Bits of Amber

Modern Library's 100 Best Novels

2010-06-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

Back in 1998, Modern Library compiled a list of 100 titles they considered to be the best books of the 20th century. Sadly, The Catcher in the Rye is the only title on the list that I've actually read—and that was back in 1996 when I was a not-so-snot-nosed youth who found it utterly boring. I'd like to think of myself as an intelligent adult (though I'm sure many of you can contest otherwise). That's why I've decided to read each and every one of the books on the following list. I can't say exactly how long it will take me as not every book is currently available to me, but I'm going to try.

Perhaps I will use this as an opportunity to evaluate my local and state libraries. These titles are relatively old and well known; there is no reason they should not be readily available though the library. If a title is not available? Perhaps I'll see about getting it donated. The Modern Library has an book-request email available on their sites for books "you'd like to see us add[ed] to our library" so it's worth a try.

ULYSSES by James Joyce
THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN by James Joyce
LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov
BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner
CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller
DARKNESS AT NOON by Arthur Koestler
SONS AND LOVERS by D.H. Lawrence
THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck
UNDER THE VOLCANO by Malcolm Lowry
THE WAY OF ALL FLESH by Samuel Butler
1984 by George Orwell
I, CLAUDIUS by Robert Graves
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf
AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Theodore Dreiser
THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut
INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison
NATIVE SON by Richard Wright
HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow
APPOINTMENT IN SAMARRA by John O'Hara
U.S.A. (trilogy) by John Dos Passos
WINESBURG, OHIO by Sherwood Anderson
A PASSAGE TO INDIA by E.M. Forster
THE WINGS OF THE DOVE by Henry James
THE AMBASSADORS by Henry James
TENDER IS THE NIGHT by F. Scott Fitzgerald
THE STUDS LONIGAN TRILOGY by James T. Farrell
THE GOOD SOLDIER by Ford Madox Ford
ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell
THE GOLDEN BOWL by Henry James
SISTER CARRIE by Theodore Dreiser
A HANDFUL OF DUST by Evelyn Waugh
AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner
ALL THE KING'S MEN by Robert Penn Warren
THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY by Thornton Wilder
HOWARDS END by E.M. Forster
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN by James Baldwin
THE HEART OF THE MATTER by Graham Greene
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding
DELIVERANCE by James Dickey
A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME (series) by Anthony Powell
POINT COUNTER POINT by Aldous Huxley
THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway
THE SECRET AGENT by Joseph Conrad
NOSTROMO by Joseph Conrad
THE RAINBOW by D.H. Lawrence
WOMEN IN LOVE by D.H. Lawrence
TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller
THE NAKED AND THE DEAD by Norman Mailer
PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT by Philip Roth
PALE FIRE by Vladimir Nabokov
LIGHT IN AUGUST by William Faulkner
ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac
THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett
PARADE'S END by Ford Madox Ford
THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton
ZULEIKA DOBSON by Max Beerbohm
THE MOVIEGOER by Walker Percy
DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP by Willa Cather
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY by James Jones
THE WAPSHOT CHRONICLES by John Cheever
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess
OF HUMAN BONDAGE by W. Somerset Maugham
HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad
MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis
THE HOUSE OF MIRTH by Edith Wharton
THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET by Lawrence Durell
A HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA by Richard Hughes
A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS by V.S. Naipaul
THE DAY OF THE LOCUST by Nathanael West
A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway
SCOOP by Evelyn Waugh
THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE by Muriel Spark
FINNEGANS WAKE by James Joyce
KIM by Rudyard Kipling
A ROOM WITH A VIEW by E.M. Forster
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED by Evelyn Waugh
THE ADVENTURES OF AUGIE MARCH by Saul Bellow
ANGLE OF REPOSE by Wallace Stegner
A BEND IN THE RIVER by V.S. Naipaul
THE DEATH OF THE HEART by Elizabeth Bowen
LORD JIM by Joseph Conrad
RAGTIME by E.L. Doctorow
THE OLD WIVES' TALE by Arnold Bennett
THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London
LOVING by Henry Green
MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN by Salman Rushdie
TOBACCO ROAD by Erskine Caldwell
IRONWEED by William Kennedy
THE MAGUS by John Fowles
WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys
UNDER THE NET by Iris Murdoch
SOPHIE'S CHOICE by William Styron
THE SHELTERING SKY by Paul Bowles
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE by James M. Cain
THE GINGER MAN by J.P. Donleavy
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS by Booth Tarkington

Manga from Suvudu

2010-06-20T00:56:00.000-07:00

There's something about getting a package in the mail that just makes me feel ... giddy. Books, movies, music, catalogs, doesn't matter. If it's for me, if it's even remotely associated with happiness or Pezz, I love it (bills excluded of course). So imagine my surprise when the mailman tromps across my lawn to deposit a fairly large package in my tiny mail box. I admit, first it was annoyance, then it was anger, but ultimately it was a feeling of ecstatic giddiness. Why? Manga! Turns out I was one of the winners of Jason Thompson's 365 DAYS OF MANGA contest being held over at Suvudu.com.

One of the stipulations? A picture of the winner holding their manga.

Now before you make any cracks about my picture: yes, that's really me. Yes, I am quite aware that the manga in my hands, the birdie bedsheets, and the stack of crap everywhere makes me seem like a teenager. Yes, I know I'm almost 30. And yes, I'm quite aware that this is a very unflattering photo of myself. Deal with it. I tried several times to take a decent picture; each time was as equally unflattering as this one. I am not a photogenic person. Never have been, never will be. My "Blossom reject" picture from junior high can attest to that (and before you ask, no, you can not see it). Don't believe me? Behold, other "candidates" for this post:

Horrid. Just horrid. Look, I'm not evening smiling in that last one! *sigh* In my [pathetic] defense: taking pictures with out the use of a tripod and single-handedly isn't that easy.

In case you're wondering I'm holding volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4, of E'S by Satol Yuiga. I love the art style. It's dramatic, crisp, and reminds me of the work of Yuu Watase. The books themselves are massive in weight! and heavy to hold. That was always something I loved about Broccoli Books USA; they produced substantial manga with crisp, bright-white pages that packed a punch! I still hold the tiniest bit of hope that once the industry stabilizes they'll return. The Broccoli Books USA website is still registered until 2014, after all.

The fifth book is No Need for Tenchi! Tenchi in Love vol 7 by Hitoshi Okuda. This one's a shounen from VIZ that I hadn't heard of before. It also sports bright-white pages and has a more substantial feel than standard manga. The art is cute if more "classic" in style and more simplistic and easy to follow. Sadly, it's printed in the US format which, for those of you who don't know, results in the reader starting at the end of the story and not the beginning if they are used to reading in the Japanese style. If you are new to manga, I think this series would be a good introduction. It's also safe enough to pass down to your younger brothers or sons if it's not to your taste.

I'd like to give an extra "thank you" to Jason Thompson over at Suvudu.com for hosting this contest. If you're interested, there is still time for you to enter. Also, go check out his newest work KING OF RPG'S or just go buy a copy.

Smurfs in 3D

2010-06-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my blog reading again. I can't really say it's because I'm gussy or because I'm lazy, though. I finished school with a very unsatisfying report and have since started the summer session--oh, how I miss my 1 week summer vacation! Anyways, I moseyed over to Suvudu to read through their posts and came across this one and, ultimately, this trailer.

Smurfs. Little blue creatures that started life as a Belgian comic by the cartoonist Peyo and quickly grew to be the childhood TV series that most of us--who grew up in the 1980's--remember and love to this day. And now, you guessed it, a live-action meats 3D movie. If you've seen the Garfield movie, you're probably having heart palpitations now. I would, too, if I weren't secretly awed the the possibility of Smurfs in the real world. Yes, I'm scared that my childhood memories will be ripped from my memories with tarnished fingers--Garfield was utterly traumatizing, especially since it refuses to die down--to be laid to waste on my TV screen. But you know? I'm still kinda excited.

Win "Green" at Thrifty Jenny's

2010-06-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

So, you all might know that I'm a "green" person. No, not my skin--it's white. Too white, if I do say so myself but I can't tan so I have to deal--but my life style. I compost (for the most part) have two recycle bins and an itty-bitty garbage can, walk, what have you--but I don't have that goat yet to mow my lawn... I'm still looking for one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg that I can rescue.

Ok, let me get to the point. Thrifty Jenny at, well, ThriftyJennyblogspot.com, is holding a contest to win a whole slue of "green" cleaning supplies from Second Generation. I know you clean (hopefully 0_o) so why not enter? This stuff is great! I've tried several different types of "green" dish soap and they have to be the best, hands down! So go, run, enter!

And now begins summer break.

2010-05-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

School has finally ended. It was a though couple of months; 5 classes is a bit hard to do when they're all on line. Trust me, it is NOT easier than going to an actual class. It's much, much harder! I think I did good in most of my classes so I'm hopping my GPA will jump up enough for me to stay in school (no, I still haven't dealt with those 4 F's. Yes, if they where gone I'd be perfectly fine.) I don't really feel as if I learned anything so I'm keeping my books for a while to go over a bit if time permits over the summer.

But with that, school is out! Time for summer "vacation" and summer reading. I've been neglecting my reading for so long it's going to be a hard getting back into the swing of things. I'd like to knock out 2 or 3 books a week (on top of the 6 mangas/week I want to do, too). Sounds impossible and I really doubt I'll manage, but it's good to have a goal!

Voilà, my reading/reviewing que for the week.

New Year's Resolutions - 2010

2009-12-26T16:16:00.001-08:00

With just under 5 days left of 2009, it's time to look back and plan for tomorrow. Looking back I've come to realize that I didn't do much in the way of personal growth. If I had written a New Year's resolution, I would have failed it miserably, just as I had done the years before. That's why I've come to the conclusion that resolutions are too daunting. When you have something listed and you fail withing the first month, you feel like there's no point going forward anymore. If one's willpower is not strong enough, temptation will lead them from their desired paths.

Does that mean I'm not going to make any resolutions? Not at all. I'm jut not going to let myself be swayed no matter how hard. And if I do manage to stray, I'll put myself back on track!
Here it is, my 2010 New Year's Resolutions!

Loose 96lbs. (That's 8lbs/month or 2lbs/week).
Write (completely) 1 novel.
Finish 12 craft creations (one for each month).
Read 50 novels. (I almost did this in 2008).
Get B's or better in ALL my classes (there's only 8 of them).
Pass JLPT 4.
Attempt to take 1 nature shot each day.
Complete NaNoWriMo
Participate in ScriptFrenzy

Finals Can't Come Too Soon

2009-12-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

It's almost finals week and I'm doing what every reasonable college student is doing: saving all my essays, studying, and panicking for the last possible minute. Ok, not really, but it sure feels like it some times. I have a test tomorrow for Philosophy. I'm hopping for a C grade, though I'm expecting a D. I really don't know why I can't seem to absorb the material--it isn't all that hard. It's like math and I like math. I'm good at math. But... I'm trying to study, honestly, but things just aren't... sticking.

Drama should be a breeze (a B at the lowest only because I couldn't attend a few out-of-class plays). Class was canceled this last week due to a power outage at the campus (We've all decided that it was probably my bad vibes seeing as how the power went off less than 30 seconds after I had entered the building...). I have a final group performance and a test, then I'm all done! One CMST class down, 7 to go.

As for anthropology... So far I have a C and I'm hopping it stays a C. I have a thesis I need to write, this week's posting, a quiz, a test, and the final. If I get a C on each of those, I've passed. Fingers crossed!

And if I don't pass? Well, it just makes me thing of this:

Dance like no one's watching,
Love like you've never been hurt,
Sing like nobody's listening
Work like you don't need money,
Live like it's the last day of your life.
- Father Alfred D. Souza

If I do utterly horrible this semester, I'm not going to let it hold me down. I'll dive right into the new year and kick butt next semester.

The poem, by the way, was used in the last episode of the Korean drama My Lovely Sam Soon ( 내 이름은 김삼순 )--which I finally managed to finish via that beast: Netflix. For those of you who would like to buy a legit version (and I don't see why you wouldn't want too. I know I want a copy!) you can pick it up over at Amazon.

On Christmas eve, Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah), a pâtissier, finds her boyfriend of 3 years cheating on her. She seeks solace in a bathroom stall unaware that it is the men's bathroom. Here she encounters the cocky and callous Hyun Jin Hun (Hyun Bin). Unfortunately, her pursuit of love and happiness result in the loss of her job and with a name like Sam Soon, she isn't having much luck finding a new one. Jin Hun is looking for a pastry chief for his restaurant, Bon Appetit, and Sam Soon is desperate enough to take the job and the strings attatched.

I'd have to say that this was one of the most hilarious drama's I've seen in quite a while. Kim Sam Soon is a charmingly funny and lovable character, often compared to Renee Zellweger's Bridget Jones. She's mouthy, naive, and a bit over weight (actress Kim Sun Ah gained 15lbs for this role). She's pushing 30 as a single woman which, as many know, is a social no-no in many cultures. But what makes her unique is her spunky no-nonsense attitude in the face of eternal loneliness (ok, it's not that bad, but some times...).

The budding romance between Sam Soon and Jin Hun is filled with laughter and comedy until the arrival of Jin Hun's missing ex, Yoo Hee Jin. From there it's a play of misunderstandings and undecisiveness (peppered, of course, with that very enjoyable laughter and comedy). Jin Hun and Hee Jin's romantic roles are very similar. Both must choose between their old/established love and a budding new romance. American-Korean actor/model Daniel Henney makes his first appearance as Dr. Henry Kim who, I have to admit, annoyed the hell out of me. His acting seemed stilted and fake, especially at the beginning. I'm so glad he improved by the end of the drama.

Want to...

2009-11-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

"I want someone to want me so much that if I disappear there will be a hole in their heart. If that is the only proof that a person is alive, then truthfully, how many people are alive right now?"

A quote from LOVE SHUFFLE, a Japanese drama, that I found rather moving. Whenever you feel like the world would be better without you, just remember that if you where to die, somebody would miss you (and it may not be whom you expect!)

A charming, funny, and moving little drama; LOVE SHUFFLE ran for only 10 episodes but had a wonderful cast. Karina, Matsuda Shota, and Tamaki Hiroshi to name a few. But what makes this series great is the complexity, the drama, the love. Some times it takes a little shaking-up to find what you're really searching for or what your heart truly craves.

Usami Kei is your typical middle class man. He's frustrated with his job, he's insecure with his love-life, and his fiance is on the verge of leaving him. Utterly dejected, Kei is heading home when a lighting storm knocks out the power to his building and leaves him locked in an elevator with 3 other people: Airu, Ojiro, and Masato. Soon the four form a neighb0rly bond and come up the "game" Love Shuffle in the hopes of straightening out their complicated love lives. The object of the game is to insure that the one they are with is their destiny. The catalyst? Swapping partners amongst each other (not always sexual). Some what slow and practicality at parts, emotional and fun at others; I would recommended this to any one who enjoys a romantic comedy that isn't soaked in drama but has enough to keep you interested.

The sound track was very 80's. Fantasy by Earth, Wind & Fire as the intro and Eternal Flame by The Bangles as an insert.

Rain at a Time Like Now

2009-10-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

For the past several weeks the weather has been nice. Warm, sunny, and perhaps a bit summer-like at times. Well, that has all changed. Two days ago it started raining. Sheets of 45° water drenched the upper-north valley, soaking everything in it's path. It's ok, though. The rain cleaned the air of the smoke and smog and gave me the chance to take these shots. I just hope it doesn't get too cold, too soon...

Wishlist

2009-08-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

My wishlist. For birthdays, hollidays, whatever days, and when I feel like buying myself something nice and have no idea what I want.

Last updated: 8/16/2009

- STREET-FOUND WISHES -

Chinese Natural Cures
Traditional Methods for Remedies and Prevention
By: Henry C. Lu

I saw this copy in the "bargin bin" over at Barns and Noble. They have an older copy of this online in a different format (square and red) for about $23. This one is elongated with nice, glossy pages and was being sold for $20.

Zen Mind - Calendar
By: Shunryu Suzuki and Amber Lotus Publishing

I saw this at Barns and Nobles for about $13. I don't normally buy calendars and this one wouldn't be the first on my list of the stock on hand if I did. But after reading the mission statement of the company, I was sold. Amber Lotus Publishing is a small press publisher (only 7 employees) that was started to preserve Tibetan culture and religion. They use 100% recycled paper, soy-based ink, and donate 1% to varied organizations. I still need to find out where they print, though, since they are a US company. http://www.amberlotus.com/

Samurai: The Code of the Warrior
By: Thomas Louis and Tommy Ito

I saw this over at Barns and Noble, too. It was only $10, so I don't know why I didn't grab it--was probably walking. A small, novelty book about the Japanese Samurai. Creative cover, with an old Japanese illustration and "warn" edges and spine.

Knitting On Top of the World
by Nicky Epstein

I saw this over at Barns and Nobel, as well (I really MUST top going there!) and was impressed by the unique patterns in the book. I thought this would be a really cool book to have. Runs $35-$25.

Kobai Plum Wine
Junmai Ginjo Sake
Trader Joe-san's Sparkling Sake

As you might have guessed, I saw these over at Trader Joe's. Would have bought them then, but I was in the middle of a move (x_x).

The Junmai Ginjo sake isn't the NagaSaki brand, but still looks good. A traditionally brewed saki of light and earthy flavor.

