Author Buzz | Sam Smith | Group Activity https://authorbuzz.co.uk/members/samsmith/activity/groups/ Public group activity feed of which Sam Smith is a member. Sat, 03 Oct 2026 01:04:03 +0100 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 63ce50e3716577bf849316a89c47c917 Matthew Brown replied to the topic Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/terry-pratchett-a-life-with-footnotes-by-rob-wilkins/#post-5355 Fri, 02 Oct 2026 22:47:03 +0100 I am 124 pages in and hooked. STP’s influence on Rob Wilkins is clear. Highly recommend this for Pratchett fans.

]]> 081fc82c38d9cec8bcbeda90c63213ed Blog: The Nice List: 9 Christmas Romances to Curl Up with this Festive Season from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://s28434.pcdn.co/2026/10/01/the-nice-list-9-christmas-romances-to-curl-up-with-this-festive-season/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:18:11 +0100 If your idea of the perfect Christmas involves a steaming mug of something delicious, a fluffy blanket to curl up … Continued

]]> 0 3e2049d40505f591e8a1cdf244a3a077 Blog: Romance Includes You 2026: Winner Announcement from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://blog.millsandboon.co.uk/2026/10/01/romance-includes-you-2026-winner-announcement/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:55:27 +0100 Katherine Woollacott selected for Mills & Boon’s 2026 Romance Includes You mentorship! Mills & Boon is thrilled to announce that … Continued

]]> 0 0b3217f9d9954d8e177b63b54329e30f Blog: Why Lynne Graham is the author you need on your TBR from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://blog.millsandboon.co.uk/2026/09/29/why-lynne-graham-is-the-author-you-need-on-your-tbr/ Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:29:50 +0100 Lynne Graham is a USA Today bestselling author with a backlist that reads like a greatest hits collection of everything … Continued

]]> 0 ecd47f486ac06a5aaaf0ef0052164497 Matthew Brown edited the blog post I'm checking up on a small bug in the group Help and Support https://dev.authorbuzz.co.uk/2026/09/28/im-checking-up-on-a-small-bug/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:19:18 +0100 I'm checking up on a small bug There appears to be an issue with ActivityPub on some blogs, including Author Buzz HQ. It should not break the site (as far as I can tell), but it […]

]]> 8fa6e0bae267c209b2e6c43135ebeeb1 Matthew Brown edited the blog post Fediverse Book Fair (#FediBookFair) in the group Author Buzz HQ https://authorbuzz.co.uk/2026/09/28/fediverse-book-fair-fedibookfair/ Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:59:27 +0100 Fediverse Book Fair (#FediBookFair) A social media book fair is being organised on the Mastodon (and ActivityPub) social media network. It is free to participate, but you may, if you wish, […]

]]> 4f5fcf4f9742d7341950ece828d24b55 Blog: Ice by Anna Kavan from Dogwood Tales in the group Book Reviews by Dogwood Tales feed https://dogwoodtales.blogspot.com/2026/09/ice-by-anna-kavan.html Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:53:46 +0100 Well, this wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It opens conventionally enough with an unnamed narrator driving through an unseasonably harsh ice storm, looking for a […]

]]> 1 364517ee3dba677da932a51a3972db46 Matthew Brown edited the blog post Keeping Your Side Characters Distinct - Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture (2025) in the group Thanet Creative: Writers https://thanetcreative.co.uk/2026/09/keeping-your-side-characters-distinct-brandon-sandersons-writing-lecture-2025/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:12:58 +0100 Keeping Your Side Characters Distinct – Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture (2025)

]]> 31ef8da10aab76eefc614ec0a906b9dc Matthew Brown started the topic Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/terry-pratchett-a-life-with-footnotes-by-rob-wilkins/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 19:04:33 +0100 I’ve not started reading it yet but I was given a copy of the Terry Pratchett biography, A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins, for my birthday.

When I have read (some of) it, I’ll report back.

