Author J Roe

Writing quirky characters on redemptive journeys

Bookworms

6 Easy {and FUN} Ways to Share the Book Love

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Have you have ever reached the end of a book and gotten excited to find another book by the same author? They have brought joy and happiness to your life, so now you want MORE! And if you are a certain type of reader, you want to let that author know how much you love their books. Believe me, I understand. As a bookworm and mom to book nerds myself, I have looked for ways to let authors know how much we appreciate their work. And now that I have a long running series of books retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures published myself, I have been thrilled to have readers reach out to me. So read on if you are excited to learn 6 easy {and FUN} ways to share the book love!

Easy Way #1: Book Recommendations ROCK!

It is well-known in the author community that the best marketing is word of mouth. When readers love your books so much that they have to talk their friends into reading them too, life is amazing. And honestly? It is super easy to do. All you need is to consider who might enjoy a book you love. Aunt Wilma who loves gardening and women’s fiction? She will love Francine River’s book, Leota’s Garden. And your best friend MacKenzie who teaches middle grade English and loves fantasy should check out S.J. Howland’s The Traveller’s Stone or R.V. Bowman’s The Pirate Princess Chronicles. Did your roommate from college adore rom-coms? Please tell her to grab Emma St. Clair’s Love Cliche series.

I do this all the time. Just picture me using that cute little send button on my kindle app to share recommendations with my contacts when I read something I know they will love. I never have to even get up, and it clicks me right back over to my book. This costs maybe 2-5 minutes of your time and your friend feels special because you connected them with something you love.

Easy Way #2: Bookworms Having FUN on Social Media

Now, not everyone is social media guru, and that is totally okay. You don’t have to be a famous #bookstagrammer over on Instagram taking intricate photos of book flatlays or book shelfies unless you enjoy it. {And hey, if you do enjoy it, connect with me here, because I love it, too.} But if that’s not your thing, but you do want to give a favorite author or book some love, here are a few ideas. Share a quote you love on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using appropriate hashtags. Make a Tiktok video or Reel dancing with the book and share the fun silliness with your followers. Go live and talk about the book and why it means so much to you. Create a “Books to Read” board on Pinterest and pin it there. I bet once you start looking around social media, you’ll find enjoyable creative ways to share your love for the book and author, which also helps your followers feel more connected with and valued by you.

Easy Way #3: Highlight in Your Kindle

I must give some credit with this tip. Thanks to @kikimojo, who writes under the pen names Emma St. Clair and Sullivan Grey, on Instagram for letting us know that authors can see important passages readers highlight in their Kindle. She uses those highlights to help her market her books! In fact, you can look them up, too, by going into your app and clicking popular highlights. If you are looking to share quotes, it’s already done for you! Want to spread the love further? Don’t just highlight in your Kindle, make sure to publish your highlights on Goodreads and then all your followers there will see what passages made the book special to you. Such an easy way to share the book love!

Easy Way #4: Ask For Your Best Books at the Library

Raise your hand if you are tight on funds but still want ALL THE BOOKS? Yep, you can’t see me, but I just raised my hand. Most public libraries, especially in the USA, have a certain portion of their budget set aside to acquire new titles every year. Some people might think that this rips off the author as the book gets bought only once and then is borrowed over and over again. Let me tell you, that’s just not true. First of all, libraries have a different purchasing model because of the borrowing system. Also, libraries create life-long readers who often check out books and go on to purchase their favorites and become rabid fans. What author WOULDN’T want to be part of a system that feeds into fandoms? Make sure to talk to your librarian, or just dig around on your library’s website to find how you can get your requests in. And make sure to check it out and encourage your friends to as well if your library purchases it. You definitely want your favorite author and their books to get a great reputation with those hard-working librarians!

Easy Way #5: Follow Your Favorite Author and Get Free Books!

What is better than receiving a free book? Umm, not much, right? If you follow your favorite author on Goodreads, you will get notified every time they are doing a giveaway. I am following a ton of authors over there and love getting little notifications of their giveaways and later when the book comes out. I loved the giveaway I did with Goodreads last year and look forward to shipping off more book boxes in the future, so feel free to follow me here.

