Summer Reading List Recommendations

What’s on your summer reading list? Here at Glass House, we like to spend the long days being transported to a faraway time and place. I mean, anything to take us away from the responsibilities of the real world, right?!

Not only do our authors write, they love to READ as well! We asked them to share with us what they’ve got on their summer reading list this year, and why it should be on yours, and we’ll be featuring recommendations from all of our authors over the next few weeks for your summer reading (and perhaps even stretching into fall…).

So kick back, grab a cold drink and a good book, and enjoy the recommendations from our first three authors!

Nikki Vogel

To begin my summer reading, I blazed through Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. She writes for a similar audience as me, and I not only enjoyed the story, but also liked paying attention to how she handled certain things. As a learning opportunity and stuff.

I also recently read Leigh Bardugo's Grisha series. This chick can WRITE. I love her stories and am filled with envy when I read her books.

I read Borne by Jeff VanderMeer because I totally loved his Annihilation series. Borne was entertaining, though I didn’t love it as much as the Annihilation series.

Coming up … well, I have a list of steampunk books I’m going to read because it’s a genre I’m not that familiar with, and my WIP is going to have elements of steampunk in it. The list includes Ticker by Lisa Matechev, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittridge, and Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.

I also have a couple of research books on my list: Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffry Gantz and Celtic Myths and Legends by Peter Berresford Ellis.

I also have the second book of V.E. Schwab’s Monsters of Verity series to read, as well as 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster and Caraval by Stephanie Garber.

That should keep me busy for awhile. :)

PT McHugh

Bernard Cornwell (my favorite historical fiction writer) has written yet another novel regarding his second-best character, Lord Uhtred, my favorite Dane who wreaked havoc over a thousand years ago (Netflix has done a great job adapting his books into the series Kingdom, which I highly recommend). And of course you can never go wrong with Lee Child's novels when you’re hitting the beach.

George Ebey

Broadcast Hysteria by A. Brad Schwartz (non-fic), Perchance to Dream by Charles Beaumont (classic sci fi/horror short story collection), and then I need to get going on Freedom of the Mask by Robert McCammon (historical fiction). Because who can go wrong combining history and fiction?

That’s it for the moment! What’s on your summer reading list? Are there books you think we’d love? Books we ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO READ? Send us recommendations on Twitter or FB, and we’ll let you know the moment we get around to them!

Love,

The Glass House Gang

GHP Counts Down to Summer! - featuring Josh Wilcox

Although it feels--for a lot of us--like summer has been in full swing for the past few weeks, the “official” first day of summer is this Wednesday, June 21. We don’t care, though, as we’re already celebrating and worshipping the sun as much as we possibly can!

Our very last author featured in our Countdown to Summer 2017 is Josh Wilcox. Josh is ready for some fun in the sun and can’t wait to start the best summer tan trend we’ve ever heard of!

If Josh lived anywhere besides Portland, he would consider his favorite season to be fall. But, as he says, “Summer's my favorite season in Portland, because it's the only time the weather's not miserable.” We hear you on that one, Josh!

Read on to discover what Josh has been anticipating about Summer 2017 during those long, cold winter days?

What is the THE event that you’re most looking forward to this summer?

I love Renaissance Faires, so I'm really looking forward to the Oregon and Washington fairs this summer. If I had to pick one as the most epic, even though it's a drive, it would be The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire.

Where do you live? Describe this winter in your area in three words.

Portland, Oregon, and that would be 222 rainy days.

What do you hope to accomplish in your writing over the long summer days?

Keeping at it. Summer's always the hardest to write through in Portland because you actually want to go outside. My goal, though, is to finish editing a book I've been working on for far too long and first draft another. A bit aggressive, but I find aggressive goals help me get work done.

What trend or catch-phrase are you going to start this summer?

Lizard tan. It's where you're tan everywhere but your chest and belly.

What is the BEST summer story from when you were a kid?

I originally read ‘story’ as ‘novel,’ so I’m going to answer that misunderstanding first: Mus of Kerbridge by Paul Kidd. It's a book I'll forever treasure. Close second is a book I've never been able to find again. I read it in junior high, and it was about a girl who wanted to be a knight, who dressed up as one and fought to be respected, while at the same time struggling with a love triangle between another warrior and a monk. If anyone knows what this book was called, please let me know. It's my long lost love.

As for the best summer story of my actual life, if it wasn't reading Mus of Kerbridge under the oak trees outside the Medford Public Library, it was probably going to the Lava Caves on a Boy Scout trip. A few friends and I decided to light off some fireworks in the catacombs and the incredibly dense smoke of our foolishness forced us to crawl through a narrow passage to escape. We promptly got lost and spent several hours wandering miles of confusing caves without any adults. We saw some really cool stuff, though we may have been a bit too panicked to appreciate it. When our leader found us, we didn't even get in trouble. He told us he was going to rip us a new one until he saw our faces, and realized we'd been punished long enough.

