Everyone is a busy bee, but me!
Honored to be included on this list of fabulous folks…
It seems like everyone I know in the writing, editing, blogging, crafting, creating sphere goes into overdrive during the spring and summer months (except for me!).
photo credit: Cheng I via photopincc
Here are some of the people that I am connected with and what they are doing right now. Maybe it will provide you with some inspiration. It just makes me want to take a nap for them — I know they must be tired!
Let’s start with this busy lady – Tamara – and her blog Traveling with T. Goodness – she is off and running – a book club, book reviews, travel updates, book tours. Let’s just say she is rather bookish these days 🙂
Next up is a woman who I know cannot possibly sleep. She just cannot do it. Andi Kay Klemm and her blog Anakalian Whims – in addition to…
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When I Am Not Reading – Comicpalooza 2013 Day Three
Such a nice guy. He was running off to get a snack, but took time to chat with me and take a few pictures. I’m kind of weird about celebrities… they are people too… and am typically uneasy about presuming to chat with them just because I see their face all the time. But he is really easy going and didn’t give me a chance to feel uncomfortable at all.
A Look From Above
Artist Alley
I bought smaller prints of both of these. I love Gerry Kissell’s work, and he’s a nice guy. Click the image to visit his website.
Then I got to pose with a real Dalek!
Punk Rock Band Front Man of the Hates. Click to Read about him in the Houston Press.
When I Am Not Reading – Comicpalooza 2013 Day Two
Started the day with the most awesome family ever!
Fantastic costume!
Alessandra Torresani is such a sweet person… and I think maybe a little in love with our David. Click the last picture to “like” the Father of Dragons facebook page.
My kiddo will be so jealous that Ms. Frizzle came to see ME! Well, she came to stop by the HPB booth and see Erika… but I still got a picture with her rocking a near River Song look.
I really love the Ood.
Alan Dean Foster
Gary Russell
Kevin J. Anderson I told him I was one of those annoying book bloggers and he said book bloggers are never annoying – unless they recommend that you never read his books. I like him, very personable. Hope he’s there tomorrow, I might go back and get something signed.
When I Am Not Reading – Comicpalooza 2013 Day One
Our fabulous booth!
Our very own Wonder Woman and Daenerys!
This little girl was so adorable! Can’t wait to take my kiddo!
Me and Kristen Holden- Ried
I love me some Storm Troopers!
Can’t wait for tomorrow!
More Great Things from Chris Rogers…
Title: Slice of Life
Author: Chris Rogers
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Length: 390 pages
The fourth novel in the Dixie Flannigan series, Slice of Life is actually only the second Chris Rogers book that I’ve read. I usually keep strict enforcement of the rule that I read a series in order, but I had it on good authority (from the author) that even though each book follows chronologically, the stories stand completely on their own.
Having enjoyed Bitch Factor so much, I took a risk and decided to jump ahead to the book that was sitting there in my hands rather than wait to come across the in between titles.
I’m glad I did. Rogers was right about her work, each story stands alone quite nicely. Sure, a lot of things had happened since the first book, but they were briefly alluded to and I didn’t feel like I had missed anything at all. Nor did I feel like she was retelling a previous story (like some authors do in their flash backs to prequels) when referencing occurrences from the first title.
Rogers has an effortless storytelling style that fits well in the mystery/suspense genre. She’s a true artist. And not just in storytelling. If I remember correctly, when chatting about her books at the signing we had at the Half Price Books Humble store, she paints and designed the picture used in Slice of Life. The book is set in the Galveston art scene with a bit of gambling and a few dead bodies, so I thought the cover suited the story quite nicely and really shows off the talents of the author.
Even though I have broken the cardinal rule and ‘skipped to the end’ I plan to go back and read the second and third books when I find them. Rogers has hinted at some interesting history between the characters that I’d like to know in more detail, without giving away any previous tales endings.
Chris Rogers at Half Price Books Humble
Your Child’s Favorite Next Book, Book Giveaway and Blog Hop
Check out this blog hop and giveaway from one of my favorite young adult authors!
Easy Breezy Reads…
Title: Mercy Watson Fights Crime
Author: Kate DiCamillo
I heard a rumor that Kate DiCamillo used to work for Half Price Books. With that being said, and me being an event coordinator for the company, I am bound and determined to get her in my store. So of course, I have to read everything she wrote aloud to my daughter in the interim.
And the kiddo loved Mercy Watson. It’s an easy reader chapter book with lots of pictures, and after sitting through countless Magic Tree House books, her attention span is right on par with these pig stories.
I highly recommend Mercy Watson books for toddlers on up to kiddos who can read this for themselves (8 years?). Mercy is highly entertaining as are her co-stars.
And for the Adults in the room…
Stay posted for future signings.
Title: Don’t Die By Your Own Hands
Author: Reeshemah Holmes
I booked nutrition coach Reeshemah Holmes for a book signing at Half Price Books in Humble. The signing was just last night and she was kind enough to give me a copy of her book to read and review.
