It's Monday, What are you reading?

J.Kaye hosts this wonderful meme.

Read this past week:
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder


Currently Reading:
Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl


Upcoming:
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder


News:

• I launched my Maria V. Snyder week with this post.
• Met Maria in person along with some fellow bloggers in Michigan! Read about that here.
  
• I Interviewed Maria V. Snyder!
• I had my first official blog tour with Tundra books for Medina Hill. The author, Trilby Kent, wrote a guest blog post for me as well!
• Had my first blog tour with Traveling to Teens as well for When the Whistle Blows!
• Reviewed my October-ness.
  
• Planned ahead for December by putting out an all-call.

I was Cat in the Hat for Halloween:


And I also saw Justine Larbalestier at a book signing that I met up with Jen from Devourer of Books at:



Okay, a few wedding photos to hold you guys over:

The good, kissing ones - of course. :-D

Author Interview: Maria V. Snyder

Maria was awesome enough to answer some questions for me, even with her busy weekend! Without further ado:

How did you create the world the Study and Magic series are set in?

Since it all started with POISON STUDY, the world of Ixia is a combination of my 12 years attending Catholic School, where we all wore uniforms, and the business practices of the company my husband works for. In his company everyone wears a uniform, even upper management, and everyone sits in a large open-spaced room. There's no "good-old boy" network or special treatment to anyone. I really admired their way of treating their employees.

Sitia is a more a standard fantasy convention, with the clans making up a council. But both worlds became more “real” as I wrote the books. Similar to a Polaroid picture – at first it was gray and fuzzy and then as my characters interacted with the world, it became clearer to me.


Have you always written in the fantasy genre?

No. I started writing short stories and they were almost all science fiction. I've also written a few more mainstream stories, but they haven't been published. I wrote a middle grade novel for kids ages 8-12 that has no fantasy elements, but it never found a publisher. And I write nonfiction articles for a few local newspapers and magazines. I especially enjoy the travel articles since they let me take my travel expenses off my taxes :)


Which character in your books do you find is most like yourself?

I would love to say I'm just like Yelena, but I think I'm more similar to Opal. Growing up, I was very insecure in middle and high school, shy and a bit of a nerd. I am more confident now, but there are times I doubt myself and worry I've made the wrong decision.


Who or what is your 'muse'? How do you get the think tank working?

Everything is fodder for my imagination. Sometimes just sitting and watching people can spark ideas. My kids might make a comment that gives me an idea or I might read a magazine article that's interesting. I don't lack for ideas, I lack time to write them all out!

What is your writing process?

I'm what's known as a "seat of the pants" writer (a.k.a. pantser). I like to discover the plot and twists as I write. However, I usually have a general idea of where and how the book will end, but I wouldn't write it out until I reach that point, because it can always change.

This method is fun, but very stressful as I usually spend the first half of the book worried I don't have enough story for a full novel and then spend the last half of the book worried I have too much.

Any secret projects we should know about?

If I tell you then it wouldn't be secret :) Actually I'm working on the third Glass book, SPY GLASS – it was due last month and I'm still finishing it! After that, I'm going to be working on OUTSIDE IN – the second book after INSIDE OUT, which is coming out in April 2010 – it's a science fiction, but the story is focused on the characters just like my other books. The science fiction element is just the world they live in – the world of Inside.

Maria is amazing and you guys need to read her books!

This wraps up my Maria V. Snyder week - thank you guys for participating and commenting all week!

Maria V. Snyder Book Signing

Okay... you guys are going to think I'm crazy, but Saturday afternoon I drove 5 miles with a fever to Michigan so I could see Maria V. Snyder on Sunday afternoon. I coerced my hubby into driving part of the way when Dayquil wore off.

We stayed the night at a hotel - where we had a nice 4 am fire alarm go off and evacuated for about 5 minutes when it randomly turned off - no sign of the fire department anywhere.

Then we headed off to Monroe, Michigan to the Writers on the River book signing event. I met Misty from The Book Rat and Sarah from The Hiding Spot, both who live in Michigan. I introduced Sarah to the awesomeness that is Panera - I still don't understand how she NEVER had had it!

Maria was awesome - so awesome in fact that she said she had been asking every young lady who passed if they were Kristen! Gah! How cool is that?

We had been chatting back and forth on email for a while and I know her from Goodreads. If you didn't know there's a fan group just for Maria - called Study Buddies. Well, it's more like a discussion/reading group than a fan group - but it centers around all of her books and herself.

So, I got the prize winners' books signed and my Study series signed (both Storm and Sea Glass I had won or gotten from Maria signed.) We chatted a bit and then I tried to pretend to be interested in the other authors - I did buy a Xmas gift for my niece and a fun little middle grade epic fantasy book for myself.

All in all, it was a great time and totally worth the drive! (Although my hubby now says he will agree to no more road trips... but we'll see about that!)

And here's some pics!

The Newlyweds on their 2nd road trip!