]]> a311ec64d798669d5ba9ab435d5c3bae Toni McHadden joined the group I probably should be writing https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19124/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:56:09 +0100 0 b4a2f980eafab4603fd074deaa4d8ba1 Blog: Exclusive Extract: Her Royal Houseguest by Jade Lee from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://s28434.pcdn.co/2026/09/25/exclusive-extract-her-royal-houseguest-by-jade-lee/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:12:09 +0100 If you love royal romance, opposites attract, and sharp-tongued heroines who refuse to be overlooked, Her Royal Houseguest belongs on … Continued

]]> 0 5af7da999ec98810b203e02fb8fc9cae Blog: 11 Cosy but Spicy Books to Read this Autumn from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://blog.millsandboon.co.uk/2026/09/23/11-cosy-but-spicy-books-to-read-this-autumn/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:15:45 +0100 The scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger is in the air, which can only mean one thing…pumpkin-spiced lattes are back! … Continued

]]> 0 06a7823adf8fbf259a6678e69fa6da1b Matthew Brown commented on the post, What book do you wish you could read again for the first time?, on the groupblog Shall we talk? https://chat.authorbuzz.co.uk/books/what-book-do-you-wish-you-could-read-again-for-the-first-time/#comment-858 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 19:29:13 +0100 The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks.

]]> cb814d9f9f1d71dec6747d5ae63554e4 Blog: Exclusive Extract: Doctors’ Red-Hot Rivalry by Luana DaRosa from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://blog.millsandboon.co.uk/2026/09/18/exclusive-extract-doctors-red-hot-rivalry-by-luana-darosa/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:02:02 +0100 If you love spicy medical romance with enemies-to-lovers tension and a secret arrangement that sets the page on fire – … Continued

]]> 0 1a5fb1433187e046dba346d1ec4820cc Sam Smith wrote a new blog post What book do you wish you could read again for the first time? in the group Shall we talk? https://chat.authorbuzz.co.uk/books/what-book-do-you-wish-you-could-read-again-for-the-first-time/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0100 cf8b7573add94d1f7e32b00aeee62b4e Blog: Love Practical Magic? Here Are 7 Witchy Romance Books to Read Next from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://blog.millsandboon.co.uk/2026/09/16/love-practical-magic-here-are-7-witchy-romance-books-to-read-next/ Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:19:10 +0100 Calling all witches, ghost enthusiasts and hopeless romantics – your autumn TBR just got a serious upgrade!🧙‍♀️🕯️ Has Practical Magic … Continued

]]> 0 5598e5bee51a8082538f331c18348120 Jane Smith started the topic Yesterday, I read How the Grinch Stole Christmas to two happy children in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/yesterday-i-read-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-to-two-happy-children/ Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:45:26 +0100 I loved reading Dr Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas when I was small, and I got to read it again yesterday evening when I read it to my friend’s two kiddies.

]]> bfdd7975545e1296bf7b69e7ec89f8cc Matthew Brown replied to the topic The Player of Games by Iain M Banks in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/the-player-of-games-by-iain-m-banks/?view=all#post-5316 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:24:41 +0100 The Player of Games was my first Iain M Banks book. It got me hooked on the Culture as a whole; it was by far the best one. Jernau Morat Gurgeh’s journey was a compelling one but I liked how Banks never shies away from what it cost him, as well as what it gave him.

The game playing went so many levels deeper that’s more obviouse on a second reading.

]]> 9a64ba899a461c86abc99042e8ad994b Sam Smith replied to the topic The Player of Games by Iain M Banks in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/the-player-of-games-by-iain-m-banks/#post-5314 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:24:04 +0100 I loved that book.

]]> 2552a4c47496c8c28bde95c6ca0d53af Acorn Boi started the topic I downloaded The Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/i-downloaded-the-wheels-of-chance-by-h-g-wells/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:18:53 +0100 I downloaded The Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells from Standard Ebooks. They’re a project to make good-looking free ebooks from public domain works.

https://standardebooks.org/

]]> 145fe15419b24301535e71ca09328f09 Blog: Exclusive Extract: From Baby Surprise to Snowbound by Susan Meier from Mills & Boon Blog in the group Mills and Boon fans https://s28434.pcdn.co/2026/09/11/exclusive-extract-from-baby-surprise-to-snowbound-by-susan-meier/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:54:43 +0100 If you love feel-good winter romance with festive charm, a swoony second-chance connection and the kind of forced proximity that … Continued

]]> 0 3b140e9b656fbc5941c98a3db0a576e3 Jane Smith replied to the topic I'm reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (no spoilers please) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/im-reading-beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney-no-spoilers-please/#post-5310 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:19:16 +0100 Good so far

]]> f2595b3ba017250b0e5a5de9f83f0e2e Charles Maxwell started the topic The Player of Games by Iain M Banks in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/the-player-of-games-by-iain-m-banks/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:16:42 +0100 I’m halfway through The Player of Games. Not sure if Gurgeh was written to be likeable. I am hooked on him anyway. Such a rich setting and the game… Oh, boy: WOW!

