DnD basics - beginner edition

I may or may not be jumping into a DnD group sometime soon. So, I need to figure some things out. Learn with me!

Courtesy of adventureswoodworks.com

Let's get the elephant out of the room first. How many of you have heard that DnD (dungeons and dragons) is of the devil? I can't see you, but I bet at least one of you did. Let's clear the air. I am a Christian and know many people (also Christians) who play. This is a game of storytelling, with one person being the narrator who makes the rules (sort of) and writes the story. The other characters improvise their storylines.  At the end of the game, an epic story has been told (provided the group is functional). The dice are the chances of success. For example, if you throw a high number you can probably do what you want to with great success. If you throw a low number you probably took some damage in some form. It is not of the devil. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let's dive into the game basics. 

Starting

The ideal number of people for this game seems to be four to five players (unless you have some seriously experienced DnD players and no beginners). One of you is the Dungeon Master or DM (for short). They control the rules, the narration, and any non-player characters (NPCs). It is best to get a good grip on how to play before DMing. 

One of the ways to play is over Discord, like my first time (wasn't a full quest, but still fun). Many virtual spaces exist for the purpose of players being spread out everywhere. It would be great if you could gather in person to do this, though. It works a bit better when you aren't in the middle of a pandemic and no one has to deal with internet trouble. Gaming stores also hold events that can give you a taste of the game. 

Rule number one is "have fun". If you are not having fun why are you playing? If you won't do a certain action say so and set that line at the start of the game. A good DM will then never cross that line. This is supposed to be a fun adventure. You're creating a story you can tell (and some people will legitimately use the quests as bedtime stories ). Have fun. 

"Yes and..." is an improv rule that applies to this game. This game is an improv session. Don't shut something down right away. The fun of the game is creating the character arcs and playing with the possibilities. Some use the "rule of cool", which is literally "Can we do this? It sounds awesome." It depends on your DM for that rule. I just know that one of my friends uses it. 

Not all campaigns and quests have to take months. In fact, you can find campaigns that take hours. There are so many varieties out there you can take as long as you want to complete your quest. It doesn't have to take months or a year. You choose how long it takes. This is a turn-based game, thus you go around the table taking actions for as long as you choose to play. 

The Dice and Supplies

To play you need a set of polyhedral dice, a journal or some form of paper, and a writing implement. Many have tabletop sets, but you don't need that to play the game. You can get basic sets that create a world for you and guide you on DMing. Some sets even have the dice and premade characters ready for you, as well as rulebooks. You can get books to create your own campaigns, too. 

The dice are for success and failure of actions. As stated before, you want a high roll on actions you want to take and low rolls on damage. You take damage when you attack and fail. Your DM will narrate accordingly. 

Making A Character

Don't know how to make one? Try pre-generated ones first. You can improve them on the DnD Beyond website later. There are apps to create characters and resources all over the DnD websites. If confused ask and find the answer on those sites (or have a friend explain it). 

Character sheets can be found on the internet for your use, or in the DnD books readily available for purchase. You can create your character backstory based on the world you are playing in. There is also no shame in reusing characters and adjusting their backstory as needed. I will be reusing a character when we begin our new group. 

The DM creates the world you are playing in. You can find them premade and ready, or let the creativity flow and make your own. Your DM will inform you of the rules of that world. You make your backstory accordingly. 

In creating your character you choose a race, choose a class, set ability scores, choose equipment, and set your backstory. Make sure your DM knows your backstory and can work that into the narrative. 

Basics

Many rule books and game variations exist. That aside, these rules can help you get started. 

Your character takes actions, whether they be combat or not. You also roll for the initiative using a D20  (which adds stats, too). This number determines order of combat. HP is hit points. If you are a gamer you didn't need me to say that, but it is for the nongamers reading that I define it. Armor Class (AC) is how hard a character is to hit in combat (on your character sheet).  Leveling is determined by the DM and will be adjusted when needed. 

Remember that this is a team sport. No one person is the hero of the story. Everyone should be sharing the spotlight. If you are uncomfortable with role-playing start by saying "My character does ___ and says _____". Go from there. This is a space that should be safe. Be encouraging. 

DMs should remember to be prepared. Think of many possibilities before you get to the session and you won't get tripped up when someone zigs and doesn't zag. Be flexible. Players improving might decide to do something you didn't expect. Creativity is to be rewarded here. Sometimes the "rule of cool" is all you need in the moment. Make sure you set the expectations so everyone knows the tone of the campaign. There are tools at your disposal to play a game online or get help on world-building. 

You know that videogame where your character took notes on their own? You only had to look up the journal tab? Forget that logic. You are the journal tab. You have to take notes. Some DMs leave clues for you to pick up. If you don't think you'll remember what you did last session take a journal and take notes. According to one of my coworkers, this makes a DM happy. 

