Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Beach Reads Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Beach Reads Giveaway Hop!
I'm hoping to get in a little beach time this summer. If I do, the book I plan to take with me is The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber. Have you read it? It's waiting on the shelf right now, but if I go to the beach it's coming with! What do you plan on reading at the beach (ocean, lake, river) this summer? Here's the description from Goodreads:

Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister's estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when her hosts throw a house party for the cream of London society, Kiera is unable to hide from the ire of those who believe her to be as unnatural as her husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes.

Kiera wants to put her past aside, but when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to utilize her knowledge of human anatomy to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage--a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn't about to let her guard down as accusations and rumors swirl.

When Kiera and Gage's search leads them to even more gruesome discoveries, a series of disturbing notes urges Lady Darby to give up the inquiry. But Kiera is determined to both protect her family and prove her innocence, even as she risks becoming the next victim...



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Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2018 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, April 30, 2018

May I Suggest . . . Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the May I Suggest Giveaway Hop. I am featuring two of my recent reads: Force of Nature by Jane Harper and All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Steifvater.

I am giving away one $15 gift card to the book store of your choice!
This giveaway runs May 1st -15th

From bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, a gripping tale of darkness, miracles, and family. Saints. Miracles. Family. Romance. Death. Redemption.

My thoughts: I have to admit that I struggled with this one and a couple of times almost gave up. Not because it wasn't well-written. Anyone who has read Maggie knows she can WRITE. But the style she used for this one was over the top for me. It felt a little heavy-handed and forced. I prefer books where I'm NOT aware of the author and little tricks and devices. I felt the same way about The Dream Thieves, my least favorite Raven Boys book. Having said that, The Dream Thieves was a lot of people's favorite, so it's probably just me.

All the Crooked Saints is a quirky and ultimately enjoyable read, set in the 1960s in rural Colorado. It's full of magical realism, which I enjoy, but like I said, I felt a bit browbeaten by this one at first. It either got better or I got used to it because I did finish and really enjoyed this one. Any fans of Maggie or magical realism will probably enjoy this. This is a stand alone story.

Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?

When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path. But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

My thoughts: We first met Aaron Falk in The Dry, which was one of my favorite reads last year. I'm not an authority on mysteries or crime novels - I'm just getting into the genre - so I have no idea if Jane Harper's work is cliche or not. So far I am greatly enjoying it. I especially like that it's set in Australia. I preferred The Dry, mainly because we get to know the main character, Aaron, and he had such a strong connection to the other people in the story. In Force of Nature he feels more like a minor character with some side issues that almost felt tacked on as an after thought. So I felt a bit disconnected for at least the first part of the story. This one was also difficult to get into because of this. But it did get more interesting and suspenseful as it went along and kept me guessing and changing my mind throughout. You don't need to have read the first book, but it would help a little to have a connection to the "main" character as you're not going to get it through this book.

I consider both novels solid four star reads!

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Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2018 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Best of 2017 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Best of 2017 Giveaway Hop!

I am giving away to one winner a new hardback copy of their choice from my five favorite reads of 2017. Each book is very different, but I thoroughly enjoyed each one. This giveaway is open to US residents only.

From Goodreads: A true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. One Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, watched as her family was murdered. Her older sister was shot. Her mother was then slowly poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances. My review.

From Goodreads: All children mythologize their birth...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.

The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.

From Goodreads: A small town hides big secrets in this atmospheric, page-turning debut mystery by an award-winning new author.

After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.

Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

From Goodreads: Some bodies won’t stay buried. Some stories need to be told.

When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past, the present, and herself.

One hundred years earlier, a single violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what’s right the night Tulsa burns. My review.

From Goodreads: In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic and dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask, and released in New York City, though still not entirely free

Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker's debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale. My review.

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Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!
Be sure to stop by each blog and enter to win! Each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. A big Thank You to BookHounds for hosting this great hop!

I am offering two opportunities to win: one $15 gift card to the bookstore of your choice and one paperback copy of my novel Bronze.

