Starting A Book Club (Katie)

Do You Book Club? (Katie)

Have you ever been part of a book club? It's something I've never honestly considered until a few weeks ago. My sister recommended a movie to me (which I loved), and it featured a book club. The club looked so fun and interesting, and it left me wishing I could be friends with those people. The idea percolated for a while, and this weekend my sister and I decided we were going to do it--we were going to start a book club!

Full disclosure, this is supposed to be a Story Snippets post. If you came here looking for bits of a story, I do apologize. I'm just so stoked for the book club to begin I thought I'd share about our process instead.

If you've ever been part of a book club I would LOVE to hear what you do for your club. Is it in person or online? Do you stick to one genre? How many people are involved?

Our club will feature a few things:

* Online using Facebook groups and messenger

* A few members to start out, but we will be hoping to grow

* Open to almost all genres because we want to keep ourselves open to learning new things

* Reading one book a month, chatting about it via the FB group, and doing a video chat at the end of the month to discuss our overarching thoughts

The club will officially start on July 1, 2020. We will be reading an inspirational women's fiction book. I'll be honest, this isn't typically my go-to genre...but like I said, we all read different things and want to stay open minded!

My recommendation for an upcoming book was The Gold-Son by Carrie Anne Noble, and it was well received so I'm looking forward to that month!

Again, if you're part of a book club I'd love to hear all about it! We don't really know what we're doing, but winging it is always fun. We could use your tips!

Top 3 New Years Resolutions (Julie)

It's hard to believe that 2019 is almost done and then a new decade is upon us. This has been a year of much change-leaving my home of five years to move to a new place and then getting married a few weeks ago. With all this, another change is coming. I believe my time on Lands Uncharted has come to an end for now.  It has been an exciting adventure, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my years as a blogger here and being a part of this wonderful community.

Now as I look to a new year of change, I know there are 3 things (at least) that I will commit to doing in 2020. And I hope you will also commit to as well (because they are pretty awesome):

1) Read. Read. Read. Get the picture? You're reading this post because you love to read (I'm assuming anyway). No matter how busy life gets and how many changes happen, continuing to read is essential for one's well-being! I wasn't able to read nearly as much this year as normal, but I treasured every chance I got to read a new fantasy book. I look forward to having the chance to read more this coming year!

2) Keep writing (or start!) I realize not everyone who reads LU writes, though I hope so! If you don't, might I recommend giving it a try in 2020? It's so much like reading but you make the story, and the characters, and the adventures, and the villain. There are endless possibilities to unleash your imagination onto paper, or a document.

3) Keep reading Lands Uncharted! There is so much humor, interesting book reviews, and useful information, that it should be a goal to continue to check out all the excellent posts, especially the news ones! I won't be on LU as a blogger next year, but I definitely will keep up with it and appreciate all the creative posts. It's gonna be good!


I hope you will join me on these ventures and experience the laughter, creativeness, and adventures of lands uncharted! Happy New Year and may it be blessed with tons of stories to read and write!!

Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

One of my first memories of reading is being at a library as a young child. I can picture the children's reading room and being grouped with other small kids on a large rug. I remember the color yellow, though I can't remember what exactly was yellow (the rug? the walls?). While I do remember always having a love of the library, today it isn't one of my favorite reading spots. I do, however, have a few spots I really love to cozy up with a good book. Today I'm going to chat about those, and I hope you'll give me your ideas, too, because I'd love to do a follow up post with all of your great ideas!

 #3 The Front Porch Swing

We have this view off our front porch that's perfect for quiet relaxation. There are trees, open pastures, and cows, along with lots of birds and a creek in the distance. It really is the bestest.

We have two porch swings (one on each side), and when the weather is nice I love curling up with a great books and swinging to the sounds of nature.

#2 The Bathtub 

(No, these are not my toes!)

OK, so maybe this one is a bit weird for some people. There is water involved, and also books. Maybe not such a great combo! But, I typically read on my Kindle, and when it comes to the bathtub I slip it into a gallon sized Ziploc to keep it air tight.                                                             

#1 The Recliner

Nothing exciting here. My favorite place to read is curled up in the recliner in my living room, underneath the warmth of my weighted blanket. Add a cup of hot tea or cocoa, and I'm really in Heaven.

