I have the munchies.

Lately, I have been doing well with overcoming my “munchie” dilemma. However, tonight, as I sit here fiddling on the laptop watching The Boyfriend play PUBg I can’t get passed the urge to munch on something. Now you’re probably thinking, go get something. While I applaud the thought, I stopped buying “munchie food” and bringing it into the house. Mostly, because if it’s not here, I don’t usually want it. Tonight, though, I really want a bag of chips.

I never want chips.

Why am I rambling about having the munchies? I told myself at the beginning of this year that I was going to post more on here. But I am failing at it miserably. I started off well – I was on a writing steam engine headed on a fast track. I guess I fell off and now I am laying in a pile of trash on the side of the road.

I think it’s because in the last couple of years I haven’t read much. I am told a lot “to write you need to read”. I’ve been in a huge reading slump, which is a sad slump to be in, but I am trying to fix that. While fiddling on Facebook the other day I downloaded fifteen books onto my Kindle and began reading them. I finished two books I had started earlier last year: “Twister Tales” by Steve Lenore &&& “On Writing” by Stephen King. Then I began reading the first three books of a 10 book series called “Brie’s Submission”, by Red Pheonix: the first three are “Teach Me”, “Love Me”, && “Catch Me”. I’ve already finished the first and I’m beginning the second. At first, I didn’t think I was going to like the story, it seemed…. silly. But I kept reading thinking I need to read more this year – so I can finally finish editing my book. So I kept going and the more I read, the more I actually liked it. Will I like it enough to make it through book ten? That will be a toss up.

The “Twister Tales” was written by a local meteorologist here and I found it very fascinating. I mean, come on! It was a book about tornadoes! Who doesn’t find those fascinating? I was hesitant when it came to reading the one by Stephen King – I didn’t want to purchase a book if I wasn’t going to be able to read it. When it comes to him, he’s a good writer, I know this – however, just like most books written by men, I get bored quickly. This one, though, everyone kept saying needs to be read if you’re a writer. So, I bought it and I’m really glad I did. Some of my major issues when it comes to writing he addressed and spoke about them in length. Afterward, I realized that I wasn’t writing wrong, I was just being told wrong. I marked that book up along with sticky notes, highlighters, and notes. I’m getting on the bandwagon, if you’re a writer, you NEED to read that book.

Now I feel as if I need to read one of his actual books.

***Also, while writing this I went to the store and got potato chips, cheese dip, a Slim Jim &&& a Sunkist. Munchie emergency averted!

Maybe…

…I’m not well read enough.

The one thing all authors tell you when you ask about writing books is to read. &&& read often. Other than of course writing. &&& writing often.

I find myself jotting down sentences to paragraphs all the time. I have a notebook that I keep in my bag (work bag) that has writing all over it. A sentence, or paragraph, words or names, or even ideas for a story. Some of it is something I read in books, or something I thought of while sleeping. I keep notebooks beside my bed, and in my purse. There are some in my car, and in my dresser. &&&& to make sure I write at least once a month I am still contributing to a work newsletter where I put a few pages and write on a story for months. I just finished on, The Cure (which the last part will be uploaded here soon.) I’m about to start another once I figure out what I want to happen in it.

But what I have been lacking a lot of lately is reading. I got into a slump a while back and just never finished books that I started or even series. I told myself this year, 2018, I want to read at least 50 books. That’s approximately four-ish books a month. I’m sadly not on part with that, but I’ll get there. I hope. I am keeping up with my totals on Goodreads so I know how many I read and how many more I have to go.

As of today, February 8, 2018, I have read two and never finished another. It tally’s the book I never finished because I left a review for it so according to it I have read three. I have been wanting to read a series that has been out for about a year, I am reading the first one right now, but I don’t have the other two and cannot find reason to purchase them when I have at least fifty books at home, right now, that I Haven’t read.

But that’s my goal. That’s my thing this year. I plan to read this year and hopefully it can help me with my writing. I also plan to continue wiring for the work thing and hopefully soon I can pick back up Frost (which I think I’ve decided to rewrite it, yes, again.)

So I’ll keep that up and keep this updated on how my progress is going. But one thing is for sure – I need to get to reading. Because I still have 48 books to go which is approximately 4 books a month (still) leaving me with 8 more to go. Yup! I’m behind. I sadly don’t want to finish “The Raven” by Sylvain Reynard because I have read all of the other books I own by him and I don’t have “The Shadow” or “The Roman”.

But that’s okay. I have a few others laying around on book shelves that I need to finish. The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day and a few by Christina Lauren.

I’m rambling now.
Closing now.
Have a good evening.
I’ll talk soon.

Last minute thought. I am also putting in a goal to write in this more often. If I cannot seem to write stories I can at least write in this blog daily. Most days. Maybe not everyday. I don’t have that much going on in my life. But a couple times a week. More than once every three months.

Gabriel’s Inferno/Rapture!!

I have trouble finding things to write about. Not because I am completely boring and I do absolutely nothing. Oh wait. Never mind. My biggest problem is that I spend most of my free time writing. When I’m not writing I’m nose deep in a book. So since I decided that I do not want to post anymore of my writing, mostly because there is no point and I will just keep in my back pocket safe, that I will write book ‘reviews’. Since no one really reads my blog anyway, I might as well just get the thoughts that clutter my mind out and maybe I can write a little better. (Yes! My writing sucks.) Is using “!” a bad idea? So I figure if I cannot think of something to talk about then I’ll just write a book review.