You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. Gift card giveaway open only to those who can legally enter, receive, and use a book store gift code. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

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Bronze can be pre-ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Review & Giveaway: Reading People by Anne Bogel

From the book site:
"Discover How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything

Backed by extensive research and illustrated with engaging stories, Reading People explains what makes you uniquely you, what makes the people in your life uniquely them, and why it all matters. Popular blogger Anne Bogel makes it easy. In this fascinating book, she collects, explores, and explains the most popular personality frameworks, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She shares the life-changing insights that can be gained from each, along with practical applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life.

Want to revolutionize the way you live, love, work, and pray? Understanding personality is the first step!"

I've been intrigued by people since I was a teen. My dad and I talked by the hour trying to figure the universe out well into my twenties and thirties, and a major topic was always people - how they think and why they do what they do. Since I began seriously writing a little over ten years ago, I've been even more fascinated. I've had gaping holes in my understanding of other people all my life. It's only relatively recently that I've been diagnosed as autistic and now realize that my dad was too. The holes are still there, but Anne's book is going to be an important resource for me for many reasons.

Reading Anne's book is just like listening to her. Her tone is welcoming and confiding as she shares personal life stories and revelations from her research. I especially love her many references to authors and literary characters and their personality traits and probable types.

Personality typing might be how I discovered Anne Bogel's blog Modern Mrs. Darcy years ago. Or I might have discovered her blog through my love of books and then stumbled over one of her posts on personality. Or I might have just come across the title of her blog and been compelled (yes, compelled) to visit it, as any self-respecting Janeite would. You'd have to investigate a blog with such a title. Whichever way, Anne has certainly enriched my reading life and now is contributing to my growing understanding of what makes people tick. As an autistic writer of character-driven fiction, this is huge! I knew about extroverts and introverts, of course. But that's like Personality 101. I'd never heard of the Myers-Brigg assessment before frequenting her blog, and I find that fascinating. I'm quite sure I'm INTJ but I'd like to take the full test one day.

More recently (last summer) I joined Anne's book club (which I LOVE) and first heard about her soon-to-be-released book, Reading People. You may know her through her weekly podcast, What Should I Read Next, which I also highly recommend whether you need the advice or not! Anne's manner is calm and warm and humorous and gracious. I'm glad she's narrating her own audiobook and you can get a free copy! More of that below. First, the book.


As I said, everybody knows about introverts and extroverts, and I'd already discovered the Myers-Briggs typing through Anne's blog, but it's much more in-depth than I realized. If I'm serious about knowing my own or anyone else's type, it's going to require a little more time than a simple online test. I knew about the ancient four "humors," but I'd never heard of Keirsey's Temperaments. I am a Rational and, though I didn't pay for the advanced report, since I'm quite sure I'm INTJ, that makes me a Rational Mastermind. (Sounds diabolical. Hehe) The other big one I'm not familiar with is the Enneagram, though I've heard a lot about it. This one seems a little overwhelming and it'll take some time for me to work through it. I relate to too many of the types! I'll need to spend more time with the Clifton StrengthsFinder for the same reason.

The Love Languages I've known for a while (mine is quality time) and also about Highly Sensitive Persons (I definitely am one). I personally think the latter is largely neurological and not necessarily personality, but I can readily believe that being an HSP can shape one's personality.

Although I read a free ARC, I've already pre-ordered a copy and plan on buying copies for my daughters and my son, as we all struggle with similar issues. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand themselves or who deals with other people in any way. In other words, everyone!

For writers: A valuable resource for checking character traits against motivations. I've read too many books where characters suddenly act out of character purely to further plot or cover up plot holes. Sometimes it's just lazy writing - not bothering to come up with clear cut characters in the first place. Understanding your characters, at least the ones that have significant page presence, will go far to keeping your characters on track and believable.

For parents: I'm very fortunate to have had children that got along most of the time. They're very close to this day (the youngest is thirty this year!) Conflict resolution wasn't a big factor in their upbringing. But I know that's not the norm for a lot of parents. Understanding your children's personalities and the dynamics in their interactions will help with problem solving and conflict resolution.

For teachers: The reasons are similar to parents on a grander scale: understanding your students, finding better communication methods for individuals, and avoiding and resolving conflict.

For employers: Knowing the strengths and personalities of your employees can help them be more successful in their work and work relationships. Win for everybody!

