Arthuriana -- all things King Arthur ! discussion
Future Group Discussions
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Northern Heroes Group Read #3 Spring (April 1 - July 1)
Is it okay to download one of my reads and get started? Or should I wait x
If anyone wants to start early, just message the author for a copy of their book. I started my first read because I had his book already. We DID have someone pull-out already though, so that does happen occasionally.
Eileen I've downloaded Excalibur Rising from Amazon so I will start reading this now, no need to send me a copy.
Hey! This looks great. I'll keep checking back for updates and get started March 01. I'll also start emailing my authors/readers now.
One issue though - Christy already read and reviewed Logres in our Winter Read. I doubt she'll want to read it again so soon!
M.L. I also have a dystopian sci-fi one in the Co-op group you'll likely want to join, and I know you read fast: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I was just about to take a look :) I've sent my email address to my allocated authors, and have emailed Mercedes asking for hers. Just waiting on my first reader and a replacement for Christy.
I think you mean Carol, M.L.,currently "author x". She got swamped and asked for a rain-check. Hopefully Eric or Petrea might want the slot, but J.M., Robert, or Rusty would incur an unwanted read overlap from prior groups.
Nope, you’ve put Christy Nicholas down as my third reader and she’s already read Logres. No rush for a replacement as I’m starting the other read first!
M.L. wrote: "Nope, you’ve put Christy Nicholas down as my third reader and she’s already read Logres. No rush for a replacement as I’m starting the other read first!"Ooops, I see. Well I checked and I can't sort the assignments in a better order...and you don't have a 2nd book she could read instead...so I'll excuse Christy there and also erase the 1-review debt you have from Kameron in the Co-op group.
S.W. wrote: "so I'll excuse Christy there and also erase the 1-review debt you have from Kameron in the Co-op group."I've already started reading the book you suggested for that. I guess that just puts me on +1 review for the Co-op group?
Okay M.L. There's a good chance I'll pair ya with D.J.'s "Shadowfest" for the summer General Fantasy read, but either way, when you do finish it of course it will count as a read-credit.
So, I've just got Mercedes' book for now, and then Author X when they're added, right?
Christy wrote: "So, I've just got Mercedes' book for now, and then Author X when they're added, right?"Yup, but the order might change if "author x" isn't found--or is found, but someone else withdraws, in which case you and Mercedes would no longer be paired. So let's give the list another week or two to simmer......
Author x slot eliminated, order set, and launched. Kai, Mercedes, Christy, and M.L. check the very slight changes in your reader assignment.
I believe Kai was meant to be reading Logres for the last group read. Has this been carried over?
M.L. wrote: "I believe Kai was meant to be reading Logres for the last group read. Has this been carried over?"He was replaced by Christy last time, so there's no overlap. And he assured me he's "in" this time for sure. :=)
Christy wrote: "I'd already started reading Fatal Rivalry, so I've got my review posted now :) Thanks Christy. Hopefully you'll also enjoy Sam's twin Tudor novels "A Queen's Spy" and "A Queen's Traitor."
My review of Excalibur Rising: Book One, which I greatly enjoyed. I downloaded this one for free from Amazon so no need for a disclaimer.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
I sent notes and a review request for A Queen's Spy, which I also enjoyed, but am currently waiting to hear back. I'm also still waiting to receive To Raise a King, but Justin's assured me he'll send it to me shortly.
Wow M.L., I can't believe you almost finished the two book reads in two weeks. Whatever will you read next? :=)
Probably my own book to prepare for my paper edit of the next instalment :) Besides from that, a bit of Agatha Christie and To Raise a King when I get it!
Hello all. I just finished THE FUTURE KING. Thanks for the look, M.L. Here are my reviews:https://www.amazon.com/review/R12JGAU...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mercedes wrote: "Hello all. I just finished THE FUTURE KING. Thanks for the look, M.L. Here are my reviews:"Thank you Mercedes for writing such a detailed and in-depth review!