What about you? Do you read in bed? A hammock? Do you prefer audiobooks? Tell me all about it!

Top 3 Ways to DeStress (Julie)

Life changes. Sometimes there are many changes at one time and sometimes just one or two. For me, I'm in the stage of OH MY GOODNESS there are a lot of things going on. But that's okay because they are very exciting things!

I just moved to a new island to start a new teaching job, but also because it's where my fiance is. And we're getting married in 3 months!! So yea, much to do.

With all this staring me in the face, it would be so easy to stress out and go hide in a corner. I won't lie that sometimes I look around for that corner. But instead of putting myself in the corner, I tend to steer toward any or all of the following as ways to get my focus back:


1) Stay in the Word/prayer. Staying rooted in God's Word helps me refocus on what is important.

2) Read. Immerse yourself in a good book. Personally, I prefer to get lost in a fantasy as I want to get away from the real world for a bit.

3) Get outside. Vitamin D and fresh air work wonders from clearing the overworked brain.

How do you de-stress? Do you do any of the above or is there something else you do that works wonders? 

Top 3 Benefits of Being in the Bookish Community (Katie)

Top 3 Benefits of Being Part of the Bookish Community (Katie)

Being a writer is fun, but being a part of the #bookish community is so much more than being a writer. Today I thought it’d be fun to talk about the Top 3 Benefits of Hanging Out in the Bookish Community!

 Reading books before they release!

There are lots of ways to read ARC’s, or Advance Reader Copies. These are copies of books provided to readers BEFORE the book is put out for the general public. One easy way to do this is to sign up for NetGalley. This is a platform that allows you to read books for free before (or sometimes after) they’re released, in exchange for a review. No one checks up on you to make sure you review, but if you don’t log back in to review the books you receive, you may be denied future requests for new books.

Another way to get your hands on ARC’s is to join authors’ street teams. These can be found through social media platforms, generally, and also through email lists from time to time. Street teams go by many names including marketing teams or support groups.

Meeting Amazing Authors in Person!

Guys, meeting the authors of books you’ve read and loved is so cool. Like, here is this amazing world you’ve immersed yourself in—and then you get to talk to the person who made all that up! I’ve met authors at writing conferences, book signing events, and even out in the general public. It’s always fun, and it’s a special perk of being part of the bookish community.

Taking Awesome Journeys into the Imagination!

The best part of being part of the bookish community is being able to become immersed in the world of imagination, even if it’s only for a little while. I go through ups and downs where I read lots of books then very few books—but books are always there for me. I love learning new things in books. I love going on quests in books. I love solving mysteries in books.

Is it any surprise that books themselves are my top benefit of being part of the bookish community?

*What about you? What are your favorite things about being a reader?*

Top 3 Reading Memories of All Time (Katie)

I have been reading books my entire life. I don't ever remember a time when I wasn't interested in books--and that got me to thinking. How did that happen? What made me love books and what kept that love going?

The more I thought about it, the more I pinpointed specific moments in time that cemented a love affair with books into my life. Today I'm sharing my Top 3 Reading Memories of All Time. These are the moments I most attribute to cultivating my love of books.

But while you're reading this, I hope you'll think about your own life as well. Do you have any defining bookish memories? If so, I hope you'll share them with me in the comments! Aren't book memories the best?!


1. My Grandpa
My grandpa is, as of the day I'm typing this up, 96 years old. He is a WWII veteran, and a mathmetician and physicist. When he retired, he moved to a beautiful and quaint little town in New Mexico where lots of other scientist peeps go for retirement.

But when I was little, Grandpa took me to the library. Like, all the time. He shaped my love for books by spending lots of time with me and showing me the adventures waiting between the covers of the books.

That is where it all started.

2. My Teen Years
When I was 13 years old my family moved to a new state. I don't remember going to the library or reading any books at this time, but a friend I'd made at our new home offered to let me read one of her books. I remember thinking the cover was pretty, so I said yes.

This book was a Christian romance by Lori Wick. It was the first grown-up book I had ever read, but it rekindled my love for books during a time when I'd forgotten how much I loved to read (because of the stress of a new and unfamiliar place).