Check out my sources for more information. I only summed up what they said. There are so many different game components you might need to do more research. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

D&D beginners’ guide: how to get started with Dungeons & Dragons - Polygon

How to Play Dungeons and Dragons: A Beginner's Guide - IGN

How to Play | Dungeons & Dragons (wizards.com)

A Beginner’s Guide To Dungeons and Dragons - Well Played Board Game Café

How to play Dungeons and Dragons for beginners (wargamer.com) (wellplayedasheville.com)

Ooblets - starting tips

 I am going to buy Ooblets one day and have decided to do my research on starting off on the right foot. Join me in finding the best hints and tips for this game. 

Courtesy of Wallpaper Cave

I have watched someone play this, but not as much as other games. Today I'm depending on all my sources to tell me what is important. Ooblets is a farming game that involves little creatures, and these creatures do dance battles. It is adorable and I want it. I have patiently waited for Steam to have it. Now that they do, I want to know how to start off on a good note. 

Energy and materials

What I did see on my playthrough is that energy is quickly spent. It is best to drink beanjuice and take power naps (as the game allows you to nap or sleep until morning). Stay fed.

Oobsidian is something you should keep early on in the game. Clothlets are also needed items. Shells are on the beach. You should pick them up, but make sure you sell only some and not all of them. 

Items in homes are waiting to be found. Look for a twinkling/sparkling on furniture. 

I'd pick up a fanny pack (must be equipped) and a treasure chest first opportunity, for storage. Give yourself those inventory upgrades. Get a fridge, too. 

Ability to sprint is tied to energy you have, but doesn't use energy. 

Save spicy peppers. It can be used for making hotdogs, which is useful for an order. Green fruit trees are good for making tartes later on. 

Dance battles and crops

You'll want to have Hype cards and avoid Fluster cards. The more Hype you have, the better. Vary your ooblets, too. It gives you a variety of dance moves to play with. 

You can get sprinklers and an Oobcoop (which has your ooblets help your crops that touch the coop). You should do that. It saves a lot of time and energy. You'll need rainplops (found on rainy days only) to make a sprinkler. Find the best model before you build it. 

Using speedy grow and speedy grow pro you speed up crop growth. Using stay soggy will keep the ground wet. 

Have a variety growing. To challenge ooblets to dance battles you need that variety. They also give you gummies, which you need to keep your wallet full. Set aside a budget for seeds. Be sure to grow sweetberries, muz, and clothlets early on.

Make sure you clear your farm. It gives you a bounty of resources. Don't get lazy and just leave it. You need it. 

The town

In town there is a fabricuter used to craft items from blueprints. Don't bother making a crunchster because you get one in the mail. 

Recipe pieces are scattered about. When you find them all combine them right away. That's one more thing that you can make. 

The ooblet research project is worth you time. Have Rugnolia scan your ooblets. She'll give you 50 gummies for normal ooblets and more for gleamy ooblets. 

A reconstooter in town makes bait for you. Put trash cans in it, 10 per 1 bait, and then go fishing. Fishing requires no extra skill. Go fishing. It is worth your time. It takes no extra stress. 

There are many quests and tasks in town you can complete. It benefits you (and friendships you have in the future) to fix the printypress. Accept bulk orders from Plenny for gummies.

Friendships make a difference here. The hankerbot (once unlocked) can give you some help in finding what people like. You should talk to the people daily. They give good gifts. 

Strategy 

Work on one or two things a day. The game encourages you to slow down and take your time. The one playthrough I saw confirms this. You need to sleep as a character. You can't just madly go about doing everything all day. 

The wildlands and dance barn are great places to check out. You restore the preserve (wildlands) one task at a time. The dance barn unlocks and then gives you dance tournaments daily. You know the reward for winning already, so don't miss the tournaments giving out valuable prizes. The hot air balloon is worth unlocking as soon as you can. 

Check buildings for club coins and lost ooblets. Lost ooblets like to hide in buildings. You are tasked with searching for them often, so look inside places. 

You open your store once a day only. After unlocking that feature, you can now sell your stuff in your store. Sell whatever you want, but be aware the desired item of the day will go better for you. Have what you want to sell ready before you open. If you opened already just let it be. You can't reopen until the next day. 

Most of the tasks are not time-sensitive. The long list of tasks for today don't need to be done yesterday. We have established the game wants you to slow down, so you can in fact pace yourself. Only two things are time-sensitive, and those are ooblets (what is available daily) and challenges. 

Start with the Tinstle tasks when you begin. They unlock areas and features for you. Along with that, go searching for ooblets like you search for Pokemon. There are three rarities for each kind. You want many to dance battle with. Some need a party of five to be collected. The last focus should be expanding your farm and getting your resources. Buy seeds that are on sale (especially muz, beet, and clothlets). Hoard everything. Paint is apparently a great option for improving your farm. Focus on the hall and the tower quests first for a good start.

Wishies are spent at the wishing well. You get wishies by completing badges or daily tasks. They yield great reward for you. Go for permanent upgrades first. Eventually, you get more stamina here. Upgrade Plenny's for bigger orders. 

It is wise to take a lap around town for resources. Make sure you set your cooking station to pull items from nearby storage if you want that option. Keep a supply of food for yourself to make sure you have energy. 

