My To Read list is usually about four to six books long. I often read two books a week. But this year has been especially fraught with interference and life stuff in general.
I have embarked on a study program for becoming a better marketer of my fiction novels and my one non-fiction work. Because I decided to dedicate my time to improving myself in this area, that meant less entertainment/escapism reading.
However, I have a few mailing lists which send me what’s new with my favorite authors and those that are similar. I’m a sucker for a new book, so my list for reading has continued to grow while I’ve been off on my self-enhancement activities. So this is the list that calls to me daily.
Daily, I say, “No, I have to grade. No, I have to review copy editing. No, I have to lesson plan. No, I have to write (because that is the part of my life that truly entertains me). No, my husband must come first. No, I’m going on a bike ride. No, I have to put in my early morning workout. No, Cagney and Lacey need their treats, bellies rubbed, toenails clipped, to be fed, to be brushed, to be treated for ear infections, the list goes on. No, my daughter is texting me. No, I have to write a new ad. No, I’m going on Twitter for five minutes. No, I’m writing a newsletter. No, I’m…. And then there’s that crazy requirement that I sleep now and then.
Okay, you get the picture. I haven’t read a fiction novel in about four weeks. The last book was by Becca Andre, one of her Soul Iron series. I admit it. I was already in my “improve my marketing plan,” and her book caught me in a moment of weakness. Buroker snuck in there, too, but I could rationalize it because she was serializing the story on her blog. It fell under research, sort of; it sounded good at the time. It was on her blog, alright!
Below is my list and my reasons for putting each book on my list. I am looking forward to reading them all though those related to my self-improvement efforts will be read sooner for obvious reasons.
- The Cornered Cat by Kathy Jackson Reason: my husband is teaching me how to shoot. This book was recommended. I’ve already read about two thirds of it. For me it’s a read in doses kind of book.
- Email Lists Made Easy by Kirsten Oliphant Reason: The idea of email lists leaves me nervous and uncertain. I need all the help I can get.
- Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose: Reason: I was curious if I was reading like someone else. I’m part way through reading it. So far I qualify.
- Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance Reason: I am fascinated by space. I like to read about people who are driven to make their dreams come true and do. This is a good combination read of what I like.
- Book Marketing Challenge by Rachel Thomson Reason: I need to be challenged sometimes. I’ve done the first few challenges and should probably do some more.
- The Aurykon Chronicles Books 1-5 by Ron B. Saunders Reason: I think my daughter bought this on our account, but I’ll probably read it.
- The Legacy by Luke Romyn Reason: it looks interesting
- Generational: a Starship Adventure by Norman Turrell Reason: space adventure with a starship.
- End of Days boxset by Meg Collett Reason: curiosity
- The Final Formula by Becca Andre Reason: I’ve read another series she wrote and like her style. This one caught my eye.
- Become a Successful Indie Author by Craig Martelle Reason: I’m in a Facebook Group he monitors, and I like his attitude about writing and marketing. And I’m self-improving, right?
- Shine by Dannika Dark Reason: continuing the saga
- American Vampire by J. R. Rain Reason: I’m caught up in this particular series
- Blood Moon by J. R. Rain and Matthew S. Cox Reason: same as above
- Moon Bayou by J. R. Rain and Rod Kierkegaard, Jr. Reason: I like series.
- Drawing Dragons by Sandra Staple Reason: I like to draw. I like dragons. I’m writing a series with dragons. I want to draw better dragons.
- The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov Reason: He’s one of my old favorites since childhood. I started at the A’s in the library scifi shelf.
- The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Books Reason: I’ve read most of the Shannara series, (and many of his other books) but they are all in paperbacks, so I got the first set in digital so I can reread them.
- I Wish by Elizabeth Langston Reason: there’s a genie
- Naked Truths about Getting Book Reviews 2018 by Gisela Hausmann Reason: I could use some book reviews as do all writers. Help is help.
- Eidolon by Grace Draven Reason: I’ve started this series and love it. Of course, I would purchase the next in the series.
- Darkness Dawns by Diana Duvall Reason: I’m not certain. I usually don’t purchase books with bare chested men on them. Perhaps I was tired.
- Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Reason: It’s been a while since I’ve read a work of Robinson’s. It’s about time I appreciated his writing again.
- Newsletter Ninja by Tami Labrecque Reason: What I said about newsletters still stands.
- Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan Reason: I enjoy Anglo-Saxon period poems and epics. Maybe this will have a similar feel.
- The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien Reason: Okay, it’s Tolkien. There is no better reason than to read Tolkien than because it’s Tolkien.
- The Final Formula Collection by Becca Andre Reason: see previous Andre entry.
- Mastering Amazon Ads by Brian D. Meeks Reason: I have actually read this one three times. It’s still on the list because I occasionally go back to it. There’s a sticky note on the back of the bookcase in front of my desk with a reference to Chapter 14. I’m probably planning to read that chapter again.
- Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran Reason: part of my self-improvement plan. It’s been well spoken of, so it’s on my list.
- Eye of Truth by Lindsay Buroker Reason: Like I need a reason. I pretty much read everything Buroker writes. Enough said.
- Duty Bound by Lindsay Buroker Reason: I remain solid in my previous reason.
- Enchantment by Orson Scott Card Reason: I like the Ender and Bean novels. This is likely to be nothing like them. I like fantasy novels. But I recently started writing fantasy novels, so…this is research.
- Origin by Dan Brown Reason: There are probably several people who read Brown who would say, “Do you really have to ask?”
- The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman Reason: enter more self-improvement. I’m selling a house and was surprised how this book is helping write good sales copy.
- The Big Sigma Collection by Joseph Lallo Reason: I read his Free Wrench series. So I’m reading this one because I really like that one. Also he wrote a book in one of the Buroker’s worlds, and I liked it.
- Fractured Stars by Lindsay Buroker Reason: Really? Did you expect me to have another reason?
- Dark Light by Jodi Taylor Reason: love her St. Mary’s series. This is a different type read, darker, but I enjoyed the first book, so this is the second.
- Lost Time by D. L. Orton Reason: sounds like time travel, and I like time travel. I write time travel. I find it hard to resist a good time travel book. Actually, I know it’s time travel because I read the first book in the series. It was very, very good.
What’s your list comprised of? Is it a case of being busy or do you just like having a well-stocked eReader?
#digitalreads #books #sellmorebooks