Want more? If you join your favorite author’s mailing list, there is usually a free book as an incentive. Before the Tower, the prequel to Rapunzel’s Journey, is my freebie for joining my list. I love hearing from readers about how they have enjoyed knowing what came before Rapunzel was imprisoned in her tower. And many, many authors (including me!) will give even more free books to those who become part of their review team. You get a free book and copy and paste your honest review on several online retailers and/or all over social media. How fun and easy is that?

Easy Way #6: Become a Patron and Support Great Books

Did you know that you can directly influence how much time your author has to keep writing those books you love? I didn’t know about this till recently, either. A long time ago, wealthy aristocrats would support poor, starving artists, musicians, and authors monetarily so that they could afford to create their masterpieces. The idea was if their physical needs were met, they could continue pouring their hearts and souls into creating those works of art. Now, most of us artistic types aren’t funded by billionaires. We do, however, have “patrons” who supply different levels of support and we give back with early access to our works, etc. Creating my own Patreon account with several different levels has been so fun for me, and I was thrilled to see that patrons could give as little as a dollar a month and hop off if their finances or interests change. You can learn more by clicking here on my Patreon. Be sure to use the search bar to look up other authors you might want to support. Thank you in advance!

Which of these 6 Easy {and FUN} Ways to Share the Book Love Are You Going to Try?

So, there you have it, 6 easy {and FUN} ways you can share the book love. Whether you’re online, at the library, or making a monthly donation, there is always a simple way you can help your most treasured books keep getting written. Which one will you be trying? Let me know in the comments or by sending me a message!

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

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How to Choose the Right Book for Your Mood

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If you head over to Instagram, you’ll find all kinds of readers, self-professed book lovers, who are constantly sharing their favorite novels. They take beautiful pictures of book flatlays or do funny dances on their reels sharing what they loved and hated. But the question always comes down to what a book lover should reach for next. Just because you loved this particular author or series, are you really in the mood for more of that, or do you need something different? Are you a reader in search of the right formula to determine how to choose the right book for your mood?

What is a moody reader?

First, I need to state that not all of us bookworms are needing a formula. Many readers have a system that works for them. They have go-to authors or genres that they know will satisfy their book-cravings no matter what else is happening in their lives. What happened at work or in their personal lives does not change what they want to read. Horrible traffic or a screaming toddler who won’t go down for a nap? Doesn’t matter. They can just go on blissful autopilot when clicking for the next book.

But, if you are like me, you are HIGHLY impacted by your mood. In fact, your Goodreads might have several books “open” at a time on your “currently reading shelf”. Each day you might even be making progress in a different book. Go ahead, scroll through my Goodreads account. It will seem completely random, but I have discovered that it is anything BUT random.

How the pandemic changed my reading life

My mental health and current environment directly impact how I am feeling and what I’m reading. Right now my environment is still made up of a tightly knit family of Bible-believing bookworms who are still stuck at home due to the global pandemic. Struggling with chronic pain as well as depression and anxiety during the best of times, this past year has been . . . interesting.

Before the pandemic, I was reaching for lots of angsty young adult fantasy and Christian romantic suspense as my comfort reads. I loved the fast-pace and coming-of-age story arcs common in the former and the intrigue with the love story of the latter. But listening to fiction audiobooks? No, thank you. It literally put me to sleep. I preferred paperback to ebooks and hardbacks to paperback. Let me smell my fiction. Raise your hand if you’re a book-sniffer, too!

Now? I am still reading young adult fantasy books, but because of the angst level in many of those books, I have discovered that middle grade fantasy and clean romance/romantic comedies are more comforting right now. Fun action with magical worlds is still necessary, but I also need simple plot lines where two people have the promise of a happily-ever-after at the end of each book. Also, I’m taking greater care with my spiritual life, knowing it impacts my mental health directly. I used to sit and read my Bible almost every day (hey, I’m not perfect. I’d miss some days here and there.) But all of a sudden, I just couldn’t read it with my eyes anymore. I don’t know why, so I tried audio. Now, I’m listening to more of the Bible than I used to read daily and it is making a huge difference. As my speed in reading has increased, I also started gravitating towards ebooks. And once I started listening to the Bible, I tried ya fantasy and that was a win, too. Who knew?

