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​book reviews

Rhiannon: Lady Leprechaun by Mary Lu Scholl

2/9/2025

58 Comments

 
Multi-genre, multi-series, multi-volume author Mary Lu Scholl introduces us to her latest story, “Rhiannon: Lady Leprechaun”:
Rhiannon is a little tired of being dismissed as a mere girl. Her mother is kidnapped, and her father leaves to find her. Meanwhile the kingdom is left in charge of her incompetent brother.
What's a girl to do? Pick up a sword and go after them, that's what!
She learns about being a leader, about the loyalties of her companions, and a lot about herself as she leaves clan, family and her love behind. Will the hardship and danger be worth the sacrifice?
Picture
Rhiannon knows her mind and is not afraid to speak it. She is loyal to her parents but knows her brother, the prince will one day inherit the throne and is too self-centered to be a good king for the nation of Leprechauns.
This is such a delightful story, I won't give anything away. I will say it's written with great respect for the little people and reflects well on the author's Irish heritage.
Magic abounds in the land but everyone has their limitations and most know their place.
Read this book, it's fabulous fun.
4.9 stars from me as I am picky about certain things.

Picture
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Rhiannon-Lady-Leprechaun-Mary-Lu-Scholl-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/-rhiannon-lady-leprechaun 

You can connect with the author:
https://x.com/MaryLScholl1 
https://www.facebook.com/maryluschollauthor 
https://www.instagram.com/maryluscholl 
https://www.amazon.com/author/maryluscholl 

My review of the fourth volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Pu’ka and the Pirates” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/puka-and-the-pirates 

My review of the second volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Big Foot and The Bentley” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/big-foot-and-the-bentley 
My review of the first book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Camper Catastrophe” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/camper-catastrophe-by-mary-lu-scholl 
My review of the second book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Mobile Mayhem” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mobile-mayhem 
My review of the third book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Birds, Bees and RVs” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/birds-bees-and-rvs-by-mary-lu-scholl 

My review of the fourth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Trailer Trauma” is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4 
My review of the ninth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Fatal Philandering" is here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-philandering 
​

Tags: cozy, mystery, brother, fiction, action, leprechaun, spirit, shape-shifter 
Copyright © Mark L. Schultz 2025 except for the author’s introduction 


58 Comments
Mary Lu Scholl
2/10/2025 04:15:14 pm

Thank you for a marvelous review!

Reply
Mark
2/10/2025 04:28:01 pm

You're welcome. I enjoyed your story quite a bit. I like the idea of cozy fantasy.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Reply
Mary Lu Scholl link
2/10/2025 06:16:07 pm

I'm a crotchety old woman living in Paradise and writing books to make people laugh. Except for this one. This one is dedicated to granddaughters everywhere - girls can be superheroes too.
My Irish heritage took over. I tried to write it in verse but that didn't go well enough to satisfy me. So, prose it was.

Reply
Mark
2/10/2025 06:23:17 pm

There were a couple of funny spots in this book, but nothing like your other books. I laugh a lot when I read your other books.

You certainly achieved your goal, granddaughters will feel empowered when they read this story. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

New questions.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

What kind of work do you do if you are a part-time writer? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

Reply
Mary Lu
2/10/2025 06:41:17 pm

I am more full-time writer than anything else at the moment. I'm including ancillary activities to writing, though. As VP of Citrus Writers of FL, I beta read and proof read for all our members who ask. I also arrange events, advertise monthly presentations and recurring events. I also do my own amazon ads and videos for social media. Keeps me pretty busy. My mom lives with me. I have a church activities. I also work as a casual for Citrus County Parks and Recreation. For example I'm working registration for a kids' fishing clinic Saturday and spent a few hours two days last week helping with kids' archery.
I garden!
I have chickens!

Reply
Mark
2/10/2025 07:42:04 pm

You wear a lot of hats and are very busy. I am retired from construction; I was a good tinner and so-so HVAC service technician. Electricity was hard for me. We live with our youngest daughter, her husband and their three girls. I am busier than ever and I love it.

You have a lot of variety and that sounds good.

New questions.

What are your three favorite genres to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you?