Clubs

You get a choice at the beginning. What ooblet club you choose doesn't limit what you can have later on. Below is what each club gives you. This is just you picking a starter ooblet (much like a starter Pokemon).

Frunbuns - Tud, who increases hype

Peaksnubs - Bittle, who steals opponent points

Mossprouts - Shrumbo, who higher number of points for a low cost

Mimpins - Sidekey, who allows the next card to play twice

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

https://ladiesgamers.com/ooblets-beginners-guide/

https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/09/01/ooblets-10-helpful-tips-for-new-arrivals

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ooblets-tips-for-beginners-a-guide-to-getting-started-spending-wishes-and-more/1100-6507100/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ooblets/comments/y07oji/new_player_here_looking_for_tips_and_advices/

https://www.thegamer.com/ooblets-should-know-before-starting/

https://gamerant.com/ooblets-beginner-tips/

Fae Farm tips

 Starting out on Fae Farm? Let's talk strategy before you get too far in the game. 

Courtesy of games.mxdwn.com

There is no wrong way to do a farming game, but there are ways you can get yourself off to a great start. Here is some insider information on how to make a lot of money right away, get your stats up, and generally what you might want to do early on rather than later. 

The main quest

I wouldn't say that you have to rush to finish the main quest, but I would say you need it to upgrade your tools, your magic staff, and open areas of the game. You can then make the island safer for more people, who then show up to give you quests. You also unlock items this way, making way for more crafting and fun. I'd focus on the main quest if I were you. It'll give you more resources to play with and more to do.

Not all items unlock right away, so be patient. You'll find it later. The game is huge. You have many areas to explore and discover. You'll find that item eventually. 

Finish chapter 4 quickly to find the reason "Fae" is in the game title. You'll want to get to the bottom of the salt mines fast. Once you get past that everything "Fae" starts showing up. Keep an eye out for main quests (diamonds on the map) and check the map often for the quests. 

Job quests are only one at a time. You should do them when you are doing something related, anyway. Also, friendship quests are only available one day (which means do it that day or don't). While you explore, I'd grab all those scrolls (recipes) when you see them. Look under waterfalls, too. 

 Get yourself all set up

After watching Gab Smolders play it, I can confidently tell you that crafting all those stations at the very start makes a world of difference. Go ahead and craft every station. You'll need all of them. To do this you'll need to go exploring. That also is a great thing to do. Explore and discover everything it lets you find. You'll need all of it. 

You'll want to be making yourself a good bit of money, a tidy pile for you to pull from when you unlock those upgraded butterfly nets, fishing rods, and upgraded tools. I'll have more on that later, but however you want to get the money, go ahead and start making it. 

Get that home of yours set up to give you more energy. Spend the time to up the cozy count. You will need that to regain your energy. Take the time to make your character all cozy in their place. In this way, you set yourself up for more energy and HP. 

Get the stats moving upward by doing a bit of everything. You need to level up to update your nets. You also want to have high levels in the general sense. You do that by actively doing that skill. It isn't complicated. Just play and have fun.

Strangely enough, your character feels heat and cold. You'll want that beverage station when it gets hot or cold. Set that up right away (as one character does say to put that up).  

Hoarding and other activities

Hoarding in real life is discouraged. Hoarding in casual farm games is a great thing to be doing. Keep 10 of everything. Early in the game, I'd keep everything you find. This applies to Stardew and Harvest Moon games, too, so keep this in mind in every farming game you encounter. Later quests need these items. It'll help you get through those main quests with minimal stress. 

Fast travel is your friend. Make those seals and put them in their places every time you have the resources to make the seal. Do it. You'll thank yourself. It is a big world in Azoria. You'll need the fast travel. 

Speaking of seals, place those seals in dungeons at every opportunity. It'll save you so much time. Don't just brute force through. It is better to place a seal at every level than lose all that energy and health trying to get through to level 25. Six seals of every kind are typically what you need. 

Don't rush the romance plots. You have plenty of time to do all that. Most are related to collecting things. They aren't hard. I'd wait until you see all those options. Open up all the players before jumping into that dating game. 

Upgrades center on Cinder, Mel, and Eddy. You'll want to visit them often, especially when you level up and need a fresh fishing rod or net. Pay attention to these people. You'll need the following for your upgrades: Copper (1 copper ingot, 100 florins), Iron ( 2 ingots, 500 florins), Feyrite (3 ingots, 1500 florins), Silver (4 ingots, 2500 florins), orichalcum (3 ingots, 3500 florins), and gold (5 ingots, 5000 florins). 

This game is massive. There are multiple places to explore. Pace yourself and keep an eye on your cash flow. You have many dungeons to conquer, adventurers. You need to prepare yourself for those quests. You will need to bring food and potions to dungeons to keep yourself at your adventuring best. 

Animals, money making, and crops

Animals exist here. You can raise them. You only need one of each and they take minimal care. Pet, brush, feed, and give them air every day and you are set. They don't take up all your time. However, I'd get a lot of lunens (fae creatures) because you'll need their products. Get that autofeed trough (which feeds them for 10 days). 