How to judge the mood of a book

How did I know I needed to change my reading habits? I was no longer excited about reading. Simple as that. What had once been enjoyable suddenly felt like work. So I changed it up by noticing what was engaging and in what format I found it engaging. Mental health is a weird beast, but I’ve learned that if I remain flexible, my overall health benefits.

So, as you look to what you might need in your reading life right now, look closely at the covers. What colors and images are pulling you in? You’ll know it when you see it. Now, glance at the book description. What keywords are standing out? Are you finding that you like the sound of a straightforward, problem-solving, how-to book instead of a novel? Check out some self-help based on your interests in self-improvement. Do you desire to escape into a paranormal world where people are not what they seem and you can imagine you have secret gifts waiting to be discovered? Why not try paranormal fantasy? Or maybe, you feel drawn to something with comforting words, something that feels like a warm hug with a cookie (or biscuit for my UK friends) on the side. Cozy (or cosy) mysteries might be exactly what you need.

How to choose the right book for your mood

Do I think this will be forever? I doubt it. I’ve gone through many reading stages in my life and I always come back around to loving anything fantasy-related, so that’s a staple for me. Like I said, I’m still reading young adult fantasy, just enjoying it through my ears right now. I’ve also usually reached for something that had some sort of love-story, but because of my faith I choose to keep the steam-level to a minimum. That’s me, but what are you like?

At the time of writing this, vaccines are coming out and hope is on the horizon. Maybe there is peace ahead of us. But at the same time, racism is raging and the cancel-culture has people taking offense over so many details that many of us can’t keep up. If you’re a mood reader, you’ll be impacted by these things and need to choose your books wisely. Be open to new ways of thinking, but also be true to what you know is right. If you need escapism, choose something fun. If you’re ready for some deep thinking, go for it! Whatever you choose, enjoy your reading life and don’t let it become work.

Free Book(s) for you

If you are ready to try something new, why not sign up for my newsletter list and receive the prequel (free-quel) to Rapunzel’s journey, Before the Tower? You’ll get at least one email from me each month containing book recommendations and silly, bookish fun to engage your imagination and make you smile. Not ready for the commitment of a newsletter? You can wait on the prequel and start at book one for free. Click here to meet Rapunzel in Beyond the Tower as she stumbles through the fairy tale world after the witch casts her out. Book one is available in paperback and on all the online retailers where you can grab your copy now.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo Credit: Sincerely Media, Sincerely Media, Natasha Tirtabrata, Silviarita, and Tesjavi Ganjoo.

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Grief, Book Week, and Our FAVORITE Portal Fantasies

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How We Turned Grief into Book Week

Grief anniversaries pile up for our family in the fall and early winter. Last year, even as summer was coming to an end, I realized I needed serious help. I had become debilitated by chronic pain and sorrow that had me contemplating suicide. One of the things that got me through that dark time was my grief counselor helping me recognize that though I missed my beloved sister and mother, it was okay to keep living and enjoy the things I love. Like books. In fact, Book Week is all her fault.

With much prayer and my rekindled desire to begin living my life again, I set aside time and energy for two important parts of my life; my business as an author and (of course!) my children. I write my books with my children in mind, creating worlds that I want to share with them. When I realized how grief had overtaken our lives, I tried to think outside the four walls of our home. Though I couldn’t always drive places due to chronic pain and vacations were (at that time) outside my ability, maybe I could celebrate something fun with them over Fall Break. Something we all like to geek out over.

book stack

Book Week is Born!

And so, we had our first Book Week. We played quidditch in our yard while raking leaves celebrating our love of Harry Potter. Neighbors saw us run around chasing each other in a hide-and-seek with cyborgs versus Lunars celebrating our love of The Lunar Chronicles. We had sword fights and scaled the walls of our home in celebrating The Ascendence Trilogy. For fun, we invited friends over and ate blue food all day, celebrating Percy Jackson. We concluded the week by going on a short hike with a picnic lunch to celebrate Rapunzel’s misadventures in my books, The Journey series. I was exhausted and fighting pain through the week, but it was so worth it. I was beginning to live life again.

This year, vacation is out of the question for a whole new reason. Though most Americans have hated 2020, I have progressively gotten better as I’ve processed grief, slowly lost some of my grief weight, reduced my number of anxiety attacks, and increased my exercise and outdoor time exponentially. Oh, and that reading and writing thing? I’m about to release another book in my series and I’m sharing more books than ever with my kids.