What is the WORST summer story from when you were a kid?

On a hot summer afternoon, my older brother's friends locked me in a shed. I was not happy about it. It probably took me half an hour to jimmy the lock with a screwdriver. When finally I broke out, they were getting on their bikes to head somewhere else. In a rage, I sprinted after them. I caught the slowest one at the end of the cul-de-sac and jammed my screwdriver in his tire. The rest escaped with their rides intact. But they didn't do it again.

Summer blockbuster you are most looking forward to watching and why:

Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director, Hans Zimmer my favorite composer, and I've loved everything they've made. Of course, Dunkirk wasn't supposed to be coming out in summer. Until that point, I was most excited for The House. I'm a Will Ferrell fanatic.

Rapid Fire Questions:

The All-Time Best Song of Summer is:

Ugh, so difficult to pick one! I might've said Summertime by My Chemical Romance until Chris Cornell's passing. That reminded me Black Hole Sun was the first song I ever loved.

Your Summer Guilty Pleasure:

Yum Yum Bars. My mom always made them for Independence Day. There's a myriad of so-called bars on the internet but the ones she makes are pure chocolatey, graham-crackery hedonism. They're disgustingly addictive.

Daylight Savings Time for Summer: yes or no?

I'm gonna go off on a Jonah Ryan-esque rant here and say that Daylight Savings Time should occur every week, with a shortened hour occurring at 9 AM on Friday and a lengthened hour on Sunday. Of course, if weekly is too much to keep track of, let's just enforce spring-forward to always be on a Friday at 9 AM.

Beach or Mountains? Mountains.

Swimsuits: yes or no? Either way I'm just wearing shorts.

Sandals or Bare Feet? Flops.

Ice Cream or Popsicles? Is that a question? I'm an adult. Ice cream.

Memorial Day or Independence Day?

Independence Day. As they said in The Simpsons, celebrate the independence of your country by blowing up a small part of it.

Put these words in order: Swimming, Baseball, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Air Conditioning, Vacation

Vacation, Ice Cream, Swimming, Air Conditioning,

Hot Dogs......................................................................................... Baseball

Sum up Summer 2017 in five words: Sun, soccer, swashbuckling, and stories

Follow Josh on social media to find out more about his upcoming books and his summer lizard tan progress!

Twitter: @jdavidwilcox

Instagram: @jdpendragon

Facebook: JDavidWilcox

Pinterest: JDavidWilcox

GHP Counts Down to Summer! - featuring PT McHugh

Just like everyone else (except publisher and GH owner Carrie White-Parrish), the blog took last Monday off to enjoy the unofficial/official start of summer with Memorial Day, and to remember those who have lost their lives in service to our country. But now we’re back and happy to say … IT’S SUMMER!!! OFFICIALLY AND FINALLY! I mean not that we actually get to take the entire summer off like some people (ahem, Linda Foster), though we DO intend to enjoy every bit of sunshine and warm weather over the next three months. So it’s time to kick back, have a frozen drink, and enjoy a good book while we forget about our pesky, never-ending TO DO list.

One of our last authors in our summer countdown series is PT McHugh. Patrick is ready to get his second book, Rebel, out the door and kick off summer, margarita in hand. Read on to learn what he’s looking forward to this summer!

What is the THE event that you’re most looking forward to this summer?

Vacationing in Hawaii. Ever since I was young and saw reruns of the Brady Bunch, I’ve wanted to go there. And now my dream will be completed (not sure why I waited this long to go).

Where do you live? Describe this winter in your area in three words.

Moved back to Northern California a couple of years ago, from North Carolina. Not sure why I ever left. Winter in three words or less; wet, cool, perfect.

What do you hope to accomplish in your writing over the long summer days?

Honestly the second book has taken longer than the first. I’m ready to get this book out the door! We’re also working on a novella that we started, stopped, started again, and then put down about three years ago. It’s time for that little story (about Reis and how it all began!) to see the light!

What trend or catch-phrase are you going to start this summer?

Rebel is about to be released! Does that count? Maybe not, but it’s still true!

What is the BEST summer story from when you were a kid?

Going to A&W to eat in the car with my parents and then going to the drive-in movie theatre. Best time ever. Too bad most drive-ins have gone away. It’s one of my favorite memories from when I was young, and honestly it feels like a shame that kids these days don’t get to experience it.

What is the WORST summer story from when you were a kid?

Back to school clothes shopping.

Summer blockbuster you are most looking forward to watching and why:

Dunkirk looks amazing. I’m a history buff at heart, and I cannot wait for this movie to come out.

Rapid Fire Questions:

The All-Time Best Song of Summer is: Summer Nights by Van Halen. (Not their best song, but for me that song reminds me of summer.)

Your Summer Guilty Pleasure: Margaritas.

Daylight Savings Time for Summer: yes or no? Yes.

Beach or Mountains? Beach (only because I hate bugs).

