Wednesday, August 7, 2024

IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know

 


The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

The awesome co-hosts for the August 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

August 7 question - Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?

I use IA for guest posts on specific topics and I have out one audio that’s AI. What about you? Have you tried AI on audio?

AND

July/August Reviews in no particular order

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE by Joe Congel

This is book twenty-six of twenty-seven in the Magnolia Bluffs Series and the second focused on Brandon Turner retired NYPD police officer.

In book twenty-six, there’s a serial killer on the loose, in this small Texas town, that has killed two young children and has his eye on a third. Beside each victim he leaves a stuffed toy tiger and a nursery rhyme. Brandon comes out of retirement to help the Magnolia Bluffs’ police catch the killer.

If anyone but Joe Congel had written this, I probably wouldn't have read it because of the subject matter: child murder. But being a Congel fan this was not an option. The story, as expected, was a riveting tale.  The author handled the subject matter with sensitivity and didn’t get bogged down with macabre details. The tension builds through the book and ends with a high-octane chase to catch the killer before he kills again AND offers some unexpected twists at the end.

If you are a murder mystery aficionado, a Congel fan or just appreciate a good tale I think you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did. 

Available at Amazon

 

THE SILVER LEOPARD by Zoe Cass

This is a classic example of the romantic suspense genre written in the 70s.

Caroline has escaped a lonely and unhappy childhood by moving to London and developing a successful career buying and selling antiques. With her mother's death, she is called back to Scotland where danger and evil linger.

Recommended for those that enjoy classic romantic suspense.

Available at Amazon

 


LEGEND IN GREEN VELVET by Elizabeth Peters

Elizabeth Peters at her best.

This is an enjoyable read about a young American on her way to work at a Scottish archeological dig when she gets embroiled in a murder. Sprinkled throughout with laugh-out-loud moments, this is a must read for Elizabeth Peters fans.

Available at Amazon

 

 

AND

 

 

New Releases

BECAUSE NO ONE NOTICED by C. Lee McKenzie

(Editors' Pick)


Five juniors at Las Animas High have a long history together. They love, dislike, or tolerate each other depending on the day. Occupied with class assignments, career choices, family disharmony, and the usual teen turbulence, none of them thinks seriously of the danger lurking in their near future or how fragile and temporary life is.


Inspired by real-life tragedy, the story unfolds in alternating points of view as the characters explore the resilience of their hearts and their ability to rebuild their lives after a shattering tragedy.

Available at Amazon

 


MATEO'S WOMAN by Sandra Cox

Delilah is dead.

With her demise, everyone should be safe, but something insidious is happening to Mateo’s town and to the woman he loves. People are dying and Blair is changing, taking on mannerisms that are clearly not her own. Becoming a danger to herself and others. He has no idea what is happening to the town’s people but he has an inkling of what is happening to Blair and what he’s thinking just isn’t possible. But whether it’s possible or not, he has to pry Blair from the evil that’s sunk its fangs into her. Now it's a race against time to save the woman he loves and get to the bottom of who is killing Grizzly’s citizenry. And if that’s not enough of a challenge for the shapeshifting sheriff, his future mother-in-law has come for a visit.

Available at Amazon 


NOW OPTIONED FOR TELEVISION!
Every book can be read as a standalone mystery - hop in anywhere in the series!

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Amy Vansant has her cast of characters embroiled in three Halloween hijinks --- a murder, a robbery, and a ghost story!

 Available at Amazon

AND

Did you know, Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel)  was credited for inventing the term nerd?

 


For more information: 20 Dr. Seuss Facts - Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Dr. Seuss - Parade

 

 


 

29 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I am really looking forward to C,Lee McKenzies latest - when it comes out in paperback.
AI worries me.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

AI mostly scares the living daylights out of me!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats to Lee on her new book. I always enjoy seeing what books you've been reading.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

AI and audio? How did it turn out?
I wonder which book of his has the word nerd in it? I bet one of the banned ones.