My kids are now schooling at home because we are still in the middle of a global pandemic. When Fall Break rolled around again with no opportunities to travel, we decided to celebrate several books whose worlds we have loved visiting. Almost literally. Because this year, Book Week is all about what 2020 has lacked: secret portals that take us to different worlds.

Girl reading book with coffee

The Chronicles of Narnia

One of the places I have found solace in is a “secret” passageway between one side of our neighborhood to another across the creek. My son and I first started taking walks back when I was struggling with suicidal thoughts. I was in desperate need of sunshine and movement and we found this little path to what felt like a magical world. When I told my grief counselor about it, she said we had discovered Narnia.

As a family who loves not only the world of Narnia, but the allegorical message of redemption contained within its story, it seemed perfect to create a book week of portal worlds with a visit to Narnia. You should have seen the looks on our neighbor’s faces as they saw us walking down the street with one of my daughter’s wearing a beard playing a dwarf. What hilarious fun! We each played a favorite character and filmed a sword fight in slow motion that we laughed at later.

The Inner World Series

I first became aware of The Inner World Series when I hopped on Instagram to find out if connecting with the readers in the #bookstagram community would be a good fit for me. Oh, WOW! Talk about geeking out. There are millions of Instagram users daily sharing images and stories all about the books they love. Everyone is a reader and several of us are also writers.

When reader/writer @spacheships_and_dragons began following me, I checked in on her. A young mom, R.L. Medina generously shares upcoming releases of authors she knows as well as fun stories about her family. I loved each time that she gave a sneak peek into her series about a half-elf princess. A high schooler with an anxiety disorder? I can relate. Besides, who doesn’t want to find out they belong to a high caste of elves?

I had fun getting into the series, but I warn all who read them, books 1-2 in this trilogy end with a cliffhanger. The best characters are the ones I’m not sure should be trusted and I love seeing how Medina is growing as a writer. My kids and I had a fun Fae War in our backyard!

Nevermoor

Like most of the books we celebrated, Nevermoor is middle grade fantasy, a secret world of magic that the real world is unaware of. Morrigan Crow is a fascinating little girl who has lived her entire life believing she is cursed. When she is rescued from the normal world, she is taken to Jupiter North’s hotel. Her bedroom recreates itself overnight, always surprising her with what she will wake to. She meets fascinating creatures, discovers hard truths, and makes friends for the first time in her life. But she’s not convinced she isn’t still cursed. Jupiter is determined to be her patron in the Wondrous Society, but Morrigan doesn’t think she has the knack that requires.

Nevermoor has some of the best descriptions of delicious food, so we decided to celebrate the series by going to one of our favorite magical places: Barnes & Noble bookstore and cafe. We ordered rainbow layered cake which was almost to sugary to eat. We also got dark chocolate cupcakes and vanilla bean mini cupcakes. Then we treated ourselves to wandering along the magical aisles of books and dreamed about taking all of the books home. The third book in The Nevermoor series was scheduled to come out in spring 2020, but was rescheduled because of the pandemic. Sadly, we could only order it, but now eagerly anticipate the call that it has come in. That isn’t all bad, anticipation will make us enjoy it that much more!

book, candle, rocks, coffee

The Haven Series

If you love Harry Potter and miss his world, I highly recommend diving into the world of Haven. Author S.J. Howland recently came on the scene and has proven just how amazing an indie author can be. She introduces us to a boy named Xander who discovers his talent with crystals when he accidentally uses a travel-ling (yes, I used two “LL”s on purpose, that is the UK acceptable spelling for the first book “The Traveller’s Stone“) stone.

He is whisked away to a world where brownies are tiny people who clean houses (as long as no one is looking). Gnomes control the network of crystals that supply the land with energy. Xander feels very, very lost at first. Taken in by a large, quirky family while the “travellers” try to determine how he is able to use the crystal, he finds his way. Though he misses his mother, he discovers a kinship he’s never known before. This doesn’t stop him from worrying he might be the source of trouble that has come to Haven. Why are the shadows growing? What can he do to help?

