tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175158402024-03-16T12:10:43.879+11:00Yolanda SfetsosAuthor | ReaderYolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.comBlogger2958125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-29720479726392673072024-03-12T22:33:00.000+11:002024-03-13T11:55:13.891+11:00IN EXCESS OF DARK by Red Lagoe<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202409822-in-excess-of-dark" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="In Excess of Dark" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1701536000l/202409822._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202409822-in-excess-of-dark">In Excess of Dark</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16902513.Red_Lagoe">Red Lagoe</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6334906257">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I've been looking forward to reading this novella for a while, and thanks to Red I got a chance to experience the darkness that is this brilliant story.<br /><br />Karina is still dealing with the death of her father when she heads to the mountains for some family fun with her husband and teenage son. But life has a way of making her most dreaded thoughts a reality... <br /><br />Wow. This is an intense story. It's also very sad and quite unsettling. The vivid, macabre imagery is as disturbing as the psychological situations Karina finds herself in. A lot of what happens is presented in a way that makes the reader question if everything she's seeing and experiencing is actually really happening. Or is everything just the delusions of a grieving woman who blames herself for all the awful things in her life?<br /><br />I found this novella to be very emotional. A fever dream that you don't wake up from because things never stop coming. Karina deals with a lot, and that ending is... Yikes!<br /><br />Yeah, this is an awesome and quite gruesome story. Loved it!<div>
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<div><br /></div></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-84390736884471344152024-03-10T03:01:00.029+11:002024-03-10T15:34:45.619+11:00A Bit of an Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7f0mOXNRqYUx23BFDhl-JuYB9SPz1sJK_Ak_irZtbQjDKyG7m1Id03KNPmnfYPQG3EkAVEeZw0dqRzQ1ZyFl237HMuQ8KbgUjwoUG4fwHhuvK16_K99FvIpu0_4X6vVH5AbgCJzmWW9Yb-8UfmUD8PuABaJC3X1UFkDlDFKHWOwwoOAS-jj03w/s398/a5d59a05504f7f15e39cf2eaf397eb9e282a38e0860c0b9b0b3e4e3288997b3b.0.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7f0mOXNRqYUx23BFDhl-JuYB9SPz1sJK_Ak_irZtbQjDKyG7m1Id03KNPmnfYPQG3EkAVEeZw0dqRzQ1ZyFl237HMuQ8KbgUjwoUG4fwHhuvK16_K99FvIpu0_4X6vVH5AbgCJzmWW9Yb-8UfmUD8PuABaJC3X1UFkDlDFKHWOwwoOAS-jj03w/w200-h200/a5d59a05504f7f15e39cf2eaf397eb9e282a38e0860c0b9b0b3e4e3288997b3b.0.gif" width="200" /></a>Hey! How are you today? Long time no see. Well, I've been posting book reviews, but not much else. Why? After an extensive novel revision (Jan) followed by an extensive novel edit (Jan/Feb), my husband took a two-week break and we had an awesome time! ☺️<div><div><p></p><p>When he went back to work, I was initially planning to take another week off to catch up on some reading, and figure out what to work on next. Except, there were three ideas that wouldn't leave me alone. And no matter how much I tried, I just couldn't decide which one to work on next.</p><p>So, after some thinking and talking to my husband (who always helps me sort out my chaotic thoughts when they run riot) I decided to temporarily shift my focus away from these pesky ideas. Instead, I'm going to concentrate on revising my short story collection!</p><p>That's right. Late last year I went through my short stories and picked out the ones I'd like to include. So far, the collection is 76k words. This might be a bit long, or it might be perfect. I'll decide while/after completing the revision. I just need to come up with a name...</p><p>I'm actually very excited about finally tackling this. Plus, it will give me time to keep brainstorming the pesky novella ideas.</p><p>It feels great to have some direction again. And a new goal for March.</p><p>Oh, there's another thing that I wanted to mention. If you follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/yolandasfetsos/status/1762299439937622223?t=PbyMWEeDl3UkiQ7FN9fJzQ&s=19" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or IG then you know that one of my 'publishers' has decided to ghost me. <a href="https://aestheticpressbooks.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Aesthetic Press</a> hasn't contacted me in over eight months and has been ignoring my emails for two. It's a shitty situation, one that has given me quite a bit of stress because I feel like my Horrormance slasher is been held ransom.</p><p>But as far as I'm concerned this person has obviously walked away from their 'company' and has breached her own contract several times. No communication. No editing. No response. Disappeared from the face of the Earth. WTH is that about?! 😡 But you know what made me feel better? Picking a new name for my novel and updating all the relevant files. It's strange but doing something this simple helped me let go of some of the disappointment and anger I've been feeling about this shitty situation.</p><p>It's the little things that make a difference.</p><p>Anyway, that's about it. I just wanted to post a little something.</p><p>Have a great weekend!</p><p><br /></p></div></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-34647554811679798782024-03-07T22:47:00.003+11:002024-03-07T22:48:37.382+11:00THE CRANE HUSBAND by Kelly Barnhill<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60849273-the-crane-husband" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Crane Husband" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652751362l/60849273._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60849273-the-crane-husband">The Crane Husband</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/945430.Kelly_Barnhill">Kelly Barnhill</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6000754852">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was in the mood for another novella and decided to get stuck into this one because I love stories featuring birds in some way.<br /><br />When the mother of a fifteen-year-old girl brings home a crane that's as tall as a man, their way of life changes instantly. Her mother starts neglecting both of her children, and looks more beaten down every day. But this teenager isn't about to give up or give in...<br /><br />Well, this is one dark and very surreal story that deals with some pretty heavy stuff. Child neglect. Domestic violence. Corporations taking over the farming industry. Denial.<br /><br />It's like a fever dream that pulls the reader deep into the depths of desperation.<br /><br />We never find out the narrator's actual name, although she uses the name Bruce for business purposes. Her tenacity to keep the family together and protect her little brother drives most of her motivation to keep the house functioning even when her mother sabotages everything for her new 'man'.<br /><br />This is a sombre and very bleak fairy tale with some disturbing imagery that leads to quite an unsettling conclusion.<div><br /><br />
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<div><br /></div></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-90830343058905635582024-03-06T21:50:00.003+11:002024-03-07T22:48:14.389+11:00BARREN COVE by Ariel S. Winter<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753798-barren-cove" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Barren Cove" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494759960l/30753798._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753798-barren-cove">Barren Cove</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5343325.Ariel_S_Winter">Ariel S. Winter</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3678528401">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I remember picking this up during one of our many thrift store adventures several years ago because it sounded very interesting. I mean, it's about robots and I LOVE robot stories. Always have.<br /><br />Mr. Sapien is an old robot who wants to get away from the city for a while. He wants to figure things out, repair himself. So, he rents a cabana at Barren Cove, and instead of finding peace, he gets wrapped up in the bizarre lives of the Asimov 3000 family...<br /><br />Wow. I REALLY enjoyed this story! A lot.<br /><br />It's hard to believe but, at its core, this is a gothic tale. Everything about this family, location, weather, and circumstances is the epitome of this genre. But instead of people, it's robots who are living their isolated, messed-up lives inside a Victorian mansion full of secrets that sits on a cliff and overlooks the ocean.<br /><br />And what a twisted bunch they are.<br /><br />There's even a story within a story, in true <i>Wuthering Heights</i> fashion. As well as unethical <i>Frankenstein</i>-esque creations. Even a little of <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> And it all comes together beautifully.<br /><br />One of my favourite things about this book is how all the characters are introduced as if we're supposed to already know them, and their individual stories all start to take shape as Dean, the house computer fills in the blanks for Sapien. Only for him to find out that things aren't as they seem and he might not discover what he wants to know from Mr. Beachstone.<br /><br />Ah, Beachstone. The only human who grows from child to man in a home of robots. Asimov 3000 was obsessed with humans. His daughter Mary is kind but is suffering damsel syndrome. His son Kent is cruel and angry, curious. Then there's Clarke, a bit of a psycho with a small amount of empathy. And Philip. Poor sweet and innocent Phil. I can't forget about Sapien. The mysterious narrator who is damaged and lost, searching for something even though he's not sure what it is.<br /><br />Yeah, this is a fantastic piece of SF fiction that puts robots in the shoes usually worn by humans. This family is full of drama, tragedy, and the familiar existential crisis of creation.<br /><br />Loved it!<div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-31000104004883842982024-03-04T23:26:00.006+11:002024-03-04T23:30:20.203+11:00PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50202953-piranesi" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Piranesi" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50202953-piranesi">Piranesi</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8842.Susanna_Clarke">Susanna Clarke</a><br /><br />Well, I didn't expect to be DNFing this book, so I'm really disappointed. 😧<br /><br /><i>Piranesi</i> sounded intriguing and the cover is lovely. Hell, I even bought the hardback. And tonight, I finally decided it was time to get stuck into it.<br /><br />The story started off slow, but that's fine because I like a slow burn. Then the main character won't stop talking about the same thing over and over again. Still, I hung on until page 51. That's when I had to admit that it's not a slow burn, it's just downright boring. And SO repetitive.<br /><br />Still, I skimmed ahead because I heard it's worth the payoff. Unfortunately, I don't agree. Even skimming, I was bored. Started getting a headache. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm putting it down at 131 pages because I can't take it anymore. I don't even care about the ending. Ugh.<div><br /><br />
