Book Highlight: Writer Resource: Writing by the Numbers by Jamis Jochim

Julie Gilbert Author Resource, Interviews, Writing

About your book:

Writer Resource: Writing By The Numbers

About this Work:

Every writer has a lot of questions about a wide range of topics. This book goes through a wide variety of topics, such as writing problems, publishing issues, and dealing with artists. Each chapter is formatted as a Top Ten List, and then looks at each entry on that list, making for a focused look at the chapter’s topic.

Are there any deep themes or messages in the book the readers should be aware of?

This book is what it purports to be: A book about writing.

What gave you the idea for this book?

The idea was to make life easier for comic book writers. Since, I decided the advice would work for any writer and so expanded on that.

How long did the book take to write?

The book should take about six months to write.

Who designed the cover?

I did; the idea was to make it look like an academic tome of sorts.

What brought you to working on this project?

I just wanted something for my fellow comickers.

What was the hardest part of bringing this story to life?

The research. Some of the lists require a little research in order to confirm various details, as well as see how they are actually used.

Do you have a favorite character voice from the project?

No, but that’s because there are no characters in this book.

Do you have a favorite chapter from the project?

The Hero’s Journey; it was just fun to explore the idea of the Hero’s Journey from a purely mechanical level and how it compared to the three-act structure.

Is there anything you’d like readers to know about this work before they read your book?

This book is a masterclass in writing. It will help a writer navigate the book he’s writing, as well as know enough about business to be a success and know how to deal with artists.

About your other works:

How many other works have you written? Probably close to 15-20

What was the most challenging other work you’ve written? Easiest? Most fun? What made it hard, easy, fun??

Hinami Neon was the hardest; that script had a lot of moving parts. Comparatively, Sex Percussions was a joy to write as it basically wrote itself.

Which work are you most proud to have been a part of? Why? So far, “The Evil Mastermind Management Handbook”; that was just so fun and so hard to write.

Website: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09PZVBJ49

Hashtags for preview: #writing, #publishing, #writingadvice, #writingtips, #business, #self-publishing, #artadvice, #arttips,#businessadvice, #businesstips, #storytelling

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Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Book Highlight: Sacrifices for the Balance by Jamis Jochim

Julie Gilbert Paranormal , ,

About Your Book:

Sacrifices for the Balance

About this Work:

The supernatural community of Elspeth is under attack, and the North Stream Pack needs to find the killer. An accidental attack on a regular human forces the pack’s lead investigator to work with the local sheriff. The two soon find out that both communities are under attack by an outside force. With the local pack leader taking a new wife and the sheriff having to deal with re-election, they need to solve the ritual murders quickly before things get truly out of control.

Are there any deep themes or messages in the book the readers should be aware of?

You are who are you, and you should be  afraid of anything that seeks to make you like anyone else. 

What gave you the idea for this book?

The core concept was to play with a group that had no idea of gender; that is, that there are different sorts of relationships (honor, love, racial survival) rather than the standard genders we’re used to.

How long did the book take to write?

The book should take about six months to write.

Who designed the cover?

I did from clip art. I so need to commission an actual cover.

What brought you to working on this project?

The relationships; they are going to get stranger as the book progresses.

What brought you to working on this project?

It just looked like a fun idea

What was the hardest part of bringing this story to life?

It’s looking at a number of different cultures, and one of them has no real concept of gender as we understand it.

Do you have a favorite character from the project? Why/ why not?

Lady Astor; she looks and acts like a standard lady in charge, but you know she’s a ferocious animal waiting for release.

Do you have a favorite chapter from the project? Why/ why not?

The Lady and the Business Plan, so far; it was just a fun chapter to write.

Is there anything you’d like readers to know about this work before they read your book?

Two things: Do not read this book hungry; I have yet to write a chapter where someone doesn’t eat or drink. (The unofficial slogan for the book is “No Character Goes Hungry.” The second is that this is not the book for the homophobic; gay relationships are not hidden.

About your other works:

How many other works have you written?