Make soil beds right away. Once the flower soil bed is unlocked make some. Plant a lot of them. You can even get pretty colors by leaving space between them (as the game does explain). They are great income makers. They are renewable resources. 

Do you want your fortune? Head to the mines and polish the rough gems. Just like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, the mines are where your fortune lies. Shipping contracts are also great money makers. 

There are four seasons, and like most casual farming games, you need to pay attention to it. At the start of the season, your crops from last season all die (except flowers) and you have other natural foraged items to find. Crops also have variations that depend on whether you are in the fae realm or the regular farm. 

Invest in all the stations, a hydro soil bed, upgraded troughs and watering cans, and zippy and bounteous fertilizer. Build some seasonal soil beds, too.

Artisan goods are not worth much. Save them for meals. 

Grab frogs, bees (don't sell, keep), and shells when you see them. You'll want those. Catch those sparkled animals and any that sparkle, as those are rare. 

People

Let me just give you a handy list of who sells what. 

"Skye: Sells inventory upgrades, floorings, wallpapers, and decorations.

Willow: Sells tree saplings, wallpaper, and flooring.

Holly: Sells seeds, wallpaper, and flooring.

Aspen: Carpenter. Upgrades buildings.

Rosalind: Sells flower seeds, wallpapers, and flooring.

Cinder: Blacksmith. Upgrades tools.

Pearl: Merchant Guild leader. Sells produce stands, wallpapers, floorings, and accessories.

Kasper: Innkeeper. Sells teas.

August: Chef. Sells cooked meals, floorings, and decorations.

Mel: Beekeeper. Sells bug-catching nets, wallpapers, and flooring.

Dominic: Sells baking ingredients.

Balarandi: Chemist. Sells potions, wallpaper, and flooring.

Earline: Rancher. Sells animals.

Loretta: Offers animal breeding services and sells animal breeding charms.

Patel: Farmer who offers animal breeding services.

Vera: Doctor. Sells potions, wallpapers, floorings, and decorations.

Eddy: Sells fishing rods.

Cleo: Adventurer.

Alaric: Eccentric wizard.

Rite: Enthusiastic teacher.

Ginger: Doctor’s apprentice.

Drak: Magic trainer.

Frida: Innkeeper.

Miles: Mailman.

Bjorn: Storyteller.

Jack: Outdoorsman.

Jeremiah: Rancher.

Nessa: Fisherwoman.

Argyle: Frog-loving artist.

Neppy: Water sprite.

Pyria: Loves ancient things.

Nhamashal: Painter.

Galan: Warrior.

Pepper: Outdoorswoman.

Zido: Wanderer."

(This list is courtesy of Epic Games)

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

https://www.gameshub.com/news/guides/fae-farm-tips-beginners-guide-early-game-advice-2627247/

https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/fae-farm-beginners-tips-how-to-make-money-fast-travel-decorate-and-more

https://ladiesgamers.com/fae-farm-guide-to-get-you-started/

https://www.thegamer.com/fae-farm-beginners-tips-first-month-tricks/

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/a-guide-to-fae-farm-and-everything-you-need-to-know

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

 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. Again, results vary based on people, personality, and who we are speaking with. We may act like an NPC. 

Physical Health

We are starting here for a reason. When you don't drink enough water, sleep enough hours, and eat enough food you are not going to be okay, energy level aside. Go take your showers and make sure you ate lunch. Pick up a bottle of water on your way to work. That means you. That means me. That means anyone who is reading this. Go to bed at reasonable hours. Give your body the food and water it needs. 

This also means exercise. That's right, you need to move your legs today and dance around. Even if you literally just take laundry up and down the stairs four times it means you are moving. Make it a point to go move around. Sitting all day won't help. All of your parts are connected. Your brain likes the exercise. It is proven to help mental health to go running or walking. Zumba is great when you don't want to go walking or running. I play basketball every week. Pick something and roll with it. 

Mental Health 

Why is this second? Your body and mind are not separate. No one thinks clearly while hangry, dehydrated, or sleep-deprived. This is the next important step. After establishing all of the above section, you now have to assess how much energy you have. What is your mental state? Are you so sick of people you want to hide under the stairs and read a novel for hours on end? Does lunch and tea only help a little? Do you need to sit and turn off all the excess noise for a while? 

Think of it this way; you are either on green, yellow, or red battery level. Green is "ready to go, no loss of energy", yellow is "I'd better conserve some", and red is "Jesus take the wheel". Red is when I begin praying for energy to get through a shift. Yellow is me trying not to talk to chatty people. Green can fool some people into thinking I'm an extrovert. I think you all get the point. What level are you on? 

After determining this, you keep your mental state in mind when planning your day. If you are on yellow or red, you should definitely plan calming activities and avoid socializing for most of the day (until you have to). For example, I avoid social media and screen time when I have no energy left. I give myself permission to sit and do nothing except drink tea and read. My goals that have no due dates can take a flying leap when I am at yellow and getting closer to red. 

My Faith

This is written from a Christian perspective and may not reflect your beliefs. I do not intend to shove my faith down your throat. This is my perspective and my experience. Thank you for understanding. Let us continue. 

