Midlife Madness

Category: Book Reviews

  • New audiobook released!

    I had a blast recording this new book by D. Vega. His easygoing, conversational style made it fun to relate his stories about middle-schoolers and how to inspire them to read for pleasure and write for discovery. It reminded me of writing and reading assignments during my middle school days back at Chaparral, plus the stories and novels my friends and I were writing outside of school.

    Schoolteachers figure prominently in my life. In addition to being raised by a teacher, I am related to several, whose students range from kindergarten through high school – and a college professor. Many of my friends are also teachers, some in elementary school, some in music, some in special ed. This book reminded me of similar stories and struggles that these friends and relatives have shared, and I was happy to give them a voice.

    If you’re new to Audible, follow this link to the book.

    If you already have an Audible account or prefer the writer version, use this one instead.

    I’ve got a few free promo codes as well. If you’re interested in free download, please “like” this post and send me an email at wndyruthwrites@gmail.com

  • Book Launch Tonight!

    Book Launch Tonight!

    Positively thrilled to announce the Launch Party for “50 Things to Know About Motherhood – Stories & Truths from a Parent of Twins,” tonight at 5:00pm Pacific! All are welcome for an introduction to the book and a conversation about what it means to be a mother today. I’ll even do a live reading. Join me on Facebook Live HERE tonight!

    For Audible listeners:

    Please enjoy a free audio review copy of 50 Things to Know About Motherhood: Stories & Truths from a Parent of Twins, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

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    (Don’t have Audible yet? Sign up at this link.)

    Amazon is offering both the print copy and Kindle at a special introductory price. Purchase now for yourself or a mother in your life!

  • New Book by Wendy Ruth

    New Book by Wendy Ruth

    I am so excited to share that my new book has been released! I narrated the audiobook as well. Both are out just in time for Mother’s Day! The print copy is available now on Amazon at the link above (special introductory price) and, for you audiobook fans, it’s also available on Audible. Prime members,

    For my friends and family – and those who have spent any time on headset with me – the animated storytelling and ironic asides will be very familiar. There were times while recording the narration that I teared up or cracked myself up. I hope you will be moved in similar ways. One bonus of the audiobook, friends and family, is that you can TURN IT OFF. This is a feature that my children wish for!

    Not just for new parents, 50 Things to Know About Motherhood – Stories and Truths from a Parent of Twins has a few practical parenting tips, some advice from experts that I found helpful, and examples of what it means to be a mother. At this point in my life and in the lives of my twins, I needed to talk about raising teenagers. I often contemplate how my own view of myself as a parent has changed over the last 16 years, and I have a feeling that many parents feel the same way. I mean, parents, be honest – when someone asks, “how are you doing?” how often do you start talking about your kids? One thing that I want to say with this book is that it’s okay to put yourself first. I welcome discourse on this idea. Drop me a note here on the blog or in the reviews on Audible or Amazon.

    Motherhood isn’t what it used to be – do you agree?

    This “50 tips” format allowed me to share facts in some sections, expound on others, and share stories in the style of personal essays. It’s different than the narrative stories I typically write, or the scripts for live performance, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. Thanks to Lisa Rusczyk at CZYK Publishing for the opportunity to share these stories. I was working on the personal essay format during quarantime and was thrilled that she accepted my proposal for this book. CZYK also published my travel guide last year, Greater Than A Tourist – 50 Travel Tips from a Local – Anaheim, CA. It’s full of stories and favorite things about the place I have lived and worked for many years.

    I’m very thankful to Dan Barsky and Carmina Manley for their assistance in creating the audiobook. Dan’s expertise in engineering and familiarity with ACX, the platform for Audible, made this foray so much easier. Check out Carmina’s voice work at https://www.carminamanleyvoiceovers.com – she’s a skilled narrator and voiceover artist! Her advice and encouragement got me started down this road and gave me confidence that it was something I could do. I’m very fortunate to have talented friends who were willing to help me during their own quarantime!

    If you’ve read this far and appreciate this post, please give me a “like” below or drop a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

    (NOTE: some links above are affiliate links, meaning that I receive compensation for purchases made through the link)

  • Anaheim is reopening!

    Anaheim is reopening!

