Writer’s Corner: Love it or Hate it, AI is here to stay

Posted: November 3, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: AI Technology, book marketing, Book Promotion, Book Sales, Publishing, Writer's Corner, Writing | Tags: AI Technology, book marketing, Genereative AI Search, Kaye Lynne Booth, Publishing, Writer's Corner, Writing, Writing to be Read | 4 Comments

I’m not one to trust technology. I’m leery of devices such as Alexa, or Seri, or Google Assistant. Call me paranoid, but in the words of Rockwell, “I always feel like somebody’s watching me.” 👀But, seriously, how do these AI devices hear the trigger word and respond unless they are listening to us all the time. I know my Google Assistant on my phone responds to words spoken in casual conversation with someone, and often it responds to words spoken by the other person. It’s not even my voice and the trigger words were never spoken. Scary, I say.

But like it or not, AI isn’t going anywhere, and in fact, it is infiltrating more and more aspects of authors’ lives, slowly and quietly, or sometimes, not so slowly. We can have whole conversations with generative AI; it can write stories for us, create cover illustrations, and even narrate audiobooks. I’m smart enough to see that AI is here to stay, and so, I’ve done my best to adapt and find ways that AI can be used to my advantage as an author.

I have most of my own books available on Google Play Books as AI Narrated audiobooks. I’ve heard both sides of the argument for and against AI narration, so I’m aware, but I thought I’d give it a try. Those who are against it may not have so much to worry about as far as AI taking jobs from human narrators, since I haven’t sold even one, and they are free!

I’ve also used generative chat, specifically, Chat GPT, to help me visualize scenes I’m trying to write in places where I’ve never visited personally, or places I have visited, but not in the time period I’m writing about. And I’ve used covers that were created with the assistance of AI, (not by me, I’m not that artistic), and I hope to publish a special edition collection of my Women in the West series, with color illustrations created with AI assistance next year, when I’m finally ready to release the third book in the series, Marta. My stand on the issue is that it is fine, as long as I am transparent about it, as the author.

According to Ricardo Fayette, over at Reedsy, the next wave of generative AI technology is about to flow in, or rather, it’s already here. We’re talking about AI search, which is about to upheaval the way searches are conducted, and in specific, the way folks search for books.

It May Not All Be in the Metadata Anymore

By now, we all know how a keyword search works, and publishers, both traditional and independent, try to play to those searches, hoping to choose the right keywords in the metadata that will help readers to find our books. But, Ricardo Fayette claims that with the rise of AI search, that is all about to change. Instead of searching for keywords, AI search looks for a string of words which are related to those you search for, words that the AI search connects based on what’s been entered in your search, combined with what the AI knows about the reader. Already, we have advertisements pop up in our inbox related to earlier searches, (which is kind of scary, in itself), but AI search will combine all the information it has about the searcher, such as previous purchases, and combine it with words from the search box and others connected to those words, and search through all the available books which fit to give us more accurate search results in a fraction of the time it would take to do it manually.

If that’s confusing to you, you aren’t alone. That’s the best way I could describe it, but I’m not technologically inclined at all. Ricardo Fayette did a whole series of newsletters explaining all this. He claims generative AI searches are based on three things and he wrote a newsletter covering each one.

You can bet I’m going to be watching those Reedsy newsletters in the near future to see if he explains how to apply this knowledge to ensure our books have maximum visibility, but the way I’m understanding it, because of the personalization factor, two people could run the exact same search and come up with completely different results because each person has a different history, so I’m not sure where that leaves us. As it stands, it always feels like I’m playing catch-up when trying to get my books out there, so you can be sure I’m going to do everything I can to find out and then, jump on before it takes off without me.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by the Robbie’s Inspiration blog site, where you can find ideas on writing and baking with hostess, Robbie Cheadle.

Book Review: “The Murder of Sleepy Hollow”

Posted: October 24, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Audio Books, Audiobook Review, Book Review, Books, cozy mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Audiobook Review, Kaye Lynne Booth, Kristin James, Michele Pariza Wacek, The Muder of Sleepy Hollow, Writing to be Read | 3 Comments

About The Murder of Sleepy Hollow

This ghost-filled cozy mystery is perfect for spooky season! In small-town Redemption, Wisconsin, paranormal investigator Ike Krane finds himself tied up in a plot that rivals the mystery of his Sleepy Hollow namesake! With Ike accused of murder — and now, missing — can amateur sleuth Charlie Kingsley clear his name by finding who is really haunting the town?

