Books for Christmas!

One of the advantages to running a reviews site and an author promotions site is that I'm exposed to about a zillion books and authors I would never have seen otherwise. It's making my Christmas shopping just a little easier, especially since I really like to support authors as much as possible.

For instance, I have a friend, my best friend who I met in Junior High (32 years ago ... holy cow) and she's horribly hard to buy for. She's a voracious reader -- especially horror novels and thrillers, so it makes it hard to actually buy her books because I don't know what she already has. BUT, she's completely unaware of the entire Indie/Small Press thing (except for my book, of course). So this year? We toured a self-published thriller / suspense author (Gordon Kessler) and his books are excellently written and are right up her alley. I would never have known he existed if we hadn't run his tours. And, no, she doesn't read my blog.

I've found books for DD via some YA authors and blogs. Books for friends. It's been great. And the best part? Because I actually interact with most of these authors, I can get my friends and family autographed copies. :-)

BTW, folks... never be too shy to email an author and find out if there is a way to get autographed copies. One of my reviewers, who's been around since the site started, needed an extra special four year anniversary gift from us. So we contacted one of her fave authors, Carrie Vaughn. This reviewer is a HUGE fan of her Kitty books.

We never had any experience working with this author. She didn't know us from Adam (or maybe that should be Eve). Even so, we were told exactly how to go about getting personalized, autographed books -- an entire set! -- for our reviewer.

By and large (with only some exceptions) authors, all authors -- even the really big name ones -- are very cool.

So, are books on your Christmas shopping list? Any suggestions?

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You Should Hail a Cab in NYC

Your life feels empty without lots of people in it. You make new friends everywhere you go. You live in the fast lane. You love action, risk, and competition. Deep down you are a wild child. You definitely have a manic side. You are very animated and energetic. People find you dazzling and charming.

What City Should You Hail a Cab In?

HAHAHAHA... not so much. Maybe, maybe 25% right.

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Characters Make the Book

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

It's amazing sometimes at how different people are. I know, that should be obvious, but it's never more obvious to me than when various people comment on books.

As I've been working through the suggestions given to me on "Now and Forever", one CP has mentioned something things (little things, really, but they clearly stood out to her) that have struck her as odd. Mostly, she questions my hero's behavior in places -- says he's acting far too immature for his age.

I'd never even considered that. Either I hung out with guys who acted immature for their ages or she hung out with guys who acted older than their years. My thought, though, is that my guy should probably fall somewhere in between. So, I've taken her advice on some parts, but not on others, and it will be interesting to see what readers have to say (assuming this story ever sees the light of day).

I recently read a book where I felt the heroine was too perfect. She never got ruffled, never got angry, never got scared; she was always calm, level-headed and reasonable which was ridiculous considering the situation she was in (this was a romantic suspense book). I didn't like her. Ironically, it was those very traits the hero found attractive. Still, it really bugged me ... and when I looked at reviews after I finished, I discovered that more than half the folks who'd read the story felt the same.

Clearly, the author didn't go out of her way to make her heroine a person no one would like. I have to admit to being surprised that no one in her CP group or her editor mentioned it (though, I suppose they might have and she ignored them -- she's a very popular author, so might be able to get away with something like that).

No real point to my rambling other than I know we authors try to create protagonists that people like reading about (unless you've created an anti-hero ... but that's an entirely different thing), but it's amazing how badly we fail sometimes without realizing it.

I'm very much a reader of character-driven stories, so if a character doesn't work for me, the story won't work no matter how amazing the plot or writing. I had to finish that book I'd mentioned above, because it was one sent for review, but had I been reading it for pleasure, I might have stopped. I say *might* because I liked the hero and the secondary characters, so that may have made the difference.

And ... I'm done rambling. *G*

====================

The other day I was so excited because my neighbor mowed his "lawn". I had someone comment that I got excited about strange things... but the fact is, his lawn is primarily weeds, and they spread into OUR lawn if he lets them go to seed. Drives me NUTS.

It's hard to keep a lawn looking like this:



When your neighbor has a lawn looking like this (and actually, this is the nicest part of his lawn because our sprinklers hit it ... you should see the other side of his driveway -- there are these odd weeds that are tall and spiky EVERYWHERE):


I've pulled dandelions four times now, ending up with full buckets every time (and we don't LOOK like we have that many):



It's a good thing I enjoy doing yard work...

===================

You Are a Round Cut Stone

You have excellent organizational abilities. You can make sense of any mess. You are driven to fulfill your duties. You take every responsibility seriously. You are decisive and resolute. You choose well, even when the choice isn't easy. You are quite disciplined. You exercise self-control in all aspects of your life.

What Stone Cut Are You?

How they got that answer from the questions they asked mystifies me... and, though I don't like round cut stones, the answer is exactly me. Scary.

GOOD Reading

Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome. ~William Ewart Gladstone

After the post yesterday, and its comments, I need to clarify a few things. Many small press stories are quite good (Samhain Publishing, especially, has quality stories -- though they're leaning toward releasing almost all erotica anymore, which is disappointing). My complaint is that it's really hit or miss, and I'm certain that's due to two things: the age of the press (the newer they are, the more likely they are to accept things other, more established presses won't) and editor quality (since it's up to each individual editor what they contract, some may have less experience than others and aren't as well trained).

So, in the interest of being fair, here are some great small press books and stories I've read:

Ashley Drake, Zombie Hunter: A Plague on All Houses by Dana Fredsti -- from Ravenous Romance -- I haven't jumped on the zombie bandwagon, and have to admit that mostly they gross me out (as they should, really) but this book was not only well written and edited, but had a unique story and a fabulous main character. The romance was secondary to the rest of the plot, but was still sweet (and hot) and I absolutely adored the hero. I can't wait for the author to write more in this series (though, be assured that this book ended and doesn't really leave you hanging).