Bamboo Sheet Set

Ok, I've been keeping my eye on this one for a while. A bamboo sheet set from Target. The count it only 250, but it feels so soft and the weave looks nice and tight for such a low count. It runs about $40 for a full size set, but I know I've seen them on sale for around $30 every once in a while. Only problem is I visit the store on weeks when they aren't on sale. Gotta get either blue or ivory.

Budda Statue

Now, I know I'll probably NEVER get this guy (he costs $995), but when I saw his laughing face one drizzly day, I wanted him. He's located at the statue/garden store on Antelope, downtown.

- ONLINE WISH LISTS -

Yen Plus+ Subscription

This magazine is put out by, you guessed it, Yen Plus and originally ran at $60/year (the magazine is about $10/issue in stores). It looks like the price has been lowered to $25 now, so I really want to get it. Especially if they plan on pushing that price tag back up. x_x Have to order it from the site!

From my Expanding The Mind wish list on Amazon.com:

Remembering the Kanji
By: James W. Heisig

There are actually 3 books in this series. Remembering the Kanji vols 1 and 2, and Remembering the Kanji: Writing and Reading Japanese Characters for Upper-Level Proficiency.

From my Equine Behavior wish list on Amazon.com:

The Nature of Horses
By: Stephen Budiansky

This is one of the books suggested by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). I would like to read it and have it on hand if I decide to become a horse trainer/rehabilitater.

Equine Behavior -A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists
By: Paul McGreevy

A massively priced, school-type book. Runs close to $110 but priced down to $77 on Amazon. Full of useful information for anybody who has a wish to work with horses.

From my wishlist on Kaboodle.com:

Flock of Crows
Wall Decal

I'm not much for wall art but I love this one. A silhouette of crows in either black, gray, jade, or lite blue. An etsy.com listing, so no definable link. Wilson Graphics on Etsy.

Alien Abduction Lamp!!

Ok. Not my decorating tastes, but how COOL IS IT?! An awesome, unique lamp that just screams ... um. Moo?

Not yet released, so I have to keep my eye on it's home page.

Time for a Commercial Brake

2009-07-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with school the last couple of months, so I haven't been all that creative when it comes to blog posting. Well, maybe not all that inspired when it comes to writing in general. Right now, in fact, I'm suppose to be working on an 800 word essay that's due tomorrow. Don't worry, I am working on it (Up to 300 works--whoot!), but I need a little brake every now and again.

Well, it just so happens that in one of my classes I get to watch advertising to write an essay. There are many, many, very interesting and funny commercials in the world and I have chosen to share a couple I enjoyed with you. Enjoy!

BBC Four - Medieval

United Airlines - Two Worlds

Not For Sale - Shadow Hands

Comcast - Rabbit

Discovery Networks - I love the world

Another Cute Gadget!

2009-04-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so you all know I love cute little things. Like the sleepy peach tumble dolls or the Big Momo (かわいい！) that are available over at Strapya-World (I'm still waiting on those Sakura stickers, the Kawaii Bean-Jam Buns, and the white Healing Owl to be in stock...). Well, I found something else that is equally as adorable and fun.

Poken are little electronic social business cards. What they do is store your cyber information (such as for your myspace, Twitter, and Facebook accounts). When two Poken meat up, they high-four and swap business cards in a matter of seconds. Simple. Cute. Handy. No pun intended.

I bet you want one, too. Right? Oh, come on now. Say it. "I want one!" That wasn't so hard now, was it? Well, thanks to the people over at JapanSoc you have a chance. Head on over and see how. It's not like it's rocket science or anything... Hum. That really isn't a good analagy; I once knew a litteral rocket scientist who foregot to tighten the tire he was changing before driving his car.... Yah...

Ok, so where are we going today?
JapanSoc - http://japansoc.org
Poken - Official home - English site - http://poken.jp/en/
Strapya World - http://strapya-world.com

Drop Everything!

2009-04-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

So it's very late Thursday night (oh, wait... 4am makes it Friday, right?!) and I'm sitting here channel surfing Japanese TV (waiting for the darn Zune to sync) when I stumble across a commercial for DROP. "What is DROP?" you may ask. Well, I didn't know. But it looked good, and being the inquisitive person that I am *cough-drama addict-cough* I did some searching.

Turns out DROP isn't a drama but a movie based on the manga of the same name. The movie is directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa who just so happens to be the writer of the manga/novel. Oh, here's what Anime News Network had to say about it:

Drop's story follows Shinagawa's early life as he grew up in the streets of 1980s' Tokyo. Young Shinagawa decides to become a delinquent after reading the manga classic Be-Bop-Highschool and transfers from a private middle school to a public one. Shingawa's new life of cigarettes, bats, and iron pipes begins when he meets the leader of the delinquents at his new school.

Shinagawa first wrote the story in 2006 as a novel with illustrations by manga artist Hiroshi Takahashi (Crows, Worst). Another manga artist, Dai Suzuki, adapted the novel for Monthly Shonen Champion in 2007, and three volumes have since been compiled. The producers plan to open the film in the early months of 2009. - ANN

Interested? I know I am. Sure, it's a guy's fighting flick but you know what? Mizushima Hiro is in it! Oh, yah. And with a very full head of BLOND hair. Narimiya Hiroki is also in it sporing a very nice read top (er, the hair, not his shirt).

Check out the movie for yourself. Visit the official website here. Be sure to check out the trailers (which are of a much better quality than the ones on youtube) and judge for yourself.

Just in case you wanted to watch it here anyways, you can ^^ Enjoy!

The Fun of Pneumonia

2009-03-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

So, it has been a while since I last made a post. Believe me when I say it wasn't on purpose. This time I have a very legit reason for not posting. Pneumonia. Yes, that oh-so-NOT-fun lung illness. I'm not sure how I got it, really (though I'm betting on my brother... Boy can't keep his hands clean to save his life!). But not to worry, after two weeks of sleeping (thanks in part to NyQuil--yes, I spent money on a Procter and Gamble item *shock*) and a week of coughing, I'm starting to feel better. I still have a cough which can be very irritating when one is writing, reading, watching a movie, taking a test, or grocery shopping.

But all's well, now. During my 'down' time I was able to watch several anime series (I admin, ones I've already seen), which is always fun. And now that I'm awake during the day I've started reading again. I've started WHAT I DID FOR LOVE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and I'll be moving onto EVIL WITHOUT A FACE by Jordan Dane next. Ah, it feels good to read again!

Howl's Moving Castle - TSS

2009-02-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, or have simply forgotten, I'm a huge anime fan. But even more than that, I love the works of Hayao Miyazaki. If you don't know who I'm talking about, I would strongly suggest you head over to Wiki and find out more about him. He has had several anime movies subbed into English and released by Disney such as Princess Mononoke , Spirited Away, and one of my favorites, Howl's Moving Castle.

It just so happens that I'm not the only one with an affinity for Miyazaki's works or with How's Moving Castle and when the book was found at our local library some body *cough-mother-caugh* jumped on the chance to check it out.

So this week I decided to pick it up . "Howl's Moving Castle" is by Diana Wynne Jones. It was originally published in 1986 by Greenwillow Books, but has since been re-released by HarperCollins in 2008. I am reading the original hardcover and very much prefer the new cover art (shown at left). I started on page 34 of 212 and would have finished it a lot sooner had it not been 70+ and quite gorgeous outside.

The story starts with the simple fact that in a world of fairy tales not everyone is guaranteed their happy ending. Sophie Hatter, having been born the first of three children, is doomed to a life of failure and misfortune. When her father dies, Sophie's two sisters, Lettie and Martha, are dispatched into different apprenticeships while Sophie remains behind to help run her late father's hat shop. Knowing full well that life doesn't have much in store for her, Sophie contently darns fake roses and ribbons on to bonnets for the ladies of Market Chipping, all the while growing more and more lonely in her quiet little room and growing more and more frightened of the world. A world in which the wizard Howl steels girls hearts and is very much the rake, and the Witch of the Waste is threatening to destroy everything.

It is in her little shop that Sophie happens upon the woman who, with all the haughtiness of a queen, demands the be shown the shop's best hats. Sophie has had a very trying day learning first that her sisters have switched places in regards to their apprenticeship and that she herself has been exploited by her mother-in-law in regards to the shop work. Quickly taking in the woman's expensive gown and extravagant hat, Sophie first shows her the shop's worst hats leading up, as she was told, to the right had. Being presented with such a horrible hat angers the woman who announces herself as the Witch of the Waste and casts a spell of old-age on the unlucky Sophie. Angered by yet another unlucky turn, and knowing her family will wonder why a 90-year-old woman is preforming 18-year-old Sophie's job and sleeping in her room, Sophie gather's herself together and seeks her own adventure.

The book varies quite a bit from the movie in such a way that some people dislike it. While the basic idea of plot is relatively the same, circumstances, events, and even characters are vastly different. Yet both the book and the movie are unique that no matter how many times you read or watch them, you'll never tire of them.

I know this isn't much of a review, but I had to get something out for TSS... It's been forever! I'll write an honest review and post it. That is, if a review for this one can be written... ^_^

All write! Let's go!!

2008-11-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

November is here which means it's once again time to pull out the pencil and paper and attempt too get that book written! Why, you may ask? It's National Novel Writer's Month. (Pchh, as if you need to be reminded!) That's right, as of 12am this morning, NaNoWriMo has begun! This will be my 4th year participating and I will be successful. I will finish this year! 50,000 words isn't so bad. That's only about 1,700 a day. I can do it, I just know I can!

In other... well, I guess it's not news but rather stuff, here's a little fun for ya. Figure out what way the lady is spinning. The answer is between these two brakets. {She's spinning left or right! It just depends with what side of the brain you are using ;-)}

X-Mass Already?!

2008-10-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Christmas isn't for another 80 some-odd days but seeing as how I'm a 'starving artist' and plan to make my gifts, I need to get started now. Before you think I'm miserly and don't believe I'm broke-as-can-be, let me put it to you this way: When you receive a gift from someone that was personally made for you (colors, design, and materials all picked for you) you know that person put some real thought into the gift. It doesn't matter if it only cost $4. It's not the price but the thought that counts. Besides, when more than half the items on todays market are not only environmentally UN-friendly, they're all exported goods made and manufactured in another country with very little or no money going to the people who actually build/make it, why would you want to buy anything other than handmade?

That all having been said, on to the list!

I currently have 9 scarfs to knit. 3 will be fashion scarfs and the rest thick, functional scarfs for cold winter days. I'm not sure if I want to use this pattern or this pattern for the fashion scarfs, though.
I would also like to make 3 braided rugs. 1 small, and two medium. These shouldn't be all that hard, despite the fact that I have never made a braided rug before, but I'm optimistic! {LINK}
I don't know what I'm going to do for 'the boys'. They're a tough one and require some major think time!

Pink for October

2008-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed things have gotten a little... pink around here. That's because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So for the month of October my personal accounts (blog, Twitter, and MySpace) as well as The Gilded Pen, have all gone pink! I've left everything the way it was (background, layout, etc) and just tinted everything pink to give it a bigger impact. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I like it.

Each year it is estimated that 200,000 woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer. If that wasn't bad enough, it is also estimated that 40,000 women will die. Many people believe that breast cancer is only associated with woman, but they would be wrong. Approximately 1,700 men are diagnosed each year and 450 will die. Wow. An approximate 40,450 people will DIE this year from breast cancer alone. That means one out of every 1,513 people will get breast cancer, while 1 out of every 7,547 people will die from it in the US alone. IN ONE YEAR!

But don't be afraid! Studies have shown that as little as 4 hours a week of physical activity (which pumps up the immune system and lowers estrogen levels) can lower your risk. Don't for get to eat a nutritious, low-fat diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables as well, which can also lower your risk of breast cancer! And the best tool for early detection for both men and women is the monthly self exam. Self examination accounts for nearly 70% of early detection which in turn accounts for a 5 year survival rate of 96%.

Read more about breast cancer awareness and join Pink for October to help spread the word! You can also download the following images and background to help spread the word.

Goals for the Week

2008-09-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

Taking a page from Meroko and posting my goals for the week. Since I plan on keeping track of them I'm posting them here instead of to Twitter. I'm also posting them here because my list is much too long for Twitter's 140 character allowance.

So here it is, my to-do list for the week of Sep. 29th to Oct 4th (with Sunday as my back-up/catch-up day ^^)

- Drop 2 lbs.
- Write 5,000+ words for DW
- Walk 30+ mins every morning (with this cold, I doubt I'll do this one)
- Walk the river at least twice (not associated with the above goal)
- Finish Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland and The Devil Wears Tartan by Karen Ranney
- Write reviews for both of them as well as 4 others.
- Work on book covers to add to my portfolio.

A Whole Bag of Back Reading

2008-09-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

To say my reading habits have been blown to dust would be an understatement. In the past two months I have started--and not finished--8 books. That makes this years total jump up to 13. It's getting to be very annoying. So my plan for the next month or so is to read those 13 books. There is no reason why I stopped reading them. Most of them where--are--very good books that I rather liked. But I stopped.

So expect mini reviews for the following books. So if you don't see them withing the next couple of months feel free to pressure me just a little bit.

Books I WILL read

Temptation of the Warrior by Margo Maquire {WIR Post}
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn {WIR Post}
Before I wake by Kathryn Smith {WIR Post}
Seduced by Sin by Kimberly Logan
Hidden by Eve Kenin
Eternal Pleasure by Nina Bangs
Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig
Let the Night Begin by Kathryn Smith
The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens
The Matchmaker of Perigord by Julia Stuart {WIR Post}
This Year's Model by Carol Alt
Seduction of a Proper Gentleman by Victoria Alexander
The Devil Wears Tartan by Karen Ranney {WIR Post}

This post will be edited in the future only to show which books I have finished

Lessons by the River

2008-09-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

I went walking along the river today with mom and the dog and realized 3 things. First: I'm really not that great with a camera. I took quite a bit of shots and only came up with 4 for this blog. Blah. Maybe it's not me so much as the camera it's self.. Second: It really isn't that easy to get a dog into the water when she really doesn't want to. We tried this last time and she would have none of it. This time we had treats and after I got in—treat in hand, of course—it still took quite a bit of time and urging for her to get her feet wet. No pun intended. And lastly, third: The sun burns. Oh, sure, I know this one already—learned it at a young age, I bet—but when the sun is beating down on your already fried scalp and your lips are so chapped it hurts to smile, I believe you learn your lesson a little bit more. That or it gets pounded into your thick skull until you do.

It wasn't a horrible day. Quite the opposite, really. Walking on top of all those river rocks—not a single one solid ground, mind you—for an hour or two causes you to use muscles you would normally not use unless you had a regular gym membership. It was all quite a sight, though. The watter level had dropped a few weeks earlier due to the closing of the dam so there where a number of things to see even if we didn't want to see them, and the fishy smell was gone, so it was really quite pleasant.

We only have about two months left before the rainy season starts, so we're planning on coming down every other day or so. I'm sure my thighs will be nice and strong by Thanksgiving. How the heck am I going to keep them that way through the winter?!

That log in the upper-most picture, BTW, is normally completely covered by watter in the summer. I need to go down again to take a picture of the hallow inside. Really freaky!

TSS - Last Minute Post

2008-09-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

So, technically, it's still Sunday on my end of the globe. 11:35. Nearly so, anyways.

I just wanted to make a quick post and let you guys know I am reading. Despite my lack of posting, I am reading. This Sunday I've been reading The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens. I'm not far enough into it yet to give my opinion, though. Well, I guess I can give my opinion any darn time I wish, but at this point it wouldn't be all that... informed, I guess.

I've really been working on The Gilded Pen this past week. I have a number or reviews I need to rewrite and upload as well as some kinks in the design to iron out. Once all that's done I'm thinking of redesigning the site into something with a bit more white space. It all looks a bit cluttered to me, but what do I know, I've been staring at the darn thing for the past two months.

11:42. Ok, I'm done. Time for bed before I pass out and have keyboard-face in the morning.

Nick and Nora

2008-09-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

I'm staying up late tonight working on the blog again (like my new layout?) and watching Saturday Night Live. That is between commercials, that is.I'm watching those, too, especially when previews like the one for Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist comes on. It's been so long I forgot all about this one but it's just too hilarious to not pass on. I still haven't read the book, yet, even though it's been out for a while (I think it came out a year or two ago) so I need to get my hands on that. {You can visit the book's homepage here}

I plan on seeing the movie. It's just too funny for words. How bout you? Looks good, hu?

Clock Tower Lives Again!

2008-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

The mother, sister, and I all went for a long walk today. It's been a while, really, since we all went for a walk like this but with the puppy around we finally had an excuse other than our health. I've wanted to walk around down-town for a while now to complete my collection of pictures of the replica Zuckweiler clock tower. The original tower (as pictured here) burned down in 1984. It was a town landmark who's image is used on everything even the town emblem so it had to be rebuilt. And I managed to get some shots, though I'm a bit bummed that I didn't think about it before they started building it.

The area is now known as the Cone & Kimball Plaza Clocktower and Park. The tower looks a little tilted because of the way the road tilts. When I was taking the pictures I tried to stand as straight as possible, but I was going along with the curve of the road. The tower was completed in 2008.

The tower is rather interesting to see in person. It's 75ft tall (the original was 100ft) and rather modern. I think it would have been neat to see the tower made into some sort of informational monument with the base enclosed with little windows looking in on town and county historic information. And the digital chime is just annoying. Instead of playing the traditional clock chime, it midi-style renditions of songs. So very corny.

