Edita Kaye presents her recommendations for spring gardening books! Now that the weather is improving, it’s the perfect time to start preparing your garden for fruits, vegetables, herbs, and teas. Below are Edita’s personal recommendations for books to get started.
This presentation was originally published on Edita Kaye’s website on April 4, 2017.
It’s always an exciting time for authors when they finally release their first novel. There is a lot of anticipation, excitement, and hard work that goes into the publishing process. It can also be difficult to stand out from other authors who are trying to break through as well. These five upcoming authors have recently released books that you should check out.
The Heartbeat Thief by Chris Velte
A sci-fi romance novel with a twist, The Heartbeat Thief takes readers on a heartwarming adventure about love and forgiveness. Chris Velte has previously worked in the finance industry and decided to write a story that would take him full time. It was his passion for reading that sparked this idea for this book.
Blood Sin by Toni Aleo
The first installment in an action-packed paranormal series, Blood Sin follows Talina Dixon from Tennessee who is forced to move after being kicked out of her previous home. She ends up in New Orleans where she discovers she’s been turned into a vampire must stop the evil Malphas from unleashing demons into this world. This first book is the first in a series and also Toni’s debut novel.
A Mark by J.R. Nelson
The versatile author has written so many genres under his belt including children’s books, adult fiction, and non-fiction literature as well as other mediums such as film scripts and lyrics. His latest novel follows two characters – Mark and Tyler through their tribulations of life to find themselves by following their passions.
The Rules of Persuasion by Kara Gebhart Uhl
Kara Gebhart Uhl is a bestselling romance author who has been writing for fourteen years. She uses her experiences from traveling extensively to craft stories that are set in exotic locales. Her latest novel, The Rules of Persuasion is the first book in a new contemporary romance series about love that might be just beyond your reach.
The Noctali by G.K. Dawn
G.K. Dawn is a writer of young adult, new adult, and romance novels which are published in over 20 different countries around the world. Her latest novel – The Noctali, is based on her previous short stories that are based in the same universe. This story follows an unusual girl named Tessa who is half-werewolf and half-vampire.
These are only a few of the many authors who have books that you should check out in your spare time. It’s important to support indie and self-published authors as it will encourage them to write more stories for readers like us.
Originally published at EditaKaye.net
I recently shared an article discussing books that had been turned into movies. While many books have been turned into movies, there’s another medium that they’ve also been popularly adapted into, and that’s television. With the introduction of streaming services, there has been an abundance of TV being made, and in some cases, television can be a better format for adapting denser books or book series into film. Here are just a few popular books that have been adapted into television series.
Game of Thrones
Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones was quite the phenomenon, becoming one of the most popular television shows of all time during its run. The show is known for its various characters and storylines, such as the infamous Red Wedding episode. Readers of the books may have gotten an edge over those who watched the earlier seasons, but by the end of the show, the show had already started to veer away from the source material.
Poldark
“Poldark,” which is a television show produced by PBS, is based on Winston Graham’s book series. The series had an adaptation that ran for two seasons in the 1970s and has since been reimagined for new audiences in 2015. The story follows Ross Poldark, an American Revolution veteran, as he returns home to England after the war. Things aren’t the way he left them when he returns home though. In the fifth season of the current run of “Poldark,” the writers decided to introduce an original plot that differed from the book series by Graham.
Outlander
Based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series, “Outlander,” which is produced by Starz, follows a WWII combat nurse who is sent back in time to 1743 Scotland. She must face her own mortality as she tries to protect her life while navigating through time travel. This becomes an even more difficult task when she realizes she’s in love with two different men – one from her time, and one from the past to which she has been sent back.
The Queen’s Gambit
Based on the Walter Tevis book series, “The Queen’s Gambit” follows the story of Beth Harmon, an orphan chess player who eventually becomes a US champion. The book and the limited series examine the cost of greatness, as she continues to improve and develop her abilities as a chess player. The show became an instant success on Netflix, and the company even claimed that it was their biggest limited series yet.
Killing Eve
The television show “Killing Eve,” which is based on the novellas by Luke Jennings, follows the story of Eve, a disenchanted M15 officer who is tasked with tracking down Villanelle, an unpredictable and elusive assassin. Throughout the story, the two become obsessed with each other while playing an addictive game of cat and mouse.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
Reading a good book is one of the greatest experiences a person can have. Unfortunately, it often feels as if our kids are reading less and less with each passing year. Newer, easier-to-digest content is constantly coming out and it can be a struggle to get your children to sit down and enjoy a good book. So how do we get them to discover the wonderful world of reading? Here are a few tips.
