Armchair BEA - Better Blogging!

Paths to Becoming a Better Blogger--Discussing Development

I can't believe I've been blogging over a year and a half. Part of me still feels like a Newbie:

 * Every time I get a package of books in the mail
 * Every approved early preview
 * Finding and following fav authors
 * Meeting awesome book lovers!

The other half of me feels OLD.

 * Opening my email to 150 emails every day
 * Realizing I haven't posted today. Yet. Again.
 * Accepting that if I read every book in my current TBR pile, I'll be reading for over a year... and in another few months, I'll have another year's worth added to my pile... so I'm going backwards, not catching up.
 * Finding a book I had agreed to review 6 mo ago. Having to decide whether I should pretend that I didn't find it? or admit it, email the author, and post about it?

Monetary Development

Finding money book blogging is like chasing the elusive rainbow. Lol. I made money on the Google Ad one month - the month I asked people to click on it, which is bad Google Ad manners. I have made almost $2 tweeting... and $10 on Amazon over a year and a half. I don't give up easily, though. I'll find something. Lol.

The Blog Tours pay some - not compared to the hours I put into them, but at least there's some actual moolah and I can afford to buy a few books again. Oh, that cracks me up. Of course I would want to buy books if I had a few extra bucks!

(The Tours are a blast. If you haven't, you should try posting with me. It's really fun!)

Character

Finding a writing character is a process and very rewarding. I sort of let my creativity fly by emailing my sister almost daily for a few years. :-D  Practice for blogging!!  (Um... hence the excessive exclamation points. No rules in emails!!!!) I had a comfortable place to try things out, so I'm a little

I have learned:

 * Sarcasm is hard to communicate in writing.
 * I'm never sarcastic.
 * If in doubt, BE NICE!
 * Don't bring up Religion or Politics.
 * Age does not define a brain. Or a blogger.

What's next?

My book!  :-D  And more writing, no doubt. I can hardly stop writing now. Like a great (crazy) author Anna Banks told me... and I'll pass on to all y'all bloggers:

 If you keep going, it's gotta be your passion. And if it's your passion, you can't EVER give up on it. So you're stuck, my dear.

Meet-n-Greet Armchair BEA

Armchair BEA is so great... be sure to check out all the bloggers participating and join in the conversation!!

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? 
2. Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 
3. Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year? If you have not previously participated, what drew you to the event? 
4. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013? 
5. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 
6. Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s). 
7. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? 
8. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? 
9. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why? 
10. What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? 
11. Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

1 - ME!! I'm a mom of four. That pretty much says it all, no?  I'm writing a book - so I started blogging in October 2011 and things got out of hand from there.

2 - Beautiful soggy wet Oregon. I see sheep when I look outside. (Not my sheep, goodness!)

3 - I participated in Armchair BEA last year. Crazy time of year for mothers of school aged children. Who scheduled this thing, anyway?

4 - Currently... Highlander's Hope. Hilarious. I'm listening to The Hobbit in the car, too. I'm part-way through Blameless and Die For Me, too.

Favorite book so far this year was Carson Rae's The Bitter Kingdom followed closely by The Clockwork Princess.

5 - What in the world is not related to books?! (Phffffth)  My honey and I are overseeing a big classic car show event this summer. We're hoping to see more than 250 classics and a thousand participants not to mention over a hundred some volunteers. Just talking about it makes me feel a little panicky.

6 - I follow LOTS of blogs. Lots. I love... detailed reviews. I can tell when someone really thinks about what they're writing and I love 'em even more when the emotional feel of the book shows up in the review! I follow a lot of authors, too. Plus, right now I follow a lot of tour blogs. Most specifically: I Am a Reader, Not a Writer, Beck Valley Books, Candace's Book Blog.

Hey... speaking of following blogs - I like BlogLovin' - they send me an email every day with little blips and pix of everyone's post that day so I can zip through them. It's faster than following by email and more in my face than following on my Google page. 

Do you have a favorite way to follow your fav blogs?

7 - Post? Um... maybe chapter 1 of Mijita Ru? If I don't post a link to it somewhere on my blog, it's probably too close to my heart. Giveaways on on the left and recent things are in the lower left. I have busy sidebars, I know. You should see my desk.