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</div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-80869636498757306612024-03-01T23:51:00.001+11:002024-03-01T23:51:13.857+11:00BLEEDING INTO NEW WORLDS by Sarah Jane Huntington<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/132617291-bleeding-into-new-worlds" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Bleeding Into New Worlds" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682535140l/132617291._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/132617291-bleeding-into-new-worlds">Bleeding Into New Worlds</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21027549.Sarah_Jane_Huntington">Sarah Jane Huntington</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6009796336">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I'm a huge fan of Sarah Jane Huntington's work, so I love getting stuck into her stories.<br /><br />Anna doesn't belong anywhere. She's all alone in the world and searching for a purpose, when she meets a group of people who welcome her into their lives and make astral travel sound easy. But nothing is easy in this world...<br /><br />Yikes. This turned out to be quite an intriguing and totally fascinating trip down the darkest rabbit hole. The layers of reality are peeled back to reveal some wondrous and terrifying places that are so vivid, the imagery and gruesome worldbuilding will stay with me for a long while.<br /><br />Anna's a lost soul whose vulnerability shines through every page. My sympathy for her never wavered. Not even through the most violent parts because her personal story is as horrifying as it is amazing.<br /><br />There's a bit of <i>Hellraiser</i> within this very macabre cosmic tale about betrayal and self-discovery. About how important self-acceptance is in its many forms.<br /><br />I loved this novella. It's another beautifully-written gem.<div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-52958476624695620612024-02-29T21:56:00.002+11:002024-02-29T21:56:24.897+11:00TRUE CRIME by Samantha Kolesnik<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56390525-true-crime" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="True Crime" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608737824l/56390525._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56390525-true-crime">True Crime</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19735299.Samantha_Kolesnik">Samantha Kolesnik</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4969914938">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Well, last night I picked out another novella that I've had on my Kindle for a while.<br /><br />Suzy and Lim live with their abusive mother in a shitty house hiding too many despicable secrets. Until the day it's all too much and the siblings find themselves on the run...<br /><br />O.M.F.G. 😳<br /><br />This story is beyond fucked up. I mean, seriously. It's like watching a true crime documentary from the other side. From the side we don't want to see. Yet, that's what makes this book so damn addictive.<br /><br />I seriously couldn't put it down because Suzy's voice is very strong and interesting. But also callous and quite gross. Suzy's attitude to life is so sad because the way she was raised deprived her of emotion and real human connection.<br /><br />By the way, this novella needs all the trigger warnings because it touches on just about every awful thing that's sure to make a reader want to look away. Even though you can't. You might want to, but you won't. <br /><br />As I said, Suzy's awful life and the disgusting people around her are sure to keep you glued to every ugly page. Even the few good people will make you uncomfortable.<br /><br />This is such a well-written story. It's weird to say I enjoyed it, but I did. This story highlight how the horrid cycle of disgraceful abuse can twist the most innocent into a different kind of monster.<br /><br />Utterly disturbing.<br />
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<div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-26474048344946342012024-02-28T21:27:00.003+11:002024-02-28T21:28:56.909+11:00HELENA by Claire L. Smith<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55661805-helena" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Helena" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602606642l/55661805._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55661805-helena">Helena</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20650891.Claire_L_Smith">Claire L. Smith</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3659944641">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Last night, while looking through the many books I have on my Kindle, I decided to get stuck into this one.<br /><br />It's 1855 and Helena Morrigan is a mortician struggling to make ends meet. That's how she ends up living in an old house that's close to the graveyard. But it also means that she befriends the Tarter siblings and realises she's not the only one with secrets... <br /><br />I loved the rich atmospheric gothic vibes that dripped from every page of this novella. The sense of Victorian times, as well as the location was very vivid and pulled me into the story. Once I started, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. And it didn't disappoint.<br /><br />This is a fast-paced story about a very strong young woman determined to live her life even though she's suffered a lot of loss. She excels at a job most find macabre and in her time, struggle to understand why a woman would go anywhere near dead bodies. But she's not the only cool character. I really liked Audrey and Valerie because they're also women who aren't afraid to be themselves.<br /><br />The creepy side of this tale kept me guessing but there were enough breadcrumbs throughout to realise exactly what Helena's dark secret is. And I found the writing charming. It was snappy and lovely, but also threw a hint of confusion into the narrative that made everything that little bit darker.<br /><br />Really enjoyed this one!<div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-53869446290003278512024-02-16T23:36:00.000+11:002024-02-16T23:36:44.567+11:00I have some awesome news!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey! How are you today? I hope February is treating you well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I'd pop in to mention some great news!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the first bit:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIWmmwxGBEuSPYYL3YXgSURGPZDnD7ef1AV0KIwIInYKIc4CUzjXaFez6Y1qu9-ccxE4gU4MyaRJFBU1AISsr141TsGVDUjLWEBDN27YNIgRb9Uxjx88hB6Z15qCTn95rKw9D4WkNpnkRiyWSKmmnQtI5gSiZa1wgMz0zTQt3pSXQrin6OZkGgw/s1837/Screenshot_20240216-084549~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIWmmwxGBEuSPYYL3YXgSURGPZDnD7ef1AV0KIwIInYKIc4CUzjXaFez6Y1qu9-ccxE4gU4MyaRJFBU1AISsr141TsGVDUjLWEBDN27YNIgRb9Uxjx88hB6Z15qCTn95rKw9D4WkNpnkRiyWSKmmnQtI5gSiZa1wgMz0zTQt3pSXQrin6OZkGgw/w376-h640/Screenshot_20240216-084549~2.png" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's right!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a new book coming out next month from <a href="https://www.anuci-press.com/post/yolanda-sfetsos-release-announcement" target="_blank">Anuci Press</a>. I'm SO excited!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out that fantastic cover, which was made by the very talented <a href="https://fabledbeastdesign.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Adrian from Fabled Beast Design</a>. I love it because this cover fits the story perfectly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't wait for this book to be out in the wild. And that happens to be March 29th. ☺️</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other very cool piece of news is this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9Pmy3vHd23HWrfjFyGYdAckMOBdknXLQWpfkpoJQlr6PJZrzm9Dc3mJzG_rmf2MPfnIjq4Ecs3RQcX_E3JsoEk0jTkdkDPd1kjRTvfpm46GMWECFguFgqPMRgLgGJBtBULZw1JEL7hYIjnQh6pLNz8zw98B88EWeYWdMmk8mGCi6pxFuigjTXQ/s724/IMG_20240202_094631_047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="724" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9Pmy3vHd23HWrfjFyGYdAckMOBdknXLQWpfkpoJQlr6PJZrzm9Dc3mJzG_rmf2MPfnIjq4Ecs3RQcX_E3JsoEk0jTkdkDPd1kjRTvfpm46GMWECFguFgqPMRgLgGJBtBULZw1JEL7hYIjnQh6pLNz8zw98B88EWeYWdMmk8mGCi6pxFuigjTXQ/w400-h333/IMG_20240202_094631_047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> This is also very exciting because this novella is actually a sequel/companion to</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lnkj.in/p/suffer" target="_blank"><b>SUFFER THE DARKNESS</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't have a release date for this one yet, but I can't wait to share more details when I have them. 😃</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, there you have it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-60644917293316138812024-02-03T00:38:00.001+11:002024-02-03T01:26:56.295+11:00Finally got some reading done!<p> </p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200958505-open-house" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Open House" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1698554603l/200958505._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200958505-open-house">Open House</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18380351.Nico_Bell">Nico Bell</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6009797974">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