Maria and Me! :)

Group photo #1

Group photo #2

It was so great! :-D

Sunday Spotlight - Read Now Sleep Later

Today, I'm featuring a friend of mine from over on Goodreads! She had a blog going for a while and was neglecting it up until the end of this past summer. She fabulous and you guys are about to learn a bit more about her.

Name: Alethea
Nickname: frootjoos
Blog URL: http://www.readnowsleeplater.com

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I love to read! I started reading when I was three--my mom says I woke her up one morning by reading her random facts about moths and butterflies from the Singaporean newspaper, The Straits Times. My grandfather started me early with the classics: Little Women, Robinson Crusoe, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Through the Looking Glass is still my favorite). My mom got me hooked on mysteries and romance: Nancy Drew. My mom got me hooked on mysteries and romance: Nancy Drew when I was 7, Agatha Christie when I was 10, and Regency romances when I was not much older than 12. My Aunt Debbie was the sci-fi/fantasy influence: John Bellairs (which I lost in a move many years ago, and am still struggling to collect them all again), J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey (actually I was the one who got her hooked on
those!). I've also been a bookseller for about 10 years. I hope to be a librarian someday, or maybe even an author! (Or both!) Also, I use a lot of exclamation points, which according to Terry Pratchett is "a sure sign of an insane mind."

When and why did you start your blog?
I used to blog a lot over at diaryland.com, then fell out of the habit for a few years, but since joining GoodReads I can't seem to stop talking/writing/updating about books. This summer I thought I'd better channel all of this book-loving energy into something I can share and save. I thought about the title about a year ago after staying up for almost 3 days straight to read Maria V. Snyder's Study series. Don't get me wrong, I *love* to sleep. And if I'll put off sleeping to
read something, it must be good!

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
I love reading (did I say that already?) and I've found that I've become impatient with writing book reviews, so instead of crafting a full review of any book, I'll pretty much just give you the bullet points. Going off the GoodReads star rating system, I start most books off with 3 stars (I liked it enough to start reading it) then add or subtract stars depending on how I liked the book, giving reasons as I go.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
My favorite genre is now Young Adult--there are so many great authors and books blossoming in this area right now! I particularly enjoy sci-fi/fantasy, dystopian/utopian adventures, and anything that examines social constructs like gender roles, marriage, family, etc.

How do you find out about the books you read?
I find a lot of them on GoodReads through my friends, and most of the time I get Advance buzz at work through the Ingram catalog (one of our book distributors). I've put way too many on my To-Be-Read shelf, though--I hit 1000+ books already! At the rate I'm reading, it'll take me 10 years just to get through the current TBR shelf. But I can't resist adding a book on, because I hate forgetting a title that's piqued my interest.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
I've been working in retail for a very long time and so have developed a pretty thick skin. I think new bloggers need to keep that in mind--that there are some not-so-nice people out there who may react negatively to the things that you blog, especially if you give a bad review to something that they like, and ultimately all you can control is your own reaction. If you flame back, they win. If you give up and stop blogging, they win. The best thing to do is delete their comments, take a deep breath, and keep blogging! That said, there's a line between giving a bad review and just plain trashing a book. If I have to tell someone a book isn't good, I do try to be tactful about
it and give the reasons why I didn't like it. I don't just go off on an unsubstantiated tirade. Be honest, be polite, and be patient. And if that doesn't work, keep a box of chocolate bonbons in the freezer for emergencies. ^_^

Thank you Alethea for taking some time to be interviewed! Love your blog and keep it going girl!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.

IMM Vlog (11)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.


People/Blogs mentioned:
Take the Dare Show you Care
Half Price Books

Books won:
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown
The Vampire's Assistant and Other Tales from Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan

Books for review:
Firespell by Chloe Neill

Book mooched:
The New Policeman by Kate Thompson

Books bought:
Nobody's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Need by Carrie Jones
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
Girl Goddess #9 by Francesca Lia Block
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti
Bull Rider by Suzanne Morgan Williams
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside by Beth Fantaskey
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Swoon by Nina Malkin
Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Traveling to Teens - When the Whistle Blows

I'm the first stop on Traveling to Teen's tour of When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton.


Jimmy comes from a family where all the boys eventually end up working on the steam engines of the trains nearby. His father keeps telling him the times are changing and that soon steam engines will be replaced with diesels. This doesn't squelch Jimmy's dreams - especially when his two brothers start working with his father. Under all of this is whispers of The Society - a group of men that meet secretly for reasons unknown.

The book is written in small segments progressing from year to year - always written on All Hallow's Eve. You see the considerable growth in Jimmy as he progresses from middle to high school and then finally to graduating. His father is a force to be reckoned with and always at the center of these stories.

I really enjoyed this book with the different events that happened - some terrifying, some funny, and others a bit heart-wrenching. Definitely a great book to read around Halloween.

