Halloween is right around the corner. Perhaps you’re setting up the skeletons, bats, and all manners of creepy crawlies to give your house the freaky vibe. What better way to spice up that pumpkin spice latte than these three frightening books that can keep you up at night this season.
The First 30 Days by Lora Powell
When I say “Halloween,” you can’t think of the holiday without ZOMBIES!
Transformed by a cure that was supposed to save humanity, the living dead now roam the world our protagonist, Bri, once called home. Using only her wits and the help of bat-wielding survivor, the two must now brave the feral, maddened world to find others.
Full of scares, hope, and the drive to survive, this book is quintessential for the month of spooks.
The Subway by Jae Jae
You know what else is as scary as zombies wandering our world? How about the normal routine of your life going wrong?
That’s what happened to Gemma Connors. What was supposed to be a routine commute to high school in the subway turns into a dark nightmare as masked men take the train hostage and force them into a nightmarish version of “Hide and Seek,” where getting caught means death!
Perhaps you’d like to play as well? There’s always room for more players.
Demented by Anna Gallegos
If the above two are too much, how about some bite-sized frights?
These short collection of stories is just enough to keep you up at night and still give you time to stew in the dark. Want a story with a vengeful baby? Maybe the bus you go on might bring you to hell? That kindly neighbor you have might have some . . . peculiar tastes?
All this and more at your fingertips . . . if you’re brave enough to dig in.
http://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TWP-Enfold_-e1617886793702.png00twp_adminhttp://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TWP-Enfold_-e1617886793702.pngtwp_admin2022-09-29 09:55:252022-09-29 09:56:08Three Horror-filled Books to Start Up that Halloween Spirit
Reading is enjoyable because it takes us to many magical and mysterious places we haven’t been to in the physical world. It leads us to introspection as well as new perspectives and analyses of the conditions—human or not—of where we live; not to mention the sense of accomplishment it provides whenever we finish a book.
However, reading can at times become an arduous, painful task. We must have heard of writers struggling with “writer’s block,” but readers can also grapple with “reader’s block”—a state where we can no longer stick to or concentrate on a book; or worse, can’t even pick up one. This may continue for weeks, months, or even years, and despite our best efforts, we still can’t seem to rekindle that love for reading, which can be frustrating and can somehow make us feel unproductive.
So here are some tips that might be helpful in overcoming reader’s block:
Choose another book. Drop the book you’re not enjoying. If you can’t relish reading it no matter how hard you try, then it’s a sign that it’s time to read a different one.
Mix it around. If you’re too stressed and a book might be too much for you to handle, why not read newspapers, short articles and stories, magazines, or blogs? Besides, something new can refresh and reboot your brain.
Start small. Some other tasks can exhaust you, resulting in sluggishness and much lower energy when you start reading. Well, that’s alright. A page or two is not bad. You just need to form that habit of daily reading. Eventually, you’ll be able to level it up and add more pages.
Listen to an audiobook. Debating with yourself on whether to clean your room or read? The good thing is, you can actually do both. Listening to an audiobook saves you time and provides a different feel and experience.
Reread your favorite book. Do you remember how it felt like reading your favorite book? You can relive those pleasant emotions to be motivated or inspired by rereading it. If it’s not your thing, you might want to try one of your favorite author’s books that you haven’t read yet.
Choose a new spot. Perhaps your senses have subconsciously grown tired of the same place and now you need a different spot to get stimulated. It’s worth moving to another suitable location in the house, library, café, or wherever you normally read that could satisfy you.
Listen to music while reading. Listening to music can improve your mood and help you focus. If you’re that type of person who can still concentrate with music on in the background while reading, then this might work magic for you. All you need to do is choose the genre of music you prefer, select the songs you may want to listen to, and press Play. Meditation music for focus, relaxation, and studying is equally effective.
Spend less time watching TV, Netflix, or YouTube videos. The content on TV, Netflix, and YouTube can be so good that you spend so many hours watching it and end up feeling drained. How about allocating some of this time to reading something light?
Be gentle with yourself. Forgive yourself if you relapse, unable to achieve your reading goal. Drop some of that perfectionism ingrained in you. Instead of beating yourself up, just keep going and try again. Tenacity beats fastidiousness.