After a super busy month, I wanted to start February with a bit of reading. And this novelette was the perfect choice because I read it in one sitting.<br /><br />Caleb is an ambitious realtor in LA who's trying to sell a modern high-tech mansion to establish himself professionally and financially. But during an open house, he meets a mysterious woman who sends him down a twisted path he wasn't expecting...<br /><br />Yikes. This is such an intense story! I was hooked from the start and loved that the twists and turns took me in directions I wasn't expecting. It's quite the roller-coaster ride that slowly unravels and doesn't let go until the very end.<br /><br />I love stories that take a well-worn trope (which I can't mention because it's a spoiler) and turn it upside down. And that's exactly what happens here. Just when you think you know what's happening and where it's going, you run into a new surprise.<br /><br />I REALLY enjoyed this fast-paced story!<div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">----------------</div><div><br /></div><div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60437731-mandy" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Mandy" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651327440l/60437731._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60437731-mandy">Mandy</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4969831.Stephanie_Sparks">Stephanie Sparks</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5946573174">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
After finishing a very disappointing story, I decided to get stuck into this one and I'm glad I did!<br /><br />When strangers knock on Mandy Fisher's door in the middle of the night she doesn't want to answer, but they're persistent. And as soon as she lets these two guys into her life, everything gets turned upside down…<br /><br />Wow. This story! I enjoyed the hell out of this ultra violent and totally wild novella. I mean, this story needs all the trigger warnings because so much of what happens is SO wrong. Not to mention how uncomfortable I was during most of it because a lot of the story deals with a raging sexist asshole who treats every woman with violence. But don't get me wrong, he's not limited to one gender because Robbie is such a despicable character. Ugh.<br /><br />But you know what? As bizarre as the concept is, because Mandy's <i>gift</i> is quite disturbing, this was so well written I couldn't put it down. I was on the edge of my seat all the way through, and really liked Mandy. As wrong as a lot of what she's done turns out to be, I really liked her. I felt sorry for her because she had the worst luck and life wasn't kind to her.<br /><br />This is such a great novella and I need to read more books written by this author.</div><div><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4724592-yolanda-sfetsos">View all my reviews</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-17281337668478882932024-01-29T22:44:00.007+11:002024-01-30T12:59:14.588+11:00HER HEART BEATS FOR ANCIENT BEASTS by Calvin Demmer<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lgTbxbqmoWTKWgWsezxWQUvPIfKKVTGFneE8Z_RTNxmfShysg9-5lc9dbVb2fgildIRASd5fmXxGMU-DaljxYSFK5PIByD1YJab3-GYqiOonXI3IRY9NCf6y9nD3L0EA2D_enZkSN84FE1k8frODpPCyvD8xyql_KKAEt9s0wRG_iIcqSfNlKA/s500/205467811.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lgTbxbqmoWTKWgWsezxWQUvPIfKKVTGFneE8Z_RTNxmfShysg9-5lc9dbVb2fgildIRASd5fmXxGMU-DaljxYSFK5PIByD1YJab3-GYqiOonXI3IRY9NCf6y9nD3L0EA2D_enZkSN84FE1k8frODpPCyvD8xyql_KKAEt9s0wRG_iIcqSfNlKA/w266-h400/205467811.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span>Ancient beings, merciless monsters, unearthly creatures, and other beasts roam these pages.</span></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>A short story collection</span></i>.</p><div><br /></div><div>When the author of this short story collection reached out, I was excited about reading his latest selection of short stories because I've enjoyed the other ones Calvin has released.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are my thoughts on each story...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>HIGHWAY HUNGER:</b> I really enjoyed this one. There's some great imagery and Dudley Ellington is a flawed but likeable main character.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: </b>Reginald Barton is a retired cop facing a freaky case all over again. It's also my favourite story in this collection. LOVED how the creepy sense of dread is strong all the way through. Fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>ANOTHER WARRIOR IN PARADISE:</b> Senghor's story is all about blind faith and how sometimes it's best not to prove yourself.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>HER HEART BEATS FOR ANCIENT BEASTS:</b> Officer Rupert finds himself in the middle of a very strange situation that takes the reader into a bizarre mystery set in a vivid location. This is a great example of why I enjoy small-time horror so much.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>THE RIVER RAN RED: </b>Asani's story about rituals serves a purpose but doesn't hold many surprises. The descriptions were lovely, though.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>KARMA: </b>This is a clever cautionary tale about what we're doing to our precious planet told from Doctor Charles Carrington's POV after he crosses paths with a heavily injured woman. Some stunning imagery in this narrative. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>SHAPES IN THE WATER: </b>A story about two brothers, a wormhole, a strange place, and a very freaky ending. <i>Really</i> liked that ending!</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>THE THRONE OF SPACE AND TIME: </b>The format in this one is a little different. The tale unravels via a very interesting letter written by a historian called Phillip Murdoch.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>FORBIDDEN FRUIT: </b>All I'm going to say about Todd and Dan is that sometimes, you get what's coming to you. Lots of lovely imagery in this one too.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>THE DESTROYER:</b> A story of Egyptian mythology proportions<b>.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, there you have it. This turned out to be quite an interesting collection of eclectic short stories and each tackles some kind of moral or commentary about our world and the way people relate, treat or act around their surroundings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every story featured many interesting characters. Some that I really liked, others not so much. I enjoyed some more than others, but every single story is well written.</div><div><br /></div><div>You should definitely check out this short story collection with an awesome cover. Seriously, love that cover!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Her-Heart-Beats-Ancient-Beasts-ebook/dp/B0CSGF5M2W/ref=sr_1_1?adid=082VK13VJJCZTQYGWWCZ&campaign=211041&creative=374001&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q4NiSfKCVC7zq4aNy5eiUb1HdkWV1CryMduLHZ9bG6k.n1rI4Uxkmk6cb1TzCHWZxBpEnFhFlodVfIqPRhkQCeI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Her+Heart+Beats+for+Ancient+Beasts&qid=1705794560&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><b><i>Her Heart Beats for Ancient Beings</i> will be released in March 2024 for pre-order</b></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-39601952021574576132024-01-26T02:59:00.001+11:002024-01-26T02:59:09.718+11:00This Novel is Done!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcGFpLXwjZCdd8VtIbi1ZRm46d7Ml08A-3wrujHQfnzSezTPFrT6LpF7EIJjNfOEhvkfdcOaUZRIFvu0gIYs8QCQ9j3yLe63Yj0Z5RshKKmB1vCZUrgZwONe85VpIHZ2Gt9aOWBxABG8n91WRe3OwwSZmBCtMVkRUpjyMdO2VSCctkj4-Hhl-Wg/s398/12fb7bae75b241c6053377a7873fd385c416212bbe8c879446d1b16ad394de16.0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcGFpLXwjZCdd8VtIbi1ZRm46d7Ml08A-3wrujHQfnzSezTPFrT6LpF7EIJjNfOEhvkfdcOaUZRIFvu0gIYs8QCQ9j3yLe63Yj0Z5RshKKmB1vCZUrgZwONe85VpIHZ2Gt9aOWBxABG8n91WRe3OwwSZmBCtMVkRUpjyMdO2VSCctkj4-Hhl-Wg/w200-h200/12fb7bae75b241c6053377a7873fd385c416212bbe8c879446d1b16ad394de16.0.png" width="200" /></a></div>Hey, how are you today?<p></p><p>Well, this week I got stuck into the final read-thru of my current revision. That means I sat down with my Paperwhite and read the story from start to finish.</p><p>This is when any weird sentences or repeated words stand out. Also, awkward phrasing and any excess. During this part of the revision process, I focus on all the nitty-gritty details. I added some words, then cut a bunch more. I also made all the changes on the Word doc after finishing each chapter.</p><p>Technically, I reached The End yesterday, but had to tweak a few last-minute details before calling it done.</p><p>The final word count is: <b><u>70,264</u></b>.</p><p>I'm <i>really</i> excited about finishing this feminine rage, unhinged horror novel. It's full of unlikeable characters, complicated situations, toxic friendships, and a lot of manipulation. This is a dark story about the strange things that happen in the woods. It's also nonlinear, so I had a lot of fun putting all the puzzle pieces together. And scrambling them. 😁</p><p>Now that it's done, I'm mentally exhausted and need a few days off. Good thing it's a long weekend. Yay.</p><p>Have an awesome day!<br /> </p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-57313075963196940332024-01-20T18:03:00.039+11:002024-01-20T18:52:11.468+11:00More Revision & Some Editing!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g54xMeFbXdK-xm9DG2g2e41Nm0knRRmF9bPNHB5YMyGCnqTx2pn_dcMWJyOlFcB3IMOJy5W31bNUv88S6eaCkU6gYdHc4RMc9wHkuOEfW4GJdNnksgJ1fqp1Cq3D-Eo4o6FJWZF_DHMdIHtDv3YhWtNnkFRYmn18S0X4o7KGCr3U7X9WY2Fe8g/s398/5b2ae249e6bf53bcf1bb7a7c9309dffc6b760361ce6e648765e1c9763ec4e11b.0.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g54xMeFbXdK-xm9DG2g2e41Nm0knRRmF9bPNHB5YMyGCnqTx2pn_dcMWJyOlFcB3IMOJy5W31bNUv88S6eaCkU6gYdHc4RMc9wHkuOEfW4GJdNnksgJ1fqp1Cq3D-Eo4o6FJWZF_DHMdIHtDv3YhWtNnkFRYmn18S0X4o7KGCr3U7X9WY2Fe8g/w200-h200/5b2ae249e6bf53bcf1bb7a7c9309dffc6b760361ce6e648765e1c9763ec4e11b.0.png" width="200" /></a></div>Hey! How are you today? It's been a SUPER busy week, and it's left me feeling mentally exhausted. To be honest, the shitty weather didn't help. 😫<p></p><p>I'm SO glad the weekend is finally here!</p><p>Anyway, my goal for this week was to get through the third draft of the unhinged/wild novel I'm currently revising. So, I got stuck into it on Monday afternoon and ended up reaching the end by Wednesday night. <i>Yay!</i> It always feels good to reach this point because it means the story is <i>almost</i> done. There's only one more check left to do: to read the whole thing on my Paperwhite.</p><p>Actually, it's already sitting there waiting for me. LOL.</p><p>The word count is now: <b>70,932</b>.</p><p>That's right, this story has made it past the 70k mark. I mean, I knew I was going to make some additions, but also deleted quite a bit. Not sure what the final-final word count will be, but that's next week's problem. 😅</p><p>After finishing such an extensive revision, I like to give myself a bit of a break. So the intention was to take Thursday, Friday and the weekend off to recharge my batteries. BUT!! Edits hit my Inbox on Thursday morning and there's no way I'm going to leave them there. Especially since I'm determined (obsessed) to get my WIP finalised next week...