In my personal experience, my faith in Jesus is a major thing. I start my day listening to God's Word and it starts off in a more peaceful mindset, no matter what the actual day brings to the table. I have prayed to God asking for the energy to power through the next one or two shifts I have left in my week. He has delivered every time. Without His power, I could not be serving in the way that I am. My prayer life and my time with Jesus make a big difference in my life and my mental health. Jesus has put me on green when I was nearly at red. I am nothing without Him. I couldn't do this alone. 

Finding Moments to Recharge

I know someone who goes to the bathroom for ten minutes every shift to get a grip on life. Personally, I try to recharge as much as possible before stepping into social situations. The real question is what do you do when you don't have much time to recharge at all? 

The first thing you should do is avoid all small talk (if you can). This means you may need to make an excuse or two about going to the bathroom or needing to talk to someone else. 

Another way to recharge is to walk somewhere alone for ten minutes or as long as you have to catch your breath. Or as long as you have before someone is going to miss you. Basically, if you have five minutes in the bathroom or the hallway and need it, go. 

Put your phone away. All of you heard me correctly. Put it down and slip it into your pocket or purse. Your device is draining your energy. You need that for the event you are running. Don't let your device drain you. Even if it means you have to doodle in a notebook, you'll still have more social energy left after you've put the phone away. 

Find the people in the room who give energy back. Who do you actually like spending time with? Who do you not tire of conversing with? Spend your time there. This may be the dog or cat. It may even be a human who also doesn't want to be there. The introverts will find each other. Trust me. They are the ones who want to go home or immediately bond with the cat.

Breathe. Take a few breaths for a minute or two. Don't forget that deep breathing helps. 

Why We Need To Recharge

I am speaking to those who think social events give more energy than take. Extroverts get energy from social activity and introverts already have a lot going on in their own heads. Introverts don't need as much socializing and need rest punctuated by activity. Strike that and reverse it for the extroverts. Introverted people may start to get overwhelmed when there is too much going on. I can get sensory overload from loud environments. Sensory overload is when your brain has too much going on, everything is too loud, and nothing is making sense because your brain is unable to process anything. 

Recharging and managing my stress is something that lowers the possibility of sensory overload. Introverts like me also want to be at our best. We can't be at our best when nothing is left of our social battery. Yet, the world pushes us to keep constantly doing something or be constantly stimulated. Constant stimulation is not rest and your body will not like it when you don't rest. Everyone needs rest. In summary, we need to recharge so we can be at our best and be doing our best. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Source:

12 Ways To Recharge Your Social Battery When It’s Drained (aconsciousrethink.com)

A social experiment on publicly reading

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, time to clock in, the dishwasher is broken, my relative died, my friend's relative died, something broke, a friend I like to talk to is speaking, a pet died, etc....

Unneccessary: The air conditioning feels nice, any small talk that has no relevant information, the weather (unless it is hazardous weather and we need to take shelter now), social media I had no interest in seeing, etc....

The above is an example of my definition of necessary. If that doesn't illuminate things it comes down to one question; is what you said important information I need to know or are you just trying to fill silence? Also relevant, "are you a close friend?"

The few regrets

I have one regret about this experiment, and that is logging it in months and not days. If I had logged it in days I could say for certain that I evenly tested both reading methods, but since I logged in months, I can't be sure. If you do this for yourself please log it in days and make it even on both sides. 

The other regret is that it got in the way of my TBR in a major way. I have now picked up three books at a time (ebook, audiobook, and physical book) because of this fact. I don't like doing this for one reason, and one reason only; my reading speed is cut in half when this happens. I want to not have a pile of shame (pile of unfinished books) so I finish them one at a time ideally. Do I mix up plots like others say they do? No, I don't. Many people think that is the reason for this personal rule of mine, but it is not. 

If you take this on be prepared to find out how much you like or dislike reading from a screen. I did. I prefer physical books and found out how much I disliked screen reading for a prolonged two months. This is why I decided to take on my TBR pile and the ebook at the same time. I don't like it. I'm not doing this again. 

The results

As you can imagine  I have come to the conclusion that physical books are interrupted more than ebooks. When reading an ebook from a phone you sometimes get ignored, like you blend in with everyone else. A physical book, though? You get immediate attention. My personal theory is a combination of fear of silence and social norms. We see people on phones all the time and are used to excess noise. For this reason, a quiet break room is uncomfortable and a book is not seen as normal. The reader sticks out and quickly gets seen. 

My best advice for reading in public is to be aware of who interrupts you (maybe stay out of their zone until you want to stop), find a corner out of sight to hide in, and wear headphones. It is irrelevant whether there is a device playing sound or whether the device has been dead for ten years. Headphones connected to anything clearly indicate you are busy. If you want to read in public throw on an obvious set of headphones (whether they actually work or not is also irrelevant). For the best reading experience sit on your couch or your coziest chair, make some tea or cocoa (depending on season), and don't read in public spaces that aren't designed for reading. Libraries and coffee shops seem to be the best public places to pull up a book and stay awhile. Most other places are not - especially break rooms with chatty coworkers. Some people just don't understand you are busy traveling through your book world. 

