READ,WRITE & LIVE YOUR TRUTH

Tag: #amreading

  • How to Find Your Next Good Novel

    E.G. Kardos

    Because a novel is on the New York Times Best Sellers list, does this make it worth reading?  I’m not sure. Maybe. Yeah, the list has great books, but with the millions of novels “out there”, this is a very short list to choose from as there are literally millions that could be tagged as a good novel and worth a look.

    Maybe it’s time to consider lesser-known novels and begin to add more inventive ways to your next good novel search. Could it be time take a few more risks to find your next read? Frankly, the risk is minimal.

    Most “Best Sellers” Lists are Limited

    Something close to 4 million new books will be published in 2025 compared to about 2.7 million a decade ago, and only a mere 280,000 in 2005. Wow! Most truly great reads are buried.

    Close up of open books on table

    Although there are many estimates from a variety of sources on the number of published books, these figures could be off slightly–but not much. But one thing that is certain, they definitely reflect the growth in the publishing industry. If nothing else. it is safe to say that newly published books have grown by 15 times in the US over the last twenty-five years.

    Take a Risk and Treat Yourself to Something New and Different

    Instead of the old “best sellers” list and everyone’s lists on GoodReads and social media book groups, chart your own course. There’s more to a good novel than the same formulaic, refomatted story. Novels are personal and what one stranger may think is a great read may not be to you. The question should be what resonates with you and NOT what do others say you SHOULD be reading.

    I’ve noticed that online book groups, however, only promote the two percent of all books that make up about ninety-eight percent of all sales–the same old same old. That’s kind of boring.

    Using a few keywords that describe what you like to read, you could consider going to online to any/many online booksellers and use those keywords and see what comes up. I’m sure you will come up with some intereesting and intriguing possibilities. Plunk down $12.95 (a couple of lattes) and in a few days you’ve got something new to explore..

    This may be a “no brainer” but so is the same old same old we hear about all the time.

    Lots of Good Books but with Fewer Readers

    I have both traditionally and independently published books. I have learned from this journey that very few people read novels, but I still write them. But the stats are staggering.

    • Less than 40 percent of adults have read one novel in a given year.
    • More women read than men,
    • and those woman with a college degree, who earn a higher income and are under 50 years of age, read the most.

    Two Requests for Those Who Read Novels

    • Please encourage others to join you. If not you, who will?
    • Broaden your scope and take a risk on a novel that you discover, and then tell your friends about it–both those who read and those, sadly that don’t.

    If You’re Still Here…

    …then you are a reader and in all honesty, keep reading whatever you enjoy. But keep in mind, a good novel is waiting for you and it might not be what everyone else is reading. Take a chance for $12.95.

    More to enjoy: Writing Literary Fiction and What I’m Learning, Self Discovery Books – an Excerpt from Cutting of Harp Strings, Keep Reading , Why Read Fiction? 

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • YA Fantasy Trilogy: Saving the World One Book at a Time

    ,

    E.G. Kardos

    Writing a YA fantasy trilogy can be tricky. Writers and readers of fantasy think through many questions. Here are a few: does the reader have to start with the first book to make sense of the second and the third? Should I write the series so, if a reader chooses, they could start with the second, or even the third book before the first one? As a YA fantasy trilogy, should all the stories be clearly connected…a continuation…or just the hero’s next quest?

    These are valid questions for a writer –and a reader. In my fantasy trilogy, The Elias Chronicles , a reader can start with any book as each is a stand-alone story. Saying that, I think to appreciate Elias’ journey and his development, I’d start with the first book, The Amulet: Journey to Sirok, and then read the second and third in order, The Rings: Journey Beneath Sirok and The Elixir: Journey On.

    As a YA fantasy trilogy, each book is connected as the stories follow the one before. Saying that, I include just enough of the previous storyline so the reader can easily get into the story and begin to connect with the main character, Elias.

    What’s this YA Fantasy Trilogy About?

    Without giving away any spoilers, in The Amulet, Elias learns all about himself by way of a journey he must take to truly understand who he is.

    In The Rings he realizes a friend is in danger but before he can find him, Elias must harness the powers he uncovered in the first story to not only save his friend, but he learns he must alos save a community that has been ravaged by false promises.

    In Book III, The Elixir, Elias has been called to protect the elixir that if it lands in the wrong hands could bring destruction to the planet. What is the elixir?

