Books

sarinalangerwriter

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I've been learning how to record audio and edit podcasts all week. I've recorded the first few episodes. Now my brain is mush 😂
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I'm doing the first interview with @platformhousepublishing today and then I think I'll need to do something else for a bit 😅 As an awkward introvert, recording myself for other people to hear is really weird and tiring. On that basis, I've done amazing this week 🙌
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The Writing Sparrow is/will be a podcast for writers and indie authors who want to learn more about writing, publishing, and marketing, and the first episodes will go live on Monday. If there's anything specific you'd like me to cover, leave a comment and let me know 😘
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Now, if you'll excuse me, this introvert needs to recharge 😂 Have a good weekend, friends and bookworms!
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I GOT APPROVED FOR MY FIRST NETGALLEY BOOK 🥳🥳🥳
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I've already started it and am excited to dive into it properly. It hasn't grabbed me just yet, but it's very early days! And that cover is so pretty 😍
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BLURB:
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'In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic––and her life––is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.'
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QOTD: What are you reading this week? 😊
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BOOK REVIEW: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.
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I'm mildly worried that I'm catching up on the recent books I've read and will therefore run out of new books to review 😱 Good thing I have a whole Forever Shelf to fall back on 🥰
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REVIEW:
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The blurb is too long and would take up the entire post, but I think the title says it all, doesn't it? These are the Norse myths as told by Neil Gaiman - and he tells them beautifully with a whimsical take, which makes the whole book feel like he's telling me his favourite stories in his own words.
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I admit, this was my first real dive into mythology. I've read bits and pieces here and there, but I'd never read one book dedicated to one pantheon! This was an excellent introduction.
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I was surprised by how short this was though, so I doubt this includes every story. The font is rather large, too, so I read it in just three days - and I'm a slow reader. I kinda thought there would be more.
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But it *was* great fun reading about Thor being a spoiled, entitled brat. What a prick 😂
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If you'd like to start reading mythology and don't mind which corner of the world your introduction comes from, then this could be the perfect start for you! Likewise, if you already love mythology and want to hear more about the Norse myths, then you'll love this too.
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RATING:
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🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
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QOTD:
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Have you read much mythology? Which stories are your favourite?
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Happy Monday, friends and bookworms!
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This is my last week before I head back to the day job, and I intend to make the most of it... although, I admit, some of these goals surprised me late last week too 😳😶
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This week, I'll:
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✒️ Catch up with @theconstantvoice IN PERSON for the first time in... blimey, how long has it been? I want to say February 🤔 I'll be taking the train to somewhere I've never been LIKE A BIG GIRL, and I'm totally not anxious about the new route at all 😂
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✒️ Write all the words for THE SILENCE OF MAGIC and BLOOD WISP.
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and...
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🎉
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✒️ Start recording my podcast 🥺
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This last one is kinda far out of my comfort zone, but I've been thinking about doing one for months, possibly even one or two years, and I'm finally taking the plunge. I've already bought a microphone and asked @platformhousepublishing to design the covers for me, so it's happening 🥺🥺🥺
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I'll record one for now because I already have a lot of the material, but the plan is to have two:
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One for writers, where I'll talk about the self-publishing journey to help you along your own path - this is the one I'll start recording this week - and one for my readers, where I'll talk about the research I do - this will include some herbalism, ghosts, ancient civilisations, and other secrets 😘
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I have a name in mind for each, but I'll sleep on them a little bit longer to make sure they're the ones ☺️
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I'll also need guests to join me every now and again, so look out for that 😉
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QOTD:
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What's on your to-do list this week? 🙌
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Happy Friday, friends and bookworms! Who's happy the weekend is nearly here? 🙌
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This has not been a normal week for me. Between my SO being off work and my having all the appointments, there was a lot less time for author stuff, so I've focussed on learning and some slight marketing - both of which are things I want /need to make more time for.
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Having said that, I'm going back to the day job the week after next, so I feel a new routine coming on 😅 It'll be interesting to see how I can fit everything 🤔 Although, with the second wave having arrived, part of me doesn't expect to be back for long 😶
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Today, I'll fit in some more writing, do some WIP research, and submit my short story somewhere else - the first place turned it down (which I expected, but it was worth a shot 🤷‍♀️), so it's time to hit the next place on my list 🙌
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QOTD:
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Got any plans for the weekend? I want to finish reading Descendant of the Crane and make progress on Lady of the Lake 💪
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QOTD: Do you know what's next on your reading list?
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📖📖📖
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Just a quick post this morning because I have appointments all day and don't know how much time I'll have later 😅 (although, to be honest, I was thinking about switching back to morning posts anyway 🤔)
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Iron Gold will be my next read. My feelings have mostly recovered and they're ready to be hurt again 🙌
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QOTD: What's next for you?
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BOOK REVIEW: When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
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BLURB:
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'It’s been twenty-seven days since Cleo and Layla’s friendship imploded.

