals for 2015. I hope everyone's new year has gotten off to an awesome start and I look forward to sharing this year with all of you awesome peeps!
Sorry I've been silent for so long, but as you can see by the progress bar on the right side of the screen, I've been hard at work on Two Worlds (The Soul of Arial #2)! It's coming along beautifully and I hope to have the full manuscript written by the end of this month.
So, speaking of the new year, what's in store? Definitely the publication of Two Worlds, which I hope will take place by March. *crosses fingers and toes* Then it's on to book 3 in the Galactic Dynasty series that I'm co-authoring with my Muse. If all goes well, I should have that book ready to publish between October-December.
On top of getting two new books out this year, I'll also be putting my editor/cover creator/formatter/publisher hats on and helping the other authors in the Cressen Books publishing family get their books out there to the masses. I also have two trips planned this year, one to Norfolk, VA and one to Indianapolis, IN as well as a possible third trip but that one's still in the works, so not sure yet if it will happen or not.
2015 looks as though it's already shaping up to be a busy, exciting year! On a personal note, I've challenged myself to read 50 books this year as part of my Goodreads Challenge for 2015. And I'll always be working on other writing projects that may or may not see the light of publishing. Never know! If any of the books I read this year turn out to be review-worthy, I'll be sure to post the review on the site here and share my thoughts with everyone as well as posting the review over on Goodreads. And if you're not a member of Goodreads, head on over and check the site out, maybe even send me a friend request while you're at it!
Okay, so I'm off of here for now. I'll try to be a more consistent blogger this year... one of my goals for 2015. I hope everyone's new year has gotten off to an awesome start and I look forward to sharing this year with all of you awesome peeps!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Starward Release Day!!!
Yes, you read the title right....Starward has finally released! WOOT!! *Throws confetti* So, here's the cover, synopsis, and purchase links for all you readers interested in sci-fi/adventure novels!
DNA, the schematic for life, and so much more. For the long dead aliens, it’s a message media of treachery and treason through the centuries. For the mission to the stars, it’s an absolute requirement. But for Rosa, it’s a curse of being the only one with the right DNA. Going into space isn’t on her life list. But events centuries before her time has set fate into motion from which there is no escape. So she reluctantly embarks on the ultimate space adventure…to unknowingly deliver the dead aliens’ message of betrayal!
This book can be purchased on Kindle, Nook, and in paperback through CreateSpace and Amazon.
I love to hear feedback, so let me know what you think of the cover and synopsis and whether this sounds like a book you'd be interested in reading! And if you purchase this book, please spread some love by reviewing it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads!
Happy Reading!
by E. M. Lohr and Wendy Lohr
Synopsis: DNA, the schematic for life, and so much more. For the long dead aliens, it’s a message media of treachery and treason through the centuries. For the mission to the stars, it’s an absolute requirement. But for Rosa, it’s a curse of being the only one with the right DNA. Going into space isn’t on her life list. But events centuries before her time has set fate into motion from which there is no escape. So she reluctantly embarks on the ultimate space adventure…to unknowingly deliver the dead aliens’ message of betrayal!
This book can be purchased on Kindle, Nook, and in paperback through CreateSpace and Amazon.
I love to hear feedback, so let me know what you think of the cover and synopsis and whether this sounds like a book you'd be interested in reading! And if you purchase this book, please spread some love by reviewing it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Goodreads!
Happy Reading!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Exciting times!
Wow, so I am slowly recovering from a very crazy week! I've already posted an update on the word count for Starward and will confess that no more progress has been made since I was busy handling other things since that last post.
First off, Saturday, April 28, was the Martinsburg Chocolate Festival and Book Faire. I had a booth set up in one of the local businesses, Dayja Vu, and had a blast talking with all the people that were coming through to meet various authors and sample different chocolates! And I sold a few books and gave away a bunch of postcards that featured the covers of my books and their synopsis to a lot of people. It truly was a wonderful experience and I hope that Martinsburg will host something like this again next year!
I spent most of Sunday recovering from all the chaos. Now it's Monday and back to work for me. Already this morning I prepared 5 signed copies of Spanish Intrigue and some swag to go out to the lucky winners from the Goodreads Giveaway I was hosting. I'm very excited for them and hope that they enjoy the book! And as soon as I finish this post, I'll be working on updating Cressen Books LLC's website with some information for aspiring authors as well as post some synopses for a couple of books that are in the works at the moment.
