Tuesday, December 5, 2023

IWSG Blog Hop: Reviewing Reviews, Celebrating Newly Released Books with C. Lee Mackenzie's Latest Release--Rattlesnake #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group 

#IWSGbloghop

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. 
To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 
* to share and encourage. 
* Writers can express doubts and concerns 
without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 
* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 
*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 
You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. 
Click here to sign-up and/or to visit the bloggers this week.

HAPPY DECEMBER!
HAPPY IWSG DAY!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the December 6 posting of the IWSG Blog Hop-- C. Lee McKenzie, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray! I am thrilled to be one of the co-hosts this December. I'm looking forward to visiting many of you this week!
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Hello and welcome to the jam-packed IWSG Blog Hop posting this week! 
🎄Not only do I have an answer to the December question,
🎄but I am thrilled to host C. Lee McKenzie to celebrate the release of her new Western novel, Rattlesnake
🎄Plus, I am celebrating the new release of my non-fiction book, Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir.

I think that's pretty cool for Lee and me to celebrate our new releases together as co-hosts on the IWSG Blog Hop!!

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The Question of the Month: 
Book reviews are for the readers. When you leave a book review do you review for the Reader or the Author?  Is it about what you liked and enjoyed about your reading experience, or do you critique the author?

I tell the reader what I like about the story--characters, narrative, setting, etc so the reader can decide if the book is something she would like to read. I don't critique the author other than to note how much I appreciate her lyrical language or how well she draws the reader into the scenes. 

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Thank you, Lee, for sharing your brand-new novel, Rattlesnake, at the Focused on Story blog. I'm sure I am not the only person who loves that eye-catching book cover and title. Why did you choose Rattlesnake for the title?


RATTLESNAKE by C. Lee McKenzie
Western YA Novel
The desert town of Rattlesnake isnt a destination. Its a last resort. 

Rattlesnake wasnt my first title. I think I had three others before I settled on that venomous-sounding one. Each previous title had ghosts included—No Such Thing As Ghosts, Ghost Dreams, and one other that must have been so bad I cant remember it. I think the word, Gulch, was involved. Fortunately, I dispatched all of these, and once I settled on Rattlesnake, I was happy. It had the flavor of the desert, a hint of the Old West, and it was also ominous.

RATTLESNAKE by C. Lee McKenzie

BACK OF THE BOOK: The desert town of Rattlesnake isnt a destination. Its a last resort. Seventeen-year-old Jonah Guthries aunt sold their home in New England and fled to this place to escape the humiliation of his dads indictment for embezzlement and subsequent disappearance.

While their late uncle left them a house and a silver mine, the house is a shambles and the mine is defunct. Theyre almost out of money, so they have no choice but to stay in Rattlesnake. And then Jonah discovers theyve inherited something else. Her name is Catherine, and shes been dead for over a hundred years. Now, she needs his help.

YOUTUBE RATTLESNAKE TRAILER 

RATTLESNAKE BY C.LEE MCKENZIE

 BUY LINKS

Amazon

Smashwords: 

Kobo:

 

ABOUT C. LEE MCKENZIE 

Author C. LeeMcKenzie
C. Lee McKenzie is a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains in her home state. She writes, gardens, hikes, and does yoga a lot, and then travels whenever she can. Her favorite destinations are Turkey and Nicaragua, but because she has family in England, Switzerland, and Spain she goes there when she can. 

She takes on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. Her Evernight Teen Publication, Double Negative was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books in 2020. Her most recent novel, Shattered, won the 2022 Indie Book Award.

 Connect online with C. Lee McKenzie

Substack . Goodreads . Facebook . Instagram . YouTube . LinkedIn

Email

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Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories
and Write Your Spiritual Memoir by J.Q.Rose

The pages within Your Life with Jesus guide you in penning your sacred story and invite you to journey into a deeper faith experience.


I am ecstatic to announce--

My book, Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir, is now available in eBook and paperback!

Thank you to this grand group of bloggers for the support you have given me during the last couple of years, helping me with the insecurities of writing a book, choosing a title, trying out a book cover, etc. Hugs to all!

I am a life storytelling advocate, so I encourage everyone to write their life stories. After I finished my first book on how to write your life story, Your Words, Your Life Story, I felt God nudging me to create a book to help followers of Jesus to write about their faith walk with him. When the nudge turned into an elbow in the ribs, I finally took action. I looked forward to helping folks put pen to paper or fingers on the keyboard to let go of the story that's been inside their heart for years. During the writing experience, the writer will discover revelations about her life, as well as create a treasured gift for their family and friends.

I have presented workshops to groups, but I can only reach so many. I hope the books will reach more people and inspire them to take time to sit down and write or video those precious life experiences, as well as explain how they overcame the obstacles in their lives.

A Survival Guide

Your Life with Jesus: How to Spark Memories and Write Your Spiritual Memoir by J.Q. Rose

BACK OF THE BOOK:

The purpose of this Christian-based book, Your Life with Jesus, is to spark memories of your life experiences so you can use them when writing your spiritual memoir. This book guides you in penning your sacred story and invites you to journey into a deeper faith experience.

Part One of the book includes information on ways to ignite your memories and tips on writing stories readers will want to read. Part Two suggests forty topics for journaling. Each topic, designed to awaken your life experiences, is accompanied by a verse from the Bible and a writing prompt. Not every topic will resonate with you. Select the ones that stir you.

Your Life with Jesus will open your heart to know God is speaking to you as you pray, plan, remember, and compose your stories.

Take the time now to create your spiritual memoir. Download your copy so you can preserve those special memories of Your Life with Jesus

Click here to download the eBook from your favorite online bookseller.