5/5 Roses

Saturday Spotlight - A Passion for Books

Today I have with me a very special person who I chat with all the time on Twitter. She's very passionate about books, as you can tell from her blog name. If you haven't heard of her yet, you'll find out more about her here. :)

Name: Casey
Nickname and/or blog name: A Passion for Books
Blog URL: http://casey62588.blogspot.com/

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I’m 21 and an avid reader. I have a passion for young adult novels in particular. I’m currently going to college to be a registered nurse.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog July of this year. Before I would follow blogs because I liked reading the book reviews and author interviews. I love to find new authors to read. After I finish a book, I usually have all these thoughts running through my head, so I started my blog to get them out and share them with others.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
Basically right now, it’s just reviews because I’m still new and all. In the future, I would like to have author interviews and even host contests. Who doesn’t love contests!? I do post contests that I find around the blogging community on my sidebar. I have an upcoming list of books coming out this year, which I plan to do every year because it helps me keep track of what’s coming out. I have a “Cover of the Week” where I post a cover that I like. A book’s cover is usually what catches my eye if I haven’t heard of or read a book by an author.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

I like just about any genre. I enjoy anything paranormal, supernatural, or fantasy. I also enjoy reading more realistic stories because not always is there a happy ending to life. My favorite book is PERFECT CHEMISTRY!! That book was amazing.

How do you find out about the books you read?

A little bit of everything. If I have read a book by an author and really enjoyed it then I look upcoming books by them. I get on amazon.com (yes, I am another crazy amazon lover) and they usually have great recommendations for books. I go to the bookstore, or library, and just look around. Friends and family recommend certain books. I found a lot of great books from the blogs I follow. Also, Waiting on Wednesday is a great help with discovering upcoming books.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

Go for it and Have fun with it! It will be slow in the beginning but eventually it will pick up. You just have to get your name out there and promote you blog. Twitter, Facebook, Myspace are all great ways to promote your blog. Also commenting on other blogs. I always read every comment and check out their blogs too. Remember I’m still new to this too, but this is what has worked for me so far.

And Casey really does have a rockin' blog! Go check it out and leave her a comment!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.

Winners!

Hey guys!

I pulled the winners for the Maria V. Snyder giveaway this morning.

The Study Series went to Lili from ChicaReader!

The Glass series + glass ball went to Jenny N.!

Both winners have been emailed!

I can't wait to see Maria on Sunday. I've been feeling a bit flu-y so I'm crossing my fingers on it going away with some good drugs and rest tonight.

If you didn't win, fear not - check out Maria's website for some other cool contests that can get you one of her books!

Storm Glass

Storm Glass
by Maria V. Snyder

Opal is a glass magician - but she thinks of herself as a one-trick wonder. She's only able to put magic into small glass animals - which the Master Magicians of Sitia use as messengers. With a lack of confidence and trust, she's simply getting by in life at the academy.

All of that changes when she is sent on a mission to figure out why the glass orbs Stormdancers use are breaking. She finds there is more to her magic then her glass messengers and more people to trust then herself.

Opal is not the strongest female character, but you can see her becoming more confident and less of a push-over by the end of the novel. She makes many mistakes and then uses her wit to get herself out of sticky situations.

There is an awesome amount of action and danger involved in this book - and the romance adds to the flare of the novel. Maria has once again outdone herself in sucking her readers into a world far from anything we could have ever experienced - yet with characters that you can relate to.

I also rather enjoy the humor put into the book, there are some undertones as well as the flat-out humorous sections. I love Janco's appearance and Leif seems much more light-hearted in this book than in the Study series. Of course, Yalena's brother Leif now has a woman in his life and we all know that makes quite a difference to men. ;)

5/5 Roses


Read the first chapter of Storm Glass on Maria's website.

Link a Contest Thursday!

It's that time again! I can't wait to see what kind of contests are going on around the blogosphere!

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.

Thanks!

And please steal this! Not all my followers will be following your blog, so if you spread the contest love with a Mr. Linky, all the better for contest-loving-bloggers!

Researching Medina Hill with Trilby Kent

Trilby Kent, author of Medina Hill, has graciously offered to talk a bit about her researching process for her book - which I loved.


It might sound a little strange, but I often find I enjoy researching a new book just as much as I enjoy writing. There’s something very exciting about historical research, in particular. Not only does it help to really understand my characters, to get under their skin, but it can also suggest all sorts of alternative plot developments that would never have occurred to me otherwise. One thing that you learn very quickly as a historical novelist is that fact often really is stranger than fiction!

I had to do two types of research for Medina Hill. The book is partly about Dominic’s discovery of a real-life hero – Lawrence of Arabia – who had risen to fame in the days of the Great War. Although I’d been very interested in Lawrence for several years prior to writing the book, I did need to polish up my history of the Arab Revolt and decide how much of this was relevant to Dominic’s story. The second type of research related to the time and places in which the main action of the novel is set; namely, England in the 1930s.

