BOOK REVIEW: “Mary’s Path” by Lina Ljunggren ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): Mary loves her life in the small shop in the capital. She and her friends spend their time exploring the city and Mary’s father is teaching her how to manage the shop. Then the Sickness comes, and nothing will ever be the same again. Mary finds herself working in the kitchen of the castle. There she meets Zerden, and he becomes her salvation from the loneliness that is eating her alive. Mary also reconnects to her best childhood friend, Erik, and her life is once again starting to look a little happier. But as the Si ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: “My Husband” by Maud Ventura ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): At forty years old, she has an enviable life: a successful career, stunning looks, a beautiful house in the suburbs, two healthy children, and most importantly, an ideal husband, whose wealthy background allows her to transcend her own social class. After fifteen years together, she is still besotted with him. But she’s never quite sure that her passion is reciprocated. Determined to keep their relationship perfect, she meticulously prepares for every encounter they have, always taking care to make her actions seem effo ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” by Haruki Murakami ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he’d completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a dozen critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and—even more important—on his writing. Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: “The Bordeaux Book Club” by Gillian Harvey ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members! When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yields a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear. So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she w ..read more

Today, I want to talk about something that’s crucial yet often overlooked: how to elevate your brand and your book. In the competitive world of publishing, standing out is not just about having a great story. It’s about creating a brand that resonates and using savvy marketing to get your book noticed. Understanding the Power of Branding First things first, let’s talk about your brand. As an author, your brand is more than just your name or your book titles. It’s what you stand for, your writing style, the themes you explore, and how you connect with your readers. A strong brand creates a last ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: “The Quiet Tenant” by Clémence Michallon ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life.  When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: “The Writing Retreat” by Julia Bartz ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): A young author is invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat that soon descends into a pulse-pounding nightmare—in the vein of The Plot and Please Join Us. Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement. Bu ..read more

Are you struggling to figure out how to market your nonfiction book? Worry not, because I’ve got your back! In this blog post, we’ll go through the must-have components of a rock-solid book marketing plan. Yep, the kind that’ll make your book the talk of the town! The 5 W’s Before we dive in, let’s cover some basics. I call this the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Knowing these will steer your marketing ship in the right direction. Who: Your target audience What: Your book and its unique selling points Where: Online and offline platforms for marketing When: Timeline of your marketing ..read more

BOOK REVIEW: I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid ABOUT THE BOOKS (from Amazon): Now a Netflix original movie, this deeply scary and intensely unnerving novel follows a couple in the midst of a twisted unraveling of the darkest unease. You will be scared. But you won’t know why… I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always. Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.” And here’s what I’m thinking: I ..read more

It’s Meet the Author Monday! Each week we meet a new author and get to know a little about them, their writing process, publishing experience, and tips for other writers. Today we’re talking to Roxanne Gould, author of “More Than Just a Pretty Face”. About Roxanne Gould: Modeling has been my guiding light since the tender age of three and I have the second longest career as a fashion model in the industry today. As my twenties unfolded, I embraced a whirlwind existence, relocating to New York and immersing myself in full-time modeling. This paved the way for a decade-long adventure in Europe ..read more