Nearly a month since Cleo realized they’ll never be besties again.

Now, Cleo wants to erase every memory, good or bad, that tethers her to her ex–best friend. But pretending Layla doesn’t exist isn’t as easy as Cleo hoped, especially after she’s assigned to be Layla’s tutor. Despite budding new friendships with other classmates—and a raging crush on a gorgeous boy named Dom—Cleo’s turbulent past with Layla comes back to haunt them both.

Alternating between time lines of Then and Now, When You Were Everything blends past and present into an emotional story about the beauty of self-forgiveness, the promise of new beginnings, and the courage it takes to remain open to love.'
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🎧🎧🎧
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REVIEW:
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I listened to the audiobook with very little expectations. This isn't my usual genre, but something about contemporary fiction works for me IF it's an audiobook 🤷‍♀️
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The narration was beautiful and fit the story extremely well. The story itself was nostalgic for me: my BFF and I had an argument when we were around the same age, and it broke something in me at the time. So, i recognised the pain Cleo went through and sympathised with her on many (but not all) levels.
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Overall, while I did like most of it, there were times I didn't feel like coming back to it & when I just didn't care. To be honest, I can't say if that was because of the genre or because of the plot. It *really* emphasises the teen drama, and if that's not your thing, it can get too much. It got a little over-the-top teenage-dramatic at times, and chances are I'd have sympathised less without my personal experience.
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BUT I do think you should read this if you're a teenager or otherwise YA (wait, or would that be NA? 🤔), because it shows beautifully that you likely won't stay friends with your high school buds forever and that's okay, because you'll make new experiences with new friends 🖤
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RATING:
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🖤🖤🖤🖤
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QOTD: I was sad to see how few reviews this has - why haven't you read it? 😶 (this isn't meant as confrontational as it sounds😂)
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Happy Monday, friends and bookworms, and happy autu- I mean, September 😏
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It's been September for a few days now, I know, but this is the first Monday in September, so. *ahem*
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Now, I don't know about you, but I'm severely done with Corona messing everything up this year. The last few weeks especially have been hard, and I'm done with it. I WILL take back control this week, just you watch 🙌
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Having said that...
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I usually have lots of writing goals lined up at the start of a month, but I've got nothing at much as I have appointments over the coming weeks 😳 I already had the first one last week, and I've got a few more coming up - three this week, and I'm back to work from the 21st!
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To comply with Corona rules, I'll be in the library (day job) three days a week and working from home the other two.
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So, to be honest, I've no idea what's possible this month in terms of writing progress 😶 This week is looking mixed, too, because of all those appointments and because my SO is off work all week.
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This might be an any-progress-is-good-progress kinda week/ month 😅
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QOTD:
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What are you up to this week/month? If you're a writer and need to fit it around other things, how do you organise your writing time?
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Just a quick one today because I'm tired after my procedure yesterday and can't be bothered with more 😬
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It's been a slow week, but I've made progress on BLOOD WISP and the audiobook of RISE OF THE SPARROWS is slowly uploading to online stores 🙌 I've noticed a strange thing where I'm listed on some pages as the author twice (and once three times!), but I've emailed Findaway Voices and know they'll help me sort it out 💪
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Once it's available with all the big sellers, you'll get the link 😘
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In the meantime, if you'd like to listen to a copy for free in exchange for an honest review, message me and I'll hook you up 🙌
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On an unrelated note, I signed up to Netgalley today and now I'm excited 🥰 Still mostly tired, but also excited!
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QOTD:
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Who else is ready for this year to get its shit together? 😒
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Tell me one thing you've achieved this week and one thing that made you smile 🖤
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Sarina LangerFollow

Dark Epic Fantasy Author (RELICS OF AR’ZAC & DARKENED LIGHT). Gimme a fantasy book & tea & chocolate. Human to one cat. WIPs: BLOOD WISP & THE SILENCE OF MAGIC

Sarina Langer @sarina_langer·

September 18, 2020

I’m about to turn social media off again for the weekend. Have a good one, friends and bookworms!
See you on Monday 🙌

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Sarina Langer @sarina_langer·

September 18, 2020

This may be the coolest thing I’ve seen this year 😍😍😍

Folk Horror Magpie@folkhorrormagpi

I’ve never quite been the same since I learned about trovants. These are rocks, actual rocks, that not only ‘grow’ but MULTIPLY.

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K.M. Weiland @KMWeiland·

September 17, 2020

“Hardly anybody ever writes anything nice about introverts. Extroverts rule. This is rather odd when you realise that about 19 writers out of 20 are introverts. We are been taught to be ashamed of not being ‘outgoing’. But a writer’s job is ingoing.”–Ursula K. LeGuin #amwriting

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Sarina Langer