Kate McNeil's Blog, page 9
July 23, 2016
Been Reading – The Quick and Dirty Version
Don’t you hate it when bloggers start off by apologizing for not writing and end up writing more about that than about the real reason they finally cracked open ye olde blogging software again? Me too! I actually have two pieces of good news that I can’t wait to share with you, but I have to finish one, and there’s a reason I’m waiting a couple of days before I share the other one (hints: no, Sub Rosa the book isn’t complete and no I’m not pregnant or gave birth, so there).
I have been readin...
January 23, 2016
My Favorite YouTube Find of the Week
Just long enough for procrastination purposes (okay, maybe a little longer than that), but it’s such a pleasure to watch!
January 9, 2016
I’m Writing And…
This is my soundtrack right now, although I normally can’t write to any music with lyrics.
Great band, and one of my all-time favorite songs (yes, I love the UB40 cover too).
Happy New Year!
-Kate
September 5, 2015
Kate’s Summer Reading List AND Kindle First September Pick
It’s Labor Day weekend here in the U.S., the unofficial beginning of the end to summer. *pout* As promised, though, here’s the list of books that I read over the past few months per my Goodreads account:
Dark Places – Gillian Flynn – rated 2 stars Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn – rated 3 stars As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride – Cary Elwes – rated 5 stars Sugar – Deirdre Riordan Hall – rated 3 stars Eyes on You – Kate White – rated 2 stars The Mist – Steph...August 3, 2015
Kate’s Kindle First Pick for August
I’m so in love with Amazon Prime’s Kindle First program, I actually have it penned into my planner to fire up my Kindle and pick out my free book (and sometimes two!), before it’s on sale to the general public!
So this month I picked…
The Good Neighbor by A.J. Banner!
Author’s Twitter! Facebook fan page! Website!
Book blurb:
Shadow Cove, Washington, is the kind of town everyone dreams about—quaint streets, lush forests, good neighbors. That’s what Sarah thinks as she settles into life with he...
March 21, 2015
Being An Author and Leaving Reviews
Approximately a week ago, one of my favorite authors answered a reader’s question on Goodreads regarding why she’d deleted all of her many (spot-on and often hysterical but always honest) reviews. She replied and confirmed that she would no longer be writing reviews as it has led to stalking, trolling, deliberate low ratings on her own books, and in truth, full-on harassment.
I’m going to pause here and say that NO, once again I won’t be providing links for this. If you know who I’m talking a...
March 7, 2015
March Kindle First Book Review!
So I’ve finally decided that it is my solemn moral obligation to provide a Goodreads book review (to be cross-posted here) for one of my Kindle First books each month. These are oftentimes new authors, diamonds in the rough (not always, but sometimes), and I figured they’re owed a review for flinging themselves out there to the voracious horde of Kindle First readers.
If you’re wondering about Kindle First, check out the details here first, but bottom line it’s a free book (and sometimes two!...
December 9, 2014
FREEBIE for You!!!
Ooooooeee it’s dusty in here!!! I promise we didn’t intend to neglect the blog for so long, but my only excuse is this…I think of the last week or two of November as the beginning clickity-clack uphill climb of a roller coaster. Thanksgiving is like the pause at the top of the hill, and then WHOOSH it’s all a crazy fast exhilarating rush to Christmas! Parties, shopping, wrapping gifts, decorating…it eats up all your time in a glorious wonderful holiday glow!
Yes, I love Christmas, it’s my favo...
October 26, 2014
Books and Authors 2014!!!
First off, an ENORMOUS thank you to the hard-working staff of Leon & Lulu for putting on the most amazing, eclectic, fun book-signing known to Metro Detroit! No dull staid bookstore signing here, no siree! Leon & Lulu has always been my go-to store for gifts when the recipient is impossible to buy for, they’re a community favorite, and they return the favor by hosting great events like this one!
The one pall over the day was Britt’s absence, but we weren’t quite sure she’d make the nine-hour t...
October 17, 2014
Wherein Pistils Gets Its Own Commercial…
So fun fact about me…I don’t picture characters in my head when I’m reading or writing. Obviously when writing I have a character sketch in my mind, but I don’t SEE the character as so many people do…I admire yet don’t GET the people who are able to do the “My actor pic for this character” thing on Goodreads. This revelation led to a loooooooong discussion between myself and Britt wherein I figured out that I just don’t SEE a character even as I write them.
I genuinely wonder if it’s due to ha...