Reply
Mary Lu
2/10/2025 08:19:36 pm

Cozy Mysteries
I frequently learn something. Whether it's the ins and outs of showing dogs, delivering calves, selling books or making quilts, it's fun to learn while you read and laugh.
Science Fiction
Whole new worlds with cultures and perspectives I've never considered.
Medical Thrillers
Andromeda Strain!
Disaster Scenarios
Eruption!
Counting was never a strong point of mine.

I hate to admit it but, writing has taken a smidge away from reading for fun. I find I am more critical of word choices and less tolerant of sloppy editing. Everyone makes mistakes, but you can tell who cares.
On the other hand, as a beta reader I can say I've read books I would never have picked up of I hadn't been invited, and have thoroughly enjoyed many of them

Reply
Mark
2/11/2025 08:12:32 am

It is fun to read, laugh and learn something new. I agree with you completely.
Andromeda Strain was the first book I read from MC. I really enjoyed that story.

Quite a few authors have admitted the same thing. It's quite difficult to take off their writer hat and enjoy a good story. I experience that also. I don't have to look for spelling errors they jump off the page at me. If I slow my reading pace, I see other errors also.

New questions.

Why do you write?

Do you write in a journal?

Reply
Mary Lu link
2/11/2025 08:30:06 am

I write to leave a mark of pleasure on someone's day. I try to include bits of things I've learned along the way. If the reader can identify with the character, maybe something I say will give them a lift, or maybe just a smile. A year from now, they may remember it and smile again. Because I'm Patty, I'll be immortal.
I don't journal. I've learned the hard way that not everyone sees themselves as I do, not in a bad way. But what I see as endearing, they don't, and resent my calling attention to it. There is always a chance a journal will be found and read, by accident or on purpose.
If I include foibles in characters who are clearly a combination of two or more people, they have the option of seeing that characteristic as being the 'other' half of the character.
If a journal entry can't be true to life, it's fiction and belongs in a novel.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2025 10:49:21 am

I think most authors write to provide entertainment for their readers. Like you, they hope their work is memorable.

I am not a writer and never considered that perspective on journaling. I journal nearly every morning and have in the back of my mind that someone might read it after I leave this world. Considering my cursive penmanship I probably don't have much to worry about because I have trouble reading my handwriting sometimes.

New questions.

How has writing changed your life?

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

Reply
Mary Lu
2/11/2025 02:23:45 pm

I moved back to Florida into relative obscurity. Now people recognize me and ask me questions! I've gained more confidence through learning the self- publishing business.

Work has mostly affected my writing with a huge number of personalities to draw from.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2025 04:27:39 pm

Relative obscurity sounds like you might be trying to avoid some relatives, maybe. ;-)

There is a lot to learn in the self-publishing business and the landscape is always changing as everyone tries to get deeper into an author's wallet.

New questions.

Who was the first person to inspire you to write something to publish?

What inspired you to write this book?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/11/2025 05:54:41 pm

My parents have always told me I could do anything. I just took them up on it. I got my love of reading from them both.
This book was for my granddaughters. They are twelve and that is such a hard age. Not grown, nothing they do ever seems to be right (always in trouble). They needed to know that girls can be heroes too.

Reply
Mark
2/12/2025 08:43:10 am

The two younger granddaughters turned nine and eleven last October. Eleven is struggling in many areas of her life. I will show her your book soon.

My parents loved to read also. My mom told the relatives to forget socks, send her son, me, books. They did.

New questions.

What did your granddaughters think of the book?

Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

Will you write more in this genre?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/12/2025 09:50:16 am

You had a perspicacious mom!

Sadly, the girls moved away to TN last fall. I did send them each a copy, each dedicated to each one. I haven't heard anything about the book. One is a reader, one is not.

I probably will pick up the storyline again, but have another in the pipeline for each of my series, first.

Reply
Mark
2/12/2025 02:20:39 pm

I was a precocious child. Reading two years or more beyond my grade level.

Our son and his family live in South Carolina. We don't see them as much as we like.

Your fans will be grateful for more books from your pen.

New questions.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

Have you ever seen a cryptid, an animal unknown to modern zoologists, or found evidence of one?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/12/2025 03:12:45 pm

Funny you should ask...

