Kaye Lynne Booth's Blog: Writing to be Read, page 7
July 23, 2025
Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Shadow Blade” Book Blog Tour
Today we’re over at Un dawnted for Day 3 of the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour, where DL Mullan interviews author Chris Barili. Join us and help send this stealthy fantasy romance adventure off right.
Don’t forget to leave a comment here for a chance at one of three digital copies, or even a signed print copy, as the Un dawnted site does not support comments.
http://www.undawnted.com/2025/07/undawnted-interviews-chris-barili-day.html?m=1
July 22, 2025
In Touch With Nature – The near threatened southern white rhinoceros and the poaching crisis #whiterhino #InTouchWithNature
Picture caption: Banner for In Touch With NatureThe white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhino is the largest of the five living rhino species. It is also one of the largest land animals with only elephants being bigger. A male white rhino weighs up to 2,300 kilograms and a cow between 1,600 and 1,700 kilograms. The white rhinos most well-known feature is the two horn-like structures on its snout. The horns line up, one behind the other, and are comprised of densely compacted keratin fibers and not bone.
Unfortunately, it is the rhino’s beautiful horn that has led to these creatures being poached to near extinction. Rhino horns are in high demand in certain Asian countries, in particular China and Vietnam, due to a false belief in the medicinal value of the horns. Despite confirmation by the scientific world that these beliefs are not true, the demand continues. In some cultures, rhino horn is viewed as a status symbol and represents wealth and success. The demand for rhino horn as gifts fuels the poaching crisis. In addition, rhinos are still hunted for sport with hunters displaying their horns as trophies.
Picture caption: White rhino with a formidable hornThe white rhino population is estimated to be around 17,464 individuals with the majority being found in South Africa. Currently a near threatened species, the white rhino populations are declining with approximately 420 being poached every year. The latest white rhino poaching statistics for the three months ended 31 March 2025, are 103 averaging 34.33 white rhinos per month.
The fight against rhino poaching is on-going and multifaceted. Game reserves are protected by anti-poaching patrols which include drones and aircraft. I often see the anti-poaching units when I am in the bush, and I have even seen them practicing maneuvers. I am very supportive of these brave men who risk their own lives to save our rhinos from poachers. South Africa has introduced stricter wildlife protection laws and international organisations like the Internation Fund for Animal Welfare work ceaselessly to combat the online trade of illegal wildlife products.
One of the steps taken to reduce poach is dehorning. A landmark international study published on Thursday, 5 June 2025 has revealed that dehorning significantly reduces the risk of poaching. The study, led by the University of Cape Town found that “Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching … was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget.” You can read more about this study here: https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2025-06-05-uct-led-study-finds-dehorning-rhinos-reduces-poaching. I always feel sad when I see a dehorned rhino in the bush, but better dehorned rhinos than none at all.
Picture caption: A pair of dehorned white rhino walking down the road. Their dark colour is due to the dirt they roll in. The impact of the extinction of any animal species extends far beyond the specific animals and species itself. Rhinos, for example, play a critical role in maintaining balanced ecosystems in their natural environment. Rhinos are herbivores and their grazing patterns shape landscapes, support plant biodiversity and influence food chains. The extinction of the white rhino would have a significant impact on the decline of other species dependent on the environmental balance rhinos help to maintain.
Picture caption: The smallest baby white rhino I’ve seen – just three weeks oldA cute poem from Lion Scream by Robbie CheadleListen to me, Mom“Mom, what’s that box on wheels?
Why is it stopping?
Listen to me, Mom, I’m asking you something.
Stop ignoring me, Mom
I’ve got a question”
“If you don’t answer me
I’ll back into you
Can you feel it, Mom, I’m bumping into you?
I’m not going to stop
Until you answer”
“Fine, be mean if you like
I know what to do
I’ll just lie down and have a short siesta
Let me know when it’s gone
And we can move on”
A few of my white rhino wildlife YouTube videos
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton CheadleBlog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press .
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Shadow Blade” Book Blog Tour
Join us for Day 2 of the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour over at Robbie’s Inspiration with a guest post from author Chris Barili on the inspiration for the story. Drop by to join in the fun, and don’t forget to leave a comment, so we know you were there and give you an entry in the give away.