8 - I still want to eat dinner with Robin McKinley, but "eat" isn't the right word. I'd slobber all over myself. If I wanted to actually eat... I'd love to hang out with Anna Banks. She's so funny and I don't think she'd mind if I snorted. I trip over myself when it comes to Robin LaFever and I'm afraid I couldn't stop asking questions. Michelle Diener is sooooo nice. I think I'd have the best time if we could meet in Australia. To have the awesomest dinner party, though... I'd want to hang out with my favorite Indie Authors:  Kimberly Krey, Rachel Fisher, Megan Thomason, Gretchen Powell & Nicole Grotepas. I'm not so awe-struck with the Indie authors, for some reason. Maybe because they have to forge their own way and be friendly-or-else. Lol. Very real, very nice people.

9 - Location? Um... I love those scenic places that are so big they make your heart ache. Hence... my love of Pinterest. *shrug* I want to see them all. ALL.

10 - Book bloggers rock. *tips hat* Confetti of respect to everyone who can write great post after post after post!

11 - Changes? The divide between big publishers and the small or Indie publishers is all muddled. I'd like to see the gap be bridged better... or more clearly defined... or something clearin' up that gap.

You know what I'd really, really like? To be an author myself next year for Armchair BEA. I mean, actually writing one of these things is seriously hard work! I get distracted so easily and blogging is much funner.

Lol.

Thanks for visiting! Leave a comment and I'll visit you back!

Tristan & Iseult by JD Smith - Triskele Books Giveaway Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the Triskele Books takeover!!  Every day will bring a new giveaway culminating on June 1st and a combined Release Party in London!  :-D  Welcome Armchair BEA visitors! We're getting a jump on this awesome week


Gillian Hamer interviews Jane Dixon-Smith.  

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Jane is offering an e-copy giveaway of Tristan & Iseult:

Tristan & Iseult
by JD Smith
Paperback, 220 pages
Published April 28th, 2013

In a land of fog and desperate tribes, Tristan fights to protect western Briton from Saxon invaders. In the wake of battle, he returns to Kernow bearing grave news, and the order of power shifts.

As Tristan defends the west, his uncle, King Mark, faces enemies to the east beyond the sea: the Irish Bloodshields. Mark is determined to unite the tribes of Briton and Ireland and forge an alliance that would see an end to war and the beginnings of peace.

Iseult, the daughter of Irish kings and a woman of the blood, resigns herself to her inevitable fate: marriage to Lord Morholt. A bloody duel changes her course, and she finds herself stranded on the coast of Kernow bringing with her the possibility of peace. But when she loses her heart to one man and marries another, her future and that of Briton flutters grey.

Three people and a hope that will never fade, this is a story of promise; the legend of love.

* Website * Goodreads *

Jane lives and works in the English Lake District. Having worked as a graphic designer for over 12 years, and a booklover to boot, she understands the industry.

The pseudonym JD Smith was adopted as her preferred Editor's title when launching the writing magazine Words with JAM. Jane is also a writer of historical fiction.

* Facebook * Twitter *

Gillian: I've been a fan of your writing for years (we both share a love of Romans!) but wonder why you chose to write historical fiction - and what HF authors do you admire? 

Jane: I’ve always had a great love of anything set in the past. I’m drawn to it in so many ways – the dress, the period settings, the way of life. More so than any other genre. I began my venture into novels as an adult by reading Bernard Cornwell. His Arthurian trilogy continues to be my favourite. I read recently Cleopatra’s Daughter my Michelle Moran, which has stayed with me. Conn Iggulden writes brilliant accounts of famous leaders such as Genghis Kahn and Julius Caesar. And I have a great fondness for Jane Austen – I recently designed wallpaper with the entire text from Pride and Prejudice printed on it. But it’s not just historical fiction I love, I enjoy fantasy immensely, although I tend to watch rather than read it.

Gillian: Why did you choose to re-tell the story of Tristan & Iseult? What attracted you to their story? 

Jane: All legends appeal to me, particularly those of which we know so little. The story of Tristan and Iseult (or Isolde) first appeared for me in Bernard Cornwell’s Arthurian trilogy I have just mentioned. He interwove their tale so believably into a unique take on the history of Briton that I looked them up and discovered the various different accounts of the tale. Then when the film Tristan and Isolde, produced by Ridley Scott, hit the big screen, my interest in the tale was revived. I began writing my version shortly after I began writing the second in my Warrior Queen series, which is based on third century Palymrene Queen Zenobia, the first of which will be released next year. I was hankering after writing something closer to home, about the wet and windy wild that is Britain.

