Blog and Reading Happenings

Unlike the last half dozen blog updates, I won't be promising to write more frequently, as that seems to induce an unexpected hiatus. But here's an update on a couple of things you can expect to see in the coming months, as well as some books I'm excited about that don't fit in with the overall blog. 

7th Annual Tolkien Blog Party

This will be my fourth year participating in Hamlette's fantastic blog tag and overall Tolkien celebration. It's one of the highlights of my blogging year. Be on the lookout for one or two additional Tolkien posts that week as well. 

Exciting Releases

I've been a fan of Pastor Wolfmueller for some time now. I give him and Pastor Jonathan Fisk credit for me having an appreciation for theology and the liturgy and being key influences in the development of my faith. I've been looking forward to this book since he first mentioned it on his Youtube channel. The book is set to release on August 27th.

You may recognize the name of Kathy Tyers from the Firebird Trilogy that I can't seem to be quiet about. (I really ought to adjust my rating from 4.5 stars to a favorite; I keep coming back to it).  I have not yet read this separate sci-fi installation, but I do look forward to it. If it's half as good as Firebird, I'm sure I'll enjoy it thoroughly. 

Recent Readings

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

This was the latest in my quest to read some more "classics"/ "books everyone ought to read". Surprisingly, I enjoyed it quite thoroughly (I really have no desire to read about vampires, romance, or suspense, so the fact I enjoyed says something significant about the quality of the novel). The novel is framed as a series of journal entries, newspaper clippings, and telegrams written by the characters, which lends it an interesting perspective. Don't read it at 2 o'clock in the morning when you're on overnight shift unless you thoroughly want to be creeped out, but it's worth the read for the sake of the prose and suspense. It's also an interesting study in how the role of men and women has changed in lit and how religion can be a central point in a story without it being overwhelming. 

The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini

I read this series pretty much every summer. This year, I've taken to listening to it on Audible. (Amazon made me buy it, I swear!). Gerard Doyle does a marvelous job narrating the story, especially when it comes to different character voices. If you're really into audio books, I would highly recommend Audible, even if you end up unsubscribing after a few months; I've been able to purchase the books at under half price.  

The Butchering Art, by Lindsey Fitzharris

This was entirely an impulse buy when I was on a history of anesthesia kick. As usual, the surgeons get all the glory, but this was an interesting historical read nevertheless. If you ever have issues with how healthcare is run, you can find more than one reason to be grateful for how far medicine has progressed in the past two hundred years within this work. It's incredible to see how our understanding of germs, antisepsis, and surgery itself has evolved in so short a time. Fair warning: only read this if you have a strong stomach; it can be pretty medically graphic at times. 

The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis

Speaking of Pastor Jonathan Fisk, he recommended this in a video a while back, so I picked it up to fulfill a Lewis deficiency in my life. I enjoyed it, but if you asked me to explain the main concepts, I would tell you that I need to read it again before I really understand it. (That's partially fueled by the fact that I read it on an overnight shift waiting for the phone to ring; my reading comprehension is not so good at those times). I look forward to revisiting it in the future, hopefully when I'm a little less sleep deprived and can more fully appreciate it and process it. 

What have you been reading lately? Are there any new releases you're waiting on?

What I've Been Reading

I promise I haven't entirely neglected the blog..there's about a half dozen articles and reviews typed out on my computer that I keep stalling on because I can't find the way to say what I actually want to say, if that makes sense. In the meantime, I'm going to follow some advice I heard a while back: if something's worth doing 100%, sometimes it's better to do it 80% than 0% if you can't quite muster full strength. So, here's my 80% post with some thoughts on my recent reads:

Children of the Blood Moon Trilogy

I just finished off this trilogy that I started reading over a year ago. It's an interesting Christian fantasy trilogy that, even if a little heavy handed on prophecies and special powers at times, is worth the read. S.D. Grimm manages to weave a tale that's well balanced with regard to action, character development, and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future as her writing style continues to develop. Overall, I'd give the trilogy 4/5 stars. (Review of Book 1).