Purchase Links:

Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/the-murder-of-sleepy-hollow-by-michele-pw-pariza-wacek

Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Sleepy-Hollow-Kingsley-Mysteries/dp/B0BSB5XMNK

My Review of The Murder of Sleepy Hollow

I purchased an audiobook copy of The Murder of Sleepy Hollow, by Michele Pariza Wacek, through a Chirp Deal, because it was the perfect story for an October review. From the title to the cover image, this book screams Halloween. All opinions stated here are my own.

The narrator, Kristin James, does an outstanding job of bringing this story to life for the listener. Each character is distinguishable, as she switches to a different voice for each one. James did a smashing job.

Cozy mystery readers will love this spooky Halloween tale. Redemption is known to be a haunted town, with several haunted houses. A paranormal investigator from the town of Sleepy Hollow named – you guessed it – Ike Krane, mysterious appearances of messy jack-o-lanterns, and folks are awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of galloping hooves in Redemption. It seems the legend of Sleepy Hollow has come to town, and living in what is claimed to be the most haunted house in Redemption makes local tea maker, Charlie Kingsley a target. Add to that Ike’s old girlfriend, who shows up looking for him, and journalist from Sleepy Hollow, who throws suspicion of murder onto our good friend Ike, but…, where is Ike anyway?

Charlie plays amateur sleuth, trying to sort it all out. Could Ike really be a murderer? Or is he just a guy whose parents had a twisted sense of humor? And why does it seem that the headless horseman has followed him to town?When one of our guests from Sleepy Hollow is found murdered, and Ike is missing, it throws suspicion on Charlie as the main suspect, and puts a strain on her relationship with her friend, the local sheriff, who she is ‘not dating’.

This story plays on Halloween humor and is sure to raise a few chuckles for a really fun read. Maybe it’s not so scary, but it does raise questions to keep you guessing until the end. I give The Murder of Sleepy Hollow five quills.

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About Kaye Lynne Booth

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

In Touch With Nature – Meet Pumbaa the Warthog and a treat #southernafricanwildlife #intouchwithnature

Posted: October 22, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Nature writing, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Warthogs, White Giraffe, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 40 Comments

Disney was as kind to warthog’s as it was unkind to hyenas in its movie, The Lion King. Pumbaa the Warthog is a well-known Southern African cartoon figure among many people, young and old. This is intriguing to me as warthogs, together with poor unloved hyenas, are both part of the Southern African ‘Ugly Five’ group of animals.

I always laugh when I see warthogs running about in the veld. I immediately think of ‘pigs in blankets’ and they are definitely ‘bush snacks’ for many carnivores. So, let’s learn a bit more about these funny looking creatures.

Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time foraging for food. Socially, they are found in three groups: solitary boars, bachelor groups, and matriarchal groups which consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Outside of mating, the boars seldom associate with the sows and play no role in rearing the piglets. Did I mention that warthogs are a member of the pig family? Warthogs are the only pigs that have adapted to living and grazing in savannah like habitats.

A few interesting features of warthogs are that they kneel on their front knees while feeding and foraging and they shelter in (frequently borrowed) burrows at night which they enter tails first. Although they like more dry surroundings, warthogs enjoy wallowing in muddy water every day. This wallowing process is how they stay cool on hot days in the same manner as elephants and buffalo.

Picture caption: a solitary male warthog

Warthogs tend to breed and give birth at the beginning of the rainy season in regions where the seasons are defined. In other environments, warthogs can breed all year around. Warthogs generally have two to three piglets in a litter.

Although I said these creatures are bush snacks for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and painted dogs, they have longer legs than most pigs and can run very quickly. They are difficult to catch and also difficult to photograph.

Interesting warthog facts

Warthogs have two pairs of tusks
Warthogs trot with their tails in the air
Warthogs can run up to 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour)
Warthogs fight in a ritualistic way and use their heads and tusks to try to push their opponent over.
Warthogs have warts on their faces which act as a cushion for blows from their adversaries. Large warts also help protect their eyes during fights.
A group of female warthogs with young is called a sounder
Mama warthogs like orderly behaviour and the piglets always run in a fixed order in a line and not in a disorderly group.
Warthogs are attentive mothers; they leave the sounder when about to give birth and find their own burrow or hole. Mama remains in this hole with her young for the first six to seven weeks after birth, only leaving for short periods to graze.
Warthogs are hunted for their tusks which are carved for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa (don’t buy these!)
Warthogs communicate using a variety of different noises including loud grunts, growling and squeals. Clacking noises are used by males to entice females.

Picture caption: warthog foraging and grazing.

