May 2020 Wrap-Up

swordsandspectres

As I’m sure is pretty similar to anyone else who is furloughed, I have had a lot of extra time on my hands. This time has been spent doing all sorts including reading, writing (just started a horror novel which I’m excited for), sunbathing (I’m hopeful of a tan) and a whole lot of other stuff.

I got a fair bit read and listened to this month (not that it shows too much in this post as the reviews haven’t been posted yet) and I’m only sad that this level won’t keep on when I eventually go back to work, however far off that time may come.

 

Physical/Ebooks read: 4

Audiobooks finished/reviewed: 4

Non-Review Posts: 6

 

Physical/Ebooks Read & Reviewed

Insomnia by Stephen King

Madman Across the Water By Caroline Angel

Tomb of Gods by Brian Moreland

The Hard Goodbye By Chris Miller

 

Audiobooks Reviewed:

Babylon’s Ashes by James S. A. Corey

The Mating Season by P. G. Wodehouse

Four by P. J. Blakey-Novis

The Man With No Face By Peter May

 

Non-Review Posts:

RCP Logo with Tagline

Small Press Spotlight

Small Press Spotlight: Red Cape Publishing

April Wrap-Up 2020

Book Haul

Fiction & Non-Fiction Podcasts I’m Hooked On

What Makes For An Appealing Book Cover?

40 thoughts on “May 2020 Wrap-Up”

    1. Three that I finished last month but haven’t gotten around to reviewing yet. My own writing has taken up so much time. Plus another 1 that I finished reading today.

      One of those books is a BL one: The Lords of Silence by Chris Wraight. Plague Marine goodness

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      1. Aw, that must be hard. Maybe it could be an opportunity for developing your publishing business with your friend?
        How’s the novel publication going, btw? I’m looking forward to reading it one day 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Sadly, the agents keep saying no to it 🙈

        The publishing business won’t be for a couple years yet. He’s not finished his PhD and I can’t afford to think about it whilst only on 80% income

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Sorry to hear that! 😦 I’ll keep my fingers crossed – I’m sure you’ll have more luck in the future!
        In the meantime, if you need a beta reader or just a bit of moral support, you know where to find me 🙂

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      6. What’s your e-mail? Or feel free to drop me a message through my contact form and I’ll send the first 3 chapters. Won’t send it all in case you dislike. No sense inundating you with potential badness 😂

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      11. It came through this time. Was expecting your little wordpress avatar. Took me by surprise to see an actual person on the e-mail icon.

        So jealous that you live in New Zealand. I want the freedom your country has rather than our virus-ridden UK 😕

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      12. Ah, sorry – that’s my all-purpose-official email 😉

        Yeah, I know what you mean; my family lives in Poland and in UK, and in both cases the leadership and the response to coronavirus was sorely lacking (not to use expletives). I feel pretty lucky right now – and I hope we’ve seen the last of the pandemic in NZ, but you never know – it may come back, especially once the borders are open again. Still, even if it gets back, I hope we’ll be prepared.

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      13. What part of the UK do you have family?

        Yea, individual countries doing well could be undermined by rushed border openings :/

        Haha it’s nice to know there’s a real person on the other end of the keyboard rather than just an orange cartoon man 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      14. Wales – Cardiff. Not too bad pandemic-wise, apparently, but still the stress and the health and economic pressures are felt, Where do you live?

        For all those times I’ve been considered a middle-aged-to-old man in the blogosphere, thanks to my avatar, you’re actually the first to see my real photo 😉

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      15. I feel honoured 🙂 I would say the same … but my pic is pretty public 😂 for my next question … is your name Ola or the one on your e-mail (shan’t type it in case you don’t want people knowing).

        Yea, Wales is quite good. They seem to be taking it more seriously than the clowns at Downing Street. I live in a town called Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (East Midlands). Our town supposedly has one of the lowest covid rates. So I’m happy with that.

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      16. Ola is actually a diminutive, less official form of my name, so I’m fine with both 🙂 In the same vein – I realized I keep calling you Aaron (swordsandspectres is pretty long ;)) but if you’d prefer swordsandspectres please let me know!

        Oh, good for you! 😀 I hope the pandemic will peter out at some point, but truth be told, I expected it to wane some time ago already and it didn’t… I think it really boils down to how strict quarantine measures you’re going to implement and how willing you are to actually go with them as long as it takes. It’s enough for one person to break the quarantine to erase its positive effects. And in UK there’s been a lot of chaos and contradictory decisions (not to mention certain high-profile politicians flaunting the law) :/.

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      17. Yea … People in the UK seem to be not the brightest bunch as far as social distancing goes. Dominic Cummings is a waste of good oxygen. Anyone who freely says on tv that he drove 60 mile round trip to ‘test his eyesight’ needs locking up. And don’t get me started on that buffoon of a Prime Minister 😂

        Aaron is fine haha. Would be so strange to be called that. Although, I did have an author call me ‘Mr Swords and Spectres’ once when asking about a review request (for erotica … which my guidelines clearly say no to). I’d never have guessed Ola was linked in any way to your name. Learn something new every day 👌

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      18. Mr Sword and Spectres, lol! 😀 Love it!

        Yeah, UK leaders in the time of need turned out to be as far from what’s needed as possible. It was ironic that one of the main proponents of herd immunity almost died of Covid-19 – but the experience doesn’t seem to have taught him anything, really. Cummings is a truly sinister figure. I do wonder what he has on Johnson, because I really find it difficult to believe this brainless defense comes from the PM’s good heart. It is fascinating, though, that I’m currently more versed in the strange currents of UK politics than the NZ one! 😂 NZ’s politics is for the most part down to earth and rational (though obviously not all of it), but what’s currently happening in UK is more outlandish and meaty than Westworld 😉

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      20. I think UK is not as racist as US in its current state; and the police didn’t get the ruthless military training nor weaponry. But yes, I remember riots in London when that apartment block burned down. And the situation will probably get worse before it gets better – people start losing jobs… 😕

        Liked by 1 person

      21. This is true. Racism has its roots in every country but, at least from what I’ve seen, it’s nowhere near as bad here as in USA.

        Yea, we have the job retention scheme until October … who knows after then

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Sorry for the late reply, this comment somehow ended up in my spam folder.

      It was enjoyable 🙂 and I really like supporting indie publishers so was glad to have enjoyed it even more. Hope you enjoy it when you get around to it.

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    1. Well, I’ve had some hopeful news regarding my writing (a novel I finished 5 years back … so not the one I’ve been slaving over these past months unfortunately) so I’m totally keeping my fingers crossed.

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