Read With Them Before Bed
One of the best ways to get your kids to start reading on their own is by reading with them every evening before they go to bed. Let them pick a book and then you read it to them little by little. Make it fun by acting out each scene, or talking to them a little bit about the story. You can ask them about their favorite characters, or what they think will happen next. By making reading exciting, they’re more likely to pick up a book themselves.
Read The Same Books As Them
While you may not get the same enjoyment out of them as your child will, reading the same book as them can be a rather easy way to convince them to pick up a book and read. Having someone else who is also reading the same book they’re reading gives them someone to discuss it with, making them more excited to get to the next page.
Bring Them To The Library
We may not think about them that often, but libraries are still extremely prevalent today. A great way to get your kids to want to read is by bringing them to a library. Turn it into a special trip, where they get to go and look through the library and pick a few books out. This will make them more excited about reading and finishing their books, as then they can go back to the library and pick out a new one.
Remember That Any Book Is A Good Book
When we think of getting our kids to read, we probably often think of stories that can transport our children to far-off lands. While those are some of the more common things our kids read, that doesn’t have to be the only thing! Perhaps your child is into dinosaurs, or they’re into cars. Maybe they like sealife, or want to know more bout airplanes. Instead of giving them fiction books, give them books that teach them about these things. As long as they’re reading something, that’s all that truly matters. Just be sure you’re giving them age-appropriate content.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
How Your Book Sells Itself: 10 Ways Your Book is Your Ultimate Marketing Tool
by Bethany Atazadeh and Mandi Lynn
Are you terrified of marketing your book? Do you have it ready to go (or already published), but you feel stuck because you don’t know what to do next? Book marketing can feel like you’re never doing enough. It can seem impossible. How do you know if you’re focusing on the right marketing tactics? How do you know which strategy will work for you? What if you’re missing something? We’re here to help! Bethany Atazadeh and Mandi Lynn have each successfully marketed multiple novels and want to help you discover the best marketing tactics for YOU—starting with the book itself. Your book is your MOST powerful marketing tool.
Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide
by Fauzia Burke
If You Want People to Read Your Book,
Writing It Is Only the Beginning
There has truly never been a better time to be an author. For the first time, authors have direct access to the public via the Internet—and can create a community eagerly awaiting their book. But where do new authors start? How do they sort through the dizzying range of online options? Where should they spend their time online and what should they be doing?
Launch to Market: Easy Marketing For Authors
by Chris Fox
Have you written a book that just isn’t selling? Would you like the launch of your next one to be different?
Launch to Market provides a simple system to plan, track, and execute your book launch. It covers the basics of marketing in an easy-to-understand way, complete with exercises that will prepare you for your best launch ever.
Successful Book Launch Secrets: Book Marketing Tips From a Bestselling Author to Make YOU a Book Marketing Hero (The Christian Author’s Guide)
by Donna Partow
Writing a Book? Or maybe you’ve already written one. Now don’t you want to see it become one of the top-selling books in its category?
Of course you do! That’s why you need the tips and strategies revealed in Successful Book Launch Secrets.
Marketing Basics: Quality Resources And Unique Tactics For Self-Published Authors
A book can be exceptionally useful in growing a business, yet not generally. Before you make a plunge, giving it genuine thought’s significant. Composing and cleaning a book requires additional time and exertion than the vast majority think, whether you work with a business distributer or independently publish. As a business person, you must adjust that against different requests on your time-like maintaining your business.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
The pandemic has changed the way we cook, and it’s given rise to new challenges and opportunities to reconnect with our kitchen. You may have gained a more refined palate while you mastered making silly mini pancakes. During this period, many of you also took on a serious social and racial equality stand. You also supported the efforts of local communities that are reclaiming food sovereignty.
After years of studying the trends for 2022, we decided to focus on what matters most to you now: what makes you happy and how we can make better food and beverage choices better for the planet.
Condiment Obsession
According to a survey conducted, 92% of American families plan on continuing to eat at home. However, cooking fatigue is real. If you’re not cooking as often because you don’t have the energy, then it’s time to step away from the kitchen and take a deep breath.
Due to the endless variety of food companies offering bold and diverse flavors, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to satisfying your hunger. Condiments are a great way to enhance taste and introduce bold flavors into family favorites.
The New Green Kitchen
A lot of people start their eco-friendly lifestyle in the kitchen. There are plenty of sustainable products out there that will make your life easier and less cluttered. One example of this is Stasher, a company that makes reusable storage bags.
Food waste is a large contributor to waste in the US, comprising 21% of all landfill. This is why composting is so important to reducing food waste.