Robbie’s Inspiration – WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour Day 2 #fiction #readingcommunity
July 21, 2025
Welcome to the WordCrafter “Shadow Blade” Book Blog Tour
Welcome to Writing to be Read and the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour, where we’re launching the release of the second edition of Shadow Blade, the fantasy adventure/romance by author Chris Barili. Shadow Blade is now Book 2 in the Denari Lai series by Chris Barili. WordCrafter Press is also releasing Book 1 of the series for the very first time, but the cool thing is, if you purchase the WordCrafter Press edition of Shadow Blade, you can also get the first book absolutely free.
Give AwayIf you follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop to let us know you were there or share your thoughts about the book, you can win a free copy of Shadow Blade. We’re giving away three digital copies of the book, and one lucky winner will receive a print copy of the book signed by author Chris Barili. Each stop you comment on earns you an entry into a random drawing, and the winners will be announced on Writing to be Read in the “WordCrafter News” post on July 27.
Tour ScheduleJuly 20-25, 2025
Monday, July 21: Writing to be Read- Book Trailer
Tuesday, July 22: Robbie’s Inspiration – Guest post
Wednesday July 23: Undawnted – Interview with Chris Barili (Leave comments on Writing to be Read)
Thursday, July 24: Roberta Writes – Reading Excerpt from Baiting the Hook, narrated by Jeff Bowles
Friday, July 25: Writing to be Read – Live appearance by Chris Barili
And now that I’ve told you a little about the tour, let me tell you about this dangerous and exciting adventure into the Denari Lai universe.
About Shadow BladeAshai Larish is an assassin from the brutal Denari Lai order. Religious zealots, Denari Lai are kept loyal through an addiction to the same magic that makes them unstoppable. They have become the primary weapon for the nation of Nishi’iti, and in a hundred years, they have never failed.
Until now. Ashai must kill Pushtani King Abadas Damar and his daughter/heir, Makari. He infiltrates the king’s inner circle, putting him in the perfect place to strike, with only Captain Bauti of the Royal Guard at all suspicious of Ashai’s intent.
Except Ashai has fallen for Makari and cannot complete the hit. When a second Denari Lai kills the King, Ashai finds himself fighting for Makari’s life instead of taking it. To make matters worse, the order cuts him off from his magic, leaving him weakened and in withdrawal.
Meanwhile, far north in the Pushtani mines that border Nishi’iti, a slave named Pachat learns that his love, a hand slave to Makari, died at the hands of a Denari Lai assassin. His grief ignites a slave rebellion, and Pachat becomes the unwilling leader of the revolt. Urged on by Nishi’iti guerrillas, the rebellion sweeps across the borderlands, threatening to erupt into all-out war. Yet all Pachat wants is to avenge his beloved’s death by killing the assassin, so he walks away from the rebellion to seek when it needs him most.
As Pachat makes off for the capital of Dar Tallus, Ashai is forced to rely on that city’s organized crime gang to hide from the second assassin, and from Bauti’s guards. Despite his best efforts to hide it, Makari discovers Ashai’s true identity, and suddenly, he finds himself without her love, without his faith, and without the Denari Lai. At rock bottom, he doubts he can do anything but cause more damage.
Can Ashai kill the second assassin and win back Makari’s love? Will Pachat gain the revenge he so lustily seeks?
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/ShadowBladeDenariLai
Book TrailerAbout Author Chris BariliCurrently oppressed by his day job, Chris has set sights on retiring after 42 years in the Intelligence Community and writing full-time. Chris Barili writes all kinds of stories, and has published fantasy, science fiction, horror, western, paranormal romance, and most recently crime, with a noir story in the inaugural print edition of Toe Six Magazine. He is author of the self-published, weird western Hell’s Butcher series, and also writes under the pen names B.T. Clearwater (Supernatural romance) and T.C. Barlow (western). Chris is a retired intelligence officer, having served over 45 years between active duty, contractor, and government employee roles. He lives in Colorado with his wife.