My first pick will be Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture by Sylvain Reynard. Yes, I’m cheating by starting out by two. You’ll notice if there is more than one connected to each other, I’m just going to put them in one post. *waves hands around in air* Otherwise, it’s too much clutter. I’m trying to kill the clutter.

First I must say that I am obsessed with these books and partially with the author.
Obsessed [uh b-sest] : adjective;
1. Having an obsession (usually followed by with or by).
2. Having or displaying signs of an obsession.

Obsess [uh n-ses] : verb;
to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of; beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally.

I want to point out, really quick, that I am not the weird obsessed person. I’m not the type of person who becomes obsessed with something and then when the object of my obsession walks out of their house I’m sitting in the tree in their front yard. Or in the bush by their bedroom window. Or even in the mail box. That’s not me. I just tend to talk about that particular subject a lot. For an example, I’ve been obsessed with Johnny Depp for many, many years. I don’t stalk him. *thumbs up* So no worries!

I have never in my life read a book with such intensity as I did with these two books. I was completely and utterly captivated by these books. *shakes head* ‘Captivated’ isn’t a strong enough word. Taking ideas for a stronger word.

I must admit that I am a late bloomer when it comes to books. I don’t know of authors and books before everyone else. I cannot tell anybody that “I read that before you did.” Because that’s a lie. And lying is bad. I had no idea who or what all of this was four weeks ago. No idea. I found Gabriel’s Inferno by accident. I was looking for a new book and found a big shelf of 50 Shades of Grey, on the very bottom by the floor sat one copy of Gabriel’s Inferno. I hadn’t heard of it so I glanced through it and the back cover. It seemed interesting. I purchased it along with Bared to You by Sylvia Day. It took me a week to read this book.

When I first began the book I honestly didn’t think I’d even finish it. It was written a lot more intelligently than I think. *sighs* I got to a point that I had to look up a word. Then look up the words it gave to mean the same thing. Until I finally found a dictionary that was made for “dummies” and it dumbed it down enough and I was like “oh, well why didn’t he just say that?” I like to flaunt my intelligence (which really isn’t all that much). That book, even from the first page, made me feel like the stupidest person on the planet. So in the first chapter I didn’t think I’d ever finish it. But all of this isn’t bad. It’s a very good thing.

The start of the second chapter I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down. I found myself staying up on the nights I worked to read. Doesn’t seem that big of a deal? I only get six hours of sleep before each of my twelve hour shifts. So losing two hours because I cannot stop reading… hurts.

By the fifth chapter – I was obsessed.

Everything I read about these two books kept saying that it was just like 50 Shades of Grey. I just want to point out that everything I read lied. And lying is bad! This book was NOTHING like 50 Shades of Grey. Nothing.

50 Shades of Grey was a good set of books, don’t get me wrong. But they are nothing compared to Gabriel’s Inferno/Rapture. Am I being harsh? I apologize. Mostly.

The intelligence spewing out of Gabriel’s Inferno/Rapture was intriguing and a complete breath of fresh air. I’ve read a lot, and none of which just made me stop and think “wow!”

I have read and reread these books. The “sex” that everyone talks about isn’t “sex”. It leaves to your imagination and makes you think instead of knowing. Too much detail ruins the story line of the book, the way Sylvain Reynard wrote left it there. Intact. Perfectly. Jaw dropping.

I found myself following Sylvain Reynard on Twitter. I never follow people – well, besides Gabriel Iglesias, but who doesn’t follow him? Oh and of course Chelsea Handler – getting off topic. I found myself following Sylvain Reynard. Getting on Twitter a lot more than I normally do. *covers face with hands* I told you! I’m obsessed. My personality isn’t the type to get hooked very easily. Mostly because usually what I get used to having leaves and that is getting old. But I find myself logging into Twitter just to see if he’s tweeted. *pouts* I’m hopeless.

I’ll be even more hopeless if it turns out not to be a guy. Or an old guy. Or gay.

Why am I obsessed with the author? I live in a small southern Oklahoma town. I am by far one of the most intelligent ones that live here. And I’m stupid! Intelligence is something that you don’t turn away quickly. Especially when one finds it to be the most attractive thing about people. In general. Male or female. Intelligence is just a jaw dropping experience. When you live in the South, you don’t find that often. Knowing there are still people out there who can talk in complete sentences & be able to spell “you”, gives me hope.

But then again. He’s Canadian. *purses lips* So that makes a bit of a difference. You know the old saying “Americans butchered the English language.” Well, the South butchered the butchered English language.

Yeah. I’m roaming around in all directions of the topic. *smiles* I do that!

So basically if I was to give these books a rating between 1 and 5. It would be 102. I plan on reading these books until the binding doesn’t hold. Until the pages start falling out and landing on my bedroom floor. Until the words are smeared off from my fingertips running across the words. But then – I’ll just rebuy them.

Sylvain Reynard is a mystery. And from what I can gather from it – that’s how he wants it. Bravo to him! The only thing that is killing me to know is his age & if he is for real, 100 percent male. Because if it gets out that he is a female. I’m going to be extremely agitated. I won’t think any worse of the books, though. But knowing that a girl writes like a guy – I’ll be sad.

Yes. I just seriously said that the books are written like a guy. I have read a lot of books written by women. These books were written by a man. And I will eat my shoe if I’m wrong. *holds shoe up* See! Not very tasty looking. But if it comes down to that, I’d like some hot sauce.