    As each book is truly a stand-alone story, Elias goes from self, to community to saving the world and….

    …after all, it is fantasy…but aren’t we all trying to save the world in our own way?

    This story best described by this quote by  Joseph Campbell.

    “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.”

    Here’s Chapter 1 of The Rings: Journey Beneath Sirok, Book II of the fantasy trilogy, The Elias Chronicles. Enjoy!

    “…Elias is a character we can all connect with, as he has a good soul and always strives to do right… things like choosing kindness and good over evil…the storyline is a bit unpredictable, which is a welcome relief from a lot of fantasy writing out there right now…I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy stories with lots of fun characters and cool settings…”  

    ThisKidReviewsBooks.com

    1

    From the Crevasses

    The moment had changed time and space forever. The serpent no longer slithered inside, but for now, Elias knew how it had lived and died. 

                Alone, he stood atop the mountain of Sirok. His crusade had been long, but it was now over. As he stood tall, he savored his sweet victory for only a moment as it was time to return to what was familiar. It was time to move on, but he knew his experience with the serpent was now a part of him forever. 

                With only the sounds of a breeze that kicked up the sand where he stood, he looked at the dark and infinite early morning sky. Ribbons of faint light picked up the colors of the Earth and began to fan out. It was like a magnificent painting. The shades of night tinted the light of the morning and then pulled apart so that the darkness faded softly out of sight. 

    He bowed his head and slipped the amulet back around his neck. He knew all too well what it meant when he felt it against his chest. Smiling, he had thought of the exact time he had realized its worth—when it had saved him. 

    Elias scanned the area and let out a sigh. He saw the dragon’s sword on the ground, partly covered by debris, and

    then he grabbed its grip. He looked it over. Suddenly, the wind whipped up, and it forced him to look away. That’s when he saw his sword. Unlike the other blade, his sword stood upright and pierced the Earth. He gripped the hilt and pulled it from the ground. He held it high and looked at the long metal and thought about the force it commanded. These twin swords that once had unleashed an incredible power were nothing more than two cold steel blades. He sealed them away in the compartment at the base of the arch just as his grandmother had instructed him when he prepared for his journey.

                With the toe of his boot, he poked at the dying embers of the campfire. He scooped up the sandy soil of Sirok, covered the coals, and stomped out the edges of the fire. Still feeling the surge of confidence that came with his victory, he felt grateful the fight was over. Elias knew it was time to go home.    

    As he sucked in a heavy breath, he began to descend the crooked path on the rough terrain to journey home. His faithful dog, Cimbora, was at his side just as he had been during his adventure. Elias no longer feared the Sarkany, the evil dragon, as his fears he would find now lay elsewhere. He hoped never to return to this mountain. Elias’ head was full of thoughts of his family. He had left them many weeks ago when he felt he had no choice. His Papa had made it clear to him that there was no place for artists on a farm. Elias’ grandmother, Nattymama, had prepared him to search for the sorcerer, Zoltan, to help him uncover a peace that he would find only in his heart.    

    No sooner had Elias turned and walked away; than the ground trembled. Elias stopped. He looked back, and he saw nothing, but still, he paused. Something was there. He just knew it. He looked around but saw nothing unusual. He turned and continued his descent on his path toward the village. Cimbora, however, stood frozen about fifteen steps behind Elias. He stared at the smoldering campfire. He jerked his head, and then he trotted to catch up with Elias. He stopped once or twice and turned to look behind him. Cimbora sniffed the air. Before long, they were far enough down the mountain and could no longer see the camp.

                The crevasses in the ancient stones that surrounded the campfire tore open and made each gash deeper and longer. A cold wind whipped from them and swept over the dying embers. Too cold to be of this Earth, more wind streamed out from the rock fissures at the top of Sirok, where Elias had been just moments before. The wind spun itself, caught dirt and grit, and pulled in the cinders from the almost-dead fire. 

                The wind now lofted gently around the warm coals as the charm was now in play. Once again, the embers sparked into a flame. The flame hesitated briefly, but it flickered in reds and

    blues as the wind all but diminished. 

                The flame became a fire, and the fire became an inferno.

    ♦ ♦ ♦

    I hope you want to read more…

    You may enjoy these posts: Be True to Yourself: The Amulet: Journey to Sirok, “A Hero Ventures Forth…” Life May Be Imitating Art, Why Fantasy is a Good Read

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

    Most Viewed Posts

    All Posts

    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

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