Probably close to 15-20

What was the most challenging other work you’ve written? Easiest? Most fun?

Hinami Neon was the hardest; that script had a lot of moving parts. Comparatively, Sex Percussions was a joy to write as it basically wrote itself.  

Which work are you most proud to have been a part of? Why?

So far, “The Evil Mastermind Management Handbook”; that was just so fun and so hard to write.

About you/random questions:

  • What drew you to writing? I like telling stories and spreading information. Writing is the perfect medium for that.
  • Is this the only writing you do? If you do other forms of writing, which is your favorite and why? I also do some podcasting; while I prefer writing, podcasting can be somewhat cathartic.
  • Do you have a process when you approach a work? Please describe it for us. Outlining, research, writing; repeat as needed. Edit. Rewrite. Edit again. Publish.
  • What’s one random thing people don’t really know about you? My name is a mix of French for “never” and Seamus. My mom was pregnant at the time and she ate ice; it slowed down the process (so I was born in 11 months), and so the cleverness.
  • If you could only leave 1 lasting impression on the world, what would it be? That people need to work together to accomplish the really cool things.
  • Do you get to read for fun? Do you have a favorite genre to read for fun? As long as there is a good story, I’ll read just about anything.
  • Do you have other hobbies? What do you do to relax? I watch weird movies, fun TV shows, and play casual games.
  • What kind of movies do you enjoy? While I’m infamous for watching just about anything, I really love B-rated horror and SF movies.
  • If you could meet one person from history or present time, who would it be and why? Stan Lee; I have some serious questions for him.
  • IIf you could have dinner with anybody (alive or dead) who would it be and why? Mark Twain, s it would be interesting to just talk to him.
  • If you had $100 to buy something for somebody else, what would you buy, who would you give it to, and why? A really good meal for my mom, for all she’s done.
  • How do you think your personal chances of survival are in an apocalypse? (zombie or other): Pretty good considering my scout/military background, studying doom prep, and I do run a doom prep podcast.
  • If you had a $30 budget for supplies to do something nice as a labor of love for somebody, what would you do? (clean a house, cook a meal, etc) Probably something weird for my roommate.
  • What’s 1 thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime? Have one of my scripts made into a movie.
  • Would you rather get a tangible object or have an experience? (you can’t say give me money.)
  • If you could have 1 (just 1) superpower, what would it be and why? Teleportation; it would make getting to places so much easier.
  • What’s your favorite snack food? Cheetos Crunchy

What’s your “new” as in most recent favorite movie? The Adam Project (but I’ll be a Blade Runner fan)

Website: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09DS66S8L

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Vella Author Interview: Jamis Jochim

Julie Gilbert Author Resource, Interviews, Vella ,

About you:

I’m Jamais Jochim, the guy who knows every last fact about Spider-man and if I don’t I’ll track it down. I love bad movies, enjoy table-top gaming, and probably would drive you crazy if you weren’t ready for it.

I have ADHD but refer to it as “hyperkinesis” because it sounds like a super-power. It means that I can be disorganized to the naked eye, but in reality, I probably have a reason for the clutter and you may actually like it.

I write books that I would like. This means that the characters are those you would want to have a drink with, maybe talk about philosophy, and maybe game with. The plots involve a little humor, some romance, and maybe even some weirdness. In short: If you like 1980s movies you should enjoy them.

My books on style and management are how I’d like to do it, so expect some weirdness but it’s the kind of weirdness you can get behind. I hope you enjoy my books; I enjoyed writing them!

Me: I don’t remember much about the 80’s. And agreed on hyperkinesis.

Tell me a little about your background.

I’ve always been a writer, but have taken some weird turns. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 5, and proceeded to be a solid B student in school; I was definitely the nerd, with an interest in movies, role-playing, and animation. I studied to be a physics major, but dropped out; I was introverted and was not looking forward to having to chase down research grants. I then spent a year in the Infantry, followed by a couple of years as homeless. I went back home, then enrolled in some journalism classes. Since then, I’ve been writing off and on, and have thrown podcasting into the mix.

