Reading With Goodreads

If you are familiar with the Goodreads website, then you are probably aware of their annual personal reading challenge. It amazes me that some readers set their book-reading goals so high. One hundred books in a year? Wow! I suppose it is a doable goal if the pages are few or the books are read by Audible. Still, it seems quite a challenge to get through a hundred books in one year. At least for me it would be.

This year, 2024, I set my Goodreads reading goal small―a total of 10 books in all. So far, I have made it through one and a half. Most of the time I read thicker books because I like a story with substantial character and plot development. I do use Audible on occasion; however, I prefer curling up on the sofa with a tangible book in my hands. Paperback or hardcover, it does not matter so long as I can feel the texture of the pages as my fingers turn them one by one.


After finishing Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, I started Eragon again, written by Christopher Paolini. I first read Eragon about fourteen years ago and loved it. This time around I am finding it even more enjoyable as I note details missed during the first read. I plan to get through all four books in this series, hopefully before the end of 2024. I’ll let you know how it goes.


In the meantime, give Goodreads a try for yourself and make a personal reading goal. It can be as few or as many books as you like; you set the pace. Let me know if you add one of my books to your reading list; I would love that.
​Happy reading, everyone!


―Richelle E. Goodrich

Werewolves Howl, Phantoms Prowl

 

“The jack-o-lantern follows me with tapered, glowing eyes. His yellow teeth grin evilly. His cackle I despise. But I shall have the final laugh when Halloween is through. This pumpkin king I’ll split in half to make a pie for two.”  ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons   Happy Halloween!      Whether you are a Halloween enthusiast or not, this is a lovely time of year to decorate the front porch with autumn colors and pumpkins. Carving a jack-o-lantern can be a rewarding treat as well. I love the glowing faces and the pumpkin seeds we scoop out to salt and dry. Another tradition for me is reading and writing Halloween poetry. Every fantasy creature we typically pair with the holiday can inspire fun verses. They may rhyme or not, either way is acceptable. Why not try your hand at creating a Halloween poem of your own? Be creative and share your poetry with others. I hope you enjoy the poems below that I wrote for Halloweens past.  The Tarishe Curse is a great Halloween read if you are looking for one. Find it in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats on Amazon.com. SHORT SUMMARY: The full Tarishe moon never fails to herald the arrival of werewolves, drawn to the village like greedy dragons to golden treasure. Catherine, a huntress, faces them every year, but she soon finds that the real villains are unlike any she has ever met. Vengeance is the game. A Tarishe curse, the weapon of choice. What am I working on now?        With my latest book,   A Heart Made of Tissue Paper, now published and available for readers to enjoy, I have turned my attention to another book with original quotes, poems, and some short stories for every day of the year. This new book will be titled, Hope Evermore. Expect a release date in the spring of 2024.        I am also working on a new fantasy adventure that involves some Mayan mythology. There is no release date for this book yet, but I will tell you I am about 50% through the first draft of this manuscript. I love it so far!        Keep reading and reviewing those books!  _  _  ________________  _  _

How to Leave a Book Review on Amazon

Here is a question I am asked frequently: Is it a requirement to buy a book from Amazon to leave a rating and review for it on their website? 

The answer: No. Anyone can leave a book review on Amazon, even if you did not buy the book from them. Even if you did not buy the book at all! Of course, you should read the book before leaving a review; we want honest and fair responses. But once you have experienced the story, it is a simple process to leave a quick rating and review. 

Why take the time? Because you enjoyed the book. Because you appreciate the author. Because ratings and reviews help authors receive more visibility. As book ratings climb, the book's visibility climbs with it. And greater visibility means higher chances to sell more books. So, if you enjoy an author's work and want to do something to show it, this is a BIG and helpful way to promote their work to other readers. 

HOW TO LEAVE A BOOK REVIEW ON AMAZON (Made Simple)

Step One, Read the book. 

Buy it. Borrow it from a friend. Check it out from the library. Read it on Kindle. Listen to it on Audible. Let Alexa read it to you. I am sure there are other ways to experience the author's work, so choose one and take time to enjoy the story.

Step Two, Login to your Amazon account.

If you have an Amazon account, simply login. If you do not, it is an easy process. All you need is an email address, which will be your username, and then create your own password.

Step Three, Search for the book on Amazon by title, author, or both.