Reward Yourself. You deserve a reward after managing to complete that reading task of yours. It can be as simple as a high five or as fancy as treating yourself to a sumptuous meal. Swamp yourself with congratulations!
In this age of streaming services like Netflix and others, I wanted to know the perspective of readers who had stopped and see if there is a chance for them to come back to reading.
Host: How long ago did you last read a book?
Guest: About a year ago. I was in Manila and had a lot of time because my mother was sick and terminally ill. We spent time with her and during the lull moments, I would read books to kill time.
H: Who were your favorite authors to read?
G: My number one would be Daniel Silva, second would be John Grisham, third would be Tom Clancy.
Image from Daniel Silva’s website
H: Why did you stop reading?
G: First, I had trouble with my eyes. They started getting worse. That was the reason I had stopped. The next was because of the advent of Netflix. I started watching shows instead of reading. Third, books had gotten more expensive. The authors I liked reading would release their books hardbound first which was very pricey for me.
H: Have you tried looking for alternative authors or books that were paperback that you haven’t read before?
G: Actually, I did a lot of thrifting. I went to a lot of book sales and used book stores. But majority of the authors I had followed, I had already read all their books. I was just waiting for their next book.
Image from Unsplash
H: But have you tried alternative authors that followed in their footsteps?
I tried reading other authors that followed the style of the three aforementioned authors but I didn’t find them as exciting or interesting as my favorites.
H: What certain qualities make those authors not as captivating as your favorites?
G: The build-up to the story is a lot different than the authors I mentioned. There was one author that I read, where the complications and conflict was so interesting, but the ending simplified that complication and turned me off from that initial intrigue. To be fair, John Grisham also started off good, but his later books have that same problem I mentioned. Now, I don’t really follow him anymore. That’s why I shifted to Silva.
H: What can books do to get you back?
G: Maybe because I was a voracious reader before, I had gotten burned out from reading. I used to finish a novel in a day or two. Perhaps time is what I need to get back into books.
H: You mentioned that price is one of the reasons of not buying books now, have you tried e-books?
G: No, I haven’t tried reading e-books. I find them more straining to my eyes. I don’t like buying an e-book reader because they’re expensive and require an online account, which is, for me, a hindrance in a way for me to read. I’m not a techy person and don’t enjoy that kind of thing.
H: What can convince you to buy an e-book and reader?
G: If it was given to me for free!
H: What is your future in terms of reading?
G: Because of my long time burn out, I have plenty of books to read when I go back to it. I’m kind of excited when the time comes.
https://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Reading-together-scaled.jpg17662560twp_adminhttp://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TWP-Enfold_-e1617886793702.pngtwp_admin2022-07-28 12:31:382022-08-01 09:08:58Interview with A Former Avid Reader
It’s no secret that the world of literature, fiction or nonfiction, is jam-packed with powerful male characters, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Little boys need male role models, whom they can see themselves in and who can teach them important lessons, while a lot of girls love to swoon over powerful men whom they can see as keeping them safe and warm at times when they don’t feel like doing it themselves. However, overly masculine characters can be suffocating not only for their love interests but also for those who’ve read maybe a little too many books featuring men like them. So, for a breath of fresh air—and head-turning cologne—here are three “soft” but powerful male characters to read and daydream about:
Prince Griffin in Queen of the Beasts
Queen of the Beasts is a page-turning work of werewolf fiction depicting conflict between a pack of rogue wolves and a royal family that’s been too pampered for too long that its members are losing their werewolf abilities and now seen as unfit to keep their crown.
Prince Griffin is their heir, whom our protagonist, Violet, will meet early on in the story. Though she’s spent most of her life trying to take down his family, the well-dressed, mild-mannered prince presents her with a dilemma when he turns out to be the opposite of what she’s built him up in her mind to be.
Aside from being charming and kindhearted, she also learns that he’s far from weak when he demonstrates his strength by dominating his warriors on the training field. He’s the man every man wants to be and every straight woman wants to be with. Let him win your heart over, too, by turning the pages of K.M. Carnoky’s Queen of the Beasts.
Grayson King in Scary Love
Scary Love tells a bittersweet story about bullying, broken families, and drug addiction in a way that sheds a light on just how important each of these issues is without romanticizing it, which many authors, even professional ones, can find tricky.
