New Books! And Award Day Again!!

I normally don't post twice in one day, so I will apologize (I feel like I've said that before... ). If you're looking for Teaser Tuesday (or missed it this morning), it's below this post now. Today is great for many reasons: It's 4:30 and I'm done with work, have already had my piano lesson and I got a "great job" sticker and a tootsie roll!, I'm going to play tennis as soon as hubby gets off work, another book idea sprang into my head today, I won another blog award, and my Amazon order is in!!! What a DAY!

My Amazon box presented me with three lovely books!
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Role of a Lifetime by our very own blogging friend Jennifer Shirk! If you don't follow her blog yet, you should!

Thank you to Guinevere at This is Not My Day Job for the fabulously adorable Over The Top Award!! Check out her blog!


Rules: Answer the following questions with Single Word answers then pass this along to 5 other bloggers!

Your Cell Phone? Matrix
Your Hair? Blondish
Your Mother? Talented
Your Father? Provider
Your Favorite Food? Chocolate
Your Dream Last Night? College :(
Your Favorite Drink? Water
Your Dream/Goal? Novelist
What Room Are You In? officecraftroom
Your Hobby? Toomany
Your Fear? Sharks
Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? Published
Where Were You Last Night? Bed
Something That You Aren't? Fit
Muffins? Pumpkincranberry
Wish List Item? Couches
Where Did You Grow Up? 5acres
Last Thing You Did? pianolesson
What Are You Wearing? yogapants
Your TV? Off
Your Pets? Boxers
Friends? Family
Your Life? Happy
Your Mood? Ready
Missing Someone? No
Vehicle? Tahoe
Something You Aren't Wearing? Glasses
Your Favorite Store? BordersandHobbyLobby (come on!)
Your Favorite Color? Purples
When Was The Last Time You Laughed? Today
Last Time You Cried? Lastnight (Friday Night Lights [the series]... I'm a wimp)
Your Best Friend? Husband
One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? Fridge
Facebook? Never!
Favorite Place To Eat? MeltingPot

Now I get to pass this along to five, over the top blogs that I enjoy!
Please check them out if you haven't before!

1. Caroline at Coeur de La! Because she is fun, and always has great things to show us!
2. Kristin at Another Gray Day! Because she has an awesome name and her Tuesday Teasers are delightful!
3. Karen at Novels During Naptime! Because she is sweet, and her You Can't Go Back Fridays are always interesting!
4. Catherine Denton at Winged Writer! Because she always has nice things to say, and her Sunday Scribblings are great!
5. Hilary Wagner! Because she is full of useful advice, and she wrote a book about rats! How cool is that?!

Review of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

As I write this post, I have around 20 followers to go before hitting the 100 mark! I have an idea for the contest it will spark, but there is a certain book I need to read before that can happen... and it's in the mail. So I won't make any announcements about it yet (I can't get any hopes up, including mine), but if all goes according to plan, it will be super fun!

I'm thinking of discontinuing Muscle Monday. It's not getting a very big response, and well, I'm particularly frustrated in the healthy living arena as of late. So, MM will take a hiatus, and today, will be replaced by a review of a book I recently finished. I need to practice this review writing anyway, as so many of you have great ones that I love reading. They really help me make my decisions about what to read next.


Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Description from Goodreads.com

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.


My Thoughts: I was hooked from page one. Stiefvater jumps right in to the action and immediately has the reader asking questions. I was fighting with my eyes to keep from jumping ahead, but I knew that if I skipped one sentence of this book, I would have missed out on a beautiful image. This is exactly the style of writing I'm drawn to. It's descriptive in a way that never leaves empty holes in the reader's mental image of the setting, action, etc.

"My wolf hesitated by the edge of the woods, the dim porch light catching his eyes. He was still watching my silhouette through the door.

I pressed my palm flat against the frigid glass.

The distance between us had never felt so vast."

This book will literally make you shiver. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Grace and Sam, which helps round out the emotions; it's not one-sided. We get to feel what both of them are feeling. Each character, even the minor ones, stood out on their own, with unique personalities that I enjoyed getting to know. The action really started to pick up in the last third, making it impossible to put down.

The only criticism I will mention is concerning the sex. It's not graphic by any means, and honestly the kissing scenes will make your heart flutter oh so sweetly... I just take an issue with the way teen sex is desensitized, and reading it in a young-adult book made me cringe. That was my only issue with Shiver, but it will not keep me from continuing the series.

Can Grace find a way to help Sam stay human forever?! You'll have to read to find out!
Read the last third with tissues nearby. Yes, it's that good.

5/5 - Amazing

Something to Look at Sunday

A couple of months ago, I added another hobby to my overflowing list of things I love to do. Watercolor painting!! I blame this completely on my mom, because she started taking a class on it, and I went with her one day for fun and I got addicted. Here is my first watercolor from that class: (I will apologize for the quality of these - they are cropped photos of the originals. My scanner isn't big enough.)

