Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 246

Sunday Sentence.

You mean the tigers?” There was a lilt in his voice. “Yes, the tigers, in all their fearful symmetry.”

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

I’m really enjoying this book…and I love clever lines like this!  I plan to review the novel once I’m finished.

Week by numbers.

Wow – this might have been one of my most productive weeks of the year!  Without a lot going on outside of my home office and a slight change in how I operate, I made a lot of progress in my writing projects.

43,026, words on the Queen sequel.  I still don’t really know where things are going, but ‘just keep swimming’ seems to be my modus operandi.
138, how many pages that equates to in Word, 1.5 spacing.
5, days of walking (including twice yesterday).  The heat is killer, but I’m trying to get out there and get the holiday weight off!
1, new restaurant tried… It wasn’t really for me, but I’ll post a full review soon over on A to Za’atar.
2, times we used our new grill (exciting days in our house)!
British, remember that voiceover gig?  Well, it’s still in progress, but both the director and I agreed that between my (natural) American accent and my faux British, that the UK version was better.  Go figure!

Gif of the week:

Yes, Tom Hardy, walk in my direction.

Some cover work.

I’m taking this as a very good sign.  While I’m not super in the mood, even the fact that I’ve opened my Queen cover looks gives me hope that I’m finally turning the corner with all this writing motivation junk.

I like these, but I’m trying to figure out what can make them look more professional (fonts! layouts! other junk!).  Also, while the below sets are kind of dreamy, I’m lacking for any steampunk type elements.

Suggestions (more than) welcome!

In case you need this.

I think sometimes we all do.  :)

Sunday Sentence.

You people, who hold power, have only what can be bought for money; we, who are waiting to gain power, have what is given out of devotion.”

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (pere)

This quote popped up on a friend’s facebook feed and as it is one of my favorite books, I wanted to share it today.  I’ve had an idea for an adaptation of this novel for about 15 years and wonder if I will ever get around to the project…

 

Week by numbers.

This old gem?  I must be procrastinating.  :)

32,538, words.  Would you look at that? I’m writing again!  I added about 4K this week on the sequel to the Queen.  Hurrah!
1, voiceover gig I might have — my first.  I’m fairly certain I undersold my value by a factor of 500% but here’s hoping!
1, the number of houses my sister and bro-in-law closed on — mabrook!  I can’t wait to visit.
5,000, estimated, words I’ve written about food.  Still. More. Restaurants. To. Review.
1, night where I had jet lag.  Other than that, I switched my sleep pattern over much easier than my return flight from Chicago!
1, novel I’m getting into (about, who else? Queen Victoria).  It took about three tries getting into a book this week, so I’m glad to not be in a slump.

An update on Amazon.

Reading this article gave me pause (and made me feel true heartache for the author involved) and reminded me of my bitter woes with Amazon.

Rather than ‘get better’ in any capacity, I’ve gone the complete opposite direction.  Yes, I’m still writing a novel, but the ‘spark’ that used to accompany my published works is entirely absent.  I don’t check my numbers.  I don’t check for reviews.  I simply don’t bother with any of it.  This is made even weirder by the fact that I was approached in May to have one of my books adapted to screen…  I sincerely thought this would be the kick of motivation I needed to get back to my novels, but nothing yet.  I see signs all around me that are pushing me to get back to work, but I can only manage force 1,000 words a day.

And when I was going through everything with Amazon in February, I wondered, what if they decided to ban me forever?  And now I realize it’s not beyond possibility.  Of course, with as little effort as I’ve been putting into my novels, it might as well be that way.  So, what happens when I am once again eligible?  What will change between now and February 2017?  Will I even want to enroll my books into Kindle Unlimited?  Or, will Amazon once again make the decision for me?

I wish Ms. Creeden nothing but the best of luck and commercial success (with or without Amazon) for her novels and writing, and hope Amazon decides to reverse their decision.  From all that I have read (and the comments on the original article are worth going through), she certainly did not deserve the punishment that was handed down.

Ryan feels my pain.

 

Sunday Sentence.

My whole life I’d been teased by some people and lauded by others for my fierce fixation on time, but it wasn’t a thing I could easily change. And in this instance, turning up late wouldn’t just bother me, it would also be rude to our hostess. I’d have to go down on my own. I clenched both my hands and relaxed them, releasing the burst of adrenaline as I reminded myself that I needn’t be anxious.

A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

I’ve read Susanna Kearsley in the past, and tend to enjoy her work.  While the books tend to move a bit slow (and this one was tied up with far too happy and tidy an ending), they are always well researched.  In this instance, the protagonist is autistic and very clearly on the spectrum.  The above passage really spoke to me.  As I continue to struggle and work with my own issues, this section could be directly lifted from my head and it was intriguing to see the scenario written out so perfectly.

 

Sunday Sentence.

An afternoon this perfect should not have hairpins in it.”

Traitor’s Masque (The Andari Chronicles Book 1) by Kenley Davidson

While the book was not for me, I enjoyed the quote.  A bit too much exposition for this retelling of Cinderella (try Cinder if you’re looking for a great updated version of the fairytale).

Read anything good recently?  I’ve been busy with all my NetGalley books…

Thoughts on jet lag.

2AM for the past 3 nights.  What does this evening hold?  (Lots of sleep aids, I’ll tell you that much).  I’m not usually this bothered by jet lag, so I have no idea what’s going on!  Not to mention, I have another trip to the States next week…