Oh my goodness, my children and I devoured this book and eagerly await the upcoming sequel. For our celebration, we went on our favorite hiking path and made sure to take brownies (the kind you can eat) with us. We each played a different character from the series and had a crazy day full of fun misadventures (like getting stuck in the mud!) as we traveled miles due to the fact that our crystal orbs weren’t working. Sigh. We need more magic.

Book Week Collage

Alice in Wonderland

While all of this fun book craziness was going on, I was also planting a garden. I call it Rapunzel’s Garden and in it is a section in memory of my mommie, whose birthday was on our second book day. I planted a couple of decorative cabbages at the base of her transplanted roses with some memorial stones. Beyond the Tower, my first novel, was dedicated to her. Unlike Rapunzel’s mother, mine would never trade me for a head of lettuce or cabbage.

Despite this solemn note of sorrow, we decided that transferring my mother’s roses would take place on Alice in Wonderland day. My mommies would have loved this. We joked that we should “paint the roses red” to keep the Queen of Hearts from getting angry. Of course, we didn’t, which meant during our mad tea party the queen, played by me, had ample opportunity to declare, “Off with his head!”

My eldest played Alice, my middle daughter the Cheshire Cat, and my son played the White Rabbit who was running late. It was a fun and silly day and I let the kids enjoy a great many cookies. The weather was gorgeous and it was wonderful to look over and see my mother’s roses while we played.

Is Book Week Right for Your Family?

Would book week work for your family? I don’t know. If you have found that certain books minister to you, cause in-depth discussions, or are a great source of entertainment for your family, I say “go for it!” It doesn’t have to be an entire week, it can be a weekend or just one day in which you celebrate the overarching theme or characters from a book or series of books. Go do something fun together, celebrate the life you were blessed with, enjoy time with the people you love. If you need to, spend a little time remembering someone you miss. Whatever you do, allow books to remind you how good life is. You don’t need a secret portal to reach that conclusion, even if you are living in 2020.

My gift to you: If you love clean young adult fantasy and are looking for books to read, sign-up for my newsletter and receive your free copy of Before the Tower, a tale of two sisters, greed, and what led to Rapunzel’s tower.

Girl with books

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo credit: Chris Lawton, Jenna Anderson, JacQueline Vaughn Roe, Debby Hudson, and girl.

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Have You Become a Member of an Unofficial Book Club?

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There is a strange phenomenon that takes place among a group of bookworms given enough time–the beginning of an unofficial book club. Right now, you might be in denial that you’re even a part of one, but I believe the mere fact that you chose to read a blog with a category titled “For Bookworms” means you are attracted to all kinds of bookishness–including other bibliophiles.

Trouble Finding a Book Club? You may already be in one!

There are many signs you can start looking for in your daily life that may have previously slipped under the radar. I have recorded them to better highlight my point. Bookworms are everywhere! When they gather, they discuss books and influence each other to read the books they love. That is the beginning, just discussing what you love, why you love it, what you’ve learned. Before you know it, your texting each other questions, polling each other on ships . . . But I’m getting ahead of myself.

You say to me, “NO! I can’t be a member of such a club! We don’t awkwardly meet in someone’s living room with a book forced upon us by a slanted vote. I read what I want to read and enjoy it with my friends.” Well, good for you! That doesn’t make it any less an unofficial book club. I’ll give you just a moment to process that.

Unofficial Book Club

The first sign you should look for may be more reflective than you would like. Yes, my friend, you must take a hard look in the mirror and ask yourself a difficult question. “Do I even say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ to my friends anymore?” If you answer in the negative, and that in fact you have replaced a common greeting with something like “Did you finish it yet?” so that you can immediatly begin talking books with your friends, you are indeed a member of a book club. It very well may still be an unofficial book club, but it is still a book club.

In fact, at that time of writing this post, we are currently under lockdown due to COVID 19. For my family that means a great deal of extra reading and taking walks. It means a lot of people getting excited about other people hurrying up on their TBR’s so they can discuss it. Funny thing happened today while on a social-distancing walk. I overheard some kids getting exercise yelling back and forth. “You guys have to read this book!” one boy shouted. Bet the next time he sees them out he will be bugging them with whether or not they’ve finished it yet.

