Sharon Rose's Blog, page 2
December 7, 2022
Peace Amidst Busy
Do you know that feeling of having too much going on in December? Who doesn’t?
For me, it goes as far back as my teenage years. A vague feeling that Christmas was more hectic and less fun. I started a tradition in those years that no one could trample. One night before the big events, I would go sit in front of the Christmas tree, while everyone else slept. No, I didn’t peek at gifts. I just sat and savored the beauty of the tree’s lights in the dark and all that Christmas will forever mean. What I remember most was the sense of peace that came in the stillness.
One year, my mom happened to get up and saw me from the hallway. After her surprised question of “What are you doing?” I explained. She just stood there for a moment, then asked, “May I sit with you?” Obviously–her couch, her living room–she didn’t need my permission. But it was sweet of her to ask, and I said, “Sure.” I don’t think we talked much. We just sat together and enjoyed the peace. And created a memory.
Read More...
For me, it goes as far back as my teenage years. A vague feeling that Christmas was more hectic and less fun. I started a tradition in those years that no one could trample. One night before the big events, I would go sit in front of the Christmas tree, while everyone else slept. No, I didn’t peek at gifts. I just sat and savored the beauty of the tree’s lights in the dark and all that Christmas will forever mean. What I remember most was the sense of peace that came in the stillness.
One year, my mom happened to get up and saw me from the hallway. After her surprised question of “What are you doing?” I explained. She just stood there for a moment, then asked, “May I sit with you?” Obviously–her couch, her living room–she didn’t need my permission. But it was sweet of her to ask, and I said, “Sure.” I don’t think we talked much. We just sat together and enjoyed the peace. And created a memory.
Read More...
November 8, 2022
Young Readers Day
It's Young Readers Day! May I inspire you?
We all know we should read to young children, but don’t stop after they learn to read. My fourth-grade teacher, Miss Kachura, gave us a great treasure. After lunch, she’d let us lay our heads on our desks while she read from a chapter book. I still remember them.
To see my list of recommended books for kids, read more here.
(There are some freebies in this newsletter, too.)
We all know we should read to young children, but don’t stop after they learn to read. My fourth-grade teacher, Miss Kachura, gave us a great treasure. After lunch, she’d let us lay our heads on our desks while she read from a chapter book. I still remember them.
To see my list of recommended books for kids, read more here.
(There are some freebies in this newsletter, too.)
October 18, 2022
A subtle hint from nature, and Dream of Kings review
Golden leaves float down outside my window. Trees vibrant with new life only six months ago are now shedding their outward beauty to prepare for the next phase of life. A phase that looks stagnant on the surface--but is very much alive. Nature gives us many simple reminders like this one. Don't rely only on outward appearance to judge effectiveness. Welcome the times of stillness so creativity can keep flourishing.
Speaking of times that are not what they seem, I just read a great book that touches on that theme from a different angle. So let's head right into this month's recommendation.
A Book I've Enjoyed:
Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck
Speaking of times that are not what they seem, I just read a great book that touches on that theme from a different angle. So let's head right into this month's recommendation.
A Book I've Enjoyed:
Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck
Read my entire review and newsletter here.
September 14, 2022
What do caves and my next book have in common?
This month’s newsletter:
• Caves and my next book
• A thrilling steampunk recommendation
• Free stuff
CAVES!
Do you find them intriguing? They have always fascinated me. During my middle school years, I read every cave book I could find–until the librarian told me she didn’t know of any others. Sadly, I moved on and eventually forgot that period of my reading life. Then one day I realized how often caves make cameo appearances in my own books. Deja vu.
In fact, the book I’m currently writing, To Form a Passage, takes place in a fantasy world with a cavern system big enough to hold cities. You can guess what I’ve been researching. It amazes me how often humans live in caves, even now. I have a dream vacation of spending a week in a cave home.
Do you have any favorite caves? How about favorite movies or books set in mysterious caverns? I’d love to hear about them. By the way, I recommend the movie Thirteen Lives.
BOOKS I ENJOYED:
• Caves and my next book
• A thrilling steampunk recommendation
• Free stuff
CAVES!
Do you find them intriguing? They have always fascinated me. During my middle school years, I read every cave book I could find–until the librarian told me she didn’t know of any others. Sadly, I moved on and eventually forgot that period of my reading life. Then one day I realized how often caves make cameo appearances in my own books. Deja vu.
In fact, the book I’m currently writing, To Form a Passage, takes place in a fantasy world with a cavern system big enough to hold cities. You can guess what I’ve been researching. It amazes me how often humans live in caves, even now. I have a dream vacation of spending a week in a cave home.
Do you have any favorite caves? How about favorite movies or books set in mysterious caverns? I’d love to hear about them. By the way, I recommend the movie Thirteen Lives.