Whereas the Lawrence research was fairly straightforward – checking names and dates in reference books and online – I was very keen to capture the “feel” of Dominic’s world in a way that would evoke the sounds and smells and tastes of Cornwall in the summer, or London’s East End. This meant sampling some of Marlo’s favourite recipes and listening to popular music from the period, as well as traditional Romany songs. I found an early edition of Lowell Thomas’ The Boys’ Life of Colonel Lawrence, on which I based the book that Dominic discovers at the beginning of the story. I went to see an exhibition of work by Madge Gill, who drew pictures inspired by what she claimed were clairvoyant experiences, similar to Birdie’s drawings. I visited Cornwall, which was already one of my favourite English destinations, and stayed in a house that had once been part of an artists’ commune very much like the one I imagined for the book. I watched documentaries on selective mutism (which is the modern name we’d use to describe Dominic’s inability to speak) and learnt about a carrier pigeon that saved 200 lives in the First World War. Most of the time, this kind of research hardly felt like work at all!

Of course, it’s not enough simply to pool lots of interesting facts and shoehorn them into a book. The challenge is to make the research melt into the story, so that readers are so absorbed by what’s happening to the characters they don’t feel they’re being taught a history lesson. That’s one of things I hoped to achieve with Medina Hill. If it inspires some readers to go off and do a little research of their own, that’s a bonus!

-Trilby Kent

Medina Hill by Trilby Kent + Giveaway

Medina Hill
by Trilby Kent

Summary
In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

Review
Trilby creates the backdrop of this book beautifully, combining the feel of London in the 1930s and the escape into the past with Lawrence of Arabia. The difficulty of life during that period is evident in the parents of Dominic and Marlo - their mother ill and father unemployed. But, they each find their own outlets in different books. These interests peak when they leave with their Uncle Roo and connect with other people who bear the same interests. I love how their coping mechanisms grow into something tangible and important, not just slip to the side when taken away from the uncomfortable situation at home.

The story holds your interest with the different events taking place. While you follow Dominic during most of the book, you get a great sense of Marlo and her own struggles. Add in the gypsies, especially one young girl, that live nearby Uncle Roo's home, and we find Dominic partaking more enchanting and fun adventures. There are other characters that add color to the pages, each one with such differing personalities and background that anyone could find a character to relate to - or know of a person just like them.

I had a personal connection to this book that really put me into Dominic's shoes during his journey to speaking again. When I entered Kindergarten, I did not talk at school - at all. I was over it by the end of the year, but from that experience, I can definitely relate to the main character. Overall, I fell in love with the story and the characters and you really can't ask for anything more from a book.


About the author:
Trilby Kent was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in cities on both sides of the Atlantic. After completing degrees at Oxford University and The London School of Economics, she worked in the rare books department at a prominent auction house before turning to writing feature articles for publication in Europe and North America. She now lives in London, England. Medina Hill is Trilby Kent’s first novel.

To purchase a copy, click here.

For a full list of the blog tour stops, check out Tundra Books' blog.

If you would like to read a copy of Medina Hill, I've got great news! Tundra books has offered to give away a copy to one person.

Giveaway rules are as follows:

1. Open to US & Canada
2. Please include your email address with your comment(s).
3. Contest ends Friday, November 19th at 11:59 pm CST
4. How to get points:

+1 Comment below

+1 Comment on Trilby's guest blog post

+2 follow my blog - email, RSS, or blogger

+2 for everytime you link this contest (please leave a link!)

Fire Study

I am on fire for Maria's study series. Oh, aren't I pun-ny! No, really, I am so incredibly in love with this series... keep reading to find out why...

Fire Study
by Maria V. Snyder

I'm tempted to start with the ending... but I have to be "vague" - it ends the way I wanted it to. Oh Maria, I love you for ending this series the way you did!

Okay, onto the plotline:

Yalena continues her adventures in Sitia with a lingering evil force still free and another, more sinister plan boiling beneath the surface. Yalena is a Soulfinder and some of the Council are uneasy with her growing powers. Will she turn out to be a threat to Sitia and what will the Counsil do if they decide she is?

Also, Cahil has joined forces with some evil characters in his plot to take back Ixia for himself - although his royal blood is a falsehood. How far will Cahil go to thwart the Commander of Ixia and take the land for himself?

With some of the same supporting characters, Yalena finds herself in trouble again and again - will she ever learn? We see a bit more of Opal - the main character in Snyder's Glass series - in this book - with her special skill of weaving magic into the glass animals that she makes. There are some new 'badies' - the likes of which will make your skin crawl and pray for Yalena's strength in defeating them.

Again, there is a ton of action, tidbits of romance, and some humor and sarcasm that really pulls the characters into the story and makes it complete. I loved the ending, although I still want to find out what will happen to Yalena next...

5/5 Roses


You can read Chapter 1 of Fire Study on Maria's website.

Leave a comment and add an #giveaway at the end for an extra entry into the Maria V. Snyder contest.

October in Review

Books Read & Reviewed:
The Other Side: A Teen's Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal by Marley Gibson, Patrick Burns, and Dave Schrader
Defining Twilight by Brian Leaf
Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Give up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Hero-Type by Barry Lyga
My Rotten Life by David Lubar
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside by Beth Fantaskey
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Book Read, still to be reviewed:
Monster and Me by Robert Marsh
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
The Zoo with the Empty Cage by Steve Brezenoff
Medina Hill by Trilby Kent

14 books! So-so for me.