Swimsuits: yes or no? Of course.

Sandals or Bare Feet? Sandals (sensitive feet).

Ice Cream or Popsicles? Ice Cream.

Memorial Day or Independence Day? The 4th of course.

Put these words in order: Swimming, Baseball, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Air Conditioning, Vacation

Air Conditioning, Vacation, Swimming, Baseball, Ice cream.

Sum up Summer 2017 in five words: Closer to football season.

Learn more about PT McHugh and his books by visiting his website and following him on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PTMcHughauthor

Twitter: PatrickMcHugh4

GoodReads

Website: http://ptmchugh.com/

GHP Counts Down to Summer! - featuring Mary Fan

The countdown to Summer 2017 is almost over, and we already have sun-kissed cheeks and noses (well, let’s be honest--it’s more like a sunburn...)! The smiles on our faces as we walk in the sunshine couldn’t be any bigger, and we’re hoping there are nothing but blue skies in the forecast. Maybe with some of those puffy white clouds....

And for those of us who live in fire-prone areas, a rain storm every two weeks or so.

I mean, that’s not asking for MUCH, right????

Next up for our author countdown to summer interviews is Mary Fan, who didn’t grow up experiencing what many of us might deem a “traditional” summer, and doesn’t have the same kind of American nostalgia for summer vacation that many of us have. But she does admit that “sunshine is nice. And beer. For some reason, beer is more satisfying in the summer.”

I think we can all agree on THAT.

Although Mary is a bit of an indoors and non-traditional kind of person (who readily admits that summer is second to fall in her book), she still enjoys summer and the increase in social commitments it brings. Read on to hear more about her non-traditional, nerd-inspired summer plans!

What is the THE event that you’re most looking forward to this summer?

GEN CON!!! This will be my third year making the trek out to Indianapolis for four days of nerdy goodness and peddling books. I always have loads of fun, and usually sell a good number of books, so it's equal parts work and play. I get to revel in my nerdiness and be productive all at once! And I get to wear all my crazy nerd outfits...

Where do you live? Describe this winter in your area in three words.

Jersey City. Winter: Slush, slush, everywhere.

What do you hope to accomplish in your writing over the long summer days?

Well, since I work 9-6 whether it's summer or not, my summer days are no longer than in any other season (actually, my writing time gets shorter since I agree to more social activities). I have a feeling I'll be doing more publicity-type stuff than actual writing on the book front this summer, since I've got two new releases forthcoming (one's an anthology I'm editing about girls in STEM, and one's an indie sci-fi romance).

What trend or catch-phrase are you going to start this summer?

HAH! I'm the least trendy person in the world. I've been old since I was a kid. But I am going to a music festival (Firefly down in Delaware), so that’s pretty cool... And my goal is to make Star Wars apparel acceptable festival wear for Instagram. :-P

What is the BEST summer story from when you were a kid?

My memories are too scattered to pick out a singular moment, but I've always loved spending time on the water. Splashing in a lake with my parents as a kid, canoeing at summer camp, kayaking alone down the canal as a teen...

What is the WORST summer story from when you were a kid?

Being. Stuck. In. China. UGH. I'm sure my parents had the best of intentions when they sent me and my sister to live with our grandparents in China over the summer for a few years, but as a kid, it sucked! I was too young to really appreciate being exposed to another culture, and day-to-day living wasn’t fun like vacations are. All my friends were in the US, and the only books I had were what I brought with me, so I got really, REALLY bored.

Summer blockbuster you are most looking forward to watching and why:

Pirates of the Caribbean 5! The original Pirates was my favorite movie (after Star Wars, of course) in high school. I must have watched it one hundred times... I could recite all the dialogue and point out the behind-the-scenes details of every shot. It was pure fun; it knew it was a ridiculous pirate movie, and embraced that. Now the sequels were objectively terrible, and I'm sure number 5 will be no different. But I aim to embrace the horridness. No one watches a Pirates movie for its cinematic merits, after all.

Rapid Fire Questions:

The All-Time Best Song of Summer is: Summertime (I'm old school)

Your Summer Guilty Pleasure: Drinking beer outdoors

Daylight Savings Time for Summer: yes or no? NOPE

Beach or Mountains? Yes, please

Swimsuits: yes or no? Only if I'm going into the water

Sandals or Bare Feet? Bare feet

Ice Cream or Popsicles? Sorbet

Memorial Day or Independence Day? Either way, it's a day off of work

Put these words in order: Swimming, Baseball, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Air Conditioning, Vacation

Vacation, Air Conditioning, Swimming, Ice Cream, Hot Dogs

What's baseball? :-P

Sum up Summer 2017 in five words: Hipster music and nerdy events

Learn more about Mary Fan, her books, and the upcoming anthology she is editing by visiting her website and following her on social media!

Website: www.MaryFan.com

Twitter: @astralcolt

Facebook: facebook.com/mfanwriter

Instagram: @astralcolt