On a personal note, I will be getting ready for my trip to Kentucky next week. I'm going to see a really close friend of mine and her two boys. I'm very excited about the trip and can't wait to see them and some other friends! Of course, while I'm there, I will attempt to keep writing on Starward as I don't want to lose my focus on that story, but we'll see how it goes.
So, lots going on and so many things left to do before I hit the road this coming Sunday! I hope everyone has a great week and I'll try to post again soon!
First off, Saturday, April 28, was the Martinsburg Chocolate Festival and Book Faire. I had a booth set up in one of the local businesses, Dayja Vu, and had a blast talking with all the people that were coming through to meet various authors and sample different chocolates! And I sold a few books and gave away a bunch of postcards that featured the covers of my books and their synopsis to a lot of people. It truly was a wonderful experience and I hope that Martinsburg will host something like this again next year!
I spent most of Sunday recovering from all the chaos. Now it's Monday and back to work for me. Already this morning I prepared 5 signed copies of Spanish Intrigue and some swag to go out to the lucky winners from the Goodreads Giveaway I was hosting. I'm very excited for them and hope that they enjoy the book! And as soon as I finish this post, I'll be working on updating Cressen Books LLC's website with some information for aspiring authors as well as post some synopses for a couple of books that are in the works at the moment.
On a personal note, I will be getting ready for my trip to Kentucky next week. I'm going to see a really close friend of mine and her two boys. I'm very excited about the trip and can't wait to see them and some other friends! Of course, while I'm there, I will attempt to keep writing on Starward as I don't want to lose my focus on that story, but we'll see how it goes.
So, lots going on and so many things left to do before I hit the road this coming Sunday! I hope everyone has a great week and I'll try to post again soon!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Getting Reacquainted with Characters
So, this has been a big week for me. I've finished the new Cressen Books website design and that's now live. I published my latest book on Kindle, The Legend of Goat Head Lodge. And I am now a Goodreads Author...go me! :)
With these pieces accomplished, what am I up to next? Well, I'm trying to get reacquainted with my characters in Starward, Rosa and Daemos. I've spent the last several months in the heads of Leyla and Lucien trying to finish up Goat Head that any writing I've done on Starward has been sporadic at best. And when writing is sporadic, it's very hard to stay in the main characters' heads.
But, I'm slowly getting a good feel for Rosa and Daemos and am very excited to be working more consistently on their story again. And actually, I should clarify that a little: I'm feeling pretty good about being in Rosa's head (or her being in my head as the case may be). After all, this first book in the Galactic Dynasty series is mainly told from her perspective with only glimpses from Daemos from time to time. And I don't want to explain that any further because it would ruin certain plot elements at this point. *cackles evilly*
So, for a recap, I posted a week or so ago reporting that my progress in Starward is a little over half done with over 55,000 words. I am now at 58,750 words and things are starting to develop more with Daemos (meaning I get to write more scenes with Daemos now and those scenes are quite, er, challenging). Geez, it's very hard to talk about Daemos at all without giving certain things away, but I absolutely love the character and can't wait for readers to get to know Daemos. :)
Anyway, I know that doesn't look like a whole lot of progress but it's more the quality of the scenes than the quantity of the words at this point. Plus, I have to factor in all the other projects I've been working on this past week and suddenly 3,750 is pretty darn good. *pats self on the back*
And yes, I know that there are a lot of authors out there now that are using word counters to keep up with their progress (or have been for a long time). And I'd be happy to use one of those as well, if I knew how many words I was shooting for to begin with. I think I'm an oddball because I tend to format my stories ahead of time and pay more attention to the number of pages (302 at this time) and chapters (16 at this time) than I do to the actual word count. Oh, and I don't have an editor demanding that the book be so many words...I get to choose how long (or short) I want my novels to be. Such a nice, liberating feeling!
Okay, enough rambling. So, at 58,750 words, I'm going to guesstimate that I probably have another 40,000 words (or less) to write and Starward will be complete. (I guess I might actually be aiming for a total of 100,000 words, give or take.) And I will definitely keep everyone posted with regards to my progress, either through future posts or through an actual word counter or both.
And now, it's time for me to return to Rosa. She's been pestering me for the last fifteen minutes wanting to know why I'm writing a blog post instead of dealing with her latest crisis! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
With these pieces accomplished, what am I up to next? Well, I'm trying to get reacquainted with my characters in Starward, Rosa and Daemos. I've spent the last several months in the heads of Leyla and Lucien trying to finish up Goat Head that any writing I've done on Starward has been sporadic at best. And when writing is sporadic, it's very hard to stay in the main characters' heads.