Common interruptions

One of the common interruptions I found was a polite greeting and the expectation of acknowledging someone when you see them. This was not asked for and got logged. It is, however, not the worst interruption. In some, it lasts two milliseconds. In others, you start to get a little annoyed because they expect more than a wave or a curt "hi". Maybe they get annoyed at you. I didn't log a wave that wasn't verbal, by the way, because that was barely a social interaction at all. How do we deal with it while reading? Wave, don't verbalize. Or you can verbalize that you are currently wrapped up in your book and would like to quietly enjoy it. Depending on the person it can go many ways, but at least you didn't yell and give them a death glare. 

Before we jump into the other type of interruption, let's talk about why the acknowledgment happens at all. We like to be noticed as humans and have been taught by society not to ignore the presence of a person. Studies show people like being noticed. Multiple sources on Google come up with the social etiquette of not ignoring people. We're taught to. It is literally because we are trained to do this. According to an article on Tipsfolder.com, the person entering the space is supposed to greet those in the room. That same article says that if someone is ignored the other person in the space should begin talking. I think that is also not helpful when you are trying to read. Put simply, society trains people to say hello when they see a human. Watch yourself do it if you don't believe me. 

Another was the small talk and the need to fill silence. I talked about the fear of silence before. Click here to read my blog on the fear of silence. The small talk that rips you out of your novel because someone expects you to respond and start a conversation is the worst. Read in silence for one more minute and you'll find they might say something else to you. I do not hate people. Let me make that clear. I do, however, like to enjoy my book with little to no interruption. If it becomes clear that someone will not stop chattering at you -despite one word, curt answers, or no response, and no eye contact - just put the book down and make the choice to stay and converse or leave. It highly depends on who is talking to me. Do not use this moment to ream someone and be incredibly rude. Be kind. You can quietly excuse yourself to another area if the option exists.

We need to discuss the repeat offenders here. I know you know what I mean, readers. The ones who decide your eyes trained on an open book is the universal sign to ask twenty or more questions. They almost never figure it out on their own, either. I once had someone repeat their question louder when I ignored it to see what they'd do. I ultimately decided to close the book and surrender. What do you do about this? Headphones. Try headphones. I have no other answer for this and am prepared to shove on a set of headphones in the breakroom from here on out. 

Why People Interrupt - the research

Let's dive into the many reasons people think it is okay to interrupt your reading. One of them is literally that they think you can stop at any time. Another is because they are bored, can't read the social cues very well, or just want your full attention. Many people who love to chit-chat project that onto their companions and don't know you don't want that. Some people consider books a sign of boredom. We live in an extrovert-focused world. It is truly best to find quiet, hidden corners if you don't want any interruption. If you want some comedic ways to really lower those interruptions in public places here are some suggestions for you. I'd make sure you won't run into these people again before you actually embark on the more ridiculous ones. 

An explanation for the ones who don't understand

If you read this and think "Why is reading a book a focused activity?" or "Big deal, you have a bookmark" this section is for you. The first thing I need you to do is read this article about mentally picturing book images. It talks about how the storyline of a book plays like a movie and we mentally imagine character voices as we read. Would I interrupt you during a movie? No, so why should you interrupt me while I'm watching a movie in my own head. Those who are not avid readers don't seem to understand this concept at all. I know one coworker who has to chatter on and on every time I see them. I know several, but one of them will ignore the book in my hand. I see her and slip the book back into my backpack because I know I'll never get past the page I'm on. 

Courtesy of Pinterest

While we do have bookmarks, you may be interrupting an epic battle or a romantic scene. In the real-life case of me reading Goldfinger, I was interrupted constantly as James Bond was almost cut in half by a saw. It was infuriating. If you have never experienced a good book you'll never understand this fully. I challenge you to pick up a book in any form and see how much your mind forms a mental movie. If you don't know what you like take a movie you like and find the book inspiration for it. That's the best place to start. Start with the movie genres you love and go from there. Librarians are great people and can help you find a great book to begin your reading journey. Talk to one today. 

The Overall Conclusions

Many readers have this specific issue while publicly reading. It can't really be avoided by anyone. My best advice is to read in quiet libraries and your own homes when you don't want to be interrupted. At the end of the day you decide where to sit. If you have to hide in a nook go for it. 

Another conclusion I've come to is that reading from your phone is probably a great idea when you want to blend in. If you would like to know the ratio of unwanted, unnecessary interruptions here it is. There were 10 interruptions while reading physical books to 2 interruptions reading on my phone. Rule of thumb, though, you will still want to hide in an unnoticed corner when you plan to read a lot in one go in a public place. 

Thank you for the people who gave their opinions on interruptions - Daniel Amiot, Janice Vanhorne Lane, and Tyler Barrett. 

