Very "Normal" Coffee Time

Are you getting snowed on?

We're having some more rain with a dash of rain on the side. That's just how it goes in this neck-o-the-woods. I don't usually spend much time in front of the mirror in the morning. *shrug* No amount of time really seems to make a difference, anyway. But this rain... I might as well just step outside with straight bed-head 'cause that's what my "style" looks like right now.  

I haven't been chatting much. There's a lot going on, too, so I should be chatting more. Like... Richelle Mead came  to my B&N a week ago Monday... and I have pictures to post!  :-D  That will be awesome when I get to it. Erin Hunter, the author(s) of the Warrior series is coming soon, too, and we have entire sets of her books... and entire shelf, more like. I'm bringing the kids and AAAALLLLL of the books. Lol. They need to see how much fun Mom has going to book signings. We need to pass these important things down, right?

Marissa Meyer will be passing within (longish) driving distance of me... Cassandra Clare... Lauren Oliver... it's too much fun, I can't hardly stand it. I'll just have to camp out in bookstores to get good seats. Wait 'til you see the pictures of Richelle Mead... I was on the floor waaaaay over on the side. But I like sitting on the floor, so that was cool. I kicked my shoes off, too, for the long line to get signatures. :-)

I'll have to bring a sign that says "Burgandy Ice" or "Colorimetry" on it, 'cause I mostly look like a bed-headed mom instead of an enthusiastic blogger. Stealth mode?  Do bloggers come in stealth mode? It would help, I think, if we didn't look like the general population. Trouble is, we're normal people hanging out with other normal people. Maybe a purple pen mark on the nose would make us stand out a little more. Or alien headbands with sproinging balls on wires! That would sort of clarify our characters AND alert authors of potential hazards. This one looks perfect...

Who would wear goofy headbands to book signings with me? Huh?  Lol.  Come on!!

Maybe incognito is Ok, after all. We are pretty normal, right? We can pose as normal people.  Even if we ask for our "Name" in our signed book!!  :-D

Calling Generous Bloggers! Updates, updates!!

It's good manners to share changes.

I've been blogging long enough to know I don't want to stop. I love the books... I love the company. Probably in the opposite order, actually. The books are even better because of all the new friends I've made.

On the other hand... I need to ration out my time online. I mean, I started blogging so I could write my book. And, well, there's writing happenin', alrighty, but not the book. Lol. So, this is what I'm thinking.........

I didn't create Colorimetry to just walk away. No way. That means..... I'm opening my doors. I love having authors over for interview visits, why not bloggers?  If you have a blog or Goodreads account or any platform you were wishin' you could get more followers for... and you have something you'd like to give away as a "thank you", I'd like to invite you in my living room!!  Let's talk books!! YOUR favorite books!  You offer something deliciously bookish for readers... and I will bring the tea!  :-D

Sounds fun, right?

I still have openings for the Cast of Stones Tour. The stones on the cover show up right away... as enigmatic as they look, perfectly smooth, flawless, balanced... treasured. I'm hooked on the story & I just started it this weekend. This is my new awesome banner, thx to Kimberly Krey & her mad skills:

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

Hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey

I just finished Splintered. Like within the hour. If I'm not careful, I'll want to share all my opinion right here, right now... that review must be written ASAP!! It's everything it looks like... wow!!


Before that I finished Mind Games... because I could NOT put it down. I'll post both these reviews this week.


Now... I'm reading A Cast of Stones & Dark Triumph. (Eep! Yes!!)

Here's something fun Kathy is sharing over at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.... 

What's your favorite word?

What an awesome question!! Lol. I can't think of a fav word... (I'll prob wake up in the middle of the night inspired - if so, I'll let you know!) My favorite sound, though... is a guttural or uvular trill. It's the sexiest sound on the planet... like a purr. Not when I make it... when I make it, it sounds like I'm about to puke something up, but when it's done right by a hot guy.... (I get to keep my husband all to myself. Go find your own guttural triller!)

What words or expression do you overuse?

Geez... what don't I overuse?! Awesome. Saweeeet!  Lol. It's pathetic, really... where's my creativity?!

If you were on Death Row what would your last meal be?

An endless bowl of New England Clam Chowder.

Pets?

I have for kids (no, they're not my pets!!  Sheesh!) so we have pets, alrighty. Two dogs... two cats... and a rabbit. (He's mine. Lives outside my kitchen window so we can visit all the time.)

Facebook or Twitter?

