Leon Stevens's Blog, page 46
May 31, 2024
Free Book Friday May 31: Editing the Edits
I received my manuscript from my editor this week, so my next task its to review her changes. I use this process to improve my writing since she is the professional. Understanding her suggestions allows me to avoid the same tendencies the next time I write.
I often have to look up the reasons behind them (thanks, Google), but it is time well spent. It is difficult to keep all of them in mind since old habits die hard.
If you have ever tried to read your own book, sometimes it’s not that fun and can be exhausting at times, so I need to do a chapter at a time with a break in between.
Do I still like the story? You bet.
ARC copies should be available by June 15th.
-Leon
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Review Copies (These are free!)Review copies: Like reviewing books? Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
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Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
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May 29, 2024
Weird Wednesday May 29
-Leon
My newsletter goes out every Wednesday: Lines by Leon Super Newsletter Extravaganza
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
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May 27, 2024
Music Monday: 1998
There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.
Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.
Maybe you will find a new favorite.
CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music
1998. The year the Titanic soundtrack spent 16 weeks on top of the album charts. Quick, name a song off the album that’s not My Heart Will Go On.
Didn’t think so.
Speaking of Celine Dion, here’s another Canadian:
This song could have easily been sung by Shania Twain.
A couple more Canadian acts:
I’ve featured Matthew Good before. I think he has a unique voice and style. I went back and added a few new songs:
Music Monday: Matthew Good Band
Now a one-hit wonder:
Semisonic didn’t fair much better.
Let’s hear two songs that aren’t rock, pop, alternative, or country.
I’ve always enjoyed Ben Folds vocals and piano playing.
1998. A pretty good year for a variety of music.
-Leon
Want to read more music blogs? Here are some of the ones I follow: Mostly Music Covers, Take it Easy, Beetley Pete, A Sound Day, PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture, SuperdekesVinylReviews
Want to receive and review an advance copy of my latest book?
Sign up hereLeon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 26, 2024
Songs for a Sunday: Twin Flames
I was going to do a double shot of music on Monday, but since I had nothing else planned for today, here’s something that might interest you.
I don’t remember hearing this song until last year, but It was written in 2019 after UNESCO commissioned it for the International Year of Indigenous Languages, declared by the United Nations in an effort to raise awareness to the rapid decline of Indigenous languages around the world.
Twin Flames is a Canadian folk music duo from Quebec consisting of Sunchild Deer-Okpik and Chelsea Jodoin
-Leon
Want to read more music blogs? Here are some of the ones I follow: Mostly Music Covers, Take it Easy, Beetley Pete, A Sound Day, PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture, SuperdekesVinylReviews
Looking for reviewers who want to receive an advance copy of my latest book!Sign up hereLeon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 25, 2024
Weekend Wrap-up May 25
When I don’t know when to write for a blog post, I step away and come back later.
Sometimes it works. Today, not so much. Here’s what you may have missed this week:
In case you missed it:Songs for a Sunday: Twin FlamesWeekend Wrap-up May 25Free Book Friday May 24: New CoverWeird Wednesday May 22Tuesday Top Ten: NumbersLooking for reviewers who want to receive an advance copy of my latest book!Sign up here
Hope you enjoyed the recap! Feel free to share it with others.
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 24, 2024
Free Book Friday May 24: New Cover
When I designed the cover of The View from Here, I didn’t know it was going to be a trilogy, so when I had to make two more covers, I took into account how they would look as paperbacks, right?
As the left column shows, the three covers look very cool, until…
…you line them up on the shelf and you get a horrible looking set of spines, so I went back and added coloured stripes on them, with solved that problem.
Knowing my next project would be a series, I had to take that into account, which I did, right? Well, not yet, but I will.
I did however overlooked how the wraparound on the paperback would look for Euphrates Vanished. Ebooks are easy. One rectangular page. So, when you make that background, you have to make sure it continues to the left enough for the spine and back cover of the paperback. Which I did, right?
I think we all know that answer to that. The original background lined up on the left hand side of the ebook, leaving nothing for the back cover. To quote a famous US philosopher: Doh!
Thankfully, I was able to find a similar graphic which worked and the first (and hopefully last) redesign was complete.
-Leon
Want to receive and review an advance copyof my latest book?
Sign up hereStarting tomorrow!