Courtesy of imgflip.com

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

The Importance of Being Acknowledged | Corp! Magazine (corpmagazine.com)

Why do we greet someone? – TipsFolder.com

Trying to talk to someone while they're reading a book shouldn't be socially acceptable. : r/unpopularopinion (reddit.com)

My (Nonreader) Friend Always Interrupts Me While I'm Reading - B&N Reads (barnesandnoble.com)

Why is it that so many people think it's okay to interrupt a person who is clearly reading/using their phone? I'm not talking about quick questions, I mean full-out conversation. - Quora

Reading With the Voice(s) in Our Heads | Tor.com

Daniel Amiot, Tyler Barrett, Janice Vanhorne Lane

To e-reader or not to e-reader?

 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 Kindle branded e-reader. We're going to discuss the pros and cons of going the e-reader route, then talk about the difference between Kobo and Kindle e-readers. 

Why E-read?

The pros of e-readers include adjusting the lighting on your device. Wherever you are, you can still avoid the glare (though a physical book may or may not be better for the beach sun). The main benefit is taking a book with you during your travels without filling your backpack with books. You can have so many series on your device that you've lost track of your library numbers, yet still, you have plenty of space for all the flight snacks in your bag. 

Annotate much? Well, you can quickly find your underlined passages and bookmarks in a flash. No flipping pages while daylight burns. You just go to bookmarks and begin there. You go to your notes and can quickly show your friend your favorite part. You can annotate on an e-reader. 

New authors are often self-published. Just look at me. I self-published on Kindle and Kobo. The point of this paragraph itself is to say you have access to the self-published in droves on your e-reader. You can also find out-of-print books from Project Gutenberg (which brings older books back into the mainstream) and download them, even if collectors won't give them up nowadays. 

Ebooks are cheap. That's right, cheap. If you want a book for free you can also find that, too, especially classic books that are not brand new. Classics are often free. Pick them up and read them. You'll like a lot of them. In most cases, ebooks are so much cheaper than the physical printed book. If you have no shelf room for them it is not a problem. One e-reader takes up only inches on your desk or bedside. Instant delivery of a book means no waiting for the Amazon package. You have it now. You can read it now. 

Do you have a visual impairment and need text that's huge? Simply adjust your e-reader so you can have the large print edition of every book. If you read at night a backlighted one is your best bet. No lamp needed!

The Cons of E-Reading

The cons? Eye strain in backlit devices. Requiring battery to read a book. Sometimes glare in the sun. It can be a bad decision for your eyes. Also, those who like the feel of pages lose that joy of turning pages and smelling the pages of their book. That book will also not give your home the same feel as a cozy library. 

If you tend to lend books to others don't go this route. It discourages sharing books because it requires lending your e-reader to someone. Those cost money. If broken it will cost you a bit. Ebooks can't be autographed or easily given as gifts. It may also threaten the bookstore business. 

Courtesy of ivanbrave.com

Not all books are available digitally. Also, not all books work in this format. I recommend having all forms of books, really. If you have no battery life to a device it is good to have a backup. When the power goes out a traditional paper book will never fail you. 

Kobo or Kindle? 

Someone before me compared different models of e-readers, including their prices, their purposes, and their downsides. Click here for details on multiple models. Be aware Kindles don't play Kobo books. You can't get both your Kobo and Kindle libraries on the same e-reader. If they were not competitive it wouldn't be so, but it is. 

Kobo and Kindle e-readers are both good. According to many, though, Kobo tends to be better. I'm going to give you the pros and cons of both as best I can. Keeping in mind that different models do slightly different functions and budget is a factor, do your own research. Their model functions are pretty similar. The space you buy is what you have, for reference on storage.

Kobo can support library lending. While Kindle can do this too, it is only in the US. Kobo doesn't have that limitation. Every Kobo e-reader has Overdrive built in. Kobo also supports many formats that Kindle does not. It lets you use and sideload EPUB, MOBI, CBZ, and CBR. The only thing here is that Kobo is less known than Kindle, so more people might Kindle publish (meaning less of a storehouse to search). Kobo has a subscription service. Canadians can find these in stores. Kobo e-readers have grippy backs and are not smooth. I had one once. It feels good on your hands. This one is more generous on storage than Kindle, 8 G on most models. Kobos give you a great personalized experience, but not the extras of Kindle. Kobo requires WiFi or a USB cable to transfer books. 

Courtesy of elpais.com

Kindle e-readers are mostly for Kindle stuff. If you don't have any Kobo books go Kindle. In the US you will be able to get books from libraries. Kindle has a subscription service, too. It will have slightly more books to choose from than Kobo. Most people will have to go through Amazon to get one. If you don't care what your e-reader looks like and don't want fancy, Kindle works. Most Kindles are 4 to 8 G with one exception of the 32 G e-reader. Kindle readers can enjoy many extras, such as dictionary and Wikipedia use, as well as character information. Whispersync gives the Kindle the edge because a book can be transferred anywhere. 

