Posts

Introverts, long periods of social contact, and how to survive

Image
 Do you have five or more shifts in a row? Did you sign up for something that has left you with no recovery days? Do you have a major week-long event? Let's talk about how to keep your social battery above the negative numbers.  Courtesy of Thriftyintrovert.com Picture it, you signed up to do a major event.  You have to work on it all week in a place that doesn't qualify as a recharge zone. You are an introvert that needs a mental/social break. How do you keep your energy in the positive numbers? That is today's conundrum.  In case any of you reading this are not introverts, I'll explain. Social energy is lower in introverts, who need more time alone to recharge and process their thoughts and day. If we don't have that we are not at our best. Results may vary when we are not at our best. For example, we may be curt and short with people, barely adding anything to a conversation and only nodding. Other times we just avoid people. Some get really rude and snarky. Agai...

A social experiment on publicly reading

Image
As an avid reader, I have discovered that people interrupt. Some people don't even notice you are into your book or don't bother to care that you are reading. Let's talk about whether a physical book or an ebook gets more interruption and why.  Courtesy of Pinterest I did a thing! I have done an experiment for four months. After two months of logging interruptions when reading a physical book, I switched to reading ebooks in public (and logged those interruptions). Here is my data and theories on why we are interrupted and what form of book prompts more interruption. Please note that this experiment was less consistent than I'd hoped (as my work schedule dictated when I was in the breakroom). Let's define interruption, though. In my case, it was defined as an unnecessary, unasked-for social interaction with unnecessary information. What is unnecessary? I'll show you.  Necessary: the house is on fire, we're talking about my published novel, dinner is ready, t...

To e-reader or not to e-reader?

Image
 I am considering an e-reader, so naturally, I decided to blog my research on whether I should get one or not. Easy blog topic and it'll benefit anyone debating the same thing. Let's get into it.  Courtesy of bestereaderreview.org For reference, I don't think you can get a Kobo e-reader and a Kindle e-reader in the same e-reader device. They are brands competing, thus it makes sense they'd make Kindle tablets so they won't play your Kobo books. Not fun. Not helpful. Can't Kobo and Kindle just be friends? The short answer is only on your laptop and phone. Not on anything else, as far as I know.  The reason I am looking for an e-reader is eye strain. I want to enjoy my Maggie Sullivan mysteries without getting tired of staring at a laptop screen or phone screen. All the same, I know that if I wanted to get an e-reader the Kobo and Kindle books aren't friends. It means I might have to get two if I wanted both. The real decision might be deciding on a Kobo or a ...

suspense, mystery, and spy novel suggestions

Image
Today I'm going to be suggesting my favorite mystery and spy novels. Here's to the suspense junkies! Let's get started.  These book suggestions are my favorites. I read these all year long. I love them. If you do not, that is okay. If you share my opinion, great. Any suggestions for other mystery and spy series I might like can absolutely go in the comments.  I can't wait to read your suggestions! James Bond James Bond, the beloved 007 that's inspired so many films, was originally written by Ian Fleming and was then continued by other authors. The books haven't stopped. We could make many more films and not run out of material. It isn't a stretch to say the films may not stop, either.  Courtesy of technadu.com Why do I love it? The action, the adventure, and the plot twists. If you do the character of Bond correctly he should be a very scarred (inside and out) man. He should be intense, too. Daniel Craig is probably the closest I've seen. If we combined ...

light reading suggestions

Image
Today's topic is light reading. My suggestions for a light, summer/fall read are here. I saw how well the last post about book suggestions went and decided to suggest more series and standalones for you. Enjoy! The topic at hand was chosen because the book suggestions seem to do well. If you have light book suggestions put them in the comments and I might check them out. Meanwhile, let's talk light reading.  Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Nancy Drew mystery books go all the way back to 1930 and haven't stopped. There are several series of them, including the classics (175 books approximately), Nancy Drew Girl Detective (approximately 47 books), The Supermysteries that have Nancy paired with the Hardy boys (6 girl detective-based ones, and 36 from the 1980s/1990s), The Nancy Drew Files (124 books), graphic novels, and the handful of mostly kid-focused Nancy Drew mysteries (Nancy Drew Notebooks, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew). I excluded Nancy Drew On Campus as a series on this list be...

BookTubers 101

Image
 I have gotten into watching BookTubers (people who focus entirely on book-related content) on YouTube. I have taken on some of their lingo and challenges as time has gone on. Some of their terminology will leak into my blog posts, thus I find it a great idea to inform you of what their lingo is and what their reading challenges actually are.  BookTubers are YouTubers who focus entirely on books in their content. They review hyped-up books, do reading challenges, talk about what they've read, talk about unhinged books they've endured for the sake of making content, and generally just talk about books. Fun, right? I like it.  What might leak into my blog content is their lingo. Today we talk about what the reading challenges are and what their terminology means (for those of you who don't watch people talk about books in your spare time). I'll also put some videos of BookTubers I enjoy in the post itself.  What you'll see BookTubers post most often are reviews, TBR i...

Wrenville is on Kobo!

Image
 I have another announcement to make. Wrenville is on Kobo now! Kobo is an ebook and audiobook service, much like Kindle. It is simply a variation. Having Wrenville and all my future books on Kindle and Kobo gives me a better chance as an author.  To find my ebook  go to this link.  I am beyond excited to announce this to all of my blog readers. Thank you for being my village as I promote my book. I can't do this without you. Please go check it out. Tell your friends. Share this post out to your personal tribe. I can't wait to see how this goes.  Never heard of my book? Let me introduce you to it. Wrenville is a standalone suspense novel about a private investigator named Jack Thomas. He is running from a previous case (involving assassins) in the small town of Wrenville, Illinois. Can he hide from his previous case or is it going to catch up? Find out by picking up my book today.  Wrenville is currently available in Kobo, Kindle, Hardcover, and paperback....