The Narrative Gardener

Tag: #bookreview

  • Book Review: Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic

    by Victoria Hamilton

    *I received access to this title in exchange for an honest review, which I am happy to leave.*

    Much of the historical fiction I have recently read takes place in London, so when I saw Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic is set in the famous and beautiful city of Bath, I was eager to read it. The asserted healing properties of the water, and the resurgence of its popularity in the nineteenth century made for an elegant and engaging backdrop to the mystery. Through the daily routines of the citizens “dependent” upon the water’s curative effects, we are transported into the hierarchy of Bath society with Lady Anne as she visits with her mother in preparation for the announcement of her own engagement.

    I had not read any of the previous Lady Anne novels that Victoria Hamilton has written, but that did not restrict my understanding or empathy for Lady Anne or the other characters. The novel can be read as a stand-alone easily, though it may suggest that reading the prequels would be worth it for the story behind Anne and Lord Darkefell’s romance. The portrayal of the lord as dark, haughty, and sympathetic to women of his time who would control some of their independence is skillfully woven into the story as Anne conducts her own rebellions within the close Bath society.

    Themes of love, secrets, truthfulness with oneself, exploitation, and societal beliefs are all explored through Anne’s discovery and solving of a murder mystery that involves those close to her. We learn of the complex relationships society demands women maintain, and the depravity they suffer when they do not. Anne treads a fine line between impropriety and inclusion in her goal of maintaining independence and marrying a marquess, to the marvel of her mother and Bath society. It is her tenacity, however, that leads her to pursue an investigation into an untimely death in an effort to spare her friends shame. What she discovers to be at the heart of the deception shakes her definitions of truth and appearance.

    Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic is an enjoyable delve into Georgian society outside London, with all of the decorum and formality of the era. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the complexity and physical description of the city of Bath and its contribution to the story. I recommend it to historical fiction mystery fans who would enjoy a trip outside of London. Partake of the mineral waters of Bath to ease your ailments and enjoy your time sleuthing with Lady Anne!

  • Book Review: Audio for Authors by Joanna Penn

    If you are considering adding audio to your author business, Audio for Authors is a must-read. Then decide!

    Think you might be interested in audio? Look in here to see why you should be.

    I have been interested in narrating audiobooks for quite some time now, in fact, I already have the equipment, a homemade audio booth that sits on my desk, and I’ve created an ACX account. Why haven’t I taken the plunge? The main reason: Time.

    I read aloud A LOT. It is one of my favorite things to do when I am pleasure-reading. My dogs appreciate it, and for me it is about how the words come to life when spoken aloud. Narration is certainly something I want to add to my freelance word services business, but in addition to the time factor, I allowed myself to be stymied by the editing process. Recently, I took two more online courses through LinkedIn on using the software, and I gained a much better understanding of it. It doesn’t appear to be as difficult as my brain would have me think.

    Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn Podcast has been a staple of my subscriber library since I started listening regularly to podcasts over the past year. She is at the forefront of the indie publishing industry and a super successful entrepreneur. I find her episodes insightful, honest, and certainly thought-provoking. More often than not I remove my earbuds only to think, “Now how can I apply that to what I am doing?”

    I ordered Audio for Authors shortly after it was released. It had been recommended to me by another podcaster as well, Sacha Black over at The Rebel Author Podcast and Next Level Authors, so it was a no-brainer to add it to my cart. Then the Coronavirus hit, and I got nervous that it wouldn’t show up forever, but to my delight it arrived quickly and on time!

    The first thing I noticed about the book was the three-part organization: Audiobooks, Podcasting, Voice Technology. Can it get any more succinct than that? Each section discusses the topic thoroughly and in a manner that you can easily return to for reference- it’s all spelled out in the titles of the sections. The tips and steps are infused with the author’s own experiences over her 10+ years in podcasting, which made it all reachable for me. She shares her own techniques and reasons for the software, platforms, technology, and hardware she uses, passing along lessons and time-savers freely. I have to say my own confidence increased markedly, as did my enthusiasm!

    I finished the book over a week or two, absorbing it in small increments. The Audiobook section amped up my desire to narrate again and I recorded a short cut of one of The Collection of Huphaea posts on this blog (see CoH post #0). The Voice Technology chapters were informative and illustrate how forward-thinking Joanna Penn is in her business planning. The AI voice advances are something all authors should be keeping an eye on for use in several different ways to create income streams.

    But it was the Podcasting section that really hit home and made me think.

    “… if you are only marketing your book through written media, you will not reach a reader like me. And I am certainly not alone.”

    Joanna Penn, Audio for Authors, pg 103.

    This line alone sparked an idea, and now I am beginning to put the pieces together to start my own podcast for The Collections of Huphaea. Eeeeek! In general, I have trouble listening to the sound of my own voice, but she also points out that other people won’t hear my voice the same, so what I think doesn’t matter. Bingo! That was what I needed to hear. Yeah, podcasting. I’m diggin’ it.

    The prose is light and conversational, it’s very easy to sit down and consume in large chunks. There are websites and links given (super helpful in the ebook) and plenty of resources listed in the back of the book for readers to follow up with. Joanna Penn is thorough in providing information, making Audio for Authors a reference for a burgeoning industry.

    I highly recommend Audio for Authors for anyone thinking about adding audio to their marketing activities. Happy reading, and if you finish the book with a microphone in your hand, I won’t be surprised!~