Review of Aix Marks The Spot by Sarah Anderson

 

Jamie has been dreaming of this summer forever: of road trips and intensive art camps, of meeting cute boys with her best friend Jazz. What she didn’t count on was the car accident.

Exiled away from her family as her mother slowly learns to walk again, Jamie is sent to Provence and trapped in an isolated home with the French grandmother she has never met, the guilt of having almost killed her parents, and no Wi-Fi. Enough to drive a girl mad. That is, until, she finds an old letter from her father, the starting point in a treasure hunt that spans across cities and time itself. Somehow, she knows that the treasure is the key to putting her shattered family back together and that whatever lies at the end has the power to fix everything.

Armed only with a high-school-level of French and a map of local train lines, she must enlist the aid of Valentin, her handsome neighbor who’s willing to translate. To save her family, she has castle ruins to find and sea cliffs to climb; falling for her translator wasn’t part of her plan…

 

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

Having read other books by Anderson, I kept meaning to read this one and then forgetting about it. I picked it up finally and am so glad that I did. I loved Jamie from the start, and adored the setting, the twists and turns and the realness of the characters, of the story. I ended up reading it all in one sitting and got lost in treasure hunts, love, France, and learning not to blame yourself for every little thing. The book was adorable, it had me laughing, crying, and cheering for the characters, hoping that the end would be a delightfully happy one. Very much recommended!

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Questions From Readers - October 2024 [CC]

Answering the questions from the readers in my audience today! #Authortube

 

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5 Pieces Of Writing Advice I Hate

5 PIECES OF WRITING ADVICE I HATE

If you've been a writer for any length of time, and especially someone who's online a lot, you'll have heard a whole lot of writing advice. Some of it has its place, but a lot of the time it's done in absolutes, and there are a lot of things that people forget when it comes to absolutes. Every writer is different and every one approaches the writing life differently, and that's completely valid.

Now having been writing more than half my life, it makes sense that I'd have picked up a few pieces here and there that I found just rubbed me the wrong way. You'll probably find that every writer out there has some pieces of writing advice that they just do not agree with and do not pass on to newbie writers, or if they do, they do so with a large pinch of salt.

I thought that today I would delve into the five pieces of writing advice that I really just can't stand, and dig into why and what I think should be given in its place!

#1 WRITE EVERY DAY
You can probably work out why I don't like this. I'm a chronically ill and disabled author, and it's just not physically possible for me to write every single day. But the same applies to those who are completely healthy as well. Writing every day is not sustainable, and while there are probably some unicorns out there who can manage it, I don't know any of them. My preference to this advice would be to set a routine, find a way that works for you, carve out that time, and it doesn't have to be every single day, and make it work. I think that's what the original giver of this advice meant, but the nuance has been lost over time.

#2 SAID IS DEAD
I got the same talk that I'm sure a lot of writers have had from their English teachers. We should vary the dialogue tags and never ever use said. Except that sometimes it's the best word for it. Sometimes getting creative with the tags makes the writing look clunky and comes across sounding like you picked up a thesaurus and just went nuts. Need I remind anyone of the writer who should not be named, who used the dialogue tag 'ejaculated' in all seriousness? Like really? That's better than just saying said? I don't think so. While yes it's good to have a little variety, said is often the better word.

#3 WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
Ah, this one is one that gets me every time. While yes, there is a time and a place for it, a lot of the stories told are things people could never experience. I don't have psychic abilities, and yet I wrote a whole eight book series about it. I've never been in a dystopian, yet I've written about that. I'm not an empath, etc, etc. While yes it's a good idea to include things you have experience with, the ability to write almost anything is universal. Imagination is a powerful tool, and while yes, you should research things you're not familiar with, especially if we're talking marginalised identities, it's not where it's completely impossible to have help with that, like sensitivity readers, which are a great tool to use. If we all stuck to only writing what we know, fiction would be very boring.