</p><p>So, I got stuck into the edit and managed to get it done. Sure, I kept working into the early hours of Saturday morning, but I was determined to get it done because I want to enjoy the weekend. I really need these two days off so I can be clear-headed when I start the final read-thru on Monday. Oh, and I have to decide on a title...</p><p>Well, that's it for now.</p><p>I'm going to enjoy the weekend with my awesome husband. And now that the weather has changed and the sun is back, I hope it sticks around for a while.</p><p>Have a great one!</p><p><br /></p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-3506741583633894412024-01-12T20:02:00.015+11:002024-01-12T20:23:46.068+11:00Revision Time!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHzfhxtTnVIbAej56qUq3MRD6r7DgaMDv2dXyCZIGn09UG7F7CHAJEWLnGb9YmmfWSJXib8SidziK4OUyP7SaLviEYGug3Inqf8k27d6xyHroPCOZ7W_WzlmWfgkdrEXTS7ZhPW-J77jqUAocrUFY4v13Lr3GjXA5FkPl0FBcOTKLIcDKOmxXzQ/s398/267a04b2198b72a0931e7030b44836c58e2232fa6d80480e5c1a7f8c72b59116.0.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHzfhxtTnVIbAej56qUq3MRD6r7DgaMDv2dXyCZIGn09UG7F7CHAJEWLnGb9YmmfWSJXib8SidziK4OUyP7SaLviEYGug3Inqf8k27d6xyHroPCOZ7W_WzlmWfgkdrEXTS7ZhPW-J77jqUAocrUFY4v13Lr3GjXA5FkPl0FBcOTKLIcDKOmxXzQ/w200-h200/267a04b2198b72a0931e7030b44836c58e2232fa6d80480e5c1a7f8c72b59116.0.png" width="200" /></a></div>Hey! How are you today? I hope you all had a lovely new year! 😊<p></p><p>Although January always moves <i>very</i> slowly and my brain hasn't fully grasped that the lazy festive season is done, I decided to get stuck into my first writing project of 2024: the second draft of the <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/11/wip-week-three.html?m=0" target="_blank">novel I wrote back in November</a>.</p><p>This is to kick-start my writing goals for this year, and to make sure that I continue to stick to my plan of staying on top of my finished first drafts. I did very well last year and revised the stories I wrote a month or two after finishing. So I want to keep that going.</p><p>Those eighteen months or so that <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2022/09/revision-time.html?m=1" target="_blank">I spent catching up on first drafts</a> I pretty much abandoned to my hard drive motivates me enough to make sure I don't falter again. 😅</p><p>I started the revision on Monday and ended up reaching the end on Wednesday night. But last night I went back to add dates to the timeline. It was a lot trickier than I first thought but I've got everything figured out now. See, I wrote this story in a non-linear style. The events are happening in two different timelines but they're not in proper sequence. I know it sounds a bit weird, but <i>totally</i> fits this wild story.</p><p>Anyway, now it's done. So... <i>yay.</i></p><p>This is the second draft word count: <b>69,152</b>.</p><p>I'm very happy with this progress and can't wait to start the third draft next week. This is a strange little tale about unhinged women who aren't likeable, but sure as hell are interesting. They get up to some seriously crazy stuff and I'm looking forward to getting this finished and hopefully out into the world.</p><p>Well, asides from that, I've been having a nice week with my husband. Though there is <i>one</i> pesky thing that is causing me some anxiety. A publisher I signed a contract with last year has decided to stop communicating. I've tried to reach out with no success, but I have to keep trying.</p><p>That's it for today. Hope you all have an awesome weekend! ☺️</p><p> </p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-56092322865130953942024-01-05T20:15:00.005+11:002024-01-05T23:38:11.476+11:00First 2024 Reads: Two Short Stories by Silvia Moreno-Garcia<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181478167-the-lover" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Lover" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692350081l/181478167._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181478167-the-lover">The Lover</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088550.Silvia_Moreno_Garcia">Silvia Moreno-Garcia</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6082531309">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I wanted to start the year with something quick and sharp, and this story definitely did the trick.<br /><br />Judith longs to be free and escapes to a small shack in the woods whenever she can. Still, she can't escape all the chores and responsibilities that her prettier older sister, Alice, makes her do. Not until she really opens her eyes...<br /><br />Wow, I loved this deliciously wicked fairy tale!<br /><br />It's a little <i>Red Riding Hood</i>, a bit <i>Cinderella</i>, with a good dose of folklore thrown in, and a lot of adult content. Yeah, this is a great story!<br /><br />I'm not surprised I enjoyed it so much because I LOVE every story I've read written by this awesome author.<div><div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60312270-the-tiger-came-to-the-mountains" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Tiger Came to the Mountains" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644083430l/60312270._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60312270-the-tiger-came-to-the-mountains">The Tiger Came to the Mountains</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088550.Silvia_Moreno_Garcia">Silvia Moreno-Garcia</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6131088192">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Since I had another Silvia Moreno-Garcia short story on my Kindle, and it's Friday, I decided to get stuck into it.<br /><br />It's 1917 in Mexico and a revolution is going on outside a small farm with two women and a bunch of children. But thirteen-year-old Machorra longs for adventure, and she finds it in the mountains while hiding there with her sickly brother...<br /><br />Well, that turned out to be quite an intriguing tale of family, adventure and myth. I like how it's also a little mystical and leaves you wondering. There's quite a bit of cruelty too, not so much in the actions, but in the words.<br /><br />It's another great tale by this author. I really enjoy the way she tells a story.</div><div><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4724592-yolanda-sfetsos">View all my reviews</a>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-78942387323877989302024-01-02T20:15:00.003+11:002024-01-02T23:32:39.571+11:00Some Kind of Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaANPM_YV8Vfm5cINVvf8HeGH8v6ey_cKKPSngD-3xhfdM1mRxW_GwL1eTLDumZsJ3dzdjGtk9y83PMiaEtPWo9ogDFEr4nM59hUvEtt1D9lw6ZS6ffZ17Po2Pcz4sh304cn02zSO3Z_-gBiKPRkddPEB-Z9HFEm6I4NCFb5qiBeCg87pC4wibw/s600/1704039999542.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="600" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaANPM_YV8Vfm5cINVvf8HeGH8v6ey_cKKPSngD-3xhfdM1mRxW_GwL1eTLDumZsJ3dzdjGtk9y83PMiaEtPWo9ogDFEr4nM59hUvEtt1D9lw6ZS6ffZ17Po2Pcz4sh304cn02zSO3Z_-gBiKPRkddPEB-Z9HFEm6I4NCFb5qiBeCg87pC4wibw/w200-h187/1704039999542.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">HAPPY NEW YEAR! </span></b>☺️🎉</span><div><br /></div><div>The beginning of January always feels like a clean slate. A time to make personal plans and goals. A chance to get stuck into new things or continue doing the familiar, but with a new twist.<br /><p></p><p>So, it's time for me to post my 2024 Goals.</p><p>I don't like to make New Year resolutions because I never stick to them. But I <i>do</i> put together a goals list because there are always things I want to accomplish.</p><p>This is everything I'd like to achieve/continue to do this year:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Go for long daily walks</li><li>Really get back into yoga and schedule maybe two workouts a week</li><li>Brainstorming a bunch of ideas</li><li>Celebrate the book/s coming out this year</li><li>Write between 100-200k words</li><li>Read 52 books</li><li>Revise/finalise the first draft (unhinged women/girls novel) I wrote during November </li><li>Work on edits as they hit my Inbox</li><li>Write a novel or two</li><li>Write a novella or two</li><li>Write some new short stories</li><li>Finally put together/finalise my first short story collection & find a place to sub it to</li><li>Continue to submit stories</li><li>Keep playing <i>Animal Crossing</i> and get into some other cozy, cute puzzle games (ie. <i>Fae Farm</i>)</li></ul><p></p><p>Well, these are my goals. ☺️</p><p>Are you making a list this year?</p><p><br /></p></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-29023713111934041792023-12-31T22:01:00.005+11:002024-01-01T02:38:25.154+11:00Books Read in 2023<div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">IN AN ABSENT DREAM</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Wayward Children #4):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Seanan McGuire</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">JUICE LIKE WOUNDS</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Wayward Children #4.5):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sean McGuire</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE TOLL HOUSE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Carly Reagon</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE LITTLE WITCH:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">M. Rickert</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE COLOUR OF EVIL:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sarah Jane Huntington</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BAD DOLLS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rachel Harrison</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ALL THE LIVING AND THE DEAD:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hayley Campbell</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">EMILY WILDE'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FARIES: (DNF)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heather Fawcett</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tim McGregor</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #61:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SUFFER THE DARKNESS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yolanda Sfetsos</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">LOVE, PAMELA:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pamela Anderson</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GOONIES:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">James Kahn</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THIS IS WHERE WE TALK THINGS OUT:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Caitlin Marceau</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">DEAD EYES</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Rewind or Die #18):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">E.V. Knight</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ALONE WITH MYSELF:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kev Harrison</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GROWTH</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(The Growth #1):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Adam Hulse</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE BLACK CABIN:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wayne Fenlon</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HEARTBURN:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Damien Casey</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GROWTH LIVES!