1984

This dystopian classic has been on my radar for a while now; it wasn't exactly on my personal reading list because I wanted to read it (I knew it was depressing), but because I feel it's one of those books that you should read if you claim to be a reader. While I don't think it's something I'll be inclined to re-read anytime soon, I'm glad I did finally pick it up. The story was less horrifying for its ending than its startling parallels to the 21st century--the best way to keep people missing holes in their logic is to keep them shouting about something. Stir up enough emotion and you can have them change which enemy they're facing and completely ignore objective truth. Not a light read, nor for those looking for a clean book, but nevertheless worthwhile to chew on for a bit. 

Rome: A History in Seven Sackings

This was a pure impulse buy; whenever I travel somewhere and find a local bookstore, I feel it's my bookish duty to support them. It's another volume that I won't be rereading for a while, but intriguing in its own right. If you have a general interest in history or in Rome in particular, the author's description of Rome's architecture and culture through the centuries through the lens of seven invasions was captivating enough to get me through the whole volume. 

Kiss of Deception 

My family generally tries to pick me up a new series every Christmas; this was one such book and may eventually make a full appearance on the blog. Although a little heavy-handed on the romance, it was an enjoyable read and I plan on continuing in the series. 

Upcoming

I'm looking forward to reading the very-long awaited Forsaken Continent by Wayne Thomas Batson. This third installment of the Myridian Constellation (formerly the Dark Sea Annals) is slated to arrive at my door in paperback on my birthday this week, which is pretty much the best bookish present I could ask for. 

As far as other long-expected books go, I'm working up the courage to open my copy of The Fall of Gondolin. It's the last Tolkien book to be released--probably ever--so it'll take the perfect day to read it. However, I'll probably tackle it just in time for the Tolkien biography movie set to be released in May. 

The Book Hound is Back!

After a long and (mostly) unintentional hiatus, the Book Hound is back--hopefully without any further significant interruptions for the foreseeable future. However, as I mentioned in my last (woefully inaccurate) update, I'll be dropping to one post a week (usually Fridays) just to make it more manageable on myself. Life's gotten a little bit busy lately, but I still want to continue to spread word of great Christian Speculative Fiction.

That being said, there are things outside the Christian Spec Fic genre that I want to read (or in the genre that I want to re-read). That means that it's going to be difficult for me to post a review of a new book every single week.

Since I'm taking a hiatus for a while from novel writing, that means I need something new to fill in the gaps left between reviews (after all, I can't talk about my half marathon experience every day or my baking adventures every day, or even the craziness that is living on call every time I need to post).

So, for the next few months, I'm going to be hosting a "Summer of C.S. Lewis" read-along. I'm going to be starting with Mere Christianity  and then we'll take it from there. On read-along weeks, I'll post my thoughts on a chapter (or two), then a few discussion questions, favorite quotes from the chapter, etc. We'll see how long it takes to get through Mere Christianity and if we're liking the format, then maybe move onto another Lewis book or something else entirely.

Thanks so much for your patience! If you've emailed me in the last few months, please know that I'll be working to catch up on missed emails over the next couple of weeks.

I'll see you next Friday for the introduction to Mere Christianity!

February/March Blog Update

Hey folks!

I know it's been a bit spotty around the blog here for a while. That's what happens when you're working 45 hours a week and trying to keep up with housework, I suppose. I'm also trying to re-evaluate where to go with the blog now that I'm taking a bit of a momentary step back from writing full-length fiction.

The Blog from Here

After some self-reflection, I've decided that I'm going to be stepping back posting from twice a week to once a week for the time being, at least for the next few months. Posting once a week lately has allowed me to enjoy some other hobbies of mine, get caught up on housework, and has generally made blogging more enjoyable and less straining for me. 

I'll still be doing similar posts to what we've been seeing on the blog lately--Reality, Meet Fiction; Reflections, etc. I'll also be posting book reviews on a  more regular basis than I have been lately, though not as frequently as I have previously (it turns out I relied on public transportation and times between classes for reading more than I thought I did). However, how often I do that will depend on a few factors. It could be every other week or once a month. One of those factors will be how you respond to the questions in the next section.

Where I'm Asking for Input

The Book Hound started out as a way for me to build an audience for a dream of one day publishing some of my own works of fiction. That dream's on hold for the moment for a number of factors I don't care to go into right now (notably, I'm tired of editing and I don't have a great, fresh novel idea at the moment, so I need some serious time to recharge my creative juices). 

