It's getting to be the end of the year, which always leads looking back.  This year, I've been keeping track of the books that I've read, including which were new-to-me and which were re-reads.  (As a side note, I love re-reading books that I enjoyed.  I find that I always find something new every time I read it, either because I missed something the first time, or because my perspective has changed.)  So, below are the books that made the biggest impact this year: The Good: Vessel  by Sarah Beth Durst (read April 2013) This was the first book by this author that I'd ever read, and it made me a fan.  The characterization and world-building were both detailed and accessible, and the story left me contemplating it for days afterwards. The Emperor's Soul  by Brandon Sanderson (read July 2013) I got this book through the Hugo Nominations package - the last two years, I've gotten a supporting membership so that I have the ability to read all of...

Now that I'm working on launching a writing career, I thought it would be a good idea to spend more time, well, writing.  It's nice to give myself a bit of a break from the heavy slog of first-draft editing, and thus, this blog was created. A little bit about me:  I'm Stephanie Wood Franklin, writer, reader, gamer, and crafter.  I've been writing since I was about eight, but it's only in the last year or two that I've tried to actually finish something.  I've done NaNoWriMo  eight times, but only won three.  Still, my win-loss ratio is getting better! For my day job, I work in the legal department at Amazon.com.  However, I do not speak on behalf of Amazon - any opinions stated here are my own.  Also, I can't help you with your customer service issue or figure out where your order is.  I've been working here for a little over four years, and I truly enjoy my job. I'm currently working on an urban paranormal series tentatively titled "P...