It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Oct 26

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Welcome to the last Monday of October. Can you believe how fast we got here? Christmas is less than 60 days away! I will never be ready this year, but spending time with family counts the most. 

Hope you had a fabulous week. Mine flew by. It was filled with appointments, another visit from the Lil' Princess, training, and tossing around some business plan ideas for 2027. Here are photos of the other fun things: 

Our evening walk behind the house

Fall looks good from my driveway

Tweaked the Autumn Spiced Jam recipe I found on Insta

ChatGPT fun of asking the AI to put me in a TV show it thinks I should be in

Lazy Sunday morning for Theo and Travis

ProWritingAid is hosting Novel November (NovNov) again this year. I might do some writing, but I won't participate. Our local writers guild is also holding a November event. I will cheer from the sidelines. 

Have you decided on your books for the Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon? I will create a post for my list in November. Who knows how many I will get to, but it will be fun anyway.

This week's reading world looked like this:

Poor The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles didn't get any attention this week. 

I still haven't started Harboring the Enemy: The Civil War Heroine History Forgot by R. C. Duffy yet. 

I read more of  The TV MBA: Business Lessons from Popular Culture by Rhymer Rigby. Such fascinating material. 

Look for my review of  Still Wild: Poems from the Bear Shack by Suzanne Sunshower in December.

Finished Building A StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. Check out my review here. I also finished The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved by Seth Godin. You will find that review at the same link. 

Read more from Starry-Eyed Christmas by Sheila Roberts. This is for a December review.

 

I plan to read Shifta by Miles Joyner for a First Chapter Review coming November 2.

I am also looking forward to reading Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix by Mindy Baker. 

Upcoming Events

• Shifta by Miles Joyner - Nov 2 (First Chapter Review)
• Yuletide Murder at Sea by Sue Stewart - Nov 4 (Interview)
• Still Wild: Poems from the Bear Shack by Suzanne Sunshower - Dec 14 (Review)
• Starry-Eyed for Christmas by Sheila Roberts - Dec 16 (Review)
• Sugar Sand Land by Patricia Leavy - Dec 17 (Spotlight & Giveaway)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme was last hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. It appears to be on hiatus, but I will keep sharing new books. 

Somebody, please stop me! I grabbed a few Kindle freebies and an audiobook since we last visited. I also ordered three used books and the latest from Sheila Roberts. That should be it for 2026, though I might have one more Audible purchase in me. 

I Once Knew A Guy Named Charlie by Jacklyn Smith

Blogging for Today's Writer by Edie Melson

Have Yourself A Merry Little Meltdown by Sheila Roberts

The Mistletoe Express by Tara Baisden

Montana Christmas Magic by Kaylie Newell

Once Upon a Christmas by Jane Porter

A Home in the West by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

Christmas Year Round

This week's Journey through Christmases Past looks into the tumultuous year of 1837. Find my post here. 

Authors are signing up for my latest idea. The Christmas Memory Collection will feature authors sharing memories, traditions, and other holiday stories. If you wish to participate, you can find the details here. Space is limited. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

This week, I posted a few Halloween books for kids and teens that were released this year. You can find that post here.

Laura's Little Houses

Thanks to some time off, I finished my character profile of Harriet Oleson. If you loved Katherine MacGregor's portrayal as much as I did, you can read that post here.

That's all from me this week. By the time we reconnect for next week's post, November will be here. Bring on the holiday season!

Audible Book Reviews: The Knot by Seth Godin and Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller

 

I recently finished two audiobooks, almost the only way I can read lately. The first was The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved by Seth Godin. I also own another one of his books that I haven't read yet. The Knot is about how people can feel stuck when they entangle themselves. Using the Buridan's donkey analogy, Godin identifies the traps we find ourselves in and categorizes them into time-based, social-based, and identity-based. 

Godin chose to narrate this book, which distracted me. The book reveals insightful information, but the author's reading style made my mind wander, so I'm unsure if I received the full benefit of his knowledge. I would rather read this on my own and decide. 

• Listening Length ‏ : ‎ 4 hours and 24 minutes
• Author ‏ : ‎ Seth Godin, see all
• Narrator ‏ : ‎ Seth Godin
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 22, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Audio
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GPGS4CBM

Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller is a must-read for anyone in business. Miller understands that our customers are as overwhelmed as we are by all the marketing that comes our way. So, when we aren't clear with our messaging, customers tune us out. Competition is fierce, and standing out isn't easy. Miller sharpens your messaging so your ideal customers hear, understand, and respond. This is one of the most engaging business books I've read this year, likely because its message arrived at exactly the right time as I begin planning for the year ahead. I found it both insightful and immediately applicable. I'll be ordering a print copy to keep on hand as a reference whenever I need to revisit its principles.