Verifiable Intelligence by Kaitlin Maitland -- Red Rose Publishing -- This is a romantic suspense with two anti-hero protagonists. It's a heart pounding, edge of your seat adventure with some steamy romance tossed in. I admit that the ending left me a little confused... not dissatisfied, mind you, I'm just not certain I completely understood the punishment exacted on the bad guys. Still, I love characters a little outside the norm and an exciting story, and this book had both.

The entire Sullivan Brothers series by K. M. Daughters -- The Wild Rose Press -- I've read them all and enjoyed each one, mostly for the amazing and large, realistic secondary cast of characters in the books. More romance than suspense, these are just plain good books.

Don’t Look Back by M.J. Fredrick -- The Wild Rose Press -- a romantic suspense novel that's a little dark, very hot and amazingly good. Truthfully, I like everything I've read by this author and she's published by several small presses.

Out of Time by Pauline Baird Jones -- L&L Dreamspell -- a unique time travel romance that takes place in WWII (one of my favorite eras). Lots of emotion, lots of fun, lots of excitement.

There are plenty more winners, but I don't want to bore you. I just wanted to say that while there are some piles of poo from small presses, there are also the diamonds. Which is why I keep giving them a try.

=================

You Are Tag

You are high energy and high strung. You need to move - quickly if possible. You are into thrills, and there's something exciting about being a little scared. You are assertive and even a bit competitive. You like to give it all you've got. No matter whether you lose or win, you're always a good sport. You're just having fun playing the game!

What Childhood Game Are You?

Not so into thrills, but the rest is pretty close.

=====================

On Banned Books and Basic Rights

If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon. ~George Aiken

DD and I went to our local library yesterday and noticed they were celebrating (if that's the right word!) Banned Books Month (though I've discovered conflicting information on whether it's September or October ... oh well). One of the things they did was have the librarians wearing "necklaces" of a banned book cover. The woman who helped us had "Gossip Girl".

She and I discussed the book (It started when I asked how she got so lucky to have to wear "Gossip Girl" ... and she said she wanted "To Kill a Mockingbird" but got told no). My DD really hadn't been aware of banned books until then. She'd seen the displays and stuff before, but I guess it hadn't really blipped on her radar. Until yesterday.

On the way out, she asked why "Gossip Girl" was banned. I told her why. Then we talked about other books that have been banned and why -- in particular, "Huckleberry Finn" (when I mentioned why, she said, "But that's how they talked back then. It's not the same as if it was in a book written now." -- which is absolutely true. I also think it's a fabulous illustration of the time and ... well, I could go on and on).

I asked her what she thought about banning books. She started, at first, by saying she could see why it might be okay sometime.

We have some extended family members who have an issue with the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, so I asked her: "What if it was decided that the Warriors should be banned, and you weren't allowed to read it?"

"Well, that's stupid. They aren't bad books."

"According to you. But that doesn't mean someone else doesn't find them immoral or objectionable."

I nearly saw smoke come out of her ears as she stopped to think. Then I said, "Remember how I've said that I support a person's right to smoke outside a building, even though I HATE walking through it on the way in somewhere?"

"Yes."

"Why did I say that?"

"Because you said if they take that right away, maybe they'll take away something we like to do someday."

"Now apply that to book banning."

Smoke again. "OH!"

At this time in her life, I do decide what my daughter reads and what she doesn't. I'm pretty open to most things, and base it on her age and maturity level (and what things bother her and what don't). But as she gets older, I'm sure that will lessen or stop altogether. She lives in this world and she needs to make her own decisions as she becomes mature enough to do so.

I'm reminded of the quote from Martin Niemoeller:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

When rights start getting taken away or others' beliefs begin to be forced upon us, eventually we all lose.

===================

You Are Ringo Starr

You are fun loving and carefree. No matter how much success you've had, you never take yourself too seriously. You have a good sense of humor, and you like to goof around. You're more than willing to make fun of yourself. You are generous and caring. You feel like you've been given a lot in your life, and you're willing to give back. You do the right thing because it feels good. You don't need your flattery or your ego nurtured.

Which Beatle Are You?

Hmmm ... maybe 50/50...

=======================

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Something Cool

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

Nothing new in my life, lol, so I thought I'd share something cool I just read off the Wild Rose Press author loop.

Apparently, The Wild Rose Press was asked to provide hundreds of romance novels as props for a movie. One of the characters is a romantic suspense fan, and reads them. How cool is that? It's not like any of my books are there, but still ... I think it's incredibly neat. AND, the movie looks like it's going to be a hoot.

The movie company provided the trailer for The Wild Rose Press website and I gave it a look. It's called "Red" and stars some big named actors like Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren. It also stars Mary Louise Parker as the romance novel addict.



So, if you go see it, watch for romance novels in Mary Louise Parker's place, and apparently also in Bruce Willis' place (he reads them to get to know her better).

I love the that studio is using a smaller press for this. How cool is that?

=======================

You Have a Wild Imagination

You can think or dream anything. You have very vivid and colorful thoughts. You have a refreshing and bold attitude. People can count on you to be honest. You are chill to the point of being a little lazy. It's hard for you to get motivated at times. You are a very thoughtful person. Even when you're resting, your mind is churning a bit.

The Bubble Bath Test

Except for the "you are chill to the point of being lazy" part (because I DO not know how to just slow down and relax ... something that makes my DH crazy), the rest is pretty right on.

==========================

Cleaning, Pillars and Win a Book!

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

Read on to find out how to win a hardback book...

The weather has been quite nice out here lately -- still warm but far less humid and bearable. Unfortunately, now Dakota is a bit under the weather (on our first walk of the day yesterday, she plodded sedately at my side the entire way. Dakota is seldom sedate), so we haven't enjoyed it as much as we might have.

I have done quite a bit of weeding, so that's something. And, yes, I actually enjoy weeding. It really makes me feel like I've accomplished something. I can look at the results and feel good about it.

