Nightstand Books for a New Year
Good morning, dear Reader! I hope your 2015 ended pleasantly and that you rang in the New Year with enthusiasm and gusto! I am hoping to do a "looking back at 2015 - looking ahead to 2016" type post in the near future, but events are unfolding faster than I can keep up with, so I may not get around to that until after the launch next week.However, one thing that hasn't changed is my love of reading. So, as always, I have a new stack of books for the old Nightstand. It's a trusty nightstand, loyal and true, everything one would want in a standing knight, faithful, book-carrier, friend...Okay, I have to admit, one small reason I love doing these posts is because it encourages me to keep my nightstand tidy. You see, when things get a little hectic - like, say, Christmas and traveling and trying to sell our house back in NC all converge upon me... sometimes my dear nightstand may appear a little ... disheveled.
But these posts once a month motivate me to get organized, as it were.Anyway, without further ado, this month's reading material:
It's a shorter stack than previous months, but mostly that is because I am anticipating a somewhat crazy month what with the release of Yorien's Hand, doing some author interviews, diving back into regular blogging, and jumping feet-first into the content edits of Minstrel's Call!James by Beth Moore. I started this Bible study back in Raleigh, and even though I can't attend the weekly discussions since we moved, I am still steadily working my way through the study. I am also attempting to memorize the book of James, which is daunting, but also really fun. I love memorizing passages of the Bible and I have never managed to memorize an entire book of Scripture before, so I am excited about continuing to work on that. I'm not very far yet, but it's not a race.Bible. I got really lax about reading this last year, and I am starting this year out with my goal of reading at least one verse every day. With three small children running amok, I have to keep my goals manageable. But a wise lady once told me, "If you do not have time to read your Bible and pray every day, then you are busier than God ever intended for you to be." I'm taking that wisdom to heart this year.Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. This was on my nightstand last year, I think, but I never actually got around to reading it. I think I could use it right now... as we are in the very throes of the "little years" with a 7 year old, an almost 4 year old, and a 1 year old... and plunging head first into homeschooling, which is more serious this year as Leiana is in 2nd grade and Nathalie is starting to get some reading lessons (not because I'm pushing her!!! Because she's starting to pick it up on her own and I figure I'd better get my act together or she's going to get frustrated), and Brant toddling around, climbing everything in sight and getting into oh so much more trouble than either of his sisters ever did or have... I love these little people so much... but I think a good healthy dose of reminding to love these little AGES will be a good thing. Also, I've seen a lot of quotes from this book, and they are all extremely profound. I could use some profound in my life, too.Tomb of Horrors by Keith Francis Strohm. One of my dearest friends sent me this book for my birthday, with the caveat that this is her Favorite book ever. With high praise like that, I am very excited to read this one. I started it last night and am intrigued.Another stack of books that I am super excited about diving into this year is my growing collection of books by fellow Clean Indie Authors. These are going to be on my continual "to be read" pile this year, and I hope to finish all of them.
I got a lot of these in November/December what with Black Friday sales, birthday and Christmas presents... there are a few more that will be added to the stack throughout the year, as I am eagerly anticipating the release of DJ Edwardson's Ascent of the Nebula in the near future, as well as Savannah Jezowski's When Ravens Fall and After, as well as the next collection by Rooglewood Press Five Magic Spindles, which I anticipate will be coming this summer sometime. I'm also very excited about J.L. Mbewe's Darkened Hope that is supposed to be coming out in May.... eep! I loved Secrets Kept and am very excited to read the sequel. And quite a few others, I still need to get copies of A Wish Made of Glass by Ashlee Willis, and Alora: The Wander Jewel by Tamie Dearen, and Ben the Dragonborn by Diana Astle... and quite a few others that I am interested in as well...But for now, I think these will keep me busy... as well as several other books I got for my birthday... and we all know that the siren call of the library will keep me well stocked with reading material throughout the year!What are you reading right now? Are you enjoying it? Let me know in the comments!