• Listening Length ‏ : ‎ 6 hours and 33 minutes
• Author ‏ : ‎ Donald Miller
• Narrator ‏ : ‎ Donald Miller
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins Leadership
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZ5JF1LY

I purchased these books with Audible credits. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Interview & Giveaway with Dale Dallman, Author of Drive Down the Purchase Price of Your New Car

Dale Dallman worked in the CAR business for decades. He started at Frontier Chevrolet in Billings, Montana. He worked the hardest part of the dealership, the USED CAR LOT! Frontier Chevrolet had 37 salespeople after it was bought out and renamed Denny Menholt Chevrolet. Dallman was #1 in sales from the beginning. Dallman invented the tool that made him famous, “THE BIRD DOG BUCK.” It was a copy of a $100 bill, with his picture on it. It had a section for the previous buyer to print their name, and for the potential new buyer to print their name. The idea was to send ten copies to every person who bought a car from him. It asked the buyer to give one to every person they thought might be interested in buying a car. The instructions printed on the fake bill were “Give this to a potential buyer. If they present it to the dealership and ask for Dallman, you will receive a $25 “Bird Dog” check! The potential buyer will get a $500 discount on their purchase.” It got to the point that he didn’t even need to stand at the door and wait for new walk-ins. He had a secretary who handled his appointments!

Dallman then went out to the West Coast. Here, he worked on new and used cars for a Chevrolet dealer in the car village in Olympia, Washington. He and his best friend (both from Billings) worked there. The idea for a book started there, but Dallman needed a broader cross-section of the car business, so he moved to Gilchrist Buick in Tacoma, Washington, to reach a different class of buyers. He did so well that Buick Motor Division had him do training videos that they used internally in National training.

Dallman decided to go to Germany on a contract with TOYOTA WORLD. The job was working the locations on the military bases where the military could buy cars and use them in-country, order one to be picked up at a dealer back in the states when they rotated home.

Dallman now does consultant work for buyers. He has instructed sales classes and trained both BUYERS and the salesmen, trying to get your money! Dallman has advised many dealers and salespeople. But he loves helping buyers outsmart the Dealers more!

https://www.dallmanproductions.com/https://www.facebook.com/Grizzlytrack https://www.instagram.com/dallmanproductions/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49906767.Dale_E_Dallman https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dale-e-dallman

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dale-E.-Dallman/author/B0D57RY38J

BLURB: 

Buying a car. Just those three words can conjure up a whole swirl of emotions.

For some, it’s the thrill of a sleek new model—the scent of fresh upholstery and the promise of open roads. For others, it’s a daunting odyssey filled with jargon, pressure, and the fear of an expensive mistake.

Wherever you fall, you’re reading this because buying a car is a significant life event.

We’ve all stood on the lot, squinting at price tags, decoding financing offers, and feeling the push to “act now.” It’s easy to feel outmatched—to wish for an expert at your side. Consider this book that expert: your trusted co-pilot on a journey that’s both exciting and rewarding.

This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a philosophy. You’ll learn to approach car buying with clarity and confidence, understand financing, master the test drive, and negotiate with purpose, ensuring that you walk away feeling like a winner.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, upgrading, or simply overwhelmed by options, this book is for you.

So, buckle up. Get ready to embark on a journey that will not only lead you to the perfect vehicle but will also leave you feeling empowered, informed, and ready to hit the road with a smile.

Happy driving!

EXCERPT:

The Mega car dealers worked up a sales system designed to cost you money! It was to psychologically make your brain pick the one item out of four you reacted to most. The four items are PRICE, DOWN PAYMENT, TRADE ALLOWANCE, and MONTHLY PAYMENT! The designs were different, but the concept was just as deadly. 

The top, center of the Four Square Sheet describes the vehicle you are buying. The Brand, Year, and Serial number, then, at the bottom of the sheet, they drew four separate squares. They were all blank squares. The salesperson would have you settle into a specific vehicle and fill in the center part. He wouldn’t fill in the squares. He would talk to you about price, down payment, trade-in, and monthly payment, but not write in the squares. He would ask about a down payment. 

Then, he would leave you to talk to the boss. This time alone does two things. It allowed you to talk over the information you had given the salesperson, and it was a cool-down period to settle your jitters. 

Now he has left you to tell the Desk Manager everything you discussed. The Desk Manager then fills out the four squares on the bottom of the selling sheet. He lists the FULL selling price, including all dealer-added options and extra profit, in one square. He writes a very low value in another square for the price they offer for your trade. The next square gets a very high cash down payment figure. The last square gets a very high monthly payment figure.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the small town of Rutland (150 pop.), North Dakota!! I spent my youth on my uncle's farm. We moved to the metropolis of Minot, with a population of 20,000, when I was 6 or 7. We lived so close to Roosevelt Zoo, the animals were my neighbors!

When did you begin writing?

I began writing in grade school! The teacher used to read my little stories to the class. I continued when I joined the US Marines! Then, as I made a living as a traveling salesman, I would tape thoughts as I drove.

Do you feel your hometown influenced your writing?

The hometown influence!! Well. I have the towns in every book in one way or another! I guess I have a draw to the small-town safety net!

What inspired you to write Drive Down the Purchase Price of Your New Car? Did you perform research for this book? If yes, how did you approach finding the sources you required?

This book is about helping you SAVE MONEY!! Very simple story! Read it, follow the guidance of someone who went from sales to management in the car business. It is written with examples and stories of the dealers, but the big story is that it explains the four types of buyers!

I was inspired to write it after watching a friend go to the dealer and return exasperated and frustrated, saying she was going to do what the salesman said! I went back with her and saved her $4,000! That is inspiration!

Where can readers buy your book?

Readers can buy my book on AMAZON, Barnes & Noble, most bookstores, or from me! I will autograph and mail them personally!

What is up next for you?

My next adventures are already in the swimming pool!! First, "WHITE BUFFALO," a story of nature and MONTANA!! Then the next attempt is: “STILL STANDING," a story of life!

Is there anything you would like to add?

I want to praise the people who have helped me realize a "Bucket List"! My wife Cassandra, who just saw me through a rodeo with cancer(she has a book on this journey, JESUS CHRIST, the Chief Physician), my publisher and friend Traci Wooden, and all the people who believed in me and purchased my treasures!

Dale Dallman will be awarding a

 $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a 

randomly drawn winner.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Reread Books or Rewatch Movies? Why or Why Not?

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews requests that you share your link in their weekly post on their website (which will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated. 

Back to Wednesday again for this week's Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge. What a great way to celebrate Hump Day, though I usually work weekends. 

This week we are prompted to answer: Reread books or rewatch movies? Why or why not?

I do both as often as I can. I used to read the Anne of Green Gables series and the Little House series annually. I've read The Thorn Birds half a dozen times. As far as movies go, I have watched The Sound of Music so many times that I have lost count. When I met The von Trapps late in 2007, after the release of their album, Snow: New Songs of the Season, they were unimpressed by my dedication to the movie. LOL! I didn't know until today that they disbanded in 2016. Other movies I've rewatched:

• Anne of Green Gables and its sequels
• The Wizard of Oz
• Elf
• Polar Express
• Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens
• The Downton Abbey movies
• Let It Snow and The Christmas Pageant (Hallmark movies)

I reread and rewatch because I always find something new I didn't notice before or that hits differently with fresh eyes and ears. 

What books or movies have you rewatched? Or do you prefer not to? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things That Make Up My Perfect Day and Tell Me Something Tuesday: If You Could Have Any Office Supply in Unlimited Quantities, What Would It Be?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

Happy Tuesday! Hope you are having a good week. I am tired, but it is all good stuff. This week's Top Ten Tuesday asks us to share the things that would make up our perfect day. I am eager to read everyone's answers. Here are mine:

1. Waking up rested. I've always struggled with sleeping. When I was younger, I could have five hours of rest and function. Not these days. Since I am a night owl, on my perfect day, I don't rise before 9 am. 
2. A slow morning routine. I would love to ease into my day instead of getting up, getting dressed, and rushing off to my desk or out the door to work. Spend time in prayer and maybe journal a bit.
3. A few minutes in the garden. I've promised myself I will get outside at least once a day (driving in my car does not count). I would love to spend a few minutes pulling weeds or harvesting fruits first thing in the morning. 
4. Late morning writing time. After a cup of tea and a bite, I feel productive, so I would sit and write for an hour.
5. Take a walk. Then it would be time to walk the dog, preferably along the shore. Not realistic at home, but it is great on the Outer Banks. 
6. Light lunch while reading. I love snacking while I read, so sitting in my reading room--which I still need to design--or on the front porch with a light lunch will make a good book even better.
7. Afternoon of writing and/or crafting. I need more writing time if I plan to finish my works in progress and secure an agent. I also want to get back to crafting. I am not great at it, but I can always learn.
8. Time in the kitchen. I truly enjoy time in the kitchen, whether it be baking or cooking. Feeding my family makes me feel wonderful and inspired.
9. Game time. I grew up with board games and card games. I wish we did this more often. 
10. Put the house to rest and plan for the next day. There is something wonderful about having everything in its place before you turn in for the night. Planning for the next day, which I often do anyway, creates a more peaceful morning. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics, from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

This week's Tell Me Something Tuesday prompt asks: If you could have any office supply in unlimited quantities, what would it be?

I would have to say notecards. I send them out to people regularly. They are also one of the things I often buy at gift stores and bookstores while on vacation. I love me a good notecard. 

That's it for me today. Enjoy your day!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Oct 19

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Here we are at the next-to-last Monday of October. How has your month been going so far? I never did buy fall plants to decorate my porch. The house is barely decorated. I have so many wonderful ideas and little time to implement them. Oh, well! Next year could be different. I would much rather cook and bake than decorate anyway, which I've done a bunch of this month. I am hoping to make banana bread and Autumn Spiced Jam this week. Depends on how things go. I might have a listing that I didn't expect. The Lil' Princess is home for a few days, so I might steal some work hours to spend time with her. 

On Saturday, the Lil' Diva and one of her friends joined us at the Greek Festival at St. Luke's. On Sunday, my sisters and I went to the 5th Annual Mystic Apple Festival at Olde Mistick Village. It wasn't as thrilling as expected, but it was still fun. Here are a few photos:

Love me some good Greek food

Wooden Advent calendars (Will Santa bring me one?)

Would also like Santa to bring me this train

Irish omelette at Somewhere In Time Cafe (They have a Winnie the Pooh theme)

I thought of Travis and the Lil' Princess when I saw this ornament

ProWritingAid is hosting Novel November (NovNov) again this year. Is anyone participating? I doubt I will, but I might use some of that motivation to work on Sheltered Hearts. I am about halfway done. Considering that I want to participate in this year's Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon, writing time will be impacted. My brain could probably use the break. 

As far as reading goes, it was a better week than last week, but still not as productive as I needed to stay on top of my reading goals and commitments. 

I didn't open The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles because all I really want to read is holiday fiction right now. Loved what I had read, and need to get back to it. 

I still haven't started Harboring the Enemy: The Civil War Heroine History Forgot by R. C. Duffy yet. 

I finished She Forgot She Was Free: Returning to the Girl You Were Before the World Got Loud by Giselle Mascarenhas. You can read my review here.

I read more of  The TV MBA: Business Lessons from Popular Culture by Rhymer Rigby. Such fascinating material. 

I finished Still Wild: Poems from the Bear Shack by Suzanne Sunshower. Look for the review in December.

Continued with Building A StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. I might want to order this in printed form.  

I read the first few chapters of  Starry-Eyed Christmas by Sheila Roberts for a December review.

 

I am also looking forward to reading Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix by Mindy Baker. 

Upcoming Events

• Drive Down the Purchase Price of Your New Car by Dale Dallman - Oct 23 (Interview & Giveaway)
• Shifta by Miles Joyner - Nov 2 (First Chapter Review)
• Yuletide Murder at Sea by Sue Stewart - Nov 4 (Interview)
• Still Wild: Poems from the Bear Shack by Suzanne Sunshower - Dec 14 (Review)
• Starry-Eyed for Christmas by Sheila Roberts - Dec 16 (Review)
• Sugar Sand Land by Patricia Leavy - Dec 17 (Spotlight & Giveaway)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme was last hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. It appears to be on hiatus, but I keep sharing new books. 

As is typical when I feel overwhelmed, I buy things. Usually books. I guess I could have worse habits. I grabbed Countdown to Christmas from Dianna Houx's Holiday Countdown series with credits. 

Arriving tomorrow is The Christmas Courier by Roseanna M. White. 

I also added Yuletide Murder at Sea by Sue A. Stewart and The Christmas Cottage by Fiona Baker to my Kindle Unlimited library. 

Christmas Year Round

I skipped Journey through Christmases Past this week because I was out with my sisters. However, I announced a new feature for authors coming up during the holiday season.

The Christmas Memory Collection will feature authors sharing memories, traditions, and other holiday stories. If you wish to participate, you can find the details here. I already have my first two authors signed up. Space is limited. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I reviewed Mixter's Monster Mash by Regan W. H. Macaulay. You can read that review here.

Laura's Little Houses

Still working on a character profile of Harriet Oleson. These take a fair amount of time, and I haven't had much time to spare lately. 

Phew! That was a lot. Hope you enjoyed traveling through my week with me. Looking forward to reading what you've been up to in the last seven days.