That wraps up today’s stop on the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour. To learn more about the book, the Denari Lai series, or about author Chris Barili, just follow the tour via the links in the Tour Schedule above. Just keep in mind that each link will not be active until the attached stop goes live, so you can’t get sneak previews of upcoming stops. I do hope you’ll join us. We’ve got an interview with the author and a live event where you can chat with the author,, excerpt readings, and the inspiration for this tale coming up later in the week. And don’t forget, the author is giving away three digital copies and one signed print copy of Shadow Blade, and all you need to do is comment to enter. The more stops you visit, the more entries you can get.
Join us tomorrow on Robbie’s Inspiration. We’ll have a guest post where author Chris Barili shares his thoughts on the inspiration for the story and the series.
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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
July 18, 2025
Book Review: “The Poison Dart”
About The Poison Dart
The ripple effects of an overdose send shock waves through a community.
A sweeping drug bust upends lives, exposing the cartel’s deep reach into the Midwest.
A quest for a better life threatens to destroy a family.
As Debbie Bradley digs deeper into each story, startling connections emerge. When fates collide, who will survive?
I received a digital copy of The Poison Dart, by Geri L. Dreiling, from the author, through Sandra’s Book Club, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
The Poison Dart is a Debbie Bradley mystery. The name of the series didn’t intrigue me, but the title of the book did. So, I was a little disappointed to finish the story with no poisoned Dart to be found…, although a poison frog which they make poison darts from did make an appearance. In after thought, I found the title misleading and felt the author didn’t deliver on the promise of the premise.
That being said, it is a decent story that keeps you guessing. Debbie Bradley is a reporter on the crime beat who is determined to get her story. What appears to be a story about a fentanyl laced heroine overdose, takes her deep into cartel territory as she follows her leads to discover the source of the tainted drugs.
Just out of rehab, Caleb Webb is ready to celebrate, as he reunites with old pals Macie and Alex, but things go wrong quickly when Caleb’s ride turns overdose and Macie’s Narcan doesn’t bring him around. But, Debbie has a feeling that Macie isn’t being totally honest with the police, but who is she trying to protect? And what isn’t she telling them?
After Caleb’s parents and brother, Connor accuse Macie of being the source, and murdering him, Macie confides in Debbie, that she’s carrying Caleb’s baby and doesn’t know where to turn. Because she is a long term addict, her parents are fed up, and Caleb’s family thinks she killed him. Debbie wants to help the girl, who is hesitant, not knowing who she can trust.
Although the title is misleading, I give The Poison Dart four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
July 15, 2025
Treasuring Poetry – Welcome Nolcha Fox, poet and editor of Chewers by Masticadores and reviews #treasuringpoetry #poetry #bookreviews
Today, I am delighted to welcome Nolcha Fox as my Treasuring Poetry guest. Nolcha is an accomplished poet and also the editor of Chewers by Masticadores. You can find out more about Chewers by Masticadores here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/
Nolcha is also the co-poetry editor of LatinosUSA which you can read more about here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/
Take it away, Nolcha:
What is your favourite style of poetry to read i.e. haiku, ballad, epic, freestyle, etc.?I don’t have a favorite style. What I enjoy is poetry with unexpected twists, poetry I want to continue past the end. I enjoy poetry I can dance to because of the rhythmic quality of the words. My favorite books are still “Alice and Wonderland” and “The Cat in the Hat.”
What is your favourite poem in your favourite style to read?I’ve always loved Robert Frost, especially “The Road Not Taken.”
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Every time I read this poem, I find something new.
What is your favourite style of poetry to write?It’s a toss-up between freestyle and pantoum. I don’t like to write rhyming poetry (funny because I enjoy reading it, when well-written). Needless to say, I break many poetry form rules.
I enjoy writing poems with a strong rhythm. Internal rhymes happen accidentally. As I write, I internally feel the bum-bum-bum-bum-bum.
What is your favourite of your own poems?Robbie, almost every poem is my favorite when I write it. Until the next poem. This is my latest favorite (published in Medusa’s Kitchen), even though I have no idea what I wrote:
Sunflowers in My Hair
I can’t untangle flowers
from the memories of youth.
They are the knots I can’t brush out
until the withering winter.
If it’s not a favorite after I write it, I hit it on the head with a shovel and bury it in the backyard. I’ve learned to run my unfavorite poems past a poet friend (or two). Many poems have been allowed to live because of the feedback I received.