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Reading People website. Pre-order the book to claim your free audiobook and Reading Personality class!
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Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze
Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Update: Summer 2017, Upcoming Releases, and Your Help

Personal News

This is long overdue. I'm sorry if it seems I'm neglecting the blog, but life's been overwhelming for quite some time. I've been taking professional development (curriculum developing and salary increasing) classes all summer which, along with writing every day, have kept me very busy. I haven't even had the chance to get out of town except for a day trip to Monterey with my youngest daughter (which was fun!). I greatly missed going to visit my son and his family, especially my new granddaughter, but it just wasn't possible this summer. School starts in less than a week so I'm gearing up for that, along with everything else going on right now.

One of the things I am excited about is being on the launch team for Anne Bogel's new book, Reading People.

If you have any interest at all in personality frameworks and understanding other people, this is the book for you! I'm almost finished reading the ARC copy but have preordered the paperback as I prefer to have physical copies of books I'll refer to a lot. And I'm sure I will with this one! And you get a free audio edition with the preorder! I'll be posting my review soon.

Glister Journals News

Work on The Glister Journals is ongoing. At this moment we're finalizing the new cover of Bronze. I really love it! The new edition paperback and e-book should be available for preorder within the next two weeks. I'll have a firm release date soon, but it will probably be October. It will also be available for review through NetGalley by the end of the month.

Bronze received great reader and media reviews when it first came out, but I didn't know how to get the word out far and fast enough, so very few people knew about it. If people don't know about a book, they can't buy it, and if they don't buy it, it pretty much disappears. That is what happened to Bronze. I'm hoping the change in cover will give more of a feel for what the book is really like than the original artwork does. And now that I understand marketing a little better, I'm hoping the book can achieve a wider audience than it has so far.

But I need your help! I'll be building a street team to help get the word out, not just about Bronze, but for each Glister Journals book as it's released. If you live in the United States and have an active social media presence, your help is invaluable! For those of you who don't live in the US (and I know there are a lot of you!), your support, comments, and reviews will always be extremely important. But for now we have to concentrate on US sales to help the book and series really get off the ground. Advanced Reading Copies (e-books) of the new edition of Bronze will be made available through NetGalley. If you've already reviewed Bronze, I thank you so much! There is no need to read the new edition - nothing has changed except a little detail has been left out and the prose cleaned up slightly - but you are certainly welcome to re-read and your help is even more valuable if you're already a fan! New readers will be encouraged to post reviews on or near release day. You'll be the first to receive ARCs of Copper and the remaining books in the series. I will also have exclusive giveaways, freebies, and first peeks at new content for street team members. I will post separately about this with the new cover reveal very soon!

Which brings me to Copper. The first draft is finally finished and I've begun first revisions on the second half. The first half (chapters 1 thru 15) has been written for quite a while and has had several revisions already. It's in good shape and I'll revise the whole book once I've cleaned up the second half (chapters 16 thru 34). Then the hard work of cutting and polishing will start. Unfortunately I can't give a release date, but I hope to have review copies available by the end of the year. I love my full-time job, but sometimes I really wish I could just concentrate on writing!

Also new is a short newsletter, once or twice a month, just to keep you informed of things you may be interested in: current and upcoming giveaways, recent blog posts, Glister Journals news, book reviews, etc. You can sign up for it here on the blog or on The Glister Journals website.

Currently writing: Copper revisions
Listening: The Shins - Heartworms and Passion Pit - Kindred.
Reading: Reading People by Anne Bogle and The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
Watching: The Bold Type


Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Review: Dreamland Burning

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From Amazon:
Some bodies won't stay buried.
Some stories need to be told.

When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family's property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past... and the present.

Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what's right the night Tulsa burns.

Through intricately interwoven alternating perspectives, Jennifer Latham's lightning-paced page-turner brings the Tulsa race riot of 1921 to blazing life and raises important questions about the complex state of US race relations - both yesterday and today.

My Review:
When construction workers uncover a skeleton in the back house behind Rowan's home, she and her best friend James begin their own investigation. The only clue they have to the skeleton's identity is an old hand-written receipt and a gun. Culminating in an ugly and all but forgotten event, the story unfolds alternately between Rowan as she grapples with her own prejudices and sense of identity, and a boy named Will who lived almost a hundred years ago.