But, I'm slowly getting a good feel for Rosa and Daemos and am very excited to be working more consistently on their story again. And actually, I should clarify that a little: I'm feeling pretty good about being in Rosa's head (or her being in my head as the case may be). After all, this first book in the Galactic Dynasty series is mainly told from her perspective with only glimpses from Daemos from time to time. And I don't want to explain that any further because it would ruin certain plot elements at this point. *cackles evilly*
So, for a recap, I posted a week or so ago reporting that my progress in Starward is a little over half done with over 55,000 words. I am now at 58,750 words and things are starting to develop more with Daemos (meaning I get to write more scenes with Daemos now and those scenes are quite, er, challenging). Geez, it's very hard to talk about Daemos at all without giving certain things away, but I absolutely love the character and can't wait for readers to get to know Daemos. :)
Anyway, I know that doesn't look like a whole lot of progress but it's more the quality of the scenes than the quantity of the words at this point. Plus, I have to factor in all the other projects I've been working on this past week and suddenly 3,750 is pretty darn good. *pats self on the back*
And yes, I know that there are a lot of authors out there now that are using word counters to keep up with their progress (or have been for a long time). And I'd be happy to use one of those as well, if I knew how many words I was shooting for to begin with. I think I'm an oddball because I tend to format my stories ahead of time and pay more attention to the number of pages (302 at this time) and chapters (16 at this time) than I do to the actual word count. Oh, and I don't have an editor demanding that the book be so many words...I get to choose how long (or short) I want my novels to be. Such a nice, liberating feeling!
Okay, enough rambling. So, at 58,750 words, I'm going to guesstimate that I probably have another 40,000 words (or less) to write and Starward will be complete. (I guess I might actually be aiming for a total of 100,000 words, give or take.) And I will definitely keep everyone posted with regards to my progress, either through future posts or through an actual word counter or both.
And now, it's time for me to return to Rosa. She's been pestering me for the last fifteen minutes wanting to know why I'm writing a blog post instead of dealing with her latest crisis! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Busy, Crazy Times
Sorry it's been a while since my last post. Things have been pretty crazy around here. That and a three-day weekend with my Muse, which was wonderful! And no, we didn't escape for some romantic getaway (we have that right here at home). We stayed home for the most part and worked on clearing out a lot of dead trees and brush in a small section of our 15-acres of woods. And the section we're working on is looking fantastic!
Anyway, I did that and I finished the first part of the book "Starward" in the new Galactic Dynasty series I'm co-authoring with my Muse. Now I'm ready to tackle the second part, which will introduce a new and unique character to the mix. I'm extremely excited about it but don't want to give anything away right now! Let's just say that it's going to be really challenging to write from such a "absolute logic" perspective.
Over the last few days I've been reading a lot too. I have a profile on Goodreads...a totally awesome site that I would recommend to any book-loving fiend. You can click the link above and friend me or follow me if you're interested. :) I've given my honest opinion on a few books I've read and will try to remember to link those to this blog in the future. Right now I'm reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White and Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick.
Now, for the next couple of weeks, more craziness will ensue. So, I may be a little sporadic in posting to this blog. My Muse and I will be traveling to PA in a couple of weeks to attend Celebrate the Book. We'll have a booth set up displaying and selling the first two books in The L & L Mysteries: Spanish Intrigue and The Art of Deceit. If you happen to be in Carlisle, PA on October 22, come by and see me!
So, it's time for me to hop off of here and begin work on "Starward" and creating display posters and such. Until next time.....
Anyway, I did that and I finished the first part of the book "Starward" in the new Galactic Dynasty series I'm co-authoring with my Muse. Now I'm ready to tackle the second part, which will introduce a new and unique character to the mix. I'm extremely excited about it but don't want to give anything away right now! Let's just say that it's going to be really challenging to write from such a "absolute logic" perspective.
Over the last few days I've been reading a lot too. I have a profile on Goodreads...a totally awesome site that I would recommend to any book-loving fiend. You can click the link above and friend me or follow me if you're interested. :) I've given my honest opinion on a few books I've read and will try to remember to link those to this blog in the future. Right now I'm reading Supernaturally by Kiersten White and Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick.
Now, for the next couple of weeks, more craziness will ensue. So, I may be a little sporadic in posting to this blog. My Muse and I will be traveling to PA in a couple of weeks to attend Celebrate the Book. We'll have a booth set up displaying and selling the first two books in The L & L Mysteries: Spanish Intrigue and The Art of Deceit. If you happen to be in Carlisle, PA on October 22, come by and see me!
So, it's time for me to hop off of here and begin work on "Starward" and creating display posters and such. Until next time.....
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