Getting Back To The Program

Substack Newsletter #2

Apr 30, 2023

It has been a couple of weeks, and I am sorry to bring this newsletter so late. I returned from my well-deserved and lovely vacation in the UK, and I'm still trying to get my bearings in my personal and professional life. But I have some exciting things coming up, and I can't wait to tell everyone about it. So keep watching this space!

I also have a massive backlog of reading material (it didn't help that I bought more in the UK, but we both knew that would happen😂). But I will have fun trying to get through it, particularly the mysteries and children's books I must get through. So if you don't see me posting as much, you know why, but it is a good thing 😊

Let me stop blabbering on and get to the things you have been waiting for...

Featured Book of the Month

The Gifts by Liz Hyder

It will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are...

National Poetry Month

Poem of the Week

Welcome to Poem of the Week, an annual feature on this blog that celebrates National Poetry Month. Every Sunday, in the month of April, we start the week off with an uplifting poem and discovery why poetry still matters.

Discover A New Poem

Must Read Novels in Verse For Your TBR

Encouraging strength and positive self-esteem in young girls must start young, and reading these uplifting stories will do just that.

National Poetry Day 2021

In 2021, I came across amazing poetry collections and verse novels that have impacted me. So if you are looking for poetry collections and verse novels to read for the rest of the month, you can’t go wrong with these recommendations.

Books To Read For Arab American Heritage Month

April is also Arab American Heritage Month. Here are some great book recommendations to help celebrate this rich and historical culture.

Spring Audiobooks For Pleasant Listening

As a big audiobook fan, I always look for a great listen as the weather becomes warmer. We get to be outside more often, listening to a compelling audiobook that accompanies your hike, walk, gardening…whatever your favorite spring season activity! So if you are looking for that pleasant spring listen, you can go wrong with the following!

woman in white and black stripe long sleeve shirt sitting on chair — Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash

World Book Day: Best Quotes To Help Celebrate

World Book Day was on April 23 and I compiled the best quotes that celebrate books and reading!

Watch My Recent Appearance On Mystery and Thriller Mavens!

Missed the Mystery And Thriller Mavens interview I was recently on? No worries! The recording now available to watch. I had such a fun talking with host, Sara DiVello and you will have a wonderful time watching it!

Recent Book News

Books To Read This Month: April Edition

Check out this list of new releases that should definitely be on your bookshelf and leave you entertained for the whole month!

Books To Get Out Of The UK & Ireland: April Edition

Are you a fan of British and Irish books like I am? Here, I list exciting new releases that are coming across the pond that I feel that should be on the top of your TBR pile!

2023 Shortlist for Women’s Prize For Fiction

The 2023 annual Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist is now narrowed down to 6 compelling books!

Highland Book Prize 2022 Shortlist

This annual award celebrates the finest published work that is created in, or about, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The prize aims to recognize the literary talent of the region, and the rich and diverse work inspired by its culture, heritage, and landscape.

The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone

I want to revisit the Scottish Highlands, and reading Johnstone's dark and gothic thriller increased my interest in visiting this breathtaking area of Scotland. But I would probably stay away from this remote village. Maggi Mackay arrives at the Outer Hebrides to solve a mystery...her mystery. As a child, she claimed that her name was Andrew Macneil, a man who supposedly was murdered. This leads to a very frosty reception by the locals. But Maggie is determined to discover the truth and her strange connection with Andrew and this island.

This Gothic thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. You think it is heading in one direction, but then Johnstone comes to throw you a curve ball. Fans of classic gothic fiction will immensely enjoy this contemporary spin on the popular genre. I also like the perspectives on mental illness that this book entailed. It didn't make light of it but allowed it to be discussed openly and honestly.

Calling fans of thrillers and suspense, get ready to be enthralled with a tale that you will not be so quick to forget.

The Book That No One Wanted To Read by Richard Ayoade and illustrated by Tor Freeman

What happens when a book encounters someone who wants to read it? A magical adventure. Richard Ayoade brings his sense of humor and heartwarming feeling of what readers get when they open up a book. This may be a children's book, but readers of all ages will appreciate and love the message that this book brings. And also, I love books that promote reading and the love for this beloved pastime, so that ranks it high in my favor! ⁠

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

Loved this one! Hallett has another winner here! This page turner of a mystery may have you scratching your heads, but in a good way! Hallett has created a unique mystery that is amazingly clever but a story that is full of heartbreak and tenderness as well. For readers who love doing puzzles, this is a "cracking" good read!