BOOKS I ENJOYED:
I’m recommending two books this month. Secrets in the Mist won a Realm Award in July and Blood Secrets just came out in August.
I suggest reading these two books together. Both follow Cass and Theo as they struggle to eradicate a deadly mist, which has forced humanity to the highest mountaintops and still advances. A noble goal, right? Not to the elite ruling class that finds the mist…useful. Nor to the few with natural immunity. To make matters worse, Cass and Theo are each part of– Oops, getting too close to spoilers.
These stories are perfect for lovers of steampunk mystery, adventure, and flying machines. They’re so well written you can feel the wind.
My full newsletter also has a link for free fantasy stories. You can find it here: What do caves and my next book have in common?
June 9, 2022
Whispers from the forest, plus summer reads
Summer! Do you love it? The perfect opportunity to spread a blanket in the shade and relax with a book. Or maybe on the beach. Or in air-conditioned comfort after working all day. To my reader friends who are really far south, a cozy fire with your book might sound better in June.
I have suggestions for your summer reads. Books I've recommended in the past, now have sequels. Plus, I found a stand-alone novel that I just loved! Apparently, taking a one-month break from my newsletter gave me a lot more books to cover.
Why did I take a break? My husband and I took a driving trip across seven states in the northwestern US. It was partly for family affairs and partly to celebrate our anniversary. I also got some uninterrupted writing time at a cabin on the McKenzie River in Oregon. Sweet!
The drive took us through farmland, sagebrush desert, the forested Rocky Mountains, and of course, we couldn't skip the seething cauldrons of Yellowstone. (A photo is in the full newsletter at the link below.)
Nature whispers its own subtle messages, often unexpected. These lands are prone to fire, so some slopes are scorched and bare. It's easy to focus on the devastation, yet most forests offered shade beneath a towering canopy. Several areas teamed with new growth, swallowing up blackened trunks. Our descendants may someday walk beneath a high canopy that has barely started its climb today.
Life is like this. Tragedies can feel overwhelming, but hope and growth are everywhere, even in the place that was desolate for a time.
Recommended for you:
This book was amazing. If you'd like to see my review, plus links to more great fantasy, you can find my full newsletter here: Whispers from the forest, plus summer reads
I have suggestions for your summer reads. Books I've recommended in the past, now have sequels. Plus, I found a stand-alone novel that I just loved! Apparently, taking a one-month break from my newsletter gave me a lot more books to cover.
Why did I take a break? My husband and I took a driving trip across seven states in the northwestern US. It was partly for family affairs and partly to celebrate our anniversary. I also got some uninterrupted writing time at a cabin on the McKenzie River in Oregon. Sweet!
The drive took us through farmland, sagebrush desert, the forested Rocky Mountains, and of course, we couldn't skip the seething cauldrons of Yellowstone. (A photo is in the full newsletter at the link below.)
Nature whispers its own subtle messages, often unexpected. These lands are prone to fire, so some slopes are scorched and bare. It's easy to focus on the devastation, yet most forests offered shade beneath a towering canopy. Several areas teamed with new growth, swallowing up blackened trunks. Our descendants may someday walk beneath a high canopy that has barely started its climb today.
Life is like this. Tragedies can feel overwhelming, but hope and growth are everywhere, even in the place that was desolate for a time.
Recommended for you:
This book was amazing. If you'd like to see my review, plus links to more great fantasy, you can find my full newsletter here: Whispers from the forest, plus summer reads
March 11, 2022
If you change your past, is your past still true?
What if you took too long to solve a crime, and that delay cost lives? What if you could save them and bring a killer to justice? What if you found a way to jump back in time to fix just one thing? If you’ve read even one time-travel story, you know something is bound to go wrong. But what if the killer set his sights on your child?
And that brings us to this month’s book recommendation. Six books, actually, because I binge-read the series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone.
You can find the full review here: If you change your past, is your past still true?
You will also find a link to free fantasy and science fiction available in March of 2022.
Enjoy!
Sharon Rose
And that brings us to this month’s book recommendation. Six books, actually, because I binge-read the series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone.
You can find the full review here: If you change your past, is your past still true?
You will also find a link to free fantasy and science fiction available in March of 2022.
Enjoy!
Sharon Rose
January 19, 2022
Castle in the Wilde series climax
It’s here! Today is the official release of A Castle from Ashes, the culmination of the Castle in the Wilde series.
See the full announcement here: A Castle From Ashes - New Release
Or click the book cover to find it on Goodreads.
Happy reading!
Sharon Rose
See the full announcement here: A Castle From Ashes - New Release
Or click the book cover to find it on Goodreads.
Happy reading!
