I have begun working on my goals for 2017.

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer, is a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Caution: Her site has sidebar ads that sometimes contain cover images which may be offensive to some.

I am actually a bit overwhelmed contemplating all the things I would love to do with my blog in the new year. The reality is that I will probably reduce the number of regular posts I do for awhile, in order to give me time to explore other improvements & upgrades. I am already playing around with some different options for my review format. My main goals are to improve the quality of what is available on the blog and establish better social media habits.

I feel that by reducing the pressure to churn out posts, I can work on becoming a better blogger. Then I can increase my posting schedule again.

"Sci-Fi Month is a month-long blog event, that I [Rinn Reads] hosted for the first time in 2013, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction. From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it was intended to help us share our love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms. It was such a success – and I honestly wasn’t expecting that many people to join in – that people were already asking in December whether it would be held again the next year!

Sci-Fi Month has a schedule that all participants can add to, meaning everyone can clearly see what is being posted each day. This also encourages participants to comment on and visit other blogs." You can also follow on Twitter @SciFiMonth and/or #RRSciFiMonth

On GMB: Last week

• SUN: I Am Experiencing Technical Difficulties | Sunday Summary #28
• MON: Balconies & Spilt Drinks: SF Movie Memories | Top Ten Tuesday
• TUE: Will We Ever Be Better?: Little Fuzzy | Review - ★★★★ Adult SF
• WED: Lost, Lamp, Light | New Audiobook Releases
• FRI: Alliance of Isian | Review - ★★★½ YA Fantasy

This was a much better week for me emotionally, but I am dealing with a couple of frustrating technological problems.

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer, is a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Caution: Her site has sidebar ads that sometimes contain cover images which may be offensive to some.

Thank you so much to everyone who expressed concern for my sister, the prayers and good wishes were much appreciated. She is doing better for now, and they are holding off on deciding whether or not she will need surgery.

I am dealing with two new problems this week, but they are more garden variety issues. I am completely unable to access my personal Yahoo email. It keeps telling me that my password is invalid. I have reset the password, I have answered the security questions. I have tried in every browser on every device I own. I was briefly able to access it on Chrome, but that didn't last. I have cleared caches & cookies, used safe mode, etc. The really frustrating thing is that I can't even get the help forum to let me post.

I have had other problems with Yahoo for a while now, and have decided that I will just drop it. My main concern is that I can't access it to get contact information for everyone. And I am concerned about how to change my email on official accounts, when I don't have access to the old one.

My other problem is that the blog has been experiencing disappearing & reappearing cover graphics. This week, for the first time in over 6 months, I didn't publish a "New Audiobook Releases" post because of it. I haven't yet been able to figure out if the problem is on the Booklikes end or the Amazon one. I have definitely learned my lesson about not including an "alt" attribute though.

"Sci-Fi Month is a month-long blog event, that I [Rinn Reads] hosted for the first time in 2013, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction. From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it was intended to help us share our love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms. It was such a success – and I honestly wasn’t expecting that many people to join in – that people were already asking in December whether it would be held again the next year!

Sci-Fi Month has a schedule that all participants can add to, meaning everyone can clearly see what is being posted each day. This also encourages participants to comment on and visit other blogs." You can also follow on Twitter @SciFiMonth and/or #RRSciFiMonth

On GMB: Last week

• SUN: I Survive a Rough Week | Sunday Summary #27
• MON: Visions of the Future: Why Science Fiction is Important | My Musings
• TUE: NYC is Weirder than you Thought: Enchanted, Inc | Review - ★★★★ Adult Fantasy
• THU: A Soda Jerk in Space: Have Space Suit, Will Travel | Review - ★★★★ YA SciFi
• SAT: When Your Sanctuary is Threatened: Tris's Book | Review - ★★★★ MG Fantasy

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer, is a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Caution: Her site has sidebar ads that sometimes contain cover images which may be offensive to some.

I have a sister who has been very ill. She has had to drop all her classes for the semester and lost one of her part time jobs. As a family, we have been working together this week to make sure she has enough money for food & rent. If she ends up needing surgery, I will be taking time off work to go take care of her (my other sisters & sisters-in-law all have small children, and it would be awkward for a brother to care for her in this situation).