My second husband and I created a UFO investigation group in Southern California. Mostly I just tried to explain lights, not conjecture on other possibilities. I had contacts at several military bases and government labs I could call when a report came in. We did presentations to local groups. I had a great time. I never saw one, but am convinced it would be narrow-minded of me to deny them.

Cryptids. I married one, once.

Just kidding. When you've been married four times you can make a joke like that and they will all assume it was one of the others.

I have never seen a cryptid, but, coincidentally, my next book coming out is "Sorry Bigfoot Safari."
I didn't know there really was such a thing until I made it up for the book and my beta reader said she'd been on one!

Just like UFOs, there are more things on Earth than I've seen and I believe in flying squirrels, so why not?

Reply
Mark
2/12/2025 04:59:32 pm

Pretty darn funny! You were a UFO debunker. I love it. My sisters said we saw one when we were children, but I don't recall it.

Some UFOs seem benign, some are downright sinister. If you haven't already read it, take a look at Clifford Wilson's "Crash Go the Chariots". He presents his own debunking of then popular theories about UFOs.

In the Pacific Northwest, there were frequent sightings and many legends about Bigfoot. Some were proved hoaxes and others were unresolved. A few friends in high school claimed to have seen one or an uncle did. You know how that goes.

New questions.

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

Is there anything unconventional about your writing technique?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/12/2025 06:18:27 pm

Well, I write, then I edit. Then I send it to a beta reader or two. Then I rewrite and edit again...
So, 4 or 5. Sometimes the rewrite is severe!

Maybe the most unconventional part is that I start writing and have no idea what is going to happen!

Reply
Mark
2/12/2025 07:08:29 pm

You have a lot of company. Many authors write similarly to you.

You are a pantser, writing by the seat of your pants. A large number of authors do the same. They want to see how the story turns out. It's not too hard if the stories are stand-alone stories. Writing in a series must be tough.

New question.

How do you keep from getting your wires crossed when writing a series?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/12/2025 08:18:14 pm

Spread sheets! Who died, who killed him? Who has blue eyes? What were his kids' names?

One hard part is to maintain characterization and quirks in each book without boring the readers who have read them all and likely know them as well as I do. If a reader picks up a random book in the middle, or if it's been a while since reading the last one, some of those small details need to be repeated.

Reply
Mark
2/13/2025 08:42:14 am

Spreadsheets are a good idea. Another option would be to have a character bible. A single page for each character where the significant data could be centrally stored.

You are certainly correct, the little stuff that makes a character memorable does require a certain amount of repetition.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book?

Feel free to drop a copy-and-paste link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/13/2025 11:24:57 am

A notebook of character pages would be fun. I could use it to make up new characters and fill in backstories for when I need one!

Getcovers.com did this cover. Very nice people and not incredibly expensive. They sent me one and I asked for a couple of small changes and it was perfect!

I also use CozyCovers for a different series. Also very cooperative and professional.

Reply
Mark
2/13/2025 01:34:27 pm

Good recommendations for both. I like it.

A note for our readers, I have a list of illustrators and cover makers who are on X on my X page. Click on the three dots under my banner picture and a menu will drop down. Lists are on that menu. I have lists of those who provide other services to authors and writers also.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title?

What was the process?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/13/2025 02:27:52 pm

Well, that's kind of funny. I pulled up irish names and liked this one. But I was pronouncing it
"Reye-uh-non." I liked the sound of that. Then a few people saw it written and informed me I was wrong it is "Ree-ah-na." So I pulled up a pronunciation app, and sure enough, I was wrong. Since confusing your readers is rarely a good thing...

The Lady Leprechaun part is because a friend of mine asked about girl leprechauns, if there was such a thing. I said "of course there is" and them researched it.
No.
Leprechauns are said to be the bastard children of fairies or elves.
I didn't like that answer. I got to thinking about the Ent-wives, the talking trees of The Trilogy of the Rings. The Ent-wives got tired of the Ents being so slow and methodical that nothing was ever done, and they left.
Hmmm. Did the Lady Leprechauns do the same? Or what might have happened?

Reply
Mark
2/13/2025 04:47:48 pm

I obviously don't have enough Hibernian blood in me to know how to pronounce the name. I was doing it wrong also.

I am a big fan of Tolkien's masterful trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. I read it 3 times before graduating high school. It was my introduction to high fantasy.