    Not only has Disneyland announced its re-opening date (April 30, 2021), the City of Anaheim is once again showing signs of life. There’s a lot going on, and it feels so good!

    I live a short distance from Angels Stadium, the home of the Angels baseball team (formerly of Anaheim, now the Los Angeles Angels). It’s exciting to see the stadium alight, cars in the parking lots, and the halo on the “Big A” lit up to signify a win. Even the traffic on the nearby 57 freeway seems to signify that things are returning to normal. To be honest, it’s not *quite* back to normal and in this case it’s a good thing. My family made a trip up to downtown LA for a COVID-safe drive thru experience on Friday night. Typically at least an hour’s drive on a Friday evening, we made it in about 40 minutes! We could see improvements that have progressed on this freeway, which I used to drive five days a week, and probably contributed to the easier flow of traffic. There’s an example of a “COVID Silver Lining,” for sure.

    Excuse the tangent. My brain is still recovering from all that free time wandering and thinking about whatever I please!

    My real intent today is to shamelessly plug my book again!

    While you’re waiting to be one of the 9,000 people able to attend an Angels game or be one of the lucky few to get a reservation for a visit to Disneyland, why not check out what else Anaheim has to offer? During the shutdowns last year, I took advantage of some free time to write about my family’s favorite places in and around Anaheim. Check out 50 Travel Tips from a Local – Anaheim, part of the Greater Than A Tourist travel series by CZYK Publishing. While I do not receive commissions from any of the places mentioned in the book, I do earn a small commission if you purchase the book through Amazon (at the link above) or through this link, for my store on Bookshop.com : Wendy’s Bookstore

    Neighborhood restaurants and local merchants have really suffered over the past year and could use your support. Local museums, parks, and zoos are opening now while Orange County is holding steady in the Orange tier and easing towards the more permissive Yellow tier. Whether you’re visiting as a California resident or looking to the future, 50 Travel Tips from a Local – Anaheim has something for everyone. There are even tips for LGBTQ+ visitors, for seniors, and for families traveling with teenagers. My teenagers have been staying safely at home for months and they can’t wait to go back out to play!

    Welcome back to Anaheim!

  • Book Review: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

    Book Review: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

    I read it in two days. Hardcover.

    Many of Jennifer Weiner’s books are addictively engaging page-turners, and Big Summer did not disappoint. This frothy confection of a beach read was as delicious as some of the foods that are lovingly described by the main character. Since March, when I no longer had to drive to work, I’ve been able to return to one of my true loves: reading. I’ve devoured about a dozen books, both paper and online, and this title was an easy and delightful addition to the stack. It arrived Thursday. I started reading Friday, and by 2:00 pm Saturday, I was reading the acknowledgment page.

    I tend to think of Jennifer Weiner’s books like Judy Blume for grown-ups. I loved Judy Blume’s books when I was a kid. The main character usually had a relatable perspective and a wry sense of humor even if their particular issue was not a concern of mine. They were confused young Jewish teens from New York City. Daphne Berg, the main character in Big Summer, hits all these same points, except she’s a young adult. Daphne is a full-figured gal (relatable) in New York City who loves crafting (unrelatable). She is making a name for herself as an influencer on the Internet. I’m just starting to learn about hashtags and blogging and Instagramming, so reading about how she was monetizing her blog, getting paid to try products and clothing, and how she was cultivating her online persona was interesting and educational. Daphne’s main issues of self-esteem and a complicated friendship with a former BFF are not my issues. Like a Judy Blume novel, I could read about her struggle and enjoy judging Daphne for her choices. Her world is very different than mine, granted, but she is such a sympathetic character that I wanted to root for her through the end.

    The story is a bit of a summer vacation. A trip to New York, to Boston, to “the Cape.” With a high-profile wedding, mean girls, and glimpses into exclusive prep schools, there was enough to catch my interest. It was the plot twists that prevented me from putting the book down. Daphne’s amateur sleuthing brought Nancy Drew to mind. The mysteries to be unraveled are not reliant on brilliant intellectual puzzling, and there’s a little bit of predictability that is actually rewarding. Fans of Jennifer Weiner, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re new to the author, enjoy the ride!