No More Midnight Sun

2008-09-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

It looks like some dumb as- er, jerk, uploaded and distributed a draft copy of Stephanie Meyer's MIDNIGHT SUN (the final book in her TWILIGHT series). Pissed off, as she has a right to be, Meyer has refused to publish the book and is instead offering the partial online free on her website. This is both really cool of her and a bummer for book fans as it looks like the book will no longer be published. Ever (though I'm sure with fans clambering for their own personal copy of the book, it will be published sooner or latter).

BREAKING DAWN was released this last August and concludes the story of Bella and Edward. MIDNIGHT SUN is the final book in the seires, re-telling the series through Edward's eyes.

And just so people know, this is a SERIES not a SAGA. A saga fallows a family through several stories mostly from historic times to present (grandmother, mother, daughter, etc). The TWILIGHT series follows Bella and Edward (for the most part) through high school. I wish people would get this one right...

TSS - Paranormal or Mind Tricks?

2008-08-31T23:41:00.000-07:00

The weather took a bit of a turn last night. A rather large change from the sweltering days we experienced early last week when the temperatures reached 110°F during the day and 83°F at night. It feels almost like autumn now, and I like it. Save for the wind, that is. Don't get me wrong, I love the wind. I just don't love it when it reaches 30mph and attempts (and succeeds) to knock down my fence. Yes, the wind blew down a section of old fence towards the front of the house. Not that I'm complaining, much. The top fence board was snapped from the last big wind and was never replaced while the flats where so old and rotten they no longer hold a nail. I really must remind the landlord to fix that before winter sets in...

Needless to say, the day was very nice and of a perfect temperature for reading. Which I did. I pulled out the new books I received from Harper Collins and picked two that looked interesting. TEMPTED BY NIGHT by Elizabeth Boyle was the first that caught my eye. This paranormal historical tells the tale of Lady Hermione Marlowe who is positively in love with Lord Rockhurst, though she hasn't the courage (or the stomach) to speak with him directly. Rockhurst on the other hand (our dashing-yet-misunderstood hero) is a demon hunter. Sounds like so many other tales, doesn't it? Not so! Our hero has the *ahem* luck to make quite a fool of himself while battling the forces of evil and our heroine, while not gagging over the sight of her beloved (yes, I said gagging) has the tendency to turn invisible once night falls. At times the story tells more like an adventure than a romance, and I like that! This book has depth! Yay!

The second book I pulled out is THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN by Karen Ranney. This one is about Miss Davina McLaren who has fallen from grace and must marry to save her tarnished reputation. Marshall Ross, known as the Devil of Ambrose, has made his offer and Davina accepts her fate. But there is a reason Davina was chosen, and none of them are love. The Devil, you see, has a traumatic past that has left him raving mad at times--unaware of his own actions--and as the last Ross of his clan, has a desire to produce an heir before he dies.

So far I am very happy with both books. They both read very smoothly, are delightful and fun, with nicely created plots and characters. I find Hermione a bit flighty, but Rockhurt is perfect for her and the duo keep the story light and entertaining. Davina, on the other hand, seems a bit cynical and Marshall a bit accepting, but the pair fit with the stories more dark feel. As of right now, I recommend them both!

What I'm Reading - The Devil Wears Tartan

2008-08-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Devil Wears Tartan by Karen Ranney
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-125242-6
Genre: Romance-Historical
Release: August 26 2008

A man in the shadows

Some say he is dangerous. Others say he is mad. None of them knows the truth about Marshall Ross, the Devil of Ambrose. He shuns proper society, sworn to let no one discover his terrible secret. Including the beautiful woman he has chosen to be his wife.

A fallen woman

Only desperation could bring Davina McLaren to the legendary Edinburgh castle to become the bride of a man she has never met. Plagued by scandal, left with no choices, she has made her bargain with the devil. And now she must share his bed.

A fire unlike any they've ever known

From the moment they meet, Davina and Marshall are rocked by an unexpected desire that leaves them only yearning for more. But the pleasures of the marriage bed cannot protect them from the sins of the past. With an enemy of Marshall's drawing ever closer and everything they now cherish most at stake, he and Davina must fight to protect the passion they cannot deny.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million - Borders - Powells - Buy Local!

What I'm Reading - Tempted by the Night

2008-08-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-137322-0
Genre: Romance-Historical/Paranormal
Release: August 26 2008

A Secret Admirer . . .

They say he's a shameless rake who cares for nothing but pleasure, a rogue who spends his nights in London's lustiest locales, gambling and carousing until dawn. But Lady Hermione Marlowe refuses to believe that the handsome gentleman she's loved from afar for so long could be so wicked. If only she had a way to prove to the ton that Lord Rockhurst is as proper as the rest. If only she knew what he really did under cover of the night . . .

A Clandestine Encounter . . .

Lord Rockhurst knows what they say about him, and he doesn't care. Let them think his nights are filled with craven debauchery. Only he knows his true purpose, his dangerous goal. But when a mysterious woman falls into his arms—and thereby saves his life—Rockhurst will struggle to save his secret. Who is this creature with such tempting curves and an enticing touch? Rockhurst can only wonder how he can trust her . . . for he knows he cannot resist her.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million - Borders - Powells - Buy Local!

Oh, Goodies!

2008-08-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

I went to town yesterday which is always a very interesting experience. First: let me tell you that it's not a town but a small city. At least thats what everyone is saying and since there are so many more people there than in my town, I'd have to agree with them. Second: it was 108 here in Northern California. 108F and us with a 16 year-old van with no air conditioning and only 2 roll-downable windows! Needless to say the ride was not all that pleasant but could have been worse. But it was fun. The day that is, not the ride. Since we where only there to pick up some baby mice (their mama was squished!) we didn't have any houses lined up and didn't have the urge to look for any, so we spent the day in the mall and shopping (though, believe it or not, we bought very little. And now that I think of it, I didn't go into one bookstore. I must be loosing my touch).

I did come home to goodies though! A small package from Random House and a large one from Harper Collins. Who needs to go to the bookstore when you're a reviewer. Ok, I guess I do. There are some interesting books coming out this next month (another Bladesman book, titles by Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Boyle, and Diane Mott Davidson), and I even have extras I can use as goodies. 4 or them, actually. Yay!

I guess I better work on the site some more so I can set up some contests. Yah, I could set them up now, but the blog for The Gilded Pen isn't working either. *sigh* You gata love technology... right?

Speed Reading, Skim Reading, and Reading in General

2008-08-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid I missed yet another Sunday Salon this week. Sure I 'read' and yes I was online, but I didn't post anything or visit anybody else's blogs, so I missed it. Nothing to do now but put up mental post-it notes to remind me to participate next weekend (I don't use real post-it notes because 1. the Post-It company test on animals and 2. I feel they are just a big waste of paper).

Any-who, I've been going through a box of 'favorites' in the hopes that I can release a few into the wild and thus make some more room on my shelves. Yes, for more books. Makes sense, doesn't it? Release the old, bring in the new? Yes, well... As I was saying, I was going through my 'favorites' and had to refresh my memory on a few. When I do this I skim read (skim read = reading dialog, select scenes and skipping most of the book) because it's just faster. I can enjoy the book, see if I still like it or the author's voice, and go through many in a very short time. This got me to thinking. Is this really the right way to read? As an aspiring author it makes me think: "Will I be spending the next 6 months poring over words and staring at my monitor so some reader can just skim through it?" Hum. Should I really even care that some one is skim reading my book (it is being read, and bought!, after all)? Is this some sort of cheat-reading, much like speed reading? I consider speed reading as cheat-reading because the mind doesn't have time to digest emotions fast enough and I would assume the reader can't enjoy the book's full potential. Really, though, I wouldn't know as I can't speed read.

I guess it all comes down to: Does it matter? Reading is becoming such a lost-art, especially among young people, does it even matter how they read? Speed, skim, chop, backwards. If somebody is reading, should one really care how?

Oh, and if you haven't figured it out yet, I DID redesign the blog and I think I'm going to be sticking with it for a while. I found my old layout that went with my old website, but I don't want to try fixing the coding right now. Not while I'm working on The Gilded Pen... Ug.

What I'm Reading - The Matchmaker of Périgord

2008-08-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Matchmaker of Périgord by Julia Stuart
Published by Harper
ISBN: 978-0-06-143507-2
Genre: Fiction/Chick Lit
Release: August 2008

Barber Guillaume Ladoucette has always enjoyed great success in his tiny village in southwestern France, catering to the tonsorial needs of Amour-sur-Belle's thirty-three inhabitants. But times have changed. His customers have grown older—and balder. Suddenly there is no longer a call for Guillaume's particular services, and he is forced to make a drastic career change. Since love and companionship are necessary commodities at any age, he becomes Amour-sur-Belle's official matchmaker and intends to unite hearts as ably as he once cut hair. But alas, Guillaume is not nearly as accomplished an agent of amour, as the disastrous results of his initial attempts amply prove, especially when it comes to arranging his own romantic future.

For every reader who adored Chocolat, Julia Stuart's The Matchmaker of Périgord is a delectable, utterly enchanting, and sinfully satisfying delight.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million - Borders

Anne Celebrates 100 Years

2008-08-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

Please be advised that it is 2:30 in the morning. While I may not have the best grammar on a good day, it is simply folly to expect this post to be legible.

Some guy is shooting out in the orchards and it's quite unnerving, so I'm sitting up browsing the New York Time's book reviews until he stops or I pass out. In doing so, I just stumbled across a review for Irene Gammel's LOOKING FOR ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: The Story of L. M. Montgomery and her Literary Classic {buy from Amazon}. As you can probably tell from the title it's basically a biography of Montgomery during her early years.{the review can be viewed here}

In reading the review I learned that Montgomery had based her ideal of Anne the main character in the series, on an early portrait of Evelyn Nesbit; a 1900's model and actress who was believed to be the catalyst for the death of Stanford White. Being somewhat of a quizzical sort, I googled her (yes, googled. I use it, it's not just a term). Wikipidia was the first site I found that had a rather nice collection of information. Ther story, in and of it's self, is a very tragic tale.

But more than that I learned that June was the 100'th anniversary of the publication of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. I have only really read 2 of the series, though I've had them all at one point. I was a huge fan of the Disney series AVONLEA, and have seen (and liked!) the movies, but I felt a little awed ringing that out. Despite receiving a negative review by The New York Times during it's original release, the book has done better than well. Published in the same format as the original--including cover, illustrations, and typographical errors-- by Putnam Books, the new 100'th anniversary edition give you a further glance into the world that Montgomery knew and it looks to be a very intriguing collectors item.{buy from Amazon}

Just had to share. Now, back to your reading. The shooting has stopped so I'm off to bed!

Yup, It's Still Summer

2008-08-15T15:48:00.001-07:00

My little sister went to her high school orientation today. School, you see, starts in 4 lonely little days. That means, in all inevitability, that summer is almost over! Bah. You wouldn't think it considering the current temp up here amongst the pine trees and mountains is 112°F. Sure it's California, but it's NORTHERN California (and I do not consider Sacramento or San Francisco areas as northern. They are more like mid California). There are pine trees and ski ranges up here, doesn't that mean we get cooler summers? Hum, guess not.

Things that need doing:
- Write and mail query letter for Bitten
- Complete proposal for Bitten (synopsis and 3 chapters)
- Complete and fix wordpress upgrade for The Gilded Pen
- Write 20 Reviews

Words written: 159
Motor-less Miles Traveled: 9.7

What I'm Reading - Before I Wake

2008-08-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

Before I Wake by Kathryn Smith

Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-134027-7
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: August 2008

You may call it a dream job . . .

And in some ways, you'd be right. I actually get paid to study people's dreams. It comes much easier than my employers at the Sleep Center suspect; after all, I, Dawn, am the daughter of the king of the dream world, and I can roam the dreams of others, battling the nightmares that plague them.

I call it a nightmare . . .

Honestly, I could use a good night's sleep. But ever since I met Noah Clarke, I'm even more torn between the two worlds: smart, sexy, and able to control his own dreams, Noah could be my perfect man—except he's being stalked in his sleep by an unearthly evil, hell-bent on destroying him . . . and the entire world.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million - Borders

A Little Pampering

2008-08-11T23:11:00.000-07:00

I'm giving myself a mini-pedicure and manicure. Why? Does any woman need a why to get a pedicure or manicure?

My brother bought himself a new puppy for his/his girlfriend's birthday. On top of the fact that I'm incredibly jealous of my 19 year-old brother and his new little playmate, I feel horrible about it! I mean, come on! how pathetic can a person be? I--26 year old woman with two cats, a bird, and (kinda) a horse--feel jealous over a 19 year-old-just-out-of-high-school boy. Over a dog. A dog that, in all honestly even though it's a puppy isn't the cutest thing I've ever seen (or even close too, really).

So I'm doing my nails (all 10 of them) listening to Eisley and reading BEFORE I WAKE by Kathryn Smith while they dry. Right now I just need to decide what color to pait them: black or midnight.

Is It Really Sunday Again?!

2008-08-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

I just looked at the clock. 1:40. Yup, it's Sunday. Again. Yes, yes, I know I don't sound all that enthused and, to be truthful, I'm not. No, I'm not happy that yet another week has passed. Not happy that I am still reading the same book I was reading earlier this week (as a reviewer I need to throw back at least two a week). I'm not happy that I have not completed the work I needed to get done. So, no. I'm not happy. Of course it may also be that it is1:40 in the morning and I'm tired. I really should just go to bed.

But before I do that I wanted to tell you what I'm reading. This weekend I'm finishing up Julia Quinn's MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME. I'm not as thrilled with this one as I was with THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM. Yes, it's a good story that reads nicely but I am reading a story that I've basically already read. There isn't much of anything new. Yes, these are different characters with different circumstances, but the whole basis is the same and rather anti-climatic. Quinn would have had a better set of novels if she had taken a cue from Debra Dier and simply had elements of the novels overlap as Dier did in DEVIL'S HONOR and SAINT'S TEMPTATION (two of my all-time favorite novels which really should be re-printed). I am currently on page 260 of 370. With luck, I'll finish this and still have room to start something else.

See also: What I'm Reading - Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

What I'm Reading - Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

2008-08-10T01:02:00.000-07:00

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-087611-5
Genre: Historical Romance
Release: September 30th, 2008

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting . . . for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all . . .

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her . . . eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love . . . with his own fiancée!

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million- Borders

A Bit of an Update

2008-08-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit busy the past week or so. The Gilded Pen is coming nicely, as well as the layout for G.P. Manga! I'm happy; it's been taking forever! That leaves me in the position of finding all my reviews. Yuck. How can my computer and my website crash so close to each other? What I don't have saved to my notebook or posted to Shelfari has to be re-written. That's about 31-40 books...

Other than that, I finished The Redheaded Princess. Not bad for a historical but felt a bit lacking, at least for me. It was easy to read, though, and was rather well researched so would make a great read for anybody under 18 who would like to learn about the young Queen Elizabeth I.

Oh, and I've decided to walk to San Francisco. No, not REALLY (that would take me forever! It's a 4 hour drive!!). I taking a page from C.E Murphy's book Right now she's walking to Isengard. I'm not quite that creative, so I'm walking to San Francisco (the back way since it's rather stupid to walk along the highway/freeway). That makes it a total of 289 miles. Lets see... 289 miles is about 38437 calories which is 11 lbs... Wow, sounds like a lot of work for a little weight.

Miles to San Francisco: 289

What I'm Reading - American Widow

2008-08-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

American Widow by Alissa Torres
Published by Villard / Random House
ISBN: 978-0-345-50069-4
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir - Graphic Novel
Release: September 2nd, 2008

On September 10, 2001, Eddie Torres started his dream job at Cantor Fitzgerald in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The next morning, he said goodbye to his 7½-months-pregnant wife, Alissa, and headed out the door.

In an instant, Alissa’s world was thrown into chaos. Forced to deal with unimaginable challenges, Alissa suddenly found herself cast into the role of “9/11 widow,” tossed into a storm of bureaucracy, politics, patriotism, mourning, consolation, and, soon enough, motherhood.

Beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated, American Widow is the affecting account of one woman’s journey through shock, pain, birth, and rebirth in the aftermath of a great tragedy. It is also the story of a young couple’s love affair: how a Colombian immigrant and a strong-minded New Yorker met, fell in love, and struggled to fulfill their dreams. Above all, American Widow is a tribute to the resilience of the human heart and the very personal story of how one woman endured a very public tragedy.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million- Borders

What I'm Reading - The Redheaded Princess

2008-07-28T02:31:00.000-07:00

I love letting people know what I'm reading. Heck, that's part of my job. I read and share my thoughts with you. Lately I've found that just posting an Amazon link on my twitter was just so... boring. So I have come up with a new idea. I'll post the book and cover blurb on the site for you to check out yourself. I know, that sounds like an offal lot of work, but I don't post enough as it is.

So here's today's book. This one is another YA (because I was in the mood) and a historical to boot!

The Redheaded Princess by Ann Rinaldi
Published by HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0-06-073374-2
Genre: YA-Historical

A princess in exile...

Growing up, Elizabeth fears she can never be Queen. Although she is the King's daughter, no woman can ever hope to rule over men in England, especially when her mother has been executed for treason.

For all her royal blood, Elizabeth's life is fraught with danger and uncertainty. Sometimes she is welcome in the royal court; other times she is cast out into the countryside. With her position constantly changing, the Princess must navigate a sea of shifting loyalties and dangerous affections. At stake is her life—for beheading is not uncommon among the factions that war for the Crown.

With the vivid human touch that has made her one of the foremost writers of historical fiction, Ann Rinaldi brings to life the heart and soul of the young Elizabeth I. It's a portrait of a great leader as she may have been as she found her way to the glorious destiny that lay before her.

