Tag: youtube

Categories
Books

What I Read in March 2021

In March 2021, I read 1 horror novel, 1 nonfiction picture book, and 1 middle-grade book. Check it out.

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
50 books.
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 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 my thorough book reviews (and sometimes TV and movie stuff) 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, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

5.0 – Gore I can handle and a cliffhanger, ahhh!

 

Goodreads | Amazon 
4.75- Pretty deep stuff in a fluffy sweet package.

 

Goodreads | Amazon Pre-order
5.0- Dazzling and dynamic for kids and adults.

 

Goodreads | Amazon 

 

So, did you read any good books in March?

What did you think of the ones I read?

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
About Toi Holiday

2020 Means Clear Vision

Happy New Years Around the World

Every time I hear someone say 2020, instead of two thousand twenty, I think of eyesight. I haven’t had 20:20 vision for quite a while, but I do feel like I have a pretty clear vision of what I want in the coming year.

First, let’s look back a bit. Yesterday (still going today) I spent most of the day catching up on the last WEP challenge entries. I went out of town for the holiday and wasn’t able to get good Internet service. I was able to access a few things on my iPad, but even that had limitations. So, the rest of this week is catch-up time and next week my New Year will truly begin.

In 2019, I really started to make strides in my efforts to host a book fair by getting my name and idea out there. I attended 3 author/vendor events and narrowed down my ideal venue to two locations. I will spend all of 2020 fundraising so that the 2021 event will be all that I hope.

Below is a breakdown of all that I read in 2019. Click here to see the Goodreads page that displays all the lovely book images and links or visit my Lit Carnivale blog to view it without going through Goodreads.

  • Novel length books = 28
    • Adult Fiction = 11
    • YA Fiction = 3
    • Middle grade = 8
    • Novella/Short Stories = 2
    • Nonfiction = 5
    • Anthology/Collections = 3
  • Graphic Novels = 18
    • Fiction = 15
    • Nonfiction = 3
    • Anthology/Collections = 2
  • Children’s/Picture Books = 25
    • Fiction = 23
    • Nonfiction = 2

In 2019, I also watched a lot a TV and Movies that I should have shared on my YouTube channel. In 2020, I’m going to do better about sharing things and not letting my lack of production value keep me from doing so.

Writing goals for 2020 include publishing a picture book about my dog, at least one short story collection, and hopefully a collaboration. I plan to keep submitting to anthologies and collecting rejection messages. I hope to complete the rewrite of my original paranormal series, though I seem to have hit a wall with it. Even if I complete the rewrite in 2020, the publication will still be a ways off.

Reading goals for 2020, 75 titles (includes nonfiction and fiction: novels, picture books, and graphic novels). I plan to share more of my book reviews than ever before. I also plan to read books written by authors from my local area as well as books by bloggers I’ve followed for some time. I will be sharing much of that experience over at my Lit Carnivale blog.

The last thing I plan to do in 2020, starting today, is going back to revive an old blog series called, Count My Blessings.

I don’t have the new graphic ready yet, but it’s coming. Today I am blessed to see a brand new year filled with new possibilities.

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
IWSG

#IWSG March 2019: Can I write a bad guy POV?

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Hold on tight ‘cause I have a lot to cover today.

Optional Monthly Question: Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?

I have never tried to write from the villain’s point of view, but I’d so love to. I like writing a good villain, so this seems like a great challenge for me. Hey, WEP, (hint hint wink wink) I think I have an idea…

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February’s IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was C.G. Coppola. Be sure to stop by and check her out, if you have a chance.

IWSG BOOK CLUB NEWS:

Check out our latest Poll and give your two cents about which platform is the best to experience your favorite books and stories.

Join us here March 20th for our discussion on setting featuring Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

If you somehow missed the WEP-IWSG challenge for February, click the image above to see my entry and check out any others you’d like.

Author Features

In February, I had a chance to feature a few more authors. Check out my video interview with the author, Jennifer Irvig. Just this Monday, I had a lovely interview with, steampunk author, Phoebe Darqueling.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I’ve taken on way too much and need to decide which things to lay off of a bit, but that’s easier said than done. At this point, I have not become overwhelmed or anything like that, but I can sense things building up. I have so much I want to do and there’s no set deadline for any of it. That’s the beauty of being an indie. I can do things in my own time.

Sometime this weekend I hope to record my February update on YouTube but for today, I’ve posted a few book reviews over at my Lit Carnivale blog (I’m still several book reviews behind, but I’m catching up a little each day.)

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Which perspective do you prefer?
Read any good books lately?
Any good news to share? I’d love to celebrate with you?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Fundy Blue,
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Erika Beebe, and
Lisa Buie-Collard!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #47).

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

Update 3-10-19; I’ve been offline a few days, unexpectedly, but will be making my rounds in the next few days.