Shipping in an unofficial book club

To get into the next part of this, I must make a confession of sorts. I have kids, I’m in my forties, so I’m not the most up-to-date of all bookworms. When I was introduced to shipping, I realized I’d been doing it for-e-ver. I’m serious. I get bored with most stories that don’t have a vital love story going on. I just do. (FYI, for those who don’t have teens and tweens and #bookstagram educating you, “shipping” is a verb meaning “wanting two characters to fall in love and have a relationSHIP.” This definition is my own, but I am fact-checking with my kids, so it must be true.)

What I have discovered in my unofficial book club is that over time you begin to recognize that your BFF has a certain look on her face as she daydreams of the two characters finally getting together. And heaven help us if they don’t or if the author takes too long. There will be a different look and much drama. This part of the book club my husband despises, but I actually find it hilarious. Most of the time.

Are you covering your ears? You might be part of an unofficial book club

Now, by the very nature of our family enjoying books upon books upon books, we add to each other’s TBR piles. And as we get through the books, our members want to discuss. We chat about what we have loved, hated, what we may not have understood. My dear book friends, here is where we all must tread lightly.

You may find yourself cast into the outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth if you ruin an important twist or *gasp* the actual ending. Please, please, learn to develop some patience with your unofficial book club members! When one of us takes longer than you’d like, be kind!

The Verdict is: You’re a member

Now, by the very tone of this post, you may think that I don’t advocate book clubs, but that is not the case at all! No, no, let it never be said I feel this way. My purpose in writing all of this is to bring such unofficial book clubs into the light of day. There is no need to hide your participation in these wonderful book clubs. In fact, join more by following me on #bookstagram or FB where we have so much fun talking books. Let’s keep sharing those opinions. Keep cheering on our favorite ships! Watch out lest you spoil the twists and turns cleverly hidden in the plot. Yes my friends, embrace who you are and enjoy your bookish friends in your unofficial book club.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez, Hope House Press, and Priscilla Du Preez

Social Media Graphic Design: JacQueline Vaughn Roe

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Loving {and Hating} a Book Series

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Many of us bookworms find ourselves both loving and hating book series that are incomplete. We live in a world of rapid release where delayed gratification lies untapped while drones bring us our next favorite book. But, what if we find ourselves falling in love with a book series that hasn’t been completed yet? Should we even risk it?

Let’s be honest, some people refuse to pick up a book that is part of a series because they simply don’t want to make that commitment. They aren’t sure they have the wherewithal to get attached to a certain group of characters and travel with them through a new world for thousands of pages. But many of us are not only ready to make that commitment, but we are also eagerly searching for the right one.

Book Series and Nurturing Anticipation

Does this sound familiar? You are reading through a book, either savoring it at an easy pace, or turning the pages as fast you can, and then you get to the end only to discover . . . you have to wait till the next book for the resolution you NEED now! And, what??? It will be at least a year before the next book comes out, maybe two or three or {Jesus, come quickly!} longer???

It reminds me of back in the day when I was watching a favorite television show and the season finale literally left the main character stranded in the middle of an ocean. All summer long, there he was in my mind, just bobbing in the waters and about to drown.

Why We Can Wait

Okay, so not everyone is as dramatic as me {praise God!}, but you get the point, right? Why put yourself through the heartache if you are going to wait f o r e v e r for the next installment in a beloved story? Maybe we should just wait till the entire series is written before we pick it up.

Weren’t you thrilled when Marissa Myers (of The Lunar Chronicles) came out with her third and final book in her Renegades series? Yes! Just pop over, buy the whole set, and read them all without having to wait for years .

But if everyone did that, then Jessica Townsend (of the Nevermoor series) would not have just landed her 6-book contract deal. Her third book is out in just a couple of months, and those pre-orders count, readers! They encourage traditional publishers that these are the types of books we want. Pre-orders count for indie-authors, too, because they tell online retailers and indie bookstores what to highlight.

Book Series and Character Growth

I discovered book series that were incomplete over this last year, but I wanted to invest. My criteria were simple and I only needed one to really push me to give the series a chance:

  1. Was at least the first book easy-to-access?
  2. Did I know and trust the author?
  3. Had I heard something promising about the series from a trusted source?

I’m not going to lie and say it always worked out. Several books disappointed me for various reasons {but that’s a different blog post}. I want to talk about the ones I find worth waiting for. For me, the most important thing in any book series is character growth and a redemptive story arc.