As such, many of the post series I started out a couple of years ago aren't quite as applicable as they once were--such as detailing my writing process or talking about forms of publication. You'll notice that many of those have been replaced by reflections on real life and the continued emphasis on spreading news about good Christian speculative fiction. 

I still want to keep up the emphasis on Christian spec fic, but I do want your input on what sort of things you would like to see on the blog. Do you like Reflections? What about Hound Dog Harmonies? 

Also, while I'm taking a small break from noveling, would you be interested in something like a short story series? (I make no promises, but I do  have an idea or two for some serial-style fiction.) 

Would you be interested in a read-a-long? (Reading a book together with discussion questions posted). I would even be nice and pick something you have a prayer of finding in stores. This might be something fun to do with a book like The Screwtape Letters. 

I guess what I'm asking is, what sort of things keep you coming to the blog, make you think, make you smile, or give you something to talk about? And, if there's something else you want to see, what would it be?

Sound off in the comments! And thanks for your patience!

Computer Trouble

My computer was on the fritz most of last week (which is why there was no Friday Fiction Fix). Normal posting will resume this Friday once I have a chance to sit down and work on some articles. Thanks for your patience!

December Blog Update

It's that time again--I don't have a posting idea, so I'm just going to make up some fluff that's hopefully mildly interesting. Enjoy?

What's Been Happening:

In general, a vague disbelief that Christmas is coming in less than a week, which has resulted in a flurry of shopping, gift-wrapping, and chocolate consumption. 

More to the blog's point, I've been reading (duh). If you want to follow what I've been up to on the bookish front, I would highly recommend my Goodreads page. Most recently, I've been re-reading the Legends of Karac Tor series by D. Barkley Briggs, as well as what you've seen me review on the blog. 

Additionally, I've been participating in Hamlette's "Another LotR Read-Along", which is excellent. If you're a book nerd like me and secretly have been missing bookish discussions from your high school English days and you have a desire to read The Lord of the Rings, I would definitely refer you to the event. (I promise I won't tell  your English teacher or any of your classmates). 

Outside of reading, I've discovered I enjoy painting, I've procrastinated on cleaning, and I'm working. (That last one's totally a shocker. I thought you worked for like two days and paid off your college debt? That's not how this works?) I'm keeping up with a volunteer editing project as well. 

Looking Ahead:

For the next two weeks, I'll be posting on Fridays only due to travelling for the holidays. After that, I plan on resuming a normal twice-weekly posting schedule. 

However, I'd love to have some feedback from you folks on what you want to read about for the next few months. Character analyses? More author interviews? More reflections? More writing posts? Different tags? Something new, like a read-along or more discussion-based posts? As much as I'd like to be a mind reader, I'm not. Shoot me an email with the contact form or sound off in the comments--I won't even make you fill out a scary survey, so there's no reason not to respond ;) !

Have a blessed Advent week! 

(And please comment with ideas!)

Archive Highlights

I apologize for the unintentional hiatus as I take some time to re-stock my review pile. In the meantime, please enjoy some reviews from the archives.

Never to Live, by Just B. Jordan. 

A Christian fantasy novel suitable for teens and up due to some darker elements. 

Embers, by Ronie Kendig

A Christian fantasy novel with some vibrant characters. 

Failstate, by John Otte

Awkward teenage superheroes. Need I say more? 

Thanks for your patience! I plan on returning to a normal posting schedule next week. 

Just Dropping By

Hi folks,
Sorry for the quietude on the blog lately. Between some matters in my personal life, an increasing work schedule, and some other issues, writing for NaNo (and the blog) has taken a bit of a back seat for the moment.
Thanks for your patience! I hope to get back to posting and NaNo'ing soon.
R.M.

October Blog Update

Look at me! I actually managed to write a blog update post without it eating up a Tuesday slot. Here's a look at what's coming up at the blog over the next couple of months, as well as a chance for your input.

"Little Luther" at the 95 Theses Door

October

This October 31st marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation! As an unabashed Lutheran nerd, I'll be celebrating the occasion here on the blog throughout the month. Expect some pictures from Wittenburg, Germany, some music, and some other celebratory things. 