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(The Growth #2):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Adam Hulse</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">IT DOESN'T GO AWAY:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wendy Dalrymple</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WAIF: </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Samantha Kolesnik</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Edgar Allan Poe</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">INHERITING HER GHOSTS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">S.H. Cooper</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Grady Hendrix</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BRAD, UNWOUND</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(A Puppet Scorned Yarn):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jamie Kort</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">LINGHUN:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ai Jiang</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SQUISHMALLOWS OFFICIAL COLLECTORS' GUIDE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Squishmallows </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3031028672" target="_blank">STAR WARS: PRINCESS LEIA</a>:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mark Waid & Terry Dodson</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #62:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #63:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SQUAD:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">UNTAMED SHORE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Silvia Moreno-Garcia</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE LONGEST THIRST:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Roxie Voorhees</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">OUR OWN UNIQUE AFFLICTION:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scott J. Moses</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MOTHERTHING:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ainslie Hogarth</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5545499413" target="_blank">SAGA #64</a>:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SPELL ON WHEELS</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Spell on Wheels Volume 1):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kate Leth, Megan Levens & Marissa Louise</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GHOST IN YOU:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5545970990" target="_blank">HEX WIVES</a>:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ben Blacker, Mirka Andolfo & Marissa Louise</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5546219388" target="_blank">DC's HARLEY QUINN ROMANCES</a>:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alexis Quasarano, Max Sarin & Marissa Louise</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WYTCHES</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Volume One):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scott Snyder & Jock</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SPELL ON WHEELS: Just to Get to You</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Spell on Wheels Volume 2):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kate Leth, Megan Levens & Marissa Louise</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">IMMORTALITY: A Love Story</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(The Anatomy Duology #2):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dana Schwartz</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Sabrina, Volume 1):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kelly Thompson, Veronica Fish, Andy Fish & Jack Morelli</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Something Wicked</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Sabrina, Volume 2):</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kelly Thompson, Veronica Fish, Andy Fish & Jack Morelli</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THIS ONE'S GONNA HURT:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cody J. Thompson</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WUTHERING HEIGHTS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Emily Brontë</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SUFFER THE DARKNESS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yolanda Sfetsos</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">EXPECTATIONS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">B.T. Hayes</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HUNGERS AS OLD AS THIS LAND:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Zachary Rosenberg</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">28 DAYS SASSIER:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Damien Casey</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BELOW ECONOMIC THRESHOLDS:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Adam Hulse</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE HIBISCUS AND THE GRAVE:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wendy Dalrymple </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">EERIELLA: SUPER-FIEND:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sophie Ingley</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE DISMEMBERED:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jonathan Janz</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ALIVE UNDEAD:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian Bowyer</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I AM AI:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ai Jiang</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SILVER NITRATE:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Silvia Moreno-Garcia</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">E.T. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Extra-Terrestrial:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arie Kaplan & Chris Fennell</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">JAWS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Big Shark. Little Boat:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Geof Smith & Kaysi Smith</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BACK TO THE FUTURE:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Arie Kaplan & Meg Dunn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">D&D DUNGEON CLUB</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ROLL CALL:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Molly Knox Ostertag </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REAL LIFE SUCKS LOSERS DRY:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cassandra Daucus</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SCARLETT:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian Bowyer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">KINDRED:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Octavia E. Butler</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MY FIRST BOOK OF GIRL POWER:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Julie Merberg </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BEAST OF BURDEN:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yolanda Sfetsos</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kalynn Bayron</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HIDE:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kiersten White</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">FUNNYBONES:</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Allan Ahlberg</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS COLOURING BOOK:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Disney</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">PARASOCIAL:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wendy Dalrymple</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">PRE-APPROVED FOR HAUNTING AND OTHER STORIES:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Patrick Barb</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE FOLLY:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gemma Armor</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ANKLE SNATCHER</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Creature Feature collection:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Grady Hendrix </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA # 65:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA # 66:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE PRAM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Creature Feature collection:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Joe Hill</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HOLLY:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stephen King</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MY HALLOWEEN ROMANCE:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wendy Dalrymple </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE SOXORCIST:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jamie Kort</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TAMPA:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alissa Nutting</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">MAEVE FLY:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">C.J. Leede</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WHAT HIDES IN THE CUPBOARDS:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cassondra Windwalker</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WINGS OF SORROW:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yolanda Sfetsos</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">DIRTY THIRTY:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Janet Evanovich</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SCARIEST. BOOK. EVER:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Goosebumps House of Shivers #1)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">R.L. Stine</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6008320444" target="_blank">THE POWER OF CRYSTALS</a>:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hinkler Books</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Way Down Deep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Volume 1:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cullen Bunn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Disciples</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Volume 2:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cullen Bunn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Sacrifice</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Volume 3:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cullen Bunn</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rumaan Alam</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT #2</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can You Fear Me Now?