What do you do for fun?

Reading, casual gaming, and watching TV/movies. Preferably B-movie horror movies.

Who or what inspires you the most?

Robert Corman, Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Octavia Butler, and the Monkey King. Also, D&D, Rifts, and Champions TTRPGS. As for books, Slay & Rescue, Lord of the Rings, Wild Cards, and a lot of mythology and comic books. And I guess I’d better add in BubbleGum Crisis, Blade Runner, Ladyhawke, Robotech. Battle Beyond the Stars, Harmageddon, Red Dwarf, Firefly, and all things Star Trek/Star Wars

Me: Ah, we can connect on the Star Wars thing. I don’t know much about Star Trek. Saw some random series but not in any particular order.

About your writing:

About your other book(s): I’ve written a book about how to design characters (Writer’s Resource: Character Design), a comic about a 1920s shaman, a group of traveling mages, and his pet wizard (Sex Percussions), a management book (Evil Mastermind Management Handbook), and a book to hep people create a comic book bible (How to Create a Comic Book Workbook). 

Do you write in other genres?

Yes (cyberpunk, western, fantasy, horror)

Tell us about one other book or series and why it’s important to you.

Sacrifices for the Balance: I’m playing around with power dynamics and the lack of importance of gender or sex.

Tattoos & Railguns: It’s just a fun story.

Writer’s Resource: Writing By The Numbers: It gives writers the information they need about writing, business, and art.

What other writers/people do you consider inspirational? If they’re authors, what about their work captures your interest?

Mark Twain gives me a sense of humor and Octavia Butler a since of the epic.  I like Wild Cards because it focuses on the interpersonal relationships of the characters.

What got you into writing?

I have stories and it allows me to express those.

What is your writing process?

Outline, research, write, Repeat the three as needed. Edit. Rewrite. More editing.

When do you consider a work complete?

When I want to toss it at the wall.

Random: (pick 2-3 per story featured – they’ll go on multiple days)

  • What animal do you most relate to?
  • Monkey: They’re curious, and are problem solvers because they’re always getting themselves into trouble.
  • What are you non-writing hobbies or interests?
  • Casual gaming, watching weird shows on TV, and history channels on Youtube.
  • If you could have dinner with anybody (alive or dead) who would it be and why?
  • Mark Twain, s it would be interesting to just talk to him.
  • How do you think your personal chances of survival are in an apocalypse? (zombie or other):
  • Pretty good considering my scout/military background, studying doom prep, and I do run a doom prep podcast.
  • What’s 1 thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime?
  • Have one of my scripts made into a movie.
  • If you could have 1 (just 1) superpower, what would it be and why? Teleportation; it would make getting to places so much easier.
  • What’s your favorite snack food?
  • Cheetos Crunchy
  • What’s your “new” as in most recent favorite movie?
  • The Adam Project (but I’ll be a Blade Runner fan)

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/jamaisjoc/

Tweets by JamaisJochim

https://www.tiktok.com/@jamaisjbooks

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Choices Stories Review 3/5 Stars: Passport to Romance

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, romance , ,
general promo pic for the story; from fandom

Summary:

You get an awesome job as a travel blogger. Your dream job, I guess.

Additional Comments:

  • Since it’s supposed to revolve around romance, I suppose it’s not surprising they gave you 4 choices this round. That’s quite a feat, seeing as they had to give believable backstories to each.
  • Ellion Langdon’s the wandering rich boy with big brother issues. Marisa has a deadbeat boyfriend you can kick to the curb properly if you have the diamonds to do so. Sumire’s a budding artist. Ahmed’s a soccer/ football star.
  • The story meanders all over Europe.
  • It’s an okay story, but I didn’t connect well with it. Not sure why. It has vibes similar to Platinum, but I guess it just lacked a sense of urgency. I mean the worst that could happen is your boss cuts you from the magazine. It did have some cool locales though.

Conclusion:

Story about wandering Europe. It probably won’t be on my list of books to repeat.