That the Ent's could not get up to speed for their wives was quite sad and was an interesting bit.

I like your take on Leprechauns. Keep doing what you are doing until a leprechaun offers you a pot of gold to do otherwise.

New questions.

Were the character names difficult to develop?

How did you choose them?

Reply
Mary Lu Scholl
2/13/2025 07:25:43 pm

The character names were only hard because I had to check the pronunciation of each one, so I didn't commit another faux pas. Some I didn't like as well after I did that, so, live and learn.
Again, like Rhiannon, I pulled them off Google lists of Celtic or Irish names.
It seems my imagination only speaks American English.

Reply
Mark
2/13/2025 07:29:43 pm

I understand. Some of the foreign names can be real tongue twisters. Sometimes I think I might not be pronouncing a name correctly but decide to keep reading.

New questions.

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

If you have, what kind of preparation do you do before it starts?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/13/2025 08:27:40 pm

I considered it once, and signed up. But, that month is so busy for a writer with books to sell that even though I did write most of one book during that month, I never took the time to 'do it' in the program.

Reply
Mark
2/14/2025 09:01:05 am

Quite a few writers use the contest to jumpstart a new book. A few set aside a WIP to start something new. Some join groups for mutual support.

However, many boycotted NaNoWriMo last year because they were accepting work done with AI.

New questions.

Which was published first for you, short stories or novels?

How long had you been writing before first publishing something?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/14/2025 09:53:23 am

Really! I didn't know that about nanowrimo! Kind of a controversial decision!

A short story won a contest once.

I had an agent in the 1980s who - nearly - had my earliest book accepted by Harlequin Books. That was a long, tedious process. I continued to write and then used a third party press. I can't throw rocks because they did EXACTLY what they promised. The problem is that a new author rarely knows what to want.
I took my manuscripts back when I discovered Createspace (precursor of KDP) and have never looked back.

Reply
Mark
2/14/2025 01:50:39 pm

It is very controversial.

Amazon requires authors to disclose if they have used AI in producing their book. I looked at several using the prompt: "ai written novels". Several had the term AI in the title or the subtitle. I didn't find one with attribution to AI in the first few pages. One of them, a concordat novel had two spelling errors in the four-sentence synopsis. I am betting that was written by AI. The others were much better and probably not written by AI.

New questions.

Have you done any ghostwriting?

Have you ever written any fan fiction? If so, what storyline were you mimicking or following?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/14/2025 03:39:05 pm

When I started acting as Postmaster in various offices, the district was becoming aware that their managers had varying levels of skill in writing letters. It was managed that all customer communication was supposed to go through the district office. That sounded well and good until you realize that this was pre-internet. It could take up to two weeks to address a customer's concern. Ridiculous. I wrote up a dozen or so sample letters for the most common issues, sent them to the district to approve them for all purposes and then gave copies to all the managers I knew.

That's kind of ghostwriting? Right? Them i started advertising myself as the ghost pigeon and wrote letters and poems for people. Had a great time.

So now I have to admit I googled fan fiction. I had no idea what that was. It's a thing!

I'll have to give that some thought.

Reply
Mark
2/14/2025 05:25:09 pm

Fan fiction can be a way for a person to learn the various mechanics of writing. And some fandoms are huge! Harry Potter and Star Wars are two that come to mind immediately. One of my granddaughters wrote some HP fan-fic when she was 9 or 10. She was actually pretty good. She gave a minor character more prominence in a storyline that fit the world of Hogwarts and Harry Potter. She showed a few friends and then put it away. I encouraged her to write more to no avail.

New question.

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books? I am not including research in this question because most of the major browsers have embedded AI in the browser.

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/14/2025 06:04:37 pm

No. I know that building a house with tools works better than without. And I do use Autocrit and grammarly. But I use them for statistics, repetition, etc.
You're right about research. You can go off on some super interesting tangents!

Reply
Mark
2/14/2025 07:08:52 pm

Interesting analogy. I used to be in construction. I was a journeyman sheet metal worker and a journeyman HVAC technician. I did a little bit of residential work, but I didn't enjoy it as much as large, commercial, construction projects.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing one of your books?

How did you handle it?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/14/2025 07:25:55 pm

No trolls. A couple of harsh reviews that I try to take constructively. You never know what someone is going through or of I just pushed someone's buttons. Life is too short to hold a grudge or be unhappy about something I can't change.

