What's A Reader Magnet?

 This month I'm working on writing and editing my reader magnet. What's a reader magnet? I'm glad you asked. It's a short story I can give away virtually to people as a thank you for signing up for my newsletter! So Victoria, how's this reader magnet thing going?  Well, I wrote about three-quarters of the story back in January and then I put it away for six months. Now I'm reviewing what I've written and making sure I don't have any continuity errors.

My reader magnet is a little prequel to my first book and the main characters in it are Zaina's mom and stepdad. This story allowed me to write an age gap where she's the older of the pair! When it is done, I'll make a post linking to the story so you can visit Marley Creek for a fun weekend. 

I got a secondhand copy of this book as a gift. If you are looking to get me a gift, you can't go wrong with a secondhand book, especially if it's a cozy!  Murder of the Cat's Meow is the fifteenth book in Denise Swason's Scumble River Series. I haven't read any other books in this series and I didn't have any trouble following the storyline.  I love when a cozy mystery series is written well enough that I don't have to read in order!  This was an enjoyable cozy, there were several possible suspects and I wasn't sure who did it. 

In this book, you get to know the murder victim before the murder which I know many people prefer. I enjoyed that our amateur sleuth doesn't put herself in unnecessarily dangerous situations and that she is a consultant to the police department. There is also a fun ghost situation as a small side plot. Lastly, this book is practically spicy for a cozy! I wonder, since this was written twelve years ago, if cozy mysteries have gotten more puritanical in the last five or so years.  Something for someone to blog about.

Have you read anything good lately?  How is your week going? 

I'm embracing the upcoming change of season. Looking forward to those lovely September days!

Turns out I've had a NetGalley Account Since 2013!

 NetGalley is a website that gets books into the hands of reviewers who then spread the word on Goodreads, Amazon, and social media.  Apparently way back when in 2013, I set up an account and then never did anything with it.  

All that has changed now! I've got my profile completed, my Goodreads account, and this blog connected to it and I'm reading the first book I requested. I'm planning to see if I can finish the book and get my first review up before the calendar turns to the New Year. We will see.  I'm looking forward to sharing the book with you as so far it's a very solid read. 

The Christmas decorations are still up, and at my coffee station, I have some new, and new to me winter mugs. I asked my family for winter mugs so I could decorate my coffee station for Wintertime. When it comes to gifts, I'm always happy with a secondhand item especially when it comes to books or music. 

As this most unusual year winds down, I am looking forward to reading and reviewing more books, finishing my rough draft of my Cozy Mystery, and trying lots of new recipes. I am hoping for great health for me and mine and to run the Chicago Marathon in October of 2021. I  am dreaming that we will have the pandemic under control and that we will be able to travel and see family. I am optimistic that the kids will attend school in person. 

I'm planning on saying goodbye to 2020 with the Hubs and the Kids and a nice batch of appetizers and maybe even a mocktail!