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Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

4/5 Stars Choices Stories Open Heart Second Year

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Choices Stories, drama ,
Pic from fandom.com. General promo pic, I’m assuming.

Summary:

You’re back at Edenbrook.

Additional Comments:

  • I loved that this one had some real danger.
  • The typical medical drama gets overshadowed by a hostage situation. It was a nice change of pace.
  • I think you even got to take a road trip.
  • As with book 1, I went Ethan’s road instead of Jackie or Bryce, though I did enjoy helping Jackie deal with the pharma rep and Bryce with big brother duty.
  • As with most of the Choices books, this one can go PG if you skip a few of the diamond options to very well not PG if you choose certain diamond options.
  • The characters in here are cool. There’s a nice variety of those who you want to punch and those you want to hug and hand a cookie to.
  • It’s cool that some of the characters show up in other books. This series has tie-ins to the newer story With Every Heartbeat. I think that one was a premium one for a while, but it recently released to those who choose not to pay a monthly rate.
  • It has enough closure to satisfy readers while at the same time leaving enough open to a book 3. I believe Book 3 is well under way, but I tend not to start them until they’re about 18 chs in so that it will finish by the time I’m ready for the ending.

Conclusion:

Medical drama and danger drama make for more satisfying stories.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Choices Stories Review 4/5 Stars Platinum

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, music ,
pic from fandom; general promo pic for the story

Summary:

You’re a singer with a dead-end job who gets the chance of a lifetime on a Television singing competition.

Additional Comments:

  • One of the mentors and possible love interests is a Taylor Swift-esque young woman with an awesome British accent.
  • The other is a bad boy type.
  • I forget if there is a third option here.
  • The songs are actually sung by somebody. They’re not super blow-ya-away type songs, but they are sweet and well done.
  • It delves a bit into the dark side of the traditional music life, where one’s entire career can be controlled by the label.
  • The idea of selling a song to a different artist so you can find the time to be creative is intriguing.
  • They provided the typical rival going through similar motions.
  • Don’t recall many specifics about the exact plot, but I remember enjoying the journey, even though there weren’t any life-or-death moments.
  • I started a second playthrough, but didn’t get far.

Conclusion:

A fun, escapism story. IT might be worth giving another go someday.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

4.45/5 Stars Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery, thriller , ,
found pic on audible

A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 5

Narrated by Nancy Wu

Run time: 9 hrs and 10 min

Summary:

Mattie’s first official date with Cole Walker sort of gets blasted. A community dance gets interrupted by an explosion.

Additional Comments:

  • I’ve enjoyed the slow-build to the romantic relationship between Mattie and Cole, but now that they’re together of sorts, there’s only drama of the brand reminiscent of spinning ones wheels to nowhere.
  • I’ve never liked the deep dark drama in Mattie’s life. It’s always struck me as the author ticking a box on the what my heroine needs to be in this kind of book chart – tragic past.
  • I was afraid that the scary predator angle would be same-old as some of the previous books and was pleasantly surprised that it actually had more to do with the plot.
  • Robo’s his awesome self, though I feel like he’s slipping from the limelight as Mattie and Cole start revolving around each other. Heck, even Cole’s kids and the housekeeper get way less page time.
  • Cole’s still a saint. I don’t see that changing any time soon.
  • The plot of this one was enjoyable. Big reveal is a tad anticlimactic, but it works.
  • At the end of book 4, I was all ready to spend credits on 6 and 7, but honestly, I don’t know. I feel like the mysteries will be okay, but the family drama thing is getting very tiresome. Maybe I’ll return to the idea in a few months.
  • Some cursing. Some violence, but less of that than the last book.

Conclusion:

So far, it’s a good series. It’s still one of the best of its kind, but to be fair, I have only read 1 other like it in recent memory.

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Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

4.5/5 Stars Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery, thriller , ,
Found pic on audible

A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book 4

Narrated by Nancy Wu

Run time: 9 hrs and 40 min

Summary:

Mattie and Robo stumble across more bodies. One has a personal connection to her.