Picture caption: Close up of a male warthog

My Youtube video of a sounder having breakfast:

Poem about warthogs

This poem is extracted from my favourite of my own books, Lion Scream.

Home Thief

I am not beautiful
My head is too big
My face is covered in wartlike protrusions
To protect it during fights
I have four large tusks
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I prefer to trespass
On ready-built homes
It’s easier if aardvark does the digging
Creating a safe hole
And I just move in
***
My babies enter first
I have up to four
Backing in leaves me prepared to protect them
From many predators
Who view us as snacks

Lion Scream is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

White headed giraffe – a special sighting

During a trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve we had the good fortune to come across this giraffe with large white patches on its face. Very unusual. The guide was very patient and waited for me to get my shots.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

Everyone is a Critic: “Cell” & “1408”

Posted: October 20, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Horror, Movies, Review | Tags: 1408, Cell, Everyone is a Critic, horror, Writing to be Read | Leave a comment

For October, I thought I would review two scary movies, both based on Stephen King novels: Cell & 1408. Interestingly enough, both have the same leading actors as well: John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. But no matter these similarities, they are two very different horror movies. While Cell is King’s very different take on a zombie story, 1408 is more of a paranormal horror story. Both are deserving of a review just in time for Halloween.

Cell

When cell phone frequencies suddenly trigger violent behaviors in their owners, it seems the world has gone mad. While artist Clay Riddell, played by John Cusack, is unaffected because his cell phone battery died at the strategic moment when the electronic pulse was broadcast, along with a few others, those who are affected turn viciously violent against anyone in their vicinity. They aren’t zombies, they are still alive, but they do seem to be mindless, reacting with violence and brutality in response to the signal being broadcast everywhere.

Together with survivors, Tom McCourt, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and Alice Maxwell, a teen who had to kill her affected mother in self-defense, Clay makes his way to his home to determine the fate of his wife and son. It is kill or be killed, as there is no reasoning with those who are affected. When he finds an empty house and a message from his son, he is compelled to carry on alone to find his boy and discover what is really going on.

I read the novel by Stephen King when it first came out, back in 2006, and the movie stuck fairly close to the book, which is one thing I always like about movies based on King novels. I imagine it is because King is one of the few authors with a big enough name to secure some say so in the production of the movie, because I see his influence. Anyway, all that to say, if you liked the book, you will no doubt like the movie. I did on both counts.

1408

This is a horror movie that hits you on a psychological level and leaves you thinking about it long after it ends. This one also sticks fairly close to the original short story of the same title, which appeared in Everything’s Eventual (2002). Also note that the version I saw had the original ending, since they made three different endings for this movie. After reading the descriptions of all three, I’m glad I viewed the original, as it sounds to be the best fit for the story to me, and also the most positive.

John Cusack plays writer Mike Enslin, who is making his living through a series of books about reportedly haunted places, but as a paranormal skeptic, his goal is to refute the reported hauntings. Following an anonymous tip on a postcard from The Dolphin Hotel, which he receives as a challenge when warned off of Room 1408, he goes there and requests that very room. Although the hotel manager, Mr. Olin, played by Samuel L. Jackson, does everything he can to discourage, warning of the room’s history, which is enough to turn away even the most determined of ghost hunters, Mike insists, forces Olin to rent him the room.

Mr. Olin had warned that most occupants don’t even make through the first hour in room 1408, and as Mike Enslin begins to describe the unimpressive room into his recorder, he finds himself haunted by the room’s former occupants, most of whom are now deceased, which raise ear and disgust, and by his own memories, which send him through a gamut of old emotions which still feel raw and exposed, throwing so much at him that he is no longer sure of what is real and what is not, and neither are the viewers.

After an illusion that he has escaped is proved to not be real, it becomes obvious that there is no escape from the evil room 1408 except suicide. Short of that, he is destined to relive the horrors of the last hour over and over for eternity. If you want to know what he chooses, you’ll have to watch the movie or read the story. No spoilers here.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Tales: https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology

Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: (Pre-Order): https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

Mind Fields: When Nothing Makes Sense

Posted: October 17, 2025 | Author: artrosch | Filed under: Commentary, Mind Fields, The Human Condition | Tags: Arthur Rosch, Commentary, Human Condition, Mind Fields, Writing to be Read | 3 Comments

Background: A sunset Text: Mind Fields by Arthur Rosch, Ideas on the Eternal and the Fleeting

Much of our personal sanity depends on our ability to form a narrative that describes our life in a coherent and stable way. Without that….we’re crazy! And perhaps its necessary to be crazy some of the time, to let the choo choo run off it’s tracks. The main reason craziness is so important is that it often breeds originality.

