Hi, I’m Rebecca. I write books and I write here at This Joyful Mess to inspire everyone to find JOY in the everyday messes of life. Here you’ll find inspiration, educational resources, and so much more. Please explore and connect—I’d love to hear from you!
A Great Trash Read: Follow Me Back by AV Geiger
AV Geiger's novel is perfect for those times when you want a good book that's written well but isn't going to make you work too terribly hard.
Engrossing and full of twists and turns. I loved the premise in Follow Me Back of an agoraphobic girl connecting via social media with her crush—a famous pop star.
Un-Horror: The Devils You Know by MC Atwood
I don’t know that I’ve ever read YA horror before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found in The Devils You Know by MC Atwood was rather odd—Scooby-Doo meets The Breakfast Club with a little funhouse thrown in for kicks.
Books that Changed Me: The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock
Sometimes I review a book the moment I finish it. Fresh details, sharp recollections. Other times I like to wait, let a book seep into me and become something—part me, part what was on the page. I chose to do the latter with The Smell of Other People’s Houses.
All About Ready to Fall by Marcella Pixley
In Ready to Fall by Marcella Pixley the premise alone stops me with its awesomeness: his mom dies of a brain tumor that then, he believes, moves into his own head. Raw, a little crazy, huge potential for story. And the book did not disappoint.
Another Week, Another Book: Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster
I go through phases where I don’t want to read fantasy, no matter how well-reviewed it is. Unfortunately I was in one of those phases when I picked up Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster The opening I read reluctantly, my will rebelling. But it didn’t rebel long.
A New Year of Books! Still Life with Tornado by AS King
The book that started it all, the one I finished around midnight as Emeric nursed and my husband snored so loudly I ended up smacking him with a pillow, was this: Still Life with Tornado by AS King.
How to Promote Your First Picture Book, or try to...
How *I* promoted my first book, which may not be how you (or anyone else) will want to tackle book promotion, but just in case you're an author with a book releases looming and you're thinking, "What the heck do I do?" you can glean inspiration from me. I’ll share what I did, what I made, what I purchased and I’ll tell you what worked … and what didn’t!
Night Animals: October's Ivy Kids Crate
October's Ivy Kids subscription box featured the adorable book Night Animals. This and the cute as anything plush skunk were without a doubt the highlights of the box.
My Last Two Events: What Do You Mean it's Over?
My final two events are passed: Books & Mortar and Hopscotch Children's Store Halloween Party. Halloween is officially over!
October's Color and Light Kiwi Crate in Review
Our second Kiwi Crate proved almost as much fun as the first. I say almost because the first crate had such "playtime" value, while the second was very much scientific exploration and experimentation. Great value, of course, but let's be realistic, nothing is quite as fun as making a real working stethoscope.