Synopsis and book cover from GoodReads: The history books say I died. They don’t know the half of it. Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the BolshevikContinue reading “Romanov by Nadine Brandes: book review + free wallpaper!”
Tag Archives: writing inspiration
10 books to read to celebrate Black History Month
Even though I feel like I’m still recovering from 2018, a month of 2019 has already gone by! That means that, here in the U.S., it’s Black History Month. While, of course, our TBR piles should feature diverse authors and characters all year long, this month gives extra motivation to celebrate books by and aboutContinue reading “10 books to read to celebrate Black History Month”
2019 Reading Challenge
Hello all! I’m back after taking a break over Christmas week, and I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. 2019 is already here, and for many bookworms that means it’s time to make reading goals for the year. I don’t like to set a number of books I want to read, because it doesn’t reallyContinue reading “2019 Reading Challenge”
Why self-forgiveness is crucial to writing
Ever since I was a kid, I considered myself a writer. The very first story I remember writing was when I was in kindergarten, and was something akin to Pokémon fanfic, except before the internet existed. In second grade I decided I wanted to be a published author. I eventually went to college to getContinue reading “Why self-forgiveness is crucial to writing”
Fiction Friday: NaNoWriMo snippet
NaNoWriMo–short for National Novel Writing Month–encourages participants to write 50,000 words of a novel in the thirty days of November. It’s a time for writers to go partially insane and enjoy the community of others doing the same! I hadn’t planned on participating this year, but on the morning of November 1st, I was struckContinue reading “Fiction Friday: NaNoWriMo snippet”
Interview with author Shanthi Sekaran
Today I am thrilled to share an interview with award-winning novelist, Shanthi Sekaran! Shanthi has written two contemporary fiction books, and her most recent novel Lucky Boy has received numerous accolades, including being named an IndieNext Great Read and an NPR Best Book of 2017. Lucky Boy has struck a chord with readers as it weaves together the storyContinue reading “Interview with author Shanthi Sekaran”
Write every day: Bad Writing Advice (Part One)
If you’re new to writing (or even if you’re not) you’ve definitely received this advice: write every day. People tell you about Stephen King and how he writes several thousand words a day. And of course you want to be successful like Stephen King, so you need to do that too: write a thousand words,Continue reading “Write every day: Bad Writing Advice (Part One)”
6 things I learned about writing from Markus Zusak
When I heard that Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, was visiting Denver, I actually gasped out loud. The Book Thief has been influential in my writing and reading life in more ways than I can name. Suffice it to say that I have about a million favorite books, but when forced to choose just one, I say TheContinue reading “6 things I learned about writing from Markus Zusak”
The importance of community for writers
John Green, author of beloved YA novels such as The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, once described writing as “a profession for introverts who want to tell you a story but don’t want to make eye contact while doing it.” While amusing, the quote points to an overwhelming belief that writing is somethingContinue reading “The importance of community for writers”
Interview with author Kathryn Ormsbee
Today I am super excited to share an interview with author Kathryn Ormsbee. Kathryn writes young adult and middle grade fiction (the latter of which are published under K.E. Ormsbee) and got her first agent when she was just twenty years old! She has a total of six books currently published, with two more comingContinue reading “Interview with author Kathryn Ormsbee”