Meanwhile, in the writing realm, I'll be gearing up for NaNoWriMo. I haven't fully decided what project I'll be working on in November, but I'll be plotting it out in October. 

November

It's NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. I know that I won't be working on Crossroads and its sequels this year, but I haven't decided what project I will be working on. 

Likewise, I haven't decided what posts I'll put up on the blog during NaNo. This is where I need your help. Is hosting word wars a good idea? Or are there too many other places to do that? Should I ditch the blog for the month? Should book reviews continue during November? I'd really appreciate it if you take the time to fill out the five question survey below to help me decide. Thanks in advance!

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I Fear Something Terrible has Happened...

Source

Only this time, it's not that millions of voices cried out in the Force and were suddenly silenced. Rather, the last few books I've read for the blog haven't panned out for one reason or another. Some, like The Chronicles of Riddick, I didn't really expect to review here, while others, such as Dreams of Caladria, didn't strike my fancy enough for me to finish them at this time. I ate through the last of my back-up reviews last week, so there will unfortunately be no Friday Fiction Fix this week.

In the meantime, you can see some short reviews of my recent reads over at Goodreads. I routinely read more than what you see here on the blog, so you can check out some of my other reading interests, as well. (Such as Dante's Inferno or historical novels).

Or, if you aren't into that, you can check out some old full-length reviews at the links below:

By Divine Right, by Patrick W. Carr--Murder investigation meets epic Christian fantasy.

Dreamtreaders, by Wayne Thomas Batson--Christian, middle grade, world-travelling fantasy.

Tainted, by Morgan L. Busse--Christian steampunk with a dash of romance.

Next Friday, I promise to have a new series for you! I'm re-reading a favorite to write up a review for it. Once again, I apologize for the delay.

As always, I'd love to hear your book suggestions! Shoot me an email using the contact form in the sidebar.

July/August Blog Update

Due to Independence Day celebrations here in the U.S., I didn't have time to crank out a full post. However, I did prepare a quick update on what you can expect from the blog in the near future.

July/August Posting Schedule

I'm going to be out of the country for several weeks, so my posting schedule is going to be sparse at best. I will likely be unavailable to reply to comments toward the end of the month. 

This week, there will be a Friday Fiction Fix and next week will have a normal posting schedule. Then, from July 17th until August 26th, there will be one post per week on Fridays. Most likely, the posts will consist of archive highlights and the occasional book review; it all depends on what I have time to whip up in between packing and practicing my German. 

If by chance you're struck by the sudden inspiration to create a guest post, you can email me in the next couple weeks and I'll be sure to work it into the schedule!

Thanks for your patience through this time!

Posting Topics

I realize that my posting topics have been a little random of late. I'm working on some new post series and ideas. I hope to continue Pastors in Fiction as I read books that provide good material to analyze. I'm also looking to explore some topics relating to villains and the portrayal of good vs. evil once I get back from my trip. I'm sure I'll also come up with a way to incorporate my travels into some blog posts.

Thanks for your patience! Happy Independence Day!

Seeking Guest Bloggers

Have you been looking to spread word about your blog? Or are you interested in blogging, but want to give it a try before you commit to running an entire blog on your own?

Or perhaps you just have a speculative movie you want to talk about from a Christian perspective. Maybe you have a book to review, or some music to talk about, or a character to analyze.

Regardless, The Book Hound could use your help!

I'm going to be travelling abroad for three weeks from the end of July into August, and I could really use some help with guest posts while I'm gone!

Articles don't have to be long at all and I'm open to pretty much any idea that fits in with what you've seen on the blog.

If you're at all interested, shoot me an email using the contact form in the sidebar. I'd be more than willing to return the favor in the future if you'd like.

Thanks for considering the opportunity! I'd love to hear your idea(s)!

Blogiversary Wrap-Up

Thanks for sticking around for The Book Hound's second blogiversary celebration! I hope you found some new books to read!

Congratulations again to all of our 2017 Blogiversary Bone Winners:

• Middle Grade: The Book of the King, by Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabry. 
• Sci-fi: Out of the Shadows, by Emma Carrie.
• Fantasy: The Shock of Night, by Patrick W. Carr.

Normal posting (Tuesdays and Fridays) will resume this upcoming week. As always, I'd love to hear your comments and book suggestions!