#4 ONLY WRITE ONE GENRE
This is something I see a lot of people talking about and it always makes me sit back and think: huh? Like I do realise that there are some writers who will only write one genre, and that's fine for them, there are others, like me, who have a handful of genres and move through them. While it may be easier to have success with just one genre per pen name, it's not a case of always having to write that genre and nothing else. It can be done, there are successful writers who started in one genre and moved to another, and it works. It might be harder work, but it is possible. I go where the ideas take me, and even then, I'm more based in a handful rather than all the genres.

#5 X TROPE/GENRE IS DEAD, NEVER WRITE IT
I don't know whether people realise that everything goes in and out of fashion in cycles. There are always going to be hot genres and tropes for a time, and then people turn their focus to something else, and eventually yes, they come back to that trope/genre. It might make it harder to market, but along with the hot topics, there are always going to be those readers who always love that trope and genre no matter whether it's in fashion or not. So go ahead and write what you want, and decide about releasing and such on your own, but it's not a case of any genre or trope being dead forever. It'll come back around eventually.

So there we go, those are the five pieces of writing advice that I hate. While there is always going to be some pieces that apply more to others than you, there can, usually, be a way to make it work, I just avoid absolutes because they are never universally true. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Review of Girl, Vanishing by Madeline Dyer

 

Seventeen-year-old Kira Taylor’s fragile mental health means she doesn’t know what’s real anymore. But she is certain of the following: the day of the Bad Stuff changed everything; the dystopian world she lives in is getting worse; and the voice in her head will protect her.

Having been committed to the De Hewitt Psychiatric Hospital, Kira slowly begins to accept that she’s safe here. She starts to make friends and even gets used to the new branding on her forehead that marks her for what she is: an Untrustworthy Offender.

But then the voice inside Kira’s head tells her she needs to escape. Her past is catching up with her, and she needs to run… now. 

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I’ll preface this review by being clear that this is a heavy heavy book, and you need to watch the trigger warnings. Dyer draws you into the world with the dystopian themes and then carries you through a traumatic and enticing experience as you start to learn more about Kira and everything she’s gone through. I loved the book, even with it pulling no punches, and taking you through some very dark times, it’s enough to make you really sit up and take notice. The way Dyer has pulled you through the themes makes you feel like you are on the journey with Kira watching and hoping things work out for her. A chilling read, but one that is very much recommended!

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Life Of Joey - October 2024 [CC]

Looking back over what I've managed over the past month! #Authortube

 

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The Many Different Ways Of Social Media

THE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a massive beast and it's something you, as a writer/author, have to slay in your own way. I've been someone who's pretty much on all the social media I can be. Mostly because I'm old enough to have joined when they were first launched and then gone from there, but I want to be clear that you do not have to do this! You can have one, two, more, or absolutely none and that is okay. You have to do what is best for you, and no one should be demanding you do differently.

The one thing I learned early about social media is that every platform has a different audience. Like Twitter, before it went the way it did, and one I have since gladly left, was all about short form. Instagram was photos and long form. Tumblr is a mixture of the two. Facebook is more about links and memes, and YouTube is videos and some short form video content. There's more, like Blue Sky and Threads, both of which I use and am active on, though more so on Threads, that are still finding their way, and both are more about replacing the Twitter hole left from that app going seriously downhill.

But my point is that you need to know more about what goes into each one before really deciding where to set yourself up and how to work it to your advantage. I won't claim to be a social media expert, because I'm not, but I will say I have found things that've worked for me, and things that have not. I personally find it pretty easy to manage my time on all the ones I'm part of, but I completely understand how daunting it can be to come into the writer/author space and not know the first place to start.

So here are my big tips when it comes to social media and being active on many, or any!

#1 GO WHERE YOUR AUDIENCE IS
This should be simple and easy, but it's not because the demographic changes from time to time. Like I know that Instagram and Threads are more bookish spaces, and YA too, depending on the hashtags you use. I also know that Facebook very much is not, but I do have followers there who've been with me for a long time, and none of the other social sites seem to have as good a handle on groups as Facebook does, so for that you're kinda stuck.

