I think that’s the longest title I’ve had yet.
So it’s Day L on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. If you’re visiting here for the first time and don’t know about the challenge, you can visit the official website and list of 2,127 participants at Blogging from A to Z Challenge (April 2014). Here’s the jazzy 2014 badge in case you missed it in my sidebar.
Featured Author: Sophie Littlefield
I fell in love with Sophie’s protagonist, Stella Hardesty, in the very first book of the series, A Bad Day for Sorry. There are now five books in the series. The blurb from Sophie’s website:
“At first glance, Stella Hardesty looks like a typical housewife. Then she kills her abusive husband with a wrench right before her fiftieth birthday. A few years later, she’s so busy delivering justice, helping other women deal with their own abusive husbands and boyfriends, that she’s barely got time to run her sewing shop.”
Sophie now has books in a second mystery series, women’s fiction, and YA. I can’t even keep up with her new releases anymore. Sophie grew up in Missouri and now lives in California. I think she should move to Colorado!
Featured Book: Long Live the Suicide King by Aaron Michael Ritchey
I haven’t read this YA novel yet, but it’s on my Kindle, waiting patiently for me to hide away and read it straight through. Here’s the blurb from Aaron’s website:
“Seventeen-year-old Jim “JD” Dillenger knows exactly how his miserable suburban life is going to play out. At least drugs added a little chaos to his life, but after almost losing his soul, JD knows he has to quit. Now clean, he figures he has another sixty years of boring life followed by a meaningless death. JD decides to pre-empt God by killing himself. However, once he decides to die, his life gets better, more interesting, and then downright strange. New friends, a possible romance, and donuts, lots of donuts. Once the end is in sight, every minute becomes precious.”
I’ve become a big fan of YA novels over the last couple of years. The writing is excellent, the stories fast-paced with great plot twists, and the length lends itself to a fast weekend read.
Word of the Day: List
This is a cool word because it has so many meanings. One can make a list like my To Do List which lists all the things I need to do for the next three days. One can list to music while he reads. And an object can list to the side as does my old office chair. Or a human, as I do when my knee is bothering me.
My To Do List is getting way too long, by the way. I think it has something to do with unfinished chores during the month of April while I’m busy writing 26 blog posts, responding to comments on those posts, and visiting new blogs on the A to Z list.
Hi Patricia, this is the first time I am making a list of things I want to do in April. Hopefully, by the end of the month I would have checked the items off the list.
Jan, I think all writers make lists–really long lists.
Susan, my TBR list is the neverending story.
Hi Dean. The second half of A to Z is a slippery slope. Be careful!
I just listed all my writing projects and ideas yesterday…and lo and behold, I got started and made progress. (Typically I’m a not lister.)
We’re almost half way with the A to Z challenge…almost all down hill from here!
I love lists and you just added some books to my lists.
Oh Patricia, I nearly went for list! I loves a list, don’t you? That YA looks good – such an interesting idea and so do Sophie’s books.
Thanks m’deario.
Thanks for adding to my own TBR list, Madeline. The most recent YA book I read was Divergent. Now I’m looking forward to seeing the movie.
I’ve got one of Sophie Littlefield’s books in my TBR pile – not one from the series but a stand alone thriller type.
I’m a big fan of YA books – one of my favorites is from last year, called IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch. Two older ones that I loved also – BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver and ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell.
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Minion, Capt. Alex’s Ninja Minion Army
The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge
Alex, That definitely is the challenge this month. Just keeping up with comments is shoving everything else to the bottom of my list.
Sophie writes a lot of different genres.
My to-do consists of keeping up with the Challenge right now.
Hi Margot — I’m anxious to dip into Sophie’s YA books. I’ve been reading a lot of YA lately and loving the stories and the exceptional writing.
Good morning, Shannon. I feel the same way. And Stella Hardesty may be my favorite character in the whole crime fiction genre (even more than Jack Reacher!!!).
I met Sophie recently at the Tucson Festival of Books. I’d had her on my TBR pile for a long time and as soon as I met her, I quickly read A Bad Day for Sorry. I am really glad I met her before I read the book because I liked her so much. The book was so good I know if I’d read it first, I’d have been such a gushing fan I wouldn’t have been able to talk to her! She’s fun and funny and very nice.
Pat – I think lists give us a sense of empowerment. Certainly they help us to focus ourselves. And you’ve reminded me that I must re-acquaint myself with Sophie Littlefield!