I read like a bazillion books throughout my high school years, everything from Shakespeare to Dickens, and romance to supernatural.

3. Post-kids Reading
When I had my first baby I stopped reading and writing. I became wholly consumed with being a mom, which was exactly how I wanted it to be. I loved it.

But one day, a few years into the thing, a co-worker offered to let me read a book about vampires. I was totally not interested. Seriously. Vampires? I told her no, but she insisted. I ended up taking home the first Twilight book, reading it in two days, and devouring the rest of the series shortly after.

I have been reading voraciously every since! (Full disclosure, when I think about Twilight now I kind of shudder in repulsion! hee hee)

So, there you have it. These reading moments have shaped my reading experience throughout my life. I am so glad to have a history to trace through!

*What about you? Got any stand-out-ish reading moments you'd care to share? Favorite books? Lovely book memories? Please tell!*

Top Three Reading Resolutions for the New Year (KaLyn)

The 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge has ended! How did you do?

After adjusting my goal half-way through the year, I managed to squeak by in the end with twenty-four books. Twenty-four books is a realistic goal for me, and I'll be sticking with it again this year. But I will be changing some reading tactics.

More Focus

Oh, how the marvels of technology have influenced the flow of information and the formats in which we consume it. Don't get me wrong. I love tech. It's part of what drew me into the world of coding and software development before I left the workforce to homeschool our youngest child who is both gifted and challenged in some of the same ways I am. But it is those same tech changes that continue to impact my attention span through overstimulation.

So, this year, I aim to reign-in my screen time and use of technology by doing more work the old fashioned way - books and paper - and to set boundaries for when and how long I do fire up a computer, pick up a smartphone, or even read on an e-reader.

More Audiobooks

Sometimes it's nice to have someone else read to you, especially after you've been staring at words on a screen all day. Even with a nice set of glasses to reduce blue light exposure it can be taxing. Plus, audiobooks are great for road trips.

More Fiction

Only a third of the books from my Goodreads challenge last year was non-fiction, but it doesn't reflect the amount of time I spent reading non-fiction. I often combed over passages, materials from professional development classes, and various articles multiple times.

Honestly, learning is somewhat of a compulsion for me so my consumption of non-fiction will not change. However, I do plan to spend more time reading fiction. Starting with two books releasing this month that I've been looking forward to reading: Black Blood, the conclusion of the Children of the Blood Moon series by S.D. Grimm and Flare, the second book in the Firebrand Chronicles by J.M. Hackman.

Do you have any reading goals for the new year?

Top Three Gifts for Bookworms (KaLyn)

Most of the people I know, including myself, were hitting the online sales last weekend and into this past week. It was a great opportunity to knock-out about eighty percent of our Christmas shopping without breaking the bank.

There are several book lovers in our family, and, while I love to give the gift of books, sometimes I wonder if they'd enjoy the surprise of something that wasn't a gift card or book on their list. But what else do you get a bookworm?

Here are a few items to consider:

• Book Themed Socks - Socks are often looped in with less than desirable gifts, but they don't have to be unwanted. Literary-themed socks are both fun and practical, and they come in a variety of styles. 
• Custom Library Stamp - Great books should be shared. However, it can be hard to keep track of loaned or borrowed books. Having been on both sides of the equation, the personalized library stamp seemed like an appealing solution. (Plus, there's the whole official-library-feel for your inner bookworm.)
• Book Lovers' Soy Candle - Reading experience is not limited to the book itself. The ambiance of an environment is also a factor. How about the smell of a bookstore or library without leaving home?

Do you have any bookish gift suggestions?

Conquering the TBR Mountain (Laurie)

I always have to laugh whenever someone makes a reference to their TBR pile. Because if the books accumulating on my Kindle, plus the books I want to read but haven't acquired yet, all materialized in my house, I'm positive a simple pile wouldn't suffice. More like a mountain. And it grows every day! Just this past Tuesday, five of my author friends / acquaintances released new books. FIVE! I really wish the mountain visual were an exaggeration...

Most of my reading these days has some kind of deadline attached. The author is expecting feedback, I'm writing an endorsement, I'm supposed to review by a certain date, or I want to be able to participate in a book club discussion or other event. But once in a while, I catch up on my "scheduled" reading and take a peek down at the precarious book mountain I'm perched on. Where do I even start??

