WWW Wednesday, 21-July-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: I keep pushing through with The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko but I have come to a quick stop to try and finish my buddy read before Baby comes. I’ll finish this eventually but I’m in no real hurry.
Reading Buddy and I met on Monday and we’re powering through the final section of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. We’ll meet early next week to talk about the ending, right before Baby is coming! I’m sure we’ll take a break from this for a month or so but I can’t wait to read with her again, it’s a real joy to make time to talk about books with a good friend.
Some new books! I was so excited to start on The King of Crows (Diviners #4) by Libba Bray. I wanted to listen to this one earlier but my library was having issues with their rental system and I grabbed another book instead. I’m excited to finish this series that I’ve been enjoying a lot for a few years now!
I’m having repeated issues with book availability for my next ebook. I wanted to read Rosen’s Dollface, but it’s no longer available! There’s another title I was looking for that’s not letting me borrow it for whatever reason. So, third string attempt. I started The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. Boroson. This is one my sister in law gave me for Christmas years back and I haven’t picked up yet. I’m excited to see what she’s picked for me.

Recently finished: I’m so glad to have finished books! I wrapped up Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono while waiting on a procedure (doctors offices are good for something!). I found it dragged in parts and was fine in others. I gave it Three out of Five Stars overall and posted my review on Monday.
I also finished up New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson on Saturday! I was driving to a workout and it wrapped up as I pulled into the parking lot so you know it was mean to be. This book was a big disappointment for me and unfortunately turned me off to the author in general. I gave it only Two out of Five Stars and posted my review yesterday.Reading next: I’m just starting so many things that I don’t have any plans at this time. We’ll see what moves fast and where I’ll need another book soon. I’m just so excited to have finished a few things!

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Book Review: New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson (2/5)

Finishing two books in a week is such a novel thing for me, I’m not sure what to do with myself. This one felt like a long time coming just because the audiobook was so long. This is a book I got for free from my library during a summer audiobook giveaway a few years ago. I’ve been holding on to it for when I needed a book and it’s time came up.

Cover image via Amazon

New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson

Summary from Amazon:

As the sea levels rose, every street became a canal. Every skyscraper an island. For the residents of one apartment building in Madison Square, however, New York in the year 2140 is far from a drowned city.

There is the market trader, who finds opportunities where others find trouble. There is the detective, whose work will never disappear — along with the lawyers, of course.

There is the internet star, beloved by millions for her airship adventures, and the building’s manager, quietly respected for his attention to detail. Then there are two boys who don’t live there, but have no other home — and who are more important to its future than anyone might imagine.

Lastly there are the coders, temporary residents on the roof, whose disappearance triggers a sequence of events that threatens the existence of all — and even the long-hidden foundations on which the city rests.

This book frustrated me. I’ve tried to think of a better word for it, but that seems to capture how I feel best. There were way too many characters and they didn’t interact in ways I felt were meaningful and added to the story. I was lost about the main plot of the book the entire time I was reading it and having finished, I’m still not sure I understand. It became clear that the city was the main character, but we spent so much time with the actors that that was murky until I was nearly finished with the book. Despite an easy sell, there was very little warning about climate change outright (besides Amelia). I would have slashed more than half of this book if I was editing it. There’s no reason it was a 22 hour audiobook.

It’s hard to really comment on these characters. They seemed a bit too contrived a lot of the time. Charlotte was too perfect for words and Amelia was purposefully aloof in a way that was annoying. I didn’t like the tone of the ‘narrator’ that appeared from time to time and I found Franklin frustrating. Really, they were pretty realistic, but not likeable.

Vlade might have been my favorite character. He felt like a real person and someone that I could meet today or in 100 years and understand why he did what he did. He had a clear goal of doing his job well and he cared for people more than others seemed to. He was a reliable person and, uniquely, likeable.

None of the characters really drew me in. They were pretty flat characters, not changing much during the course of the book and not showing a lot of depth. Charlotte was probably the most dynamic person but her change was more about coming to terms with doing something she didn’t want to than it was about changing her mindset or actions. The flatness of the characters was a big part of what kept me from engaging with them.

Kim Stanley Robinson Image via Wikipedia

There wasn’t a plot point of the story that I enjoyed more than others. The story developed more on an event-by-event basis, with each new crisis engaging the characters in a different way and not connecting well to things that came before. It almost felt like disconnected stories in an episodic fashion, like you might have for a TV series season instead of a book. The style really didn’t work for me.