Here is the question: Is there a Power, a Force, an entity that is either within my body or external to it that “takes care” of me in matters of spiritual and emotional progress? I would like to believe that there is, but I must first be aware that wishful thinking plays a huge part in any such inquiry.

My life experiences seem to demonstrate that there is some sort of “path” which can appear if one makes a commitment to the walking of the path. Who or what supervises the traveling of this path? Is it ME, myself, or is it something that is both of and alien to my personal guise?

I suspect that the only answer to such a question must be found somewhere in my mind or consciousness but that would be a cop out. There apparently is no answer available on the human realm. My inclination is to BELIEVE that such a force does exist. Essentially the question resolves to this: is there a god? I’m a sort of pagan pantheist; I believe that not only is there a god, but there are gods by the millions; beings who live on another plane of life. We can only access this plane via disciplines or sheer grace. They are HERE, but we can’t see them.

About Arthur Rosch

Arthur Rosch is a novelist, musician, photographer and poet. His works are funny, memorable and often compelling. One reviewer said “He’s wicked and feisty, but when he gets you by the guts, he never lets go.” Listeners to his music have compared him to Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Randy Newman or Mose Allison. These comparisons are flattering but deceptive. Rosch is a stylist, a complete original. His material ranges from sly wit to gripping political commentary.

Arthur was born in the heart of Illinois and grew up in the western suburbs of St. Louis. In his teens he discovered his creative potential while hoping to please a girl. Though she left the scene, Arthur’s creativity stayed behind. In his early twenties he moved to San Francisco and took part in the thriving arts scene. His first literary sale was to Playboy Magazine. The piece went on to receive Playboy’s “Best Story of the Year” award. Arthur also has writing credits in Exquisite Corpse, Shutterbug, eDigital, and Cat Fancy Magazine. He has written five novels, a memoir and a large collection of poetry. His autobiographical novel, Confessions Of An Honest Man won the Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest in 2016.

More of his work can be found at www.artrosch.com

Photos at https://500px.com/p/artsdigiphoto?view=photos

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This segment of “Mind Fields” is sponsored by the Roberta Writes blog site, where you can find the poetry, photos, videos, and book reviews by Robbie Cheadle and so much more.

Everyone is Critic: “The Faculty”

Posted: October 13, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Commentary, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, horror, Movie Review, The Faculty, Writing to be Read | 2 Comments

The Faculty is a 1998 science fiction/horror movie which I somehow missed until now. Reminiscent of horror classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the faculty and most of the student body at Herrington High School are being taken over by aliens, and it’s nearly impossible to tell who is still human. One group of industrious, survival-minded students has figured out what is happening, how to detect the aliens, and how to destroy them. Now they just have to find the head alien and destroy it before the whole school, and then the town, is taken over.

Although, not an original plot, it is fashioned after a classic. At least the aliens didn’t scream at each other whenever a human was detected. When the queen alien is revealed, I have to say I saw it coming, but they placed enough red herrings, so that I couldn’t be one hundred percent certain until the truth is unveiled.

Right to left: Elijah Wood (Casey), Clea Duvall (Stokely), Shawn Hatosy (Stan), Josh Hartnett (Zeke), and Laura Harris (Marybeth)

The special effects seem a bit primitive in this dawning age of technology, but for 1998, they’ve got a pretty cool queen alien monster. While some things, such as the method of beating the aliens, seemed a bit too convenient, horror movies, in general, are pretty formulaic, so perhaps that’s to be expected. At any rate, it held my attention, and I had to see how things turned out, which is basically the point, right?

The Faculty is everything a horror movie should be, using the aliens to keep our heroes boxed in, misdirection to keep viewers guessing, and plenty of tension to keep our attention. What more could you want from a horror movie?

About Kaye Lynne Booth

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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Time Travel Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.

When a Girl with a Guitar Meets a Man with a Gun, It’s Time to Travel

The Rock Star & The Outlaw: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Star-Outlaw-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0CJBRRCN1/

The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles: Coming in 2026

Book Review: “Stalks” & “Don’t Let Her Go”

Posted: October 10, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Review, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Don't Let Her Go, Jenna Moquin, Stalks, Willow Rose, Writing to be Read | Leave a comment

About Stalks

Book Cover: Back of a woman in a white dress walking down aisle between tall, dark trees with sunlight at the end.
Text: The Terror Begins After Saying 'Yes', "I could not put it down"- Frieda McFadden, Stalks, Jenna Moquin

WHEN LIZ SAID YES TO JARED, SHE’D NEVER DREAMED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT…

Liz Martel receives a romantic proposal from her affluent boyfriend, Jared Galbraith, during a picnic in rural Maine. However, their idyllic day takes a dark turn, and they find themselves lost in the woods.

Liz and Jared are rescued by two seemingly kind strangers who bring them back to their farmhouse. Unfortunately, these strangers have plans of their own for the newly engaged couple.

As Liz struggles to escape a living nightmare, she stumbles upon a chilling family secret spanning decades. A secret that some people will kill to keep quiet.

WILL LIZ SURVIVE THIS NIGHTMARE, OR WILL SHE BE LOST IN THE WOODS FOREVER?

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Stalks-gripping-psychological-Jenna-Moquin-ebook/dp/B0CSF4QWZL

My Review of Stalks

I purchased a digital copy of Stalks, by Jenna Moquin through a KindofBook deal. All opinions stated here are my own.

Stalks, by Jenna Moquin is a very unusual dark fiction thriller. The title made me think of ‘stalkers’ and seemed appropriate for a thriller, and I won’t tell the true meaning and spoil the surprise, but I would have never guessed. The unusual characters make this book one to please mystery and thriller lovers alike, especially if you like your dark fiction a little on the odd side.

At first, I believed this was going to be your run of the mill thriller as our happy couple gets lost in the spooky woods and believes they are being stalked by someone or something. When their car is stolen and they are rescued by a pair of odd ducks, I thought I knew where things were headed. But that’s where the story started to take some unusual twists, and like any good thriller, it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how either of them will come out alive. There are no spoilers here. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it yourself, but I’d give it a go if you’re into the odd and quirky.

A journey into the unusual that is full of surprises. I give Stalks four quills.

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About Don’t Let Her Go

A missing five-year-old girl is the key to unlocking a detective’s terrifying past…

Book Cover: Cattails against pastel background and reflected in water in forefront.
Text: Detective Billie Anne Wilde Book 1, Don't Let Her Go, Willow Rose, The International Multi-Million-Copy Bestseller

When Detective Billie Ann Wilde receives a desperate call that five-year-old Emma Wilson is missing, she rushes to the family home. But inside the picture-perfect house surrounded by Florida marshlands, she finds no children’s clothes or toys, no photos of the innocent child Emma’s mother Marissa describes. Billie suspects Marissa Wilson is hiding from someone.

It’s a race against the clock to find Emma. But Marissa refuses to tell Billie anything about her past, and before long, she also disappears…

And then Billie realizes who Marissa is.

She’s the ten-year-old girl Billie failed to find in her first ever case fourteen years ago. The leads went cold because Billie made a fatal mistake.

As more bodies turn up in the same marshlands, Billie must revisit her past and face up to her demons to find Marissa and her child. But she is unknowingly putting herself in the path of a terrifying serial killer…

An explosive new crime series from multi-million-copy bestseller Willow Rose. Fans of Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Kendra Elliot will be on the edge of their seats, unable to put this book down!

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Her-unputdownable-heart-pounding-ebook/dp/B0CNTVS39W

My Review of Don’t Let Her Go

I purchased Don’t Let Her Go, by Willow Rose through a Friday BookBub Deal. All opinions stated here are my own.

Don’t Let Her Go is a mystery crime thriller about a missing child who may not actually exist, and it’s up to Detective Billie Ann Wilde to find her and discover why there is no record of this child. With a young mother who seemed to want help finding her daughter at first, but then disappears without a trace, the task won’t be easy. She pushes hard to track down the suspected abductor, but she may be shocked by where the trail leads her.

Skillfully crafted to keep readers guessing. Like a puzzle, the real story builds up one piece at a time and one cannot see the whole picture until the last piece is in place, or in this case, until the last page is turned. Willow Rose doesn’t ever give too much away, but just enough to add to the mystery and keep the pages turning.

A true mystery with many twists and turns and a surprise ending. I give Don’t Let Her Go five quills.

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About Kaye Lynne Booth

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

Read and Cook – Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence by Peter Mayle, and my new cake art and baking books series #ReadandCook #bookreview #cakeart

Posted: October 8, 2025 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Adventure, Book Review, Books, cooking, Creativity, Fiction, Nonfiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review, romance, Suspense | Tags: Baking, Cake Art, Fondant Art, Hotel Pastis, Peter Mayle, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Something Fancy, Writing to be Read | 34 Comments

Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence by Peter Mayle

What Amazon says

A beguiling novel of romance, adventure, and tongue-in-cheek suspense set in the South of France, from the beloved, best-selling author of A Year in Provence.