Which leads to my question for YOU for today! If you have a towering TBR pile (or a mountain like me!), how do you decide which book to read next? Is it based on a library due date, what a friend is reading, or is there something about the book itself that causes it to rise to the top? And if you have any other strategies for conquering your TBR mountain, please share!


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Where Do You Find Your Books? Top 3's (Jill)

Maybe when you saw the title of this post, your reply was, "Wherever I can!" That's usually my response, too. But despite my towering TBR (To Be Read) pile, if I find books for sale, I still manage to come home with a few new ones (or at least new to me).
I also keep track of the titles that look interesting. I have a list on Amazon, a list on my local library account, a paper list floating around the house somewhere, and let's not forget that TBR pile I mentioned. There's not enough time in my life to read all these titles -- but I'm going to try. So where do I find all these titles?





 3) Instagram: I finally caved and signed up for an Instagram account. I'm not very good at taking pictures of anything and everything. But I love seeing the #bookstagram pictures, if for no other reason, than to see what everyone is reading.

2) Goodreads: I have a list here, too. This year was my first year to participate in the yearly reading challenge, which was a lot of fun. Goodreads does a good job of informing readers. Sometimes, I'll check the title information and reviews here before hopping onto Amazon.

1) Word of mouth: There is no substitute for this. For example, I'd heard of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, but only picked it up after my friend Carrie Ann Noble raved about it. If I have a friend who's gushing about something she's read, it won't be long before I pick it up, especially if we read the same genre.

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."     ~Stephen King

So where do you find your books? Is there a website or a physical place that draws you in? Tell us in the comments below. We'd love to know -- because you can never have too many books!

Top Three Fantasies to Reread this Fall (Erin)

Fall is a glorious mixture of red-gold, crunchy leaves, cloves and cinnamon, and apple cider. As the days get shorter and darkness falls more quickly, fall is also a time to settle into a cozy corner on the couch with a familiar, comforting book. Maybe you are even lucky enough to have someone who would enjoy reading one of these aloud with you. Here are my favorites. . . which are yours?

3. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief: For everyone who is frustrated with school at this point in the year, Percy Jackson provides a welcome reminder that school isn't set up well for everyone. Percy's dyslexia, inability to sit still, and tendency to vaporize teachers are actually all part of what makes him a hero. Sometimes, the parts of our lives that cause us trouble are there for a reason--following Percy's adventures just might give you extra encouragement to discover those reasons.


2. A Wrinkle in Time: I love to join Meg as she pulls on her New England anorak and tromps out to the star-watching rock. Little does she know she will be called to adventure, and her yes is an essential part of rescuing someone she loves. Best of all, A Wrinkle in Time is a gracious reminder of the power of love to transform our faults into our strengths. (Have you seen the trailer for the movie due out in March? I can't wait!)



1. Harry Potter: As a Christian, I know there are lots of perspectives about what to do with Halloween. For us, Halloween is a great excuse to listen to John Williams' fantastic score, make a batch of butter beer (like root beer, but with butterscotch), and invite friends over. But whenever I think of Harry Potter, I also think of the value of self-sacrificial love. Harry, Ron and Hermione show an excellent example of true friendship, and Dumbledore is always standing in the wings, leading and guiding Harry, but also pushing Harry to live up to his calling, in much the same way God leads and guides us, and asks us to make love for others central to the decisions we make in our lives. 

Your Turn: Reading Distractions (Laurie)

It's football season! Something I've never cared too much about, but many of the people around me do :) Growing up, I did a lot of reading this time of year, because my family would put every Packers and Badgers game on TV (can you tell I'm from Wisconsin?) and I could only feign interest for so long before I'd escape to my room with my book. But I was just talking to someone the other day who said she takes a similar approach except she just stays in the room and reads while the game plays in the background.

