Book Chat - Issue #1

Congratulations on being one of my very first subscribers! I’m really pleased you’re here.

Friends have warned me that writing a regular newsletter might distract me from my other writing, but hey, I figure that I always like to see something nice in my inbox and so might you.

You can expect to hear from me fortnightly about what I’m reading, listening to, writing, and cooking.

My plan is for this newsletter to be informal and fun, so thanks again for signing up! 

A while back I blogged about books with great openings, the ones that make you want to rush to the library or buy the book straight away. The example I used was The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James, which I think is an excellent read.

It was kind of spooky, but not in a very scary way. Yes, there are ghosts, but they are sad ghosts and you can understand why they are hanging around.

The main character is very likeable. Carly Kirk is mourning the death of her mother and goes in search of her aunt, who disappeared from the Sun Down Motel in mysterious circumstances many years before. She gets a job at the motel in order to find out what really happened, and many twists and turns ensue.

It was hard to put down. Highly recommended for long commutes or times when you need a real page-turner.

One of my long-time favourite podcasts is What Should I Read Next, hosted by Anne Bogel. 

It’s a great show that’s been running for years, and the format is simple but engaging. Anne asks each guest to name three books that they love, one book they don’t love, and what they are currently reading. Then she recommends some new books they might enjoy.

She also asks them about their reading goals. People often say they are stuck in a ‘reading rut’, and would like to read another genre or more non-fiction, but they don’t know where to start. Sometimes people just talk about their reading habits or how they shelve their books, but it’s always fun.

Anne always has some excellent reading suggestions, and it’s a great way to find out about books you haven’t heard of before.

You can listen here.

Here are some of my favourite posts that you might have missed.

I made this lovely pistachio cake for my sister’s birthday. It was delicious!

Here’s a gluten-free alternative for any GF readers (hello Marnie).

If you enjoyed reading this newsletter, please share it with your friends!

I would really appreciate that.