In other news:

• I got married on October 24th! I have a video up on facebook and here is the slideshow I made and posted on my wedding day of past pictures of the two of us. Chris and I were dating for 5 years before we got hitched. Someone needs to bother me about posting pics up!
  
• Speaking of my husband, Chris wrote a review of Titanicus - a sci-fi book he read and let me post it up! Please leave him some comments so I can con him into writing more.
• I decided this month to participate in Misty's, The Book Rat, Halloween Challenge. Didn't come close to reading all the books I wanted to though...
• On Saturday, October 10th - I had my own little 6 hour read-a-thon. The idea was thought up by @stargirlreads on twitter whose blog is Books make great lovers! I couldn't participate in Dewey's read-a-thon since I was getting married...
• For Halloween, I created a list of all the paranormal/Halloween-y books I read recently.
• I started a new meme - most likely monthly (vote in the poll!) - called If I Had All Day To Read.

I need to catch up on my book signing stuff, so you are now going to be inundated with my latest book signing conquests!

This first one was from September, but I need to post it!

I went to a YA Book Conference, hosted by Anderson's Bookshop and met up with Andrea from Book Blather.

It was a full day event with four break-out sessions and then signings at the end. I bought too many books.. seriously.

Here's a list of authors that were there that day!
Judy Blundell
Libba Bray
Gennifer Choldenko
Ellen Hopkins
James Owen
Kaza Kingsley
Kerry Madden
Lisa Sandell
Jill Wolfson
Lisa Yee
Michelle Zink
Susan Fine
Jula Keller
Daniel Kraus
Cynthea Liu
Claire Zulkey

Here's a slideshow from that day:

Okay, next up - I saw Sarwat Chadda a few weeks back, author of The Devil's Kiss. Lo and behold, I was the only person who came besides the bookseller! So, Sarwat pulled up a chair and we had this awesome three person chat about books, research, his future novels, travels, etc. It was so freakin' cool. I feel a lot more at ease when it's that type of situation.

And I got a picture with him! I still have yet to read his book, but it's on my list, I swear!


I think I'm almost caught up.. maybe?


Okay, next up I went to John Green's signing! It was a freakin' mob! So many groupies that I felt so darn old (I'm only 25). It was a live show.. in LaGrange, IL. It's up on Penguin's POV website.

Last, but not least - I went with Erica from The Book Cellar over to Oak Park to see Stephanie Kuehnert - author of Ballads of Suburbia. You put Erica and I together and we're just so darn shy. We did both manage to ask a question each. There was a decent group - 10 to 15 people at the Borders for her signing.

And pictures!

The brownie I couldn't resist at the cafe - so pretty:


And... Stephanie and me!:


After this signing, Erica and I went to three other bookstores. An indie bookstore in Oak Park, where I saw James Dashner. I just had to show her it. Not only that - I knew they had some awesome bookmarks - so we snagged a ton!

We wanted a cookie and saw this cookie shop... little did we know it was for DOGS. I wondered what kind of cookies smelled like dog food.. #fail.

Then we headed to another Borders to search for something particular. And THEN Eric remembered there was a Half-Priced Bookstore on the way back to my place - so we HAD to stop. We are so bad.

And that's it for book signings this month! Going to one tomorrow - Justine Larbalester.

Thinking Ahead to December

Hi guys!

I've been thinking today about December. I'm one of those unfortunate people to have a birthday just days before Christmas - Dec. 20th - so I've been thinking of a fun way to celebrate my 25th birthday here on my blog.



So, I thought.. what better way then to have a huge giveaway blowout!

I have some books I can give away, but I wanted to do a giveaway each day up to my birthday. So, here's where you guys come in.

I'm not used to doing this but I would love anyone - bloggers, authors, publishers - to offer up a prize, if possible. Even if you've got some sort of swag pack to giveaway... as long as its book related.

If you're interested.... please contact me at dragonzgoil at gmail dot com.

And for the rest of you, I'm thinking up some ideas if I don't get any donations of prizes and hopefully it will still be amazing.

I may have to hold off on anymore contests until then if I don't get any interest - which is a-okay.

Anyways, thanks for considering and stay tuned for birthday fun in December!

I <3 Swagbucks

What is Swagbucks, you ask?

Only the most awesome thing EVER. All you do is use it as your search engine and randomly you'll get a buck here and there. They have a ton of prizes, the best of which I've found to be the $5 Amazon giftcard - for 45 swagbucks!

I've already gotten about 75 dollars in Amazon giftcards from Swagbucks to use on Amazon.com. Isn't that sweet?

Check it out guys...

Magic Study

Just as addicting, Maria V. Snyder's Magic Study will keep your attention and make you want more.

