Tuesday, January 8, 2019

What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading? 
By Tricia Drammeh



Ever since I was a child, I've been one of those people who always had a book in my hands. I have always loved reading. My idea of an emergency was running out of reading material. In fact, I usually keep an "emergency book" in my car just in case I break down and have to wait for a tow truck. I might be temporarily stranded, but I won't be bored. I've been known to re-read favorite books several times when I've run out of fresh material. To me, there's nothing better than the feeling of starting a new book. 

For years, I never really kept track of how many books I read per year, but it was at least a book or two per week. Maybe more! When I began writing, some of my free time was taken up by writing instead of reading. Still, I easily exceeded my annual Goodreads challenge of reading 50 books per year. 

Until last year. Last year I didn't keep track of my reading at all, so this year, I decided to keep better track. There are several ways to accomplish this, but here are a few popular options you might want to try if you're interested in keeping track of your own reading:

  1. Goodreads will appeal to those who like apps and online tracking. It's easy to keep track of what you've read (or what you plan to read) and even share your thoughts with others. On Goodreads, you can set yearly challenges, share reviews, rate books according to "star" rankings, and even keep track of what your friends are reading. There are even books clubs, fan groups, and author discussions.
  2. LibraryThing is somewhat similar to Goodreads, but the community (from what I can tell) is smaller. Some members say they find this site less overwhelming than Goodreads, as the emphasis seems to be on cataloging books rather than social interaction. 
  3. A Spreadsheet is a good option if you don't want to share your reading list with others. If you like to keep things organized on your computer, a nice Excel spreadsheet might work for you. 
  4. A Reading Journal is something I've thought about trying this year. A simple notebook would probably suffice, but if you're a creative type, you could invest in scrapbooking materials to really make your journal unique. Although I do try to leave online reviews of the books I read, I love the idea of jotting down random, for-my-eyes-only notes in a journal. 
If you have any ideas you'd like to share about tracking your reading or setting reading goals, please let me know in the comment section. I'm always looking for new bookish ideas to share!

Be sure to check out Our Author Gang Official Facebook Page for articles, book promos, and more! There's something for everyone! 

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COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I never thought of keeping track of how many books I read but I'm known to re-read my favorite books many times :)
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Are you an avid reader? Tips from Tricia how to keep track of your reading list at #OurAuthorGang
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Tricia Drammeh shared this via Google+

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Misty Harvey

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I personally have made a spread in my bullet journal to track my books read which looks like a bunch of blank spines for novels and as I read a book I write it on the spine.
 
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That's a great idea! I've read some of your blog posts about bullet journaling and I think that would work well for the type of written book-log I'm thinking about doing.


Misty Harvey via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Are you an avid reader and are looking for ways to track your reading goals. I've set a goal for this year that is one book for every year I am.
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Tuesday on #OurAuthorGang, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals.
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Joe Bonadonna

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Thanks for the info, Tricia. I'm sure this will help a lot of people.
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Toi Thomas

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
I've thought about keeping a reading journal, but knowing me, I'd forget to write in it. The reviews I post serve as my record of what I read. Great post.
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Thanks, Toi! I've actually started a spreadsheet (since I'm kind of a speadsheet person), but I really love the idea of a written journal. It feels more personal and fun. Unfortuntely, I keep forgetting to pick up a new journal or notebook to use for this purpose.


Eva Pasco

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Thank you for pointing out venues I hadn't known about. 
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Rick Haynes

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
An interesting read, thank you. In 2018 I also decided to read more and every night I read until my eyes close.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Tricia Drammeh shares her love of reading and tips on how to track your own reading on #OurAuthorGang. Great post!

And friends, if you love a book, write a review! Share the love!!
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Ruth de Jauregui

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Great suggestions, though I avoid Goodreads like the plague. Avid reader doesn't even start to explain my compulsive need to read. If I don't have a book, either new or a reread, I'm not happy. Great post, Tricia!!
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Thanks, Ruth. I have a Goodreads account, but I'm not super active there. So far, I've logged my books on Goodreads and on a spreadsheet.


Chris Weigand

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Great suggestions. I have used Goodreads for a couple of years now and am signed up for it again this year. My goal this year is to write reviews for more of the books I have read along with increasing my reading goal to 90 books.
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90 is a great goal! I set my reading goal at 25. Really, I read more than that since I'm constantly editing. But 25 represents those books I read purely for fun.


