Reading Goals This Year and Next

Back in August, I blogged about my favorite reads so far this year. I had read 27 books at that point, but still had 23 to go to reach my reading goal of 50 books in 2018. By the time November rolled around, I was seriously behind in achieving that goal.

One book a week doesn’t sound like a lot, but with day jobs, family responsibilities, and daunting writing goals, it became more difficult as the year progressed.

Since I’ve been on a leave of absence from the day job, I’ve had more reading time. I also chose fiction that wasn’t 500 pages or more. Some of the nonfiction I read this year was pretty intense, and took a while to get through. So it’s not surprise that my favorite reads these past four months are all fiction:

. Force of Nature by Jane Harper

. Miami Requiem by J.B. Turner

. Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

. Trickster Draft by Eden Robinson

. The Watchmaker’s Daughter by C.J. Archer

. Land of Hidden Fires by Kirk Kjeldsen

. The Amulet Thief by Luanne Bennett

. Bound by Kirsten Weiss

Goodreads tells me that I’ve reached 98% of my reading goal, and as I’m just finishing another book, I’ll make my target, then jump right into my first nonfiction of the year, which is Judi Dench’s biography, And Furthermore.

It’s going to another great year of fiction and nonfiction reading, and the goal will be the same. I’ll be back at the day job in a month, and more challenges will be coming this year. Still, I can’t wait to discover new authors and different worlds.

A Happy New Year of reading to everyone!

 

Follow-up to My Goodreads Giveaways

I didn’t know if there would be much response to my recent Goodreads giveaways, especially since I rarely participate in Goodreads groups. I didn’t promote the contest on their site, except through a blog post. But I did promote elsewhere, which seems to have worked out well.

The giveaway for my 5th full-length Casey Holland mystery, Knock Knock, began on Jan. 3^rd and closed on Jan. 24^th. 951 people entered the draw and 432 people added the book to their ‘Want to Read’ list. There were two winners.

 

The giveaway for my 2^nd Evan Dunstan mystery novella, A Toxic Craft began on Jan. 10^th and closed yesterday, Jan. 31^st. 680 people entered the draw and 285 people added the book to their ‘Want to Read’ list. Also two winners.

So, all I really want to say is a huge thank you to those who entered the draws for copies of my books. It’s a great way to start the year. Now I just have to work on the rest of my promotion strategies.

 

Two Goodreads Giveaways!

I’m starting 2018 by offering two giveaways, one for each my recent releases, on the Goodreads site.

 

My 5^th Casey Holland mystery, Knock Knock (published in November) is offered to anyone in the U.S. and Canada until January 24^th!

The link is: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/273020-knock-knock

 

My 2^nd Evan Dunstan mystery novella, A Toxic Craft, (published in December) will offered until Wed., January 31^st.

The link is: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/273253-a-toxic-craft

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the huge Goodreads site, there are plenty of other books up for grabs, so best of luck!!