A Heartfelt Thank You and Blogging

So, a couple of days ago I made the decision to quit blogging.  Do you want to know what happened next?  I totally regretted it and was basically a total misery guts.  I actually felt empty inside.  ‘What am I going to do without my blogging?’ I asked myself.  It was like a big part of my life had gone.  Then I came home today to some wonderful book post and that seemed to whet my appetite for all things books.

I have received so much love from publishers, authors and book bloggers and received some good advice.  I definitely need a break where I can read for pleasure without rushing.  The plan is to still review the books I read on Amazon, Goodreads etc. and then when I feel ready I will start blogging again.  It could take several months but I will be back.

In the meantime I will still support you all as much as I can on social media.

The moral of the story……..don’t be so hasty when making a decision.  Sleep on it instead.

Best wishes

Sonya x

 

Taking A Blog Break

I just wanted to let you all know that I am taking a blog break for a while.  There are issues going on in my family which are causing a lot of stress and heartbreak.  I have had my eyes opened and I really can’t believe that family can be so cruel and heartless.  I am finding that I cannot concentrate on my blogging and reading as much as I would like to and am basically mentally and physically exhausted.  Everything is starting to feel like a chore and I don’t even want to blog right at this moment.

Massive apologies to all the blog tour organisers whose blog tours I am going to have to drop out of.  I plan to be back at the beginning of October, hopefully all bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Thanks for your understanding.

 

Sonya xx

Where I’m At With Blogging

In April things got too much for me and I ended up having a break from blogging.  I started again on the 1st May and although I have been okay I’m still not quite there.  Things have been getting in the way and best laid plans have gone to pot.  My main problem still seems to be blog tours.  Much as I love reading it gets a bit much when I have to read a book quickly due to not getting around to starting it earlier.  Lately I’ve felt that I’m letting just about everyone down and for that I apologise.  It’s all just getting too much again.

I’m really sorry for messing up on a number of blog tours.  I will be back to normal soon, promise.  I will find the answer one day.  I just can’t cope with getting up at 5:00 a.m. to get reviews done anymore and with blogging taking over.  I’m knackered.

Really sorry all.

Best wishes

Sonya

My Urbane Publications Blog Event

Sadly, that’s the end of my Urbane blog event.  I really hope you have enjoyed reading the guest posts, interviews and reviews.

I thoroughly enjoyed organising it and I would like to thank all the authors who wrote guest posts and took the time to answer my questions.  I would also like to thank Matthew for helping to spread the word to his authors when I first decided I wanted to do this event, for allowing me to run several competitions and for the wonderful idea of a countdown to the cover reveal for Rob Enright’s book.  Lastly, thank you so much to all the authors, fellow book bloggers and other people who shared the blog posts on social media.

I hope the various posts are still being read in months and years to come.  I hope that more people will start reading Urbane books; you really are in for a treat if you do.  But more than anything, I hope that any writers who are looking to have a book published or even established authors look to seek publication by Matthew.  He will always give you his time and consider your manuscripts and even if he cannot accept them he will give you valuable feedback.

Don’t forget to check out the competitions.  They are all open until 11:59 p.m. on the 3^rd April 2016 and can be entered worldwide.

Look out for more reviews over the coming weeks/months.

 

Sonya

 

Do Authors A Favour

Authors spend ages writing and producing their work of art.  It can take months, sometimes years with lots of emotional ups and downs along the way.

Authors want to be able to give readers many hours of pleasure.  They want to help them to travel the world from the comfort of their chair.  So surely the least readers can do in return is to write a review.  You don’t even have to have a blog.  You can leave a review on sites like Amazon and Goodreads.  Just a few sentences can make all the difference.

Do authors a favour today.  Write a review.

 

Guest Post by Julie Shackman

The lovely Julie Shackman is back on my blog with another guest post, this time with some very useful tips for writing.

 

The Write Way!

My tips for writing – even when you don’t feel like it!

• Get some fresh air first. Looking at people and places around you, can often trigger ideas and creativity.
• Read something! Pick up the latest novel you’re reading and dive in. I find reading somebody else’s work often helps to kick-start my writing mojo!
• Go and scribble down anything – random notes; ideas; story-lines; a bit of poetry. Sometimes doing this can just help you get into the flow.
• Treat yourself to some gorgeous new notebooks (any excuse!) Seeing all those lovely, crisp white pages and decorated covers, will spurn you on to fill them with your latest creations.
• If you read my Blog or follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I find it very difficult to write at home – so I go to a local coffee shop instead. A couple of hours sitting writing, people watching and observing can do wonders.
• Browse around your local Bookshop. Seeing all those lovely, glossy covers can really give you lots of encouragement.
• Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t write as much one particular day. Any amount of words is progress, so just keep going.

Good Luck, persevere and remember to read and write every day if you can!

Julie Shackman
March 2015.

 

Happy New Year!

I would like to wish all my followers a very Happy New Year.  I hope you all have the best time ever and that you get to read loads of great books.

This year I plan to make my blog bigger and better with tons of reviews, interviews and lots more.  I already have the feeling that 2015 is going to be a fantastic year for books.  I am looking forward to discovering more fabulous authors and adding them to my ever growing list of favourites.

Happy reading everyone! 🙂

Love from Sonya xx