The easiest way to find my books on Amazon is to do a search by my author name, Richelle E. Goodrich. You can also search for the title of a book. For example, type in The Tarishe Curse, and that book along with similar titles will pop up. Click on the book or its title when you find it, and that will open a page dedicated specifically to the book.

Step Four, Scroll down to "Customer reviews."

Once you are on the Amazon page for the book you read, scroll down until you find the section titled "Customer reviews." It is located further down then you might expect, so do not give up if you do not see it right away. Yes, keep scrolling down the page. It is located on the left-hand side and has 1 to 5 star ratings right beneath it.

Step Five, Click on "Write a customer review."

Directly below the 1-to-5-star chart is a white button that reads "Write a customer review." Click on that button. A new window that allows you to leave a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 star rating should open. There is a line for you to give your review a title. For example, "Loved it," "Couldn't put it down," "Highly recommend this read," "Can't wait for the next book," or whatever comes to mind. After the title line, there is a box where you can type in a review. One or two sentences is fine unless you care to say more about the book. 

Please, be kind with your reviews. I would ask that if you did not like the book at all, refrain from leaving a review. These ratings and reviews are a huge tool that promotes a book or hurts its chances to sell.

Step Six, Click submit.

As soon as you finish typing out a review for the book, scroll down and hit the submit button. That's it! You did it! And chances are, you put a smile on an author's face. Thank you for that. 

PS. It may take a day or two... or five before you see the review show up on the book's detail page. Amazon is not always fast about posting. Give them time. 

Enter These 2 Book Giveaways!!

Okay, so I had a request for a book giveaway, and after asking for feedback, I have decided to do TWO separate giveaways. I will allow a couple weeks for people to sign up, and then I will announce the two winners on September 30th, 2023.

The first book giveaway is for A Heart Made of Tissue Paper. This is a book of my original poetry.










The second book giveaway is for Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher. This is a heartfelt, dramatic novel.









How to enter:
1) Go to my author Facebook page and look for the giveaway post. It is pinned to the top of the page. https://www.facebook.com/RichelleEGoodrich

2) Tell me in the comments of the Facebook giveaway post which book giveaway you want to be entered in. Feel free to request entry into both.

3) Tag a friend in the comments of the Facebook giveaway post to bring your friend's attention to the giveaway so they can enter too!

4) Sign up for my periodic author newsletter at https://www.richellegoodrich.com/sign-up--reviews.html.

That’s it!!

Remember, if you win one of these book giveaways, you will need to provide me with a mailing address so I can mail you a signed copy of the book.

UPDATE! WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!

FREE on Amazon for TWO DAYS

Hey! Did you know that Secrets of a Noble Keykeeper

is available in Kindle format for FREE on May1st and 2nd, 2023? Go visit Amazon.com on these days and you can download this clever fairy tale at no cost. Not kidding! So mark your calendar to get a FREE COPY of Secrets of a Noble Keykeeper on Monday or Tuesday. It's a fun, short read you can enjoy alone or with your kids at bedtime. If you feel so inclined, leave a kind rating/review on Amazon and Goodreads for me. It would be greatly appreciated!

 

Book Summary: Meet a curious, young man whose calling it is to guard the gates of his homeland. As keykeeper of Dreamland, Gavin comes across many outsiders referred to by his people as dreamers. Through a variety of bizarre and creative antics, Gavin steers these roaming trespassers away from the borders of his magical world—a world where ogres bowl for their dinner, and pirates sail the clouds to plunder diamonds from the night’s sky, and bubbleberries make a person burp out loud. It is a place where anything imaginable is commonplace.

All the while, the young key keeper finds himself increasingly intrigued by stories of the outside world. Snooping about, he is captivated by a dreamer who piques his interest in the ordinary.

This book is supplemental to Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher

Author Interview with Awesome Gang

       Recently, I stumbled across an author interview I did a few years back with an administrator from Awesome Gang―"Where awesome book readers meet awesome writers." It was fun to read through the questions/answers again and realize that most of the goals I mentioned during the interview have now been accomplished. It has taken its share of time.      

       Unfortunately, when goals eat up a lengthy amount of work days, any substantial forward progress seems less evident. But while reading over this interview and looking back, I realized how much I have actually accomplished since then. It was a positive boost for me. 

       I am including the interview below for your enjoyment. Go ahead and read it while I continue chipping away at my writing goals. There is still a lot I plan to do!