Reply
Mark
2/15/2025 07:55:10 am

That is a great attitude! I have heard from more than one author about how upset they were with a negative review. I told them that the negative review validates the good reviews. The book has never been written that will be universally acclaimed.

Reviews by trolls are a different matter most of the time. Their reviews tend to be simplistic and it's obvious that they didn't read the book most of the time. A few authors have spun like a dervish trying to get the platform to remove the troll's review. Usually unsuccessfully, too. Ignore the trolls is the best advice.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

Reply
Mary Lu Scholl
2/15/2025 01:41:48 pm

Other than babysitting...
I was a cold-call telephone solicitor for a carpet cleaning company and discovered that from their point of view it was easier to change the name of the company and move than take care of mistakes.
Didn't last long.
Then, I was data entry for the restaurant Sambo's in California. I don't think they're around anymore.

Reply
Mark
2/15/2025 01:52:41 pm

Gotta love short jobs. I had a job that lasted about 2 hours. For context, my bio-father was a professional photographer, and I was living with him and his wife. This job was door to door setting appointments for family photographs. The photographer was close by and came immediately when I secured my first appointment on my first day. This guy showed up with a half-frame, 35 mm camera. I knew enough that the pictures were going to be poor quality if they were lucky. I quit immediately.

I did babysitting for a neighbor, starting around age 12. At age 13, I started picking strawberries and beans.

New questions.

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/15/2025 01:59:20 pm

Picking tomatoes made me appreciate my education! One summer.

I love public speaking. I was a toastmaster for quite a while and participated in extemporaneous competitions as well as prepared humor!

I speak at Citrus Writer events regularly, as well as in the meetings.

Just try to shut me up!

Reply
Mark
2/15/2025 03:49:17 pm

Public speaking can be fun and energizing! So many writers would prefer to be tazed, it seems. The secret to public speaking is to speak only about something you are passionate about and an expert in. For authors, the book or books they have written fills that bill quite well. Nobody knows the book as well as the author.

I learned that secret when my company sent me to a Dale Carnegie course in Public Speaking. It was a game changer for the young adult that had stammered nearly all of his life.

New questions.

Among present or past family members and friends how many are or have been writers or authors?

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/15/2025 06:00:12 pm

One grandmother wrote two family histories - impressive! I have a cousin who has written a couple of textbooks on WWII. My aunt was ghostwriter for a man - one book.

Both my mom and my sister started writing after I started self-publishing. Liz is an artist who writes children's Christian Bible- base stories. (90 of them) I published the first 20 on my account and then set up an account for her and made her do it herself after that. My mom's written four small children's books about Leprechauns and gnomes, Liz illustrated them and I published them for her.

I also have a couple of friends I encouraged and published for them (on their accounts.)

Reply
Mark
2/15/2025 07:33:24 pm

You are surrounded by writers in many parts of your life. Nice.

There is no one in my family that writes as far as I know. I have lost touch with my bio-dad's family. There could easily be writers there.

I mentored a handful of teens in church back in Oregon about 15 years ago. When they graduated from high school they scattered. I haven't heard from any of them since.

New questions.

You have quite a few books in Kindle Unlimited. How many? That must be working out well for you.

I noticed that this book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/15/2025 08:11:12 pm

Hmmm. It's supposed to be! I'll have to look into that. About a third of my royalties come from KU. With that many books, I haven't apparently paid close enough attention to notice it wasn't reporting on pages read. Thank you for mentioning it!

Reply
Mark
2/16/2025 07:34:55 am

You're welcome. Like they say in the artillery, we aim to please.

Kindle Unlimited used to require an exclusive contract to place books in their program.

New questions.

Do they still require that?

How long of a period is it before an author can place their books on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble or Waterstones for example?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/16/2025 07:47:22 am

I believe that's still the case, the option goes away and the royalty percentage decreased with optional markets.
Is not a contractual time limit, simply an opt in or out that is updatable. Barnes and Noble is an Amazon inclusive option. As is ITunes and Audible.