There is something satisfying about following characters around and seeing them make gradual changes, for better or worse, as a series progresses. I want a book full of characters who are real, flawed, and quirky. If they learn hard truths, make mistakes, pick themselves up, and eventually find their way–I’m a happy reader!

When you keep searching for the release date of the next book, then you know you found your series. I found this to be true for me after Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor and Jennifer A. Neilson’s The Traitor’s Game, both of which have a third book coming out this spring {think pre-orders, friends!}

My Own Semi-Complete Book Series

I realize that you are probably in a similar place. You want a fun adventure with characters you love to see develop. You also long for some type of semi-resolution so you can sleep at night. I write what I like to read. When I was developing The Journey Series, I decided to write the entire series in three sets of trilogies. This provides enough story arc over the course of each trilogy that readers will feel satisfied {though still wanting more according to several reviews}. You can find the first three books (updated in 2020 to include the fourth book) in Rapunzel’s Journey here on Amazon, or find the first book for free here on all online stores.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

photography: Alan Lin, Ben White, Anthony Tran, Jessica “Kess” Vaughn, and Kinga Cichewicz

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3 Reasons for a Bookworm to be a Friend

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If you don’t love books or have a voracious reader in your home, this is not the blog for you. However, if you need tips to make friends because you keep getting lost somewhere inside your favorite story, this will all make sense. Instead of escaping reality for a short time in a book, you might be dragging the fantasy into real-life just a little too much. And maybe you’re relying on it to fill up your friendship tank. No judgment here. I’m an author and I have book-crazy children. Here are some of our struggles sprinkled with a few suggestions that we should all be able to laugh about together. Let’s chat about 3 reasons a bookworm should be a friend.

Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf

Catch up on Bookworm Problems 1-3 here and 4-6 here.

Bookworm Problem: Small Talk

This is probably hardest to understand if you are an extreme extrovert–someone who gets their energy from being with and around people. If that’s you, you likely have no problem with coming up with small talk and chatting about things of a very simple nature that are on eye-level. How’s the weather? How are you? If you are outgoing, it may not faze you to shake a hand and use easy questions to get to know someone.

But, my friend, if you are deeply invested in books, chances are you might a bit more introverted. You may get your energy from time spent alone or just one-on-one with a person who completely gets you. You probably enjoy discussing things that are more complicated. I have plenty of extroverted friends who enjoy discussing things of a deep nature as well, but they typically don’t mind the round-about casual way of getting there.

Reasons for a Bookworm Friend - authorjroe.com - Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf

#1 Reason for a Bookworm Friend: You care about deeper issues

Wouldn’t it be easier if we could just discuss books we liked instead of anything else? *sigh* Wouldn’t that be grand? Ummm, maybe, but we don’t live in that world. And it can get lonely just tucked inside a book all the time. People get to know us by how we greet them. Online conversations with #bookstagrammers about their Insta-stories can be fun, but we all need real-life friends. So how about this?

What if you look at the books you enjoy as fodder for the conversations you want to have. Think of the kinds of people you find interesting in your books. Imagine the things in those books you find intriguing. Maybe at the next gathering, you feel forced to attend, you introduce yourself with your name and mention that you love to read stories about ________. Ask your new friend {think of them that way, it helps} if they like stories of a similar nature. They may prefer their stories in Netflix form or in a podcast, but you may stumble onto some intriguing commonality. What’s more, you’ve shown interest in someone else and that makes the other person feel good {and takes that scary spotlight off you}.

Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf

Bookworm Problem: Finding and Making Friends

I remember when I was very young, I could make friends anywhere and everywhere. It cost me nothing to walk up to random strangers no matter their age, ethnicity, gender–whatever–and talk to them. Some of my favorite people were quiet and shy, but I had no idea what that was like at that age.

And then I entered adolescence and I became self-conscious about EVERYTHING. What was worse, my family moved from Houston, Texas up to Chicago, Illinois. For all my friends who don’t live in the United States, those two places only share the same language, and it might as well be two different dialects. I was incredibly lonely and literally wrote 28 poems about my loneliness while listening to sad soft jazz (don’t judge me too harshly) for the rest of my seventh-grade year.

