Reading and Writing - November 2018
Something different this month. I am participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for the first time. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words during the month of November. For some people, this will be a complete novel, while for others, it will be a good start.
In order to reach the goal, I need to average 1667 words a day. So far, eight days in, I have written 16,228 words for an average of 2028 words a day! Needless to say, I am thrilled with these results (and today isn't over, so I hope to add a few hundred more). I know how life can get in the way of goals, so I like that I am ahead of the pace I need to be to finish.
If I can maintain this pace, I hope to actually have the first draft finished by November 30th. I started the novel before November 1st, but those 4548 words are NOT in my NaNoWriMo total. We'll see how the month goes!
If you'd like to follow my progress this month, check out my Facebook page or my Instagram account. I'll update you with the December newsletter.
What I'm Reading
To prepare for writing my novel, I've been reading a lot in the genre it will be in - action/adventure/thriller - to get a feel for how the stories in this genre flow. You'll notice this in my list of reading/have read books below. But I also need a break from that, so I've got a few other things on my e-reader to let me just escape for a bit. Maybe something here will catch your attention.
*Please note that the following are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a commission at NO extra cost to you.
The Gauguin Connection (Book 1 in the Genevieve Lenard series) by Estelle Ryan
Dr. Genevieve Lenard is an expert in non-verbal communication, a skill she puts to good use as an investigator for an insurance company. Each book is tied to the art world somehow (as the names of the books imply), which is what initially caught my attention. What I found truly fascinating is that Genevieve Lenard is autistic, and the books give insight into what it is like for her to navigate through daily life. I enjoyed the first book so much I've just begun the second in the series (The Dante Connection) today. I'll update when I finish.
End of Days and Valley of Dry Bones (ARKANE series 9 and 10) by J.F. Penn
I first discovered Joanna Penn through her podcast for writers. There I learned about her ARKANE series and have thoroughly enjoyed the books I have read. ARKANE is a British government agency specializing in paranormal and religious experiences. In each adventure, ARKANE agents search for relics, desperate to find them before the bad guys do. These books are fast-paced and span the globe. What I have found is that when a book is set in a place I have visited, Joanna does an excellent job of describing the place, instantly taking me back there.
Phoenix (A Beatrix Rose Single) by Mark Dawson
Beatrix Rose is Number One in a British spy organization, and in this story she travels to South America to capture a Russian-American who has disappeared. She is assigned to work with a member of the British military, John Milton. I'm already a fan of Dawson's John Milton series, and found Beatrix to have a lot of the same spunk and intelligence that he does. A shorter story, this one is a quick read and a good introduction to both characters.
Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate: Volume 1 by Celina Grace
I'm a big fan of Celina Grace's Kate Redmond police procedural series (the latest one is just out and waiting on my Kindle), but last month I wanted something different to read. I downloaded this series, set in 1930s England (yes, I love most things English!) and follows friends Joan and Verity as they go about their lives as a cook and a maid in the homes of the wealthy. They keep getting caught up in murders and use intellect that their employers don't realize they have to help solve the crimes. If you like mysteries and historical settings, these are a good place to start.
Last, but definitely not least, I'm currently reading The Essence of Humility: Live and Love Like Jesus by Lynn Watson. Full disclosure - Lynn is a personal friend and was my reflexologist when I lived in Memphis. She was one of the people who introduced me to the wellness benefits of essential oils. This book is the third in her Cinnamah-Brosia collection of books that combine fictionalized stories, Bible study and devotion, and information on essential oils, herbs and spices found in the Bible. If any one of these interests you, these books are sure to please. I haven't finished it yet, but am quite enjoying it. Oh, and I contributed a personal story that she fictionalized. See if you can figure out which one!
That's all for this month. Don't forget: join me on Facebook and Instagram to follow my journey of writing my first novel.
Until next month,
Gladys
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