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Various</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT #3</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Zombielicious</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Various </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT #4</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Keeping It Real:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Various</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT #5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yabba Dabba Voodoo:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Various</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SEINFELD</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Day of Nothing:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Micol Ostow & Brittany Baugus</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">GIRLS' NIGHT OUT:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wendy Dalrymple</span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">YOUR DARLING DEATH:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lauren Carter</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE VISITOR:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sergio Gomez</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">KOSA:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Durgin</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #6d6d6d; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr-7RZKTMq8tAtzg1CzPVsP8HdLWUkFAP_PNjebsI3gwcEdZtVoHlFkoQtBbH4K2MP-wNVdGxDOj4Gv4rDizmiHVcAvm2_et9Vq3_JCZD_jltjmApH93QAobMSH6CiFx8bMgzauhWv6vC-ZJ6E5A5wRMOn00N1wCgNSUGwv8hTtk50L77k_Ftxg/s431/Screenshot_20231227-013916~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr-7RZKTMq8tAtzg1CzPVsP8HdLWUkFAP_PNjebsI3gwcEdZtVoHlFkoQtBbH4K2MP-wNVdGxDOj4Gv4rDizmiHVcAvm2_et9Vq3_JCZD_jltjmApH93QAobMSH6CiFx8bMgzauhWv6vC-ZJ6E5A5wRMOn00N1wCgNSUGwv8hTtk50L77k_Ftxg/w167-h200/Screenshot_20231227-013916~2.png" width="167" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Books Read in 2023: 103</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">/100</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(DNF books: 1)</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">________________________</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Number of series/duology/trilogy books read: 27</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">IN AN ABSENT DREAM (Wayward Children #4)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">JUICE LIKE WOUNDS (Wayward Children #4.5)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #61</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">DEAD EYES (Rewind or Die #18)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GROWTH (The Growth #1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE GROWTH LIVES! (The Growth #2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">BRAD, UNWOUND (A Puppet Scorned Yarn)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #62</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #63</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #64</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SPELL ON WHEELS (Spell on Wheels Vol 1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SPELL ON WHEELS: Just to Get to You (Spell on Wheels Volume 2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">IMMORTALITY: A Love Story (The Anatomy Duology #2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH (Sabrina, Volume 1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH: Something Wicked (Sabrina, Volume 2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">ANKLE SNATCHER (Creature Feature collection)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #65</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SAGA #66</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">THE PRAM (Creature Feature collection)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">SCARIEST. BOOK. EVER (Goosebumps House of Shivers #1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Way Down Deep (Volume 1)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Disciples (Volume 2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">REGRESSION, Sacrifice (Volume 3)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Can You Fear Me Now? (Volume 2)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Zombielicious (Volume 3)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Keeping It Real (Volume 4)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">TALES FROM THE CRYPT: Yabba Dabba Voodoo (Volume 5)</span></li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/01/reading-2023.html?m=1" style="color: #eb2628; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My 2023 Reading Plan</span></a></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-71327278616489528242023-12-30T20:50:00.004+11:002024-01-04T21:11:59.589+11:00Cover Reveal & Pre-order!<p style="text-align: center;">That's right!</p><p style="text-align: center;">The cover for my upcoming gothic horror novella was revealed today by <a href="https://darklithorror.com/" target="_blank">DarkLit Press</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Check it out:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lnkj.in/p/sorrow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1Zvf-cZ5vBKgGEajWETmosTQOoRgjBRGuEo-cbtn-88bmrmGBe8zHaM-Q3z3AtaDT3Tb2UNtxzIYVmakv2xas-rq18JRC1Jqdav0PHgHbTNhjF_7kivP4UVOSYai01xm-Y8KNhvaTKF6sDoV59FP9mHTjIagCVG_8M9nuh-0X9XWSR3F53b8Lg/w429-h640/IMG_20231026_073455_850.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isn't it beautiful?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was made by <a href="https://www.sabercore23art.com/" target="_blank">SaberCore Art Studio</a>, who is an amazing artist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also, this cover fits the story perfectly. I absolutely LOVE it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, what's the story about?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the synopsis:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>When Thera inherits a house on the cliff from her estranged aunt, her husband suggests they spend a week on the coast to sort through her family's belongings. But Hector has ulterior motives and hopes she'll fall in love with this gothic location.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Instead, these newlyweds find themselves trapped inside a house concealing an ancient family secret that might tear them apart before they get the chance to start their lives together.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Thera is slowly changing into someone—or something—else, but is willing to do whatever it takes to stop the curse.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Drawing upon the atmospheric backdrop of a cliffside house, Sfetsos intricately weaves a tale where the line between passion and peril is razor-thin. The story captivates with its raw portrayal of transformation and the lengths one goes to save love amidst looming darkness.</i></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">And here are some amazing blurbs from three fantastic authors:</p><p style="text-align: center;">"These characters will dig their talons through muscle and bone to nest in your battered heart, tormenting you long after the story is done." <span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><b>Angela Sylvaine, author of Frost Bite</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;">"For fans of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and THE CRANE HUSBAND, Sfetsos's book of sacrifice and torment will sure to haunt your mind." <span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><b>Ai Jiang, Nebula finalist and author of LINGHUN and I AM AI</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Inherited trauma, dark family secrets, and terrifying psychological themes blend beautifully together to leave you with an ending that satisfies and terrifies. <span style="font-family: "Google Sans"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">—</span><b>Wendy Dalrymple, author of WHITE IBIS and ROSER PARK</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lnkj.in/p/sorrow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">YOU CAN PRE-ORDER <i>WINGS OF SORROW </i>RIGHT NOW!!</span></a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">And don't forget that you can read the prequel short story right now <a href="https://books.bookfunnel.com/darklitpress" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">This is such exciting news! 😃🎉</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-43328063323240437682023-12-27T17:00:00.015+11:002023-12-27T21:33:14.509+11:002023 Goals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l6h-OMliuxq-GqHhJSvCZlSRtf6_gifGGwDjb27tg7USK-sKyghJBWzBb6_q-FJgmDWYL7CJrrB-vL3CqsB4N61cdMahV-aUrahfwWDYvsfbxi9r7T_oe5wZGoaiiuJfiW01b5Bl9LsHvX6cqGUrJC2pDTI8GOgQZc56QP7rQeqfd2clkp0kYg/s840/Screenshot_20221209-213642~4.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="840" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l6h-OMliuxq-GqHhJSvCZlSRtf6_gifGGwDjb27tg7USK-sKyghJBWzBb6_q-FJgmDWYL7CJrrB-vL3CqsB4N61cdMahV-aUrahfwWDYvsfbxi9r7T_oe5wZGoaiiuJfiW01b5Bl9LsHvX6cqGUrJC2pDTI8GOgQZc56QP7rQeqfd2clkp0kYg/w200-h166/Screenshot_20221209-213642~4.png" width="200" /></a></div>Well, we've almost reached the end of 2023, so I suppose it's time to chat about my goals.<p></p><div>This year turned out to be packed full of stuff. My husband became a bus driver, which flipped our routine. I managed to get my writing back on track after spending so much of the last few years revising, which is fantastic. And sadly, we lost our beloved <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/03/saying-goodbye-to-loki.html?m=1" target="_blank">16-year-old Loki</a>, which broke our hearts. It's been nine months, but we still miss him every single day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Loki was more than a cat. He was family. He was the embodiment of our apartment. And without him, it feels like something is missing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I don't want to get off track and get sad all over again. I'm here to talk about the personal goals I set in January.