Simon Shaw, a rumpled, fortyish English advertising executive, has decided to leave it all behind, and heads of to France to transform an abandoned police station in the Lubéron into a small but world-class hotel. On his side, Simon has a loyal majordomo and a French business partner who is as practical as she is ravishing. But he hasn’t counted on the malignant local journalist—or on the mauvaise types who have chosen the neighboring village as the site of their latest bank robbery. Slyly funny and overflowing with sensuous descriptions of the good life, Hotel Pastis is the literacy equivalent of a four-star restaurant.

My review

I read a few of Peter Mayle’s autobiographical books about life in Provence when I was in my twenties. I came across this novel a short while ago and was eager to revisit Provence, this time through Peter Mayle’s fiction. I was not disappointed. After a bit of a slow start, Peter Mayle’s typically humorous style of writing and his deep dive into the food and culture of Provence were very evident in this entertaining novel. What was new was his descriptions of life in the advertising industry in London.

I’m making an educated guess that this novel is set in the 70s in London as that is when the author worked in London as an advertising executive. The characters all smoke heavily which was quite interesting for me given that I’ve always worked in a no smoking inside buildings culture. I found the author’s descriptions of his work colleagues, spoiled wife and her equally over privileged friends, and super wealthy clients very entertaining. Of course, these scenes are depicted through a humorous lens, so the negative attributes of these people are all exaggerated but as someone who has always worked in corporate, it had the ring of truth. I could also relate to Simon’s exhaustion with this fast and fake lifestyle. It can be hard to feel sympathy for people caught up in this sort of all work with short intermissions of excessive play lifestyles because of all the money they have, but it is not a nice way to live your life. Having to work all the time and appease others and wine and dine them isn’t as glamorous as it appears on the outside. This is evident from the general wreckage you see in such people’s personal lives including broken marriages, alcoholism, and drug addiction. I really hoped that Simon would find a better way of living that brought him more personal happiness.

There is a romance between Simon and a fascinating woman from Provence, a butler who is very competent and savvy and equally weary of Simon’s (and thus his own) life in the London fast lane, as well as a ring of local petty criminals who are planning the heist of their lives.

This book is not a classic and does not contain intense and serious messages about life, relationships, and saving the world. This is a slice of escapism and is light and enjoyable like pavlova. If this is the sort of book you are looking for, then you will enjoy Hotel Pastis.

Purchase Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679751114

Cake art and other confectionary related delights

I have wanted to publish a book containing my favourite baking recipes and cake and other confectionary art for some years. I have finally gotten around to it and the first book in my new series, Something Fancy: A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1 is now available for pre-order on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Something-Wonderland-Celebration-Celebrating-Confectionary-ebook/dp/B0FTX21BXL

This book isn’t just about cake art and baking, it also includes some history about the origin of Christmas cakes in a number of different countries and the origin of gingerbread and gingerbread houses in Europe and other places. It also includes several of my baking related poems and poets written specifically for various cake creations.

Picture caption: Cover of Something Fancy: A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1

Blurb

Robbie’s cake and fondant creations are full of imagination and enchantment as demonstrated by her gingerbread bakery, populated by three mince pie figurines, and her Ice cream Rainbow Fairies Christmas Cake, decorated with seven fondant fairy figurines for each colour of the rainbow.

This book is intended as a celebration of Christmas in poetry, cake art, and gingerbread constructions and includes several of Robbie’s delicious Christmas recipes as well as design ideas for Christmas themed confectionaries. Bite sized smatterings of historical information relating to various culinary delights are also included.

Robbie Cheadle is a poet, writer, and artist. Over the past twenty years, she has created art cakes, gingerbread constructions, and fondant figurines for a variety of purposes including as illustrations for the Sir Chocolate children’s book series she wrote with her son, Michael Cheadle.

These are examples of the type of cake art featured in this book:

The gallery sets out my Ice cream rainbow fairy tiered Christmas cake with two close up pictures of the details on this cake.

Picture caption: This is a violets wedding cake I recently made for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Gingerbread houses, from small and easy …

to large and complex …

Advice and assembly instructions are included in the book.