I wasn't completely in love with the narrative style at the beginning of the book, but it definitely got better and better as the characters evolved. And they did evolve. My five star rating is mainly for the interwoven time-lines and plots and the great way the author handled difficult subjects. While not specifically a young adult novel, it's a very easy read and would certainly be appropriate for mature young adult readers. There seems to be so few YA books out there that would appeal to boys as well as girls, but the alternating narrative here makes it a great read for just about anybody.

View all my reviews



Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Review: A Gentleman In Moscow

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From Amazon: From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civility—a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.

My Review: Count Alexander Rostov is in the wrong place at the right time (or vice versa) at the beginning of the Russian Revolution. Saved from internment in Siberia or, more likely, death, a poem written in praise of soviet ideals has earned him a more comfortable prison – the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. For the course of some thirty years with only one extreme exception, Rostov, a “former person,” does not step outside the hotel. A rare combination of intelligent, wise, and kind, Rostov is the epitome of the perfect gentleman. In spite of one small lapse, he remains optimistic and self-reliant. And though the novel takes place almost completely within the walls of the Metropol, adventures and intrigue abound.

This is the best book I’ve read in recent memory – recent meaning probably ten years or more. The language is brilliant and beautiful. The characters are believable and delightful. I loved the enlightening historical footnotes giving insight into things going on behind the scenes. I can’t think of a single thing that bothered me as I read, and that’s saying something! I can’t help thinking Mr. Towles must have drawn deeply on his own character to write Rostov, as there is such a light but unerring touch to his prose. In fact, though it took a long time for me to finish the book, that’s because I have so little time to read, not because I was reluctant to continue. Reading this novel was completely enjoyable. It will have a permanent place on my shelves and I will return to it when I need a guaranteed great read. I had started Rules of Civility and was enjoying it before stopping to read Gentleman (as it was a book club read). So it is waiting in the wings. But I’m going to save it for a little while, like a treat saved for a special occasion. When I’m in need of another guaranteed good read, I will turn to it.

View all my reviews



Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2016 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Oops . . .

I was so excited about the final Raven Cycle book's release, that I pre-ordered it twice and didn't notice! So I've got an extra copy of The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater that I'm giving away. It's NOT a stand-alone, so if you haven't read the first novels, you would definitely need to read them first. This is an easy followers-only giveaway!


Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey… and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.

Good luck!

EDIT I wasn't sure how many people would actually see this post as it's not part of a hop, but apparently you ARE seeing it (Yay!) so I am shortening the length - only a week - which means you have an even better chance of winning! Thanks for following everyone. :)

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Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2016 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, September 14, 2015

My Winter Reads


With revision of Bronze complete, I had originally hoped that these would be my Fall reads, but Gaiman's American Gods took me far too long to read and I'm reading Percy Jackson now in an attempt to catch up a little - I'm woefully behind on my Reading Challenge! In between, I'm writing daily and as much as I can now that school is back.

I'm currently finishing two books: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, which I have mixed feelings about, and then I'll finish The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente.

Next will be Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I've had this on my To Be Read list for quite a while. When my oldest daughter mentioned she was reading it on Kindle (and loving it) and my son asked if I'd ever heard of it on the same day (he was raving about the miniseries he'd just seen), it got bumped to the top of the list. The book is huge so it's going to take a while!

Two magicians shall appear in England.
The first shall fear me; the second shall long to behold me...

The year is 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon, and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation's past. But scholars of this glorious history discover that one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell whose displays of magic send a thrill through the country. Proceeding to London, he raises a beautiful woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious, fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange. Young, handsome and daring, Strange is the very opposite of Norrell. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men which overwhelms the one between England and France. And their own obsessions and secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine.


Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is a hardback I've had for quite a while but didn't want to read until I'd read American Gods. Now that I've finished it, I'll read this follow-up novel.