The first 60% or so of the book was more or less set up for the last 40% and I found it really unsatisfying. The character development didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the later half of the book anyway. It was a lot of explaining how Robinson saw the world changing due to climate change. The characters didn’t add much to the story in my opinion.

The audiobook had a lot of different narrators for the different characters which was fun. The narrators included Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, Jay Snyder, Caitlin Kelly, Michael Crouch, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Christopher Ryan Grant, and Robert Blumenfeld though I have no idea who did which parts. I enjoyed the narration for Amelia most and I have to say I enjoyed the narration for the ‘narrator’ (aka history info dump) the least, though that was due to the writing and not the actor’s portrayal. I didn’t like how we were getting periodic info dumps in a stereotypical New York jargon from someone outside of the story.

There was a strong sense of community amongst the residents that pushed the plot forward. Having a community like that was key for what they were eventually able to accomplish politically. However I feel about the plot of the book, that communal support was really critical and central to the characters and spoke to how we need to band together to accomplish anything. Americans are not the best at doing this so it was great to see it happen in the novel.

Writer’s Takeaway: There were a lot of things I felt were lacking in this novel. The overall plot was a bit confusing and I think it could have benefited from a more defined three-act structure. There were also a lot of characters that could have been cut and combined. I’m not sure what the author was trying to say with this book, but I think it got lost in the future he was creating.

Overall, much longer than it needed to be and murky. Two out of Five Stars.

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Related Posts:
Discussion Questions for Kim Stanley Robinson’s New York 2140 | The DC Swathmore Book Group Blog
NEW YORK 2140 – Kim Stanley Robinson (2017) | Schicksalgemeinschaft
New York 2140 – Kim Stanley Robinson | Performative Utterance
Book Review: New York 2140, by Kim Stanley Robinson | Beer Rants and Books
Review of New York 2140 – Kim Stanley Robinson | My Opinion on Various Books

WWW Wednesday, 14-July-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: Good news! I actually made progress with Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono and I’m finally feeling good about finishing it soon. I’ve got more doctors appointments than I’d care for (thanks, Baby) right about now and the waiting rooms are great reading time.
I was able to do something I love on Sunday morning; read in bed! I got through the scene in The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko that had me stalled and I’m finally on to a part I’m more interested in so I’m feeling good about this.
My reading buddy and I met on Sunday and we’re moving forward to Part 4 of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. We’re both enjoying it a lot and excited to keep this one moving forward! Fingers crossed we finish before Baby makes their appearance.
All the doctors appointments are giving me car time to listen to New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. I think I’m in striking distance and may actually finish this sometime soon.

Recently finished: Y’all, I’m so close to finishing one. I know it’s coming, I just keep holding my breath one more week.

Reading next: I’ve still got my eye on Dollface by Renee Rosen. I know it’s coming soon.

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 7-July-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: I actually read some from Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono! It was mostly out of guilt from posting weeks in a row about not reading it, so I do have to thank this meme for some progress. Yay.
Still holding with The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko. Stay tuned.
I should finish the next section of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles this week. I want to finish before my Baby comes so Reading Buddy and I leave off at a good point! Keeping my fingers crossed.
I thought I knew where New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson was going but I’m lost again. Almost done with this one and I’m just pushing to the end at this point.

Recently finished: It’s been over a month since I finished a book. Not a great feeling for a book blogger. I’m hopeful I’ll get back to it, but I’m being realistic and thinking it might be a while still. Fingers crossed.

Reading next: I’ll get to Dollface by Renee Rosen one day!

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 30-June-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: Oh geeze. Yet another week without any progress in Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono. Maybe I should stop predicting I can make progress in it at all.
I’ve put The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko aside since my Reading Buddy and I are on a new section of the Towles. I’m sure I’ll get back to it soon.
I’m powering through the third part of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. My Reading Buddy is nervous that we won’t finish before Baby is born so I’m trying to focus on it as much as possible!
I think I’m finally getting into the plot of New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. Thirteen hours in isn’t exactly when I was hoping I’d get sucked in, but better late than never, right?

Recently finished: Three weeks in a row here is rough. I know I’ll eventually finish something, but it’s seeming so far away.

Reading next: I’ll get to Dollface by Renee Rosen one day!