Magic Study
by Maria V. Snyder

Yalena heads back to Sitia to be reunited with the family she does not even remember. While her parents and sister are welcoming, her older brother Leif remains distant and suspicious of her sudden return. She is there to study and improve her magical skills. Of course, she meets the heir to Ixia's throne - all of his family who had been killed by Valek - and learns of his ambition to take back the throne with an army he cannot seem to gather.

Unfortunately, Yalena finds herself with new enemies but also new friends to aide her when she gets into trouble. She's used to having to rely on herself and cannot understand when her mentor Irys becomes angry over her stepping forward and trying everything on her own. Another plot comes into place later in the book - a killer who has claimed the life of 10 young woman and hunts for more. Little does Yalena know that the sinister plot involves more than just murder, but the lust for magic and power.


Again, we find Yalena in many sticky situations - some of her own devise - and others that did not come of her own thick-headedness. She seems to keep up her knack for plowing ahead without consulting anyone but herself. I love her willfullness and the way she is so brazen about her duty to help others. Yalena forgets the danger she is putting herself in and thinks only of the one she is trying to help.

Her interactions with Leif keep you wondering what will happen between them. Will Leif ever trust Yalena? Is there more to Leif's distrust and distancing? And there's a lot more fun evil guys - what is it with my obsession with these sadistic evil men who simply want to hurt Yalena or other young women.. hrm. Keeps the excitement peaked I guess.

Maria has yet again delivered a book that keeps you turning the pages, finding new twists and turns and a decent amount of violence. I am a violence junkie after all. . .

Now I'm dying for the third book.

5/5 Roses

Read chapter 1 of Magic Study over on Maria V. Snyder's website.

Leave a comment and add a #giveaway and get an extra point for the Maria V. Snyder Giveaway!

Poison Study

The first book in Maria V. Snyder's Study Series, Poison Study is a fantastic read that you will not want to put down. :-D

Poison Study
by Maria V. Snyder

Stolen from her home at a young age, Yalena was taken to Ixia where she was thrown into experiments - at first harmless tests of her magical ability. Magic is forbidden in Ixia, but in the home of General Brazell - he took in orphan children that had magical abilities. As Yalena became older, she realized that Brazell was not a fatherly figure, his tests turning into tortures until she was given up on. Brazell let his sadestic son - Reyad - have her and she killed him in self-defense.

Yalena has committed murder and the law calls for anyone found guilty - whether in self-defense, by accident, or on purpose - to be hung. Yet, Yalena finds herself in a position that she can't refuse. Instead of choosing the noose, she could elect to become the Commander's food taster - not knowing when she could be poisoned to death, but able to live longer. Yalena chooses life, but will she regret it?

I actually read this book a few years back and never continued on with the series although I had meant to. Even back then I fell in love with this book. Yalena is a strong young woman, mentally and later, with training, physically. She has gone through some horrible travesties - torture, rape, and other horrors.

The character of Valek - the spymaster and man in charge of the food taster - both intrigues and scares Yalena when they first meet. I love the complexity of his character and the way their interactions change over the course of their working together. There are more character, both good and evil, thrown into the story that move it along in such complete harmony that I couldn't put it down - even for a second time.

The fighting sequences and plot line guide the story along with great descriptions and twists. Maria is a fantastic writer and I can't believe I didn't continue on with the series when I had first read it. I'm glad that I have now seen the light.

5/5 Roses

Read chapter 1 of Poison Study over on Maria V. Snyder's website.

Leave a comment and add a #giveaway and get an extra point for the Maria V. Snyder Giveaway!

It's Monday, What are you reading?

J.Kaye hosts this wonderful meme.

Read this past week:
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (review to follow today)
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder (review Tuesday)
When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton (review will be posted Sat.)

Currently Reading:
Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

Upcoming:
Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder


News:

• My wedding video is up on Facebook! Sorry about the lack of pictures this week, I'll try to get some up soon!
• Wednesday, November 4th I am seeing Justine Larbalestier at Anderson's Bookshop in Downers Grove, IL - hope to see some of you there!
• Sunday, November 8th I will be seeing Maria V. Snyder in Monroe, MI. Woot for road trips!
  
• Speaking of Maria V. Snyder - I'm having a week dedicated to Maria V. Snyder, involving a contest and some other fun stuff. Check out the details about the week (and the Mr. Linky) here. And find out more about the awesome contest.
  

IMM Vlog (10)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



For Review:
Invisible Lines by Mary Amato
Lost Worlds by John Howe

Mooched:
Book of Shadows (Sweep, bk. 1) by Cate Tiernana
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Only four this week! :)
Maybe I'll catch up on my books to be read if I stop buying books.. whattya think?

Maria V. Snyder books Giveaway!

Well, my friend Alethea and I have joined forces to create this awesome giveaway for Maria V. Snyder week.

There are two prize packs for TWO different winners!

The Study Series
Poison Study
Magic Study
Fire Study

All of these will be signed/personalized by Maria for the winner!


The Glass Series
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Cool glass-like glitter ball

Books will be signed/personalized by Maria for the winner!


Now for the RULES!