I'm pretty lame at both of 'em. Facebook is so loaded with TMI that I let my honey follow the drama. I'd like to figure out Twitter 'cause I'm so clueless. I think I'll like it if I ever get the hang of it.

Your turn!!  Pick a question and share your answer!!  Or join the hop and answer them all!!!  Plus... what are you reading?

As for the update you've been waiting for.... The latest on the Evie's Knight Tour!!

1 – Kimberly Krey – Cover Change!

Blastin’ off the TOUR!!   Min Reads and Reviews; Books, Books, the Magical Fruit ; Oh the Books You’ll Read ; Passion and Life (English/Spanish); Christy’s Cozy Corners ; Monique Morgan ; Paulette’s Papers; A Backwards Story; icultgen - (English/Portuguese)

1 – Kelly Fox – Goodreads Review

1 – I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Clean Romance I

2 – Monique Morgan - All You Need is Love I

3 – Getting Your Read On – Review - Clean Romance II

4 - Christy’s Cozy Corners – Review

6 – Passion and Life – Peaches Recipe & Excerpt – English/Spanish

6 - Paulette’s Papers – All You Need is Love II

Book Bloggers are SO TOTALLY AWESOME!!

Hey, I can say that!! I have personal experience!!!  Lol

Actually, I'm trying to catch up on all the latest news this morning, zipping though way too many emails and discovering things I totally missed doing while my computer was down. I ran into this post about how great book bloggers are, and I just had to shout, "HALLELUJAH!"

*snort* The kids are in school and my house is so super quiet, I startled the napping cats in my enthusiasm.I just love how Victoria Scott lays out the facts for other authors. Oh yea, "facts"!!

   1 - Book Bloggers Sell Books.  Because...


   2 - Book Bloggers LOVE Books!!!

 They have a passion for tomes like you and I (authors) will never understand.

   3 - Book Lovers Respect Each Other

I rephrased and added "respect" - what I mean is, anyone who has an opinion about a book that I've read or I'm interested in reading is FUN, INTERESTING reading for me! If I see someone has only 15 followers on their blog, I'm excited 'cause they're going to get more. I base my opinion of someone's review based on the review not the size of their blog following. So, yea, there's some drama sometimes* but book blogging is all about expressing opinion about books, and I love reading everyone's opinion!!  Which is a level of respect for all book lovers.

Victoria's conclusion is perfect:

 You should bow down to their awesomeness and wash their feet in scented oils.

Lol. I prefer flower-scents during springtime!!

Check out her post HERE!!

* I have checked in with The Story Siren randomly to see if she ever addressed the Plagiarism issue again. I suspected she would feel some pressure to tackle it (or I would if I was in her place and lost that many blog followers all of a sudden). And she did.  She totally swallowed the bullet, too, and didn't shove it off as some mistaken identity case like she did in previous "confessions" that I posted about HERE.

This straightforward answer was posted on May 21st entitled "Let's Talk About Plagiarism" and followed it up with an entire week of guest posts about Plagiarism.  I like a lot of the bloggers who guest-posted, not to mention, agree with them. Interesting reading!!

So... the main reason I was semi-boycotting her site was specifically because she had not confessed to any wrong doing. Or, that's what I said in my post, "Not So Perfect, Are We?"  I mentioned that I would be waiting and watching to see what she would do.

Our collective response triggered her straightforward week of Plagiarism posts. (Presumably.) So... logically if I meant what I said regarding everyone being imperfect and capable of making mistakes... and my entire offense being based on her lack of confession... well... I have that now. Right?

Basically, Mission Accomplished.  For me to specifically boycott her now would be petty. It's not like she'll plagiarize again, do you think?  She's probably walking on burning coals making sure she's not copying anything anywhere without posting credit. I've gotten out of the habit of hopping by her site frequently, but I'm going to participate in the Debut Author Challenge as regularly as ever.**  I might stick with Stacking the Books 'cause they post on Saturday... like I did this week.***

Anyway... I just thought it would be appropriate to announce... I'm not pickin' on Kristi @ The Story Siren anymore on purpose... on this post that celebrates all bloggers & book lovers and their opinionated, dramatic selves. I would not want to tick us off!!!  Ha!  That's for sure, hey?

** Ahem!  Was I participating in Challenges this year?!  Oh yea!  Woops!!

*** NOT!!  I was buried in recovering my laptop last week. I'll share the one book I added to my TBR pile NEXT week, if I get my act together. (IF!!!)