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's how they turned out:</div><div><ul><li>Go for two daily walks: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>LIKE I SAID ABOVE, OUR SCHEDULE CHANGED THIS YEAR, SO MOST DAYS I END UP GOING FOR ONE VERY LONG WALK (JUST UNDER TWO HOURS).</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Get back into yoga and schedule more workouts: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>ALTHOUGH WE DID YOGA, IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE RIGHT BALANCE. 🫤</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Write between 100-200k words: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I WROTE <u>190.934</u> WORDS.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Read 100 books: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I READ 102 BOOKS.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Revise/finalise my NaNoWriMo 2022 first draft: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>YES! I ACTUALLY DID THIS <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/03/march-revision-update.html?m=1" target="_blank">IN MARCH</a>.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Write a novel or two: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I WROTE ONE 65K NOVEL.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Write a novella or two: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I WROTE TWO NOVELLAS (45K & 30K).</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Keep writing short stories & subbing Try not to self-reject & submit stories no matter how much of a longshot it is: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I WROTE THREE SHORT STORIES BUT DIDN'T REALLY SUB TO MANY OPEN CALLS BECAUSE I WAS WORKING ON LONGER STUFF.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Take part in NaNoWriMo: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>OKAY, THIS ONE'S MESSY. I <i>DID</i> WRITE A FIRST DRAFT (65K) DURING NOVEMBER, BUT <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/11/final-nano-thoughts.html?m=0" target="_blank">I DELETED MY NANOWRIMO ACCOUNT & WILL NEVER TAKE PART AGAIN</a>.</b></span></li></ul><ul><li>Continue playing <i>Animal Crossing</i> and get into some other cozy, cute puzzle games: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>I'M STILL PLAYING <i>ANIMAL CROSSING</i> EVERY DAY & PLAYED <i>COZY GROVE</i> REGULARLY AS WELL. I ALSO FINISHED <i>UNPACKING</i>, CONTINUED TO PLAY THE <i>TETRIS 99</i> CHALLENGES & RECENTLY STARTED SUIKA GAME. ACCORDING TO MY NINTENDO SWITCH STATS, I PLAYED A TOTAL OF <u>681 HOURS</u> THIS YEAR! WHICH IS AWESOME.</b></span></li></ul><div>Well, that's how I did with my personal goals list! Not bad. I'm very happy with what I achieved.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, here are some <i>other</i> very cool writing highlights:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I now have TV/Film representation! I'm represented by Alec Frankel from IAG. This is SO EXCITING!! ☺️🎉</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I signed eight contracts this year.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Writer Firsts: I got some amazing blurbs from a bunch of awesome authors, had my first hardcover and audio book releases & my most reviewed story ever!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I edited four novellas and two are already published.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I wrote, revised & subbed two prequel short stories that are now available for free at DarkLit.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The two novellas I wrote this year, I also revised & finalised. Which is a big deal because I promised myself that I would keep up with first draft revision.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I made two covers for my own books. I made the BEAST OF BURDEN cover, and with the help of Andrew Robert, I made the cover for CHANGE OF HEART.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I <i>finally</i> updated my website! This was something I wanted to do all year but didn't get to it until this month. And now that I've done it, I want to make changes when needed.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I got the rights back for two books.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are the novellas that were released this year:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lnkj.in/p/suffer" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkiU6JbH1KMg-ItouTWup0GJFPsu8AdrqDbn9jSe7YCifP_kWApOE8ImH2glTJPTodOpfgFulrHpMmqlwWl_4lqkAPRJbC8_ub03HvnD9GalSjklGA5BqwX0DHMOpfKYnOoQGAGiun2SbOD1OiELDjp5sGQQzK2FdAU2XDkF7ueqzaN3MgHPnHQ/s320/SuffertheDarkness_6x9covQuote--med.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CGL4KF9M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2666" data-original-width="1994" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnvB8hNR6J5SLv91e7ILAgPTrMxfpd_B75TcHIFDkyxAMRzBaY3LgBLtocL_UoTWfAmHWSISoNJkLYPu7kbGajUvvOV_Ak5NJPr1JkabZu1CEx-YmvwMjxZdinqNj7TRTmQw5lc5WqQqPkGvZsjOXmcf8Gmb2WGBWzKW13OmCLGhLSJ6mJQIGXA/w216-h320/Beast%20of%20Burden%20front%20cover.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are the short stories available for <a href="http://books.bookfunnel.com/darklitpress" target="_blank">free</a>:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFgYPJZFEWpx8KOSbfd2vZ4jVnxIuGncFnjCMam5VgQrhZ9t9y1ucAKDOUx6cjpknASM93aYrPbuNnAMieDqgINBh97DpBGGhG5aI369hNq6NPsNIk3rhfRxM-wZlxx4tfgc_PnkNd_t3lzdk-HGCXQK14lwsLOxOxz3rq9SqduWsMJU1VRmtJA/s2560/eBook%201600x2560%20px%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFgYPJZFEWpx8KOSbfd2vZ4jVnxIuGncFnjCMam5VgQrhZ9t9y1ucAKDOUx6cjpknASM93aYrPbuNnAMieDqgINBh97DpBGGhG5aI369hNq6NPsNIk3rhfRxM-wZlxx4tfgc_PnkNd_t3lzdk-HGCXQK14lwsLOxOxz3rq9SqduWsMJU1VRmtJA/s320/eBook%201600x2560%20px%20(2).jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HDut3CzHsCjmD6XQ6NZXmG8HSz6tuNJNUvjMQTFF4NEK1PPn3aOEK4tRxRPEWr0C51KDH-2Lx6xNJvbzu6B7ne8QY3tu6Li4oN23CCED46BWdHMunykdR4R55IHIw5TUZWgqP0ajED9Q_wBfKba7SEnkagUTVRtpvsVekfXfWMSeCKR99TlXww/s1280/%5B%20Change%20of%20Heart%20Cover%20%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HDut3CzHsCjmD6XQ6NZXmG8HSz6tuNJNUvjMQTFF4NEK1PPn3aOEK4tRxRPEWr0C51KDH-2Lx6xNJvbzu6B7ne8QY3tu6Li4oN23CCED46BWdHMunykdR4R55IHIw5TUZWgqP0ajED9Q_wBfKba7SEnkagUTVRtpvsVekfXfWMSeCKR99TlXww/s320/%5B%20Change%20of%20Heart%20Cover%20%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a Creepypasta shortie in this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Compendium-Creeps-Folklore-Haunted-Original/dp/B0BW2MZ864/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3FUNFHP1WE3YF&keywords=a+compendium+of+creeps&qid=1703560196&sprefix=a+compendium+of+creep%2Caps%2C405&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Cemetery Gates Media anthology</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6o4AyhD10GS7v9mlRrIRQorfAj4twAXK4l7DOAlkyjoKwPJ6p5kQkY9onHO26lI4bK6YQ67sUvHIgI_FTa3b7IIv_EwiKvOYWC5jxT2yLLyrIcVh8bNU-G2Laa8y9BHNgr-s-uK0uD84v0zi6GR2gOqvFMTjdOiXTGI7ku3b3rUD16xiDIyWug/s1619/20221128_092821~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6o4AyhD10GS7v9mlRrIRQorfAj4twAXK4l7DOAlkyjoKwPJ6p5kQkY9onHO26lI4bK6YQ67sUvHIgI_FTa3b7IIv_EwiKvOYWC5jxT2yLLyrIcVh8bNU-G2Laa8y9BHNgr-s-uK0uD84v0zi6GR2gOqvFMTjdOiXTGI7ku3b3rUD16xiDIyWug/s320/20221128_092821~2.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I mentioned above, now that I've updated everything here, I've decided to concentrate on my website/blog more. After what happened with Twitter, NaNoWriMo and Substack, I'm starting to get sick and tired of closing down accounts and starting over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My website is my personal space, and I want to highlight it a lot more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, I'm not going to bother with a newsletter for now, I setup my blog so that you can <b><a href="https://follow.it/yolandasfetsosfeedspostsdefault?pub" target="_blank">subscribe</a></b> and get updates sent directly to your Inbox whenever I post <i>here</i>. It just makes sense, and serves the same purpose as a newsletter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, this is how my 2023 goals turned out! I'm very happy with everything that I managed to accomplish. And I'm very excited because <b>SUFFER THE DARKNESS</b> happens to be one of the projects I worked on last year. It means that those eighteen months I spent <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2022/09/my-revision-plan-is-finally-over.html?m=1" target="_blank">rewriting/revising all of those forgotten tales</a> on my hard drive was definitely worth it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I better write up some 2024 goals soon. ☺️</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-54509759785531195002023-12-24T10:00:00.000+11:002023-12-24T10:50:49.755+11:00A little festive treat!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPTEKrEpY0XtAvaSCjZRiXKERXRuaS_9FmB8mig8j0VZfAazA3uLTK6b9nDHIu2xXcNj3K0xe5irldXlfxfXSnbaAN26D7uTk2WF8zDZ1mZIx2qT4Sj3abVsorCgA52oFp6hyphenhyphenheuThQrKylzuwZBj30mGFqa0ny70VOBBZaVaUm9B0lhL8p9XWQ/s1160/Happy%20Holidays%20graphic%202~2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1160" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPTEKrEpY0XtAvaSCjZRiXKERXRuaS_9FmB8mig8j0VZfAazA3uLTK6b9nDHIu2xXcNj3K0xe5irldXlfxfXSnbaAN26D7uTk2WF8zDZ1mZIx2qT4Sj3abVsorCgA52oFp6hyphenhyphenheuThQrKylzuwZBj30mGFqa0ny70VOBBZaVaUm9B0lhL8p9XWQ/w200-h186/Happy%20Holidays%20graphic%202~2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Well, it's Christmas Eve and I thought it would be nice to post a free short story on my website.<p></p><p><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Curse to the World</span></b></i> is a freaky 2k shortie about an elf tasked with a shitty job. </p><p>I hope you enjoy Bow's Christmas tale.</p><p>Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas & I hope you all have a good one! 🎄🖤🦌</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/p/freebie.html?m=1">READ THE FREEBIE HERE</a>...</span></b></p><p> </p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-4022581127705778072023-12-23T16:21:00.004+11:002023-12-23T16:25:23.925+11:00Bye, bye Substack<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMbgkqNBg_2XEBxB1M6oNG-bjVl56P6Ghu_y60yHBOKzZZW5VqxdW-zRXb4LGkD6Y6GVN5PZoV5ezimLVDq-9AoZdLXjx_78P7MXkm1gycj0Pe6OLP7R0_xYq5wg-dxCr8l56-J5WL2bzNZgKIupzzDqrhKEg-CmiztIIElMqLEhDFqRF4AszMg/s398/76f84b4afb70c867a2fc94ee835d6d5f9f2af582cac4d745041d2f3b1517a5c2.0.