Sharon Rose
December 26, 2021
My gift to you today
It's that giving time of year, so today I have a gift for you.
This Christmas, I'm giving away two novels. I've set up worldwide, free days on Amazon for December 26 & 27. You may download one or both of the ebooks and read on Kindle. Read more here:
My gift to you: a fantasy or sci-fi novel
This Christmas, I'm giving away two novels. I've set up worldwide, free days on Amazon for December 26 & 27. You may download one or both of the ebooks and read on Kindle. Read more here:
My gift to you: a fantasy or sci-fi novel
March 9, 2021
Springtime and Dragons
Happy spring, everyone. Or happy autumn to some of you.
I love spring! Especially after that nasty cold spell that swept the entire continent! Seeing my gardens emerge from snow feels like a promise on the verge of fulfillment. They look dead, but they are loaded with life. True enough, when Minnesota does this in early March, it’s usually a tease, but my apple and maple trees are convinced enough to bud.
This is my favorite object lesson from nature. Things look bad? Oh, it’s time to grow again. Circumstances less than perfect? Grow anyway! Spring blizzard? Uh…grow tomorrow. Today, curl up with hot cocoa and a book.
Here is one that I recently enjoyed: Call Me Dragon by Marc Secchia.
If you’ve been with me long, you know a book has to have rich characters for me to recommend it. This one really delivers. By the end, you will know what it feels like to be a dragon beset by a snarky princess and challenges that even a human can relate to.
Better yet, the fantasy and fairy tale tropes are turned sideways with two characters who refuse to fit the stereotypes. It had me laughing so many times. It also kept me up way too late, because the adventure and excitement really build up at the end. This book is the first in a series, but it has a satisfying conclusion of its own. You can find the ebook here. It’s also available in Kindle Unlimited and audio. The next book, I Am Dragon, releases on March 14th.
Happy reading everyone!
Sharon Rose
I love spring! Especially after that nasty cold spell that swept the entire continent! Seeing my gardens emerge from snow feels like a promise on the verge of fulfillment. They look dead, but they are loaded with life. True enough, when Minnesota does this in early March, it’s usually a tease, but my apple and maple trees are convinced enough to bud.
This is my favorite object lesson from nature. Things look bad? Oh, it’s time to grow again. Circumstances less than perfect? Grow anyway! Spring blizzard? Uh…grow tomorrow. Today, curl up with hot cocoa and a book.
Here is one that I recently enjoyed: Call Me Dragon by Marc Secchia.
If you’ve been with me long, you know a book has to have rich characters for me to recommend it. This one really delivers. By the end, you will know what it feels like to be a dragon beset by a snarky princess and challenges that even a human can relate to.
Better yet, the fantasy and fairy tale tropes are turned sideways with two characters who refuse to fit the stereotypes. It had me laughing so many times. It also kept me up way too late, because the adventure and excitement really build up at the end. This book is the first in a series, but it has a satisfying conclusion of its own. You can find the ebook here. It’s also available in Kindle Unlimited and audio. The next book, I Am Dragon, releases on March 14th.
Happy reading everyone!
Sharon Rose
January 19, 2021
A mysterious castle. Fearsome beasts. Let’s go there!
It's release day for A Castle Sealed -- the prequel novella for my Castle in the Wilde trilogy.
If you are wondering whether I wrote this prequel as a teaser for the trilogy...nope. (In fact, I'm annoyed that it messed up my numbering.) I could say that stories just happen, which is true, but I don't publish them unless they answer a question of their own.
By the time I finished writing the first novel, Tristan's earlier story had become as vibrant in my mind as his later struggles. To me, the search for one's place in the grand scheme of things is often harder than conquering the impossible or discovering that special person. Granted, it's also a life-long journey, but this is one point in Tristan's story where he can't deny he is searching.
Besides, it was just plain fun to write the camaraderie between Tristan, Cotrell and James, and to hint at the mysteries of the next two novels.
I hope you enjoy this hundred-page novella. I would love to hear what you think of it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
If you are wondering whether I wrote this prequel as a teaser for the trilogy...nope. (In fact, I'm annoyed that it messed up my numbering.) I could say that stories just happen, which is true, but I don't publish them unless they answer a question of their own.
By the time I finished writing the first novel, Tristan's earlier story had become as vibrant in my mind as his later struggles. To me, the search for one's place in the grand scheme of things is often harder than conquering the impossible or discovering that special person. Granted, it's also a life-long journey, but this is one point in Tristan's story where he can't deny he is searching.
Besides, it was just plain fun to write the camaraderie between Tristan, Cotrell and James, and to hint at the mysteries of the next two novels.
I hope you enjoy this hundred-page novella. I would love to hear what you think of it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