Bursting with the imaginative power of Neil Gaiman, this story blends fantasy with humour and drama. Fat Charlie Nancy is not actually fat. He was fat once but he is definitely not fat now. No, right now Fat Charlie Nancy is angry, confused and more than a little scared - right now his life is spinning out of control, and it is all his dad's fault. If his rotter of an estranged father hadn't dropped dead at a karaoke night, Charlie would still be blissfully unaware that his dad was Anansi the spider god. He would have no idea that he has a brother called Spider, who is also a god. And there would be no chance that said brother would be trying to take over his life, flat and fiancée, or, to make matters worse, be doing a much better job of it than him. Desperate to reclaim his life, Charlie enlists the help of four more-than-slightly eccentric old ladies and their unique brand of voodoo - and between them they unleash a bitter and twisted force to get rid of Spider. But as darkness descends and badness begins is Fat Charlie Nancy going to get his life back in one piece or is he about to enter a whole netherworld of pain?

And finally,

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.


I enjoyed the first book of this series and look forward to getting back to it.

Have you read these? What did you think? What are you looking forward to reading this winter?

Writing: TGJ Book 2, Chapter 29.

Listening: Civil Twilight - Story of an Immigrant

Reading: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente.

Watching: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and Grantchester



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com New edition coming!
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2015 to B B Shepherd.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Young Adult Giveaway Hop


Welcome to my entry in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop hosted by Book Hounds. I'm giving away a hardback copy of the first novel of one of my favorite series (US and CAN only). The winner may choose between Cinder by Marissa Meyer, a fairy-tale inspired science fiction story, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, a fantasy set in a Russian inspired world, or The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, a contemporary story with a paranormal touch.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.


The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Have you read these yet? If so, which ones and what series would you recommend to me?

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Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com New edition coming!
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2015 to B B Shepherd.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Simple Things


I donated a copy of my novel, Bronze, to the main branch of our county library quite a while ago. I check online once in a while to see what it's up to. It most often says "check shelves." But quite often it shows that it's checked out. Like today. It makes me profoundly happy. I hope they're enjoying it. ❤️


Currently writing: Revising and final edits of Bronze for new edition. (I'll get back to finishing the second Glister Journals novel. I promise.)

Listening: Pedals - Speak

Reading: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Watching: Midsommer Murders and Wayward Pines



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com New edition coming!
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2015 to B B Shepherd and China Blue Publishing.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the 2015 Dreaming of Books Giveaway! I hope your New Year is off to a great start and to help it along a little, I'm giving away a $25 gift card to the book store of your choice. Make sure to check out all the other great bloggers on the linky! Happy 2015!



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Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2015 to China Blue Publishing.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Review: Cinder

It's been a while since I read these books, but as I hope to read Cress (the third book in the series) soon, and Fairest (the fourth book) is out in about three months, I figured I should get to it! Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series is set in a futuristic/alternative reality earth. Although the books are re-imaginings and intertwinings of very familiar fairy tales and characters (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty--at least the evil queen!) the settings and story lines are firmly in science fiction territory and YA accessible. Which is all kinds of awesome. I love Marissa's writing (with one exception - see Scarlet), her characterizations, and stories.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I wasn't initially drawn to this book. Much as I adore science fiction movies and shows, I'm not crazy about robots/androids/cyborgs/etc., so the cover actually put me off. I didn't want to start a book I already had doubts about (as far as liking the main character). Silly me.

First of all, I need to talk about Marissa's world. That's what drew me in and changed my mind as soon as I began reading. Due to my uncertainty, I got it from the library first. I was immediately thrown into a busy futuristic marketplace with a fusion of high and low technology and predominantly Asian atmosphere a la Whedon's Firefly (not as dark and brooding as Blade Runner). By the time I was halfway through the book I was sold on Marissa's writing and the series and had to have my own copy.

Linh Cinder is a part human, part robotic teen girl who works in the marketplace of New Beijing. She is famous for her expertise in mechanics and does a good trade there, helping to augment her family's meager income. That family is, of course, a step mother and two step sisters. They and all the residents of New Beijing are struggling to function and make a living through a deadly plague of unknown origin with no known cure.

As the story opens, she is tending the stall in the marketplace and brooding about her foot. She has outgrown it. The accident that left her in need of robotic parts happened when she was a small girl and she hasn't been able to find - or afford - replacement parts to keep up with her physical growth.