My favorite poems are included in two books, if you want to check them out:
“Memory is that raccoon” (favorites through 2023): Memory is that raccoon
Picture caption: cover of Memory is that raccoonHere is my favorite poem in “Memory is that raccoon:”
Stay as long as you want
but pay by the hour
at the Underbelly Motel.
VACANCY is a bat
blinking at your headlights.
Your room is reserved.
The spider in the corner
grants absolution
for a bottle of gin.
Your lust lays on stained sheets
with her legs wide open.
Leave your pants on the floor
and your conscience in the fridge.
“My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis” (favorites through 2024): My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis
Here is my favorite poem in “My Pelvis Wants to Be Elvis:”
My pelvis wants to be Elvis
on The Ed Sullivan Show, you know,
I want to be that cutie who shakes her booty
while Elvis bumps and grinds. Who minds
gyrating hips and snarling lips?
The truth be said, my darling Ed,
the rest of me wants to be
in bed.
Please tell us about your poetry book, Finger Painting with Words. How did this book come about? What would you like readers to take away from this collection?“Finger Painting with Words” is a collection of short poems written to inspire readers to see the world with refreshed eyes — through imagination, through the senses, through the emotions. Not through a cell phone (although that could be a different book).
I also wrote this book to thrill my mother. She loved that her daughter was an author. Unfortunately, she died before this book was published.
Book reviewsSeesaw: Quirky Poems by Ken Tomaro and Nolcha Fox
Picture caption: Cover of Seesaw: Quirky PoemsThis poetry collaboration between Nolcha Fox and Ken Tomaro is darkly humorous and most entertaining. The poems celebrate daily life in all its boring ordinariness and, by demonstrating how much worse it could be if these chores and activities were not undertaken, highlight the charm of ordinary life. They also ‘take the mick’ out of people’s ridiculous obsession with social media and watching life being lived by others. These poems made me smile and reminded me of the poetic works of Roald Dahl.
Two short extracts that highlight the style and content of the poems:
“Debris that hurries by
becomes a melody and why
aren’t we taking cover
instead of videoing
this hurricane
on our phones?
Aluminum siding
and a trampoline whiz by.
So, I’ll snap a pic
for all the wandering eyes,
just to break the monotony
of cat photos
on my phone.”
“I come to a door
I open it.
Not because it is easy,
or because I’m curious,
or because I’m bored,
but because it is the only one
that will open.
I take weak little steps.
Not because I am unsure,
but because I am tired.
I follow the same path.
Not because it is worn,
but because all paths are the same.
The only door that opens
is to dirty dishes, unmade beds,
laundry someone left behind.
By the time I clean this house,
I’ll be too weak
to find a pathway out of here.”
A book that will give your spirits a lift as you laugh at yourself and life.
Purchase Seesaw: Quirky Poems from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Seesaw-Quirky-Poems-Ken-Tomaro-ebook/dp/B0F22N2D5T
Finger Painting with Words by Nolcha Fox
Picture caption: Finger Paining with WordsThis is a relatively short collection of fascinating and different poems and the first collection I’ve read by this poet. I have read a lot of classic books and poems written by British authors and poets and have only recently started exploring American writers and poets. The difference in style and content is intriguing to me and I have developed a real appreciation for the boundaryless thought processes and unstructured writing styles of American writers.
For me as a reader, Nolcha Fox’s poetry is a wonderful example of thinking and writing outside the ‘box’ and I enjoyed each poem in this collection a great deal.
An example of this freedom in writing is her poem, Catch Them, as follows:
“In morning dark, the stars are blinding white,
rampaging fireflies on steroids.
Hollyhocks defy gravity and aphids
to kiss the sky before the weight of
summer
tilts them to kiss the ground.
Heat bakes the sidewalk
into squares of peanut butter fudge,
sweet sludge from oven top.
Each second a butterfly
I scoop with net of tangled words
before it flies pastward to cocoon.”
This is an interesting and thought provoking short collection of poems designed to make you think. I must also mention the lovely cover which I found very attractive.