~~Kindle~~ - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million- Borders

Sometimes life can be such a bitch

2008-07-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

I took a dive into my YA TBR pile this last week, pulling out DAIRY QUEEN and THE OFF SEASON by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. I saw PRINCESS BEN at my local Barns & Nobles and I really liked the look of it, so I figured "What the heck" and pulled down those two.

I'm really glad I did, too. They where just so... real. Both books are part of the 'Dairy Queen' series and is told by the hand of Darlene Joyce "D.J." Schwenk. I admit it was a bit odd at first; the story written like it was pulled from 16 year-old D.J.'s head with all her quirks. But Murdock pulled it off fantastically. So fantastically, in fact, that by the end your surprised it's written by a grown woman and not a 16 year-old.

In the first book, DAIRY QUEEN, you fallow D.J. as she runs her family's dairy farm--if somewhat reluctantly. The Schwenks, you see, are huge football fans. The father played in the army and hurt his hip, the two older brothers are away to college on football scollerships, and the younger brother is in junior ball--and winning--and allowed to slack off. That leaves D.J. with an above average knowledge of the game and a little resentment. When she's asked to teach the rival town's starting quarterback, Brian Nelson, work ethics (the Schwenks are very hard working) she never expected to find herself coaching him or wanting to try out for the high school football team!

THE OFF SEASON, the second book, starts just days after the first one ends (though I had to admit Murdock did a great job of making it possible of being a stand-alone). D.J. again tells her story, but this one is a bit more of an emotional roller coaster ride. D.J.'s feelings for Brian are growing leaving her wondering what will become of the hot-jock and not-so-hot, taller-than-average farm girl. Her brother is more quiet than usual (if such a thing is possible) and may have a couple secrets of his own. Then there's this thing with her oldest brother... well, I can't tell you without messing with your emotional roller coaster. Needless-to-say it isn't very good.

Murdock is planning a third book in the series. Thank goodness!

Tru Blood - My new drink of choice. Maybe.

2008-07-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

I'm messing around with Myspace tonight. No real reason, really, I guess I'm just board. Well, while doing one of those stupid little 'guess the movie' quizzes I stumbled across an add for Tru Blood, the synthetic blood nourishment beverage for all those hungery vampires out there. Seriously, they've sold me on their advertising and packaging alone (I'm such a consumer... No pun intended).

I guess there's a new show airing on HBO that asks the question: What if a synthetic blood drink was created and the vampire race could finaly anouce themselves to the world. Hum... Sounds like they are pigy-backing on the vampire craze that's been sweeping the entertainment *caugh-book-caugh* world. Still looks like it could be interesting. Of course I don't have cable (good 'ol rabit ears for me!) so I may never know. Is it possible for a person to TVo it and mail me the box? Probably not. *sigh* I guess I'll have to catch it when it comes to DVD. I still want the drink, though. I'm type O. Yum.

Check out Bloodcopy.com for videos, find out your tipe at the Tru Blood beverage site, or check out news about the show at the HBO Tru Blood site.

TSS: A midnight snack

2008-07-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

It is a little after midnight here in sunny *cough* California and I'm still wide awake. That's fine, I suppose, since it is Sunday and I'm a creative soul (so I've done little to be called creative today. That's nothing to fuss over). I needed to blog about my latest read, DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY by Terri Garey, before I forget what I thought about it in my sleeping hours. Why can't I just write it down? What fun would that be?!

So, as I just stated, I've finished Terri Garey's DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY. Now, at first it was a bit odd. It read like a blog and I got the wrong impression of Nicki (seriously, she's not goth and is more like a rich, dark, er, romantic emo?). It also seamed like a re-hash of Medium/Ghost Whisperer (god, I hate that show!) but I'm happy to say it wasn't. Nicki Styx is a smartalic romantic-punk who, after a brush with death, can see ghosts.

I wouldn't call the book 'edgy but Garey managed to pull off a very entertaining story that wasn't too bogged down with a sappy, melodramatic romance. Joe (the good Dr.) was entertaining and made a great partner for Nicki. And while I couldn't call Garey's writing style the best, her imagination alone created enough of a 'good thing' with it's twisted plot, sharp and unexpected turns turns, and great humor that I'd gladly read the next Nicki Styx novel.

As a matter-of-fact I'm off to read it now (who needs sleep anyways, hum?)

Buy it now! Kindle - Amazon - Barns & Noble - Books-a-Million- Borders - Waldens

No time for reading in another Sunday Salon

2008-06-23T01:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my posting times tend to run a bit on the dark side of the day. Sue me. On second thought, please don't. I'm broke as it is!

It's Sunday again, the start of another week and another Sunday Salon. It's just too bad neither have gone the way I would have liked. Don't get me wrong, the day was well enough but I got next to nill done from my weekend to-do list. I'm not surprised, really, as this is the norm for me.

To keep those of you who are here for the books interested, I've got two on my plate this week. The first is Three Nights Of Sin by Anne Mallory. I've been reading this one for the past couple of days and am currently on page 192 of 371. Despite my very slow progression through the novel, I like it. The writing is very smooth and easy to read, the situation the characters find themselves in is actually believable and not forced, and the romance is not quite so blatant. (As we all know, over stressed romance can actually ruin a book. Yes, it's a well known fact... erm, I think). Well, in my opinion anyways. Still hate the cover, though. I'm not adverse to a hot guy all over a hot girl, but when it makes the novel appear like some smut-fest? Shesh!

The second book is Eve Kenin's Hidden, the sequel to Driven. The first wasn't horrible, save maybe a bit over weighed with made-up terms. Essential for creating a nice sci-fi environment, but when over done? Annoying. I hope she mellowed down with this new book. She has a nice plot going that could make for a nice series. That is if she doesn't send us to sleep with over defining!

Lastly, I have a new bird! I've never had one before, save for chickens, so I'm feeling a little excited. He was originally part of a pair but his mate was taken by another to be with his bird. It's sad, really. My poor little guy has lost his birdy girlfriend and is now stuck in a new home with strangers! I don't feel too sad, though. His name is Q and his mate was Barbie... Get it? Barbi. Q. *sigh* It's like some sad redneck joke! And before you get all uppity, I live in the middle of a cow-town and I know my fair number of rednecks.

I'm off to bed before I insult anybody else...

Midnight Research

2008-06-14T01:53:00.000-07:00

I've been doing research this week of the... unique kind. After browsing the blogs of some of my favorite authors and noticing how many of them have published well over 10 novels in less than 5 years while I have yet to publish one, a spark has been lit within me. Jealousy and envy have officially renewed my passion to complete my own novels. So begins a new round of research.

This time I've been researching the early erotic novel. Yes, I know! This is quite a shocking subject for me to be researching, but my new novel demands to be told. What's left to do but cave, do the research and tell it? What I have found so far is a collection of rather... interesting titles; The Gentleman's Bottle companion and Songs of Innocence and of Experience just to name a few. It's always interesting what comes up with a little aggressive digging. Always interesting, I'm hopping that this will be one of my more entertaining ideas.

Of course, doing research of any kind after midnight will leave one hopping for the best. With the mind as foggy and sleep deprived as mine is, I can almost believe it, too.

TRUST ME, it's another Sunday Salon

2008-06-09T01:30:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday again and while I may not have been posting as regularly as I'd like I have been reading. And reading. And reading. As it stands, I am currently engaged in 3 books, each one quite different from the last.

The book I currently have grasped in my not-so-grubby little hands is the newly released TRUST ME by Brenda Novak; a romantic suspense by one of the genre's greatest.

Four years ago Skye Kellerman was attacked in her bed by a knife wielding rapist. While she was able to defend herself and wound her attacker, the trauma that was caused has stuck with her ever since. Now Sky, along with two friends--other women who are also survivors of tragedy and pain--, runs an organization dedicated to helping other victims of crime. But Sky's past still haunts her and with the news that Oliver Burk, her attacker, is to be released from prison in just a matter of days, Skye can't manage to grab a decent nights sleep. Luckily for Sky she's not alone. Detective David Willis, the investigator who was assigned to her case, still believes Burk to be a danger to society as well as a mass murderer. With both Skye and him digging into Burk's past, how may more secrets will surface before he's put away for good?

So far the novel is enjoyable. Novak has created a very in-depth plot with twists and turns that don't leave one lost or confused. Her story telling is consistent (Un-consistent story telling, plot lines, and tone tend to drive me nuts!) and her characters are well defined. While not as suspenseful as most, TRUST ME is keeping me intrigued enough to keep reading. In fact, I keep forgetting this is a romantic suspense so when those little romance novel nuances pop up they annoy the hell out of me.
I'm currently on page 218 of 435

Before this I was, and I guess still am, reading next month's ETERNAL PLEASURE by Nina Bangs. This one is a paranormal romance with an emphasis on sex.

When Kelly Maloy is offered a rather handsome sum to drive a man around town for a couple of weeks, she jumps on it. Her career at a local zoo may be emotionally fulfilling but it doesn't offer much in the way of pay and college isn't going to pay for its self. But she wasn't expecting the oh-so-sexy Ty Endeka or the terror and desire he stirred in her. What she also didn't expect was that Ty had the soul of a prehistoric menace or that he was the eleventh in a group of defenders who may be humanity's last chance at survival.

This one started out very intriguing but quickly devolved into a paranormal with the soul of an erotica. Sure, the call for sex and "bone deep" desire when paired with a great story telling can create a very moving story, but when it becomes over powering? Yah, not my cup of tea. Besides, it tends to weaken the plot. Another thing that annoyed me was Ty. Ok, so he has the soul of T. Rex. Got it. His boss, Fin, has given him the knowledge of man kind. Got that, too. What I don't get is why Ty doesn't understand emotion but understands everything else perfectly well. *sigh* So damn annoying...
I'm currently on page 160 of 308

Lastly, the book that I started with, TEMPTATION OF THE WARRIOR by Margo Maquire. A historical romance that is borderline paranormal fantasy. I guess.

To save his people from destruction, Merrick Mac Lochlainn has traveled through time into the 19th century in search for a magical jewel. He knows it won't be easy but he never expected trouble would find him so quickly. Trouble would be Jenny, the orphan turned teacher who is being accosted by bandits. When the handsome and powerful stranger saves her only to be injured himself, Jenny feels a deep need to help him despite her rush to track down the woman who stole her last family heirloom. And with a band of gypsies calling him her husband, she sees no desire to disagree. At least not until the handsome stranger who stirs her maiden blood can take care of himself.

It's at this point, when Jenny is thick in the gypsy caravan, that the story slows. I mean really slows. Despite her innocence and jaded look towards men, Jenny finds herself deeply attracted to Merrick. So attracted that she's finding it hard to fight off his advances . But Jenny won't let herself get too close to him because she believes, quite adamantly, that he's married. Merrick, despite his memory loss, believes he is married to Jenny (as he would, since everybody around him says so and the attraction they feel for each other just screams "We are married!"...). Throw in some jealousy and you have 50% of the novel. All of which occurs in the caravan. There is some magic thrown in at the end, but I haven't seen much of it yet. I just hope this one gets better, not worse.
I'm currently on page 80 of 375

So that's it for my Sunday. That's also it for my week, basically. I did receive my very first yaoi manga, but that's a post for another day.

Manga and Sunday Salon...

2008-04-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

... a good combination? I think so (of course, manga and anything is a good combination. Especially manga and iced mochas!). If you haven't read a manga yet, do so! They are so very addicting it's scary. As of right now I'm reading Absolute Boyfriend ( 絶対彼氏 Zettai Kareshi) by Yuu Watase and it's a keeper! The art isn't the very greatest (it's like everything else out there, I would say) but I like it, and sometimes it's hard to tell one male character apart from another, but the story line, characters, and hilarity are just too intriguing and fun!

Absolute Boyfriend is the story of an average high school girl who, for the life of her, can not get a boyfriend. Honestly, the poor girl is like an anti-boyfriend magnet! It is hinted (ok, bashed upon us) that the reason she can't attract a boy is because of her rather small chest size (let me warn you now, this manga does... insinuate quite a lot and is rated 16+). So what does she do? She orders one on a trial basis. If she fails to return him in 3 days she'll have to pay 100 million yen (roughly 1 million bucks!). Ouch. You know what happens, right? You guessed it; she keeps him. So how does that work? She has a robotic boyfriend living in her apartment, still has to attend school, oh, and did I mention an old school friend who has had a crush on her forever is living next door! What happens? You'll just have to read it and find out.

So far I've enjoyed vol 1 and 2, vol 3 was a bit repetitive for my tastes ("Have sex! Have sex! Let's have sex!!") but the story was saved in vol 4 by a new twist. Vol 6 is a kicker, folks, so brink a hankie (and if you're like me, buy it last!!).

Now, I'm off! If you have any questions about it, just ask. Happy reading all.

Yes, yes, yes! The covers link to the amazon store so you can check out each volume and perhaps buy it ^_^ Come on, I know you want too!! Besides, if you don't you wont read a great story and I wont get payed!

From 3rd Grade to Japan?

2008-04-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking for a while now that I wouldn't mind becoming a teacher. Notably a teacher of 3rd grade as I'm very good with younger children. I can talk to them, encourage them, play with them, and teach them without looking down at them or letting them run all over me. I also think they feel comfortable in my presence (which was again confirmed the other day when two young boys walked up to me and just started chatting away despite my black nails and black eyes). So why not? There aren't enough teachers that can stand children as it is. And me? I'm nothing more than a big kid at heart.

Now, before I ever got fully settled with this decision, I looked at my writing and the huge stack of books on my desk and thought: but I really want to be a writer! What am I thinking? I LOVE writing. I want to be published. I want to be a professional, sitting in my little corner looking out at the world. I want to go down to the local coffee shop or the park and just sit back, day dream, and write! Teaching would just get in the way. So I pushed the teaching idea aside and focused on my writing. Yes, I know. Little good that is doing me as I have yet to FINISH a single damn thing...

Which brought me to my current path. Research can be such a wonderful thing sometimes; a pain in the ass at others. I believe I spent 4 hours looking up upper-secondary schools in Japan for my current novel. Conclusion: Uuugg... For those in a similar boat (really, though, who but me is this nuts?) here's some links: Secondary Education In Japan (wiki), Another Wiki (with a really long name!) , and The JET Program.

Now, that last one brought the 'Why not be a teacher' in me out again. The JET Program is a pragram (duh) for anyone who would like to teach English in Japan and make money doing it with no previous teaching or Japanese language knowledge. I've known of this program for a while now and have been considering it for just as long. It was probably the whole "How can I get to Japan with out it costing me so damn much?" mentality. That or the "Ug! I have to wait half a year for the next season to be fan subbed?!" Anyways, I found them again and started thinking. Why not? I'd love to visit Japan, I wouldn't mind teaching, and hey, I'm young. Four years getting a degree in English (or something) with being a TA interspersed then I'd be set.

Of course that just puts me back at my 'I want to be a writer!' but for now, this is more interesting. So I'll be thinking about it. It is 4 1/2 years away. At least! That means I'll be 30... Hum... that seams a little old to be an 'exchange teacher'... Well, I'll still think about it. You never know, I may be published by then and going to Japan for research.

Some more links for those interested: A current JET teacher, A former JET, Lucky Isle-a current JET, BigDaikon (a JET forum).

Boy, I really do ramble, don't I? And what the heck is up with all the italicizing?! As usual I don't apologize for any misspellings, grammatical errors, or views of opinion. I wrote it knowing it was going to be seen. I can live with the criticisms.

Vampires and another Sunday Salon

2008-03-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since the last time I bloged on Sunday. It seems like forever since I actually read, too, which really isn' like me. Perhaps I need my head examined... or a nice, extra large iced mocha.

This Sunday I'll be reading VAMPIRES ARE FOREVER by Lynsay Sands. I recently finished THE ACCIDENTAL VAMPIRE (also by Lynsay Sands) and I'm not really looking forward to V.A.F. due to the fact that T.A.V. was simply to... well, lame might be too harsh of a word, but I honestly can't thing of another word that fits. The story was just to mellow and unexciting for a novel not marketed as such. Character development was very thin, the ending was extremely anti-climatic, and the town of Port Henry?! Mayberry reincarnate. Sugary sweet is all well and fine, but come on! There are 6 vampires in town and somebody trying to commit murder, spice it up a bit!!

Perhaps it's the fact that I've come in at book 7 that it seems so week, but I seriously hope not. I still have to read VAMPIRE INTERRUPTED after V.A.F.

That would be another thing that makes me twitch. The titles. I'm sure Mrs Sands came up with her titles to be witty and cute, but shesh. Vampire Interrupted=Girl Interrupted, Vampires Are Forever=Diamonds are forever, A Bite To Remember= A night to remember, Bite Me If You Can=Catch Me If You Can... get my drift? She hasn't used One Bite Stand yet, but I'm sure that's either because Nina Bangs beat her to it or it's in the works and just hasn't been published yet. Ug, I hope not.

What Ever

2008-03-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Long time, not post. Don't ask me why, as I don't have a viable excuse. I don't have any excuse really, save for perhaps I'm lazy. But I felt like I needed to vent, to re-leave pressure, so here I am.

I've been terribly depressed lately and I don't really know why. Perhaps it's the fact that I have no direction in my life, or perhaps it's my lack of ambition, my lack of friends, or my lack of self, my lack of money, my lack of... Needless to say, I look at my self and see nothing I would be proud of. Yes, I admit that I'm nice and friendly, but how far does that get you in life when you don't have anything to back it up? I don't have a job, am too self conscious to get one, and don't have the skills beyond a fry-cook even if I had the nerve. I've put in some applications (at the library, at Wal-Mart, Blockbuster, etc) but don't have the drive to push.

