[Writer Blog] A Reading Weekend – Benson, Caine, and Cheney

This weekend I had a “reading” weekend. I went offline and read books. It was GLORIOUS. My husband and I do this a couple of times a year – usually in East Texas in a place that has intermittent cell signal – this time simply at home. In about a 48-hour period, I can get through about 2 books (or the equivalent). Did I mention it’s GLORIOUS. All writers should have some days like this, in fact, all writers should be readers – and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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I started out finishing the back half of Witchery: A Ghosts of Albion Novel by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden. This has historical horror/fantasy. Dude, if you haven’t figured out I’m a total Amber Benson fan girl by now? Buckle up. She’s seriously the type of writer I want to be (and am working on). Benson’s got range. The Albion books are dark and creepy (and a smidgeon on the adult side), they’re magical horror. She’s done darkish children’s books (Totally recommend Among the Ghosts), and the humorous overtone tones to the Calliope Reaper-Jones books, yeah. There’s something awesome about not being pigeonholed into one style…and that’s what I want to do/be is someone who has the ability and opportunity to WRITE. ALL. THE. THINGS.
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Then I read the last book of the Morganville Vampire Series, Daylighters by Rachel Caine. Contemporary Paranormal Young Adult. . I’m not saying a lot about this because I know a lot of you may not have finished it yet. I’ve been a fan of this series for its entire run. I’ve made various Barnes and Nobles dig the books from the back on release day. I know Rachel. I knew she’d end the series well, but not how she would do it. And OMG… I devoured this book, almost in a single sitting, but not quite. And it was a darned good wrap up – with enough openings for “reunions” down road, or revisits. But still with a solid, “It is Finished” feel. Thank you, Rachel, for an amazing adventure. We can’t wait for the Web Series
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And finally, I’m about 1/3 the way through J. Kathleen Cheney’s Debut Novel, The Golden City. And yes, I do realize I read these in alphabetical order by author. It wasn’t completely intentional… this is another historical fantasy piece (not sure how much “horror” it might turn out to be). But so far, I’m really enjoying this book (and not simply because Cheney is a friend of mine), I’ve tried to read other books about merfolk and selkies and such and didn’t finish. This one I’ll finish, even with it being alternate universe Portugal and only being able to “guess” at some of the pronunciations. But I really am looking forward to seeing where this story goes – and am already planning on buy the second book when it comes out.

So, in a haphazard way, I did all the parts of a series this weekend. Cheney’s is the beginning of a series, which has good roots – and I witnessed her journey, she did her research on the world. Check it out. Though the Albion Novels are more a sequence than a series, it felt like it was still in the middle of stuff. If Benson and Golden ever do more (which I doubt since it’s been years) in this universe, I’ll check out their further adventures. And the last Morganville hurrah. It was a good weekend.

Tags: Albion, Amber Benson, Books, Daylighter, Fantasy, Horror, J. Kathleen Cheney, Morganville, Paranormal, Rachel Caine, The Golden City