Purchase Finger Painting with Words by Nolcha Fox from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Finger-Painting-Words-Nolcha-Fox-ebook/dp/B0DBNZ7WR9
About Nolcha Fox
Picture caption: Author picture of Nolcha FoxNolcha Fox’s poems have been curated in print and online journals. A best-selling author, her poetry books are available on Amazon and Dancing Girl Press. Nominee for Best Of The Net and Pushcart Prize. Editor of Chewers by Masticadores.
Website: https://writingaddiction2.wordpress.com/ and https://nolchafox2.wixsite.com/nolcha-s-written-wor/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolcha.fox/
About Robbie Cheadle
Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author pictureSouth African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.
Get Your Copy Today!
Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships
Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR
Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature
July 14, 2025
Review in Practice: “$10k Secrets”
Most authors would love to make $10k a month from their writing business. I know I would. I’m always looking for ways to increase my writing income. So when I was offered a free copy of a book titled $10k Secrets, I snatched it up without a second thought.
This free book is not a How To, but rather a collection of essays by different creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs who share their methods of generating $10k a month from their work. Many can be applied to a writing business, even if the author of the piece references coaching or teaching, etc…
Many give testimony to the value of an email list, (an area in which I’m lacking), or Social Media Following, which we all know is important. Most of them involve use of the Substack platform, which I am not familiar with, but the principles can be applied on other platforms which I do use, or plan to use in the future. I’ve been toying with the idea of using a subscription platform for some time now and I’ve been looking at the Ream platform to publish my Playground for the Gods science fantasy series. Since Ream is geared more toward fiction writer’s, and my understanding of Substack is more of a newsletter platform, the two are quite different, but I see possibilities for adapting some of the Substack concepts suggested.
I realize that all my past attempts at doing a consistent newsletter have been dismal failures, and my email list is non-existent. The essay by Claudia Faith which shares how to grow your newsletter through story telling sparked some ideas for me on this subject, too. I know this is a weak area for me, so perhaps a new newsletter platform is the solution.So, I’ll be checking out the Substack platform in the near future.
However, I have to wonder if my audience would be receptive to the idea of either a subscription newsletter or a subscription for a story in serial form. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments, especially if you have used either of the two platforms.
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But, growing a substantial email list is not the only way to build your income, and among the fifteen featured essays author Phillip Hofmacher shares how he does it by marketing online courses and digital merchandise, Ana Calin shares how to do it with brand deals, Landon Poburan shares how to do it with free content, high- ticket offers and diversified income streams, Karen Cherry shares her method using niche B2B content, Jari Roomer shares how to build and launch a $10k mini-course, Nick Wolny shares how to write big ticket service proposals, and Sinem Gunel shares how to use a webinar to generate $10k in sales each month.
Many of these methods are still out of my grasp, but I picked up tidbits from each essay which could be useful and tucked away those that might be useful down the road. The essay by Russell Nohelty shares how to take content from blog to book to create monetized content was of particular interest. I’ve taken blog content and transformed it into a book with the Ask the Authors series, which began as a two month long, weekly blog series interviewing different authors. It’s a lot of work- first to create the blog content, and then compiling it all into book format, but this essay made me consider giving it another try.
What I didn’t like about this strategy was the fact that in order to publish on Amazon, the content could not be available for free online, so before publishing each book, all that blog content had to be pulled down. I don’t like having to disassemble my blog to publish a book. The last Ask the Authors book I published was in 2022, so I’m wondering if this is still the case. Definitely something to look into.
About Kaye Lynne BoothFor Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Review in Practice” is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press .
The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.
Get Your Copy Now.
Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird
Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle
Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee
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July 11, 2025
CWWC Challenge: Dirt Roads on My Way
I saw Dan Antion’s post on No Facilities for this week’s CWWC Challenge, and since I live and play on dirt roads, this challenge is right up my alley, so to speak, I thought I’d join in on this one.
Here’s this week’s challenge: Dirt roads or dirt pathways or trails [Bonus if Red is Included]
You can find and join in Cee’s Which Way Challenge here: https://gfpacificbeeintrospection.com/which-way-challenge-cwwc/
Here’s Dan’s post: https://nofacilities.com/2025/07/11/last-stop-and-dirt-roads-cwwc/
And here are some of the dirt roads along my way and some things found on them:
En route to Cripple Creek, Colorado
Barrel cactus getting ready to bloom on property where I live. Blooms will be red when they open. (Don’t know if that counts)
Dirt road transportation: electric bike
McCoy Gulch cutoff, Cotopaxi, Colorado
Dirt path around Sands Lake, Salida, Colorado
Wild flowers add color. These are black-eyed susans.