(You can find the original interview on awesomegang.com)

Richelle E. Goodrich


Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I was born in Utah and grew up in Washington State where I presently reside with my husband and three teenage boys. I began writing my first novel around Christmastime, December 2007. The goal was to see if I could complete one novel-length book, believing it would be an impressive accomplishment. Little did I know I would fall in love with the writing process and continue writing at every given opportunity! One book turned into a six-book fantasy-sci-fi-romance-adventure series known as the Harrowbethian Saga. I also write poetry and short stories, but I am most known for my quotes that circulate the internet. You can find many of my quotes on Goodreads linked to my author page. I have two books presently published that include quotes, poetry, and short stories for every day of the year, but my favorite book–the one that challenged me–is a fictional human interest account about a young girl who struggles to endure a life of hard circumstances. I write to entertain myself, and this keeps me happily writing as often as time permits.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest published book is the third in the Harrowbethian Saga titled, Eena, The Curse of Wanyaka Cave. This series was inspired by my tendency to daydream in high school when I was a teenager. What else was there to do with all that extra time in class? This story of Queen Eena was one of my favorite daydreams to visit and revisit when I was bored. I think this series proves I have always possessed an active and creative imagination.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

I use a lot of sticky notes when I write a book, and these sticky notes tend to end up plastered around the screen of my laptop as I type out chapters. The theory is that I keep better track of ideas, character personalities, plot twists, etc. if these reminders stare me in the face. Once a sticky note is no longer needed, I get an odd thrill out of peeling it off my screen and putting it into a big envelope where it is saved as project notes.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

I have probably been influenced most by authors of classic literature. They are my favorite writers and include Victor Hugo, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Mary Shelley, and Homer. My favorite book of all time is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I enjoy the old children’s fairy tales too, like those written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, and George MacDonald.

What are you working on now?

I am presently working on another book of quotes, poetry, and short stories for every day of the year. It will be titled, Slaying Dragons, and dedicated to my son for his graduation this year. He loves dragons.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

I have grown fond of Goodreads for promoting my books. I have book giveaways posted there all the time.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

First, if you want to be a writer, then WRITE! Spend less time thinking, studying, researching, learning, worrying about the art and just write. Write a sentence, a paragraph, a page every day of your life—about anything and everything. Scribble out a poem, a quote, a set of instructions, a portion of a developing novel, a letter to a friend, and so on. Read your work over and edit it. Then set it aside for a while before reading and editing it again. The point is, writing and re-writing are the exercises for authors that lead to excellence.

Secondly, READ everything. Read books, articles, recipes, blogs, letters, cereal boxes, and so on. Pay attention to the details that draw you in. Note what causes you to lose interest. Keep a journal of what you learn, and refer to it now and then.

Thirdly, pick up a basic GRAMMAR book and memorize it; put that knowledge to use.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

The best writing advice I have ever heard was a quote by Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

What are you reading now?

My son is performing in “Narnia” at the local high school, which got me thinking about those wonderful books. I just started reading The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I plan to read through all of the Chronicles of Narnia.

What’s next for you as a writer?

Slowly but surely, I am writing more books and developing a following of readers. I plan to get the last three books of the Harrowbethian Saga published as soon as possible, and then I will work on putting my best poetry together in one book.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

Only 4 books? This is a tough choice. I would probably bring the biggest and best books I have read.
1.) Les Miserables
2.) The Odyssey
3.) Does The Lord of the Rings count as one book?
4.) The Scriptures

Author Websites and Profiles:

Richelle E. Goodrich Website
Richelle E. Goodrich Amazon Profile
Richelle E. Goodrich Author Profile on Smashwords

Richelle E. Goodrich’s Social Media Links:
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account

My Newest Book Release and What I am Working on Now

 

“Vengeance would have us assault an enemy's pride to beat him down. But vengeance hides a dangerous truth, for a humbled foe gains patience, courage, strength, and greater determination.”

― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse




Remember, you can sign up to receive my periodic newsletter on my author website.