The Food Network has launched a campaign called Combating Food Waste, which encourages people to turn their organic waste into something that can be used in their gardens and houses.
Underground Ordering
During the height of the pandemic, almost 8 million people were out of work. As a result, many states loosened restrictions so that people could sell “cottage food” directly to their customers. This was the key to Eric Huang, who was able to save his family’s restaurant after transitioning to a direct-to-consumer model.
Expect more restaurants to start using social media platforms to connect with their customers and expand their reach beyond the traditional restaurant model.
Fishless Fish
People are starting to understand the environmental impacts of illegal fishing. Due to the rising cases of ocean pollution, the term sustainable seafood has become outdated and unreliable.
According to a study conducted by the Yale Center for Communication, the carbon footprint associated with farming tilapia and catfish are equivalent to that of beef.
There are plenty of options out there that are both fish-free and plant-based. These products could be considered sustainable alternatives to traditional seafood.
Grocery Loyalty Pays
In the new world of grocery shopping, we’re using apps to order and pay for our food. While some basic items are cheaper, the cost is increasing due to the rising cost of food.
With grocery prices increasing at a 3.5% rate, many companies are revamping their loyalty programs to give members even more benefits. These plans can be found at Walmart, Albertson’s, and Kroger.
Some apps are also giving users exclusive perks, such as free shipping and delivery. They also have various bonuses, such as double gas points and discounts on prescriptions.
This article was originally published on EditaKayeYummy.com
1. Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE—The #1 New York Times bestselling worldwide sensation with more than 12 million copies sold, hailed by The New York Times Book Review as “a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature.”
2. Anatomy of a Scandal: A Novel Paperback – October 2, 2018
NOW A HIT NETFLIX SERIES
Instant International Bestseller
“A nuanced story line perfectly in tune with our #metoo times.” —People, Book of the Week
3. Conversations with Friends: A Novel Paperback – August 7, 2018
by Sally Rooney
SOON TO BE A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES • From the New York Times bestselling author of Normal People . . . “[A] cult-hit . . . [a] sharply realistic comedy of adultery and friendship.”—Entertainment Weekly
4. She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
The instant New York Times bestseller.
“An instant classic of investigative journalism…‘All the President’s Men’ for the Me Too era.” — Carlos Lozada, The Washington Post
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters who broke the news of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and abuse for the New York Times, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the thrilling untold story of their investigation and its consequences for the #MeToo movement
5. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer I Turned Pretty, The) Paperback – April 6, 2010
by Jenny Han (Author)
Soon to be a streaming series in Summer 2022!
Belly has an unforgettable summer in this stunning start to the Summer I Turned Pretty series from the New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (now a major motion picture!), Jenny Han.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
Writing can be a very fulfilling experience, and it can be a lot of fun as well. The problem is that when there’s so much content out there, it can be hard to keep your readers engaged with your writing. A great way to do this is to add some humor to your writing. Humor is a great way to keep people glued to the page, especially if you can get your point across regardless of the humor. But how do you add humor to your writing? Here are a few tips to help you out.
Timing Is Everything
The goal of comedy writing is to create small narrative arcs that culminate with a funny ending. This strategy can help you build a compelling story and keep the audience laughing until the end. Instead of trying to force a laugh, make sure that you’re thoughtful and deliberate about what you’re saying.
Short and Sweet
Stand-up comedians often have long setups for their jokes as part of their act. They’re there to tell funny short stories, and they’re not there to dominate the narrative. When writing comedy, make sure that the setup is short and sweet. Focus on the narrative, and throw good jokes into the story as you go. Readers will lose interest if the whole thing takes too long to tell.
Use Cliches In A Surprising Way
Although it’s usually frowned upon by writers, using clichés can still create some humor in a story. For instance, the phrase “They lived happily ever after” is a common one used in fairy tales. However, it can also be used in different ways, such as “They lived happily ever…after until she met her real soulmate.”
Be Absurd
One of the most effective ways to add humor to a story is by stretching the reality of what’s happening in the story. For instance, if you’re saying that you’re so hungry that you could eat a horse, this statement can emphasize a point. Absurdity often works well when it comes to allowing people to suspend their reality and better accept outrageous situations meant to make them laugh.
Pick A Target Audience
One of the most important factors that a comedian must consider when it comes to adding humor to his or her work is the target audience. A good joke that’s funny for one audience might not work for another. Your audience should be able to relate to the subjects that you’re trying to address.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
Let’s continue with the anticipated food trends for 2022.
Chewy Food
In Asia, chewy foods that require strong jaw muscles are revered, and the texture is starting to make its way into American cuisine due to the cultural influence of social media.