Heavy duty transportation on rough and rocky dirt roads. ATV above Hillside, Colorado.
Me and my Jeep JK near Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Old cabin above Hillside, Colorado.
Book Review: “Menace in the Mysterious Train”
About Menace on the Mysterious TrainWhen Edgar Campbell arrives in Red River, he falls victim to a deceitful poker player and loses every worldly possession he has. Without hope, a horse, or even a pistol, Edgar gambles on a chance meeting with someone that will turn things around. Fortunately, luck smiles on him when he is assigned with the simple task of accompanying a cattle baron’s livestock to another town. Little does he know that amongst the cattle there is a cargo much more valuable, that will get him into trouble and will put his life in grave peril. What will Edgar be willing to risk in order to accomplish a mission that isn’t as innocent as it first seemed? Will he manage to protect the valuable shipment and defeat a murderous gang that disperses fear in its wake?
While Edgar is running for his life, he crosses paths with his boss’s daughter, who, determined to prove her worth, disguises herself and jumps on the same train with him. When Edgar discovers her true identity, he will do whatever it takes to protect her from the vicious outlaws who have invaded the train. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes that her braveness and wit have made him lose his mind. But as long as criminals are after them and his life is at stake, he has no time for love. Will Edgar help Rose survive the treacherous journey? Will he manage to get out of this train safe and sound, despite the endless challenges he encounters?
Fierce crossfires and an unprecedented hide and seek, take Edgar and Rose on an adventure that will remain indelible in their minds. Will they endure the wild ride across the frontier west? Or will overpowering forces ruin their chance at happiness once and for all?
A pulse-pounding drama, which will make you turn the pages with bated breath until the very last word. A must-read for fans of Western action and romance.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Menace-Mysterious-Train-Historical-Adventure-ebook/dp/B08L7TBMY8/
My Review of Menace on the Mysterious TrainA sheltered young girl who wants adventure, a drifter just trying to get by, and a father entrusted by the government with its most precious secrets, and you’ve got a rail train headed for trouble.
The civil war saw atrocities which were burned into the minds of the participants, altering the people they thought they were. When their father took young Perry with him to Washington and left his sister, Rose, behind, the siblings are drastically affected. While Perry pulls away from life, Rose can’t wait to experience it, and she forms a plan to stow away on the freight train carrying her father’s cattle to market to do just that. But the train is carrying more than cattle, and plot to take its precious cargo is in the works, bringing Rose directly into the path of danger.
Edgar is a down on his luck drifter, who suddenly finds himself entrusted to accompany Perry to take the cattle and it’s not so secret cargo as a new friendship forms between the two men. When he discovers Rose stowed away, it’s up to him to protect her and her secret.
In spite of the dorky title, I found this story quite entertaining. I think the character of Perry could be developed more, as I only got a vague idea of the horrors of war which hardened him. But Rose is well developed as a young and impetuous girl, who sees the men in her life who try to protect her only as obstacles standing in the way of her freedom and independence. I couldn’t help but like poor Edgar, who seems to find trouble wherever he goes.
An engaging story and colorful characters make Menace on the Mysterious Train a fun and entertaining read. I give it four quills.
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About Kaye Lynne BoothFor Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
July 8, 2025
Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and traditional Belgian food #fiction #bookreview #belgianfood
Picture caption: banner for Read and Cook with Robbie CheadleMy review of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Picture caption: book cover of PachinkoPachinko is an amazing family saga set in Korea, Japan and America from when Japan took control of Korea in 1910 to 1989. Admittedly, this book was a real eye opener. I had no idea the japanese treated the Koreans so badly and how much the Koreans suffered, both in Korea and in Japan if they immigrated. This discrimination, abuse, and racism towards Koreans by Japanese people continues right up to the end of the book in 1989. It did leave me wondering what the current situation is for people of Korean descent living in Japan.
