As I have had no new posts in ... a little over a year, I am not surprised if I have no readers left awaiting a new sampling from my blogosphere. (Yes, that's a word now)
Where did I leave you last?
Well, my brain is grasping at straws for what I did the past year besides read books, work three jobs, and scramble for a purpose in life like everyone else.
Several months ago, I was given a wonderful opportunity. I was given the chance to move three states away to Kentucky. Louisville, to be precise. It was a chance to help my boss at Line By Lion Publications run a bookstore she and her husband took ownership of. The store was called the Roar-Shack Bookstore and Art Gallery. It features new and used books, Thomas Lamkin's art, Amanda Lamkin's publishing house, and an amazing selection to peruse from.
But two months was all I could handle.
I moved back home to Michigan.
People have asked me if I'm okay. For the record, I am okay now. It was hard to process how it all happened. But after a brief period of time, I feel like I am finally able to accept it and take a step forward.
Hence ... this post announcing my return.
I am also announcing my new business. As you know, or might not know, I studied at Cornerstone University as an English major with an emphasis in Advanced Grammar and History of Linguistics.
Editing books is passion of mine. I love taking something rough and ragged around the edges (figuratively) and turn it into something sleek and shiny (again, figurative). Turning a piece of writing into something readable and entertaining is a job I also take seriously.
So here it is everyone.
Love's Moonlight Editing.
Click Here For More Info
I am available for hire anytime! For almost anything. I will edit your novel, your research paper (depends on topic); I will proofread your letters, tangle with the verbs of your short story, and move commas around like the blinking cursor on a computer screen.
What I'm saying is ... I am here for you.
Right now, all I have is a Facebook page, but soon enough, I will have business cards up on corkboards all around the Portage/Kalamazoo area. But whether or not you are in Portage, Michigan or Budapest, Hungary ... I am available to everyone.
That is what I wanted everyone to know. I am okay. I am alive. I am doing well. And I am going to do even better.
Also, I think you guys know about my OBSESSION with books. Stay tuned to the Love's Moonlight Editing page for some great deals on my collection of gently read books. I have a lot and I brought even more home from Kentucky that will need loving homes when I am through with them. If you're really lucky, you'll find a few that I might list as free. Obviously, these will be on a first come, first serve basis.
There will be mostly sci-fi, fantasy, young adult, romance, Navy Seal fiction and non-fiction, cozy mysteries, and thrillers. I expect that there will be even more genres that I don't even know that I have. But it is time for me simplify my collection. I don't need to keep everything as the story goes.
I have missed writing on here. I really have. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things on the blog. But this is my letter to the world that I am in business. Love's the name and Editing is the game.
Send me your manuscripts. And keep 'em coming.
Also, I am offering deals to any NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) winners. Normally, I will do a full book edit for .01 a word. But for those who wrote 50,000 words in one month ... I will do a full book edit for a flat rate of $100.00. That's 80% off what a normal book would cost to edit with my company.
I also like to mention that because I am a shiny, brand new business, negotiations are also on the table. I like to help any way that I can.
Moving on from the self-promotion part of the blog. I wanted to let everyone know as well that I will still be reporting on what I read from week to week or so. Like normal. This week's book pick is ...
Daring A Duke by Claudia Dain.
This book ... is painfully dull. Honestly, I give this weeks' piece of prose a 1 Star rating out of 5. I love romance novels. You know I do. And perhaps, I am being overly critical of this one ... but the main character is a brat. The Duke who is pursuing her is whiny. Her friends and cousins are all obnoxious. Her brothers are overbearing.
Full Description Here
Basically, Jane Elliot from New York travels to London with her brothers for a wedding. She wants an adventure simply for the sake of an adventure (which in itself is dumb). Her brothers have accompanied her to avoid this exact thing.
Across the wedding reception, a man notices her. The Duke of Edenham. He falls for her on first sight and determines to make her his wife. This leads to chaos, boring conversation, and unnecessary drama.
From the very beginning, Claudia Dain's big issue repetitive dialogue. From the very beginning (oh wait did I repeat myself), Jane constantly thinks "Oh how English of him." The others think "Oh how American of them."
SERIOUSLY, THE READER GETS IT! JANE IS AMERICAN. THE DUKE IS FROM ENGLAND.
It got to the point where I almost considered giving up on reading the rest of the book. But .. you know me. I can't stop a book once I've started it. It makes me cranky and wonder how it should have ended.
So sorry to Claudia Dain if she ever reads this. I just did not care for Jane's story.
There you have it, my friends. Another book review from myself. Keep in touch and keep reading!
Be Open, Be Loving, Be Yourself
Taryn