RELEASED: The Tarishe Curse
     It took twelve years in the making, but my newest book, The Tarishe Curse is finally complete and up for sale on Amazon. What started out as an attempt to entertain a friend with a short story for Hallows Eve turned into yearly chapter-additions that eventually amounted to one thrilling novel-length tale. Chapter one of the book is the original short story, which was written back in October of 2012. I gave that story to my friend, Cathie Duvall (a huge fan of Halloween) and she quickly read it. Then she asked an unexpected question: "What happens next?"
     Uh... well... I honestly had no plans for the tale to continue. But Cathie made a few suggestions that sparked my interest, and on that day a new tradition was born. Every Halloween from 2012 to 2018, I posted new installments of The Tarishe Curse online for anyone to read. It was a fun exercise for me because my normal writing process is to plan out a book from beginning to end. If I do not like the ending, I will not write the book. This tale, however, had no sure ending in sight. I simply dreamt up a new chapter to attach to the evolving tale every year, usually around September. Then, I posted the new installment near Halloween.
     It was in 2019 that I realized the story had grown into a novel-length manuscript in need of a good ending. That was the real challenge: wrapping up all the plot twists and character plights so I could thread every part of the tale into one culminating finale. Oh, it was a creative test to bring it altogether when I honestly had no idea what the ending would be. Normally, I am certain of the final chapters before I choose to write a story, so this make-it-up-as-you-go style was uncomfortable for me, to say the least. But I did it! And I am well-pleased with Duvalla's fate.
     Where can you get a copy of the book? Great question! Right now, The Tarishe Curse is available in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats on Amazon. I hope you get a chance to read and enjoy my thrilling tale, and if you do... please, leave a positive rating and a short review on Amazon and Goodreads. It truly does help sell more copies. Thank you so much!





The Tarishe Curse is available in kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats on Amazon.com.

SUMMARY: A thrilling piece of fiction from the Queen of Werefolk’s point of view. It is difficult enough for Duvalla and Kresh to protect their young family in a world of Hallows Eve creatures, but this feat proves near impossible when an old witch bent on vengeance against the werewolves casts a Tarishe curse that manipulates both heart and mind. The battle is not only with a sword but an internal struggle—a fight to love the ones that Duvalla has sworn under a spell to hate, and to hate the one who through evil enchantment manipulates her heart.

What am I working on now? With my latest book,  The Tarishe Curse,  finished and available for readers, I am now  spending my time writing additional poetry to include in a book of original poems. The working title for this book is  A Heart Made of Tissue Paper. Expect a publication date of August 13th, 2023. That's my goal!      Following is a poem from that upcoming book:

EMERITUS   To rise up at dawn or to slumber ‘til noon, with nowhere to be, none too late, none too soon.   To laze like a cat in the shade of a tree, with naught on my list but a nap after tea.   To soak up the sun on a summery day, with nothing to do besides fish in the bay.   To stew in the bath among bubbles of silk, with never a care but to sip on warm milk.   To sleep when I choose on a feathery bed, with naught on my mind, only dreams in my head.   To share days gone by in repeated old tales, that few stop to hear but the dolphins and whales.                                        —Copyright 2023 Richelle E. Goodrich

The Harrowbethian Saga

     This is a six-book, young adult, fictional series that tells the story of Queen Eena of Harrowbeth. Though the tale begins on the planet Earth, it does not remain grounded in one, small area of the universe. There are diverse characters introduced along Eena's journey, each with a unique personality, culture, and background. Travel to new worlds as you share in the adventures of a young queen and her companions. Learn a bit of original mythology. Fret over life and love decisions. Treat your imagination to unexpected twists and turns! 

     Below are summaries of each book that makes up this fun saga. Start here, and prepare for some enjoyable days of reading...

The Harrowbethian Saga (6 books)

Series Summary:

After an unplanned trip to the doctor’s office, Sevenah Williams discovers that her ancestry is anything but human. This shocking news puts her on a course to find out the truth about her parents and a tragic past that placed her in hiding at a very young age. Eventually, she takes on her birth name, Eena, and accepts her birthright as the only living heir to the throne of Harrowbeth.

Eena soon learns that this privilege comes with a price, beginning with the painful process of being physically joined to an heirloom necklace known as the dragon’s soul. From that point on, Queen Eena slowly uncovers powers granted her by the necklace, giving her the ability to manipulate energy—a gift that comes in handy when she faces enemies who wish to see her royal line eliminated.

Eena must fight with new friends at her side including Derian, the captain of the Kemeniroc; Kira, a Mishmorat with might and spunk; Shanks and his crew of giant Viiduns; and Ian, her best friend and sworn protector. Her greatest challenges, however, turn out to be personal: learning to love, to trust, and to handle adult problems as a teenager.