Anyone know if this is a series? I want more.

]]> acf7eab8b7ced53342b2c15039212234 Charles Maxwell joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19032/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:13:29 +0100 0 6b7c8e7ea76a9d7f12d40520bcb633d7 jeffjohns joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19031/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:04:41 +0100 0 b9f8b37fae54ad05e4d1689100e5c125 Toni McHadden joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19030/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:53:46 +0100 0 ea35f69401c89d9b4c646daa075bac41 Acorn Boi started the topic I'm reading "How to be a writer" in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/im-reading-how-to-be-a-writer/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:50:12 +0100 It is a little yellow pocket sized book.

So far, so good. Lots of helpful tips.

]]> 8772b2f13fbc84d3dce26923056f40e2 Acorn Boi joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19028/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:47:31 +0100 0 3562350bf24c82c75144fd1e5c7bbfeb Arves Corral started the topic His pet peeve about writing in the forum Brandon Sanderson Fans https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/brandon-sanderson-fans/forum/topic/his-pet-peeve-about-writing/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:40:05 +0100

]]> 4c531910b1ec9f4dec74941ff3f1d1d6 Matthew Brown replied to the topic I've just finished Project Hail Mary in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/ive-just-finished-project-hail-mary/#post-5303 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:09:49 +0100 I read the book first. The movie was good, but the book had more depth, for sure.

As an adaptation, the film was reasonable.

]]> 412a76e96d4dabf636bfc2a8bf99139b Matthew Brown started the topic I'm reading the entire Stormlight Archive (spolier free) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/im-reading-the-entire-stormlight-archive-spolier-free/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:06:40 +0100 I’m very many books into the Stormlight Archive.

I bounced right off the first book on my initial reading attempt, but I found myself with time to kill and gave it another go. Book 1, Volume 1 has five or six first chapters, and you need to steam past all of that to get into the story. Many of those introductions do not entirely pay off in the…Read more

]]> ec31802a38b6e5dab386ccf66c46b42a Bob Bobson started the topic Sanderson on getting famous in the forum Brandon Sanderson Fans https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/brandon-sanderson-fans/forum/topic/sanderson-on-getting-famous/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:41:37 +0100  

]]> 52d400c6b5abba3465c701c84a361b95 Sam Smith replied to the topic I'm reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (no spoilers please) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/im-reading-beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney-no-spoilers-please/#post-5300 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:20:11 +0100 I was put off by all the negative reviews

When you finish, you’ll have to let me know if I should read it

]]> 3f439e2f2c7964cd6430e893588e5ecd Sam Smith replied to the topic What are you reading? (Start a thread if you wanna chat about it) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/what-are-you-reading-start-a-thread-if-you-wanna-chat-about-it/#post-5299 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:18:10 +0100 Eeek, lol – that’s my post. 🙂

 

]]> a9901f8981ccab61faef31e5535bed4f Sam Smith joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19013/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:17:36 +0100 0 6a0218efb48e0b63397684e7ba910d6d Matthew Brown joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19012/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:16:43 +0100 0 6a259f96cb61c92b93faea9f890f7235 Jason Latnar started the topic I've just finished Project Hail Mary in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/ive-just-finished-project-hail-mary/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:15:32 +0100 I tots loved the movie, but the book has loads more in it. Yeah, I get ya, “the book was better” is tired, but it was loads better. The movie was good; the book is great.

Do you think he’ll still be around for second contact?