Gillian: Why did you decide to join Triskele Books and what attracts you to indie publishing? 

Jane: I was never that interested in writing for a major publisher. I don’t think I could write all day every day. I have too many other creative interests. I design book covers and format other people’s manuscripts, and I enjoy that immensely, so bringing my own book to life has been a great and satisfying process. The reason I chose Triskele is easy – it’s full of not only talented individuals, but headed by Jill they work together as a team incredibly well.

Gillian: You're known as a multi-talented individual (designer, editor of Words with Jam, novelist) - which do you class as work and which do you class as a hobby? And with three children and a house renovation to also cope with, how do you relax? 

Jane: Design is work, writing and editing Words with JAM are hobbies. That’s always been clear to me. That said, I’m a pretty slow writer, but as soon as I had a deadline – to finish and prepare for publication a half-finished manuscript in time for a June launch, I treated it like a job. I’m better with deadlines. In the future I see all three aspects working together as one. With regards relaxing, I watch any period drama going. I catch up a lot with friends too, and enjoy eating out. Other than that I don’t have free time as such. I can’t remember what boredom actually is, it’s been so long since I didn’t have a list of things I needed to get done. Right now, as well as the steady stream of work, I have the June launch of Tristan and Iseult coming up, plus we’ll be moving house next month whilst still doing major building works.

Gillian: In your line of work, it's important you keep up with trends and changes. How do you see the future of publishing as it has developed at such a rapid pace in recent years? 

Jane: The big publishers will change, they’ll have to, and retailers will begin changing too. The balance has swung very recently so that the focus is on self-publishing, but I can well see the big six pulling it back again, and I think self-publishers need to be aware that the current major players, or perhaps a new one, could tip the balance. Perhaps we’ll see a website exist in the near future which publishes only vetted manuscripts, and with the right marketing and publicity, it could become the main place people will trust to buy from … and then we’ll all be back to square one … submitting … who knows? That’s the exciting part of the publishing world: everything’s changing.

Gillian: Where did the idea come from to start Words with JAM and do you still enjoy heading the magazine? 

Jane: It started off as a bit of fun, before ebooks ever really took off and people were still submitting to agents and subsequently mainstream publishers. It was all about being different from other writing magazines and fun. It’s grown and changed over the three and a half years it’s been in existence, and it will see another change in June, with a new, more social-friendly format.

Gillian: Which book from your shelf do you feel demonstrates a strong sense of time/place? 

Jane: Just one? Bernard Cornwell’s The Winter King plus so many more …

Tristan and Iseult is available now.
Design and print glossary  by JD Smith can be found in the Triskele Toolbox.


For each day of the week, starting 26th May, a different Triskele Books author will be interviewed, and will offer a free e-copy of their book. And on Launch Day - June 1st - it's the Big Giveaway. All seven of the Triskele Books will be on offer for a signed paperback giveaway of whichever book(s) readers choose.

Today... WIN 1 eCopy of Tristain & Iseult by JD Smith.

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Monday - News and Awesome Stuff

Welcome to Monday!!

Are you going to BEA this year? If not... are you participating in Armchair BEA?!  There will be so much going on next week... so many giveaways... so much awesomeness.

At Colorimetry, I will be launching a new tour - The Battle for Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff. The tour is full, but anyone is welcome to share the Launch, which is fun, or get on the Rafflecopter for sharing our Grand Finale on June 14th. If you're interested, sign up HERE.


I am ALSO hosting a mini-series for Triskele Books highlighting a new author and book every day with interviews and stuff which will include a new giveaway DAILY plus a grand release party on June 1st. I will be sharing that Release Party Post with other bloggers - let me know if you want IN!  :-D

Besides this excitement... and a few pre-written posts... June is pretty much a no-blogging month for me. Lol. I have two birthday parties and four kids released from school and a general BUZZ of activity and energy at my house that makes blogging nearly impossible. I wish I could share it with you - it's really fun in an insane sort of way. I've gotten used to it since Dash was in Kindergarten and Trinity was born. As soon as the basketball playoffs begin, I feel the build-up. Lol. (The 9th month in any pregnancy is memorable, but spend two of those months watching the playoffs and it's MEMORABLE.)