My parents took us church hunting and one Sunday I was discovered by some girls. They were fun and funny and we connected. It wasn’t long before we found we not only shared the same faith with a love of the Bible (we are Christians), but also the same favorite novel. It was like a secret riddle they had the answer to and I knew we were kindred. There are times I have pictured what my life would have been like if I hadn’t connected with anyone during that vulnerable year. Because of my faith, I believe God used books to bridge the gap.

#2 Reason for a Bookworm Friend: Working harder makes your friendship stronger

Finding and making friends can be incredibly difficult. It may seem as though the effort just isn’t worth it–but what if you don’t just think of it being about you? What if you could be someone’s best friend, someone they need to be silly with, share dreams with, to tell secrets to. It takes time to get from here to there, but I know from experience that the harder you work at friendship, the more durable it becomes. None of my best friends live in the same state as I do anymore, but when my sister died last year, each of them was there for me in special ways. We need friends in good times and in rough times. It’s worth the effort and you will be better for it.

So, here’s a fun idea. Check your local library or bookstore and see if they have a book club. If so, you know that when you go, they will be discussing the book they have advertised and probably more like it. Also, go to your library or bookstore when there isn’t a club going on. You will meet readers and writers there, people who understand the worlds you enjoy stepping inside of. They, like you, may be a bit shy but feel strongly about the books they love. That can be your in to making a new friend. Introduce yourself as we talked about above, inquiring what they love about your location. Is it the atmosphere, the selection, perhaps the coffee? (I highly recommend becoming addicted to coffee and coffee shops, this puts you in good with a whole bunch of fun people who may like to read and write, also).

Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf

Bookworm Problem: Socializing steals from reading time

There is only so much time in each day. We each get approximately twenty-four hours each day, seven days a week. In it we have to cram the essentials of living: eating, working, exercising, and (of course) reading. “But if I have to go spend time with people, then I have less time to read.”

Okay, so I have to admit, I’m not great at math. I write books for a living and they are not the least sciencey or mathematical in nature. I wrote one sci-fi-dystopian novel, but I am rewriting it as dark fantasy because my math didn’t work. But there is some math even I get: 1+1=2 while 2-1=1

Here’s the real problem, if you are looking at your life as a math equation and friends as a negative in that equation, you’re missing the point.

Reasons for a Bookworm Friend - authorjroe.com - Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf

#3 Reason for a Bookworm Friend: You add infinitely more than you can imagine!

This is going to sound strange. You need friends because they need you. That’s right, you amazing bookworm, people need you! They need your love of story, your love of characters, your love of adventure. They need your intense analyzing, your sense of wonder, your ability to be quiet and listen. You are necessary. And honestly, some of my favorite times with my favorite people, guess what we were doing? Sitting around reading. I’m serious. What if you become friends with people and discover that sharing your precious time actually frees you to enjoy time reading? Friends don’t subtract, they add and you can be a friend who adds!

I honestly believe that if you reach out and sincerely want to share the best of yourself to build others up, you’ll find your people and those people will build you up, too. Perhaps there won’t be a pajama book party tomorrow night, but before you know it, there will be friends.

About JacQueline

As the author of  The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.

If you are a reader wanting to connect with JacQueline, you can get a free book here. Each month you will receive book recommendations and other booknerd fun.

Are you a writer or an author looking for help? JacQueline has been writing all her life and loves meeting others who think writing is living. As an author coach, helping other writers on their journey gives her joy. Schedule your free coaching call to learn what steps you should take next now.

Bookish photography: Ed Robertson, Ben White, Hannah Rodrigo, Kinga Cichewecz, and Thought Catalog.

Graphic Design for Social Media: JacQueline Vaughn Roe. Contact me here for help with graphic design or other author services.

Reasons for a Bookworm Friend - authorjroe.com - Can book love and all the things to read get in the way of true friendship? Or is being an introvert, especially a bookish one with a need to read, actually an asset over friendship troubles? Click through and read 3 reasons for a bookworm to become a friend. #book #books #booknerd #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #booklove #introvert #friendship #truefriendship #friendshiptrouble #bookwormproblems #thingstoread #bookstoread #bookhumor #bookfunny #bookquotes #readmore #bookasthetic #bookshelf
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