My review for To Raise a King, which I enjoyed.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
That concludes my contribution to this read. Thank you to the author for sharing their work with me, and to S.W. for organising another great group read!
Well these reads have blown my mind in more than ways than one. From a professed pagan with a heart of gold to a Catholic nun ( a no-show) and a YA lit expert (another no-show), the reviews have remarkably ranged from in-depth to clearly missing the point, lol. This latest group has most clearly displayed the sharp division between a very scholastic, if dry, approach to mostly historical documents, even if the events are highly fanciful, to the religious and underlying folkloric IMAGINATION which can manifest from a limerick up to a play-- even an illustrated prayer book or stain glass panorama. And Tolkien insisted these were all of equal artistic merit. So I encourage "If you like" posters like the one below be shared across social media, and also as appendices to novels. (Also, please share with your cover designers, for ideas on how to make your covers have even a remote chance of being readable when at thumbnail size on websites and in other promo materials. I enjoy doing these mockups, as I want the reading community to read ALL our books when researching broad genres.)Another point many reviewers miss is kids must be exposed to the rewards of reading, especially "boring" history, if they'll ever develop a taste for a 500-word novel on some obscure kingdom somewhere/somewhen. And in case it needs stressing, videogames or even comics are not where kids will get that.
Sure they get it from a few movies, where the profit margin rewards multi-writer collaborations. But for games and comics, indoctrination into porn-gore is the agenda that pays, with a sick, easy controllable populace--much like the dark ages themselves which the kids are being robbed an education of! (Addendum: yeah there's a few decent graphic novels and coloring books, but I can say from 30 years producing and writing, the Ivanhoe/Robin Hood/Arthur/Beowulf tropes have been run into the ground, and are in desperate need of an infusion of fresh approaches, even bizarre sci-fi ones if need be, imo.)
Patricia Finney 's reviews for "Ragnarok" and "Call of The Morrigu":https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Morrigú...
Most positive thoughts out to Samantha for a serious family illness. Please allow her a bit of extra time, and look for her to be caught up in a month or so with Eileen's book.
S.W. wrote: "Well these reads have blown my mind in more than ways than one. From a professed pagan with a heart of gold to a Catholic nun ( a no-show) and a YA lit expert (another no-show), the reviews have re..."Interesting observations! Love your poster, S.W.
Great poster, SW! And thanks for persevering on posting the reviews, Patricia :)
Thank you in return, Mercedes and Christy.BTW the only two I haven't heard from about their first review are Kai and Justin, unless they sent notes instead and want to keep that private? If so, just send me a message so I'm up to date. :wink:
Kai's review of M.L.'s "Logres": (Christy next, then Mercedes)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RN70...
Kai's review of "Call of the Morrigu," review on Zon UK soon.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Good morning all. Today I reviewed "A Queen's Spy" by Sam Burnell: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1UIJPX...
"Luke: I AM your father" err.... "Mordred: I AM your father". "May the Fourth be with you!"
My 5-star review for Mercedes' "Fatal Rivalry." I meant to review Christy's second, but I was researching this period anyway for my Bards of Fantasia sequel, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...so
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also added to Facebook, Twitter, and Listopia here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Also, some updates about my intro-teaser novella:Chris wrote: " I'm leaving Scott's for last because it's the biggest of the 3. Still got plenty of time though. "
I'm fine being third and no rush. But it's only the file that is big due to the ch. head pics: it's actually only 125 pages of text, aimed especially at teens. Formatting strategies are listed in the foreword, attached here. I'm also working on getting a clearer WorldTree map in the upcoming Book 1 & 2 Omnibus. Like Marvel's Thor and Riordan's Magnus Chase, it's based-on millennia old Norse myth, but I created a unique take on it -- and published a short film years before either of those.
Greetings, all! Today I reviewed Excalibur Rising. It was great fun! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3P19W0...
S.W. wrote: "Most positive thoughts out to Samantha for a serious family illness. Please allow her a bit of extra time, and look for her to be caught up in a month or so with Eileen's book."Sam has suffered further bad luck with her review account at Zon being erased, and we're looking into it....