Remember the quiet girl in the back of class who smiled when she was spoken too, was helpful and nice to everyone, but ended up walking home alone to sit in solitary until the next day? That would be me, and right now i feel it. Perhaps I just haven't found my direction in this world and this depression is just everything compressing together. I don't know. It's just horribly annoying.

I'm still in my Japanese snit. It's been roughly a year now, and It's finally escalating. I've started my 'Trip to Japan' jar, my MP3 player has more JRock on it than anything English, I've started learning Japanese (speaking and writing), and I've been watching JDramas so much I have been neglecting my reading (if it wasn't for the one hour load time, the lack of online sources, my small hard drive, and the fact that JDramas are only roughly 10 episodes long, I probably wouldn't function at all.) And before you say 'I do that too,' imagine that it's been roughly a 15hour/day thing for the last month. I'm 26, for goodness' sake! I need to get a life!!

Perhaps I'll go cry my self to sleep and dream I'm rich enough not to have to worry about all this, but instead worry about other things. That way when I wake up in the morning my life won't look quite so bad.

January's Reads - A Recap

2008-01-31T18:37:00.000-08:00

January, I'm surprised to say, was a very productive month. I've managed to fix most of the site and read 7 novels and 9 mangas. I'm so amazed and proud of my self. I never get this much work done. Ok, so a quick recap.

Satisfaction by Marianne Stillings
This one had a great start. Very cleanly written, plotted, and executed. The novel began to feel a bit stretched towards the end, though. Read it if you want a quick read; that's about all.

Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery
This one was very well written, witty, and entertaining (ok, emotional). The characters where very well portrayed and I liked them or hated them, depending on what the writer wanted you to feel. Very much recommend.

Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
vols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
The first book was a bit blah. Read it or put it down, I could have done either, but I'm glad I kept reading. Around book 3 (maybe 4) the series started picking up. I love how Haruhi doesn't really care. About anything, really. She just 'is'. He's so like me, it's scary. Loved it and can't wait for the next 10 (yah, I said 10!)

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn {blog post}
This one was very well written. Raybourn has created a novel with the voice of England pounded into the pages. If you read it, I'm sure you'll love it.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
The beginning was a bit modern for me. The characters are so... Gossip Girl. Really, it was annoying how many 'pure' young ladies where sleeping around. Shesh. But it picked up and was actually fun to read.

This Is How It Happened by Jo Barrett
Jo Barrett has a wildly funny sense of humor. I loved this one, even though the alternating past/present chapter switch was annoying. You really do have to read it though.

The Wicked Ways of a Duke by Laura Lee Guhrke
Nicely written. Very Victorian, which you just don't see very much of in MM publications now a-days. This slipped a bit towards the end, but there was still a hint of it there. Not bad, I think.

The Good Liar by Laura Caldwell
Normally I'm not one for suspense. This one, on the other hand, was very well written. The plot was quite complex but tied up very nicely. It was also addicting! I read it in less than 3 days!! You really must read this one!

So there you have it. Hopefully next month is just a productive. Crap, I hope I didn't just jinx myself...

It's Sunday? Again?!

2008-01-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday again and I'm not reading or participating in Sunday Salon (TSS). Ok, I'm kinda reading The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, but not officially (can you not read a book officially?) and I've posed this which I guess could be participation...

In other news. Our house, an old double wide modular that looks as if it's seen more bad days than good, is sitting on what used to be an orchard. Now, I don't know how many of you have walked through an orchard in spring or winter, but the ground is so soft and moist it causes things to, well, shift and sink. I'm not saying the house is officially tipping, but it sure feels and looks that way. Or at least half of it does. That being the case we are looking to move. I'd love to get my Grandmother's old place, but unless the roof has been replaced that's a no-go (there was an electrical fire, supposedly. I have other ideas.) That leaves me with a house to clean just in case I find something. Up here, things go fast and deposits are a killer; there's no way I'm going to pay rent for two houses when I' only living in one.

Now, off to clean this warmth-forsaken place so I can get back to work. Reading!

Silent In the Sanctuary

2008-01-17T00:42:00.000-08:00

One of the best thing to do (and quite honestly, one of the only things to do) on a cold and blistery day, is to curl up with a cat on your lap to read a good book. Luckily for me as the winds outside whipped up to 30 mph and the temperature dropped to 40F, I had a copy of Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Sanctuary in my grubby little hands.

For coming into a series on the second book, I have to admit I wasn't too horribly lost. Raybourn did a wonderful job of dispensing enough back story through-out the book while still leaving enough mystery intact to leave one interested in reading the first novel. I must also admit that reading the first novel would probably have been a very good idea, if only to give me a better grasp on the character's previous life, motivation, and character.

One must complement Raybourn on the wonderfully realistic dialog and banter that is the character Julia Gray. Julia is a most likable character with her Victorian wit and sensibilities, reminiscent of Jane Austin's own works. The pages themselves fairly "popped" with the essence of England and I wasn't at all surprised when I could hear accents clearly in my head.

I only have two complaints with this novel as a whole. The first would be the incredibly detailed scenes. Raybourn has build a truly wonderful and in-depth environment, fallowing Julia as she lives out her days from morning to night, and beyond. But having come from reading more fast paced novels, reading through a dinner party from first course to bed seams a bit tedious especially when it fails to move the plot along. My second complaint would be the prolonged delay and avoidance of certain topics only to keep the reader in suspense. Several times Raybourn avoided stating a name or object in hopes of building suspense to instead build annoyance.

All together I must say Silent in the Sanctuary was well worth the read and has indeed whet my apatite for more Julia Gray mysteries and more of Deanna Raybourn.

Now, to write my formal review. Don't be surprised if you see the majority of this post in it.

Sunday Salon: Last Minute

2007-12-23T23:49:00.000-08:00

The clock is counting down to the beginning of a new day and the end of Sunday, and as a last-minute type of person, I'm posting my Sunday Salon ramblings for the late crowd.

Though today has been a busy day with last-minute holiday shopping and preparation, I still managed to finish The Warrior by Kinley MacGregor. I really wish I hadn't wasted my time. That sounds a bit harsh, I know, but for a writer as established as Sherrilyn Kenyon, I was expecting something a little better than this... atrocity!

The novel, set sometime in the reign of Henry V, fallows Lochlan MacAllister as he searches for his missing brother, Kieran. Lochlan runs into Catarina, a bastard of King Phillip of France, as she flees an arranged marriage. That's about all the sense this story makes. The author makes no effort in creating a relationship between the characters and instead leads them into cliché situations that left me rolling my eyes, speechless. Characters seam to be underdeveloped and under used and modern phrases and ideals prevented the story from attaining that authentic feel that make historicals, well, historicals. If that wasn't the worst of it, the ending was just to ridiculous. And the epilog?! Oh, seriously. If your going to cross genres, please do it decently! A hack job like this is what turns readers away from your work!

And to think, I still have to write a review for this one. Ug!

New Year's Resolutions - A look back at 2007

2007-12-17T01:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, reading A Red Hot New Year has got me thinking about my new year's resolutions and what needs to be carried over from last you. So I dug through some old posts and found a list I had created to ring in 2007. The conclusion? Well, let's just see.

My New Years Resolutions for 2007

- Complete 1 manuscript (75,000 words or larger)
Nope, Never did complete that.
- Complete and Submit 3 professional short stories
Didn't really do that ether.
- Update web site more often
Oh, drat! Not another one I didn't meet!
- Update blog more often
Yes! Blog has been updated much more than last year. Check!
- Take more photographs
Since I didn't buy that camera I wanted, this one is also a nope.
- Find my own place
At roughly $800 for a one bed room, this one has been a bit harder to accomplish.
- Get 'The Gilded Pen' off the ground
I like to think that I'm almost there. A few more updates and she'll be moving smoothly.
- Read (completely, the whole way through, and enjoy) 50 novels
Hum, 50 novels, let me see... Read at least 35 books that I can remember. Of those I know I enjoyed 23 . So nope. Goal not met.
- Knit a bedspread (or afghan the size of a full size bed)
Oh, I can't believe this is one of my resolutions! I knit a scarf. That's it.
- Knit a pair of socks or slippers
See above.
- Knit something with beads
Scarf did not have beads on it, so nope.
- Send out more birthday gifts/cards
I truly am a horible person. If anything, this year I sent out less.
- Plant a garden
I planted basil, parsley, and some flowers. Not quite a garden but close enough. Check.
- Grow my own Tea
Nope.
- Exercise 30 mins/day, 5days/week
I did for quite a while, then it just got too darn hot! Goal not met.
- Lose 96 lbs
Darn, only lost about 18. Hey, that's better than nothing, right?
- Set more personal deadlines
Check. More Deadlines set. I didn't specify that I hat to meet them.
- Go to bed by 11pm, and wake up by 8am
Why, this one is quite laughable.
- Get out more
Hum, got out less...
- Make more money
Oh, I did this one! I know it's not as much as I would have liked, but it was more than before. Check!
- Be more tidy
Look, another laughable resolution.
- Pay off some bills
Off as in extinct? Nope, there all still here.
- Don't accumulate any more bills that will need to be payed off
Let me think... Well, I didn't get any more credit cards. Does that count?
- Work with my horse so I can ride her
Yah, right. Didn't happen, not going to happen. Let's just forget about it and move on.
- Go through boxes (yah, all those hiding in my closet and under the bed)
Check. Went through boxes. Not all of them, but I did 'go through boxes'...

Wow, there are very many goals completed are there? I guess I'll have to think really hard on next years. Maybe I'll leave out some of those silly ones. In bed by 11pm?! Who was I kidding?!

Midnight Ramblings and Sunday Salon

2007-12-16T01:15:00.000-08:00

Seams like I've fallen behind on my plan of posting at least twice a week, but I guess I'm lucky to be posting once a week. I can't really say that I've been busy (I have, ho boy!) as I've been slacking a bit too much lately. There really is no excuse! I did finish Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber and Onc Bite Stand by Nina Bangs. Still don't know what to think about that last one. Boy, is that review going to be a pain!

Found this on Deb's blog and had to pass it on. Why? Well, for one, it's something that is incredibly easy to do, everyone can do it, it will help save the environment, and is it really all that hard? Okay, okay. I'm also passing it along because one of the prizes is a ChicoBag. I practically grew up in Chico and have to spread some home-town love (no, I don't have a Chico State hoodie, but I do have a ChicoBag!) New American Dream: BYOB.

Oh, and it's Sunday again! Time for Sunday Salon. Too bad I spent all day Saturday reading. I'm a bit pooped on the reading scale. Hum, perhaps it should be changed to Saturday Salon... Yes, people, I want you ALL to change your schedule for me! Muahahahahaha! Ouch! Okay, I'll stop! Please put the bats away!

I've decided to read A Red Hot New Year by Cynthia Eden, Diana Mercury, Virginia Reede, and Denise Rossetti. Ok, so this isn't really something I'd normally read in a 'public' setting, but not only is it past due on a review but it's a new year's piece and there is no sense reading and reviewing it after the holiday. So I'm taking the plunge and reading this collection of erotic short stories for Sunday Salon. Please, no comments from the peanut gallery. I may be a bit kinky, but I'm not that kinky.

I don't really know about Reede's short, Snow Blind. I'm not into more than 2 partners, swingers, 2+-soms, or ... well, you get the pictures. It just gives me the creeps. I don't really think this one will earn any brownie points from me. Well see how it goes in the morning.

Er... did you count all the links I slipped into this post? 11! Wow, talk about annoying!

Sunday Salon: Where Angels Go - 1

2007-12-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

Book Title: Where Angels Go
Author: Debbie Macomber
Time spent reading: 2 hrs. 24 mins. (144 mins)
Pages read: 96/297
Back Blurb:

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back! These three irresistible angels love their assignments on Earth. They especially love helping people who send prayer requests to heaven (even though the Archangel Gabriel, their boss, knows they're going to break his rules)!

This Christmas, Mercy is assigned to bring peace of mind to an elderly man... who discovers an unexpected answer to his prayer.

Goodness is sent to oversee the love life of a young woman afraid to risk commitment a second time.

And Shirley has the task of granting a little boy's fondest Christmas wish.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy go wherever they're needed. These three charming angels often find themselves in trouble., but somehow things always work out for the best--especially at Christmas.

Comments: I'm not sure if it's just me or if this is the way Debbie Macomber normally writes, but I'm not finding this novel to be all that, well, enjoyable. Sure, it's sweet and the writing is very smooth, but the overall execution of the novel is lacking. The angels, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, are to immature for my liking. I keep seeing flashes of 12 year olds in grown-up bodies who seem to have no control of themselves. Perhaps Touched By An Angel {extra link} has tainted me to all other types, but when I read this novel I expect a bit more decorum and sensitivity from my angels.

The three subplots are different enough from each other to give the novel a bit of substance. I have a bit of a problem with Goodness' assignment. Beth, a young woman who suffers from an old marriage, finds a guy on an online MMO and decides she'd like to meet him. Now, come on! The worst she expects is that he's either 50 years old or married. Not that he's 16, or lives at home in his mother's basement, or that he's some vastly over-weight psycho killer. Nope, never even crossed her mind.

Over all the novel reads like some Saturday morning Christmas feel-good flick. Sure, there are many people who love those, but it's not really something I'd expect to read.

{Vist and Join THE SUNDAY SALON}

Sunday Salon: In Preporation - Dec 9

2007-12-09T01:45:00.000-08:00

Going through my TBR pile can be pretty daunting. Finding a thin one for Sunday Salon, nearly impossible. Not this weekend! Two books fairly jumped down on me in their readiness to be read.

With it's pretty deep berry-pink spine and little rose, The Accidental Florist by Jill Churchill was the first novel to catch my eye. The cute little cat on the cover was the kicker. And, hey!, only 219 pages. Nice. So I sit my self down and wait until midnight to crack open the book. I read a few pages and stop. Uh-oh, this isn't good, it's boring! No, no. It has to be me. I just haven't gotten into the grove yet; the sentences will pick up. Page 19. Still dry, still choppy, still boring. Ok, this one's a pass.

Next book is Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber. Nice little Christmas story which reads much smother. And at 297 pages, a sure shot for Sunday Salon. I only hope it's not to churchy... We'll see.

Sunday Salon: All the Pretty Girls - 2

2007-12-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

I always plan to do one of these right, but the day never turns out the way I'd like. As you can guess by the title it's Sunday again and I'm making a last ditch-effort in participating in this week's Sunday Salon.

I finally finished ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS by J.T. Ellison and all I have to say is: Wow. Quite honestly this has got to be one of the most involved stories I have ever read that I could actually stand to finish. Ellison has created a very intriguing plot with many twists and turns, and plenty of gore. The characters where not as 3-dimensional as I am used to and the ending a bit lacking, but the story was still very entertaining. I admit I even felt sorry for the serial killer. If ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is any indication, J.T. Ellison has a great career ahead of her. For all those who like crime novels, this one's for you.

To finish off Sunday Salon and to start my Monday I've pulled down LAIRD OF THE MIST by Paula Quinn and THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen (teen) from my TBR shelf. Not sure which I'll read first, though. I'm actually in the mood for another crime novel (oh, shocking!)

Happy Saturday

2007-12-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Saturday everybody. That is, if Saturday is a day you can be happy about. Up here, it's cold. Weather.com says it's 47 but feels like 40. Yah, that could be right (those of you in snow-blanketed areas be quiet! It's been in the high 90's low 100's all summer and I haven't adjusted yet!)

I'd also like to say a quick hello to all you Swap-Bot visitors. I hope you enjoy my blog (and if not, please don't throw fruit at it.)

My back is a bit sore form knitting all night. I love knitting and making homemade gifts, but I have to tell you: it can be a bitch. With only 20 days left of Christmas shopping and mailing (no, I don't shop the last days; I don't have a death wish) I really need to get this stuff done. How far am I? No comment.

It was cold last night. The coffee pot became so chilled it shattered when the percolator started. Nice. Woke up to coffee all over my counter and an electronic coffee pot full of coffee, but not in a good way. Had to pull out the old Salvation Army bound one and I'm still waiting for it to finish. Boy do I need my coffee!!

Was a bit board this morning, too. Trying to wake up without coffee or tea can be a pain (why didn't I just make tea? I wanted coffee, I had already started it. There's no giving in here!) So I visited some blogs, took a couple of quizzes (thanks Sarah), and, well, typed this post. I sure hope tomorrow is better.

No surprise here

I Scored a 80%!

A little surprised there

62%Meh.

70% GeekOn this one, I'm sure I could have been geekier.

Taking the Mystery out of Suspence

2007-11-27T13:06:00.000-08:00

It's warmer today and I like it. For the past week or so it's been in the mid 50's to lover 60's. That's all well and fine, but add to it the biting cold wind and you have a very uncomfortable atmosphere. Yes, I know. Biting cold wind and icy snow are much worse. Shut up, I don't want to hear about it.

I've been keeping my self busy knitting my semi-emo scarf and reading. Is it a coincidence that the book cover and my scarf consist of the same colors? Of course it is. Just because I've been reading a psycho thriller hasn't been putting bad things in my head...

I'm finally up to page 244 of J.T. Ellison's All The Pretty Girls and I think I've figured it out. Damn it. I still have 163 pages till the end and I don't want to go through the whole thing knowing who did it and being pissed off at the characters for not putting their information together to solve the case. Ellison does a great job of creating a scene, of keeping things moving with only minor pauses in stride, and displaying her characters as people, but I don't think I could live through it knowing the outcome so soon. Please, be a surprise ending!!