I was pleased enough with it as a first attempt. Watercolor is COMPLETELY different than oils, which is what I'm used to. I put a dark green matting around it to frame it out and it's keeping me company in my writing/craft/scrapbooking/painting room of the house that I've stolen for myself!! (can you tell I have no children?)

So, I went to another one of those classes about a month later, and this is my second. Each class focuses on learning another trick, and this taught me to use Frisket masking liquid. You paint this waxy stuff on the trees, paint the background, then remove the Frisket, then paint the trees. It's a really neat process.


The class had a Christmas party where we went to the teacher's house for lunch and painted there. This is the one I started there, then finished just yesterday. Mom's turned out way better, but I still like it enough to bring it out next fall for decor.

I'm still learning, but I'm hooked. I'd venture to say that it's easier than oil painting. (I'll post one of those next Sunday... maybe.)

Anyway, this has been a Something to Look at Sunday, which I just may make a habit of. I'll post photos (Italy photos perhaps?!), paintings, crafty things... whatever I'm up to, or thinking about. It's all for your viewing pleasure, because sometimes... it's nice not to have to read.

Goal Tracking:
Writing: still revising
Weight: still no progress other than being stronger and a wee bit more flexible
Reading: crit group readings for Wednesday

*All artwork property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Fanged Friday

Finally one of my guilty pleasure TV shows is back... The Vampire Diaries! Here's my version of the haps from lastnight's episode:

Elena: Darn the luck, I've gotten in another car accident! But wait! Why is the man that I hit reassembling himself and approaching me?! I wish I could scream! I wish I could take off my seatbelt, but I'm upside down and my head's bleeding!

Damon: I'm your hero!

Elena: Who was that?

Damon: I have no idea. I let him get away. I'll hunt him down in another episode.

Elena: What makes you think you can just take me to Georgia?

Damon: Well, I'm beautiful, and immortal, and I can pretty much do whatever I want. Besides, you look just like my ex-lover, and frankly, I like it.

Elena: Fine, but only because I'm angry with your less beautiful brother and I secretly like to look at you, too. By the way, I'm gonna pretend I'm legal and get totally trashed. Hint, hint.

Stefan: Let me talk to Elena!

Damon: Dude, she hates you. I'm in, you're out.
-----
Jeremy: I really can't think about a relationship right now... I was recently totally dumped. [ Somewhere in my head are trapped memories waiting to escape of my druggie ex-Vicki...Vicki the Vampire. ] And vampires aren't real anyway. You're a liar.

Anna: No I'm not! Here's proof!

Jeremy: OMG your grandpa was just as crazy as mine was. We're kindred spirits. But I still can't date you thanks to that dark cloud of distrust and the damage my brain has sustained from my former life of repeatedly escaping my problems with hallucinogens.

Anna: You WILL believe me. I'll make you. You WILL love me. I'll make you.
-----
Bree: Your arch nemesis is here! Come kill him now before I sleep with him again!
-----
Lee: My name is Lee! You killed my girlfriend! Prepare to die! SMACK!

Damon: UNGH!

Elena: NO! Please! Don't kill this beautiful man! He's my ride back home!

Lee: I must!

Elena: Lexi wouldn't want you to!

Lee: Well, okay.
-----
Elena: I saved your life. You owe me a kiss.

Damon: If I kiss you, I'll bite you, and I'm saving that for later when I can enjoy it.

Elena: Fine. Take me home then so I can kiss your emotionally constipated brother.
-----
Elena: You're such a liar Stefan. What else haven't you told me?

Stefan: I saved your life before I met you. Then I stalked you. You look like my ex-lover.

Elena: The same ex-lover Damon had?

Stefan: Yes, we share.

Elena: I'll try to remember that.

Stefan: By the way, you were adopted, which proves that you are a direct descendant of my ex-lover who must have reproduced before I knew her. But I love you now, no matter who you came from.

Elena: Kiss me.


Sigh. Watching The Vampire Diaries makes me feel like I'm back in high school, watching Roswell and Everwood and all those other WB/CW nightmares that I was addicted to. And I LOVE it.
Anyone else watch this show? I haven't read the books yet, and I'm wondering how closely it follows.

Goal Tracking:
Writing: editing editing!
Weight: no results yet... getting frustrated but not giving up!!
Reading: close to finishing my ARC of Truly, Madly. It's pretty good.

Jane Austen Challenge

This challenge is hosted by The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object

Rules:

• Anyone can participate.

Levels:

• Newbie 2 books by J. Austen & 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
  
• Lover 4 books by J. Austen & 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
• Fanatic 6+ books by J. Austen & 5+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

-Challenge books can overlap with other challenges.
-Any format counts: bound book, e-book (check online for free downloads of J.A’s copyright-free books), audio book, or any other thing you can think of.
-You can change which level you read!
-Challenge runs January 1st 2010—December 31 2010.
_____________________________________________________
My level is Newbie. My plan is to read:

1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
3. Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters by Ben H. Winters
OR (because reading Sense and Sensibility in ANY form more than once in a year will probably make me tired)
3. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
4. Emma by Jane Austen (if my Jane Austen character personality test told me I was Emma, I may as well know what that means!!)