It truly is a busy person’s guide. It’s just shy of 70 pages and depending on your reading speed could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to conquer. I read it right before heading to bed after coming home from the signing.
It’s a great motivational tool for those who have already selected a diet plan; encouraging them not with a specific diet, but the tools to stick to the diet they’ve chosen as a lifestyle rather than a fad.
Don’t Die By Your Own Hands is definitely worth while for anyone wanting to change their life but uncertain of their power to do so… or someone who is convinced that they can change at any time, but haven’t changed yet.
For homeschooling parents who read my blog, this is also a good book to hand your teens as a lifestyle guide to follow their sports/ P.E. programs and rituals. There’s a lot of good advice about handling goals, nutrition, and staying healthy mentally in order to stay healthy physically.
Coach Reeshemah Holmes talking with customers at Half Price Books Humble book signing, May 2013.
The Hunger Games Series
Title: The Hunger Games Trilogy
2. Catching Fire
3.Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games movie came out on Netflix and my husband really wanted to watch it. But I have a rule in my house about watching movies before I read the books, which goes like this: I don’t. I did want to see the movie, but I feared the series a little bit. I didn’t want to read something out of obligation to curiosity and book pop culture and then feel let down like I had with Twilight.
I enjoyed Twilight, but I felt as though I had killed off more than a few brain cells by suffering through the commitment of all four books… but Twilight was a paranormal romance adventure… The Hunger Games is a dystopian society… there, there it is again “dystopian society” that little phrase that sucks me in every time!
So this week began project Hunger Games. I wanted to at least get through a chunk of the first book before movie date night, and I did get through a bit, but I did not have the book completed when I watched the movie. I tell you what though, I went through the movie and all three books in three days and I’m blown away. It was pretty awesome considering what I was expecting. The series is more comparable to Harry Potter than Twilight, in my opinion.
When I finished Mockingjay, I closed the book with a shake and had to go take a shower to wash the invisible grime off my skin and bask in the happiness of the epilogue. It was perfect.
A lot of people say the third book wasn’t good. I admit I was thoroughly disheartened about halfway through, and the emotional disconnect of some of the primary characters lasted way too long. But it was appropriate. It made the end that much sweeter.
On to the highlight of the purpose of my post:
This is the most intelligently written young adult love triangle ever.
Love triangles in young adult novels are pretty much a staple plot line. Everyone has them. They are always melodramatic, fitting considering the angst of being a teenager. But Collins wrote a tip of an iceberg beauty that I will actually be proud to share with my daughter.
Why?
Love is presented very clearly as a choice. In a world that is completely out of Katniss Everdeen’s control, in times when her family’s safety is based on how she behaves towards others, in a time when the choices don’t seem to be hers at all but a manipulation tactic from the authorities in her life… who she loves and how she loves them is still her choice.
I’m so exhausted of whirlwind romances in young adult novels that are out of the teen’s control. They fell in love… they were destined… they were fated…. blah, blah, blah.
I believe that everything happens for a reason, I do. I believe that God has a plan, I do. But I also believe that loving others and how we show them that is a choice every step of the way. What I like about Collins’ book is the importance one simple choice leads to another choice to another and another and steam rolls into larger choices. The whole book is about the importance of weighing consequences, realities, and feelings within the scales of logic, need, and want. Sure, events out of the characters’ control changes circumstances, but given new circumstances what is the new ‘right’ choice.
I love it.
If you haven’t read the books, I tried to write this in such a way so I would not overwhelm you with blatant spoilers. I hope you understand my meaning without clear cut examples. Maybe when the dust settles I’ll write a spoiler alert review.
The Sleepless is a Groggy Reader…
Title: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Author: Carson McCullers
Publisher: Bantam Books
Genre: Fiction
Length: 307 pages
The first half of the book blew me away. Carson McCullers was a genius… a prodigy in my mind for those first hundred and fifty pages.
I think I disappointed my book club members, though, because after that halfway mark I started to seriously lose interest.
What we have here is circumstantial reading. I’m 99% certain that I had way too much going on this last week with the May the Fourth Be With You Event at Half Price Books in Humble (see previous post) and stayed up waaaaaaaaaaaaay too late too many nights in a row to truly enjoy Mick and her little gang of misfits on the outer edges of society.
When I sleepy read, I get a little cranky. Doctor Copeland started to piss me off. Jake became a burden. I started to feel endeared to lazy Antonapoulos because he was fabulously lazy and I, too, wanted to laze around and sleep the day away. Only Singer remains as he should, a tragically romantic icon.
Words to the wise: Don’t read this tired, but definitely read it. Also, my book clubbers make the most fabulous pies.
Things you should be sure to read prior to tackling McCullers: Thorstein Veblen’s Conspicuous Consumption and Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto. Trust me, they are handy source documents to have under your belt and filed away in your brain anyway.
I am currently reading February House by Sherill Tippins. Very insightful into the life of McCullers and worth any reader’s while.
Now this sleepy reader is over and out.
Anakalian Whims 