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Writing Sparkle

I made my coffee this morning with a Crave Coffee pod. I’m drinking Blueberry Vanilla flavour. The pairing compliments the fragrance because blueberry has a fruity yet spicy vanilla scent, to begin with. In the coffee, it’s the same but with a hint of the bitter java bean. It has a very bitter taste as it slides across the tastebuds; it’s earthy but there is no tart or sweetness.

If we were having coffee, I would share that this post is about my year of puzzles and my year of reading.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I’m working on a Ravensburger Christmas puzzle. It’s a hard one. I started it the Christmas before last, but it’s a hard one and I didn’t finish it. So, I packed it up at the end of the season, but I’m determined to see the finished product this time. Here are some pictures of puzzles I completed in 2023.

If we were having coffee, I would share my 2023 book list with you. Back in January, I shared my To Be Read list, which had only nine titles on it. The list grew a bit. 2023 was a successful reading year. Here is what it looked like:

  • The Stiehl Assassin by Terry Brooks
  • The Last Druid by Terry Brooks
  • H is for Homicide by Sue Grafton
  • X by Sue Grafton
  • Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton
  • The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
  • Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind
  • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
  • Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer (I’ve been reading this book off and on over the year; I’m not finished.)
  • Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
  • Grand Chieftain by Don Bourque
  • News Letter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque
  • The Strategic Author’s Guide to MailerLite: How to use MailerLite to build an author newsletter by Erika Everest
  • Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Des Hague
  • Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell
  • Breakage by David-Michael Harding
  • Beyond the Land of Dreams: Beryl’s Awakening by Susan Bruck
  • How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell
  • Drift by L.T. Ryan and Brian Shea
  • Killing Floor by Lee Child
  • Game On by Janet Evanovich
  • Path of Bones by L.T. Ryan and K.M Rought
  • The Bounty by Janet Evanovich and Steve Hamilton
  • Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
  • Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
  • The Business Side of Creativity by Cameron S. Foote
  • The Invisible Entente: A Prequel Novella by Krista Walsh
  • Martha May Mackenzie and the Magic Cake Mistake by Brian Starr
  • On Writing and World Building: Volume 1 by Timothy Hickson
  • 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery: Take-Charge Strategies to Empower Your Healing by Babette Rothschild
  • “Mama Sou”: Metamorphosis of a Mother by Maria Griggs
  • The Body Remembers When: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment by Babette Rothschild (reading now)
  • Mist Born by Brandon Sanderson (reading now)

If we were having coffee, I would pass you the coffee pot and ask about your week, your reading, and your 2023 goals.

By Shari Marshall – 2023

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I hope you have a chance to join us for a virtual cup. Coffee share #49? in 2023.

29 thoughts on “Crave Coffee”

  2. Your puzzles are beautiful! You definitely read far more then the 9 you started with. I had a really successful reading year too and just picked up another stack of books from the library this morning.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Joanne. I like the Ravensburg and Buffalo games brand puzzles. The quality is good and the colours are bright.

      I have three unread books in my pile. I think they will be the start of my 2024 TBR. I just accepted a book for review, plus I’m still reading “Mistborn.” I read way more then I expected I would.

      Thanks for stopping in. Happy reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Shari, I’m so impressed with both your list and your puzzle. I cut and pasted your list into a Google doc to refer to when I’m looking for my next read. I always forget the names of books and who refers them, especially if I go into bookstores where I don’t have them written down in a handy place. So, thanks for sharing them. Did you try any of my digital puzzles? They aren’t as challenging as the ones you work, but they are handy because the pieces don’t fall off the table. I publish them in my WQ posts now, as well as on my FB page, Always Write. Let me know how you like them if you do one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Marsha. I am the same about forgetting book titles. I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping my Goodreads want-to-read list updated; since I typically have my phone when I go shopping it’s handy to check the titles.

      I have a digit puzzle app. If I’m being honest, though, one of the reasons I like puzzles is because it takes me away from the electronics. So, I don’t do the digital ones often. If I get a chance to check out one of the ones you are sharing, I will let you know.

      Thanks for stopping in. Happy Saturday.

      Like

      1. I get that, Shari. Janet, from This That and the Other Thing is the same way. We went puzzle shopping the other day. Vince is not a big puzzle fan, and we don’t have tons of room to lay one out, so I enjoy a quick digital one frequently. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

          1. It is so cool. There are about six – 8 of us off and on. We first started about a year ago when it was Photos by Johnbo and his wife and I. They are here part-time, and we met another time with Janet and Donna. It was odd all meeting and we didn’t totally recognize each other. Now, we have become close friends, and it is amazing.

            Liked by 1 person

  5. Those puzzles look impossible to me. Well done on completing them. I haven’t read any of the books on your list. I do enjoy Sue Grafton’s alphabet books and have been thinking about featuring them on the blog next year.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi, Jennifer. These puzzles had their challenges, but I took my time with them. I completed a black-and-white puzzle a few years ago, and the image on it was done with dots—wow, was it a challenge. A few times I asked myself what I was thinking about purchasing it. But it felt satisfying to finish it.

      The alphabet series is good reading. There are a lot of author’s on my list above that I had never read before, it was nice to try some books outside of my usuals.

      Thanks for stopping in. Happy Saturday.

      Like

  6. Love your reading list! I have read a few of those. 🙂 I didn’t read as much as I would have liked in 2023, but I did read a fair amount, and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read. I’m halfway through Lord of the Rings, and I’d love to finish it this year, but I’m reading something else from the library that has to take priority!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi, Jayden. I loved reading Lord of the Rings and would love to reread it at some point. Did you start with The Hobbit?

      I normally wouldn’t have gotten through so many books, but we drove to and from Ontario this year and I filled my time with reading.

      Happy Saturday. Thanks for visiting.

      Like

  7. A lot of great puzzles! Your book list – you mentioned TBR list, but I am assuming what is posted is the “Read in 2023” list. I just took a quick look, but looks like a successful reading year of some pretty interesting books 🙂
    Hope you are enjoying your weekend and have a wonderful week ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Yes, those are the books I read this year. It started with a coffee post back in January which listed a few TBR books—the list grew as I devoured my books this year. I haven’t started my 2024 TBR list, but I will soon.

      Thanks for visiting. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Well done with the puzzles and reading this year Shari! I read the Stephen King book on your list a few years ago and have a Janet Evanovic book on hold. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi, Natalie. The Stephen King book was a great read. As for Janet Evanovich, her Stephanie Plum series, makes me laugh out loud. I enjoy a few of her other series as well. Thanks for stopping in. Happy Sunday.

      Like

  9. I’m trying to get my brain around blue berry vanilla coffee and it’s just not happening. Recall that I was late to the game of coffee. For most of my life I could not enjoy any of it in any form but about the time our oldest became a teenager and decided that he LOVED coffee, I decided to give it another honest try and lacking initial success, tried to “develop a taste” for it. The latter happened and today it remains a fragile relationship.
    You reading list and that puzzle are impressive but Lady, where do you find the time? Are you one of those who live on 4 hours or less of sleep?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Coffee is an acquired taste, especially if it’s plain.

      I putter with the puzzle when the TV is on and I read whenever I can. I usually always have a book handy.

      Hope you are having a lovely week, Gary.

      Liked by 1 person

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