Melissa Barker-Simpson

Saturday Book Club

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Saturday Book Club

I’m finding it difficult to maintain a regular schedule for the blog, and I miss you all, so I came up with a solution that will force me to set aside time at least once per week dedicated to a post. That way I can catch up with all my friends, so it’s a win win.

Each Saturday I will talk about what I’m currently reading, what I’m working on personally, and offer you the chance to do the same.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, then, here goes!

Cover Art by Jon Hunsinger

I’m currently reading Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz. I haven’t been able to devote the time I wanted to, so I’m picking it up when I can – like a little treat to myself in my downtime. I’m really enjoying it, as I knew I would. Charles published teasers on his site, and one of the main characters, Lloyd (a serial killer) is just delightful – in a laugh out loud kind of way. It is an apocalyptic action comedy adventure, and so far, it has been quite a ride!

collective slide

As far as writing, I’m working on a serialised fiction project – The Collective. I will be releasing the first episode in April 2016, and I’m excited to get started. The Collective came into existence due to my love for the characters in my fantasy series, the Fractured. The series is based several years after the Demonic War, so I decided to write about the war itself, and try my hand at a serial. The first season will have six episodes. I’ve already created a site for The Collective, which I will work on over the next few months, adding character profiles and uploading previews.

Now it’s over to you. I have my coffee at the ready, so we can chat about books, and your current projects. What are you reading at the moment? What are you working on?

Thanks for stopping by.

Mel

 

27 responses to “Saturday Book Club”

  1. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
    Charles Yallowitz

    Thanks for the shout out. Curious to see how a serialized story goes. They seem to be popping up here and there. Not sure why. Maybe the bigger interest in TV has caused people to lean more toward shorter, episodic stories. I’m working on Book 13 of Legends of Windemere before I dive into the next release for April/May. This year has not been kind for time management. So a lot of my day is more parent and housekeeping driven than author related. Enjoy the weekend.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Charles – I hope you have a good weekend too 🙂 I know how you feel, time management seems to be out of my reach at the moment. I have a new job and it’s taking a lot of my attention. The serialised story is something I’ve been thinking on for over a year. We’ll see how it goes and whether there will be be more than one season!

      Reply
      1. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
        Charles Yallowitz

        Busy weekend here. Bunch of things to do and, as usual, not much time to do them in. Benefit of going by seasons is that you can put time between each one. So people expect a pause.

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        That’s true. It will be an interesting process. Hope you get everything you need to get done done 😀

      3. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
        Charles Yallowitz

        Me too. Already looking like an uphill battle.

      4. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        I’m sure you’re up to that challenge!

      5. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
        Charles Yallowitz

        Already had to cut the morning workout. So the challenge is really me getting even one thing done. The joys of chaotic weekends.

      6. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        I hear you. It’s Mother’s Day over here tomorrow, and normally that would mean a day of rest and relaxation. I don’t think it’s on the cards, though!

      7. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
        Charles Yallowitz

        That’s right. I saw people going on about Mother’s Day and didn’t realize they were across the ocean. Made me think I missed it.

      8. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        Lol – you can breathe easy! 🙂

  2. Callum McLaughlin Avatar
    Callum McLaughlin

    This is a great idea 🙂

    Im currently reading The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (great title, huh?) by Catherynne M. Valente. It’s so whimsical and enchanting so I’m absolutely loving it 🙂

    Writing is pretty much non-existent at the moment but I’m not beating myself up about it. The freelance work for my ‘day job’ has been keeping me busy, so it’s not all bad.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      That is a fabulous title! I will have to check that out – I’m in need of a little whimsy! I’m glad the day job is going well, and as for the writing (from a selfish standpoint) at least we still get to soak up your glorious poems 😀

      Reply
      1. Callum McLaughlin Avatar
        Callum McLaughlin

        I’m not quite finished yet but it’s been wonderful so far, so it comes highly recommended from me 🙂

