Wednesday 9 October 2013

What's up Wednesday




What's up Wednesday is run by the lovely Jaime Morrow and her sister Erin L.Funk. You can check out their blogs by clicking their names. It's a really simple blog fest. Each week we answer the questions below and you get to learn a little about what we are up to. So, lets get started. 
  1. WHAT I'M READING
  2. WHAT I'M WRITING
  3. WHAT INSPIRES ME, RIGHT NOW
  4. WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
1) What am I reading 


Well, this week, I finished The 13th Floor-Complete Collection by Christine Rains. She is such an amazing author. I loved how the stories kind of merged together. It was very skillfully done. I also loved the twist that the Ghost Novella brought, as well as the Shadow's way of coming up and clearing up the whole idea of how these people all find their way to the 13th floor and become residents. I am really trying not to give too much away here. Can you tell? 

So, let me try and explain, for those who don't know, what the books are about, without giving away too much. 

Each book is based on a resident of the magic 13th floor of a building; a floor that not everyone can see. It plays cleverly on the whole idea that tall structures were often built without a 13th floor as it was deemed unlucky and so they would just leave a gap where it should be. Well, this building is one of those, but where the gap should be, there is a magical 13 floor that only a few can see. 

In each flat is a different mythical being. You have an ex-demon, who pretty much runs everything, a werewolf, a dragon slayer, a harpy, a cursed witch, a vampire, and a ghost. I hope I didn't miss anyone, but you all know what my memory is like. 

Each book sees a resident fighting a battle of some kind and also finding love with all of the stories overlapping and crashing up against each other in a very clever way. 

More than that I won't say, because I am terrified of giving too much away and spoiling it for others.

What I will say again though is that it is brilliant or they are brilliant technically, as it is a series of stories, and thus well worth a read. 

Well done, Christine. You're amazing! 


I also read Reality by Dani Hart, but I don't want to say too much about that one just yet, as I feel I owe it a re-read. I was just in a hurry to get through it, as I wanted to read Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater; so, I didn't give it the time and attention it deserved. 

And now, I am reading Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races. Yay! Only a few pages in, but loving it already. 

2) What am I writing? 

Well, mainly blog posts this week and emails. I have just been so busy, I haven't even had time to look at my WIP or edit Memory Book. Hoping to get some work on both done from tomorrow onwards, but we shall see. 

I am currently doing a series of blog posts for the month of October, in celebration of Halloween, about the hauntings on Bodmin moor, where my first novel, Insane Reno, is set. You can check the first one haunted Bodmin moor part 1, a brief history of the moor and the famous Jamaica inn here, if you like. 

Part 2, all going well, will be up tomorrow. 

3) What inspires me, right now? 

All the new books I am seeing from new authors is really inspiring me, as well as the huge support they get from the blogging community. 

When Insane Reno was first published, I was still coming to grips with the whole blogging thing. I didn't do any real big promotional things for it and I wish I had. I have been told I should do something now, but I am still not sure where to begin or how to go about it. 

Plus, I feel like Insane Reno was published too soon. I allowed others to push me forward when I wasn't happy with it. I way overworked the first chapter and got so paranoid about it that I actually ended up making it worse, rather than better. Yet, no one seems to see that but me. Whenever I try to read it now, that first chapter just drives me insane. Does anyone else feel that way when they look back at their work? I dunno; people seem to like it. Everyone who has read it has loved the story. Though some readers in America seemed to have issues with the grammar, that has since been fixed, thanks to my lovely editor.

I dunno, what do you think? If you think I should do some blog tours with it, then I could really do with some tricks and tips. I know the basics, of course, but I am terrible at being organised.

4) What else I've been up to

Mainly, not sleeping. The rest has just been work, work, and more work; but, it's all worth it. It really has been a busy week though. 

Here's hoping you have all had a much more relaxed week. 