It's good blogging manners to announce breaks in schedules... not that I keep a schedule, but June will be different. This is my announcement.

I'm reading the Infernal Devices Series, so I had to participate in this awesome thing hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey.


I finished The Clockwork Prince over the weekend and dived into my signed and personalized copy of The Clockwork Princess Sunday.

This series...

It's got talons, I tell ya!  It gets a good grip and won't let go!!  I don't know how I'm going to go about regular Monday activities when I'm on page 138 of 568. I wish I could turn on the sunshine and swing in a hammock and not come out 'til I've closed the back cover.

Ah well... I'll be in England of a century past in my thoughts, at least.

Archair BEA Wrap Up Fun

Archair BEA has been so fun all week. I meandered off track, as usual.  CONGRATULATIONS to all the many, many WINNERS!!  I recognize so many names & I sincerely, personally congratulate you!

We're the Same!!!!

I love this statistical Survey Results Post, did you see it? I fit nestled right in the middle of everything.

I've been blogging less than a year. Most everyone is a bit more experienced, but us "newbies" definitely dominate (participators in Armchair BEA, anyway... maybe all the vets went to New York? Lol)


I blog right about 7-10 hours per week, although I often blow into averaging 3 hours per week.  I usually pack most of that into one or two crazy days, so it's nice of them to ask for weekly totals.


Obviously I'm on Blogger... but they make it so easy, you know? It's a matter of how little I know about html stuff rather than a knowledgeable choice of platform. You know?


This is interesting... Twitter is used the most. I still don't know how to use it "right", but Twitter is where I catch tons of fun posts as people I follow tweet 'em. And I choose Twitter over any other social networking for sharing giveaways & posts & fun stuff. So... I'm not surprised, but I feel like I better figure out what I'm doing better!!!!

It makes sense that we like Goodreads, etc, next. You know... that's our world!!

Fiction - Fantasy - Paranormal topped the charts on favorite reading. Lol. NOT A SURPRISE!!!  I think this is the main reason I feel so comfy book blogging. These are exactly what I like talking about the most, what I drive my friends & family crazy talking about too much. Lol. Yeehaw!!!


I enjoy Challenges & Blog Hops best, too, when I'm organized and have time to participate, followed closely by Readathons when I have time to read!!  :-D  It's all about TIME!! 

So..... what about you?  

Are you close to the statistics? You know, like a part of what makes them a realistic reflection? Or are you different?!  

 Did you see The Future of Blogging Post?  The future is whatever we make it, you know?  But there's one idea that had me super-curious to try it and see if I could even do it (obviously not counting this post!! Lol)


That is... MICROBLOGGING.  I wonder if I can review a book in less than 500 words. I'm not sure it's possible, but I feel challenged to try. I have seen mini-summaries of reviews on Pinterest and I really appreciated it. Twitter would be a very, very quick platform, wouldn't it? But what if we could blip out wee lil' summaries like that?  I'm gonna give it a "go". Although... I can't see me using it exclusively. *Ahem*  I think I could shorten a long review after I've let-er-rip first. Maybe.

The idea of short, fast posts is intriguing, though.  I'm challenged to try.


En fin, I've enjoyed Armchair BEA this week, but I did not participate as much as I'd hoped to. Personal Life intruded on my blogging life BIG TIME. And if BEA is always the first week of June, I'm always going to have trouble participating. The only week of the year busier for me is Christmas, no joke. I have two birthdays and end-of-school parties. Plus, it seems like every year some big event or life-changing decision takes place at the end of May... this year, we moved my husband's shop. The best side-effect is collapsing exhausted into bed every night leaving my kitchen to look like a tornado hit it with balloons & streamers lingering everywhere.  What a week!!!!

Debuting in 2012... Giveaway Hop!

Armchair BEA week 

is the perfect time to celebrate Debuting Authors!! 

Hosted by

The Non Reluctant Reader & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, 

let's welcome 

these authors whose first book appeared in 2012!!!

There are so many great books... I don't know how the WINNER will choose!!  This is one Giveaway you almost don't want to win, 'cause then you'll have to make a decision, and there's too many to choose from!!