The paperback is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Amazon paperback 

Barnes and Noble paperback

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UPDATES

December 13--I will be a guest on Canadian author and book coach, Diane Bator's Blog. She asked a lot of questions, and I enjoyed answering them, except for one very difficult question.

December 20--Fellow memoirist and author, Margaret Hanna, will be my guest on the Recipes and Reads Series with a yummy dessert that has been passed down through generations of her family.

On December 3rd, Margaret featured my book, Your Life with Jesus on her blog, Prairie Perspective. Margaret is an atheist, so why did she help me promote this Christian-based book? Click here to read her blog post to find out.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to all!!


The Rose Courier

The Rose Courier
Click here to receive the Rose Courier 
delivered quarterly to your inbox. 
However, if I am bursting with news I can't wait to share,
 I will send out a Special Edition!
Filled with photos, updates, new book releases and more!


Click here to be notified when a new article is posted on the J.Q. Rose blog.

Click here to visit more Insecure Writers Support Group  
members participating in this month's IWSG Blog Hop!

Click here to follow me on Facebook at J.Q. Rose, Author.

Thank you for stopping by today! And for clicking around this post!!






31 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations to both you and Lee!!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats to Lee and you on your new releases. I'm glad there's so much to celebrate. And it looks like you've got a plan to promote your book.

Liza said...

Congratulations on both of your releases and thank you for hosting IWSG this month!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Congratulations, Janet and Lee. I wish you both huge success with your new novels. Love the survival quote.

J.Q. Rose said...

@Alex--thank you and also thank you for including my book in with the new releases on your blog!
@Natalie--thank you. I do have a plan for promotion this time. I'm not in a frenzy to go everywhere and be on all social media. Taking it slow. Hopefully, the book will be up for sale for a long time. Hoping I will get reviews to help push it along.
@Liza--thanks. I enjoy hosting.
@Joylene--thank you. Yeah, that quote says it all!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Congrats to both of you. Lee's book certainly went through a lot of title changes.

Sonia Dogra said...

Congratulations on the release of your book and thank you for co-hosting. My process of reviewing a book is quite similar to yours.

Lynn said...

Loved Lee's answer to why she chose Rattlesnake for the title and the Back of The Book blurb. Really stimulated my interest.

Congratulations on the release of Your Life with Jesus. I'm glad you followed your heart. I share your hope others will be inspired to discover their revelations.
Thank you for co-hosting our Dec blog-hop.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Congratulations to both you and C. Lee! Way to go!

Cathrina Constantine said...

Love the Quote! Congrats on Your New Release! And Congrats to Lee!

Thanks for co-hosting!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I just bought yours and Lee's books. High sales to you both. I would have sent you a free Kindle of my book. The quotations at the start of each chapter are worth a look from the likes of Rev. Peter Marshall, Jung, Einstein. Sister Ameal, and Rudyard Kipling, etc.

Jacqui Murray--Writer-Teacher said...

What a busy post! Congrats on your new book. It sounds worthy, Janet. Lee's sounds fascinating. I've loved every one of her books I read.

diedre Knight said...

Congratulations on your new release! And thank you for co-hosting IWSG today.
Wishing you much success and Happy Holidays!

Melissa said...

What a neat idea for a book! Congrats and kudos!
Thanks for co-hosting.

Arlee Bird said...

I like your positive approach to reviewing. But judging from your own book I'd say your life is filled with positivity.

Thanks for co-hosting.

Lee

cleemckenzie said...

It seems we have both been busy. Thanks for hosting me today, and congratulations on your newest book!

emaginette said...

That's the best review advice I've read so far, but I still worry about the stars. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Loni Townsend said...

Grats on the release, and grats to Lee too!

I like how you express your appreciation. That's nice and uplifting. :)

Thanks for co-hosting!

Miffie Seideman said...

Congratulations! And I agree that reviews are meant for the readers, unless I point out something about the author's approach that I really liked. Thanks for co-hosting!

Olga Godim said...

Congrats to you both with your new books.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Both books sounds great! Congrats! May you both find huge success.

Diane Burton said...

Congratulations to you and Lee for the new releases. They both sound really interesting. Thanks for cohosting this month.

Diane Burton

S.E. White Books said...

Congratulations to both you and Lee! And thanks so much for co-hosting this month. Happy IWSG day :)

Samantha Bryant said...

Congratulations! And thanks for co-hosting this month. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act

J.Q. Rose said...

Oh my! What a flurry of congratulations to Lee and me! I soooo appreciate your kind words. It's fun to celebrate with all of you. Because Blogger doesn't work if I format the comments with a reply to each, I'm bundling them all together to thank you for the congratulations on the new release. I love co-hosting and bopping around to so many sites. It is interesting to read how each blogger reacts and replies to the question of the month. We are all so creative with our various takes on the topic. I also love seeing each website with the different themes. All in all a fun day! (or week!)

J.Q. Rose said...

@Roland--thank you for purchasing my book! What is the title of the book you mentioned with the quotations? Sounds interesting. I checked amazon but you have a lot of books! LOL...

Steven Arellano Rose said...

I try to leave my critiquing to the book itself rather than the author. After all both readers want to know about the book they might in their time and/or money in, and authors want to know what people think of their books.

Thanks to you and the others for co-hosting! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Heidi Angell said...

Whew, you have a busy December! Congrats on the new release. So exciting!

cleemckenzie said...

In spite of being quite busy yourself, J.Q., you managed to host me and help Rattlesnake into the world. Thank you again. And thanks to everyone who stopped in to wish us well with our books. Here's to 2024 and more writing fun!

Sandra Cox said...

Congrats to both you and Lee, Cuz:)
Hugs

Victoria Marie Lees said...

Excellent book covers and book trailer and blurbs. Awesome! Bravo C.Lee and J.Q.! And good for you for you, J.Q. for being a guest on Diane Bator's blog.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks for cohosting.

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