Eileen Granfors's Blog, page 3
November 22, 2016
Catching up with books!
We've all been inundated with information fatigue, right? For awhile, I escaped through coloring. Luckily, I have found new books to blog about.
This one was weeks ago: The News of the World by Paulette Jiles. It is short. It is heartwarming. I highly recommend it. A girl released from captivity (Kiowa Indians) is to be sent back to her relatives. A gruff old man takes her along on the long ride. The adventures! The growing trust between them. Learning English again for the girl.
It's based on a true story.
Now, my web site (a word in time) focuses on the word "coping." I offer up seven books about different kinds of coping in the genres classic, short story, poetry, adventure, women's fiction, historical fiction, and book clubs.
So I hope I've teased your book buds. Please drop by and sign up as a site member. http://www.eileengranfors.com
This one was weeks ago: The News of the World by Paulette Jiles. It is short. It is heartwarming. I highly recommend it. A girl released from captivity (Kiowa Indians) is to be sent back to her relatives. A gruff old man takes her along on the long ride. The adventures! The growing trust between them. Learning English again for the girl.
It's based on a true story.
Now, my web site (a word in time) focuses on the word "coping." I offer up seven books about different kinds of coping in the genres classic, short story, poetry, adventure, women's fiction, historical fiction, and book clubs.
So I hope I've teased your book buds. Please drop by and sign up as a site member. http://www.eileengranfors.com
November 2, 2016
More Happening: A Word in Time
My new web site, A Word in Time, takes a central word each week and then riffs on the books that I recommend under that category. The central word speeds up my thought processes in choosing.
The word this week is CELEBRATE as in what we may or may not be doing a week from today as our new President takes a bow. Here's hoping. . .
Some of the books highlighted include Far from the Madding Crowd, the short stories of Hemingway, historical fiction (Irwin Shaw), A Low-Country Heart (Conroy), and two by Jennifer Close (The Hopefuls, Girls in White Dresses).
Check out the pages of the web site. The blog updates, usually with writing prompts, twice or three times a week.
Visit me here: http://www.eileengranfors.com Archival blurbs are summarized weekly.
The word this week is CELEBRATE as in what we may or may not be doing a week from today as our new President takes a bow. Here's hoping. . .
Some of the books highlighted include Far from the Madding Crowd, the short stories of Hemingway, historical fiction (Irwin Shaw), A Low-Country Heart (Conroy), and two by Jennifer Close (The Hopefuls, Girls in White Dresses).
Check out the pages of the web site. The blog updates, usually with writing prompts, twice or three times a week.
Visit me here: http://www.eileengranfors.com Archival blurbs are summarized weekly.
October 9, 2016
Blog and Web Site Whoosh!
I was on fire writing this morning on the blog and web site. I chose to celebrate the words QUIRKY and INDIVIDUAL. As fast as I can type, the ideas flowed onto the web pages!
Classics: Ayn Rand
Poetry: The O-Filler
Women's fiction: The Panopticon
Adventure: News of the World
Sci Fi: (sort of) Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands
Drama: Androcles and the Lion
Catch all of my blurbs and some blogs on this topic at http://www.eileengranfors.com
Classics: Ayn Rand
Poetry: The O-Filler
Women's fiction: The Panopticon
Adventure: News of the World
Sci Fi: (sort of) Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands
Drama: Androcles and the Lion
Catch all of my blurbs and some blogs on this topic at http://www.eileengranfors.com
September 26, 2016
One Word!
Wonderful things are happening on my new blog, A Word in Time.
I have found that the structure gives me more freedom to recommend more books!
The distinct categories in Classic Books and New Books allow me to think in a variety of ways about a particular word, like power or health.
When I begin the updates, I am not tied to a particular book to share. The updates feature a kind of brainstorming on book titles.
Please check out A Word in Time,
http://www.eileengranfors.com
I have found that the structure gives me more freedom to recommend more books!
The distinct categories in Classic Books and New Books allow me to think in a variety of ways about a particular word, like power or health.
When I begin the updates, I am not tied to a particular book to share. The updates feature a kind of brainstorming on book titles.
Please check out A Word in Time,
http://www.eileengranfors.com
August 22, 2016
All the Words Fit to Share
My new web site is expanding. I like having the stable web pages, which I can update frequently, to share thoughts on books, both old and new. Then I use the blog feature for short sudden insights about words, books, and writing prompts.
I would be delighted to have more of my goodreads followers sign up for the web site and blog news. There are links on the home page and on the blog home page.
I have added in my own works with clickable links, and I'm excited to be getting towards "publishable" on Tasty Flash. We will be in Alaska in September, so Tasty has to wait for our return and reintroduction to life not on a cruise.
Use the web site http://www.eileengranfors.com to access A Word in Time. I hope you will be a frequent visitor, my book-loving goodreads friends!
I would be delighted to have more of my goodreads followers sign up for the web site and blog news. There are links on the home page and on the blog home page.
I have added in my own works with clickable links, and I'm excited to be getting towards "publishable" on Tasty Flash. We will be in Alaska in September, so Tasty has to wait for our return and reintroduction to life not on a cruise.
Use the web site http://www.eileengranfors.com to access A Word in Time. I hope you will be a frequent visitor, my book-loving goodreads friends!
August 9, 2016
Turned a Page
Back to blogging after the summer off. And I am excited, reinvigorated, ready to roar. This new web site format gives me greater freedom to do the things I like best: write, read, play with my dogs! You will hear more about the three amigos, Nilla, Kali, and Bert, as you drop by A Word In Time. But for now, let's say that this is a place to find positive goals in literature, creative writing, and life as it happens.