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Find Robbie Cheadle

Blog https://wordpress.com/home/robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle

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This segment of “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

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Writer’s Corner: The Evolution of a Story

Posted: October 6, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Fiction, Short Fiction, Stories, Writer's Corner, Writing | Tags: "Sangoma Zombie Elephants & Tokoloshe Oh My!", Kaye Lynne Booth, Midnight Oil, Story Development, Titles, Writer's Corner, Writing, Writing to be Read | 12 Comments

Caracature of a woman typing on a keyboard at a very messy desk. Text: Writer's Corner with Kaye Lynne Booth

It started with a simple idea, sparked by one of Robbie’s “In Touch with Nature” segments on the South African elephants and their plight due to illegal poaching. Who wouldn’t love to give the elephant a chance to get even? To rise up and slay the cruel poachers? That would require something like a zombie elephant. An elephant that was a zombie, now that would be a formidable foe.

So, taking the idea of a vengeful zombie elephant, I began to research. The story would need to take place in South Africa, where one can find both elephants and poachers. First, I looked at the beliefs held there about how a zombie could be created. Robbie suggested I go with the beliefs of the Zulu people, and steered me toward the legend of the tokoloshe, which are turned into zombie creatures, controlled by the sangoma or shaman who created them.

Tokoloshe are squat, troll-like creatures which are said to be found near bridges. The have small hands, large, hairy feet and long penises, which are often slung over their shoulders. They have small squinty eyes, protruding brows and long, stringy hair. (Now, I know you’re probably asking, what about the females? How do they procreate? But as far as I can tell, all tokoloshe have long penises, so they must all be male. As to the procreating thing, I don’t have a clue. Information on Zulu culture and traditions is not abundant, here in the U.S., and I am thankful for the information sent to me by Robbie about these creatures of legend.)

An idea began to form as to how I could incorporate this Zulu legend into my story, and I began to outline my tale, with a working title of “Zombie Elephant”. This required even more research, and I learned that there are two types of shamans in the Zulu culture, the sangoma, who is in touch with the Zulu ancestors and more likely to be found using dark magic, and the inyanga, which is more of an herbalist or healer, and that they are chosen by the ancestors, and go through rigorous training to fulfill these roles.

My idea involved two Zulu boys, Nelwazi and Nhlanhla, who acquire some of the zombie powder, made from crushed tokoloshe bones, from a powerful sangoma and create a zombie elephant by accident. The sangoma sends the tokoloshe after the two boys. From that, I was able to complete an outline and start writing.

I wrote this story while my computer was down, so it was written in longhand and then digitized after I got my new laptop. Both of my stories for the Curses anthology were written like this, and they changed a lot when I typed them out on the keyboard. Oddly enough, this story changed very little when transferred into digital form. What was amazing about this story was that I had so much fun writing it through all the stages. I even had to chuckle during the final reading on the last edit. I just couldn’t help it.

You see, somehow, the tokoloshe and their long penises stole the show. I found that these little guys were always up to mischief, and they made appearances when I least expected. And who knew the boys would come across an unenchanted tokoloshe, not under a sangoma’s control? But there he was, becoming a character in his own right. The zombie elephant was still there with her own part in the story, but I had imagined a story with her as the star, or at least playing a major part. Actually, she still did play a major role, but the darn tokoloshe were bigger than life. (When I looked back, all of it was there in my outline, but I guess the writing of the story just brought it all to life for me.)

Each posed different problems that Nelwazi needs to solve. He must not only disperse the tokoloshe that are sent after them by the sangoma, but he must find a way to undo the curse he inadvertently placed on the poor elephant, and Ngobizitha, the sangoma he ticked off, is the only one who can help him. These unusual problems required me, the writer, to come up with some creative solutions. When the story was finished, “Zombie Elephant” no longer seemed to be the right title. And while the tokoloshe stole the spotlight on several occasions, it didn’t seem right to switch to “Tokoloshe”, because the story encompasses so much more.

I was shocked to realize that my final word count was over 15,000 words. That’s three times the maximum word count of 5,000 set for the story submissions for the Midnight Oil anthology, which is the intended destination for this story. That’s almost novella length. I wasn’t sure if this story belonged in this anthology anymore. There wasn’t time to write another story, so in the end, I decided to include it, but it is a strong enough story to be a standalone.

And that is the evolution of “Sangomas, Tokoloshe, & Zombie Elephants, Oh My!”, which will be featured in its entirety in Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares. Scheduled for release on October 28.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by the Robbie’s Inspiration blog site, where you can find ideas on writing and baking with hostess, Robbie Cheadle.

Undawntech: Broken Promises, A Future Unknown

Posted: October 4, 2025 | Author: DL Mullan/Undawntech | Filed under: AI Technology, Undawntech | Tags: AI Technology, Undawntech, Writing to be Read | Leave a comment

Just like the Industrial Revolution of the 19^th Century, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is overthrowing established doctrines and creating a brave new world. Humans are entering a dystopic futuristic phase planted in present apathy. Do you know who reads the book of your life? Do you care? From spying on your every move, balancing your checkbook, making medical decisions for you, and helping you commit suicide, A.I. has the capacity to run and ruin your life.