Aside from boba, the concept of chewy food has also expanded to include rice cakes, ice cream, and tteokbokki. My Mochi ice cream is a small but oh-so-delicious treat that’s made from ice cream and peanut butter. It’s the most popular novelty food in the US.
Coffee Alternatives
Due to the weather conditions and rising temperatures, the coffee harvests have been affected. The price of coffee has also increased due to the limited supply.
Alt coffee is also an increasing trend. There are also single-serve tea bags that are caffeine-free. These products are very similar to traditional coffee.
A golden milk drink is also becoming a new favorite. This drink is made with milk and spices, and it’s usually served hot.
Allergy-Friendly Foods
In the US, there are around 32 million people with food allergies. It has been estimated that one in thirteen kids have at least one food allergy. Since there are few safe options in the grocery store, parents are more likely to create their kids’ food.
There are also individuals who make it themselves by creating products that are 100% allergen-free. Christine Allen started Mo’Pweeze after she couldn’t find anything that was suitable for her kids with food allergies.
Partake Foods is an online store that sells allergy-friendly mixes and cookies. There are also apps that help consumers find establishments that offer allergen-free products.
The number of people with food allergies has increased significantly. This is also evidenced by the number of user comments on allergy-friendly food blogs.
Eating to support mental health
In the past two years, 48% of Americans have focused on improving their mental and emotional health. If so, then it’s time to start consuming more functional food and drinks.
From energy drinks to detox and recovery aids, there’s a whole slew of products that promise to improve your health. Take a look at these products and accept that a new healthy ritual is just a part of a whole wellness puzzle.
Giada De Laurentiis, a celebrity French television personality, has also launched a new show called Simply Giada, which is inspired by her book “Eat Better, Feel Better.”
Indigenous restaurants
This list is mainly comprised of individuals who are teaching us that food is important. Many of them are Native and Indigenous activists, chefs, and makers. This list is also for those who are underrepresented and have a hard time accessing foodways who have therefore fought for food sovereignty.
Expect to see more people interested in the food that Native and Indigenous chefs are cooking. We especially admire Crystal Wahpepah, who is the first Native American to compete on “Chopped.”
She has created seasonal menus that feature dishes made from local corn and buffalo. Another noteworthy example is Sean Sherman, the creator of The Sioux Chef, a modern Native American restaurant in Minneapolis.
You won’t find traditional colonial ingredients on menus at many establishments. Instead, you’ll find dishes made with indigenous-produced ingredients.
Ice Cream Snacks
The disruption of working and home life has caused us to eat differently. Since we’re now focused on consuming more than just food, we’re also consuming frozen dessert bars as a snack.
Instead of being served ice cream, frozen treats are becoming more prevalent. These are low-calorie, individually wrapped, hand-held ice creams that are usually less than 500 calories.
This article was originally published on EditaKayeYummy.com
Spring is set to arrive in the next few days and with it the hope of renewal and new life. While the current state of the world might invoke fear and apprehension in many, one cannot forget the beauty of nature and the blossoming of life. For many, new reading material is part and parcel of the change of the seasons. The following books represent some of the best new novels for spring and are sure to be big hits at bookstores around the country.
The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk
Olga Tokarczuk’s The Books of Jacob is a historical epic following the life of Jacob Frank, a Jewish man who lived in 18th Century Poland and claimed to be the messiah. At nearly a thousand pages, The Books of Jacob follows a third-person narrative style, transporting readers into the minds of those around Frank. First published in Poland in 2014, the novel won Tokarczuk the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2018. While readers might find Frank’s ideas on morality questionable, reviewers say that it is a modern masterpiece that lives up to the expectations of a sprawling epic.
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara is an alternate history novel centering on what would have happened had the United States split into multiple countries following the Civil War. Yanagihara divides her novel into three different epochs 100 years apart as characters change appearance and identity with the sands of times. The final moments of To Paradise take place in the dark reality of 2093, where dystopian governments race to control pandemics that are the scourge of humanity. While praising Yanagihara’s ambition, reviewers warn that To Paradise’s multiple time jumps and complex narrative will confuse readers while nevertheless providing awe-inspiring storytelling.
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a follow-up to his debut novel Shuggie Bain, which was itself a critical and commercial darling when it was released in 2020. Described as a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the book follows two men from Glasgow as they fall in love for the first time. The duo’s blossoming romance is complicated, however, by tensions between their working-class families and culturally ingrained ideas of masculinity. Reviews of Young Mungo say that despite the novel’s grim narrative, it nevertheless leaves readers with a sense of hope.
This article was originally published on EditaKaye.net
Edita Kaye 