Celebrate the Small Things: Books

10/21/2016

This week I'm celebrating a few small things: SCBWI, a guest post, and a giant pile of books to read.

Celebrate the Small Things is a blog hop hosted by Lexa Cain, L.G. Keltner, and Tonja Drecker.

Here are my small celebrations:

1. SCBWI
Did you know that SCBWI (Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators) is running a Book Blast? It's like an online catalog of members' books published in 2016, and it's a great way to find something new to read (from picture books through young adult). There's a page for Black Flowers, White Lies if you want to give it a "like." (Whenever you like a page, there's a fun cheering sound. Try it out!)

2. How long does it take to write a novel?
I have a guest post, "A Novel by the Numbers" on the Sky Pony Express. Of course creative experiences can vary, but I tried to analyze my writing journey with numbers and data.

3. Books
My to-read pile is out of control. I currently have 14 books out of the library, plus two a friend lent me, plus the many more that I've recently purchased. Any tips on making a dent in the book tower? Should I buy fewer books? Read every day for set a time? I tend to read in spurts which clearly isn't enough. There are just so many good books!

Julie Flanders link

10/21/2016 11:06:17 am

Just liked your page - the cheering sound is so cute! I have Baby Moo's Great Escape in the blast too and it's a fun event.
I wish I had tips about the TBR tower but mine is always overflowing.

Yvonne V link

10/23/2016 01:51:49 pm

Thanks for visiting the blast, Julie! I'll head over to your page today.

Patricia Lynne link

10/21/2016 11:06:59 am

I don't think there's any way to make a dent in the TBR pile. It only grows, never shrinks.

10/23/2016 01:52:29 pm

A new law in physics, Patricia!

Tamara Narayan link

10/21/2016 11:57:35 am

I'd much rather have a huge pile of books to read than be wandering around my bookshelves trying to decide which book to read yet again.

10/23/2016 01:52:54 pm

True, Tamara!

Leanne Dyck link

10/21/2016 01:30:18 pm

I schedule an hour a day for reading. Reading is as important to me as writing--it feeds my muse. Now, after writing that, I must admit I too have an ever growing tower of must-reads. : )

10/23/2016 01:53:36 pm

I think I need to do something like that, Leanne!

Liz A link

10/21/2016 07:55:35 pm

Read several books at once. That way, if one isn't quite hitting the spot for you, you can set it aside and concentrate on books you'd rather read.

10/23/2016 01:55:44 pm

That's a good idea, Liz. I do that with nonfiction, but not with fiction.

Shah Wharton link

10/22/2016 09:31:07 am

My TBR pile has been added to by university over the past few months so if you discover an answer to your question please do share! :)

Have a great weekend,

shahwharton.com

10/23/2016 01:56:16 pm

Thanks for stopping by, Shah!

Tonja Drecker link

10/22/2016 06:26:25 pm

TBR piles are supposed to be huge...at least, I've never known one not to be. I wonder if it's even possible to ever really get through them. Have a great week!

10/23/2016 01:57:01 pm

So maybe it is meant to be, Tonja!

Lexa Cain link

10/23/2016 01:10:34 am

Congrats on being included in the SCBWI blast and for the guest post on your publisher's site! My TBR is out of control too. However, I start a lot of books but don't make it to the second chapter, so my TBR stays manageable. Have a lovely weekend!

10/23/2016 01:57:50 pm

Hmm -- maybe I should feel less pressure to finish the ones I don't enjoy.

Pempi link

10/23/2016 02:09:10 am

Hurray for my Hurray :) Very cute and a great site to have your book publicised on. Also the quote from Buzzfeed is awesome as SO many young people read that site avidly so will really grab your target audience. Well done you a truly great Celebrate!!
<a href=http://pempispalace.blogspot.com/>Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace</a>

10/23/2016 01:58:16 pm

Thank you, Pempi!

Stephanie Faris link

10/23/2016 08:50:08 pm

I'll be eager to hear how the Book Blast goes for people. I wasn't sure if it was worth the money or not! Most adults won't read chapter books, I've found...they'll buy them for their kids, but they won't read them, so I guess I need to wait 'til my next middle grade book comes out!

10/23/2016 09:10:32 pm

I always find it hard to quantify results with these things, Stephanie. But I figured it was worth trying.

C. Lee McKenzie link

10/24/2016 04:06:27 pm

I've given up on my TBR pile. It has taken over the house and I can do nothing about it. As soon as I read one, ten more pop up.

10/24/2016 08:32:45 pm

That's how I feel!!

:Donna link

10/28/2016 09:38:24 am

Yvonne, your SCBWI Book Blast page is beautiful! I "liked" :) And I'm very curious to read about how long it takes you (obviously, on average) to write a novel.

OK---TBRs?!!! Your "problem" is mine! I can't count the dozens of books I own (and have increased my debt for 'cause I can't resist buying them!) that I haven't (and may never :( ) read, both fiction and non (fiction pretty much always wins lately 'cause most of my online time is spent with non). The library books often go back unread, too *sigh* My TBRs in queue fight to be next EVERY time I finish one and how one gets picked is different every time.

It's such a struggle, but life doesn't allow for the kind of time we avid readers want to spend doing it *sigh* I know, for me, I read in bed, it being my way of choice to relax and eventually fall asleep which is the biggest reason it takes me too long to finish a book. BUT, if a book truly grips me, I will be pulled to it during the day and when that happens, a book is read more quickly. For a brief period of time (maybe a week), there was a book I loved and ended up reading before I even got out of bed (the bathroom waited if I didn't sit up), for maybe 30-60 minutes. I enjoyed doing it, and I thought to make it a habit 'cause I was getting more reading time in, but so far I haven't 'cause I'm still not going to bed early and waking up early. If I wake up at 5 or 6am, I can more easily justify that reading time instead of getting up and doing all the more productive demands immediately.

All I know is I LOVE being surrounded by books, whether it's a bookstore, a library or my home and the frustration of knowing I will only be able to read a relative "handful" of them in my remaining years will always have that bittersweet feel.

Anyway, it's not easy!

10/30/2016 08:31:58 pm

Donna -- I love when I find a book I just have to get back to! My selection process of the next-to-read is pretty random, too. I have a feeling some of my latest library books will get returned unread, as you mentioned.

Marcia Strykowski link

10/31/2016 06:53:08 pm

Your book blast page looks wonderful! I 'liked' it the other day on my old pc with broken sound. But now, I'm on my laptop and got to 'like' it again complete with cheering! :) I certainly agree about too little books and too little time...

11/2/2016 09:22:55 pm

Thanks for the Book Blast "like" and comments, Marcia!

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