Speaking of which, I've been watching the show "Hoarding: Buried Alive" which is a bit like a car accident that you can't look away from. But, every time I watch a show, it inspires me to clean and purge my stuff. This week, I gave DD (who has shows a frightening tendency to be a hoarder -- she attaches memories and emotion to everything she owns, including trash. She had used tissue paper crumpled up and stuffed away in a drawer that she didn't want to throw away because it came from a gift "Grandma gave me.". I want to get her a new comforter for her bed. The one she has is eight years old, torn and has some stains. "I love this comforter, I don't want a new one, I'll feel awful if you get rid of it." Oy.) ... so I gave her a paper grocery bag, sent her to her room and told her not to come out until it was full of stuff to give away or throw away.

Then I did the same thing. To look at our house, you wouldn't think we have that much stuff to get rid of. My house is pretty well clean and uncluttered (my DH is a neat freak -- I fall somewhere between DH and DD, lol). Still, I found plenty to fill my bag.

We went to Goodwill yesterday and donated four bags of stuff and DD's old bike (that was amazingly painful for her, but she managed), and then a bag of books to the library. It felt WONDERFUL.

I'm also purging my own bookshelf, and thought I'd offer some to you folks if you're interested. I'll give away at least a book a week (sometimes more depending on what I find) and I'm only giving away books that are new or like new.

So ... today I'm offering a hardback copy of "Kiss Me While I Sleep" by Linda Howard.

Here's the blurb:

Efficient and unapologetic, Lily Mansfield is a hired assassin working as a contract agent for the CIA. Her targets are the powerful and corrupt, those who can't be touched by the law. Now Lily is playing a deadly, unauthorized game, seeking her own vengeance, compromising her superiors and endangering her life. Fellow CIA agent Lucas Swain's orders: either bring her in or bring her down. Yet he too is drawn into the game with Lily Mansfield, dancing on a tightrope, trying to avoid a major international incident while battling a tenacious foe dogging their every step. Vigilantly watching her back, Lily doesn't see the lethal peril directly in her path . . . or that loyalty has a price.

If you want this book, just leave me a comment -- you can say other stuff too, but mention that you'd like to throw your name into the hat. I'll draw a winner Sunday and announce it on Monday.

Good luck!

========================

In Pillar Place: Monarch, Omicron hatched. Another boy, apparently shy because I had a terrible time getting a picture, and I never did get a really good one:




We have well over a dozen pillars who have started cooking in their chrysalis', and another many who are still eating like pigs. Yesterday, I found yet another egg (unbelievable!), so we're up to "V" in the hurricanes (we named the one before Ulysses, because they don't have a U hurricane name, and the last egg is Virginia, because their name -- Virginie -- was too weird).

I imagine things will be fairly quite over the next week or so, but they we're going to be buried in butterflies (there are worse things *G*).

=====================

You Are Alive and Energetic

You are most comfortable when you are mixing things up a little bit. You like novelty in small doses. You are drawn to harmony and compassion. You value commonalities over differences. You have a deep and interesting inner world. Your thoughts are vivid and interesting. You believe that if you look closely enough at people, you can appreciate them more... flaws and all.

The Ocean Test

About 75%...

=====================

Things Your Grandmother Knew

A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life: he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've been trying to read "How to Sew a Button and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew" by Erin Bried, but have discovered that either I'm far more self-sufficient than most (please tell me you all know how to make pancakes from scratch and roast a chicken?) or she's putting an awful lot of filler in the book. Of course, at the beginning of the book she states that one of the reasons she's opted to write the book is because she bought Swiss Chard from the store to use in a pie instead of rhubarb ... so maybe the fact that I know how to sew a button onto my clothes or how to iron a shirt is unusual.

Yes, there are some things in the book that I didn't know, but for the most part it's all repeat information for me. Darn.

====================

As expected in Pillar Place, Alpha went on walkabout yesterday. Last evening he was clinging to the side of the box, not moving, which would probably indicate that he was ready to purge and really get serious about becoming a butterfly.

DD found one more pillar to add to the group, so now we have Nu. She really REALLY wants to have one named Xi, so she's diligently hunting for more, despite the fact we really don't have the room for them... and don't get me started about monarchs (although for those, I use individual Gladware containers with air holes poked in them, so can stack them for space).

Butterfly wrangling ain't for the faint of heart. But for those who want to do it, there are lots of sites telling your how like this one: Glorious-Butterfly.com

The most fascinating thing I've seen on these "raise a pillar" sites are how to find swallowtail EGGS. Not as easy as monarch eggs ... but I think we'll give it a try.

=======================

Yesterday flew by so fast it barely felt like it even happened. Two of my "helpers" at the LASR/WC/Aurora site - my reviews editor and my admin asst - were both gone to the Lori Foster gathering over the weekend, and the editor was flying home yesterday, so I've been doing triple duty the past few days. Between that, and trying to get school wrapped up for DD (she still has a couple more weeks, much to her dismay) things were absolutely crazy.

In the "good news" column, though, we got DD's assessment test results back and she was in the 95th percentile with all of her ratings in the "above average" range. YAY.

=========================

You Are Having an Awesome Day

You feel grounded and stable in your life. There is not a lot of change going on. You are a peaceful person. You have the ability to deal with life's problems as they unfold. You are prioritizing your individuality right now. You have your own stuff to work on. Deep down you crave comfort. You want what's familiar and guaranteed to sooth you.

The Sailboat Test

Pretty much....

=====================

Thursday Thirteen: Books!!

See more Thursday Thirteen participants here

THIRTEEN BOOKS CURRENTLY IN MY HOUSE
(Some are "keepers", some are on my TBR list)

1. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

This YA book has been getting raves, including from people I know whose opinions I trust. So, I'm giving it a go. It's a TBR.

2. Photoshop for Dummies

My biz partner at Goddess Fish Promotions currently does 99.9% of the Photoshopping because she knows how. I don't like anyone being irreplaceable, though, so I'm trying to learn at least some of it so I can take up the slack when necessary. It's both a TBR and a Keeper.