So I'm curious - can you read with distractions like the TV on in the same room, or do you tend to escape to solitude like me? Does it depend on the type of book?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Sea Clocks and Reading Non-Fiction (Lizzie)

Lately, I've been enjoying listening to audio books on my commute to work. I've listened to Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist, and, most recently, Dava Sobel's Longitude. I'd heard enough about Covey's book to know it would be fantastic and helpful for personal growth, and I knew Dickens's would be entertaining, albeit a bit slow in places from excessive conversation between unlikable characters showcasing flaws in society needing addressing (mistreatment of the poor, for instance). But I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable Dava Sobel's Longitude was, despite being non-fiction. I write the last semi-jokingly. Growing up, I didn't care to read non-fiction beyond my school textbooks, but now I find it not only beneficial for personal and spiritual growth, but often fascinating and entertaining.

John Harrison's first sea clock, known as H1.

Before listening to Longitude (read by a marvelous Bristish actress), for instance, I had no idea the accurate determination of longitude (a seemingly dry measurement learned about in school days) had such history and consequences. Countless sailors died in wrecks when ships unable to accurately determine their position (latitude and longitude) ran into reefs or into enemy territory, or died from scurvy because they couldn't find an island to gather fresh supplies soon enough. The struggle to accurately determine longitude resulted in many advances in astronomy and clock making, and, ultimately, lead to technologies we take for granted today. A few hundred years ago, even the best clocks could lose several minutes each day.

So what?, you may say. It's still facts and facts are boring. Only when told merely as facts. Any discovery or seemingly dry fact came about through the adventures of people. All people have stories, so all discoveries, technologies, and bland lines in textbooks, have stories. And those stories can be as entertaining as fiction, and more remarkable, if well told. Who would have guessed today that an accurate way to tell your position (best found either by using the heavens or by an accurate clock [not a common thing at the time]) would be rewarded by a king's ransom? But several kingdoms offered large prizes to anyone who could solve the "longitude problem." John Harrison, a self-taught carpenter and clock-maker, is a part of the story of longitude, and such famous people as Sir Issac Newton, Edward Haley, and Captain James Cook are intertwined in it.

Harrison's marine chronometer H5

So in addition to being entertained and informed on history and science through Sobel's Longitude, I came to a greater appreciation of today's technology, of our seemingly simple ability to tell accurate time and know exactly where we are and how to get where we're going. Hopefully, you're not like I was, disregarding non-fiction in favor of fiction. If you are, however, I encourage you to give non-fiction a try.

What non-fiction have you read lately? Or what would you like to read?

Becoming Vulnerable (Jill)

On Friday, I completed the last physical stop of my blog tour for Spark. Although I'll continue to do book signings and other events, Friday's event was something outside of my comfort zone because it was a reading in a bookstore. Of my book Spark. With a stage. And a mic. A little voice inside me was screaming, someone help me!

When this book tour started three months ago, there were lots of things beyond my circle of experience. Since then, I learned to do a book signing. I presented a short talk about my publishing journey. I talked to a book club about fantasy and why I write it. But Friday's event was a reading, followed by a Q & A. Terrified, I did what any nervous person does -- researched "how to do a reading for authors" on the internet. Asked friends for advice and prayers. Practiced reading selections out loud (and practiced and practiced).

Surprisingly, it went well. My practice and all the prayers helped, and I only stumbled twice. The Q & A went fine. But the reading wasn't my favorite event for a few reasons.
 1) I'm not used to hearing myself on a microphone. Many people say they don't like to hear their voice, that they sound "weird", and I'm no different.
2) Reading my work out loud feels odd.
3) Reading my work out loud in first person point of view feels odder still.

With my experience in theater, I'm dramatic by nature. But number three made me feel vulnerable, like my soul was outside my body. All my soft spots were exposed. Although my main character isn't me, my main character's a composite of many things dear to me -- causes I support, beliefs by which I live my life, quirks of those I love. And reading out loud felt like an invitation for ridicule from the audience.  That didn't happen, but the possibility was there.

I talked to Lisa England, a lovely woman, at a conference this year who encouraged me to be more vulnerable. Did you know the word "vulnerable" comes from the Latin word vulnus, which means wound? It's scary to let strangers see the wounds I carry, the scars from past battles. But I'm working to do that more and more, putting myself out there, telling the stories that make me who I am even when it's painful.

When other people see who we are, hear what's in our hearts, and say, "Yeah, me too," that's when connections occur.  And in this age of virtual connection and national divisiveness, relationships are more valuable, more important. So I'm making the rest of 2017 all about becoming vulnerable, honest, and relatable.