_______________

Book 1 - Eena, The Dawn and Rescue

Book Summary: Sevenah Williams lives a quiet farm life until she stumbles upon a mysterious past and learns she is heir to the throne of Harrowbeth. She is the last living of royal blood able to don a peculiar and enchanted heirloom necklace. Given the new name, Eena, she sets off for a new home—a world plagued by civil war—only to discover that her enemies and allies are near impossible to distinguish.

Book 2 - Eena, The Return of a Queen

Book Summary: The young queen of Harrowbeth, has been saved from the clutches of her enemy, only to fear prophetic nightmares of being captured again. A red-eyed dragon haunts her dreams frequently, portending doom within his fortune-telling gaze. It is Derian and Ian's job to keep the beast's grim visions from coming true.Joined by their allies—a large and warring race called the Viiduns—Captain Derian and his militia escort their queen across the galaxy toward home. An unexpected detour takes them to an advanced world where a quirky king might possess the power to rid them of their enemy for good. But is trusting the promise of a stranger a risk worth taking? It will require Eena to face her worst nightmare alone.

Book 3 - Eena, The Curse of Wanyaka Cave

Book Summary: Captain Derian and his crew have successfully returned the young Queen Eena to her home in Harrowbeth. Their enemy of over a decade has been defeated. The world awaits healing as peace once again settles over the land. Unfortunately for those closest to Eena, this much-deserved rest proves short-lived.Deep within Lacsar Forest inside the black walls of Wanyaka Cave, a childhood ghost story has become reality. A more powerful and enduring enemy lures the young queen to where two immortal sisters await in confines, having been imprisoned there for generations. These evil sisters and their brother, along with a dragon forced to do their bidding, combine efforts to manipulate Eena into helping them accrue a means of escape. Though she tries to refuse her assistance, every move she makes only seems to worsen her predicament. She fears losing Derian's trust, Ian's friendship, and possibly someone's life.

Book 4 - Eena, The Two Sisters

Book Summary: Queen Eena sees her world crumbling, chiefly the lives of those she loves most. Affected by a compassionate heart, she tries to console one man who mourns for a lost love while endeavoring to assure another she does indeed plan to marry him... someday. But emotions are sensitive and doubts strong, especially when provoked by the lying tongue of an immortal scoundrel.All the while the young queen continues to search for a way to defeat two devious, indestructible sisters who seem capable of manipulating outcomes regardless of Eena's attempts to thwart them. The closer she gets to fulfilling the final demands of these witches, the more it appears only one way exists to save herself and her world—by agreeing to join the enemy. But would that make her a hero or the ultimate traitor?

Book 5 - Eena, The Tempter's Snare

Book Summary: It is the queen’s eighteenth birthday, and all of Moccobatra is eagerly prepared to participate in a world-wide celebration. Mallawum ballgames; multicultural song and dance; bartering booths filled with books, trinkets, clothing, and other treasures; children’s games; delectable banquets—these are but a few things in store for the party. Within the year, the young queen of Harrowbeth will be married as tradition dictates. Her husband will then become the rightful king of Harrowbeth, and together they will rule the land as Shen and Sha.With a sure promise of happiness for Eena predicted by Arden’s Vision, it seems nothing can go wrong. But not everyone is happy with her choice of a suitor, especially when respectable men more fitted for the calling of king anxiously wait in line. Pressures mount and are added upon by disturbing dreams that seem beyond the average nightmare. Are these dreams merely a reflection of regrets? Or are they messages that require Queen Eena’s serious attention?

Book 6 - Eena, The Companionship of the Dragon's Soul

Book Summary: The young queen of Harrowbeth is determined to set things right, but doing so means breaking a few big rules. Joined by a select group of Harrowbethian militiamen, as well as a handful of Viidun warriors and a few spunky Mishmorat sisters, Queen Eena sets off for Laradine—the home world of the immortals.There in the land of Tribanees, with the support of her traveling companionship, she intends to confront the immortal governing body and convince them to undo a terrible wrong. But persuading immortals to concern themselves with the troubles of temporary beings may prove to be a futile waste of time. Things get carried away, plans are drastically altered, and before long Eena starts to wonder how many wrongs it will take to finally set things right.








The Harrowbethian Saga by Richelle E. Goodrich Copyright 2012 - 2019