Enter Prince Kai. He has come to the marketplace, undercover, seeking her renowned expertise to repair a family droid. His reasons for secrecy, beyond not wanting to get mobbed by his adoring subjects, remains obscure for a while but makes sense later on. Her reason for hiding her foot - and her cyborg physiology - is the crush she has on him, just like every other female subject including her adorable android sidekick.

Hanging over all is the threat of invasion by the mysterious Lunar queen and her forces if diplomacy fails. And diplomacy insists on marriage.

Although I found some of the plot and back story (not necessarily related to the original fairy tale) a little predictable, I enjoyed the read immensely and look forward to the rest of the series.


Currently writing: TGJ Book 2 Chapter 27.

Listening: All of the musics.

Reading (finishing): Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Watching: Downton Abbey



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2014 to China Blue Publishing.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

No Transmission

image

Well, this is embarassing. I had such high hopes of getting caught up on blog posts this weekend, but I'm currently sitting in my car just outside Target so I can use their guest internet account. Thursday afternoon my internet exploded. Well, more like quietly disappeared (just doesn't sound as dramatic). Of course, I contacted my provider. They worked through troubleshooting with me only to come to the conclusion that I needed a new modem. They said the one I had was outdated anyway. (“They” makes them sound like a collective, like The Borg. I was already beginning to think they were.)

So Friday after work, I got a new modem and called to activate it. No luck. (Failure to be assimilated).

“It must be your 'wall',” they said. “A technician will need to come out to check it.”

“And you'll charge me for that. Right?” (Resistance is futile.)

"Well, yes," they said.

"But I do not own the wall," I said. "The wall is not my responsibility. I haven't been mistreating, abusing, or misusing the wall. I fact, I haven't even touched the wall."

Then I felt a little guilty. Perhaps I've been neglecting my wall.

Anyway, for the moment I have no internet unless I go to Starbucks or sit in my car outside Target using their guest accounts. I do get e-mail and Twitter on my phone, but that's all. So if you try to contact me, I'm not ignoring you! I was supposed to have a giveaway up this weekend, too, but couldn't get things up and running fast enough. There are others on the horizon.

I did want to tell you that I am thrilled to be done with extensive revisions to the first half of Bronze which will temporarily be known as Part One. For those who haven't read it yet, Bronze is a very long read. Though no one has complained, and some even said they wished it was longer, I know it's too big to carry around easily. But the first half of it is very suitable to being a book in itself. In fact, I had originally contemplated releasing it as two books but, as it is my first novel, I decided against it. For reasons of size (more portable) and cost (smaller will cost less to produce, cost less for readers), I'm now thinking it's a really good idea since there will be a new edition. I'd really appreciate your opinion on this, whether you've read Bronze or not.

For those who have read the whole book already, Part One is through chapter eighteen - just after Allison's dad finds out about Gold and goes to confront the Calderas. It's almost exactly half way through the book. I figure, at that point you're either hooked and want to know what happens next, or not. So those who aren't, don't have to buy the second part (Dave's reaction and everything that follows) and those who do, hopefully will! It'll probably have it's own subtitle, too, as "Part One" and "Part Two" are incredibly boring.

I'm not sure when the new edition will be released or the exact form it will take, but it is finished. That means I am getting back to the second Glister Journals book (almost finished) and will continue the new revisions on the second half of Bronze. The new edition will be released, one way or another, before the Bronze soundtrack countdown and release of the new Glister Journals book. I'll keep you updated on that.

In the meantime and in spite of internet weirdness, I'll try to get some music and book posts done. And there are several moregiveaways coming, so stay in touch! I haven't been terribly impressed with anything new on the radio lately so I don't have a new music video, but I sure am looking forward to cooler weather and, hopefully, lots of precipitation. So from crispy brown and extremely thirsty California, I leave you with wishful thinking:

Currently writing: TGJ Book 2 Chapter 27.

Listening: All of the musics.

Reading (finishing): Lab Rat One by Andrea Host

Watching: Once Upon A Time (2) and Doctor Who (3)



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

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Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2014 to China Blue Publishing.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Review: The Raven Boys

Time to get caught up with some reviews!

image_5

This is a little old now as I read The Raven Boys last summer, but as we're only in the middle of the series (the third of four books comes out this year) I guess it's not too late.