Do your own research on this. Canadians and anyone outside the US may want to lean toward Kobo. Anyone in the US can flip a coin. It all depends on what you want from an e-reader and whether you want extras or not. I'll let you browse the Kobo and Amazon websites for what you want. Meanwhile, I might do the same. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have four five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

The best ereader for 2023: top ebook readers for all budgets | TechRadar

What are the Pros and Cons of an e-Reader? - Pinoria

Should You Get an E-Reader: All the Pros and Cons | Psychology Today

Kobo vs Kindle: Which e-reader brand is best? (trustedreviews.com)

Kobo vs. Kindle: Which Should You Buy? (theinformr.com)

suspense, mystery, and spy novel suggestions

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 Daniel Craig and Sean Connery we'd get the Ian Fleming version of James Bond almost perfectly. The only warning I'll give on Ian Fleming's Bond books is that Bond is kind of sexist. Given it was written in the 1950s I can ignore that. It isn't all that shocking when you look at the author himself. Otherwise, it is action and more action. The books are not the movies. There are scenes in the movies that shouldn't be there (cough cough, Pussy Galore and Bond in the barn, cough cough) and weren't in the book at all. 

How many books are there? Well, let me hand you this handy, dandy link. There are a lot. They have also been reprinted with intros in some cases. Keep your eyes open for more books. I don't know if the series will end just yet. 

In Death Series by JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

Courtesy of bookstr.com

Let me warn you now. If you want clean romantic suspense I'd go elsewhere. This is the life of Eve Dallas, a woman cop in the far-out future. Three books in she marries a rich, Irish man (Rourke). They have a healthy sex life, he helps her out with her cases, and he also happens to own a lot of buildings she needs access to. This goes in the more intense side of suspense, meaning we're dealing with serial killers and darker crimes. Some of it is heinous. I read these books so quickly, in less than a week. 

Why do I love it? No, it's not the sex. It is the storyline and the character of Eve Dallas that take the spotlight. Her relationship with her husband and her friends is prevalent. She is also a workaholic who gets lost in her work. Rourke does his darndest to get her to slow down and eat during her day. Sometimes his methods are not what I'd choose if I were him, but he does it out of love for her and care for her. 

Do you want to catch up on the saga? Strap in. The series is so long that I'm not caught up. Here is the current list (as of this year at least) of the In Death novels. The whole list here!  

The series has not ended, so please do your own research if you are reading this blog post in 2024. 

Women's Murder Club

This may include sex at times, but it is far more brief than In Death novels. We follow the life of a policewoman named Lindsay Boxer. She eventually gets married and has a child with her husband, Joe. This is mostly serial killers, again. Some crimes may be heinous, just like the In Death series. I found out this actually had a TV series in 2007 and 2008. Lindsay and her friends work through cases and plot twists abound. 

Courtesy of ebay.co.uk

Why do I love it? Again, the main character. It is in the same vibe as In Death, only with less sex. You see that Lindsay is a mother, a cop, a wife, and a woman who loves her dog. In the first book, her dog saves her from attempting suicide by staring at her with big eyes. You see her struggles, her grief when a boyfriend is killed in action, and her life with her and Joe and her child. You bond with her. I consume these books in mere days. It helps that chapters are short and give you the impression you're making progress. 

This one you have a chance of catching up on. Here is the link to the list of books. There are currently 23 main ones and 3 side novels. If you start now you can get all caught up. 

This, too, is not an ended series. Anyone reading in 2024 needs to look up the updated list. 

Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple

Agatha Christie is amazing. You cannot change my mind. Her work lives on though she has passed on. This woman once disappeared for 11 days. Look it up. The way she did it had them dredging the lake in case she'd drowned herself. One night she left her child with a relative and drove away. They found her car by the lake empty. She'd been found after 11 days at the Statler Hotel under her husband's mistress' name. Soon after she left her cheating husband. 

Courtesy of Blogspot.com

Agatha Christie created the iconic characters Hercule Poirot (a Belgian detective with a mustache and an ego) and Miss Marple (a woman who loved gardens and solved mysteries from her home). Christie killed off Hercule Poirot in the last book of his series so no one could take on more stories and take him from her. Both characters are icons of the mystery genre. Both have TV shows and movies.

For the Poirot mysteries list click here. For the Miss Marple mysteries click here. There is a short story collection by other authors writing Miss Marple. The author is dead, so I'd say you don't have anything to worry about when it comes to re-researching a list of books. These books began in 1920. The fact that people still love them is a reason to read one. 

Philip Marlowe

I talked about Marlowe at length in another blog. This is the life a private detective named Philip Marlowe, who often gets a simple case and it becomes a complicated case. Plot twists abound. Marlowe tries marriage and fails at it. Most of his cases have him finding dead bodies and getting into situations he didn't bargain for. Lots of femme fatales show up. For more information on Marlowe himself, click here. That post does not have the latest book included in it, so here is the updated list.

This series could be finished, or not, so 2024 readers will want to double check for an updated list. 

Courtesy of Walmart.com

Wrenville

Last, but never least, I'd like to tell you about the new hardcover of my own suspense book. You didn't think I'd leave myself off this list, did you? 

Wrenville is about Jack Thomas, a private investigator running from a past case in the small town of Wrenville. He moves late at night, makes friends with the locals, and tries to blend in with everyone else. Can he hide here? Is he safe? You'll have to find out for yourself.  My amazon page -Wrenville