Chris Weigand shared this via Google+

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Toi Thomas via Google+

3 weeks ago (edited)  -  Shared publicly
Today, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals. #OurAuthorGang
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Susanne Leist via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Toi Thomas originally shared this
Today, Tricia Drammeh talks about ways to track your reading goals. #OurAuthorGang
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Sunday, January 6, 2019

Promo Day at #OurAuthorGang

Book Promo Sunday

We're starting a new tradition at #OurAuthorGang.
Every Thursday we'll add a book promo post to our Facebook page such as this POST

Image may contain: phone and text

We'll pick four books from the post to promote on our blog.
Enjoy this week's selection:



Epic fantasy
“Cas Peace's Artesans of Albia trilogy immediately sweeps you away: the drama starts with King's Envoy, continues unabated in King's Champion, and climaxes in King's Artesan, yet each volume is complete, satisfying. The Artesan series propels you into a world so deftly written that you see, feel, touch, and even smell each twist and turn. These nesting novels are evocative, hauntingly real. Smart. Powerful. Compelling. The trilogy teems with finely drawn characters, heroes and villains, and societies worth knowing; with stories so organic and yet iconic you know you've found another home—in Albia.”



**10th Anniversary Edition**
Mum used to tell me there were no monsters in the closet, magic was an illusion, and other worlds were pure fantasy. She lied.
Three years after her mother’s death, Cassandra is dealing with the reality of an alternate world, magical powers, and monsters.
Failed by the police, the local preternatural groups come to her for help. Drawn into the investigation and mystery of the Soul Market, she must find those missing before it becomes too late. 
Cassandra will stop at nothing to help those she now calls friends, even if it costs her everything. Something is going bump in the night – it’s time for her to go bump back!
A gripping supernatural novel set in post-blitz Scotland, the first of an upcoming series.
“No man in this world may boast of his might, he is awake in the morning and dead at night.”
Widowed in World War 2, Annette and her young son face a completely different life as they exchange the devastation of post-blitz London for the slow pace of a small village. The house they have inherited is old, its bones still settling, creaking noises in the dead of night and the murmur of scritch-scritch in the walls. Located outside the village of Lochnagar, it’s been empty for many years.
The unfolding of how the Clockmaker made his plans, his meticulous preparations and macabre creations, all builds up to a series of gruesome, horrific murders. These have just one end in view: his release from that which has held him captive for centuries.
A chilling supernatural novel with characters you’ll come to care for, The Clockmakerwill interest anyone who fears the dark – and what might lie in the shadows...
2018 New Apple Summer eBookAwards for Excellence in Independent Publishing: Solo Medalist Winner
2018 TopShelf Award Finalist in the Category of Memoirs (Other)
Toni Home Perm, Flexible Flyer Snow Sled, Hula Hoop, Mercurochrome, Fishnet Stockings, Beatles, Mohair, Go-Go Boots, Aluminum Christmas Tree...and, the beat goes on.
While the mushroom cloud of the Cold War hovered over us, my sister and I carried on as kids do regardless of world events. Since the daily minutiae of life provides the magic for memories to MUSHROOM WILDLY--feed your head my nostalgic recollections of growing up during the '60s counterculture.
Serious, sentimental, or silly revelations set aside: you know better than to duck and cover under a school desk for protection against nuclear fallout.

There is a lot going on in our Facebook group:
Join us


 Our Facebook page where we share blog posts and offer promos:
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COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
We're happy to post about a nice selection of books today :)
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Promo Sunday at #OurAuthorGang
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nicola L Osguthorpe

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
A great selection of books
 
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
A selection of the great books from the #OurAuthorGang Thursday promo. Post your book on this coming Thursday's post on the Our Author Gang page, share the post and you too can be one of the Sunday selections on the blog!
 
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Ruth de Jauregui

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
A wonderful selection of books! Congratulations to those who posted and shared on the Our Author Gang FB page!!
 
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Toi Thomas via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
It's promo day at #OurAuthorGang
 
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Eva Pasco

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Congrats to the other three authors whose books are featured! I'm honored to have mine included.
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Stephanie Collins via Google+

3 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Erika M Szabo originally shared this
 
Promo Sunday at #OurAuthorGang

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