Justin Orton, are you still with us???
Arthuriana -- all things King Arthur !
Books mentioned in this topic
A Poem for Britain, A Contest for England (other topics)To Raise a King (other topics)
A Queen's Spy (other topics)
Excalibur Rising: Book One (other topics)
To Raise a King (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Patricia Finney (other topics)Christy Nicholas (other topics)
Mercedes Rochelle (other topics)
Eileen Enwright Hodgetts (other topics)
Samantha Burnell (other topics)
Each author will read 3 books, 4 weeks given to each. In turn, you'll get 3 reviews back from these authors of similar interests. This will be non-reciprocal, to avoid those strange Amazon rules. In other words, none of the authors you review will be ones reviewing YOUR tome. If you can't finish the quota, let the MOD know: the usual procedure is not being allowed to join any subsequent group-reads. Nobody is forced to complete the group read, one just hopes as a matter of courtesy. You also will get 4 weeks per book, not all 3 books in a month. A Goodreads review is required, and also at Amazon if you've made the required min. purchase there. Social media and blog posts are appreciated too. By the end of each month, please post your review in the thread, using Goodreads and Amazon links (and any others like your social media sites). Example:
S.W.'s review of ______ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon _____________________
Optional Facebook/blog etc. _____________
Rating system is simple: "Stars of 4 to 5, your reviewing is alive; stars of 3 or less, offer first as notes instead." Some authors are fine with a "critical" review while others are beta-testing or polishing a new edition, so don't be afraid to message a few questions and if you feel best, offer your best advice if asked. So this rule will save my moderation duties so much time, as any misunderstandings can easily be solved in private messages. Hopefully this intro might also fuel future working relationships. I also previewed all the authors queried, so the quality of books will be very high. And a .pdf copy should suffice for emailing. You may also Amazon "gift" to improve your sales rank: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/top... (Note for e-book gifting, you must have linked a valid debit/credit card. To review, you must have at least $50 in purchases thru that card, and not from gift cards or from linked-used-book-sellers. Giftees must also claim the gift thru email within 24 hours to count as a sale.)
Goodreads review etiquette is that of formal definition of the book as set in print. Example: "_________ is a _____ book in the Arthurian Aesthetic (and/ or) Alternate Ancient England genre [etc.].... Features it shows that help define that genre include________. Features I specifically liked or that tripped me up a bit include_______. [Done]. However, for this particular read, feel free to extend your definition a bit to include interrelated arts like film/plays/poetry, as well as any historical/etymological/archaeological background you'd like to share.
For posts on Amazon, a Goodreads member stated this eloquently: My reviews are not being deleted and I read at least 4-5 books per week. Remember to say at the end of your review: "I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me." This solves the two requirements from Amazon. 1) that you are not forced to leave a review in exchange for the copy of the book; and 2) that you disclose you received a free copy.
LAUNCHED!
1. Kai Mjaanes Ragnarök
1st S.W. Wilcox
2nd Patricia Finney
3rd Justin Orton
2. S.W. Wilcox A Poem for Britain
1st Patricia Finney
2nd Justin Orton
3rd Eileen Enright Hodgetts
Patricia Finney A Shadow of Gulls
1st Justin Orton
2nd Eileen Enright Hodgetts
3rd Sam
Justin Orton To Raise a King
1st Eileen Enright Hodgetts
2nd Sam
3rd M.L.
Eileen Enwright Hodgetts Excalibur Rising: Book One
1st Sam
2nd M.L.
3rd Mercedes
Samantha Burnell A Queen's Spy
1st M.L.
2nd Mercedes
3rd Christy (read books 1 & 2).
M.L. Mackworth-Praed Logres
1st Mercedes
2nd Christy (already read it, so is excused)
3rd Kai
Mercedes Rochelle Fatal Rivalry
1st Christy
2nd Kai
3rd S.W.
Christy Nicholas CHOOSE
1st Kai
2nd S.W.
3rd Patricia