Announcement: Looking for an opportunity to write a guest blog post? I am looking for about 3-5 guest posts during late July and early August.  It could be a book review, a character analysis, thoughts on Christian Speculative Fiction, ideas about the writing process, a movie analysis, or something else. Really, the sky's the limit. Use the contact form to send me your idea!

Blogiversary Bone 2017: Middle Grade

Today we kick off the Blogiversary Bone Awards with the Middle Grade Fiction category. These books are geared toward young teens/pre-teens and are typically fast, easy reads written at a lower grade level than what I normally review. Due to their different target audience than most of the books I review, they receive their own category to even out the competition. Books in this category can be found in any speculative genre (fantasy, dystopian, steampunk, etc.).

These books can be found by entering "Middle Grade" into the search bar at the top of the page. For rules on qualifications for the Blogiversary Bone, check out yesterday's post.

Ready? Here we go!

Third Place: Fire Prophet, by Jerel Law

Children of the Nephilim have been granted special powers by their angel blood. But when they and all the other angel descendants are under attack, will they be able to defend themselves from the oncoming tide of demons? And what about those whose faith is still new? 

This is the second book in the Son of Angels series, but it stands alone nicely by itself. The Christian message may be a little heavy-handed at times, but some unique worldbuilding and fast-paced spiritual warfare make up for it. 

Second Place: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, by Andrew Peterson

Janner Igiby leads a normal, peaceful life. Except for the reptilian invaders that have overtaken his homeland, the odd expectations placed upon him by his grandfather, and the dangerous toothy cows that live in the forest outside his home. Will he and his family find a way to stay together in spite of the odds?

This book is just about bursting at the binding with wit and humor. It's utterly over the top and totally ridiculous at times, but it's a fun read for young and old alike. Fantasy creatures and a well-paced plot add to the fun. 

Winner of the 2017 Blogiversary Bone for Middle Grade Books: 

The Book of the King, by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry.

Owen Reeder leads an unexciting life. The only child of a widowed bookstore owner, his only adventures are found in the imaginary worlds he finds within the pages of books. But when a stranger comes to town with a mysterious, magical book and his father reveals a terrible secret, his life will change forever.

This book won the category for its unique narrative voice, fast pace, and ability to balance a Christian allegorical message with a good story. Older readers will find this book as easy to pick up as younger readers will. Recommended to fantasy fans. 

Honorable Mention:

-Leviathan, by Scott Westerfield. This clean steampunk novel didn't qualify for the Blogiversary Bone, but it's still worth a read!

Let's give a big round of applause to all these authors for their great work! Tomorrow we'll be looking at the top sci-fi books from the past year. 

Blogiversary 2017 Kick-off

It's incredible to think I've been blogging two years already! Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and support!

Just like last year, I'll be re-visiting my favorite books of the past year in each of the following four categories. Last year, I fielded four categories. This year, due to the nature of what I read, I will not be holding a "Miscellaneous Speculative Category", narrowing the fields to Middle Grade, Sci-fi, and Fantasy.

Another change for this year is that winners of categories will be receiving an unofficially official award--the Book Hound Blogiversary Bone!

Alea Harper of Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings created the awesome award button at the right. Be sure to check out her blog!

To qualify for the "Blogiversary Bone" award, the book must be considered "Christian" (not just clean), be rated 4 stars or higher, and it must be a book that can stand alone or is the first in a series. Books that were given to me for free in exchange for a review may still be considered; status as a "free" book has no bearing on the award. Likewise, my membership in any fan clubs, street teams, or other organizations associated with contestants has no bearing on their ratings or statuses.
Contestants from this year were reviewed from June of 2016 through April of 2017. Each category will have my top three picks listed, as well as any other books that I felt deserved to be mentioned..

But, before we kick off this year's awards, I'd like to take one last look at last year's winners. (Even though there wasn't an official award then. I'm not even sure it qualifies as an official award at this point, so we'll still call them winners).

2016 Middle Grade Fiction Winner: 

Dreamtreaders, by Wayne Thomas Batson.

A teenager has the remarkable ability to control the world of his dreams, but he also has the responsibility to protect it from encroaching evil.

The unique worldbuilding, lovable characters, and quick action propelled this fantasy/worldtravelling story for middle grade readers out of the doghouse and into first place. 