The book starts with the story of Hoonie, the son of a poor fisherman and his wife who was born with a cleft lip and a club foot. The couple are hard working and have a good sense of business, taking in lodgers and building a secondary business as a boarding house for working class people. This business helps them maintain a reasonable life during the first years of the Japanese occupation when the livelihoods of ordinary Koreans were devastated by high taxes and poor treatment. A matchmaker arranges a marriage for Hoonie, despite him being illegible in terms of cultural law due to his disabilities, to the daughter of a farmer rendered destitute by the colonialization. Hoonie and his wife, Yangjin, continue to build the boarding house business and have one surviving daughter, Sunja. Hoonie dies when Sunja is still a girl and Yangjin and Sunja continue the business alone. When Sunja is sixteen she is singled out by a wealthy fishtrader, Koh Hansu, a Korean living in Japan, who slowly woos her and ultimately seduces her. Sunja becomes pregnant and hopes to marry her loves, but discovers he is already married with three daughters. He proposes to support her as his mistress but Sunja rejects this idea as it goes against her principles. Fortunately for Sunja and her mother, salvation arrives in the form of a sickly Korean minister, Baek Isak, who is travelling to join his brother in Japan. Sunja marries Baek Isak and goes with him to start a new life in Japan as a minister’s wife. The story continues with Sunja and Baek’s lives in Japan and their family of two sons, Noa, son of the wealthy Korean fisherman, and Mozasu, Baek’s son. The saga ends years later when Sunja’s sons are older men with childen of their own.
Sunja was an excellent character. The author aptly captures the innocence of a young girl and demonstrates how Hansu inveigles his way into her life, ultimately seducing her. Hansu is not depicted as being a terrible man in these early days. He wants to support his son and Sunja and keep up his relationship with her but on his terms. These terms would result in Sunja and her mother’s disgrace in their community and her son having no name, but so would Sunja’s having an illegitimate child. If Baek hadn’t entered the story, practically, Sunja would have had to capitulate to Hansu’s request as there would have been no other way for her and her mother. Sunja is a woman of much inner strength and she accepts her situation and marriage to Baek and does her best to be a really good mother and wife to him. She demonstrates much fortitude in overcoming the difficulties she faces in Japan and shows that she is hard working and also has a good business brain and survival abilities. I felt that Sunja was a magnificent tribute to the fortitude and resourcefulness of many women forced to face terrible hardship and find a way to feed their children.
Sunja’s second son, Mozasu, is another wonderful character. Hard working and also an astute business mind, he makes the most of his situation and builds a good business for himself and his family. He also manages to overcome a lot of hardship and tragedy. He is a devoted father to his only son and demonstrates much support of, and affection for, his own people and community. He is not a criminal personality despite being involved in a gambling business that is rigged as all such business must be. He does his best to help other people and be as law abiding as possible in a society aimed at subjugating and even destroying Koreans. His attitude towards the end of the book, when faced by a disappointing (to him) decision by his son, is exemplary and shows what a good parent he was and sensible in the face of life facts.
The author demonstrates in many places his deep understanding of the human condition. One particularly striking demonstration of this understanding is towards the end of the book when Sunja goes home to see her sick mother. This scene really stayed with me and, having experienced similar situation with aging relatives, I found it deeply compelling.
I highly recommend this compelling and fascinating read that shares so much information about the history of Korea and Japan between 1910 and 1989 and also shows a deep understanding of people and their relationships, reactions, and emotions.
Purchase Pachinko from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927
Exploring Belgian food and street artToday, we are exploring Brussels in Belgium and some of its food and street art. This is because I am currently in Brussels.
Picture caption: Traditional Flemish Carbonnade, a beef stew. Very delicious 
Picture caption: Meatballs in tomato sauceBoth of the above meals are served with potato chips.
Picture caption: pancake stack with strawberries.The pancake stack was delicious and the perfect blend of slightly sweet from the syrup, offset with the slightly sour berries.
The above images are all of Paul’s tea room in Brussels where we ate the pancake stakes. Great food and coffee.
Picture caption: Seafood paella for two. This was excellent. 
This is the restaurant. If you enlarge the picture you can see the menu. Brussels is famous for its street art. I’ve included two pieces below. The first is Tintin street mural and the second is called The Pipes.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton CheadleBlog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press .
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