Please check out my new web site, A Word in Time, http://www.eileengranfors.com
There are all kinds of book recommendations, writing helpful hints and prompts, and musings about words and time.
Please check out my new web site, A Word in Time, http://www.eileengranfors.com
There are all kinds of book recommendations, writing helpful hints and prompts, and musings about words and time.
May 6, 2016
Assistant Editor News
Hello, readers! I have taken an internship of sorts with the online flash magazine, Vestal Review. I love flash fiction, and this gives me a chance to interact with both writers and an editing team. It should be fun.
One of our first assignments is to tell the editing world about the chance to submit the best of your magazine to Vestal Review's competition for best of the year.
Here are the guidelines:
Dear fellow editor,
We would like to announce the VERA: Vestal Review Award, our second annual award for flash fiction.
Please feel free to nominate one story under 500 words published by your magazine in print or online in 2015. The winning selection receives a prize of $100 and a publication in Vestal Review, and the runner-up entry gets publication in Vestal Review at our usual terms. There is no nomination fee. Only a publication editor is eligible to submit a nomination. One story per magazine, please.
“Fireworks” by Matthew Fogarty, originally published in Pithead Chapel, was chosen as the recipient of the 2014 award. “Resurrection Man: A Litany” by Sarah Banse, originally published in Harvard Review, was chosen as the runner-up.
This is the nomination link:
https://vestalreview.submittable.com/...
One of our first assignments is to tell the editing world about the chance to submit the best of your magazine to Vestal Review's competition for best of the year.
Here are the guidelines:
Dear fellow editor,
We would like to announce the VERA: Vestal Review Award, our second annual award for flash fiction.
Please feel free to nominate one story under 500 words published by your magazine in print or online in 2015. The winning selection receives a prize of $100 and a publication in Vestal Review, and the runner-up entry gets publication in Vestal Review at our usual terms. There is no nomination fee. Only a publication editor is eligible to submit a nomination. One story per magazine, please.
“Fireworks” by Matthew Fogarty, originally published in Pithead Chapel, was chosen as the recipient of the 2014 award. “Resurrection Man: A Litany” by Sarah Banse, originally published in Harvard Review, was chosen as the runner-up.
This is the nomination link:
https://vestalreview.submittable.com/...
May 20, 2015
Hello Again
I have been out of touch with my readers as I finished SO YOU, SOLIMAR and began working through the many problems my editors found. I am so glad I was not impulsive about thinking the book was good enough. The rewrite gave me a chance to rethink many of the major turning points.
Oh, I should also mention that I have VOLUNTARILY withdrawn from Amazon Vine's Program. I have been unhappy with Vine for about a year, and I finally said, "Enough."
Hoping people will keep reading my reviews here on goodreads (yes, I know Amazon bought it), but I will no longer show up as an Amazon Vine reviewer.
Oh, I should also mention that I have VOLUNTARILY withdrawn from Amazon Vine's Program. I have been unhappy with Vine for about a year, and I finally said, "Enough."
Hoping people will keep reading my reviews here on goodreads (yes, I know Amazon bought it), but I will no longer show up as an Amazon Vine reviewer.
February 22, 2015
Back at It
After a lengthy absence from updates, etc., although I have continued to review, I am now 2/3 of the way through the final Marisol book, SO YOU, SOLIMAR.
I had been stuck for a long time, trying to keep the right focus. It's coming together now.
I also had cataract surgery, which delayed me more.
All is well, I am writing again, and though I have back-to-back trips to California, I am hoping to continue forward progress on Marisol.
If you have not yet read THE PINATA-MAKER'S DAUGHTER (Book 1) or SOME RIVERS END ON THE DAY OF THE DEAD (BOOK 2), now is a good time to put them on your soonest TBR. SO YOU, SOLIMAR should come out this summer.
I had been stuck for a long time, trying to keep the right focus. It's coming together now.
I also had cataract surgery, which delayed me more.
All is well, I am writing again, and though I have back-to-back trips to California, I am hoping to continue forward progress on Marisol.
If you have not yet read THE PINATA-MAKER'S DAUGHTER (Book 1) or SOME RIVERS END ON THE DAY OF THE DEAD (BOOK 2), now is a good time to put them on your soonest TBR. SO YOU, SOLIMAR should come out this summer.
December 19, 2014
My 2014 Favorite Books
1. Flat Water Tuesday, Ron Irwin
2. Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, Chris Bohjalian
3. Big Little Lies, Lianne Moriarty
4. Sentinels of Andersonville
5. At the Bottom of Everything
6. Small Blessings, Martha Woodroof
7. The Day after Yesterday, Kelly Cozy
8. Road Ends, Mary Lawson
9. Bittersweet
10. This is the Water
11. True Blend, Joanne De Maio
12. All Fall Down
13. The Weight of Blood
14. Life Drawing
15. Little Mercies, Heather Gudenkoff
16. Of Marriageable Age
17. The Forgotten Daughter
18. The Collection of Heng Souk
19. The Fever, Meg Abbott
20. Astonish Me
2. Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, Chris Bohjalian
3. Big Little Lies, Lianne Moriarty
4. Sentinels of Andersonville
5. At the Bottom of Everything
6. Small Blessings, Martha Woodroof
7. The Day after Yesterday, Kelly Cozy
8. Road Ends, Mary Lawson
9. Bittersweet
10. This is the Water
11. True Blend, Joanne De Maio
12. All Fall Down
13. The Weight of Blood
14. Life Drawing
15. Little Mercies, Heather Gudenkoff
16. Of Marriageable Age
17. The Forgotten Daughter
18. The Collection of Heng Souk
19. The Fever, Meg Abbott
20. Astonish Me