2016 Sci-fi Winner: 

A Star Curiously Singing, by Kerry Nietz.

In the future, the world is maintained by slaves. With chips planted in their heads, they have nearly unlimited control over technology--but their masters also have ultimate control over them.

The main character's wit and dry sense of humor landed this dystopian, futuristic sci-fi novel on the top of the dog pile. 

2016 Fantasy Winner:

A Cast of Stones, by Patrick W. Carr.

The village drunk discovers he has the God-given ability to tell the future at a time when the kingdom is at stake.

A refreshing view of the faithful as flawed, fresh worldbuilding, and tight writing combined to allow this book to edge out a win in the competitive fantasy category. 

2016 Miscellaneous Speculative Winner:

A Time to Die, by Nadine Brandes

In a world where everyone knows when they're going to die, a young woman resolves to make a difference in the little time she has left. 

This dystopian novel brought a much-needed sense of hope to a depressing genre, along with a beautiful balance of faith and plot. It definitely won "the best in show" of the miscellaneous category!

I'll see you tomorrow to kick off the 2017 celebration! 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

Under Construction

With the help of Alea Harper from Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings, I've been redesigning the blog. Please pardon the (cyber) dust as I move objects around, change formatting, and update some other pages over the next several days. The blog may be in various stages of disarray as I tweak settings and struggle with technology. (Apparently, my generation is supposed to be really tech-savvy. I guess I missed out on that boat!)

Depending on how much time I spend messing around with Blogger, there may or may not be a Tuesday post. However, there will be a Friday Fiction Fix (along with a hopefully bug-free, updated blog).

Also, next week will bring us to the blog's second blogiversary! Make sure to stop back in for the week-long celebration!

Thanks for your patience!

April Update

Personally:

As you've likely gathered from the sporadic posts over the past few months, life's been a little crazy lately. Fortunately, it should be re-settling into a routine here soon. (Yay!) I have a real, adult job lined up and I'm ready to tackle the next part of life while also continuing to write. Thanks for your prayers over the past few weeks.

Writing: 

Ahem. I haven't written or edited anything since February, but that was just last week, right? No big deal.

Oops. It's almost May.

Obviously, that means I haven't been participating in Camp NaNo. However, once I regroup, I'll be tackling my re-edits of Crossroads and Crossfire. (Yes, I know I've been working on them forever. Yes, I'm trying to get them published eventually. Yes, I know I should work on some other project at some point so you don't have to put up with me moaning about editing on a regular basis).

The Blog:

The blog will likely be staying the same for the forseeable future, with the noted exception being the second blogiversary at the end of May!

Also, if you want to get out your binoculars and gaze at the distant horizon, there will be guest posting opportunities coming up in a few months for multiple weeks in a row. Use the contact form to tell me about your great idea(s)!

That's about it! There will be a Friday Fiction Fix this week, along with a (better) Tuesday post next week.

Time Away

Hey, folks. The next few weeks are going to be a little crazy for me, so I will be taking some time off from the blog. Hopefully stepping away for a bit will allow me to come back with some good, full-length articles, fresh books, and some other updates.

Thanks in advance for your patience! If you think about it, I would also appreciate your prayers as I prepare to make some big life decisions.

I anticipate returning to a normal posting schedule in 1-2 weeks, as well as participating in the April Camp NaNoWriMo. I love doing word wars with people, so just let me know if you need a writing encouragement buddy!

Archive Highlights:

Why is Christian fiction important?

Everything you could want to know about me--including my odd taste of music. 

A guest post from Victoria Jackson on finding time to read. 

My top sci-fi book picks from the first year of the blog.

January/February Update

 If you have a guest post idea, I'd love to hear about it! Shoot me an email using the contact form at the left. 

Writing/Editing

I realize that I haven't updated anyone on my personal writing endeavors lately. Whether anyone wants to know about it or not, I have no idea. But you're getting an update anyways!

So, this month has been a month of editing, though less than I would have hoped. In February, I'm hoping to move it up in the priority list of things that need done. I'm still trying to adjust to "working" 40+ hours a week, cooking my own meals, and handling some other responsibilities that I haven't had up to this point.