Here are some of the books available to win that are already my favorites this year or that I CAN'T WAIT to read!! But that's not all I'm offering. For the list of 2012 Debuting books to choose from, check out this LIST ON GOODREADS. Just don't forget to breathe!!

Click on the cover to check 'em out on Goodreads. NOT ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN RELEASED!!  If you pick one that has not been published, yet, you're choosing a pre-order!!

                            



The WINNER may choose any one book that debuted in 2012. Must be able to receive books via The Book Depository or E-Copies (depending on preference). Must be at least 13. See my giveaway rules under About Me. This is an International Giveaway.

Can you choose a favorite this year, yet? 

By January 2013, which book do you think will be your favorite Debut Book?

Grave Mercy could win it for me, but there's too much year left to say already!!  Yay for books!!!!


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BEA Day 2 - GIVEAWAYS!!

Tuesday fun!!

Catch the Guest Post by Joe Foster from Edelweiss at Armchair BEA today!!  Plus the first LIVE streaming video of authors in New York!  Get in on the latest discussion, too - 2012 Favs!!!

Did you get your copy of BEA Buzz Books off NetGalley, yet?  Get some excerpts on fall books - including links to request preview from NetGalley!!  It's yer inside scoop!!!

I got mine!!!

TODAY IS GIVEAWAY DAY!!!

I have these Giveaways still going - don't forget to enter them!

   1 - The Lure of Shapinsay

   2 - My Favorite Reads Giveaway

   3 - Becoming a Butterfly

   4 -  Book blast for Frequent Traveller offers Gift Cards for winnings!!

In addition, the following giveaways start SOON!!

   1 - Debut Author begins 6/6

   2 - $100 Gift Card Book Blast of Mrs. Tuesday's Departure starts 6/7

   3 - Feature & Follow Giveaway begins 6/8!!

But this is a special week... so I have gathered a list of author-interviews to give away even MORE books... so starting IMMEDIATELY, hold onto your seats!!  And get ready to hear from some amazing authors and their books!!!!  Yay Books!!!

MORE giveaways coming as soon as I can get them up!!

   1 - Paraglide by Peter Anthony Kelley

   2 - Bonds of Feris by SJ Bell

   3 - Masters of the Veil by Daniel Cohen

You might want to follow Colorimetry to get in on all the Giveaways!!  I've hidden the subscription sign-up box underneath the GFC follow box in the left hand sidebar. Just scroll down 'til you find it. You totally know you want to!!!

Armchair BEA Meet -n- Greet

To join in on Day #1 Interview, hop over to the Armchair BEA site (or click on the pic) and answer 5 questions! Let me know so I can say "hi" back!!  :-D

*Ahem*

So, I interviewed myself in celebration of meet-n-greetin' other Armchair BEA participants. This is a little weird, but, uh... please welcome Burgandy Ice (otherwise known as Laura) to Colorimetry!!  Lol.


Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?




I got into blogging so I could write my book better. Yeppers.  And you know what? I feel like I fit right into the blogging community (I love  bloggers!!), so that I keep wondering if I'm CRAZY to want to write at all. Isn't reviewing better?!  And yet... I am daring to try. Loca, I know.


I started last November when my personal life got too stressful to sleep at night. I discovered that reading-reviewing-blogging distracted me well and now I've pretty much ditched stress altogether and blissfully fall asleep every night before I even get much reading in.  Despite some wild stuff... like swearing into the witness stand last week to testify my innocence of fraud before a judge. (We won the case!!  Actually, we "won" just by showing up and fighting, but it doesn't hurt to be justified publicly, either. YEA!!)

If you could eat dinner with any author, who would it be and why?



I'm totally intimidated by most of my favorite authors. IT'S TRUE!!!  I've had them on pedestals for so many years. If I saw them, I'd just stare and mumble and shove as many things as I could in their direction to have signed.


Two of my new favorite authors this year won me by being so darn approachable and I'd jump at the chance to have dinner with 'em. Holly Cupala & Anna Banks.  If Anna got a new coconut top, we could dress up in style to sip Pina Coladas, or something. ['Cause I could wear the one she sent me. (Hypothetically, you understand. They don't actually fit and I'd be arrested for lude behavior if I tried it.)]

Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

My life is CRAZY.  What a surprise, hey? I'm interviewing myself at my husband's shop, where I like to hang out and do bookkeeping. Lol.  Ok... "like" refers to hangin' with my honey of 14 years, "tolerate" would better describe bookkeeping. I've been the Secretary/Treasurer of our many business adventures for years, which includes Marketing and BBQ Coordinator. He restores cars, so I've slowly become more cooler and less dweeby under his influence.  Having 4 strong-willed, hyperactive kids has helped. (Helped me be cooler and crazier. And maybe dweebier, too.)




My "before" life was no less exciting since my parents were missionaries and I picked up my handwriting from England, my snow/ice shuffle from Moscow, & my awesome cool-down technique from Sonora. (Not to mention my irreligious view of the Bible - as vibrantly alive.)  


So, check this out... all over the desert of Sonora there's these Pilas - 10x12-ish pools of well water that irrigate the vineyards, etc. I'd be out there in the smokin' hot desert with a van-full of youth group kids that were all overheating in 100 degrees, right? And I'd pull over to one of these Pilas and lead them all in an impromptu swim in our clothes!!  It was totally awesome.  We'd be dried out by the time we made it back to the school or church or hotel or wherever 'cause it was so darn hot ("but it's a dry heat!" Jajajaja) 


Those pilas are the BEST. The whole world should have impromptu watering holes like that. The one in the town where we lived (and handwashed our laundry in) was heated by some underground source. Imagine soaking in a fresh-flowing hot tub staring up at a bazillion stars far from any city lights in a wide open desert. Yep. Been there.  It's moments like that when you forget you're in the scorpion capitol of the world for a moment.

What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?



I think my favorite part is the sense of Community. The book blogs are such a great place to share our love of books. I'm not sure how to describe what I'd like to see... the Memes kind of interconnect us, so we bump into each other more often over different discussions. I think I'd like to see more of of the gettin' together stuff or more of a variety of ways... maybe some themed hops? If I knew, I'd do it!! But I love questions and visiting and chatting... and the giveaways.  Hey... book bloggers are a force to be reckoned with in the world of Books, you know?  We should claim our power and use it to celebrate great books!!!

Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

A little, yea. I used to be more secretive of my love for YA Fantasy books. Blogging has helped me exhilarate in 'em.  I used to try to read all kinds of books, and maybe I will again. But right now, time flies by too fast to read stuff I'm not really interested in.  :-D

The INTERVIEWS start tomorrow. I have three of 'em lined up on Colorimetry... plus a Book Blast Giveaway, a Debut Author Giveaway and a Feature & Follow Hop Giveaway (and we'll see what else I can find to give away!!)  Don't forget about the LIVE video streaming at BEA in New York starting tomorrow!! And check out all the publisher giveaways offered thru Armchair BEA. This is a GREAT week!!

Getting Ready for BEA

Everyone's posting about getting ready for BEA. Have you seen the posts? There's what to pack, what to bring, what to get ready to bring back. The excitement is CRAZY-HIGH, isn't it?!

I thought I'd write me up a list of what I'm doing to get ready. This is, after all, a BIG DEAL!!!

1 -  I'm wishing everyone the BEST - go get lots of great books. Get LOTS!!!  Maybe too many to read, hey? So you gotta share some with us!!  Lol.  But really, I hope everyone has a great time and I can't wait to follow alone.

2 - I'm scoping out what I have that I can share in giveaways and fun posts. Colorimetry is gonna be a happenin' place this week... I'm gonna be as generous as my supply will let me. WOOP!!  Some fun interviews, some excerpts maybe... some fun book celebratin' for sure!!

3 - I'm participating in Armchair BEA and I'm taking it very seriously. In the spirit of detailing out preparations, I will share the following:

     A - I'm turning my Armchair to the huge picture window and I'm angling it so that I can't see any weeds that need to be pulled. (They'll still be there after I partay this week!)

     B - I've stocked my kitchen with delicious drinks. There's tons of tea and expensive coffee plus I got some extra of that Raspberry Ice Crystal Light. Have you tried that? Yum!!

     C - Snacks-snacks-snacks!!  Yum!!  I'm ready, 'cause I've got lots of everything, from apples to... apples. Ok, so maybe my kitchen is rather full of healthy snacks. I know I hid some chocolate somewhere, but I'll have to remember where. I have this "thing" for PB&J on hamburger buns. It's faster than fixing a turkey sandwich, you know? And I'm planning on being busy!!