CJ Kennedy said...

I think I knew that about Dr. Seuss. I hope you're not too wet from Debby

R's Rue said...

Thank you for your thoughts on AI. Have a beautiful day.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Love the kitty mug. Wish the tiger book had a real tiger, but that's just me!

Jeanie said...

I've never used AI -- I'm not sure I know how!

Jamie Ghione said...

I have not used audio for a story, but for the one I am currently working on, I have incorporated a web image and other unusual formatting. Not sure how I would incorporate audio :)

Once again, I did not know. Dr. Seuss inventing the word "nerd." Amazing.

Jacqui Murray--Writer-Teacher said...

Good ones here, Sandra. I'm clicking through on the Joe Congel one. I love long series.

J.Q. Rose said...

I am stuck back on Congel's series of 27 books. How many ways can you write about a character and make readers keep turning the pages? Hats off to him. Of course, my favorite gal , Jan Caron has 20+ books in the Mitford series. I'll have to check out the audiobook! Sounds like fun. I used AI to create the image on the new book cover for my Girls Succeed book.

cleemckenzie said...

That. Dr. Seuss! He had a way with words. Thanks so much the mention of my book in today's post, and I just discovered you are to be congratulated on a new one yourself! Hurray!

Christine said...

Interesting on AI use, I tried it but don't use it much.

Sandra Cox said...

EC, I understand.
David, It's a double-edged sword for sure.
Thank you, Natalie.
Alex, I looked it up:) If I Ran The Zoo.
CJ, So far we are okay. I think it's coming our way tomorrow.
Good on you, Jamie;)
Jacqui, Joe will be pleased:)
Janet, Actually, he's one of several authors that write about the series and different characters. Yeah, it's hard to keep a series going over time, innit?
Christine, I don't use it that much either.

Valerie-Jael said...

Some great new releases! Mate's woman sounds good! Hugs!

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you so much, Val. Hugs received and returned.

Truedessa said...

I didn't know that about the word nerd coming from Seuss.

Sarah Foster said...

Using AI for audio sounds interesting.
I didn't know Dr. Seuss created the word "nerd"!

J.P. Alexander said...

No lo sabía. Suerte con los libros. Gracias por la reseñas. Te mando un beso.

kimlajevardi.com said...

The only AI I've used is things embedded in everyday tech like Google.

Susan Kane said...

You presented some excellent titles and reviews! I would love the C. Lee McKenzie book. she is a good writer.

Damyanti Biswas said...

Great recommendations, thank you so much for sharing! I'm so excited to read these, whenever I can carve out a little time.

D.L. Finn said...

I do use AI with spell check and the read aloud feature, but that's about it. Great reviews, the first ones sounds intriguing and of course Mateos Woman is amazing! I like where the term nerd came from! Xo

Sandra Cox said...

True and Sarah, Who'd a thought Dr. Seuss was responsible for the word nerd, huh?
Thanks, J.P:) Sending you hugs,
Kim, Thanks for stopping by and sharing your use of AI. Have a great one.
Susan, Yes, some good reads here and Lee does her stories proud.
Damy, I know you're busy:) I'm sure any and all authors would appreciate the read:) Thanks for the support and for stopping by.
Denise, I don't know if I've used the read aloud feature....Sounds like it would be helpful. scoxoxo

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Congratulations on your new release ... and then Lee's new publication ... so much going on - cheers Hilary

Sandra Cox said...

Thank you so much, Hils. That means alot.

Sandra Cox said...

Lee, Dr. Seuss has a way with words indeed:) You are most welcome and thank you:)

Sandra Cox said...

Jeanie, AI is definitely smarter than me:0) There's a lot about it I don't know.

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

Most of my books are digitally narrated through Apple's AI program -- because it was free and a fun experiment. I prefer narrating my own audiobooks, though.

Ronel visiting for IWSG day Adventures in Audio: Building a Recording Studio