Escape into books.
Dear friends,
I don't know about you, but nothing has changed much here.
People in Canada are politely self-isolating, Costco lines are two hours long, school is being taught online but, most importantly, WE'RE FIGHTING THAT CURB.
Although people seem to have adapted overall to this unprecedented situation, I've noticed that self-isolating has started to take it's toll on our mental well-being. It's one thing to protect our physical health, but it's important we protect our mental health, too.
People who are self-isolating on their own are struggling from lack of human contact. Families are fighting burnout as they juggle between work, school, housework and keeping their children busy.
Have you found ways to cope? (Share your ideas: reaknightly@gmail.com or Facebook)
Here's what I've come up with so far:
- Meditation apps fight stress and anxiety (check out the free app 'Insight Timer')
- Walking and cycling (if your city/country allows it) gets the oxygen flowing to your brain and fights that stuffy, numb feeling you get from staying inside. If you can't go out, stretch and exercise on your balcony or in front of an open window.
- Go for a random drive around your neighbourhood (if your city/country allows it). It's safe because you can stay in your car and at least you'll see something other than the inside of your house.
- Beat the silence. Leave the radio on (NOT on the news channel) or connect with family or friends by leaving Zoom/Whatsapp/Messenger on in the background (so it's as if they were in the same house as you - you can hear them chat, wash dishes, cook, watch TV...).
- Make weekends special: plan virtual get-togethers, dress up nicely as if you were going out, cook something special, change your routine...
- Call up someone different every couple of days or once a week to see how they're doing, get fresh perspectives and new self-isolating ideas.
- Shut down social media. Don't focus too much on smartphones and Zoom meetings and tablets if you find them overwhelming. Put them away in a drawer and focus on something you can do in your house (but never had the time to do).
- READ A BOOK (well, obviously)!
And remember this IMPORTANT detail: not so long ago you were rushing around like crazy, wishing you didn't have to listen to your 6.00 AM alarm clock, trying to get to school or work on time, fuming at traffic, longing for a holiday... Well guess what? You got a break. You've been given a special time to slow down and breathe. Try to enjoy it before our chaotic world ramps up again.
News about The Alien Skill Series
How are Ben and Mesmo doing?
Not too bad, actually!
BOOK 1 is a bestseller:
Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall (The Alien Skill Series, Book 1) is $0.99 for the duration of the COVID-19 self-isolating period. This has pushed it to bestseller rank on Amazon!
BOOK 4 is a bestseller:
Ben Archer and the World Beyond (The Alien Skill Series, Book 4) was published on April 9, 2020 and has been on the Amazon bestseller list ever since. That's a result of you and your amazing reviews. The Ben Archer-team thanks you for your support!
Here are some review excerpts:
- “This book sings with hope and beats with adventure.”
- “I’m spellbound!”
- “Loved the ending, it was so amazing and powerful!”
- “Fast paced with epic scenes.”
- “An unexpected great adventure!”
- “A great environmental lesson for young adults.”
You can leave a review in the 'write a customer review' section here : https://www.amazon.com/dp/
BOOK 5 is - you've guessed it - a bestseller (and it's not even published yet):
Those of you who bought Ben Archer and the World Beyond (The Alien Skill Series, Book 4) will have gotten a special treat: a glimpse of the next book cover in the series, along with its first chapter!
In fact, there's no point in waiting.
See the book cover for Ben Archer and the Star Rider (The Alien Skill Series, Book 5) yourself:
I haven't added a blurb yet (just a hint)! :)
What's up in the neighbourhood?
After a bit of struggling, my family and I have settled into a new routine, which includes Zoom-classes, trying to secure a time-slot for grocery home-delivery, finding ways to make food last for weeks, attempting new recipes and working in spurts when the house is quiet. Fortunately, Easter Bunny made it to our house after the Government of British Columbia issued it a special 'essential service-pass'.
Other than that, I'm taking the time to READ.
So far I've really enjoyed The Maze Runner by James Dashner (excellent writing, powerful scenes and realistic characters). Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (impressive visuals, a stunning scifi setting and an absolutely charming, hilarious robot) and The Giver by Lois Lowry (an incredibly emotional and deep story in spite of its simple writing and overuse of adverbs). Now I'm plunging into the Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (powerful writing but I'm struggling a bit with the way it's presented).