The Raven Boys is the first title in the Raven cycle by Maggie Stiefvater and is definitely one of my favorite books of the past few years. I like books that are both well-written and don't explain too much at the beginning, just dropping information here and there to let you piece things together, and such a book is The Raven Boys.

In fact, the beginning is very vague: Blue Sargent and someone we understand to be her aunt are sitting in a graveyard in the middle of the night, waiting. Waiting for what, exactly, isn't clear, but we're told that every St. Mark's Eve, Blue and her clairvoyant mother wait in the graveyard for the soon-to-be-dead spirits to walk by and whisper their names. Blue can't see or hear them but functions as an amplifier. In fact she often acts as amplifier for her mother, aunt, and the other women living in her home. It's this paranormal vagueness, the relationship of the female characters living at 300 Fox Way, and the way the paranormal is no big deal, just a part of everyday life--exciting at times and a headache at others, but rarely causing anxiety or stress--that reminded me of one of my all time favorite books, A Wrinkle In Time. It also reminded me of the movie Practical Magic (which I also love) in the way the characters interact. Win-win.

Apart from being extremely well-written - Maggie turns some wonderful phrases - it is otherwise unlike anything else I've ever read. And that's always a good thing too.

Blue is initially extremely annoyed then befriended by four boys, ‘Raven Boys’ from the local prep school, and is roped into their adventures trying to find the final resting place of an ancient Welsh king. The reasons for this search are also very vague, but it seems like a worthy quest, at least from the boys’ point of view, and they are all invested in it. Magic is involved, of course, and the boys soon discover that Blue, with her amplifying power, is very handy to have along. Romance is obviously in the future with a foreboding black cloud already hanging over it in the form of Blue's curse--that she will be the cause of her true love's death. There's a triangular shaped thing already in place too, but that’s to be expected, I suppose, and didn’t detract one bit from the pleasure I got from the story.

I absolutely loved this book. The characterizations were clear and not too clichéd, I loved the boys (especially Noah) and loved the quirky women of Blue’s household too. There were a few parts that were too vague, not well described enough, which made it hard to imagine, but the characters, plot, and strength of writing more than made up for it. I will definitely be reading this book again and am in for the whole series.

Highly recommended! with reservations about the sequel. Stay tuned.

This song's a little old now too, but the first time I heard it, it made me think of this book. (No the video has nothing to do with the story.)

Currently writing: TGJ Book 2 Chapter 26 (Yes - still - but almost done). Revisions through chapter 15.

Listening: Foster the People (review coming)

Reading: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Watching: Gilmore Girls Season 7



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info and excerpts at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2014 to China Blue Publishing.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop

Children's Book Week Hop

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop

May 12th – 18th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, YA Romantics, and Tressa’s Wishful Endings.

About Children's Book Week:

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes – wherever young readers and books connect!

For more information visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

My giveaway for Children's Book Week is a $15.00 gift card of your choice and a paperback copy of Bronze (The Glister Journals #1) US/CAN only.

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Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info and excerpts at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2014 to China Blue Publishing.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Review: The Hunger Games

Hunger Games

Yes, I'm extremely late to the party, I know, but I'm going to weigh in on this series anyway. I'll just go ahead and credit this book with fueling my new interest in young adult literature and I don't mean that in a genre sense. I've tried reading some of the traditionally published 'genre,' and have been severely underwhelmed to the point that I can't bear to waste time finishing them. Nothing had really impressed me since Harry Potter. But this book--indeed, as I'm finished with the final book I can say the whole series--is so well written, well paced, and with such strong characters, I want to read anything Suzanne Collins has written no matter the genre or target age group. It is also the first book I've read in first-person present tense that I thoroughly enjoyed. I generally don't care for it as it's seldom well-done, but as I said, the writing is so strong, it could be in any voice and I'd love it. I also need to say that I have since found other authors/books in this category well worth reading, but I'll review them later.