I've also just received Paula Quinn's Laird Of The Mist (which looks really, really good) and Timothy Knight's Great Kisses... and Famous Lines Right Out of the Movies (which looks like nothing more than a fun page...). Just thought you aught-a know.

Sunday Salon: All The Pretty Girls - 1

2007-11-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

You know, Sundays would be so much better if they happened during the week. That, or kids had school on Sunday. Though I must admit this current bunch (only 2) is much more quiet than the other. I currently have two very young teen girls glued to the computer monitors in my living room. Both are doing their own separate things, so there is very little giggling, fighting, or yelling (though one keeps singing... off key, too.) So maybe this Sunday Salon will be better than the last ones.

Today I'm attempting to read All The Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison. I've been reading the book for the last couple of days, so I'm already well into it. Sunday saw me starting on page 160 (wasn't that a cawinky-dink?) and I've read 35 pages. It's a very unique book with many twists. You fallow LT. Taylor Jackson, head of Nashville's homicide division, and her lover/boyfriend John Daldwin; and FBI profiler. What starts as a homicide investigation in Nashville turns into an FBI hunt for a serial killer. But that's not the least of it. Throw in a serial rapist, an up-and-coming drug punk, and what may be a corrupt judicial system and you have one complicated story.

So far Ellison has done a nice job with the characters as well as the setup and plot line. It's a bit confusing some times, trying to keep things straight, but boy is it engrossing. Ellison also throws in mini chapters from both the serial killer's and his victim's point of view, which is a nice touch to the novel.

Now, I just left a new victim slain by the killer and our lovely LT dispensing orders, so I bet get back to reading! Hope everybody else is enjoying a good book.

Happy Turkey Day

2007-11-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

Just wishing a happy Turkey Day to all of you out there. Well, a happy day-after Turkey Day. Don't really know why it's called Thanksgiving any more, no body calls it that, no body gives thanks for anything, and no body really remembers how it was all started or why. So from now on, it's Turkey Day.

And in celebration of Turkey Day, or perhaps in preparation for Christmas (Winter-Time-Kids-Stay-Home-No-Quiet Day) I'm browsing some of my favorite online tea shops: Tea Guys, Mountain Rose Herbs, Monterey Bay Spice Company, The Republic of Tea, and The San Fransisco Herb Company. Hey, if there's one habit you have to do in your lifetime, let it be tea drinking.

Also reading All The Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison right now. Boy, this is new. It's like reading an episode of a CSI - Law and Order cross over. I like Taylor and Baldwin so far. And I love that the authors has by-passed the whole 'I like you, you like me, but we're fighting it' thing and dumped them into a relationship.

Now, off to reading and more tea shopping.

Gimmy A Hankie

2007-11-20T01:52:00.000-08:00

I'm cold right now. And it's late, but after spending the past two and a half hours between falling asleep, crying, and attempting to finish the book I was reading, I didn't want to wait until morning to give my thoughts. If this post doesn't make much sense, please feel free to keep it to your self...

Someone Named Eva is a deeply moving accounting of a chapter of the Holocaust that is not widely known; the annihilation of Lidice, Czechoslovakia.

While food rations are low and war rages around them, Milada's small village of Lidice is otherwise untouched. Milada herself lives unaware of the death and destruction not to far away, calibrating her birthday with her family and friends and attending school as usual. That is until one night when a troupe of Nazi solders march in, dragging residents from their home, separating the women and children from the men, and forcing Milada and her friends, family, and neighbors into confinement in a school gymnasium. Here, scared for her very life, Milada is examined, measured, and separated from all she knows and sent to a re-education center. where she learns that she fits the Aryan ideal: blond hair, blue eyes, head and nose shape. Through harsh training and constant brainwashing, she is taught to become the perfect Germain citizen.

Many parts of the story seamed to be underplayed for the sake of the young reader, merely underlining the true horror of life during World War 2. We do not learn until the very end, indeed, until the author's own end note, the true story behind Milada's tale. Perhaps it was the authors first-person accounting that hindered the story in such a way--Milada is a young girl who only knows what's around her and she isn't very inquisitive.

On the jacket cover it states: Ages:10-14, Grades: 5-9. And while the book--with its simple structure, wording, and descriptions--attests to the age requirements of it's readers, the soul of the story is a definitely a read for people of all ages. Emotionally touching and historically informative, Joan M. Wolf has created an easy to read story that is well worth the time.

[Someone Named Eve - Joan M. Wolf - Clarion Books - 978-0618535798 - July 2007]

The author was also kind to include a link to the Lidice Memorial web site. Take a look, but don't forget to bring a hankie. [LINK]

Sunday Salon: Someone Named Eva

2007-11-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been doing to well this Sunday, but it's not my fault. Honestly! I was all prepared to read when my brother called to tell me he was coming up. I had everything all ready, too. Tea was poured, radio was playing, book was out (that's the most important part, isn't it?) *insert dramatic sigh here*

Anyways, I've decided to tackle the YA books first since they are the ones past due on reviews. I'm starting with Somebody Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf. It's the story of a young girl amidst the Holocaust. Milada lives with her family in Czechoslovakia when the Nazi invade her home town. Because of her blue eyes and bright blond hair Milada fits the Aryan ideal of a perfect German citizen and is quickly taken to Lebensborn camp where her name is changed to Eva.

I'm rather intrigued by this one. It is inspired by real events and sports a rather nice research history. Now, if only people (despite how much I love them) would leave...

Sunday Salon: In Preporation

2007-11-17T23:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, so tomorrow is Sunday and Sunday Salon will once again be in full swing. I know I haven't been doing so well to date, but that's not wholly my fault. If only my mind would get on track when I need it to (or at least mind... no pun intended.) If it did I'd have that novel finished, be half way through with NaNo, and be caught up on my reading. But no, it seams to find it extremely funny to come up with ideas and plans until I finally concede only to dumps them in the middle of the road, running the other way giggling madly. Hum. Reminds me of a 3rd great bully I once knew...

Well, not this time. This time I plan on being prepared. I've taken a page from Clare Dudman and put together a list of short novels for this Sunday; YA, suspense, and fiction. I've done (most) of the dishes, prepared the tea kettle, and loaded the radio (Haydn-Symphony No. 45 "Abschiedssinfonie"). Now I just need to get some sleep so I can function in the morning.

Ice Storm by Anne Stuart, Wife For Hire by Janet Evanovich, A Secret Affair by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf

A bit Unlucky

2007-11-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

So it has taken me a week but I have finally finished Jana DeLeon's UNLUCKY (No, Jana dear, this is no smear on you, only myself) and I have to say, I haven't ready anything like it for quite sometime.

Mallory Devereaux is unlucky. No, not a simple run of bad luck, but a chronic and devastating rash of bad luck. The merest touch of her hand, the brush of her finger, and heaven forbid, a kiss, can lead to life threatening danger. But Mal knows her limits. She has grown up with this 'affliction' and has learned to use it to her advantage. She's no scamer or shady person, but when faced with a group of dirty Yankies what's a little fun guna hurt?

When she finds out the man who is more like a father to her than her own is about to loose his business to the IRS, Mal puts her bad luck to good use by becoming a 'cooler' on her uncle's casino boat. So she has to flirt with some old men, accidentally touch them and spread her bad luck around, no big deal right? Wrong. Mal's luck works both ways and she's found herself not only working in the middle of a group of criminals, but assigned to work her magic on none-other than Silas Herbert; a man who has been at odds with her family for longer than she can remember. A man who also has a few tricks up his sleeves.

There has to be a bright side to all this trouble, right? Sure there is and this bright side manifests it's self as Jake McMillan (aka Jake Randoll); the hot and sexy dealer at Mal's table who causes her body to warm and crave human touch. What if he also happens to be an undercover FBI agent setting a trap for Silas while making her squirm in her seat? That's ok, she can handle him.

UNLUCKY is a very witty, entertaining, funny, and smoothly written novel, but there was just some stuff that bugged me. Jake, for instance, didn't strike me as a very good FBI agent. He didn't have any contacts on board or in town, he spoke quite openly on his phone when anybody could chance by and hear him, he didn't research his undercover role or the town where he would be playing, and he seamed more like a follower relying on Mallory's plans and ideas than coming up with any of his own. Oddly, he reminded me a bit of the character Colby Granger (Hum...) but a bit more rooky. Mal's bad luck was a great catalyst for many bad accidents, but with that many people mingling on board I expected a little bit more bad luck than I received. Over all it was quite fun. DeLeon did a wonderful job weaving the story together, portraying Mallory as a strong woman, and bringing out the comedy.

Overall review score: hum... 3.5/4 out of 5
[Unlucky - Jana DeLeon - Love Spell - 978-0-505-52729-5- November 2007]

Sunday Salon: Unluky - 1

2007-11-11T02:11:00.000-08:00

It being Sunday, even if it is before the butt-crack of dawn, I am posting my preliminary to today's Sunday Salon. While I have a stack of some 30+ books before me I'm only going to choose two as I highly doubt I have the sanity to read more. Of course, sanity is a very tricky thing and one never knows what will happen.

This Sunday's book is UNLUCKY by Jana DeLeon. I will be starting on page 71 of this 308 page romantic mystery from Love Spell, a subsidy of Dorchester Publishing, and hopping I make it to the end.

Everyone in Royal Flush, Louisiana, knows Mallory Devereaux is a walking disaster. At least now she's found a way to take advantage of her chronic bad luck: by "cooling" cards on her uncle's casino boat. As long as the crooks invited to his special poker tournament don't win their money back, she'll get a cut of the profit.

But Mal isn't the only one working some major mojo. There's a dark-eyed dealer sending her looks steamier than the bayou in August. Turns out he's an undercover agent named Jake Randoll, and for a Yank, he's pretty darn smart. Smart enough to enlist her help to catch a money launderer. As they race to untangle a web of decades-old lies and secrets amid a gathering of criminals, Mallory can't help hoping her luck's about to change....

So far, so good. I like the heroine and the supporting characters. The hero... not sure yet, haven't really gotten the chance to know him. DeLeon is doing a fantastic job of picking up strings. I haven't had to hit the book against anything yet. Mallory's 'unlucky magic touch' seams to be a bit on the dissbalievable side. A simple touch 'infects' the recipient with bad luck. And I'm not really a cards kinda gal. The technical stuff tends to go over my head.

As always, if you'd like to join The Sunday Salon, feel free to sign up!

Sowhere Between Too-Late and Too-Early

2007-11-11T01:16:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday night and I'm stuck in the house again. I'm always stuck in the house (I honestly can't remember a Saturday that I went out.) It's raining out side, too; cold and wet. Makes tonight the kind of night that urges any sane person to curl up under the flannel blankets, down comforter, and umpteen pets and sleep until tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, I have the soul of a writer and that automatically makes me institutionalizeable . So here I sit, a cold pot of tea before me, a candle burned down past half-mast, and my fingers turning a ghastly shade of pale purple as the blood congeals in my fingertips (oh, look. Now I get something remotely interested typed.)

To keep warm I've been knitting my scarf again. Half a row or so stretches the shoulders, flexes the fingers, and wakes me up enough to stare at the blank page again. And when that doesn't help I turn to reading. On that note, and since it is about 2am on SUNDAY, I suppose I could start Sunday Salon early. I think I'll call it a night after, even if I have to tie myself to the bed (oh, kinky!)

Before I forget. For those of you with a thing for dark jazz, I came across this band today (I like dark, slow, seductive music. It's so very hard to find.) Check out Bohren & der Club of Gore. Their music is definitely worth checking out.

November 8th

2007-11-08T20:17:00.001-08:00

Ok, my writing isn't going all that good (hence the very, very sad title to this post!). It's been 8 days since NaNo started and I've written 473 words. Oy! At this rate I'll be finished by November 2009...

New Avon Titles

2007-11-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

UPS dropped off a package from AVON today. Wow, 11 novels this month?! Ok, I'll probably only get to reviewing 2 or 3, but thanks for the selection choice guys!

A Secret Affair by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Blackthorne's Bride by Shana Galen
Dangerous To Know by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Forever After by Catherine Anderson
Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Holidays Are Hell by Multiple Authors

Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson

In My Wildest Fantasies by Julianne MacLean
Not The Marrying Kind by Hailey North
The Taste of Innocence by Stephanie Laurens
Taken By The Night by Kathryn Smith
Wife For Hire by Janet Evanovich

What's Your IQ?

2007-11-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, wondering around the net again and fell across that damn Tick.com add again. Little black words across the top flash a well known phrase from a well known preschool show "Which one of these things is not like the other?" *sigh* ok, I bite. Take the little test. Cheer and smile when I cross a question I don't even have to pause to answer. Give them my info. Oh, one more page and I'll learn my IQ! Yah, not all that exciting. Then the page pops up and I have my answer:

Congratulations, Amber! Your IQ score is 126

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Insightful Linguist. This means you are highly intelligent and have the natural fluency of a writer and the visual and spatial strengths of an artist. Those skills contribute to your creative and expressive mind. And that's just some of what we know about you from your test results.

Ok. I don't really know how accurate that is, but I gata tell you: I like it. Sounds a bit like me, though, doesn't it? Much better than being labeled as a certifiable loon. Of course, what does it mean? Hum. A little fancy finger work though Google (my, doesn't that sound kinky?) and I have an answer: I am smarter than 95% of the population and I have superior intelligence. Please, don't mind my silly little grin. I'm sure it's all quite fake (they do have an option available where you can buy your results and their findings) but it is ego boosting.

Boost your ego, take the test. And, no. I get no commission for sending you there.

Also did the Emtional IQ for some strange reason. Bah, not as fun as the first.

Amber, your Emotional IQ is 115.

This number is the result of a formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on Tickle's Emotional IQ test. But your Emotional IQ score is much more than just a number: it's an indicator of success.

Research has shown that people with high emotional intelligence scores — not necessarily those with the highest IQ scores — tend to be the most valued and productive employees and have the longest and happiest romantic relationships.

So, where are you most emotionally smart? Your test results show that your strongest suit is perception — your ability to pick up on what others are feeling.

Because of this, you are unusually good at reading people's verbal and non-verbal cues. You're especially aware of the subtleties of people's actions, and can feel out the vibe of a situation better than many. That gives you and edge many wish they had. People with high perception skills like yours, however, tend to rely on them to the exclusion of others. As a result, they sometimes have underdeveloped abilities in other realms of critical emotional intelligence like managing emotions, empathy, and being expressive.

To truly excel in life and know how to relate to different people, you need to balance out the different kinds of emotional intelligence.

Research indicates that if people who are strong in perception can work to increase their overall emotional IQ score, they can prepare themselves to handle any interpersonal exchange with amazing skill — especially by learning to be empathetic and by being able to express what it is they are feeling or trying to say.

And the good news is that people who try to improve their emotional IQ have far greater success than people who try to improve their IQ.

It's Sunday Again - TSS

2007-11-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday again and I'm in a slump. NaNo isn't going as good as I expected, and I really don't have an urge to read (why, that's quite a shocker, isn't it?!) Perhaps it doesn't help that there are 2 teen-aged boys in my living room playing online games together with rock music blasting around them that they insist on singing along with. Ask them to turn it down, you suggest? Well, obviously you don't live with teenage males. The argument, yelling, and pandemonium that would fallow such a suggestion would result in a headache more atrocious than the one I currently have.

Since it is Sunday and the Sunday Salon is in full swing, I supose I should at least mention that I finished Everything Forbidden by Jess Michaels this morning (hence the over proper language in this post.) For an erotic romance it wasn't half bad, and for an erotic historical romance it was actually quite good. Sure there where some historical allowances but they were very well played (the Sandwich makes an appearance with some liberty to actually historical use.) The sex is very erotic and there is actually a story line that makes sense. That is to be expected since Jess Michaels is a pseudonym for historical author Jenna Petersen. While the characters where a bit narrow minded (sex, sex, sex) and emotions where demonstrated with limited physical descriptions (body thrown back for shock, head tiled for interest, inquiry, and confusion) this novel was enjoyable, interesting, and emotional. I must admit that this is one of the best erotic romances I've read in a very long time.
[Everything Forbidden - Jess Michaels - Avon Red - 978-0-06-128394-9 - November 2007]

Now that that's out of the way, I'm back to writing my reviews so I can start my next book, The Queen's Lady by Shannon Drake. A historical set in the time of Mary Queen of Scots. Of course, like I said, it is Sunday. Cleaning and hose-hold shopping are on the list of things to do. Oh, it never ends!

Check out the Sunday Salon

Writer's Block

2007-11-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo has started and I have writer's block. Sounds about right. I wonder if Starbucks has outlets so I can plug in the lap top...

Writer's Block

2007-11-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

I can't write. Damn it! I CAN'T WRITE! Just my luck, NaNoWriMo starts and I can't write a thing (it's been 3 days and I've written 277 words. At this moment I'm 4724 words behind). Quiet house, warm tea, soft music, fresh air, food, sugar, nothing helps. When I'm not on the computer I feel I need to clean or read or something. Tomorrow is Sunday Salon so I'll probably have a boost of inspiration then. But now? Nope. Nothing.

I did get a copy of Gemma Halliday's Alibi in High Heels. Looks fantastic. I haven't read her work before, but the reviews have made her writing sound irresistible. Looks like they're also planning on turning it into a television series (is it just me, or are a LOT of books going to tv now-a-days?)