May 2020 reading list
Here's a list of books to keep you busy for a long while!
Haloband (Darkweb Book 1) by by Lia Laserre and Chris Turner
Darkweb. Holograms. Implants. Lies.
I'm Ellan Weis, a teen kickboxer. Something happens to me, where I can sense disaster. Before it happens.
I live in a world where everyone has a com chip in their wrist...where the only truth of the past cataclysm lies in darkweb. The schools are rough, bullies walk the halls, gangs work the streets. My mother’s a key player in rolling out the new haloband, a smart-VR headgear technology at Starcom. My brother’s a hacker working at the same company.
A conspiracy is among us. Something to do with the haloband. My family is in danger. Even with my street smarts and these newfound powers, can I save those who mean most to me?
Don't miss this gritty coming-of-age technothriller...
The Shadowverse by J.C. Gallo
Heroes aren't just born.
They're chosen.
Until now, Johnny Sparks' life was perfectly normal — that is, stuck in college studies and always looking around the corner for something greater. But after an encounter with a mysterious stranger, he and his lifelong friends are imbued with incredible powers — at last giving his life meaning.
But this dream soon disintegrates once one of the friends is taken by a resurrected alien warlord named Titan. In a rescue effort, the remaining group travels across the stars in search of the only possible aid — a legendary, immortal warrior missing for centuries.
During the spectacular journey of destiny, the team must join forces to reclaim their friend and stop a sinister scheme devised against humanity by Titan and his vast empire. The multiverse-spanning, millennia in the making conflict for the soul of reality is set in motion, but even if the group prevails, they risk losing what it means to be human.
The Trunk of Stars A children's mystery adventure (Stolen Treasures Book 1) by Susie Dinneen
Who do you trust when everyone is keeping a secret?
When she was a baby, Cairo was found in a trunk by Agatha Mulch, a mean, thieving auctioneer. Now twelve years old, Cairo is desperate to escape Agatha’s cruelty and find her real parents. She runs away and joins a group who are hunting for the golden scarabs. If she helps them track down the treasure, Cairo could finally discover the truth about her family.
But there are others searching for the scarabs and unless Cairo faces her fears, learns who to trust, and finds the scarabs first, she might never unlock the mystery of her past.
The Trunk of Stars is the first novel in the Stolen Treasures series for readers aged nine to twelve. If you like Lemony Snicket and The Mysterious Benedict Society, you’ll love this action-packed adventure by Susie Dinneen.
Start reading today to see if Cairo can unravel the mystery.
The Witch of Belle Fleur: YA Fantasy (Destroyer Witch Chronicles Book 1) by Isabelle Hardesty
In a family brimming with secrets, Juliette learns her mother was a Destroyer Witch, and her father was a Healer Witch. This teen telenovela actress doesn't have time for magic, yet magic finds a way into her life.
Juliette must choose between becoming her town's Lead Witch or just walking away from magic and being a regular human, like her drop-dead gorgeous best friend, Victor. She soon finds out that Victor has a few secrets of his own...
Although her instincts tell her to run from magic, magic might be the only way she can save her dying aunt.
She unwittingly brings magic back to all witches in Belle Fleur, including Thane, an ancient evil witch who wants Juliette’s power and soul.
A hot new mysterious guy comes to town and turns up the heat. Juliette's feelings for him grow, just as she sinks deeper and deeper into the new world of magic.
Can Juliette balance her Healer and Destroyer sides while she tries to defeat the evil that hunts her and those she loves?
Disciples of Trikaal by Varun Sayal
Aru must choose...
...use his powers to protect his family...
...or give up his life to save millions of strangers.
Aru and Nemi together summoned Trikaal, an ancient time traveler, who agreed to be their Guru. Nemi chose to master time travel, and Aru to read the future.
But their lives took a sharp turn when paranoid Nemi imprisoned Aru and his pregnant wife. Aru, who considered Nemi his brother, never saw it coming and now languishes in a tiny jail cell. While Nemi travels back and forth in time, wreaking death and destruction.
Traveling to the distant future, Nemi aims to decimate the last survivors of humanity. Aru reads this future and has a plan to end it all. But the price of doing the right thing is too high.
Will Aru escape and save his family or stay and save the world?
Stay safe and keep reading!
All the best,
Rae Knightly