I'm currently doing a significant macroedit on Crossroads, the first book in my Christian dystopian series. Once I get that done (hopefully by the end of the month), the plan is to move on to doing an overhaul on the (third) first draft of Crossfire, the second book in the series (I'm planning on a trilogy). If you've been following the blog for very long, you know this is the series that I inevitably seem to return to. My hope is to get on the road to self publishing or querying by the end of the year. But before I do that, I'd like to get Crossroads really well polished, Crossfire so that it actually makes sense, and "Book 3" into a passable first draft. Needless to say, that's a lot of work to get done.

Reading

If you want to follow what I've been reading, it's easiest to keep up over at my Goodreads account page. You'll get a preview of what I'll be reviewing on the blog, as well as seeing some things that I don't review on the blog. 

I've recently received some book review requests from self-published Christian spec-fic authors, which is super exciting! The reviews will be going up over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for that. I also just finished Leviathan, by Scott Westerfield. I'll be reviewing that steampunk novel this Friday, so definitely check back in for that.

Personally

Like many authors, I like to keep my private life, well, relatively private. However, some of what's going on is going to be influencing my blog posting schedule, so I feel it's only fair to share a little. 

Firstly, I'm a college senior this year, which means job searching, professional licensing, interviews, and other crazy, adult stuff. Responsibilities have been popping up in a significantly less predictable manner than they have in years past. (For some reason, adult life doesn't come with a syllabus telling you when life's going to be crazy.) As a result, you may see more short posts, especially between now and summertime as I transition into a different part of my life again. Although I don't want to drop to fewer posts per week, please be aware that I may have to do that for a while, especially as I make editing and creative writing more of a priority. Thanks in advance for your understanding. 

Blog

I already covered a little bit on the blog front above, but that brings me to my next point. I'm looking for guest posts for the next couple months (March and April, primarily). If you have any ideas for a post on a movie, speculative fiction book, or writing, I'd love to hear about it. Not only does this help me out, but it's a great opportunity for you! (Look at me, being a salesman). If you're looking at getting into blogging, this is a wonderful way to get your feet wet. It may also be a way to find a handful of new people to follow your blog or just a way to keep your writing up to snuff. 

I think that's all that's going on with me. What's new with you?

Do you like general updates like this?

A New Year

How is it 2017 already? Where did the last year go? Regardless of where it went, I'd like to take a quick look at the upcoming year and a nice glance back at 2016. (With plenty of side notes in parentheses, of course).

Reading Goals

In 2016, I read over 60 books, beating my goal on GoodReads! My goal for 2017 is to read 65 books and to make at least 2 of those books be non-fiction. Many of these books were reviewed on the blog.

Connections

In 2016, we were visited by three authors for interviews coinciding with book releases: Jaye L. Knight, with Samara's Peril; Kerry Nietz with Frayed; and Matthew Dickerson with The Betrayed. The Book Hound was also part of the Rise Tour with Nadine Brandes and her release of A Time to Rise. I'd like to give a hearty thank-you to all of these authors for taking the time to stop by!

I'd love to continue hosting interviews, book spotlights, and tours in the upcoming year! You can contact me using the form in the left-hand column if you or someone you know is interested.

The Blog

This was the first full year for the blog, which was very exciting. The grand total of posts was 114 (I'm capable of that much writing?), the number of followers nearly doubled (Thank you!), and it was just a really great year. You guys have made blogging a lot of fun. 

New series this year included: "The Writer's Mind" (in which I rambled about my writing), "We Write Books" (where I attempted to write a novel with Go Teen Writers and essentially faceplanted), "Pastors in Fiction",  "Reality, Meet Fiction" (in which I basically ranted about current events and tried to apply it to writing), and  "NaNo Survival Guide". 

Based on poll results, viewing numbers/comments, and my personal interests, I will be continuing "Reality, Meet Fiction" and "Pastors in Fiction". I'm also looking into re-booting "The Writer's Mind" or re-designing a way to update you on my personal writing goals. Have an idea? Shoot it to me using the contact form on the left hand side!

Survey

So, I know I did a small one a while back, but I had more questions that I'd like to ask and I finally had some time to explore survey applications. If you can fill it out, I'd really appreciate it! It's short, I promise!

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So, that's a wrap on 2016! Any suggestions? Thanks for another great year!