Would you like to join me? Share in the comments below -- I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Waiting Game (Jill)

Near the end of school last year, my daughter told me her friend wasn't going to read my book Spark until the whole series was finished. I was a little disheartened, to say the least. But I couldn't be annoyed with her, because I understood where her friend was coming from.

When I find a new book that looks amazing, I'll run through my mental checklist. I'll check the author, because I'll go through fire for a few of my favorites. I'll also peek at the ending--I require my books to have a HEA (Happily Ever After), no matter the genre.  I'll read the blurb to see if it interests me. And lastly, I'll check to see if the book is the first in a series. If it's a stand-alone, and most of the other criteria are met, it's going home with me. But if it's a Book One of Three or Five or however-many-books-the-author-has-up-her-sleeve, it requires more thought. I hate waiting and if I read Book One, I'll have to wait a whole year for the next one. Plus, I read a lot and it's hard for me to remember what has happened in the year I've been away from these characters.

I waited with the Harry Potter series, although I did have to wait a year for the last one. I've also played The Waiting Game with other series. Although it requires delayed gratification, I prefer to wait. My memory just isn't what it used to be.

What about you? Do you prefer to read books as they are released? Or do you like to wait so you can savor the series all at once?
Let us know in the comments below!

Top 3 Time Suckers (Jill)

I've been working on a project recently with a single-minded focus. Or at least trying to. After coming back from the Realm Makers Conference, I was energized to get back to work. I'd learned so much and spent such a good time with like-minded friends. But once I unpacked everything I'd experienced, I found myself spinning my wheels, getting distracted, and just in general not getting as much done as I'd like.
And it's due to Time Suckers-- those things we do that take time away from our projects. I'm not talking about laundry or meal prep or running errands. I'm talking about those things that really aren't necessary, even though we sometimes make excuses for them.

3. Crafty projects
As a creative, I tend to have several DIY projects going at once. Near my favorite chair, some beautiful Swarovski crystals are packed in a bag, waiting to be wire-wrapped. There's a piece of cool embossed fabric sitting on the counter that will be turned into a book cover. I also have some paper I've put aside for Christmas cards (I have to start early. Fall/winter is crazy busy in our household.)

 2. Social Media
When I sit down to write, I often find myself opening up my email, or my Facebook account, or my Twitter account to see what's happening. This is a terrible habit and before I can blink, I've lost an hour or more. Pinterest is even worse. With one peek, I'll be sucked into a visual rabbit hole and won't emerge until hours later. So I'm making an effort to focus on the project (and only the project!) when I sit down at the computer.

1. Reading
Writers are told to read, read often, and read in our genre. But there comes a time, when I need to put the book down and start working. Sometimes it's so tempting to start reading one more book, because the cover is so gorgeous, and that blurb so interesting, and... I have to stop. And start putting my own words on paper.

So these are the top three things that distract me from finishing my project. What are yours? Any of these? Or do you have other distractions that make you lose focus?
Share them below -- we'd love to hear about them!

Your Turn: Favorite Places to Read in Summer (Erin)

Although the first day of summer is officially June 20, June 1st feels close enough to summer to me. One of the best things about summer is reading through my big stack of books without feeling like I should be doing something else. Finding the perfect spot to read adds to the experience. Here in Minnesota, we take summer seriously since we have so few months to enjoy the outdoors, so most of my favorite reading spots are outside. 

What about you? Where are your favorite spots to read?

1. Lying in a hammock enjoying the soft breeze and birds chirping (my personal favorite--especially as the girl in the image is reading Cinder!~)

2. Lying on the beach, alternating between reading and enjoying the sun on your face

 

 

3. Sitting on the porch sipping iced tea (note: For me, this would be an imaginary porch, as our house doesn’t have one : )

4. In your favorite corner of your couch, enjoying the air condition 

Leave a comment and let us know! 

Attributions:

https://pixabay.com/en/reading-hammock-relax-female-1567669/

https://pixabay.com/en/caribbean-beach-caribbean-sea-1941529/

https://pixabay.com/en/lemon-ice-tea-pune-sauteed-stories-1486310/ 

https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?hp=&image_type=&cat=&min_width=&min_height=&q=couch&order=popular