Announcements - And Advice from Author Colleen Thompson

My first lemon from my lemon tree! And more coming!

Announcement 1: Never in my short blogging life would I have imagined having 60 followers in just over a month of blogging. This online world is incredible! I've decided that if/when I make it to 100 followers, I will hold a CONTEST! I'll be thinking about the rules (I'm sure I'll have plenty of time), but I do believe the contest will have something to do with writing!! And as a prize, well, I'll be thinking about that, too. Most likely an online B&N gift card or something. So red rover, red rover send your blogging friends over!

Announcement 2: More exciting than a contest, Kristi Chestnutt, my very first follower that I didn't already know personally, has a debut novel coming out February 25, titled The Wolf Within!! To get us all ready for the release, I will be interviewing Kristi right here on my blog the week before. We'll learn a bit more about her, The Wolf Within, where we can get a copy, and more! I'll keep you posted!

This past November, I went to a small seminar by romance/mystery author Colleen Thompson. I haven’t read any of her books yet (though I received a signed copy of one), but she has a lot of them out, so she must be doing something right! Her seminar was called “Publishing 101”, and she shared some great info for aspiring authors. Some of this we’ve all seen before, but it never hurts to refresh the memory!

Here are some of my notes:

-Bridge the gap between thinking like a hobbyist and behaving like a pro:

-Discover your place – what shelf would your book sit on in a bookstore?

-Which authors’ fans would respond to my book?

-Don’t just read established authors – look for the last person who won the Edgar; read LOTS of debut authors; read in the area you like to write.

-Go to book signings to meet authors and talk to th

em (they LOVE to talk!) – network with them and

pick their brain, but DON’T USE THEM.

-Learn to cope with editorial changes – it’s not being a sell-out, it’s being realistic.

-Publishing is our universal need to connect; otherwise, we’d put it in a drawer and be done with it.

-Online or in public, be aware of the words and images you put out there. You don’t want to be remembered for the wrong thing. Err on the side of being respectful.

-Staying published is harder than getting published in the first place.

About agents:

-Do not give exclusives. Colleen said, “Let’s talk about exclusives and the human lifespan.”

-Query 5 agents at a time – wait for reactions, etc. Then revise query if necessary, send to the next 5…

-Look for agents that are part of the AAR – Association of Author Representatives

-Once you have your agent, choose your tantrums carefully – they will only put up with it for so long.

-Agents are not your friends, they are business associates – a marriage of convenience. (Personally, I’d like an agent that at least FEELS like a friend)

Goal Tracking:

Writing progress: goal for today - search and replace for ill-fitting nickname in entire MS, and fix a few chapter issues.

Weight progress: core and free weights at home

Award Day!

2010 Goal Tracking:

Weight progress: still sickly, and will probably reschedule my last personal training session from tomorrow to another day... sad face.
Writing progress: hope to start the editing today.

Thank you to Tiana Lei at Spilled Ink for my second blog award ever, the Happy Award!



Now I have to list 10 things that make me happy, and pass the award on to blogs that make me happy. I will also use this time to pass along the Honest Scrap award!

Happy Things!

1. Hubby!This picture was actually taken BEFORE the ceremony, so we didn't look at each other. It was hilarious, and gave us some great photos! (Yes, he's a whole foot taller than me.)

2. My babies!

This picture of MacGyver was taken when he was about 3 or 4. He's almost 10 now, and very gray. He lives with my parents because he's attached to my mom.

My babies that actually live with hubby and me, Duke and Mylie.

3. ITALY!
I ache to be back there.

4. Hawaii!
5. Colorado

6. Disney World! The Happiest Place on Earth!

7. Music

The best band ever. Visit SWITCHFOOT.COM

8. Musicals

I try to go see several a year. Some of my favorites are The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Fiddler on the Roof (Got to see it starring Topol last year!!), 42nd Street, Mary Poppins, The Lion King.

9. MoviesThis particular BBC Miniseries is currently up in my top favorite movies. It's HILARIOUS.

10. Family, writing, hobbies, the outdoors... lots of things make me happy!

Now, the blogs I select for the Happy Award, in no particular order! (If you've been awarded this in the past, too bad! It's not posted on your blog, so you're getting it again!)

1. Kimberly at Confessions: The Secret Life of a Writer
2. Kristi at Random Daily Thoughts
3. Sandy Shin at Sandy's Sandcastle
4. Debra L. Schubert at Write on Target
5. Jennifer Shirk at Me, My Muse, and I

And the Honest Scrap Award goes to:


1. Tiana Lei at Spilled Ink
2. Angela Corbett
3. Tanner at Tanner Speaks
4. V at That Thing I'm Writing
5. L. Diane Wolfe at Spunk on a Stick's Tips

*all photos (except Switchfoot, Phantom Playbill, and Lost in Austen Poster) are from my personal photos and may be used with my permission.