I doubt if many people are ignorant of the premise for the story, but if you're here seeking out a review at this point, perhaps you are: In a brutal future United States where the privileged few live extravagantly and wastefully in the "Capitol," the average citizen lives in one of twelve districts. Each district has it's specialty--mining, cattle, agriculture, etc.--but most barely scratch out an existence while the best of everything is sent to the Capitol. Why don't they rebel? Well, once upon a time there were thirteen districts. 13 rebelled and 13 no longer exists--at least as far as anyone knows. To commemorate the occasion and remind the districts of what can happen again, each district gives up one boy and one girl each year to the Hunger Games, a brutal arena free-for-all where only one winner can survive. Katniss Everdeen, something of a tough loner who would do anything for her sister, becomes the girl for District 12.

The Hunger Games is certainly brutal and violent but not over the top. Some parts were unpleasant but never so graphic as to make me want to skip parts (I have my limits for blood and guts). The violence is a part of the story and propels it forward. Yes, there is certainly a love story, but it never becomes too sentimental or steamy. It's a very clean read in that perspective which I liked. The motives for everything, including the love interest, is what I found the most appealing.

And I'm glad that I read the book first, but the movie is truly excellent. Considering I had read it recently, I wasn't aware of anything important missing and felt myself right back in the story. That's pretty amazing. It sets just the right tone at the beginning, the rural and impoverished District 12 looking like something out of 1940s Appalachia. In contrast, the Capitol is all high tech, high fashion, and wanton wastefulness. Presiding over all, though not conspicuous is the president of Panem, Snow, well played by Donald Sutherland. I don't like Donald Sutherland, never have, but kudos to the casting directors. He's perfect. Actually that's one of the best things about the movie--its cast. They nailed it. Even Lenny Kravitz as Cinna is perfect. No, really! If they ever make a movie/movies out of my series, I want them to cast it. (I can dream!)

Ultimate verdict? Go see the movie, but read the book first!



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info and excerpts at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2014 to China Blue Publishing.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Hello 2014!

This is just a quick post to look ahead to some of the things I hope to accomplish this year. But first things first - the January soundtrack clue! Let's see . . . we're on number seven:

    CLUE #7 Songs/bands/genres mentioned in chapters do not necessarily reflect that chapter's song.
    For instance, in one chapter The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, and The Beatles are all mentioned. The chapter title is not by any of these bands, though there are two clues right there - one having to do with the chapter title and one for something else.

I realize the clues so far are a little vague, but if you've read the book, they'll make sense. I'll give more specific clues as we get closer to the contest opening.

As far as what is coming up:

My main focus as always is to write, write, write. With limited time and living with frequent interruptions, this is a continuing challenge. However, I finally feel like I'm on the downward slope. With Bronze, the first two-thirds of the book took much longer to write than the last and I'm quite sure it will be true with Book #2 as well. This is the most fun part for me to actually write (you'll have to wait to find out why) and I expect things to go relatively quickly. So, as much for myself as for anyone potentially interested, I'll let you know what stage I'm in at the end of my posts. This will also serve as a progress report toward the new cover/title release and soundtrack countdown. :D

I will be needing a couple of new beta-readers soon. I'm also seeking more reviews for Bronze. More about that in future posts. More excerpts of Bronze will be available at The Glister Journals website, and excerpts of Book 2 as soon as the cover's released.

I'll be posting as part of a giveaway hop (hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer) this month. I'll be trying to participate on a somewhat regular basis in these.

There will be more music - of course! - and I will be getting some book features of the books I do manage to get read posted and organized, though I don't plan on reviewing per se. My features will consist of book information and brief thoughts on the books, and will only be on books I can recommend. I also plan to do some indie features this year. I'm definitely going to have to get an e-reader of some sort though, as most of the indie books I have are digital and it's almost impossible to find the time to read on my computer.

New and upcoming music I'm excited about:

Toad the Wet Sprocket (first album in sixteen years!), Foster the People, Switchfoot, Broken Bells, The Fray, Elbow, Tycho. There are many others I'm interested in and I'm sure there will be plenty more!

Books on deck . . .

Shadow and BoneThe Iron KingThe Moon Dwellers

. . . and not necessarily new but highly anticipated (as soon as I get my hands on a copy!)

MockingjayShadowsCressThe CrossingLingerFloating Worlds

The Glister Journals #2: halfway through Chapter 19. Word count: impressive. LOL.

Reading Shadow and Bone

Listening to Malmsteen.



Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

More Glister Journals info and excerpts at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2013 to China Blue Publishing.