Reply
Mark
2/16/2025 02:06:50 pm

I am not surprised about Audible; I don't think of them usually because I read so much faster than the narrator speaks. I must speed the playback to 1.4 or 1.5 times the normal speed. I spent so many years learning to focus solely on the printed page that I can't keep my focus on the spoken word without increasing the playback speed.

New questions.

What is your favorite food and beverage?

What is your least favorite food and beverage?

Reply
Mary Lu Scholl
2/16/2025 03:15:16 pm

Ribeye Steak and loaded potatoes, corn salad, butterscotch pie with chocolate drizzle! Kahlua+cream+vodka (note - I drink alcohol maybe twice a year) (designated driver, here!)

Soft-boiled eggs, split pea soup, cod liver oil!

You?

Reply
Mark
2/16/2025 05:08:51 pm

That meal sounds delicious. I love a good, medium-rare ribeye!

I am always in a quandary when asked about my favorite meal. I love such a wide variety of foods it is impossible to pick only one. Describing what I don't like is much easier. I cannot eat cottage cheese. My visceral, emotional reaction makes me want to hurl seeing it on my plate, much less putting it in my mouth. I know there are many that love it. I am not fond of rutabaga, eggplant leaves me cold, liver doesn't do much for me and neither does cow tongue.

New questions.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Have you ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/16/2025 08:20:03 pm

I think I've gotten better at the formatting process on my journey. I tell myself I can't expect the same polish, I'm a writer, not a publisher. So, does that give me leave to be less than I want to be? I don't think so, but it does allow me latitude to learn.
No. I've never seen a ghost. I firmly believe in them, though!

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/17/2025 08:16:01 am

Did a little bit of research and discovered you now have to upload to B&N separately. That's a far as I had time for last night. When I discover more, I'll let you know.

Reply
Mark
2/17/2025 08:39:57 am

Having to do all the work necessary to publish and market a book is the downside of being an indie author. The upside is you get to keep all the proceeds from the sales of your books.

Thanks for checking into that about Barnes & Noble. I thought it was necessary to upload books separately to every platform. It's a complicated business and requirements change frequently.

New question.

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/17/2025 10:34:24 am

Hands down AI. Close second is rewriting someone else's story with just enough minor modifications to get by. I guess those are 'writing' unethical, though, not publishing.
I've said many times that I can't throw rocks at my coast into 3rd party publishing, because they did exactly what they promised. However, a new writer may not consider the appropriate font or size type. They may not think about the dimensions being appropriate for that genre. Then you get stuck with a very thin volume of tiny type in an inappropriate size, because print cost is so much less expensive. While not technically taking advantage...

Reply
Mark
2/17/2025 11:37:30 am

AI is truly a Pandora's box in many ways. Somethings it will do well other things poorly at best.

Since you mentioned hard copies of books I am going to post a copy-and-paste link or hit the search box below for our visitors: A good article about print on demand for paperback and hardback book versions of an e-book. https://blog.bookbaby.com/2021/04/basics-of-print-on-demand You probably don't need it, but we have had a lot of visitors to our chat.

Last questions.

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one or ones?

Reply
Mary Lu Scholl
2/17/2025 12:55:53 pm

I'm afraid I'm going to evasive about that question. There are so many I hate to give precedence to any one. Especially, lately books I have listened to.

I do read books more than once when I have depleted my TBR pile (not often) or am overwhelmed with life and want to read something I can relax and anticipate.

I'm glad to hear we have had lots of visitors (now I have to hold my breath and go back over the answers I've given you, my friend!)

Reply
Mark
2/17/2025 01:47:03 pm

I understand your reluctance in this matter. I cannot pin down one favorite book either. The same thing with favorite food. Before I embarked on this adventure of promoting books, I read mostly science fiction and an occasional fantasy story if it involved dragons. Those two genres are my top favorites still, now I love historical fiction and cozy murders almost as much. I have enjoyed romance books also more than I expected. I have become a fan of good writing.

I estimate I have read six to eight thousand books in my life. If you count condensed books double that. I am not including proofreading in this estimate.

Thank you, Mary, for hiring me to help promote Rhiannon on the Word Refiner channel. I have enjoyed our chat a great deal and your book also.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Reply
Mary Scholl
2/17/2025 03:41:02 pm

Thank you so much for including me in your library of reviews! Our chats are always fun and informative.

Until next time!

Reply



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