Excuse me?

AI Isn’t Magic, It’s Being Used to Spy on You, Experts Warn https://futurism.com/the-byte/ai-magic-spy-on-you-experts-warn

How artificial intelligence controls your health insurance coverage https://theconversation.com/how-artificial-intelligence-controls-your-health-insurance-coverage-253602

New Social Security Bank Access Rule Means AI Crawlers Will Be Searching For These Transactions

Evaluation of Alignment Between Large Language Models and Expert Clinicians in Suicide Risk Assessment https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.20250086?ref=404media.co

The family of teenager who died by suicide alleges OpenAI’s ChatGPT is to blame https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/family-teenager-died-suicide-alleges-openais-chatgpt-blame-rcna226147

Even though A.I. is created by human algorithms, its creators have little accountability for the monster they bring into existence. This technology is in the Wild West phase of development, where anything goes as long as the corporate part of human governance gets there first. No real laws. No real answers. No protections.

To illustrate, A.I. is cataloging vast amounts of user data from chatbots to every day activities. Data consolidation like the United States government’s Fusion Centers (https://www.dhs.gov/fusion-centers) give Artificial Intelligence a foundation into your lives, activities, and behaviors. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and Section 702 (https://www.intel.gov/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act/fisa-section-702) are allowed to collect American citizens’ data from phones, emails, social media for 72 hours and be perused without a warrant.

Let’s take this example into the real world: you were taken to the Emergency Room for a spider bite. That medical information is uploaded into the Fusion Center nearest you, and dumped into 702 data collection. Your interaction with the medical industrial complex is then intercepted by A.I. The phone calls you made to work, school, parents, spouse, children, etc. were recorded and placed in data collection. The scans, medications, and recommendations you were given are also uploaded. Next, you return home to convalesce. Your phone, computer screen, and television are riddled with advertisements about pest control, spider bites, hospitals, and emergencies.

Would that be relaxing to you? Or, is this to stoke the inner hypochondriac?

Isn’t that what your medical, home, car, and life insurance policies will be monitoring before your next scheduled policy purchase? How much will all your plans increase based on what you do and do not do during the interim?

Thanks to government and technological overreach, humans don’t have control of their lives; there is no privacy; and your protected rights aren’t so protected.

When is apathy no longer an excuse to stay silent about the real issues? The crux of the technological nightmare is Digital I.D. and currency. With these two factors as the umbrella centralization of information, governments can take all your choices and privacy away from you forever.

Reimagining Digital ID https://www.weforum.org/publications/reimagining-digital-id/

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) https://www.federalreserve.gov/central-bank-digital-currency.htm

What are you waiting for? For A.I. to take your creativity away, as well?

Musicians Vs. Machines: First Ever Record Contract to AI Music Creator Prompts Panic, Protest

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/09/01/musicians-vs-machines-first-ever-record-contract-to-ai-music-creator-prompts-panic-protest/

‘Hunger Games’ Screenwriter Billy Ray Warns ‘Existential Threat’ AI Is to Hollywood: ‘Bad Movies, Bad TV Shows, and a Lot of People Out of Work’

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/08/04/hunger-games-screenwriter-billy-ray-warns-existential-threat-ai-is-to-hollywood-bad-movies-bad-tv-shows-and-a-lot-of-people-out-of-work/

AI Studio Chief Says Talent Agencies Rushing to Sign AI Digital Movie Star Tilly Norward

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/09/29/report-talent-agencies-seek-to-sign-ai-actress-tilly-norward/

It may already be too late.

But if you would like to endeavor on changing this timeline for the better, then be heard: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Only you can be the change you are looking for…

——-~o0o~—oOo—~o0o~~——

For a Halloween trick or treat, purchase The Descent: a darker breed of poetry.

Available at these fine retailers:

www.undawnted.com/p/the-descent.html

“A well crafted piece of art.”

“Both the descriptions and use of language here are very elaborate. The poem shows intricate crafting, the style and subjects of course, are reminiscent of Poe- this is not only a fitting homage, but stands on its own, the word choices are exact and richly expressive.”

“As if Poe came right off the page. This homage is literally perfect.”

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DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology.

Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the way she perceives the creative arts.

As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multigenre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research background is woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also a record label owner, an electronic musician and award-winning poet.

Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at www.undawntech.com and www.undawnted.com.

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This segment of Undawnted is sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.