Still running!Review Copies (These are free!)Review copies: Like reviewing books? Try my two poetry collections: Lines by Leon and A Wonder of Words
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book (poetry or science fiction or both): Leon’s Newsletter
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 22, 2024
Weird Wednesday May 22
When I started my writing journey, one of my goals was to make people laugh. More often than not it was just me, because humour is subjective, and my humour can be…strange – Wait!, weird!, I meant weird.
The Minuscules were an outlet for some of the humourous situations I thought up, but for lack of drawing skills, couldn’t do the ideas justice, so I didn’t, and let the humour speak for itself.
It’s funny how a little squiggle can convey an idea, and when those ideas just aren’t coming anymore, it’s time to let those squiggles pursue other endeavors.
The Untitled will now have to bear the brunt of conveying my odd sense of humor, but I think it is up to the task.
-Leon
My newsletter goes out every Wednesday: Lines by Leon Super Newsletter Extravaganza
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 21, 2024
Tuesday Top Ten: Numbers
I feel sorry for the kids today. Why? They will never experience the best, best day ever.
Which was?
Riding in the car and realizing that the mechanical odometer* will soon reach 99999 and then all the numbers will all roll up to read 100000. You shut up and stared, not wanting to miss the once in a lifetime momentous occasion.
Right? Here are some other numbers that are fun to see when they come up in your life:
Leon’s Top Ten Fun Numbers
10. 666 (cuz it’s creepy)
9. 99, 999, 9999 etc.
8. Your house/apartment number
7. 1234
6. Any double number
5. Pi
4. 1, 100, 1000 etc.
3. Your birthyear
2. 69 (you know you still giggle like a teenager)
1. The lottery numbers you have been playing for years
Do you have any that you like to see?
*The mechanical odometer
“Ohhh, yeah….”Looking for reviewers who want to receive an advance review copy of my latest book!
ARC sign up here!Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 20, 2024
Music Monday: 1997
Note for readers of my posts on Goodreads: I just realized that video links do not show up on my posts, so please read my Music Monday posts here: https://linesbyleon.com/2024/05/19/music-monday-1997
There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.
Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.
Maybe you will find a new favorite.
CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music
1997.
The year that brought us Mmmbop by Hanson, but it also gave us Around the World. I never appreciated Daft Punk until much later.
Rock was getting back to more bare bones with traditional trios and quartets making the charts
The year also gave us two of the greatest songs, not just by female artists, but of any that year.
And finally, who wasn’t gettin’ jiggy wit it?
Don’t forget my Eurovision Sunday Special:
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2024
Want to read more music blogs? Here are some of the ones I follow: Mostly Music Covers, Take it Easy, Beetley Pete, A Sound Day, PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture, SuperdekesVinylReviews
Want to receive and review an advance copy of my latest book?Sign up hereLeon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
May 19, 2024
Songs for a Sunday: Eurovision 2024
I was going to do a double shot of music on Monday, but since I had nothing else planned for today, here’s something that might interest you.
Eurovision. In North America, we usually only see highlights of the weird stuff, which is more often than not, all the acts. I was aware it was going on, but by chance I heard one of the artists, and after a bit of digging, I discovered some interesting acts.
Let’s start with the winners:
First place: Nemo / Switzerland Second place: Baby Lasagna / CroatiaThird place: Alonya Alonya & Jerry Heil / UkraineLike many contests, this wasn’t without its controversy. Favored winner, Joost Klein was disqualified after an alleged offstage interaction with a camera woman.
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, which sends acts to Eurovision, said: “Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the greenroom. At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected.
“This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camerawoman.”
The statement said the body had “consulted extensively” with the EBU and “proposed several solutions” but the decision was still taken to disqualify Klein.
Would he have won? Perhaps, but after hearing the top 3, I’m kind of leaning toward wishing Baby Lasagna had taken the title.
Fun fact: Did you know Celine Dion won in 1989 representing Switzerland?
Well, she’s good, but she’s no Baby Lasagna…
I know one thing, I gotta watch it next year.
-Leon
Want to read more music blogs? Here are some of the ones I follow: Mostly Music Covers, Take it Easy, Beetley Pete, A Sound Day, PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture, SuperdekesVinylReviews
Looking for reviewers who want to receive an advance copy of my latest book!Sign up hereLeon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/
Sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter and receive a free book!
Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
