Categories
Book Club Books

#iwsgbookclub Apr. 2022 Poll & What I #read in Mar.

Please join the IWSG Book Club today on Goodreads for a short general poll. Aside from spotlighting two IWSG member books each month, we also want to engage in bookish whimsy and encourage others to have a healthy reading lifestyle. You don’t have to be reading or have read the 2 current featured books to be able to participate in this poll, so please, join in the festivities. Click the image below to see our fun poll. This month the topic is about wring in different mediums/forms.

Apr. ’22 General Poll

In March 2022, I read 5 titles, 2 IWSG Book Club reads, 1 Read With Fey, and the rest I just wanted to try. Check it out.

2022 Reading Challenge

2022 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 2 books toward
her goal of
60 books.
hide

Below you’ll find my star ratings and review blurbs for each title I completed in the indicated month. If you have not signed up for my newsletter, please consider doing so. That’s where I post an overview of what I’ve been reading, watching, and writing quarterly, as well as talk about my love of reading while offering tips for having a healthy reading lifestyle. You can also click the Goodreads links to see the thorough reviews. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also be able to watch a video of my monthly reviews, if that’s more your style.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads (Coastal), VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

Click the Goodreads links to see the full reviews.

5.0 – Strong black male lead.

Goodreads

Amazon

Bookshop

5.0 – 90s nostalgia

Goodreads

Amazon

Bookshop

3.0 – Thought-provoking.

Goodreads

Amazon

Bookshop

4.0 – Full of inspiration and insight.

Goodreads

Amazon

Bookshop

**********

5.0 – Simple, easy, fun.

Goodreads

Amazon

Bookshop

You can watch my March Goodreads challenge update here. Click below to watch my March book review video, if that’s more your speed.

Here’s the latest on my YouTube series, Read Local Show (Hampton Roads, VA, USA) and Read All Over Show (global).

If you’re interested in being featured: check out the Read Local/All Over Sign-up form here.

So, did you read any good books in Mar. or did you try either of the IWSG Book Club Books?

What did you think of the ones I read? Any recommendations?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
Author Insights Fun Hops

The “Writing Process” Blog Tour

I was introduced to this lovely tour by a very powerful writer and friend, Glynis Rankin of Imaginings . She challenges me as writing to dig deeper into my soul, but I’m saving that for another post. Be sure to visit her contribution to this tour and see what she has going on…

And now, down to me. 😉

What am I working on?

I’m currently working on two independent projects. I’m in the editorial phase of publication for the second book in my Eternal Curse Series. I’m hoping to make alternations after receiving feedback from two beta readers before submitting to an editor.

I’m also working to complete the first draft of my first work of contemporary fiction, a romance entitled It’s Like the Full Moon.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The fact that none of my work seems to fit neatly into any specific genre is an indication of how unique it is. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m writing ground breaking material that is setting new precedents, but I am doing things in my own special way which seems to ruffle a few feathers.

I’ve been told that my tales of romance aren’t typical, that my sci-fi is daunting, that my paranormal is truly relevant, and that much of my work has strong spiritual undertones. This is all true, however I fear some will be left with a misconception of my works. Not all of my writing is deep, but a lot of it is. Some of my stories have strong religious ties, while others focus more on the human condition.  Some of my work is purely for entertainment.

I don’t know if my readers are ready for some of the works I’ll be presenting in the future, but I hope I have enough time to ease them into it.

Why do I write what I do?

I don’t know if it can be classified as OCD, but I feel compelled to tell the stories created in my head. It’s one thing to write them down, to share them with friends, but to have them published and presented to the masses is something else entirely. My works haven’t made it to any bestsellers lists yet, but I feel a sense of comfort knowing that someone may stubble upon one of my stories and connect to it in some way.

Ultimately I want to entertain people with stories that, hopefully, make them laugh, cry, swoon, and even shiver with fear…But don’t jump to conclusions; I don’t have the mindset to write horror or erotica.

How does your writing process work?

While creative is key, I go into my writing with strategic precision. I know my weak points and rely on the skills of others to clean up my work and make it presentable, but I have a unique voice that I refuse to have altered.

Typically when I write a story, this is what happens:

-Idea and notes

-More notes and outline, and outline

-Character and setting outlines and profiles

-Transition notes and plot development.

-Writing, writing, reading, editing, writing, reading, reading, editing, writing, reading, editing, editing

-Then others finally get to see it for feedback

Who’s Up Next

-L.A. Little, author of Deadblood and soon to be many more.

The Ways, The Methods, & The Tools | @LALittle12*

-Andrew Hess, author of The Phoenix Blade Project Justice:  Writer’s Revolution

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Top 5

Top 5: 08 – Music Genres

This is a list of my top five something. Most of the time my lists are pretty static, but sometimes I do change my mind. While I do try to apply some logic to my choices, sometimes I pick things that make no sense and for no good reason other than “I like it.”

sample

Music Genres
1. Soul
2. Pop
3. Alternative
4. Hip-Hop
5. Dance

To be honest there are only three genres of music I have trouble listening too.

Bluegrass: I heard really good true bluegrass once and it’s hard to live up to that. Most of it annoys me.

Southern Rock: because it’s basically country music with a quick beat or electric guitar. It’s not bad, but I can’t listen to more than two examples of this on any given day.

Lastly, techno. I get it, you can dance to it, but you don’t have to. Same rule applies here as with Southern Rock.

I really like Jazz and classical, but they are not my everyday listens.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords