Author: cherylmahoney

I'm a book review blogger and writer. I have published four novels, The Wanderers; The Storyteller and Her Sisters; and The People the Fairies Forget; and The Lioness and the Spellspinners. All can be found on Amazon as an ebook and paperback. In my day job, I'm a Marketing Specialist. Find me on Twitter (@MarvelousTales) and GoodReads (MarvelousTales).

Catching-Up + A Small Favor Request

On By cherylmahoneyIn Ruminations2 Comments

So it’s been a little quiet around here recently…! I put Accompaniment out, and got promptly distracted by the rest of life. Good things going on, but I’m hoping to get back to a more regular schedule around here too. I’ve been reading a lot with a few books I hope to review soon, and I’m moving ahead with a couple new writing projects: I’m putting together a companion book of essays and bonus material to my Guardian series that I plan to put out in 2021, not to mention finishing up the final edits for Book 3, due out in December!

In another fun thing, my book cover from Nocturne is up for Cover of the Month at AllAuthor. The public gets to vote on best covers to move it up through the elimination rounds, so if you can take a moment to go cast a vote I’d love that!

Here’s the link to the voting page. It’s possible to vote at first without creating an account, though eventually that option will go away. Whatever you can do to help boost my cover will be so appreciated! And I’ll be sure to tell you if I win 😉

Blog Hop: First Impressions

On By cherylmahoneyIn Blog Hop3 Comments

book-blogger-hop-final

Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: What draws you in more: the book’s title, the book’s cover, or the summary on the back cover?

This is an interesting and slightly shifting question – when I used to find most of my books by browsing the library, I would have seen the title first.  Most books are on the shelves so only their spines show, meaning it’s only the title that led me to pick it up and look at the cover and summary.

When I was getting most of my book reading ideas from reading book blogs, I feel like it was the summary, or what the bloggers said about the book, that drew me in.  I don’t recall focusing on titles or covers as much when I was reading blog posts.

Most recently I’ve been reading lots of books off my To Be Read list, which mostly got there because I heard about a particular book…somehow.  A lot were suggestions that weren’t ultimately chosen at my book club, some (non-fiction, mostly) were referenced by other books, some are recommended by friends or someone I know online.  So in all those cases, it’s mostly something about the plot (which would be in the summary) that led me into reading them.

Ultimately it is mostly the summary that gets me to actually read a book – even when I was browsing, I’d look at a title, then a cover, then the summary.  Though frequently I’d only read half a summary before making a decision – I really wanted it to hook me immediately!

What draws you to read a book?  The title, the cover, the summary, or even something else?

Video Presentation for Accompaniment

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News2 Comments

Since I can’t hold an in-person launch party to talk about my new book, Accompaniment (The Guardian of the Opera Book 2), I filmed a video presentation instead.  Catch the video below for a bit more about the book, an excerpt, and some Q&A!

Launch Day: Accompaniment (Guardian of the Opera 2)

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News5 Comments

I’m excited to announce that my new book is now out!  Accompaniment, Book Two in my Guardian of the Opera trilogy, released today and you can order your copy  now.

Pick your preferred format:

Hardback ($35.99)
Paperback ($14.49)
Kindle ($6.99)

I’m so happy to share this new book with you!  Stay tuned for the launch presentation video I’ll be putting up this weekend with more details.  For now, here’s just a little more about the story:

After the crash of the chandelier and the disappearance of the powerful Comte de Chagny, Erik’s refuge behind the mask of the Phantom of the Opera has grown more dangerous. Commissaire Mifroid has vowed to hunt him down, in whatever depths of the Opera Garnier he hides. Grieving the departure of Christine Daaé, Erik finds it hard to care about the policeman’s threat, and a slowly growing friendship with Meg Giry seems like only a minor distraction.

When Christine left Paris, Meg thought the hole in her life could never be filled. It only makes it worse that she’s known far too much as “Christine’s friend.” But conversations with the Phantom and flirtations with a handsome gentleman in the Dance Foyer mean the chance to seek a new role—and to stop feeling like a secondary character in her own life.

Accompaniment Count-Down: 1 Day

On By cherylmahoneyIn Novel News1 Comment

Accompaniment, the second book in my Guardian of the Opera trilogy, will be out tomorrow, September 4th!  I’m counting down this week with a new quote each day.

What is the Phantom’s most famous symbol but his mask?

Catch up on the story by reading Book One, Nocturne, and the special prequel short story collection, Overture.  And get your copy of Accompaniment tomorrow!