Numbed my mind with some of those silly online quizzes. Now I'm numb and bummed. I was amazed at how accurate they where...

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything.
You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life.
You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you.

Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace.
You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life.
Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times.

At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you.
You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others.
You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperment Are You?

Your Dosha is Kapha

Calm and grounded, you are not prone to mood swings or anger.
However, once you do get angry, it takes a lot to cool you down.
You tend to think a little slower than most people, but your logic is astounding.
Overall, you very loyal and trustworthy. You're not scared of being who you really are.

With friends: You enjoy their company, but often listen more than talk

In love: You crave connection and affection. It's hard for you to be single.

To achieve more balance: Exercise vigorously (especially in the sun) and let go of attachments.

What's Your Dosha?

You Are Placid and Peaceful

It's not that you're scared of most thrills
It's just that you don't need them to be happy
You're content with life as is... no need to change it
Just make sure to let loose a little every now and then!

How Daring Are You?

You've Changed 20% in 10 Years

You've hardly changed in ten years, from your lifestyle to those very retro clothes.
And unless you were really ahead of your time, you probably need to acquaint yourself with the modern world!

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

You Are Really Not Happy

You may have noticed that things aren't going too well for you lately.

Your life never used to be like this, but it seems like happiness is slipping away from you.

You definitely need a change, because whatever you have going on isn't working.

It's time for you to shake things up - even if it means totally changing your life path.

How Happy Are You, Really?

You Are 20% Happy

You know that there's more to life than how you've been living it.
Life can be rough at times, but most of your unhappiness is self-inflicted.

How Happy Are You?

*sigh* started the NaNo scarf, too:

"November's Agenda" or "How I Plan To Die"

2007-11-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, ominous title, isn't it? If you knew all I had planed for this month I'm sure you'd agree with it. Luckily for you your reading my blog and I plan on telling you all about it.

Okay, so firstly we have NaNoWriMo. Oy! I honestly don't know why I do this every year. I've never completed a novel and probably never will, but I guess I enjoy it no matter how much I whine or complain about it. What is NaNo you ask? National Novel Writer's Month. NaNoWriMo. The concept is for an author, aspiring writer, or whomever, to kick out 50,000+ words (the total for a small novel) before the month is over. No editing, no back tracking, or planing ALLOWED. The novelist is suppose to sit down and write what ever comes to them at the top of their head. Not as simple as you'd expect considering to complete your 50,000+ word requirement you'd need to kick out 1667 words each day! That's like a 6 page term paper, and I know how horrible those where! Ok, fine. I can do it. By my math I would need to spend 2 hours and 47 mins writing (perhaps I should stay away from the math!) Ok, Chuck, got it! I'm on it! Somebody have the wheelbarrow ready to cart me home once this thing is over.

What else is going on... Hum, let's see. Well, I currently have 8 books picked out to read this month. My shipment from Avon hasn't arrived yet and neither have the books I requested from Harlequin, but that doesn't matter. I have 8; that's enough for now.

The estimated reading list is as fallowing:

Everything Forbidden by Jess Michaels
The Queen's Lady by Shannon Drake
Lord Of The Faiding Lands by C. L. Wilson
Lady Of Light And Shadow by C. L. Wilson
Heart Of Stone by C. E. Murphy
Everlasing by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Unlucky by Jana DeLeon
All The Pretty Girls by J. T. Ellison

Sure, no problem. Yah, I like I do this every month (if you haven't noticed, I don't make it that far.)

So now I'm off. A writer's creativity comes in the hours they most need sleep and considering that it's 12:30 and I have a busy day tomorrow, inspiration should flow like water. No wonder creative types are crazy.

NaNo, here we go!

2007-11-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

It has begun! Well, more or less. It is now officially November 1st (even if it is 12pm and I haven't seen the warm side of my bed for over 17 hours) and NaNoWriMo has begun! So, what does that mean exactly? What it means is that for the next 30 days any writer friends, authors, or aspiring authors you may have must not be bothered or they will eat you! Okay, maybe eat you, but they'll be very unhappy with you. And don't be disappointed if you don't receive a phone call, letter, an email, or any form of animal delivered conversation from them. NaNo is a very time consuming, stress filled month in which the writer is expected to whip out a novel (at least 50,000 words). That's not so bad, you say? Ha! I dare you to sit behind your desk and write. Go ahead, NaNo is for everybody!

So, for the next month, don't expect much to be posted in the way of intelligent conversation on this blog. Between my normal day job, running the house, and NaNo, I don't expect to have very many brain cells left to communicate anything understandable.

Hum, what does that mean for Thanksgiving? Never mind, we'll figure that out when we come to it.

For all of you participating in NaNo, feel free to let me know and we'll share our pain together.

Happy writing!!
Amber

Blah

2007-10-28T14:43:00.001-07:00

Feeling utterly ill; head hurts, nose is getting stuffy, and my neck... oh, don't get me started! I hate being sick!! Sounds about right, though. NaNoWriMo is in4 days and I am not even remotely ready. Well, perhaps remotely. The desk is clean, my messenger bag is stuffed with notebooks, pens, and pencils. All I need now is a re-fillable coffee mug, my tea kettle cleaned, some QUIET TIME, and motivation.

That last one... boy, I'm going to need help with that one.

If you plan on joining NaNo, feel free to let me know! I can always use more friends!

Happy writing,
Amber

Day of S

2007-10-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, so today is Sunday, a day for rest and relaxation, right? Wrong! The site is way behind, the house is a pigsty, and I have so many books that need to be read it's making me dizzy. Well, perhaps it's not the books that are making me dizzy, but this bug I caught. I know it's a bug, most everyone in the house has already had it. Blah! I HATE being sick. I know I should just go to bed and sleep it off, but I can't do that. I don't. I never do. I've downed enough vitamin C to kill a horse, though (can vitamin C kill a horse?) and am drinking water like crazy. That should help, right? *sigh* yah, right. I doubt it.

Today is also the first ever Sunday Salon (boy I hope this doesn't get indexed to the feed) and I really don't feel like reading. I honestly have a stack of books 150+ deep that need to be read, and I can't get up the urge to read a single one of them. As of right now SECRETS OF A PROPER LADY by Victoria Alexander, SUSPECT by Jasmine Cresswell, SEALED WITH A KISS by Carly Phillips, and SEDUCTION'S SPELL by Lynn LaFleur are telling me to read them. We'll see, dear books, we'll see.

Since I don't feel up to doing more than point and click (it took me more than an hour to write this post) I've been hanging around DeviantART. DA is the best place to mindlessly click and get novel inspiration. We'll net mention that looking at artwork created by a 15 year old high-school kid that could put a photograph to shame makes you unbearably jealous. I'm not quiting my day job anytime soon.

Day of S = Sick, Sunday, Sunday Salon, Starving, Sleepy, Sucks.

Time and Me

2007-10-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Damn, I'm running so far behind. I'm 3 books behind schedule and still have the updates of the site to do. Damn, no time for actual writing for me. The person who said they'll wait for a free weekend to write their novel should be slapped upside the head with a shovel.

I currently have 1862 pages of standard book print that need to be read by the end of the month. That calculates to approximately 46 hours and 33 mins of reading (I read 2 pages in 3 mins.) And with 8 days left this month, that's roughly 6 hours reading each day. Yah. No sleeping for me this week! I suppose I can neglect the web site and any graphic design that's requested, but I need to work to make money to pay the rent and my electricity, without which I will get no reading done. I've done the reading by candlelight thing, and it's no fun. I can always try skipping food and sleep, but I'm sure passing out in the middle of, well, anything wouldn't be to good. I guess I better learn to become a faster reader or get some more reviewers added to the site.

In other news, it's ever so slowly inching in to fall here. The leaves are changing and when it's raining, its definitely fall. But other times, such as now, you'd think it was still September. Yesterday was a whopping 84F. and I'm sure today is competing, if not besting, that reading. Ha! and people say there is no such thing as global warming (or cooling). Those disputing that there is a problem should also be slapped upside the head with a shovel.

Closing In

2007-10-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo is closing in, and I am so not ready! The office is, to put it quite simple, scary (is that a can I just kicked?) The lap top is old, needs to be reformatted, and needs a new battery ($40+) so I don't think I'll be taking IT to the coffee shop anytime soon. That leaves good old pen and paper, though, honestly, how am I suppose to be green when I use up all that paper? Oh, what a conundrum!

As of right now, I'm writing a paranormal romance. I know the market is big for them now but will more than likely drop by the time I have this published, but I believe I have a unique twist that will at least get me acknowledged. And besides, after watching Blood Ties, I want to write this!

Happy writing!

Goodies The Way I Hate Them

2007-10-20T22:30:00.001-07:00

I hate my post office. I just HATE it! Why do they have to stuff it full of junk mail--stuff everybody throws away or pushes back out--and ruin the stuff you actually want to keep? Are they too lazy to make sure things don't get munched or do they find some sort of sick pleasure in folding long envelopes and tearing corners?

The wonderful Jeri Smith-Ready sent me a little package with cover-flats of her two books EYES OF CROW and VOICE OF CROW. She also sent an original cover-flat for VOICE OF CROW (image 3) which I like better the the one they chose (and the bro thinks it just creepy. But what does he know?) Well, the damn post office folded the covers in half and stuffed them in my mail box. Completely munched them. I'm hopping a few days of sitting squished between two tea trays under a 5+lb cast-iron tea pot will help flatten them and smooth the kinks out. I am so filing a complaint!

I also received a copy of CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT by Helen Dickson and Michelle Styles which will be released in the UK as a two story novel from Mills and Boon. Michelle had asked me to review her story A CHRISTMAS WEDDING WAGER, a novel to be released December from Harlequin Historicals. I only have 1 novel of holiday significance to review so of course I jumped on this one. I may not be a Christian, but I still enjoy Christmas stories.

I've put SIN AND SCANDAL IN ENGLAND by Melody Thomas aside. Sorry, I just can't read it! I really don't know why, I just cant. A book shouldn't take me more than a week to read, and this one has taken nearly 10 days. When I have over 150 books that need reviewing, a min of 9 per month, I don't have time dragging one I can't finish in 4 days around with me. Nope, sorry. Have to move on. Don't worry, though, the book has been passed down the line. What am I going to read next? Hum...

The Wonder Web

2007-10-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

I just love the internet sometimes. Ok, most of the time, but I digress. A TV show had been mentioned at a forum I frequent (Shush, Sapphire! I TRY to frequent it!) and of course it's a show that runs on cable [Blood Ties - Lifetime]. Cheepscate that I am *cough-BROKE-cough* I don't have cable or dish. I'm lucky I even have DSL. Boy, am I lucky I have DSL! A quick search of said show led me to a listing of all episodes aired so far. Free! Yay, an option for tight-fisted little ol' me! So what if each episode is broken into 5 parts; I still get to watch it.

Don't ask me how it was. I didn't get to watch it. There is this little game that is gaining popularity much the way recycling is. And some times it can be incredibly addicting. Second Life is a game you would get if The Sims and an instant messenger mated and produced offspring. Well, sort of. If you're looking for sex, drugs, and virtual depravity, you've found it in Second Life. Ok, so it's not all like that, just the majority (like 85%).

Honestly though, they are becoming a fantastic marketing device. Many *cough-LESS THAN 15- cough* authors have already promoted their books through SL. Bantam Dell has a bookshop there, author M. J. Rose promoted her book The Reincarnationist there, and author Diana Gabaldon just promoted hers. I just love the concept even if it hasn't been promoted very well. It's edgy, fun, and a wonderful addition to an authors web 2.0 promotion arsenal. I'm attempting to open up a small theater for TGP for authors to promote themselves, but I gata tell you it can get expensive. If you want it to look right you have to shell out the dough. And one thing a little place TGP doesn't have is enough money. Or luck.

I've had to re-think The Gilded Pen's teen sub. Turns out some sick freak registered TGPTeen.com to be some sort of teen pornographic site. Ug! Ug, ug, ug, ug, ug! What the **** is wrong with people?! Honestly! So the site is now going to be TGP YA. I don't like the flow of it as well, but the last thing I need is some 13 year old doing a web search and coming up with THAT. Sickos.

Eh...

2007-10-16T04:04:00.000-07:00

Posted on my other blog, Bits of Amber, and feel much too lazy to post something meaningful here. Sorry folks! Er... GET TO WRITING! I want you all ready for NaNoWriMo before the moth's over!

Happy writing!
Amber

The Universe

2007-10-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

The universe loves to mess with me. At least that's the conclusion I came to today as I slipped into a tank top and walking shoes then headed out the door for a mid-day walk (I don't run, it's bad for your knees and causes your cheeks to sag. Yuck.) only to have the sky open up and spit pea sized droplets at me. Just great. To top it off the little burger shack at the end of the road is having their (some year) anniversary. Just what I need, free Sundays to tempt me when I'm exercising to loose weight. Come on, universe! There has to be a sliver lining here somewhere! Er, no pun intend.

Are two packages sitting on my desk considered as a sliver lining? ONE BITE STAND by Nina Bangs (a paranormal romance about a vampire --again-- and a harpy --that's a first one!-- who have to keep their hands off each other long enough to stop a universal catastrophe) and EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN by Jess Michaels (an historical erotica that I'm hopping does not involve cheating, 3-soms, and one-night-stands--unless, of course, it's with the same guy.) No mangas, though, and I haven't yet received the package from Harlequin with Robin D. Owen's books. I should be receiving an ARC of book 4 (I think) of her series any day now, but I want books 1-3 NOW!

As If I don't have enough books I need to read as it is. The darn things are taking up more space than I have right now. But do you hear me complaining? Oh, shut up! I can hear you! I'm thinking of accepting applications for reviewers then putting them on a one or two month probation reading e-books. Hey, it's just a thought, let me know what you think.

I've been reading SIN AND SCANDAL IN ENGLAND by Melody Thomas. It's not to bad so far. Of course I'm only on page 76, so ask me again in the morning. But I've gata say, there are two things that are buggin' me about this one. First, the cover is a bit... eh. Yah, he's hot, she's gorgeous, and they both just gata hit the sack. So why are they both half naked IN THE SNOW? Men, let me tell you being half naked in the snow is no turn on. Parts start to shrivel in on them selves while other parts tend to turn an unappealing purple. Romp in the snow all you want, but keep the action someplace warm! Secondly, why does EVERY THING have to be mirrored/portrayed/reflected/etc through the eyes? Ug! Authors and perspective authors, come up with other ways to show attraction, emotion, and longing other than eyes and the neither regions and I'll love you forever!

Belated Post. Again.

2007-10-13T02:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been nearly forever since I last posted. I know, I'm just terrible at posting on a regular basis. My only excuse is that I've been busy. For starters, The Gilded Pen is picking up speed! I'm utterly excited at the amount of good feedback I've been receiving so far. Makes me darn near proud (and perhaps a bit cocky). Of course the forces-that-be saw it in my best interest to knock me down a peg by messing with my hard drive. No, no, not mess with. Destroy. That's the mildest word I can come up with. The darn think is shot; wiped clean. So I'm back to the old 10 gig until the company sees to have the larger one replaced.

Other than all this trouble, life is (relatively) good. I haven't written like I've planned, but I've lost 15 pounds and I'm ubber happy about it. Besides saving me money on gas and the environment from harmful pollutants, it's good to know that those long walks to the post office and back are paying off! And what with the rainy season upon us, the opportunity to snap a couple of rain and water shots beckons.

And, oh! NaNoWriMo is just around the corner! Are you game? You know I am. I've already started preparing the office (I honestly don't know how it could get so cluttered!) and my mind for the long hours ahead of me. I'm not afraid, though. Okay, perhaps a little bit. I haven't been able to stick to my current schedule of 4k words/week, what makes me think I'll be able to handle 7k+? I can do this though. Deep breath. Yah, right.

Happy writing,
Amber

About

2007-09-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

This is going to be an about me page. Yay! You will finally get to learn some cool stuff about yours truly ^^

The good, the bad, and the shorter

2007-05-19T01:02:00.001-07:00

Got an ubber-exciting package from Tokyopop in the mail the other day. 5 books to review: Scrapped Princess #1-3, Kino No Tabi #1, and Alex Unlimited, The Vosarak Code. Squee! I love being a reviewer. Getting a package like this just makes all those bad ones bearable. Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of good books out there and just because I don’t like a couple of them doesn’t mean they are bad. But after reading a book that I gave a 2.5 (out of 5), these just make me feel so much better. The last Tokyopop books I received (The Twelve Kingdoms #1, Life #1, and 12 Days) all received great scores (er... save for THE ONE THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED!).

I’m having a little trouble with the web design, too. I don’t know what I want it to look like! I came up with 3 designs so far. I’ve become sick at looking at the first, the second one looks too much like a blog (but I love it) and the third one seams a little... clustered. Of course, some nifty finger work and the last could work. I’ll probably use it, as it’ll fit everything better than the other ones. Now I just need to figure out a way to incorporate advertising.

Er... how’s my writing going?

...

No comment. Nope, none. Please don’t force it out of me... OK! OK! I’ve done nothing! -cries- Nope, not a thing (ok, 1 thing. I put the layout I came up with on my PDA. Does that even count?) I’m hoping once TGP gets all settled down I can do some more work. Boy, do I hope.

Lastly, I cut my hair! Yep, a good 13 inches. The last time I cut it was... hum.. right before the 9th grade. My grandmother brought me to the salon to get it cut for high school. That was the last time I professionally got it done. I’ve had it trimmed about once a year, but only 2 inches or so. Boy, to think I’ve waited 10 years and only cut 13 inches! It’s still below my shoulder blades, so I might just cut it again at the end of summer. I also died it, a nice temporary burgundy. I like the color, though everybody says it’s too purple. Ha, what do they know? I like it. I might do it purple next time ^_^ we’ll see.