3. Remember Me by Laura Moore

This is a keeper on my Nook. A reviewer whose opinion I greatly respect (she's tough and smart and very, very picky about what she likes) gave it a "Best Book" rating and then proceeded to email me and rave about it (the review is here, if you're interested). I was sold... and so was the book. I hopped on to the Nook and nabbed a copy. Now, if I could only find the time to read it!

4. Right Where I Need to Be by Wendi Zwaduk

Wendi is a friend of mine whose first book recently came out and I got me an autographed copy of it. It's on my TBR and my Keeper shelf (I have a special row just for signed books).

5. How To Sew a Button : and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried

This author has a video on YouTube that actually managed to FINALLY show me how to fold a fitted sheet. I know, I know, not earthshattering, but I've been trying to learn for YEARS. So, yeah, this book is SO on my TBR shelf.

6. Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day

This was recommended to me by my SIL and it's a great concept -- making bread dough that's slightly wet and keeping it in your fridge for a couple of week, making it easy to grab some and cook it every day as needed. They have some pretty incredible tips for baking bread, a list of tools, additions to make your whole grain bread more palatable and so much more. It's a great book. I've read it once, but plan to do so again and again, because I know I missed stuff AND I want to absorb their wisdom. Because, who doesn't like fresh-baked bread?

7. WordPress for Dummies

I've been hearing things about Blogger... and while I've never had any trouble with them, I figured it couldn't hurt to be prepared. So, I'm going to learn WordPress, because it confused the pogees out of me.

8. Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson

I love this author. She's SO funny and talented and has never disappointed me and I can't WAIT to read this.

9. The Third Rose by Jean Hart Stewart

Goddess Fish Promotions recently did a tour for Jean, and her book sounds so good I had to get myself a copy! It's on my Nook and I can't wait to dive in.

10. The Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

The next book in her Arcane Society series. I have it... it's calling... I just need to find the time.

11. Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

The latest in her "The Bride Quartet" series. I've really enjoyed these books, and while this one wasn't my favorite, it was still good and sits firmly on my keeper shelf.

12. Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Any list that includes keepers for me wouldn't be complete without this book. IMHO, this is the best book Jenny Crusie wrote ("Bet Me" is a close second) and I read it over and over whenever I need a giggle.

13. Be #1 on Google by Jon Smith

As part of my job as webmistress for The Long and the Short of It and Goddess Fish Promotions, I have to learn how to publicize us -- this book is a no-brainer for that, and I'm enjoying reading it!

What are some books that are keepers for YOU? And what's sitting on your TBR list?

=====================

Old Favorites

I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no-one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books. ~ Anonymous

DD and I watched the movie "A Wrinkle In Time" this weekend. While I think they did a pretty decent job with it (I didn't like how they handled the stuff with Charles Wallace, Meg and It) it made me crave reading the book again.

So I did.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I'm rereading the entire series now, just because I can. Back when DD was younger, I used to read to her every night -- mostly from books that I loved when I was a child. I don't do that anymore, and I think I'm missing out of some well-loved faves. "Black Beauty", the Black Stallion series (yes, I was a horse freak), The Prydain Chronicles, The Dark is Rising series (I LOVED this one) and so many more.

So, I'm visiting DD's bookshelf and snatching some of the books I loved then. Some don't resonate with me like they did way back when, but most do. How amazing that something can be eternal.

What were some of your favorite books when you were a kid?

=====================

You Are Cheese

You are rich, distinct, and completely addicting. You make everything a little bit better. People love you - pretty much no matter what you do. No one can ever get enough of you. You are indulgent and over the top. You don't hold back or do anything half way. You are a comforting and soothing person. You are accepting and you don't judge. People turn to you in times of need.

What Dairy Product Are You?

Not even close, lol...

======================

Finding Time

The best way to get something done is to begin. ~Author Unknown

I checked out a book at the library on Saturday that sounded like something I really could use.



Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the time to read it! LOL... It is sitting nearby, mocking me, as we speak.

=======================
DD has been thoroughly enjoying the snow (the dog loves it, too -- so I'm in the clear minority here). Check out her entertainment yesterday afternoon in our backyard:





Normally she'd have Dakota chasing her down the sledding trail, but for these videos I was looking for something solo.

I rather miss the carefree days of youth. I watch her and think about puking and breaking bones and cold... I'm an old fuddy-duddy.

==========================

You Are a Hawk

You have a fighting spirit, and you don't back down from any challenge. You aren't scared of getting in the mix. You aren't necessarily violent, but you understand why violence sometimes is necessary. It's a cruel world out there. You are a natural debater. People may find you belligerent, but you just like to argue. It's not personal. You rather have conflict than pretend to go along to get along. You stand up for what you believe in.

Are You a Hawk or a Dove?

Uh... yep...

====================

The NOOK!

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~Ruth Ann Schabacker

I'd had a couple of things I'd planned on blogging about today. The huge storm that dumped about a foot of snow on us, for one:




In DH's words, "Now THAT is a snowstorm!"

Yep, he was excited. Partly because he could do this in the yard:

Ready... Set....


GO!!!!!


But then, UPS arrived and changed all my plans. The wonderful man brought me this (I almost kissed him, but he wasn't my regular guy and probably wouldn't have understood, lol):



Yep (squeee...) THAT is my Christmas gift to myself: The Nook eReader!

I've wanted an eReader for a few years now, but just couldn't find one I liked. Pre-Kindle, there was Sony, but they were expensive and I just wasn't in love with them. After buying the three we gave away for the LASR/WC anniversary I decided, again, that I wasn't willing to spend the $300 for them (the wireless one they're coming out with next month is $400). It didn't help their standing with me when I couldn't get the Sony eReaders to talk to my computer. I couldn't even charge them up and finally had to send them to Judy to see if SHE could get them to work. She did, but not without great effort. AND it took forever to upload books onto them from the computer.