In addition, I am the supervisor of a small department at work and a personnel issue blew up this week & had to be elevated to my boss. It has been very emotionally distressing, and required a lot of extra documenting & meetings. Which is why I may not have responded to your comments nor commented back yet. And is also why there is no "Exploring Cyberspace" section in this post this week; I just wasn't able to do my usual visiting.

Some things I am grateful for (in honor of Thanksgiving month in the U.S., and to help me stay positive): A family that loves and takes care of each other. / Friends at work who are emotionally supportive / Blogging friends who say nice things about me on Twitter. / Blog Ahead & having some reviews etc stockpiled, so I didn't miss posting anything. / I can be proud of myself for not going on a freebie rampage (my, "don't have any money," version of retail therapy). / And most importantly, a Heavenly Father who loves me & gives me peace when I remember to ask.

"Sci-Fi Month is a month-long blog event, that I [Rinn Reads] hosted for the first time in 2013, created to celebrate everything amazing about science fiction. From TV shows to movies, books to comics, and everything else in between, it was intended to help us share our love and passion for this genre and its many, many fandoms. It was such a success – and I honestly wasn’t expecting that many people to join in – that people were already asking in December whether it would be held again the next year!

Sci-Fi Month has a schedule that all participants can add to, meaning everyone can clearly see what is being posted each day. This also encourages participants to comment on and visit other blogs." You can also follow on Twitter @SciFiMonth and/or #RRSciFiMonth

On GMB: Last week

• SUN: My Priority TBR Overfloweth | Sunday Summary #26
• MON: Thoughts that Think Themelves | Rants & Raves
• TUE: Waiting for #3 Before Deciding: The Crucible of Empire | Review - ★★★★ Adult SciFi
• WED: Charming, Captives, Curse | New Audiobook Releases
• THU:Time Travel in Texas: Prom Night in Purgatory | Review - ★★★★ YA Fantasy
• SAT: What is Real?: Only You Can Save Mankind | Review - ★★★★ MG SciFi

Sadly only one publisher submitted additional audiobooks for the Cybils Awards, but it was still over a dozen new books.

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer, is a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Caution: Her site has sidebar ads that sometimes contain cover images which may be offensive to some.

Our final count of eligible books for this year's Cybils is 48. Thankfully we aren't each required to read every book. I will be starting my main reading push this coming week. (Note: I decided not to list all the books I am getting from the library each week, since I have over a dozen so far.)

In other news, I am not going to meet my (very ambitious) Blog Ahead goals entirely, but I hope by the end (Monday night) to have finished 4 more reviews and 1 more "Other" posts. So far I have written 28 posts (13 of which were for October & 15 for Nov/Dec).

Important blogging news this week: Changes are coming to BEA. Read the official announcement.

Blog Ahead (October 2016)

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On GMB: Last week

• SUN: I Had to Work Extra Shifts | Sunday Summary #25
• MON:10 Book Related Halloween Costume Ideas | Top Ten Tuesday
• TUE: Wagner meets... The Sleeping Beauty | Review - ★★★★ Adult Fanasy
• WED: Haunted, Human, Huntress | New Audiobook Releases
• THU: Where it All Began: For Love of Mother-Not | Review - ★★★★ YA SciFi
• SAT: Just this Side of Reality: Nim's Island | Review - ★★★★ MG Fantasy

We were very busy at work this week, so I had to work several extra shifts and didn't get much blog stuff done.

The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer, is a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Caution: Her site has sidebar ads that sometimes contain cover images which may be offensive to some.

I'm not actually very concerned about the fact that I got so little done towards my goals this week. I am going to have both Monday & Tuesday off next week, so I should be able to catch up.

Blog Ahead (October 2016)

(hover over image for details / click to go to sign-up)

On GMB: Last week

• SUN: I'm Finally Fed Up | Sunday Summary #24
• MON: Website Navigation Bar with Dropdown Menu | Tutorial
• TUE: What Do You Do When Your Hero is the Villain?: Calamity | Review - ★★★★ YA Superhero Fantasy
• WED: Wicked, Warsworn, Whisperer | New Audiobook Releases
• THU: Freakiness in Florida: The Amazing Wolf Boy | Review - ★★★★ YA Contemporary Fantasy
• SAT: I Couldn't Forget it: City of Ember | Review - ★★★★ MG Post-apocalyptic