        That’s true. The writing for my day job tends to all be very factual or informative in style, so it is nice that I can still squeeze in time for poems to let some creativity out 😛

  3. TanGental Avatar
    TanGental

    My ‘reading’ is an audio book – the Luminaries by Ellie Caton which is huge and intimidating and easier to cope with on my phone – my dog walks find me engrossed in dodgy dealings in Victorian New Zealand! It’s a trifle slow and self indulgent – she’s a great believer in describing cigar ash and the rhythms achieved by a character’s finger tapping – but the story is compelling and as contorted as a pretzel with disc trouble.
    My current writing is a complete overhaul of a novel in weekly parts that I posted on my blog last year and never quite finished. I found a huge plot bollocky the other day, ground my teeth for 24 hours, had an insight in the bath – ha! The middle name’s Archimedes – and am now re re writing to fill it in. It’ll end up about 75 to 80 k words and I’m at about 65 in the rewrite so quite exciting.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      That does sound exciting. Editing can be one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs. It’s great you had a flash of inspiration, and I love that you were flooded with the answer when you least expected it 😉

      I love audio books. I always have one on the go. I find the housework gets done much quicker! I like your description of the Luminaries. I had a good chuckle over that 😀

      Reply
  4. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    I’m excited about reading you weekly updates. It’s a great idea. Let me get my cuppa and get ready. …. OK. Done! I’m reading a book recommended by Pat Garcia–an friend–a Berger and Mitrie mystery. Not too far into it yet because I’ve been traveling this week.

    I’m intrigued by your serialized story. I just wrote a lesson plan for kids on getting back into serials. So many of them don’t even know what that is.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I’ve missed sharing a cuppa with you 🙂 Will you be reviewing the mystery? I really enjoy that genre. I hope it’s a good recommendation. As for not knowing what a serial is – it’s not just kids. I’ve had to explain it so many times 🙂

      Reply
      1. Jacqui Murray Avatar
        Jacqui Murray

        I probably won’t because I’m buried in a deadline for my non-fic project and getting my summer professional development classes organized. I also have about four reviews due for my Vine gig. Yikes! My head is starting to hurt!

  5. M.J. Moores Avatar
    M.J. Moores

    It’s good to hear from you, Melissa 🙂
    I’m currently working on 2 different anthologies, 2 different books (book 3 of my series & book 1 in a new romance trilogy – really excited about both), final edits from 2nd round beta readers on my Urban Fantasy book, and running the planning team for a new book fair one of my writers’ communities is backing… breathing is optional 😉 Periodically I’m doing some editing for clients and I’m currently reading Chronicles of a Girl – a dystopian fiction written by a friend/client of mine. I’ll be editing book 3 for him at the end of the month so I thought I should try and absorb his style by reading the first 2 books!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Wow! That’s a lot of projects to juggle 🙂 I feel tired just reading it! It’s good you get to relax with a good dystopian and the journey into the novels will no doubt help your client tremendously. Hope you have a great weekend.

      Reply
  6. Gina Briganti Avatar
    Gina Briganti

    I’m currently reading “Brothers in Arms,” and I’m working on a non-fiction title, “The Reiki Cafe Reiki III (ART) Manual.” All very exciting.

    Love your new format!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Gina. It took a while to find a theme I wanted! I hope you enjoy Brothers ♡

      Reply
      1. www.ginabriganti.com Avatar
        www.ginabriganti.com

        🙂 wishing you a lovely family day.

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        You too ♡

      3. www.ginabriganti.com Avatar
        www.ginabriganti.com

        Thank you.

  7. S. R. Carrillo Avatar
    S. R. Carrillo

    The Collective sounds awesome! Looking forward to more of it. And Saturdays. :]

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I have to admit, I’m really excited about it. At the moment I live, breathe, and dream the gang! It will be so nice to share them 😀

      Reply

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I’m Melissa

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