]]> e577697e03d440dba4e4cbb754f51cf3 Jason Latnar joined the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19010/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:12:28 +0100 0 c9e274bdcb719bf95c2e2155bdff7d45 Jane Smith started the topic I'm reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (no spoilers please) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/im-reading-beautiful-ugly-by-alice-feeney-no-spoilers-please/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:10:53 +0100 I picked up Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. I’m about ten pages in.

NO SPOILERS, please.

Beautiful Ugly is off to a slow start.

]]> 8c98221d8e3e988beff4f652b3a3ab0e Charles Maxwell replied to the topic Hey, who's about RN? in the forum General Chat https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/general-chat/forum/topic/hey-whos-about-rn/#post-5296 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:03:43 +0100 Phone call done. I’m very glad that’s over with.

Thanks for chatting with me.

]]> a587d7f1a586af439374ff15224c282a Matthew Brown replied to the topic What are you reading? (Start a thread if you wanna chat about it) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/what-are-you-reading-start-a-thread-if-you-wanna-chat-about-it/#post-5294 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:59:07 +0100 What a good idea. I love it.

There’s a chat blog post with the same question: Great minds and all that.

What are you reading?

]]> 10d37683ec16cb3312a25d73d2cbc243 Jane Smith started the topic What are you reading? (Start a thread if you wanna chat about it) in the forum What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/what-are-you-reading/forum/topic/what-are-you-reading-start-a-thread-if-you-wanna-chat-about-it/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:14:52 +0100 I hope it is okay to make a new group. This one is for talking about what you are reading. All threads answer the question, “What are you reading?”

 

]]> 54d8edd981c29451b1a99fe35b995b84 Jane Smith created the group What are you reading? https://authorbuzz.co.uk/activity/p/19005/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:13:22 +0100 0 f8cff5e98c8c310fb7275203cdc47eb7 Matthew Brown replied to the topic Hey, who's about RN? in the forum General Chat https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/general-chat/forum/topic/hey-whos-about-rn/#post-5290 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:04:10 +0100 I get it. It happens to me like that sometimes.

]]> 1c828dfb11fa24b3c235e91ba39f8eda Charles Maxwell replied to the topic Hey, who's about RN? in the forum General Chat https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/general-chat/forum/topic/hey-whos-about-rn/#post-5289 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:59:51 +0100 My doctor. Nothing scary just have a question to ask.

I can never do anything when I’m waiting for a call. My brain gets blocked by the waiting. Probably an ADHD thing TBH. Thing is, I got The Martian on my table half read but I have no ability to can.

]]> fad2dbb7ce47934c310cf1a4e2760923 Matthew Brown replied to the topic Hey, who's about RN? in the forum General Chat https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/general-chat/forum/topic/hey-whos-about-rn/#post-5288 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:52:01 +0100 I’m online, what’s the phone cll you are waiting for?

]]> e424e42060419ee34e0eecdfcce37e95 Charles Maxwell started the topic Hey, who's about RN? in the forum General Chat https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/general-chat/forum/topic/hey-whos-about-rn/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:33:04 +0100 It’s so boring waiting for a phone call. Who wants to start a chat about something?

]]> a8a96c48e4500d8d497bcf8c9c2a88b6 Sam Smith edited the blog post What are you reading? in the group Shall we talk? https://chat.authorbuzz.co.uk/books/what-are-you-reading-3/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:04:37 +0100 What are you reading? What books are keeping your bookmarks warm right now?

]]> e8b62d736884266173aa5a9890e476f9 Toni McHadden started the topic Yes, you can - don't forget that in the forum Self care and motivation https://authorbuzz.co.uk/groups/self-care-and-motivation/forum/topic/yes-you-can-dont-forget-that/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:39:05 +0100 You’ve got this.

Maybe you’ve got this in unsteady baby steps

Maybe you’ve got this in giant leaps

Maybe you’ve got this only by hoping for tomorrow

However you’ve got this: You’ve got this!

]]> 06f4715d5325ad9c1b035659d728db94 Matthew Brown edited the blog post That fateful dinner in the group Writing prompts and inspirations https://muse.authorbuzz.co.uk/prompts/that-fateful-dinner/ Sat, 05 Sep 2026 07:20:14 +0100 That fateful dinner They met at a restaurant neither one would have chosen. Both alone after the non-appearance of their respective dates, they got to talking.

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