So... I scratched Sony off the list.

Kindle was tempting... so very tempting. It really did everything I wanted, but I just couldn't get past the fact that I had to buy my books from Amazon. Yeah, it's cool for them that they kept it all in house, and the prices was right on both the eReaders AND the books. But I'm stubborn, and don't like being told I can't do something (like buy books from the publisher or from Fictionwise), and I didn't like the fact I wouldn't be able to load up all the PDFs I've purchased over the past three years. I've heard that software exists to allow you to do all of that, but it annoyed me that I'd have to jump through hoops for it.

So... despite the very real temptation, I scratched Kindle off the list.

Then, Barnes and Noble came out with the Nook. They sent me an email on the first day they were accepting pre-orders for it. To be honest, I really hadn't heard that much about them, but from their email information I became intrigued enough to do a lot of research. First, I checked out my pet peeve about the Kindle. Did the Nook let me upload PDF files?

YES! It did, and without any problems at all.

And, after finding a comparison of the products on some technical website, I discovered that it pretty much had everything the Kindle did (except text to speech and I think the Kindle battery lasts a little longer, but the Nook has more memory space automatically -- I liked more memory -- AND I can buy extra memory for a very reasonable price if I need it), was the same price as Kindle ($259) and it let me upload not just PDFs and ePub documents, but it's also an mp3 player to boot.

Yeah, baby. I was sold and I placed my order that day. That turned out to be a good thing, since the Nook ended up having the same problem as the Kindle did when it was first released -- demand was far higher than supply. Thankfully, since I'd placed my order so early, I was in the group first in line to receive one.

Yes, I played with it a little last night. Here's what I found:

First -- unlike Sony, the Nook comes with an AC adapter for free. This meant I could charge it that way, and wasn't locked into using my computer. However, because of my bad experience with the Sony eReader, I plugged the Nook into the wall with the adapter AND into my computer. It worked flawlessly both ways.

Good start.

Next, after it charged for about 2 1/2 hours, I started it up and took the tour they have. It told me all the cool stuff it does and I was even more excited. I logged into the BN.com site and linked my Nook to my account. Everything is still going smoothly.

Now, to test their claim that I can read my PDF files. It doesn't tell you HOW to load them up -- and while I realize this may have a been a no-brainer for a lot of folks, it took me a little bit to realize that I had to plug my Nook into my computer where it because a sort of travel drive. From that point it was simply a matter of copying and pasting my PDFs into the new file. It took about 20 seconds to copy over a couple dozen books (again, unlike the Sony which took forever for each book upload -- sorry Sony, but you keep having strikes against you).

Okay -- PDFs loaded up, let me see if I can (1) Find them and (2) Read them.

Tap the screen, tap my documents and VOILA! All of my PDFs are there. BUT... for some reason, some of them didn't show up with their title. I had a couple that were stored under the first line of the story, others that were the title and I even had one that was saved under the author's name. Odd. And I can't figure out how to fix that, because the files are all saved by name on my computer and that was how I copied them over ... my guess is that it has to do with how the story was formatted by the publisher. Also, the covers are in black and white, and don't show up in the "covers" link on the Nook. Those were both small issues, and the fact remained that I could still access the books I've purchased in the past.

Okay, I opened one PDF. It appears as though the Nook coverts them to a Word document (this is supposition on my part, so don't quote me on it). That was fine, and it was perfectly formatted and easy to read. I can change the text font (to one of three choices) and the size (small, medium, large).

I'm still happy. So far, it's still all good.

Next I had to test how buying a book from BN.com worked. Was it simple to buy it and get it to my Nook?

I logged into to BN.com and chose a book. The "buy" button said "Buy now, read in seconds" and they weren't kidding. I clicked, it charged my credit card and sent the document to my Nook before I could take a second breath.

I went to the Nook, tapped the screen, tapped "check for new BN content" and VOILA!! The book was there and ready to read.

Be still my heart.

Buying books this easily can be very, very dangerous.

The only thing I don't like about the Nook so far is that I can't put it in its cover, hold it to read and turn the pages easily. The little arrow to turn the page is too far up on the reader for my thumb to reach. I either have to take it out of the cover, or shift my hands to use my finger. I think I can live with that, though, if that's the only downfall.

So, on a scale of 1 - 10, the Nook gets a 9.5 from me.

=====================

You Are Chemistry

Of all the types, you are the most "mad scientist." You love to really get to the essence of how things work. You are also a total brainiac and good at crunching out equations. You are very detail oriented. You understand concepts and theories well. You are capable of very abstract thought. You are inventive and creative. You might create a drug to make everyone smarter or come up with a totally new food flavor!

What Field of Science Are You?

Maybe I could invent negative calorie chocolate!

==================

Yesterday...

Now that it's all over, what did you really do yesterday that's worth mentioning? ~Coleman Cox

I locked the cat in the basement last night and laid around like a lazy slug this morning until 6 a.m.!! I think that's the latest I've slept in years (though I was awake at 5 a.m. -- it sure felt good to just lay there in that in-between state where you're fuzzy but not sleeping and not wide awake).

I need to do that every Sunday morning. It's the only day I don't need to be up to load pages for LASR/WC.

I'm still not feeling sick (knock wood). I exiled DD to the room over the garage yesterday for the entire day (except the book sale ... I let her go to that) with some movies. She watched "The House of Dies Drear" and two seasons of "Little House on the Prairie". I really need to buy her season three... she has a GC for Amazon sitting here. Maybe I'll do that today.

Yesterday was a little crazy: book sale in the a.m. (I've decided to rebuy all the "In Death" books. I used to have them, then got rid of them, and now I miss having them -- the book sale had about half in nearly new condition for 50 cents each - woot! I found some books for my mom, and DD found 5 books for herself. I spent $7.25 for everything.