Additional Comments:

  • Although the premise stretches believability a tad, a lot of setup in earlier books begins to pay off.
  • This is one of the best mystery series I’ve heard in a long time. (To be fair, I don’t listen to all that many because I’m usually reviewing and that hits multiple genres.) I may even spend that freebie credit Audible gave me around Christmas to get book 6, which isn’t a part of the Plus catalog.
  • The closest series I can think to this is Joe Pickett. I think the connection for me is the rugged terrain.
  • This is the first time our MC has faced mortal danger because of being targeted, not just the cop at the wrong place at the right time.
  • The story turns deeply personal for Mattie. Although you can read them out of order, I think it’s more satisfying in order.
  • Cole and Mattie’s relationship is kind of beyond slow, slow burn, but it’s making incremental gains.
  • Side note: Authors are mean to their characters.
  • We are sort of getting to the point where the plot is spinning to grasp-at-straws to find the bad guys.

Conclusion:

The series has small town appeal, police procedural quirks and danger, and really strong characters. This entry is no exception.

*Found on Audible plus. The one book I saw said it was there until Dec 2024.

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5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Choices Stories Review 4.45/5 Stars: Wake the Dead

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, Horror ,

Summary:

It’s happened: zombie apocalypse. You and your sister live in a tower. You have for much of your young life. But now you’re a young adult and you want to spread your little proverbial wings and fly. But you can’t keep your mouth shut about injustices you see. And the guy who runs the tower is kind of a homicidal jerk.

Additional Comments:

  • I named my sister Pria. (I’m not sure if that was the default name or not.)
  • My character’s name was Miranda.
  • This story started really strong with some great twists and turns. I think it’s about 21 chs. I’d say 15 of them are excellent and the remainder have the distinct feel of filler material. The end didn’t strike me as something satisfying enough to warrant 5 stars across the board.
  • It’s open enough to allow for a sequel if they so desire.
  • The side characters ran the standard wide-eyed naïve to inventive and sweet to nerdy to outright hostile.
  • I enjoyed the hard choices aspect. There were literally choices that were no-win. You only got 2 choices and they were both terrible. Not sure why I found that appealing. Maybe it lent a smidge of realism to an otherwise ridiculous escapism zombie story.
  • Humph, I didn’t get to adopt a cute pet. (I guess I was too busy adopting lost souls.)
  • This one’s marked mature, but it’s mostly because of the gruesome aspects of killing zombies that are trying to rip your face off. There is a fair amount of sex if you seek it out, but it’s pretty clear where and when those instances crop up if you wish to avoid.

Conclusion:

Starts strong, meanders a bit, starts to end well, ends okay. Worth trying if you like zombie things.

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Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.

Choices Stories Review 3.5/5 Stars: Witness: A Bodyguard Romance

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, romance , ,

Summary:

You witness a mob hit, so you get whisked off into witness protection.

Additional Comments:

  • Of course, your bodyguard is young and devastatingly handsome
  • This book is marked mature. You can get the story without the sex but it’s very thin.
  • The entire thing is pretty much an excuse to have the characters hook up.
  • Not exactly something I’d qualify as clean, but buried in there, there is a wee bit of a suspense story.
  • I did enjoy the chase, drama, thriller aspects of the story.
  • There’s actually semi good balance between the travel to cool locales and lay low cause the mob guys want you dead.

Conclusion:

Choices has much stronger stories, but it’s a decent thriller sort of don’t-think-about-it story.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

Aeris Legends – Wrath and War (LitRPG, gaming, fantasy) This takes a box-of-chocolate approach to providing lore entries (creatures, quest descriptions, game mechanics) and short stories for a fantasy world.

Earth’s Melody – A Light Scifi Romantic Comedy Donatella Velargo, an actress on the run, must choose between anonymity and a desperate (handsome) rebel’s cause to save his sister and his planet.

Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues (Superheros, superpowers) A young woman who can access almost any superpower gets manipulated into testing them for the government.