    D - I'll fix my hair a bit in case a book arrives and I answer the door, but besides that, it's all PJ's for me!!  Oh yea!!  I'm gettin' comfy!!  My laundry's (sorta) caught up, so I have lots of comfy lounging clothes to suite my fluctuating moods.


     E - I'm startin' with the Meet -n- Greet Interview tomorrow morning!  WOOOOOP!!  I'll hop around and "meet" lots of bloggers and check out all the cool giveaways. I plan on winning lots of stuff this week. Have you seen all the publishers giving stuff away?  Oh yea!!

So, there you have it!!  I'm ready to have some fun this week!!!  Will you be there? Here, I mean? Participating in Armchair BEA?  Or bringing me back goodies from New York?  :-D  If so... THANKS!!  It's gonna be FUN!!

Monday, Monday!!

In Response to the latest comments...



The responses to the Splash Into Summer Giveaway make me want to cry... I mean, so many people have lost some sort of digital content.  But this comment takes the cupcake so far... if we were handing out prizes for craziest disaster, YOU WOULD WIN, April!!!!  Not sure how prestigious that is, but being chosen by lightning has to be worth a cupcake, at least!!  Please, have one for all of us (with a cup of tea, of course!)

~April~Monday, May 28, 2012 1:53:00 PM PDTI have had several computers to crash but I think my worst experience was when my house got struck by lightning and took out my computer, router, modem, external harddrive, phones, TV and everything else electronic in the whole house. :-)

I felt super-bad about ~Enamored Soul~'s story, too. She paid to get your info back, only to find it was irretrievable. UGH.  See... that sort of thing makes me so glad to have geeks for relatives. My bro laid it to me straight... "You can pay $120 to try and retrieve data, but you have a 50% chance of not retrieving anything. Up to you." I have my broken hard drive in case I remember something I simply can't live without, but until then.... I'm recovering from the blow and movin' forward. 

You know?

I mean, I'm totally suspicious of all things digital and backing up my back-ups, but Onward Ho!!!



Speaking of which, is anyone else doing the Armchair BEA?!  :-D  Woohoo!!  I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'M IN!!!!!!

I think there's gonna be cool interviews and swag & books to win and fun stuff, which I can "attend" in my PJ's. I'm all about hangin' out in PJ's as long as possible!!!

If you're IN... register over HERE.  Or fill me in on how to join in on all the fun. I'm like an enthusiastic top spinning in circles, ready to go, but not sure which direction. Woopee!!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Journey.

I'm reading Failstate, of course. I'm still finishing Insurgent (I might break a record on the longest time reading such a fast-paced book.) I'm critiquing a book that I WISH I could talk about... I so seriously LOVE IT!!!!  And, of course, I'm writing mine. Which is also rather exciting, if I can say that about my own ms.  (That's a little weird, isn't it? I get all trembly exited, anticipating the next scene as it flies off my fingertips, so that counts as "exciting", right?  No promises of delivering all the trembles to the paper, but that's sort of the plan. *ahem* Theoretically.)

Next book?  


I don't even want to go there.

I'm carrying around so many books that I can't wait to start, it's ridiculous. I nearly snarled at the gas station attendant again for not taking longer to fill my gas tank. Forty bucks just doesn't take long to pump, anymore, what with all the great gas prices and all. (If I could paint that sentence with the color of thick sarcasm, I would. Oh, why do I need an SUV?!  Oh right... 'cause we had so much fun having kids, we grew out of economical rides. But that's a bunny trail for lazy Saturday.)


Memorable Monday is hosted by Escape in a Book.

This week I'm sharing a fun confrontation from Failstate. All the heroes are in costume, waiting to talk to reality show cameras about a recent tragic death.

Kid Magnum roared and took another step back. Barrels popped out of his wrist plates and he took aim at me.  

I lashed out with my power to form a destructive field that was flat and thin, like a knife blade. I drove it between his armor plates. 

A second later, most of Kid Magnum's armor clattered to the floor, the straps cut from within. He froze, his head tipped at the pile of metal at his feet. Pg 83

I get a kick out of the cool super powers mixed in with such normal people, like Kid Magnum watching his cool armor clatter to the floor. A few pages later, they're negotiating who's going to pay to replace the cool wrist guns and the benefits of keeping backups handy. Just cracks me up.