Happy writing, happy reading, happy life!
Amber

The good, the bad, and the shorter

2007-05-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

Sword and Sorceress to live again!

2007-03-09T22:22:00.001-08:00

As I do most mornings, I stumbled to my computer blurry eyed and flipped on my computer. Well, more like pushed as the computer has a button not a switch, but you get the idea. After starting the internet and my email client, I stumbled into the kitchen to start the kettle and noticed the biggest bon-fire I have ever seen practically in my front yard. Ok, it wasn’t really in my front yard, it was across the street, but fire, when it is that close to my house, is close enough. It was burning in the small area, about a quarter of an acre large, that most people in my neighborhood have been using as a yard waste pile. Lovely, right? A pile of sticks, twigs, leaves, and old Christmas trees (can you imagine how those things went up when they where tossed on the fire?!) accumulating for who knows how long. I guess the owners of this darn place have decided to get rid of it and the quickest way to do that is burn it. Would have been nice if they had told us first. Their suppose to do that, right? -sigh- It’s still smoldering (at almost 10pm). Oh, the genius of some people.

So, a little dumbfounded, I sat in my some what un-comfortable desk chair and checked my email. I bounced back the 50+ pieces of spam, replied to what letters needed a reply and finally started to read my newsletters. Ralan’s news was at the top and at the bottom of that? The announcement that Sword and Sorceress, the anthology originallyedited by the late great Marion Zimmer Bradley. After her passing, the anthology continued to issue 20, filled with Marion’s picks. Issue 21 fallowed by an associate and 22 is now to fallow. Yay! So, now I have roughly a month to produce a 9,000 word short story. No problem, right... er, yah.

Sword and Sorceress to live again!

2007-03-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

As I do most mornings, I stumbled to my computer blurry eyed and flipped on my computer. Well, more like pushed as the computer has a button not a switch, but you get the idea. After starting the internet and my email client, I stumbled into the kitchen to start the kettle and noticed the biggest bon-fire I have ever seen practically in my front yard. Ok, it wasn’t really in my front yard, it was across the street, but fire, when it is that close to my house, is close enough. It was burning in the small area, about a quarter of an acre large, that most people in my neighborhood have been using as a yard waste pile. Lovely, right? A pile of sticks, twigs, leaves, and old Christmas trees (can you imagine how those things went up when they where tossed on the fire?!) accumulating for who knows how long. I guess the owners of this darn place have decided to get rid of it and the quickest way to do that is burn it. Would have been nice if they had told us first. They're suppose to do that, right? -sigh- It’s still smoldering (at almost 10pm). Oh, the genius of some people.

So, a little dumbfounded, I sat in my some what un-comfortable desk chair and checked my email. I bounced back the 50+ pieces of spam, replied to what letters needed a reply and finally started to read my newsletters. Ralan’s news was at the top and at the bottom of that? The announcement that Sword and Sorceress, the anthology originally edited by the late great Marion Zimmer Bradley. After her passing, the anthology continued to issue 20, filled with Marion’s picks. Issue 21 fallowed by an associate and 22 is now to fallow. Yay! So, now I have roughly a month to produce a 9,000 word short story. No problem, right... er, yah.

Family Trees and Iced Tea

2007-02-20T02:00:00.001-08:00

Family Trees

I can’t believe it. I really can’t believe it (well, I do believe it, but If I keep repeating this phrase to my self I may be able to absolve of all liability). What is it I have done, you ask? Why, the most horrid thing imaginable! I have written the family trees for characters from 4 of my stories, and came up with 7 more stories all of which are connected quite complicatedly) that are just dieing to be told.

Oh, this doesn’t sound so bad does it? Well, think again. With only 3 more months in my self deadline, more ideas is not what I need. I have been attempting to work them out like I usually do, by writing out their ‘blurbs’ and putting them in my idea book, but the more I think on them the more ideas I get. While ideas are great, they won’t get my current piece written and I need to get it written so I can write the other stories.

So now, to get back in the mood of writing my original story, I’m going through about 17 classical CDs pulling off the stuff I like (the darker, more mellow and slow pieces) to put together a writing album. Normally I listen to hard rock or stuff I pull off Anime movies, but since I’m writing a Victorian, I might as well listen to music from the period.

If the Family Trees weren't my only problem, we’ve been experiencing wonderful 60+F weather. When it gets above 60, I pull out the iced tea and crack open the window. When the window is open, the cat’s want to smell the fresh air. Why isn’t I never remember these things? I’d blame the weather for the hibernation of my brain if it wasn’t hibernating all year long. My mistake this time was leaving a full tumbler-type glass full of iced tea on my desk right next to my keyboard while I left the room. Sure enough, P-Bear, my cat, decided “hey, I want some fresh air” and knocked the tea all over the place. Nothing save my keyboard and sanity where harmed. The keyboard I can still use even though it’s causing my sanity to stretch just a little more as I type ! and get bumped down to the next line or use the up arrow and get the help menu. And if that weren’t enough, I have another cup of tea in the exact same spot today... Man, I never learn.

In movie news I came across some thing I find... really cool. Tales from Earthsea - The anime version!! For those of you who don’t know yet, I love anime. I’m in no way a fanatic, just a very big fan. It turns out that Ghibli Studios (which is currently associated with the Disney corporation -who isn‘t?) has or will be coming out with an animated version of Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic Earthsea (if you haven’t read it, you must! It is one of her best). I can not wait to watch this one even though it looks like I‘ll have to wait until 2009! I loved Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. I’m sure this will be no exception. Man, this only makes me want to get back to my Japanese language studies.

Read the synopsis here: http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenkiSynopsis.html
View the trailer here (in Japanese): http://www.ghibli.jp/25trailer/

Lastly, but never least, my mother send me a link to a web site with wonderful art: . He has such wonderful and unique backgrounds. If I had more time I’d download everything, but have settled with only downloading a couple. I’m afraid that if I did more than 2, or 3, or 5... I’d keep going until I had everything save sleep and more works on my MS. This little pick below is of his newest background. See? Nice, hu? -link-

As always, happy reading, happy writing, happy life!
Amber

PS. The Gilded Pen’s Grand Opening has been pushed to April
1st due to technical problems. The darn DNS refused to be pushed to it’s new location which means the site will not work until it does.

Family Trees and Iced Tea

2007-02-20T02:00:00.000-08:00

Rain!

2007-02-09T00:34:00.001-08:00

With the rain, the frogs have returned. No, not a couple of little frogs croaking away down in the slough. I mean an army of frogs. Perhaps well over a hundred. Trust me, I’m not over exaggerating here. Every year during the winter the slough that runs about 100 feet in front of our house starts filling with water (it’s a slough, not a stream, so it’s all over flow that, personally, I could do without. Who in their right mind would want road-side runoffs running next to their house?). Right now there are only a couple. 5 or 6 perhaps. You can tell by their croaks. Like people, they all have slightly different voices. Some low and long, others high and fast. It’s rather comforting in the evening. It’s when you get more and their all going at once that’s creepy. Well, it’s not really creepy while their going, but rather when they stop all of a sudden.

Imagine, if you will, walking out side. It’s cool, damp, and dark out. Your taking out the trash that somebody forgot (you can’t leave it in because the dog will have it all over the living room in the morning and you don’t want to clan up old chicken bones off the couch). The frogs are croaking, the leaves are dripping, then all of a sudden... nothing. Dead silence. Now you wish you had turned on the back porch light even though it wouldn’t have made any difference since the garbage can is on the other side of the house. Off in the distance you hear a crunch and a snap as something wonders through the orchards. You know it’s nothing. The neighbors dog, perhaps. Or one of the neighborhood strays. It doesn’t matter, panic has already settled in the pit of your stomach. Get it? Yah, I thought so. Once the rest of the ‘gang’ arrives, I’ll have to get a recording.

In other news, I was able to take some awesome pictures with my camera. Being without a car and having to take the buss opens one up to many unique opportunities. For one, I get a nice workout. Having to walk 15 minutes to the buss stop and 15 back is a great work out. I’m not a slow walker, so I know I’m burning something. Second opportunity: mochas. Mmmm. There is one of those drive through coffee shops on the corner of Main street that makes wonderful mochas. If I take the buss to the downtown hub, I treat myself (and whomever else is with me) to a Black and While Blended Mocha. Yah, does wonders on the diet, hu? Good thing it’s a 35+ minute walk home from there. If I get a mocha and I‘m not buying groceries, I walk. That brings us to opportunity #3. Wonderful camera shots. In an old, Victorian-style ranch town, there are so many neat things to take snap shots of, even if it makes me look like a tourist.

Lastly for the day (even though it is already past midnight) I have re-put together my ornament package for the LUNA ornament exchange. Yikes! I know, its February. I felt so bad for my partner that I made up an extra little baggie for her. I hand-knitted the little bag, stuffed it with some Burt’s Bees samples and a lipstick that’s more like a lip-gloss, homemade by my mother. All natural, wonderful stuff with no animal testing (well... we didn’t test, but that doest mean they didn’t get into our stashes). I had some dog treat set aside, too, but the cats found them and, well, there gone now. Hopefully she doesn’t have any dogs right now, so I don’t have to feel too bad (she’s one of those won derful people, much like myself, who is helping the animal community by fostering rescues. That makes me feel even more terible that I hadn’t gotten the ornament to her sooner).

Now, since it’s well past my bed time, I’m outa here. I’ve written more on this blog today than I have on my whole story and I really must get back to work. Yah, I did just say it’s past bed time. I’m going to lay in bed with my note book and see if I can pop something out for the synopsis.

Happy writing, happy reading, happy life!
Amber

Oh! Before I forget. For those of you who don’t know, The Gilded Pen will open March 1st! I have some wonderful authors already on board who just might be sending in some gifts for the grand opening! Feel free to spread the word to EVERYBODY! And if your and author and have something you’d like to send along, check out our home page: http://thegildedpen.com. ~A

Rain!

2007-02-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

After 37 days of no rain (and wonderfully spring like weather) the skies have finally opened up. No, no. I’m not complaining. I love the
rain and we can use it. The grasses are so dry around here the farmers where starting to panic.. Besides, it’s much better than the freezing cold nights. My poor orange tree can contest to that. Perhaps it’s a good thing I had trimmed it back last spring: it’s not like there would be any fruit worth saving after the cold snap.

With the rain, the frogs have returned. No, not a couple of little frogs croaking away down in the slough. I mean an army of frogs. Perhaps well over a hundred. Trust me, I’m not over exaggerating here. Every year during the winter the slough that runs about 100 feet in front of our house starts filling with water (it’s a slough, not a stream, so it’s all over flow that, personally, I could do without. Who in their right mind would want road-side runoffs running next to their house?). Right now there are only a couple. 5 or 6 perhaps. You can tell by their croaks. Like people, they all have slightly different voices. Some low and long, others high and fast. It’s rather comforting in the evening. It’s when you get more and their all going at once that’s creepy. Well, it’s not really creepy while their going, but rather when they stop all of a sudden.

Imagine, if you will, walking out side. It’s cool, damp, and dark out. Your taking out the trash that somebody forgot (you can’t leave it in because the dog will have it all over the living room in the morning and you don’t want to clan up old chicken bones off the couch). The frogs are croaking, the leaves are dripping, then all of a sudden... nothing. Dead silence. Now you wish you had turned on the back porch light even though it wouldn’t have made any difference since the garbage can is on the other side of the house. Off in the distance you hear a crunch and a snap as something wonders through the orchards. You know it’s nothing. The neighbors dog, perhaps. Or one of the neighborhood strays. It doesn’t matter, panic has already settled in the pit of your stomach. Get it? Yah, I thought so. Once the rest of the ‘gang’ arrives, I’ll have to get a recording.

In other news, I was able to take some awesome pictures with my camera. Being without a car and having to take the buss opens one up to many unique opportunities. For one, I get a nice workout. Having to walk 15 minutes to the buss stop and 15 back is a great work out. I’m not a slow walker, so I know I’m burning something. Second opportunity: mochas. Mmmm. There is one of those drive through coffee shops on the corner of Main street that makes wonderful mochas. If I take the buss to the downtown hub, I treat myself (and whomever else is with me) to a Black and While Blended Mocha. Yah, does wonders on the diet, hu? Good thing it’s a 35+ minute walk home from there. If I get a mocha and I‘m not buying groceries, I walk. That brings us to opportunity #3. Wonderful camera shots. In an old, Victorian-style ranch town, there are so many neat things to take snap shots of, even if it makes me look like a tourist.

Lastly for the day (even though it is already past midnight) I have re-put together my ornament package for the LUNA ornament exchange. Yikes! I know, its February. I felt so bad for my partner that I made up an extra little baggie for her. I hand-knitted the little bag, stuffed it with some Burt’s Bees samples and a lipstick that’s more like a lip-gloss, homemade by my mother. All natural, wonderful stuff with no animal testing (well... we didn’t test, but that doest mean they didn’t get into our stashes). I had some dog treat set aside, too, but the cats found them and, well, there gone now. Hopefully she doesn’t have any dogs right now, so I don’t have to feel too bad (she’s one of those wonderful people, much like myself, who is helping the animal community by fostering rescues. That makes me feel even more terible that I hadn’t gotten the ornament to her sooner).

Happy New Years!

2007-01-02T00:41:00.000-08:00

Mood: Hopped up on caffeine
Listening to: Wolfmother

Well, it's that time again. 2006 has slithered into history leaving behind it a broken trail of resolutions while 2007 has taken root and refuses to budge. Ok, well, fine then! New resolutions on the way! I was failing last years as it was.

This year, I've added some reasonable resolutions. A little hard work, some juggling, and I'm all set. I've also thrown in those un-reasonable resolutions, but hey, I have to have something in there to make me smile, right.

My New Years Resolutions for 2007

- Complete 1 manuscript (75,000 words or larger)
- Complete and Submit 3 professional short stories
- Update web site more often
- Update blog more often
- Take more photographs
- Find my own place
- Get 'The Gilded Pen' off the ground
- Read (completely, the whole way through, and enjoy) 50 novels
- Knit a bedspread (or afghan the size of a full size bed)
- Knit a pair of socks or slippers
- Knit something with beads
- Send out more birthday gifts/cards
- Plant a garden
- Grow my own Tea
- Exercise 30 mins/day, 5days/week
- Lose 96 lbs
- Set more personal deadlines
- Go to bed by 11pm, and wake up by 8am
- Get out more
- Make more money
- Be more tidy
- Pay off some bills
- Don't acumulate any more bills that will need to be payed off
- Work with my horse so I can ride her
- Go through boxes (yah, all those hiding in my closet and under the bed)

So what about you? What are your resolutions for the new year? Did you make any of last year's?

Happy Writing!
Amber Jennell

Oh, and before I forget. TheGildedPen.com is almost up! February 1st is the grand opening with prizes, give-a-ways, and more!! AS a special promotion, the first month's advertising will be free. As there are only 25 spots, I'd get in on this now before all are taken. This is for ads 100x160. There will be only 10 spots open for regular banners (468x60). E-mail thegildedpen@gmail.com.

Hello Bloging World!

2006-11-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

Finally, after more than 8 attempts of naming this blog, I am able to post. Do you know how many blogs have been abandoned in the 5+ years since blogger began? Too many to count (though I’m sure somebody out there has given it a try). Ah, well. It’s late, time for bed.

What's to say?

2006-09-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I said I'll post something. Well, I don't know what to say for my self. Honestly! I have nothing to say!

What? You want news? Well, all right, if you insist. My computer died. I lost everything on it for the past 4 months (that is, what I wasn't saving to the thumbdrive. Thank goodness for those!!). My birthday is in 2 days (well, 1 from this post, but we'll just pretend I posted it Sunday Night). My brother is expecting is first baby any day.

That being said, I better get back to trying to write. That or just go to bed...

Happy ... EVERYTHING!
Amber

Daiquiris, Movies, and Manuscripts

2006-06-13T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Dear Reader,

It’s Monday, 11:00 pm, I’m eating an ice cream sundae and just finished off my wine cooler (umm… Strawberry Daiquiri). I’ve been listening to rock/classic rock/alternative for the past hour and now I’m ready to write.Yah, my luck, hum? There are currently 5 teenagers in my house right now. 4 boys all under 16 and my little sister, and they want to watch a movie. Fine with me, I plan on watching Underworld as I write, if I can find it. Unfortunately, it looks like I’ll be watching The Importance of Being Earnest. It doesn’t matter, really. With the one I can write my vampire novel, with the other, my Victorian mystery. Ha! As if I’ll be able to write watching either! Ah, well.

There are officially (as of midnight tonight) 18 days left until July. I’ve already started planning out my query. Yes, I know. A little premature, but… well, it’s the plan and I’m trying to stick to it. I have been writing, honest. Almost a whole chapter down… Ok, a few hundred words and the outline to 3 chapters. Boy, I really need to get myself in gear.

Lastly, I have bought the domain The Gilded Pen that shall be devoted to woman’s fiction, writing, etc. I am planning on having the site open on July 1st As of right now, I am offering a free month’s advertisement with every banner bought though my web site. Sound good? I hope so. We’ll see how the grand opening goes next month.

An interesting site I’ve found in my research on Victorian living, life, and etc. See if it’ll help you in your writing. http://www.gfy.ku.dk/%7Eams/sh/victorian.html

Happy Writing All,
Amber