The Rules:
1. Open to US & Canada
2. Please include your email address with your comment(s).
3. Contest ends Thursday, November 5th at 11:59 pm CST
4. How to get points:

+1 simply leave a comment on which prize pack you want... or if you want both that's fine too.
+2 for being a follower of my blog
+2 for every time you advertise this contest.. twitter, blog, etc.

+5 for every blog post you link on the Mr. Linky for Maria V. Snyder week

I will keep track of the links, but you need to at least post here once saying which prize pack you want to be entered for.

Kicking off Maria V. Snyder week!

Welcome one and all to a glorious Sunday. Is everyone feeling great with this extra hour? I know I am.

So, starting today, I'm kicking off my Maria V. Snyder week. Who is Maria you ask?

Check out this bio below (taken from Maria's website):

Maria V. Snyder changed careers in 1995 from being a Meteorologist to a Novelist when she began working on her first novel, Poison Study. Published in October 2005, Poison Study won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel, won the Salt Lake Co. Library's Reader's Choice award, was a 2005 Booksense pick, was nominated for four other awards, and received a Starred Review from Publisher’s Weekly. She has also published numerous freelance articles in regional magazines and in local newspapers. Teaching fiction writing classes at the local college gives her the enjoyable opportunity to encourage novice writers and to keep improving her craft.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Her research on food tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study. Maria has a brown belt in Issinryu Karate, and has enjoyed "acting out" the complex fight scenes in her books. Playing volleyball, scrapbooking, and reading are her other hobbies.

Maria's second book, Magic Study was published in October 2006 and was a 2006 Booksense pick. Magic Study also finaled for the RITA Award. While researching for Magic Study, Maria made a few interesting discoveries. One is that if you’re going to learn how to ride a horse, it’s best to do it when you’re young and fearless. The other is that no matter who is holding the reins, the horse still has control.

Maria's third book, Fire Study was published in March 2008 and spent two weeks on the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS LIST!. To research for Fire Study, Maria took a glass blowing class to learn how to work with molten glass. If you ever see a glass artist at work, know that it is considerably harder to sculpt glass than it looks. Maria now has an extensive collection of misshapened paperweights, tumblers, and bowls.

Maria's next book, Storm Glass is scheduled to be released on April 28, 2009. Writing Storm Glass combined two things Maria enjoys learning about, the weather and glass. She would love to be a Stormdancer, and be able to tame the wind--especially during hurricane season. The second book in the Glass series, Sea Glass is due out in September of 2009!

Traveling with her family is another wonderful distraction from writing. Maria loves cruising in general and the Caribbean in particular, and is planning a Caribbean trip in February 09. She has also been to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and spent a week in Beijing, China.

Though still a weather nut at heart, Maria also wrote a middle grade reader titled, Storm Watcher, about a 13-year-old boy who is both fascinated and terrified of storms. Storm Watcher is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2009 release. Writing for young adults is another passion, and Maria's young adult science fiction thriller titled Inside Out is scheduled for a 2010 release. Adults will also enjoy reading Inside Out.

Maria lives with her family in Pennsylvania where she is at work on the third book in the Glass series. She has also earned a Master of Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Maria would highly recommend this writing program to anyone interested in publishing a novel. A link for Seton Hill can be found in the "Links" section.


This week is going to be awesome because I love Maria's books and will be seeing her next Sunday in Monroe, Michigan. (Thank you Misty for telling me about this event!)

So here's the line up for this week:

Monday: Poison Study review
Tuesday: Magic Study review
Wednesday: Fire Study review
Thursday: Storm Glass review
Friday: Sea Glass review
Saturday: Find out more about Maria, her books, and other cool info.
Sunday: Book signing post (late at night most likely)

I may switch things up a bit and add some other cool stuff.

I wanted to put this out there - if anyone wants to contribute a guest post or has reviewed one of her books already and you want it posted on my blog during this week - please email me at dragonzgoil at gmail dot com.

If you are willing to participate in this event, just use the Mr. Linky as you post!

It can be as simple as a post about buying one of Maria's book and being psyched about reading it. And, you'll get extra points for each post you link up for the contest!

Sunday Spotlight - booktumbling

Today we have a new blogger who started blogging this summer, but her blog already looks like she's been doing this for years! Check her out below:

Name: Christine Zegelis
Nickname and/or blog name: booktumbling
Blog URL: http://booktumbling.com/



Tell me a bit about yourself.
I am a single mom of a wonderful 18 year old daughter, 2 dogs and 2 cats. I obviously love books and anything book/writing related (I didn't have to shop for school supplies for my daughter since my closet is basically an office supply warehouse).