But if, say, you're writing romance for adults, then you're gonna wanna be in a space where you know you'll how to bring your readers to you. There is little point trying to attract attention from an audience when the ideal people, your target audience are not even present. You need to do a whole lot of research and know what you're trying to do, and who you're trying to attract.

#2 TAILOR YOUR CONTENT TO THE SPACE
This is something where I made this mistake when I was first starting out. I posted the same thing absolutely everywhere. It doesn't work like that. While there are something I'll cross post, the way I go about doing that matters. Tumblr is better to have the actual posts rather than just links. Instagram wants photos that are eye catching and links in stories rather than the posts themselves. YouTube needs videos, and it should be content that's more unique to that space.

My point is that while there is, and can be, some cross over - like posting your reels to YouTube as shorts, or on Threads as a link - it shouldn't only be that. There should be some content that is unique to that platform. People engaging with you will be fine with a little cross-over but if it's all the same, and it's things that wouldn't normally be on that platform, it's going to have the opposite impact and annoy people.

#3 BALANCE THINGS
By this I simply mean that just because you can be on all platforms, doesn't mean you have to be. Like I said at the start, I am on a lot of them because I was around at the start, but that doesn't mean I'm exceptionally active on all of them at all times. I've grown my own routine and schedule, and it works for me, but that doesn't mean that someone just starting out has to do the same. You need to choose your battles wisely, as social media takes a whole chunk of time, and you still have to be writing your book after all.

So be careful, and balance the way you do things and when you do them. Work out what gets you to the right readers and go from there. Don't overextend yourself and end up in burnout. No one wants that!

So those are my tips, and I hope they're helpful to you! Good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Review of Never Will I Ever by Kimberly King

 

Matt Harper was the worst. Once Rosie Palmer’s childhood friend, he grew to become her number one enemy, throwing spitballs and slamming her locker shut every time he passed. But what could possibly be worse than enduring two entire years of torture? Getting set up on a blind date with him when he returns to Honeyville several years later.

Everyone is sure Matt has grown out of his antics and is the perfect guy for Rosie, but when the nicknames and the locker slamming start up again, she knows she's in for another rough year. So why does he insist on spending so much time with her when he constantly reminds her he's not interested?

Sparks fly when two people perfect for each other finally come together, until an unforgivable truth comes out that just might keep them apart forever.

 

Amazon 

My Review: 5 STARS

I read the other books in this series and would’ve said before this one that they were a hard act to beat, but King blew me away with how sweet, romantic and amazing this book was. I adored Matt and Rosie, I loved their relationship, their shared past and the way they both came together, the misunderstandings, and the hurt from the past just made the book all the more sweet and romantic when everything came together at the end. This was beautifully written and I adored it, if there are more books in this series later down the line, I’m gonna read them all. Very much recommended for all those who love sweet romance!

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Different Ways To Do NaNo [CC]

 

Talking about all the different ways you can do NaNo! #Authortube

 

*This video was recorded and uploaded before NaNo did their whole AI stance. I've chosen to still post it as the information can be used to apply to any kind of writing challenge that's popping up to fill the NaNo space*

 

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#TeaserTuesday

Of course her luck means she runs into Tyra in the corridors...

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[ID: An orange background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE THIRD ACHE at the top and coming October 15th 2024 just below the title The except reads:

I knew my mistake before I turned to see who I'd rolled over. I could feel her pain radiating through me. Sure enough, Tyra was there, face like thunder, eyes showing both the anger and the twinge of pain. If anything, my whole body hurt more than it had yesterday.
She was stood with Cassie and Lynn. Just my luck they were all in the same tutor group. Tyra grabbed hold of my chair, and spun me around, leaning over me and putting her hands on my arms, making the same impressions she had the day before. I won't lie, it bloody hurt, but I kept my pain to myself, or at least tried to.
“You did that on purpose,” she spat, eyes locked on mine. “You wanna know actual pain, snowflake?”

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the bottom left corner is the Readers' Favorite review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]