Love and hugs, Joss xx 


26 comments:

  1. You do sound busy with all that reading! Phew. Hope things calm down so you can get some sleep.

    We are all our own worst critic. It's hard to let stories go, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Scorpio Races is one of my all-time favorites. I hope you keep LOVING it!!! Reading your post has me wishing I was rereading it right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am really loving it at the moment, so much so that every interruption makes me want to cry lol

      Delete
  3. I'm reading The Scorpio Races as well, but it's been a little slow for me to get into it. I don't know why... Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite authors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. really, awww, I didn't have that problem was just hooked from the start. :) Hope you enjoy it more the further you get through.

      Delete
  4. Wow! The premise of that series is really fascinating. I like how it plays off of the 13th floor superstition. Very cool! I know what you mean about being too busy to write lately. I'm in the same boat. Here's hoping we both find the time soon. And hopefully things slow down a bit for you too. Have a great week, Joss! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's brilliant I really enjoyed it. Well your moving they say that's one of the most stressful things in the world, I am sure once you are all settled in your new home you finger will be flying over the keyboard. :) I hope you have a good week too xx

      Delete
  5. I LOVE the Scorpio Races! I hope that you enjoy it too. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You too Kate, I will be sad to see the Scorpio races end, I'm completely hooked.

      Delete
  6. You're about the fifth person I heard about THIS WEEK who's been reading the 13th Floor. The more I hear about it, the more I want to read it. Thanks for the info and recs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your very welcome and you really should have a read it is awesome. Hope you have a great week and thank you for stopping by :)

      Delete
  7. The Scorpio Races is amazing! The 13th floor sounds just like my kind of book - will have to check it out! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You really should they are both great. I hope you have a lovely week and thank you so much for stopping by. :)

      Delete
  8. I listened to the Scorpio Races on audiobook and for some reason it couldn't hold my attention (while commuting to work, which naturally can be distracting). I'd like to read it in print form because I barely remember any details about the story. Some audiobooks are like that for me, not bad books but not the right story to listen to.

    As for blog tours, I'd suggest working with someone who can organize and coordinate it for you. If you're not organized, it might be the way to go. Depending on how long your book has been out , it might be better to wait for the next book. The advice I hear over and over from indie pubbed authors is the best way to sell books is to write more books. So maybe once your next book is done the way you like it, with editing and your new confidence, then you put the effort into the blog tour, and you have a backlist to refer to! Lots to think about in this biz :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I will take your advice on holding back till I have another book out. I am so busy at the moment with other things too, I'm just not sure I have the time to organise a blog tour too. Thank you so much for your advice. I hope you have a great week :)

      Delete
  9. The concept of THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR sounds very intriguing. I like the idea of an invisible floor full of magical beings that only some people can see. I hope things settle down for you soon so you can get more writing done. It's so tough to balance everything and hard to keep up any writing momentum when things get busy. Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you Erin, The 13 floor is great, you should give it a try. I hope you have a great week and thank you so much for stopping by. :)

      Delete
  10. I'm so excited that you're reading The Scorpio Races. It is one of my favorite books ever! Totally gorgeous and moving. I hope you like it!

    I'm going to check out your posts on Bodmin Moor. I love reading creepy stories, but I'm a chicken when it comes to watching scary stuff, haha. But I do find these things fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so inspired by all of the amazing new books coming out too -- especially when they're written by my friends! I'm so excited for you to read THE SCORPIO RACES. It's my favorite of all Maggie Stiefvater's novels. You'll have to let me know what you think! Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Scorpio Races is such a beautiful book! I hope you enjoy it. Have a good busy week!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love reading about local legends and interesting places, so thanks for a quick history!

    ReplyDelete
  14. THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR premise is great, very creative and with a lot of room for fun stories. I haven't read THE SCORPIO RACES yet, but I've heard amazing things about it. I hope you enjoy it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, I love all that you shared! They all sound amazing~ You are busy-keep at it :D and when inspiration gets tired-we read!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I loved THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, and am still awed by Christine. Hope things calm down for you soon, but I'm sure the writing will flow once you get a chance to sit down.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've read Maggie Stiefvater's Scorpio Races because of the hype, but I confess it was too slow for me. Beautiful writing - gorgeous even, but too slow.

    The blog community is awesome!

    As for your book, you could do a book blitz - contact book tour companies or email a bunch of your friends and ask them to post something about your book. *shrugs* Just an idea ;)

    ReplyDelete