I had to make dog food yesterday, and DD couldn't help which was a drag. So, I boiled chicken, pulled it out of the broth to cool, added veggies to the broth to cook, deboned the chicken.... well, you get the idea. It was an ordeal. And just as I was getting ready to finish that, DH came home from his folks house with a pile of corn on the cob that he'd picked at a field near their house. Since we couldn't possibly eat that much corn over the course of a few days, I had to process it for freezing.

So he shucked it all and I washed, blanched and put it in freezer bags. Half my day was spent in the kitchen, and DH wondered why I didn't want to cook dinner! LOL... I made him barbecue.

DD is still coughing, but it sounds like it might be loosening up a little. I hope so. She starts art lessons this week, too, besides the fair. My DH did say he'd take her to the fair if I was sick, but the problem with that is he doesn't like to do what she does. He likes the tractor pulls and the big equipment sales and the cows. She likes the horse shows and the art exhibits and the rides. And cotton candy. She gets cotton candy once a year at the fair. Besides, I like to go. So am still taking cold bombs, and washing hands and keeping Lysol with me where ere I go.

======================

RE: DD's store -- I found out yesterday morning that Judy and her mad photoshopping skills are gone for the weekend, so no DD store unveiling. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.

======================

You Are Spirited and Spontaneous

You are an energetic, passionate person. You are quite impulsive, and your passions tend to change with the wind. You are lively and fun. You like to stay busy with your various adventures. You are a wanderer and a traveler. You're curious about the world, and it's hard for you to stay still for too long. You get bored easily and tend to shirk on your responsibilities. You don't want to grow up yet!

The Autumn Leaf Test

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

I'd have to say that's almost completely incorrect... but the leaf sure is pretty! *G*

==========================

Surrounded but not Surrendering

Sickness comes on horseback but departs on foot. ~Dutch Proverb, sometimes attributed to William C. Hazlitt

So... DD is sick with whatever DH had. Blech.

There are a few reasons why this is so much worse than when DH got sick. When he was sick, he stayed away from us -- worked in the basement, etc., and we hardly even saw him. Even so, I followed behind with my can of Lysol and anti-bacterial wipes, lol.

DD, though, is a very needy child even on a good day. She's touchy-feely, constantly needing hugs and kisses and to be in contact with me. She's also not as cognizant of touching things (for instance, last night she leaned over the breakfast bar and wiped her hands back and forth across it like windshield wiper blades). She won't just go into her room to read or even up to the schoolroom to watch TV. She wants to be near people.

So, even though I have my handy can of Lysol and the wipes, and I've washed my hands so many times I think the skin is peeling off; even though I'm bombing my body with my "cold bomb" (zinc, vitamin C, oregano oil and echinacea) three times a day I'm a little worried I may still get the bug.

This is bad on two levels. One: I hate being sick, of course. But the biggie? Our equivalent of a state fair is next weekend. The fair is something DD says she looks forward to as much as Christmas. She's been talking about going all year long, pretty much ever since we walked out the gates last year.

This creeping crud seems to linger. DH has been down with it for nearly a week and is still not feeling 100% (or even 75%). I figure DD will be well enough next week to go to the fair, but if I catch this bug in a day or two ... I'm not.

So, I'm going to fight the good fight. I don't want my DD to miss the fair because I'm sick. And I keep reminding her of that when she comes over for kisses and hugs. "It's not that I don't love you, but don't you want to go to the fair?"

Wish me luck.

=======================

Our library book sale is today. YAY! Mom -- I'll look for stuff for you. The cool thing is this: today I'll go for the stuff I REALLY want and pay the regular price for it. But on Monday, I can go back and fill up a box for only a few dollars with the stuff I wanted to read, but maybe not keep.

I love books.

=======================

My neighbors had their landscaping people come by a couple of days ago, and one of the things they did was walk all over the entire yard with this spray, and individually spray herbicide on weeds as they found them.

Here's what makes me scratch my head. If you're going to hunt them down one at a time anyway, isn't it just as easy to pull them up as it is to spray poison on them? If you pull them up, you don't have dead weeds all over your lawn AND you're not adding toxic chemicals into your environment. Seems like a no-brainer.

:::scratches head:::

=======================

I think we've made a decision on DD's store name -- but until I'm certain, I'm not going to announce it. Hopefully tomorrow. And, hopefully tomorrow I'll have the website graphic done (thanks to Judy and her Goddess Fish mad Photoshop skills) and the store opened.

My friend, Chris (whose fault this whole beading thing is) says to beware: beads are like crack ... addictive and a hard habit to kick. She's right. I can't stop going to the craft stores and looking (and buying, of course). Yesterday we went to a nearby bead store (WOW! High prices!!) and then to AC Moore. We got two strands of the prettiest twisty beads and a pile of silver separators, plus more crimp tubes (you can never have too many, lol).

We're going to work on either bracelets or earring next -- which require all new supplies, of course. LOL... Thank heaves AC Moore and Michaels both have coupons in the Sunday paper!!

=========================

Back to School

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. ~Edgar W. Howe

I remember when DD was a toddler and I'd be pulling my hair out, people would say, "Don't worry, she'll start school soon and you'll have a break." and when I responded, "We're homeschooling." I'd frequently get a pitying look and a, "Oh... well... then..."

DD still makes me pull out my hair now and then, but she's a good kid, and I'm very, very lucky. Still, there are days I question my sanity about our decision to homeschool.

School starts today for DD and I. Yes, for both of us, lol... I realized, as I looked through the curriculum for this year, that there is a LOT for me to do. More than usual. Last year we used that computer-based curriculm and it was fun and easy for both of us. It did all the grading, most of the teaching and all of the lesson-planning. The problem was: I just didn't feel as though DD was learning.