Grayson is the central tortured artist of the story, which will keep you on your toes with its murder-mystery twists and turns. He’s the boy in class who barely says a word but catches your eye; and despite how hard they try, he doesn’t let any bully—or problem—keep him down. He’s a survivor and a fighter, not only regarding his addiction but also generally in his 18-year-old life.
Whether you’re looking for a hero who’ll help you fight your battles or a dreamboat who’ll write songs about you, Grayson is your King, but before you can be his queen, you must first learn about his reign in Karu Lu’s rollercoaster of a book, Scary Love.
Albericus Wilt in Lupus Deus
Albericus Wilt—or, as our quirky female protagonist, Vivian Grey, calls him, Algebra—is the beta of the titular character in Lupus Deus, which revolves around the unlikely relationship between our heroine and the feared 600-year-old god of werewolves.
Long before the meme phrase sigma male entered pop culture’s lexicon, being “beta” has been considered a bad thing. However, that isn’t always true, as Algebra shows us in the nearly 1000-page epic. As the wolf god’s second-in-command, he is trustworthy and responsible; and outside his job, he is a caring, patient mate and a funny, gentle friend.
Don’t mistake his kindness for weakness, though, because he will only prove you and his enemies wrong—and his alpha right—in the brutal, climactic battle of the gods and goddesses in Sophia Moore’s Lupus Deus.
If you want to read more about them, or about other guys like them, and support our talented, passionate authors, check out our library of underrated books, or follow Typewriter Pub for updates on our new launches every month!
https://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Reading-together-scaled.jpg17662560twp_adminhttp://typewriterpub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TWP-Enfold_-e1617886793702.pngtwp_admin2022-06-28 01:09:222022-06-30 05:10:35Three “Soft” but Powerful Male Characters Who Challenge the Stereotype of Toxic Masculinity
Olah! What time is it? It’s summer time! Our favorite season is finally here! And what is it that people love to do during summer? Go to the beach, of course! Because of the sunny weather, it’s great to pay a visit to the beach and dip your feet on the salty water. Whether you go with your family, friends, SOs, or even on your own, you always have to bring something with you to complete your day.
Here are 5 essentials you must bring with you on your beach trip:
Image from Unsplash
1. Sunscreen
Obviously, sunscreen is on top of this list. It’s a must-bring item when going out on a sunny day, most especially to the beach! Your skin needs protection from the harmful rays of the sun. A sunscreen with SPF50 is highly recommended. Wearing a hat or bringing an umbrella with you won’t suffice!
Image from Unsplash
2. Sunnies
Your summer OOTD will not be complete without sporting a pair of sunnies! It will surely get hot at the beach. And aside from your skin, your eyes need protection too. Put your shades on, fix your kinis, and go take awesome photos for the gram in style!
Image from Unsplash
3. Drink
Staying hydrated is the key to spend a full day in the sun. You’ll definitely need a drink to regain your energy from playing volleyball with your friends or strolling along the shore with your significant other. Quench your thirst with cool refreshments like coconut juice or mango smoothie. Albeit, nothing beats a cold bottle of water. 😉
Image from Unsplash
4. Beach Blanket
Need a break from all the fun activities? Just want to relax? Get your beach blanket and lay it flat on the sand. Take your well-deserved rest. Enjoy the fantastic view and the majestic sound of the waves. Fancy some tan lines? You can do sun tanning. Make sure to apply sun screen for protection. And don’t stay under the sun for too long or you’ll get burnt. Yikes!
Image from Unsplash
5. A Book
Summer is the perfect time to tick off one of the books that has been long scribbled on your reading list! Bring along a great book like Catching Genesis by Nicole Riddley, one of Typewriter Pub’s best-selling books. If you want something fun and light to devour in one sitting, then get lost in Genesis’ world of arrogant werewolves, royal brats, and an irresistible lycan god.Catching Genesis is available in eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats. You can read the blurb and get a copy here.
Speaking of which, Typewriter Pub will be hosting a book giveaway this Monday, the ninth, for Filipino fans! Try your luck and you might be the lucky person to get your hands on Catching Genesis for free! Not only that, there will be other freebies too! Follow Typewriter Pub’s socials for the giveaway announcement and other details. (Facebook | Instagram)
That’s all. Now, you are more than ready to beat the summer heat and have fun under the sun!
Giveaway is available only in the Philippines. Cover image from Shutterstock.
