{"id":37358,"date":"2019-12-30T06:30:12","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T17:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/?p=37358"},"modified":"2019-12-19T22:39:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-19T09:39:58","slug":"the-most-read-on-anything-really-posts-of-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/12\/30\/the-most-read-on-anything-really-posts-of-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most-Read &#8220;&#8230;On Anything, Really&#8221; Posts of 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>So here we are, having run our race of 2019, on the penultimate day of the year&#8212;the perfect time to review the most read posts on <em>Anything, Really <\/em>during the course of the past twelve months.<\/p>\n<p>Usually I review the top ten posts in chronological order through the year, but because of the nature of the post that garnered the most distinct reads, this year I&#8217;m going to list in order of hits &#8212; and hope that next year will be one where I can revert to the old order!<\/p>\n<p>A link to the post is embedded in the title.<\/p>\n<p>And here they are:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36582\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36582\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-36582\" src=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-03-17-12.13.11-150x113.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-03-17-12.13.11-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-03-17-12.13.11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-03-17-12.13.11-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/2019-03-17-12.13.11-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36582\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Floral tributes near Linwood mosque<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>1. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/03\/18\/a-dark-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Dark Day<\/a> &#8212; March 18<\/h4>\n<p>I posted this three days after the Christchurch terror attack of March 15. The post contains both a summary of events at the time and my personal response to them. I&#8217;m glad if blog followers and visitors found something in it worth reading. Nine months on, it&#8217;s as important as ever that we don&#8217;t forget to remember those who were murdered and those who still suffer, both survivors and victims&#8217; families and friends.<\/p>\n<h4>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/02\/18\/on-worldbuilding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">On Worldbuilding<\/a> &#8212; February 18<\/h4>\n<p>This post was sparked by a question I received on Good Reads, about the &#8220;how to&#8221; and mechanics of fantasy worldbuilding. I sought to oblige with some tips and principles, and the post appears to have struck a chord. \ud83d\ude42<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-36405 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Helen_Lowe_TWON_fan_495w-150x112.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Helen_Lowe_TWON_fan_495w-150x112.png 150w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Helen_Lowe_TWON_fan_495w-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Helen_Lowe_TWON_fan_495w.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/02\/25\/my-worldbuilding-a-few-thoughts-on-guiding-influences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">My Worldbuilding: A Few Thoughts on Guiding Influences<\/a> &#8212; February 25<\/h4>\n<p>A week after the &#8220;On Worldbuilding&#8221; post, I followed up with a close look at what I consider the strongest elements and influences in my own worldbuilding.<\/p>\n<h4>4. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/11\/04\/its-not-the-end-yet-but-i-can-see-it-from-here-a-wall-4-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It&#8217;s Not The End Yet &#8212; But I Can See It From Here: A WALL #4 Update<\/a> &#8212; November 4<\/h4>\n<p>Yes, you&#8217;ve guessed it from the title &#8212; the writing progress update proving perennially popular! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p>And yes, I can still &#8220;the end&#8221; off there in the distance, although there are a goodly few leagues to cover still, before we get there. Or to quote Tom O&#8217; Bedlam:<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Ten leagues beyond the wild world\u2019s end.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Methinks it is no journey.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_29736\" style=\"width: 103px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29736\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-29736\" src=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Daughter-of-Blood_Front-Cover-93x150.jpg\" alt=\"daughter-of-blood-by-helen-lowe\" width=\"93\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Daughter-of-Blood_Front-Cover-93x150.jpg 93w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Daughter-of-Blood_Front-Cover-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Daughter-of-Blood_Front-Cover.jpg 409w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 93px) 100vw, 93px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29736\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">USA<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>5. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/11\/25\/the-month-of-daughter-of-blood-something-readers-might-not-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Month Of <em>Daughter Of Blood<\/em> &#8212; Something Readers Might Not Know<\/a> &#8212;November 25<\/h4>\n<p>As part of supporting the US edition being on Kindle Monthly Deal, I made November the month of <em>Daughter of Blood<\/em> (The Wall Of Night Book Three.) In this post, I shared a behind the scenes fact about the book, which engendered some lighthearted discussion.<\/p>\n<h4>6. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/11\/07\/daughter-of-blood-the-wall-of-night-3-qa-thursday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Daughter Of Blood<\/em> Q&amp;A Thursday #1<\/a> &#8212; November 7<\/h4>\n<p>The Q&amp;A Thursdays were another vital part of the Month of Daughter of Blood, with some great questions rolling in. I had quite a lot of fun with the answers as well. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<h4>7. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/04\/29\/a-present-of-the-word-present-including-a-wee-sneak-snippet-from-wall4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Present Of The Word &#8220;Present&#8221;, Including A Sneak Snippet From WALL #4<\/a> &#8212; April 29<\/h4>\n<p>I&#8217;d seen a few author friends getting into Book Quote Wednesday so thought I would give it a whirl. The word for April 29 was &#8220;present&#8221;and the post features includes quotes from all my published novels. And yes, a sneaky wee snippet from WALL #4 crept in, too&#8230;<\/p>\n<h4><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-36838\" src=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/The-Gossamer-Mage-99x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"99\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/The-Gossamer-Mage-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/The-Gossamer-Mage-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/The-Gossamer-Mage.jpg 298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 99px) 100vw, 99px\" \/>8. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/07\/29\/what-im-reading-the-gossamer-mage-by-julie-czerneda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What I&#8217;m Reading: <strong><em>The Gossamer Mage<\/em><\/strong> by Julie Czerneda<\/a> &#8212; July 29<\/h4>\n<p>I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Julie Czerneda&#8217;s latest fantasy, <em>The Gossamer Mage<\/em>, and shared my thoughts here as part of the publication razzmatazz. Hint: both reading thumbs were up.<\/p>\n<h4>9. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/04\/01\/number-eight-wire-the-fourth-new-zealand-haiku-anthology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201c<em>number eight wire<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Fourth New Zealand Haiku Anthology<\/a> &#8212; April 1<\/h4>\n<p>I was delighted to have a haiku eligible for inclusion in <em>number eight wire<\/em>, the fourth NZ haiku anthology. I wasn&#8217;t able to attend the launch in Tauranga, but did a blog shout-out instead.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-37095 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Watchtower-92x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"92\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Watchtower-92x150.jpg 92w, https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Watchtower.jpg 176w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 92px) 100vw, 92px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>10. <a href=\"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2019\/10\/21\/watchtower-by-elizabeth-a-lynn-aka-the-unreliability-of-book-lists\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Watchtower<\/em> by Elizabeth A Lynn &#8212; aka The Unreliability of Book Lists<\/a> &#8212; October 21<\/h4>\n<p>In compiling an impromptu Fantasy reading list, I was chagrined to realise I had omitted to mention the seminal and still groundbreaking (imho) <em>Watchtower<\/em> by Elizabath A Lynn. In order to remedy the oversight, I gave it a post to itself. Clearly it garnered interest, which the book entirely deserves.<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>There they are &#8212; and here <em>we<\/em> are, together on the cusp of 2020. Thank you for continuing to read, follow, and interact in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>I wish you all a very Happy New Year celebration and all good things for the year ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So here we are, having run our race of 2019, on the penultimate day of the year&#8212;the perfect time to review the most read posts on Anything, Really during the course of the past twelve months. Usually I review the top ten posts in chronological order through the year, but because of the nature of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bestof-on-anythingreally"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37358"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37368,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37358\/revisions\/37368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}