Not so this year's curriculum. Oy. Vey. It is not easy. I hope it will be fun (or as fun as school can get), but there were 20+ pages for me about lesson planning and grading. Thankfully, it's pretty concise about what I need to have on hand, and what my responsibilities are, but the fact is -- I have a LOT to do. And, I'm wondering where I'm going to find the time to do that and everything else I already have on my plate.

Ah, well. I imagine I'll manage. I always seem to, somehow.

==================

In reading, I finished "The Trouble with Valentine's Day" by Rachel Gibson and enjoyed it tremendously. She's fun without being over the top silly, and her characters are real and flawed. The plots are plausible, the romance both sweet and hot. I highly recommend her -- I've read two of her novels now, and have started a third ("I'm In No Mood For Love") and have yet to be disappointed.

I also started "How I Write" by Janet Evanovich which is interesting and fun to read. It's not heavy, or written like a textbook, which I find many "how-to" books can be. Her advice is given in small bites, and in a Q&A format which is easy to read. So far, it's not all that different from other books on writing that I've read, but it does help me remember what matters. Sometimes it's easy to forget things when you step away from them for a bit.

====================

You Are Fantasy / Sci Fi

You have an amazing imagination, and in your mind, all things are possible. You are open minded, and you find the future exciting. You crave novelty and progress. Compared to most people, you are quirky and even a bit eccentric. You have some wacky ideas. And while you may be a bit off the wall, there's no denying how insightful and creative you are.

What Kind of Book Are You?

I'm not sure if I was just insulted or not... OTOH, this is pretty close, lol!!

=====================

What Cost, Winning?

If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, "Sorry, Mom," but nobody beats me. - Leo Durocher

DD and I have been playing a card game called "Racko" lately.



It's fun, and at least a little challenging, which I appreciate but here's the problem: I win FAR more than my DD does. Racko is about strategy, and the way you win isn't just by getting the right cards for you, it's by paying attention to what the other person pulls from the discard pile and guessing what they need and HOLDING it in your own rack until the end to keep them from winning.

I've explained this to my DD. I've discussed strategy and how best to win. And she still doesn't grasp it. I know, I know -- she's only ten (even if she IS five feet tall... I'm still in shock over this), so I wonder where to draw the line. At what point, if at all, do I let her win? Is encouraging her by winning now and then going to help or hurt her if she doesn't earn it? She does win sometimes, but only once for my four or five and she gets so angry and frustrated.

**sigh**

I'm torn between wanting her to earn her wins and wanting her to be less discouraged.

What would you do?

==========================

I was talking about romantic comedy yesterday and realized that I could have made a few suggestions myself. Nearly anything Jennifer Crusie, of course. But what about lesser known ePubbed authors that I've stumbled across?

One of the funniest ePubbed books I read in a long time was "The Jinx" by Jennifer Johnson. She has a new book out called "The Clergy Affair" which I have on my TBR list -- I can't decide if I want it in eBook or Print (it's available in both). But, if you're looking for a laugh, I highly recommend her work. And I'm not just saying that because she's in the LASR author spotlight this week giving away an autographed copy of "The Clergy Affair" -- seeing her face this morning only reminded me of how much I loved "The Jinx". If you want to get a clue of her sense of humor, though, go read her spotlight posts. She's a hoot (and if you leave a comment, you're entered to win her book -- if you don't want it, you can always send it to me *G*)!

So, intead of rom/com, yesterday at the library I picked up: "Keepsake Crimes" by Laura Childs (a cozy mystery), "One Scream Away" by Kate Brady (I saw this on someone else's blog... don't remember who now, maybe Brandy?), and "Smash Cut" by Sandra Brown. Not a giggle between them (though the cozy might be at least a little amusing... has anyone read this series before?).

=============================

Tagged! And Misc. Gabbing

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Diane Craver tagged me over the weekend on a fun meme, so here you go:

I have to answer the questions below. Then, I “tag” four more people, asking them to post their answers to the same questions.

Four Movies that I can see over and over.
1. Undercover Blues (I <3 this movie)
2. The Princess Bride (I've seen it a hundred times and STILL catch new stuff)
3. While You Were Sleeping (never fails to make me smile)
4. Ever After (Except for Drew Barrymore's abysmal accent, this was a stellar movie)

Four Places I have lived.
1. Rancho Cordova, CA
2. Mount Aukum, CA
3. Colorado Springs, CO
4. Sacramento, CA

Four TV shows that I love to watch.
1. House (I'm a late comer to this, but how can you NOT enjoy the show?)
2. Eureka (Funniest "thinking man's" show EVER -- Carter is the best)
3. The Closer (She's such a mess personally, and so sharp on the job -- I'm endlessly amused by her)
4. NCIS (IMHO one of the best casts ever)

Four places where I have gone on vacation.
1. Lincoln, NH (when I lived in CO)
2. Walt Disney World (my anniversary)
3. Honolulu, HI
4. Monterey, CA (when I lived in CO)

Four favorite foods.
1. Thin crust, vegetarian pizza... yum.
2. Tacos (or almost any other Mexican food)
3. Vegetarian Lasagna
4. Almost anything chocolate

Four websites I visit daily
1. The Long and the Short of It
2. Facebook
3. Twitter
4. A zillion author blogs... :-)

Four places I would rather be.
1. Nearly anyplace west of here.
2. Visiting my mom
3. Hawaii
4. Arizona

Four things that I would like to do before I die.
1. Have a NYT Bestseller.
2. Travel.
3. See my mom again.
4. See my daughter grown, settled and happy.

Four novels I wish that I was reading for the first time.
1. The Last Herald Mage from the Valedemar series by Mercedes Lackey
2. The Dragonrider of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey
3. Most of Nora Robert's trilogies
4. Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Wanna play? consider yourself tagged!!

Edited to add:

Judy played. She's "tag" number one! Anyone else?

=======================

So, I'm trying to figure out TwitterFeed, but can't figure out how to find the RSS feed associated with my blog. Can anyone help? I feel like an idiot...

