Welcome to book review three of fifty-three. As you are aware, I provide freelance book reviews to several review companies. It has been a great experience that has introduced me to new authors and their wonderful books. Each week this year, I’m opening my Weekend Coffee shares with a link to a review I’ve provided. Reviews are three stars or higher. The genres range from picture books to fiction and nonfiction titles.

Mirabelle and the Sea Green Bathtub
Author Suzanne Elizabeth MurphyPublished in November 2024The publisher is Open Sky Studio & Gallery, LLC
Available in Hardcover (52 pages)Picture Book | Children’s Adventure| Early Readers

If we were having coffee, I would share that I consider my Weekend Coffee Share post to be my author newsletter. The content I share here is what I would share if I had an email list and sent out weekly updates. I’ve been part of the Weekend Coffee Share group since 2015, and I love our virtual community of coffee/tea enthusiasts. I would like to express my gratitude for all your support!

If we were having coffee, I would share a picture of the 2000-piece puzzle I have been talking about for the last couple of weeks. I finished it. You might notice that the image fits in with my Tarot journey. It was a fun puzzle to work on.

If we were having coffee, I would share that I have been busy editing my manuscript so I can send it back to my editor. My goal is to publish in the fall of this year. I’m hoping in the next couple of months to share a completed title and maybe even a cover. With my Tarot deck creation, I had a setback. I finished the image for the back of the card and scanned it. I liked the image on paper, but not when I opened it on my computer. So, I’m wondering if I need to draw on a tablet (which I don’t own). I have paused on the tarot deck until I finish my illustration course and do some research on drawing tablets. That said, I decided to create an Oracle Deck in the meantime, using the program I used to create my book covers in (so sourced images). More on that in a few weeks . . .

If we were having coffee, I would share that my illustration course started this week. It’s a bit intimidating because I am the only student without a drawing background. It’s going to be a great space to learn in. I have to pick a major project to work on. I’m considering three options: illustrations for two pending writing projects, a children’s book, a novel for seven to nine-year-olds, or my Tarot Deck. I would also share that I had my second mediumship class this week. It’s fun, but also terrifying. There are thirteen of us, and only two (me and another woman) who are new students. This week, I felt like a non-swimmer cast into the deep end of the pool without a lifejacket! I did two mini-readings for classmates. It went well, but I’ve never read for someone I don’t know, and I was nervous.

Well, virtual coffee friends, this was a lengthy share. Here is the coffee bean grinder. How was your week?

By Shari Marshall (2026)