122 ratings | 30 reviews | avg rating:4.87

Michael’s Year In Books

Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Michael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Michael’s 2025 Year in Books

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Michael’s Bookshelves

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currently-reading (4)
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Maria Bouroncle

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Michael Smith

Goodreads Author

Website

https://frucht-schleifen.weebly.com

Genre

Ebooks, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Influences

Terry Pratchett, C.S. Lewis, Thomas Hardy

Member Since

January 2024

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Popular Answered Questions

What inspired you to start writing?

Michael Smith Good question. There's probably not a simple answer, rather a process.

The starting point, like all writing, is actually reading. I've enjoyed the work…moreGood question. There's probably not a simple answer, rather a process.

The starting point, like all writing, is actually reading. I've enjoyed the work of many fine authors over the years, but always thought I could never be that good. However, that shouldn't be a reason not to start. So, one day I thought I'd give it a go, and write a short story. Once completed, I passed it to a trusted friend, who is also qualified in English Literature, and asked for honest feedback. When it arrived the feedback was wholly positive and encouraging. This spurred me on to write a second short story, and the loop continued as I added further trusted (and qualified) friends to the process.
Eventually, the original friend suggested I collect together my stories and self-publish, and that is how my first book, 'Fonts', came into existence.

The inspiration for my first novel, 'Gruseltal', came from a short story I started, which grew and grew until it was clear it could be developed into something much more adventurous. I was playing with the idea of writing a story about boredom (I like to challenge myself) and that's where the first character, Karl, started.

Inspiration now comes mainly from the sheer pleasure of creating something from nothing, but reading remains a solid foundation for all I write.(less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Michael Smith The simple answer is I don't.
I just see it as part of the process.
Trees and plants don't grow all year round, they have times when they rest. That res…moreThe simple answer is I don't.
I just see it as part of the process.
Trees and plants don't grow all year round, they have times when they rest. That rest is valuable for further growth in the following season.
I treat 'writer's block' in much the same way.(less)

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Michael Smith’s books

Average rating: 5.0 · 6 ratings · 3 reviews · 5 distinct works

	Gruseltal it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fonts: A Collection of Twelve Short Stories it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Songs: A Collection Of Ten Short Stories it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hands Off!: Gruseltal 2 it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dinner Time it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Michael Smith…

15 posts
Michael Smith's Blog

It's been a while...

It's been nearly a year since my last post here. Much happened in 2025, so I'm hoping for a quieter 2026.
Since July 2024 I have had at least one short story per month published online. This picked up pace in 2025 to include a podcast (open.spotify.com/episode/0tbyOb0rHd8G... ), several inclusions in 'Fabula Argentia', one of the top100 online litmags (fabulaargentea.com/index.php/article/... ), an Read more of this blog post »

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Published on February 14, 2026 02:23

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Smith is currently reading

Never a Dull Moment: 1971 The Year That Rock Exploded

by David Hepworth (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 19, 2026 07:16AM

Michael Smith is currently reading

Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8)

by Terry Pratchett

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Feb 14, 2026 01:59AM

Michael Smith is currently reading

China

by Edward Rutherfurd (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 14, 2026 01:52AM

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Michael’s Recent Updates

Michael Smith is currently reading Never a Dull Moment: 1971 The Year That Rock Exploded by David Hepworth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 19, 2026 07:16AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Never a Dull Moment by David Hepworth. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Never a Dull Moment by David Hepworth <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing Thank You, Jeeves (Jeeves, #5) by P.G. Wodehouse	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 19, 2026 07:15AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing Dinner Time by Michael Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 08:15AM · like
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing Hands Off!: Gruseltal 2 by Michael Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 08:14AM · like
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:12AM · like
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:12AM · like
Michael Smith has read Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:11AM · like
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing A Little of What You Fancy by H.E. Bates	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:11AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Little of What You Fancy by H.E. Bates. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Little of What You Fancy by H.E. Bates <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Michael Smith wants to read My Uncle Silas by H.E. Bates	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:11AM · like
Michael Smith rated a book it was amazing Oh! to be in England (The Pop Larkin Chronicles #4) by H.E. Bates	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2026 07:11AM · like

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Michael’s Quotes

“There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who believe there are two kinds of people in this world and those who are smart enough to know better.”
― Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker

tags: dichotomy, humor, philosophy

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