========================

We have a mole in our vegetable garden. Even though he's not eating the plants, he's still managed to do a bit of damage. *sigh* Just saying

========================

Do you think it might clear up today? Could it? Would it?

=========================

Wrote yesterday. Plotted out an entire short story from beginning to end and started writing. Decided I didn't get to start anything new from now on unless I knew the entire story. I have WAY too many "ideas" that I've begun that just sit and do nothing on my computer. I've never been a plotter. We'll see if it works for me. If it does, I'm going to try to start it on my longer works.

==========================

I'm BAAAACK!

A real friend is someone who would feel loss if you jumped on a train, or in front of one. ~Author Unknown

Did you miss me? I hope you enjoyed my guest bloggers -- though I didn't plan the schedule well, and apologize for having them all at once. Still, they were all so much fun and I can't wait to read their books (well, except for The Geek Girl's Guide -- read that already).

It POURED rain last night. POURED. I'm a little afraid to go outside and look at my gardens... I'm sure things must have been crushed. Twice the sound of the rain woke me up. Amazing. I mean, we needed some wet stuff, but it didn't all have to fall in a matter of a couple hours. Actually, it's still raining now, but has eased up a bit. Holy cow.

Was looking at my blog stats the past few days and had to laugh at my keyword referrals. It would be nice if people were actually looking for me -- but they aren't. The most common? Voles. Or voles vs. moles. I did get one on milorganite and milkweed (not sure what they have in common -- though if anyone googles it again: milorganite doesn't kill milkweed, it fertilizes it and I use milorganite to keep the deer away from my plants... note to self: reapply milorganite since the rain most assuredly washed away what was there).

Still, it appears that I'm not the only one with vole problems -- nor am I the only one who is looking for an answer. I've actually gotten a few emails from readers asking what I've done, what worked and what didn't. It's amazing to me that there is so little information out there regarding voles. In fact, it made me turn to one of my favorite books: Jerry Baker's "Old-Time Gardening Wisdom" to see what he had to say. And.... he said nothing. Nothing. (Though Sarita will be relieved to know that his recipe for dandelion wine included a fermentation lock). Still, for people looking to garden pretty much naturally (like Maria Zannini), it's a great book to have.

One exciting thing: this weekend (Sunday, to be precise) barring nose-bleeds, schedule changes and acts of God, I will be meeting with at least one other author (and anyone else in the neighborhood who wants to come... readers, authors, lovers of bread and coffee), Denise Robbins, at the Panera Bread in Bedford, NH. We'll be there early (Denise says she'll be there by eight a.m. -- I can't promise I will be) and will stay for a few hours. I'd love to see you there!

What plans do YOU have for the weekend?

========================

Your Gift Is Energy

You are easily excitable, and you love to be on the go. You crave intensity. You need to live a dynamic, interesting, and challenging life. Otherwise, you get bored. It's hard for you to relax. You're constantly being inspired to do something. You're the type of person who finds success, innovation, and creativity easy.

What's Your Gift?

Hmmm... mostly right...

=======================

Movies from Books and Spring Fever

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. ~Nadine Stair

I've been underwhelmed by the four Nora Roberts movies this past month or so. Have any of you watched them? I understand that it's hard to squash a novel into less than two hours, but they all four were really lacking parts of the book that I thought were important. Maybe if I'd never read the books? Dunno. IMHO, Nora's big enough to rate a mini-series type thing. I also didn't love the casting. **sigh** It was disappointing, to say the least.

Did any of you watch the movies? What did you think? Have you read those books ("High Noon", "Tribute", "Angels Fall" and "Midnight Bayou")?

==========================

The weather has been lovely the past couple of days. Sunny and warm (for here: in the fifties). I wish I'd been able to get out in it more, but I'm swamped with work as always... *sigh*... Spring Fever is only going to keep getting worse! Even Dakota has it -- she's starting running off into the woods when we play ball now, or even when she's playing with a doggy friend. She doesn't focus and, up until now, she's been pretty darn good. I think an invisible fence is in order ... just to keep her in when we're puttering outside. Otherwise, she'll end up inside the house too much because she's terrified of her tie-out. She flips out when we hook her up, and then just ... stands... won't walk, won't move, won't lie down.

She is a very high maintenance dog.

===========================

You Are Not Stylish

To be honest, you think fashion is a complete waste of time. You don't really care about how you dress, and those who do are simply superficial. While you don't have to look like you stepped out of a magazine, maybe you should update your wardrobe. People treat you better when you look better. Besides, it's fun to express your personal style!

Are You Stylish?

Well, now... THAT'S a surprise! HA.

============================

Favorite Reads

There are books so alive that you're always afraid that while you weren't reading, the book has gone and changed, has shifted like a river; while you went on living, it went on living too, and like a river moved on and moved away. No one has stepped twice into the same river. But did anyone ever step twice into the same book? ~Marina Tsvetaeva

How was your Easter? Mine was good -- quiet, but good. I ate too much, of course. DD had malted milk balls and Reeces peanut butter eggs in her basket that she shared. My weaknesses... do you think the Easter Bunny knew that? *G*

I started re-reading "Watchers" by Dean Koontz last night. It's an old book -- original copyright is 1987 -- and there are lots of technical things that are outdated, but the story holds up. It's one of my favorite Koontz books, and I'm very much enjoying the read once again.

Aside from a few Koontz books, I also enjoy "The Stand" by Stephen King. And the Valdemar Series by Mercedes Lackey. The first book I read was "By the Sword" and it completely sucked me in.

What's your favorite book to read outside the romance genre?

============================

You Are a Lynx

You are a quiet observer of the world around you. Your wisdom comes from listening carefully. You've always been extra sensitive and aware. And it's made it difficult for you to fit in. You see past people's outward personas. You are able to penetrate a stranger's soul. What you've learned about people is both beautiful and ugly. And you keep these secrets to yourself.

What Big Cat Are You?

Some yes, some no....

==================