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog on July 15th. Wow, seems longer than that! Why...well, I recently lost my job. It is a stressful time right now and books have always been a escape. I actually haven't had the time in the last few years to read as often as I would like, so I thought I would use some of my current extra time to fall in love with reading again. I was surfing along on the internet for book suggestions and reviews and was inspired by some of the book blogs I came across. I thought I would give it a go. What a great way to chronicle what you have read, what you thought about it and meet others with the same passion.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
My blog is mainly about books but not just reviews or giveaways. At least that is not my vision. I would like to also share book related news, information, updates...and I am sure a few personal tidbits will get thrown in the mix. I am excited because I see this as a work in progress and hope to develop my own voice in the book blogging world.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I am a horror fan but am pretty open to most genres. I am finding more science fiction and fantasy books that are peaking my interest. I haven't quite caught on to romance books but you never know. Currently I am trying to broaden my scope of authors and genres. Choosing books that seem off my beaten path.

How do you find out about the books you read?
I love to read reviews on other blogs and also the biggies - New York Times, NPR. I also love to just browse the bookstore, pick up a book, read the back cover and if it strikes a chord go home and check it out online. Or I may go all out and just buy it on the spot if it really stands out!

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
I have a personal blog, mostly pictures of daughter, garden, dogs and cats and it is an easy one to update on a somewhat regular basis. Attempting a book blog is so much fun but does require some time I am finding out. Well worth it. Being so new at book blogging, it would be difficult to offer advice other then just go for it. I certainly did not sit a plan out every detail of what I wanted to do, I just started. I figure half the fun will be seeing how it grows!

Thank you Christine for sharing your blog! I really do think wordpress blogs are pretty. *sigh* Okay, leave her some comment love people!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.

Saturday Spotlight - Feed Your Imagination

First off... HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I have now been married for a week! I'm still alive... hehe.

I love finding bloggers with a similar name to mine.. Kristen.. Kristin.. so similar. But, also, her blog is rockin'! So read on to find out more!

Name: Kristin
Nickname and/or blog name: Feed Your Imagination
Blog URL: http://feedyourimagination.blogspot.com

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I don't think you all want to read on for pages, so even though I love to chat, I'll try to keep this on the short side. I'm a college student from New England who loves snow and palm trees equally, so I have no idea where I'll end up in a few years. The two things I love most are books and music, though I'll admit I'm one of those people who likes to be involved in as much as possible. I've been writing reviews since middle school (I remember my first ARC - Dancing in my Nuddy Pants by Louise Rennison), and am thrilled that even after all these years have passed, I still do.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog in March 2009, though I admit I didn't really get into blogging until the end of May. I've been reading/following many other book blogs for quite awhile and spent and felt like it was about time I start one and get my thoughts out. Plus, I've always been really disorganized when it comes to keeping track of the reviews I've written, and having a blog makes that so much easier.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?

I think reading is a way to live vicariously, so on my blog I like to highlight books that really suck you in. I mainly review YA books on my blog, but sometimes I'll review an adult book that I think is a good crossover (for example, Maria V. Snyder's Storm Glass). I participate in some of the more popular memes: In My Mailbox, Teaser Tuesday, and Waiting on Wednesday. On Fridays, since I believe music and books go along so well, I have Feed Your Ears posts, where I come up with playlists to go with books. Once a month, I have the Flashback of the Month where I review a book that's not a recent publication and that doesn't receive the attention it should. I've also started hosting contests and did my first author interview in mid August.

Do you have a review system? If you do, would you like to explain it for us?
Well, generally my reviews are two to three paragraphs in length. The first paragraph will include my own summary of the book, and then one to two paragraphs of my opinion. At the end of every review, I give the book a rating between 1 and 10. If I don't like a book, I will give a negative review, but I always try to be fair in my judgments.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

Simple: do it for yourself. Start a blog because you love reading and want to share that love. This way you'll never (or hopefully never) be disappointed.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

Oh boy. I'll stick with favorite genres, because favorite books would be way too long a list. So right now I'm pretty obsessed with fantasy and historical fiction, as well as anything with some romance and/or a mystery.

Thank you Kristin for sharing your blog with us today! Make sure to stop by and give her a comment or two folks!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com.

If I had all day to read...

So, I am now going to attack my TBR pile and find the paranormal books I would've liked to get to before Halloween. And then, if I have energy, to name my most desired wanted paranormal books.

Ah Halloween you have come so fast...

Vampire/Other Immortals Books
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block
Sucks to be Me by Kimberly Pauley
Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri

Werewolves/Shapeshifters Books
Stray by Rachel Vincent
Rogue by Rachel Vincent

Ghosts and out of body experiences Books
Ghost Huntress: The Awakening by Kate Harmon and Marley Gibson
Ghost Huntress: The Guidance by Kate Harmon and Marley Gibson
Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart

Demons/Curses/Prophecies
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Demon's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Witches/Psychics/Other Weird Powers
Wicked series by Nancy Holder
Possessions by Nancy Holder
Witch Child by Celia Rees
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
War of the Witches by Maite Carranza
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Fairies/Pixies/other Fey creatures
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Selina Penaluna by Jan Page
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Angels/Celestials
Evil? by Timothy Carter
School's Out-Forever by James Patterson
Meridian by Amber Kizer

Yep, all of those are sitting around, waiting to be read. *sigh* So many books, so little time...