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMbgkqNBg_2XEBxB1M6oNG-bjVl56P6Ghu_y60yHBOKzZZW5VqxdW-zRXb4LGkD6Y6GVN5PZoV5ezimLVDq-9AoZdLXjx_78P7MXkm1gycj0Pe6OLP7R0_xYq5wg-dxCr8l56-J5WL2bzNZgKIupzzDqrhKEg-CmiztIIElMqLEhDFqRF4AszMg/w200-h200/76f84b4afb70c867a2fc94ee835d6d5f9f2af582cac4d745041d2f3b1517a5c2.0.png" width="200" /></a></div>Last month, after finding out some gross things that were happening behind-the-scenes, <a href="http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/2023/11/final-nano-thoughts.html?m=1" target="_blank">I deleted my NaNoWriMo profile</a>. After sixteen years of taking part, I thought it would be a hard decision to make... but it wasn't. It was the right thing to do. The only thing to do.<p></p><p>So, I dropped out of the challenge but kept writing. Decided to move on. And will never take part again.</p><p>What I didn't expect was to be facing another similar choice <i>this</i> month. 🫤</p><p>Yet, that's exactly what happened when I found out that Substack has welcomed/allowed Nazis to spread crap on their platform. And not just that, when people started complaining and demanding they do something, they made a pathetic statement that pretty much condones these disgusting creatures. I think this is an awful stance. Unacceptable. It makes me sick that companies are so greedy they're willing to allow such horrible people to spew hate and misinformation as long as they're making money.</p><p>Disgraceful.</p><p>I find it so gross that I deleted my account.</p><p>That's right, I no longer have a newsletter at Substack.</p><p>Before deleting my newsletter, I actually transferred most of my posts to this blog under the appropriate dates. I didn't want to lose all those thoughts, words and celebrations.</p><p>Ugh. Like I said, I can't believe it happened so close to the other incident.</p><p>Now I have a decision to make. Do I research other newsletter places and pick one? Do I even bother? Well, ideally I would prefer to stay away from all of that. I'm tired of setting up and having to move on because people can't be decent human beings.</p><p>I'd like to invest time in my own blog right here. I mean, I've had this blog for a long time and even after the rise of social media, I kept posting updates. I think that figuring out a way of blending blogging with subscribing to updates would be ideal.</p><p>I actually looked into it and spent a while reading about my options...</p><p>So, if you're interested in keeping up with my writing, you can now subscribe and an email will be sent your way with my latest post:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://follow.it/yolandasfetsosfeedspostsdefault?leanpubyroxVTBPDpjERShSw9UK6Rn99XjkwrlgQwXnbY74t0eoxc_3O0ZWxs5nR2B2nLO5I-8Ml5bnwyUi0lkQiJIuCA4qQW51MoK7U6g_wUm_8Io8Kzx5flzmSA/s275/1000025662.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="275" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb97cYcyLlYRxXj6Sr9wCgTO3AoVy6lXEUlvkoWtI4RK42g9-5W2IBL8t2nlFzgogOyroxVTBPDpjERShSw9UK6Rn99XjkwrlgQwXnbY74t0eoxc_3O0ZWxs5nR2B2nLO5I-8Ml5bnwyUi0lkQiJIuCA4qQW51MoK7U6g_wUm_8Io8Kzx5flzmSA/s1600/1000025662.png" width="275" /></a></div><p>It's just like subscribing to my newsletter. You'll find out when I post news, post reviews, and everything else in between. I'll probably end up posting more often too.</p><p>Well, this is my choice for now. It could change in the future, or maybe it won't. But if you'd like to keep up with my upcoming projects, thoughts and writing stats, feel free to sign up! ☺️</p>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-88168262716832164682023-12-20T16:44:00.004+11:002023-12-20T16:49:52.064+11:00KOSA by John Durgin<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200327905-kosa" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Kosa" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697822444l/200327905._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200327905-kosa">Kosa</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22261926.John_Durgin">John Durgin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6059076980">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this upcoming DarkLit Press title, and I'm so glad I did because it's a darkly addictive read.<br /><br />Kosa lives with Mother in a secluded house in the middle of the forest. She doesn't know anything about the outside world and is forced to follow the rigid rules Mother sets out for her. Rules the cats enforce. But as she gets older and her curiosity about what's really going on intensifies, her troubled life becomes a lot more complicated...<br /><br />Wow. As soon as I started reading this book, I knew it was a story that was bound to keep me interested from start to finish. And I wasn't wrong. I couldn't put it down.<br /><br />The story starts with the unfortunate fool who sets everything in motion, takes you on a freaky dark ride, and doesn't stop until the very last word.<br /><br />I absolutely loved this twisted fairy tale horror novel. It's what nightmares are made of. A terrific mix of familiar childhood stories with a wicked violent slant that rips your heart out over and over again.<br /><br />It's wondrous and imaginative. Terrifying and gruesome. A supernatural ride in the middle of our mundane world.<br /><br /><i>Kosa</i> packs an emotional punch because all the characters you meet are interesting and doomed. Sympathetic and intriguing. Except for the evil at the root of everything. That particular character is bound to torment you.<br /><br />You should definitely read it! 😈<br /><br /><br />P.S. Kristina did it again because this cover isn't just horrifying, it also perfectly matches the story.<div>
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</div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-8373765740690633592023-12-16T00:55:00.004+11:002023-12-16T00:55:36.649+11:00THE VISITOR by Sergio Gomez<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55673849-the-visitor" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Visitor" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602717156l/55673849._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55673849-the-visitor">The Visitor</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15166031.Sergio_Gomez">Sergio Gomez</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6048770377">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Well, this afternoon it was time to finish the festive novella I started reading late last night. 🌲😁❄️<br /><br />It's Christmas, there's a really bad snowstorm, and a small group of strangers get stranded in a roadside diner. They're hoping to ride out the storm, and instead find themselves fighting for their lives...<br /><br />Yikes! This novella doesn't waste any time. The protagonists are all introduced in a way that you can't help but like (most) of them, which only makes everything worse later on.<br /><br />I could feel the cold and the fear, how deep the confusion is when the characters realise what's really going on. After the first person cops it, the action doesn't stop. It's a bloodbath, but also interesting enough that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this horror sci-fi novella set during Christmas. It's a lot of gruesome fun!
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</div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-62232335847356669072023-12-14T20:24:00.004+11:002023-12-14T20:30:03.652+11:00YOUR DARLING DEATH by Lauren Carter<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128725336-your-darling-death" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Your Darling Death" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681286465l/128725336._SX98_.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128725336-your-darling-death">Your Darling Death</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22145372.Lauren_Carter">Lauren Carter</a><br>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5964793374">5 of 5 stars</a><br><br>
This is actually the first story I read on my new Denim Kindle! And it's an awesome one, with a lovely cover.<br><br>Lilith has just become a widow, and now has to (unfortunately) put up with her late husband's family one last time. But things don't go very well...<br><br>OMG! This novelette turned out to be utterly fantastic. It's a macabre little tale featuring Lilith, who wants to lay her husband to rest but his horrid family won't let her. It's gothic horror at its finest. A creepy story about awful, greedy people with evil intent and the poor woman who is forced to put up with them. Luckily, our plucky heroine knows how to deal with their antics.<br><br>I absolutely loved this! And the fact that the whole book is so expertly narrated in the second person only adds to the sinister, mysterious vibes. The clever twists and turns that lead to a remarkable conclusion kept me on the edge of my seat.<br><br>I can't wait to read more Lauren Carter stories, that's for sure.<div>
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</div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17515840.post-78209744854827098022023-12-13T20:49:00.005+11:002023-12-13T20:49:51.511+11:00GIRLS' NIGHT OUT by Wendy Dalrymple<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112093050-girls-night-out" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Girls’ Night Out" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676220778l/112093050._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112093050-girls-night-out">Girls’ Night Out</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13709077.Wendy_Dalrymple">Wendy Dalrymple</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6046203832">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Today, I decided that I was going to read this novella. And I'm glad I did.<br /><br />Kris is a mother and wife who doesn't get out much. Her young twins keep her busy and her marriage isn't going too well. So, joining her friends for a fun night out sounds like a nice idea. Except, it doesn't go according to plan and she finds herself stuck in a terrible situation...<br /><br />Well, this is yet another awesome Wendy Dalrymple story!<br /><br />I had an absolute blast reading this novella. I love stories that start out very normal before turning everything upside down. And this book introduces us to a mother who's stuck in an unhappy rut even though she loves her family. A woman who wants more out of life and when she gets it, doesn't know how to deal with everything.<br /><br />Of course, what happens to her is terrible and she blames herself, but I love how determined Kris is to understand what's going on and deal with it. <br /><br />There's also plenty of gruesome body horror, and several familiar faces that I wasn't expecting.<br /><br />Like every other story I've read written by this fantastic author, I loved it!<div>
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</div>Yolanda Sfetsoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17167992889276425384noreply@blogger.com0