Janeil_H's Posts

**NOTE: This review does contain spoilers. While I certainly believe its up to you to discover what’s inside a book, there are people who just want to know if their book is worth the money, or make sure its good enough for their kid/partner. Or there are even those people who just need to know the plot of the book for some other reason beyond the synopsis. I try to to fill that gap with a bit more detailed information with my book reviews. If you don’t want the book spoiled, move on or just scroll down to the bottom part.

The last of my “time travel” reviews that was backlogged, the final book to take this spot is The Time-Traveling Fashionista: At the Palace of Marie Antoinette. I actually had made an error when purchasing this book; apparently there’s another book in the series that I kept trying to put in the cart, but this is what arrived when I ordered. And while reading I discovered that this wasn’t the first book in the series. Oh well. I’ll continue to look.

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This one is a bit of a short Storytime, but this came back to memory when I started putting together some special content for my own site.

When I had gotten interested in Steampunk in 2009, it didn’t really stick with the people around at the time. However, I had tried to pursue my interest in it, namely in writing. When a cosplay group and that flopped, I decided to bring to light some of other people’s creation. If I couldn’t be a contributor, I could at least be an information hub! I was heavily inspired by a Steampunk-only blog with actual articles, information and promotion for the genre. Sort of like an online newspaper.

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Little did Heather know what good food and a night’s sleep could do to someone. Or something.

The next morning had barely passed when shrilling but quiet screeches woke up everyone in the house. Pipp was up and about, head sticking above the top of his box trying to get out.

More food and water were given, and Pipp “began” his day. Despite his small size, he pattered behind most everyone like a duck, not letting anyone out of sight. He was a bundle of energy, rapid thumping audible as he ran across the floor. Janus discovered that he would “chase” a ball if given, playing tag with the toy becoming a regular activity.

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When I started to collect books in 2013, I had bought a batch of “books” loosely related to my interests at the time. When I was looking for time travel books for kids, this somewhat prominent book from the 90’s appeared in my search results from Amazon. It’s name? The Switching Well.

The story follows two girls, Ada and Amber. Ada is from 1891, while Amber is from 1991. Each girl is fed up with their current time; Ada wants to live in a future where women have more freedom and are appreciated, while Amber wants to live in a past where kids aren’t shuffled around with their parents, where moms were only allowed to be moms living in big houses. Both girls find a magical well in a patch of woods, throwing down a coin and making their wish. Amber gets whisked to the past, Ada to to the future.

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West Hills. Why did it have to be West Hills?

Heather trudged down the dirt and gravel path that led out of the main section of Ellowwood. A twenty-pound bag of wheat was in her arms, having been tasked to deliver it to an elderly couple out on the west side of town.

And not just west town, West Hills. Outside the town charter, maybe half a mile towards the heavy forest and where the island ended. Where more weird stuff lived, causing her imagination to freak out about what she could randomly encounter. It didn’t matter if it was late afternoon and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky; the area still carried the same kind of connotations to it.

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Getting back on track with these, thankfully.

This was an “interesting” book that I had read back in the day, before I had even started using the Internet and visiting bookstores. Back when I would make frequent trips to the Greeneville Library, it got to the point that I would just pick out books by shelf, going through each one till I found one I liked. Running out of Time was one of those books.

I had randomly happened upon it, the older version with the traditional art cover with half of Jessie wearing her 1800s dress and the other half wearing modern clothing. This intrigued me immediately, borrowing it and taking it home.

The original cover of the book that I had read back in 2002.

The original cover of the book that I had read back in 2002. I love these soft-toned oil-painting covers!

The modern, paperback copy I got in 2015, for comparison.

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Okay, guys. First week of April is here, and I think I’m finally back on schedule. Last weekend’s blog serial will be posted on Monday and the second episode this upcoming Friday at its appointed time. I’m amassing content once again so this should flow smoothly.

In case you hadn’t picked it up, I’ll post the official schedule that I’m working with so you know what to count on:

  • Reviews = Mondays, 12PM: I do a report on a book, game, item or such and give you an opinion on it.
    Storytime = Thursdays, 6 PM: I reach into my life experience and share a story of some sort with you.
    Blog Serial = Fridays, 12PM: I pen a fictional story about Heather, a troubled, clingy and anxious girl who has a tendency to tangle with the paranormal. Set in the same universe as “Endless Sky” and after the main story.
    Tutorials = TBA: I’ve been asked, told and been piling up some tutorials for various things in the last year. These are too hectic to post every week, so they will be posted once monthly. Have not decided on a date, but as soon as I finish one for posting I’ll let you know (and update this entry)
    Other Topics = As Needed: There are smaller various topics I’ll post from time to time. Smaller fiction pieces, announcements, life happenings and so on. These are random and sporadic, not set to a firm schedule.

In other happenings, I’ll be looking into changing the template for my site at some point. I’ve had some users complain that the text is not enlargeable on an iPad and makes it hard to read, especially my blog serial. I’ll definitely be looking to resolve this so I don’t lose my reader base. I do listen to your suggestions!

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After a long and stressful battle with attempting to get this edited and the delays with no results, I finally am at a point that I believe that I’m happy with it after doing what I should’ve done in the first place, edit it myself. With great joy I’m pleased to announce that The Haunting of Rotherwood was released onto Amazon and Smashwords today, which will filter down to most major retailers in the next couple of days. I’ve also gotten it up on Gumroad, too! I’m overjoyed and relieved that my first solo 20,000+ word fiction piece is finally available for people to read and check out.

I sincerely do regret that this wasn’t ready for you to read around Halloween of last year. At least you now know the story behind my banner image of the two girls around the guy with the lamp. 🙂 Enjoy!

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01DONGHLK

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/626660

Gumroad: http://gumroad.com/l/mjYG

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Heather stood at the outside of the blacksmith’s shop, her thoughts a total mess. She had elected to wait outside, letting Janus return the rope they had borrowed. The last thing she wanted to do was to explain to someone what had happened. And she knew that the friendly blacksmith would ask her questions of what she actually did with the rope.

The door creaked open, Janus coming out down the steps.

“Did he take it?”

Janus nodded. He looked a bit somber himself, as if the joy had been wiped from his face. That look alone made Heather’s heart ache, hanging her head as she shuffled along behind him.

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