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 23-June-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: Nothing new in Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono this week. I’ve got a few doctors’ appointments this next week so I’ll see if I get it opened up.
I got through very little of The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko. There’s a scene where I can’t get into the dialogue and I’m struggling through it so it’s been a slow slog. Once I get through it, I think I’ll make some more progress.
My ready buddy and I met on Monday to talk about A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles so I’m moving on to the third section now. I’m loving the slow burn of this story!
I’ve had more time to listen to my audiobook in the car so I’ve made good progress with New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. There’s still not a clear plot to this book, more exploring the setting which is getting old kinda fast.

Recently finished: I’m going to pretend it doesn’t make me sad that this section is empty again, but it makes me really sad. Maybe in the next two weeks? Maybe?

Reading next: I’ll get to Dollface by Renee Rosen one day!

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 16-June-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community.

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Currently reading: I don’t think I even opened Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono this week. I know I’m getting close, but this one will linger on.
I ready a little bit of The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko since I’m between ready buddy sections. I’m over half way now and I’m hoping the story starts to tie together a bit more!
We’re through Part II of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. We both had busy weekends so we’ll see when we’re able to get together and press forward. I think this slow burn is starting to flame a little bit, we’ll see if she feels the same way.
I had a good chunk of car time this weekend to enjoy New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. I’m still struggling with the main conflict in this book. I’m hoping it sorts itself out soon because I’m starting to lose interest a bit even though the characters are really fun.

Recently finished: Nothing again. I promise I’m not neglecting the blog, I just have very little to say! Hopefully I’ll have some progress soon and be able to post more here for you all to enjoy.

Reading next: I’m still waiting to get to Dollface by Renee Rosen. I think some fun fiction is needed to boost my reading life.

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 9-June-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community. 

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Currently reading: I made it through another chapter of Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono. Steady progress forward, still a ways from finishing, through.
I’m paused on The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko while I push forward with my buddy read. I’ll get back to it, I know, but it may take some time.
My ready buddy and I met to talk about the first part of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and we’ve moved on to Part II. So far, we’re not sure what we’re in for but we’re both enjoying the writing. We’ll see.
I decided to stick with New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson on audio. There’s a lot going on but the characters seem to be overlapping so I’m curious how they’ll end up coming together. I’m hoping this one move quickly!

Recently finished: Nothing more finished this week. Oh well. Next week doesn’t look good either. I might have to kiss some of the reading goals for 2021 goodbye. I did manage to post my review of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead on Monday, so please check that out!

Reading next: If I ever finish my ebook, I’ll pick up Dollface by Renee Rosen next. I’m looking forward to some 1920s fun.

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WWW Wednesday, 2-June-2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Note: For users of Blogspot blogs, I’m unable to comment on your posts as a WordPress blogger unless you’ve enabled Name/URL comments. This is a known WordPress/Blogspot issue. Please consider enabling this to participate more fully in the community. 

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Currently reading: I read a few pages from Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono but not enough to brag about it. I’ll be slow going through this and I’m really okay with that. I know I’ll finish eventually. With all my upcoming doctors’ appointments, maybe that will give me some time.
I made some progress with The Hangman’s Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko but I’ve stopped for my buddy read. I’ll get back to it between segments so I’ll keep moving forward but it may be a while.
I was able to start A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and I’m liking it so far! Ready buddy and I are meeting on Friday to talk about the first section and I should be able to finish in time without too much trouble. This one is moving at a good pace.
I had a few false starts with audiobooks this week. Right now, I’m trying my hand at New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. I’m not won over by the writing just yet but the idea is original and I can see how it could be a fun read. I’ll give it another day or two before I decide if I’m going to stick around for the 22 hours it will demand.

Recently finished: I wrapped up The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead on Thursday and enjoyed the ending. I’m excited to see the screen adaptation soon and I wonder how they portrayed the railroad! I hope to have a review up next week. I gave the book Four out of Five Stars.

Reading next: If I ever finish my ebook, I’ll pick up Dollface by Renee Rosen next. I’m looking forward to some enjoyable fiction so I’m hoping this comes soon!

Leave a comment with your link and comment (if you’re so inclined). Take a look at the other participant links in the comments and look at what others are reading.

Have any opinions on these choices?

Until next time, write on.

You can follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’m available via email at SamAStevensWriter@gmail.com. And as always, feel free to leave a comment!

Some of the links on this post may be affiliate links. Taking on a World of Words is a participant in affiliate programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products. If you purchase a product or service through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Sam will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated.