Weekly Geeks - Quote of the Day

I haven't been posting a whole lot lately. With that, I haven't participated in Weekly Geeks the last few weeks. This week, the theme is "Quote of the Day".

Quoth Dewey:

You may want to come up with a theme, such as favorite passages from books, author quotes, political quotes, quotes about books or reading, humorous quotes, whatever. Or you may not want a theme at all; maybe you just want to gather up seven assorted quotes that appeal to you. You may want to start each of your posts of the week with a quote, or you may want to give quotes posts of their own in addition to your regular posts. It’s all up to you!Signing Mr Linky this week means you’re committing to posting a quote each day for a full week, starting on the day you sign up. You can postdate your quote posts so they appear automatically if you can’t get to your blog each day.

These will probably just be quotes from my favorite books and/or authors!!

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!" -- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Ernest

The Sunday Salon - Of Reading Slumps and Super Heroes

Well, I think this is the first Sunday Salon I've done in awhile. All goes back to that whole slump thing. Which, by the way, I think I'm well on the way to kicking. My trip to the library was a thing of beauty...and the first book that I started, Looking for Alaska by John Green, is amazing! In fact, I will probably finish it this morning. YA books have always been right near the top of my list when I talk about favorite genres. I love a good "coming-of-age" type story. And this one totally fits the bill.


But besides all the books that I picked up from the library, I'll definitely be waiting for Barnes & Noble to open on Tuesday. Book 5 in the House of Night series by PC Cast and Kristin Cast is being released. Besides....I'm in the mood to buy a few books since I haven't splurged on anything since....well, the last House of Night book! I also need to pick up a copy of Colleen Gleason's last book in the Gardella Vampire Series. And maybe round out the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine. Nothing like a good round of vampire novels to break out of a horrible reading slump!!

Yesterday, we went to see The Watchmen. Since I'm utterly horrible at doing movie reviews, I'll save you the disappointment. I do, however, have a few things I'd like to say about it. First and foremost, I do think I should mention that I have NOT read the graphic novel. So I didn't have any expectations going into the theater. I'll be really curious to read a review written by a fan of the book. I'm sure our perspectives will be different.

I LOVED this movie! Seriously. I've also been a bit of a geek anyway. And super heroes are cool to me. (I do realize that I really should be addicted to graphic novels because of this. And let me tell you, I'm awaiting a couple from the library that might just throw me into fangirl status. I know I DEFINITELY need to read this one). This movie is dark, violent and extremely complex. I took Chad to see it, and I can tell a lot of the little nuances went right over his head. He was rather lost by the end. I wouldn't really recommend it for young kids anyway. Too dark, sexual and bloody. But for you big kids, it's a smart movie. It's not what I would consider a fun action/adventure. It is way too deep for that title. I was captivated from the opening scene.

And the music.....what a weird mish-mash of music that totally worked!! From My Chemical Romance to Bob Dylan; from Nena to Simon and Garfunkel - some really awesome tunes! Music is one of those things that can make or break a movie for me, and it really worked in The Watchmen.

Finally, I just have a little bit to say about Jackie Earle Haley who plays Rorschach. I remember seeing him in the Bad News Bears (the original) oh, so many years ago. I never thought that skinny kid would ever amount to much as an actor. But I've seen the error of that thinking. He was phenomenal in the movie Little Children, where he played the role of a pedophile. Even without reading the book, you know within 10 minutes of the movie how pivotal a role Rorschach is. And Haley was Freakin' Fantastic!! He doesn't seem to be an imposing type guy. But man...he is. It looks like he bulked up a lot to play this role....and he was great!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts....if you've seen the movie, or if you are just a fan of the book! That's all for now....Happy Reading and Happy Sunday!!

SO Excited!

One of my favorite series is the House of Night Series by PC and Kristin Cast. Book 5 is being released next Tuesday....March 10!! I can NOT wait!! I will probably be waiting at Barnes & Noble when the doors open!


This is the first book that is being released in hardback. A little more dollars...but if the last book is any indication, it will be well worth the money.

Here are the links to my reviews of the first 4 books:

Marked: A House of Night Novel

Betrayed: A House of Night Novel

Chosen: A House of Night Novel

Untamed: A House of Night Novel

Here is a look at the new book trailer for Hunted: A House of Night Novel:

Remember Me?? And.....Library Loot

Goodness. It seems like WEEKS since I've posted. Not quite that bad, but still. The reasons for my abrupt leave of absence?? Well....a couple I guess. First of all, I was sick last week. And not just a sniffly little cold either. I was completely down-and-out, flat-on-my-back, in bed with the flu! Of course, there were those wonderful moments when I was draped over the toilet, because I couldn't keep anything down for long. And a fever of 102 didn't help. Sheesh. I was hurtin' pretty bad for about 3 days.

I'm FINALLY feeling better. The older I get, it seems the longer it takes to recover. Of course, working 70 hours a week can catch up to a person pretty quick. I have a feeling that was a major part of me catching a bug...and it hanging on so long. The things we do to keep the electricity on, I tell you.

But another reason I haven't posted in a bit, is a little harder to define. I've been in this funk lately. Not only with reading, but blogging as well. And I hate it. I hate not feeling the bliss of picking up a new book, or the excitement of logging on to the blog to check in with all my friends. But that's exactly what was happening. I know part of it had to do with being sick. But I also think a part of it is due to the stack of ARC's I have piling up. From Advanced Copies to Blog Tours, it seems I have over-extended myself a bit. Not that I haven't enjoyed the books I've received....because I have. I do, however, think it has ruined the spontaneity of just picking up a book because. Because I want to read it. Not because I'm on a schedule, or because I owe someone a review. But because *I* want to read it.

So today, I think I took care of the problem. And how, pray tell, did I do it? I took a trip to the library. With that trip, I fell back to the kind of books I enjoy the most....fantasy and young adult literature. Books I've been dying to read. 8 books to get me "Back in the Saddle", so to speak. Without further adieu, here is my first addition of "Library Loot":

I have been wanting to read this book for SO LONG. First of all, it's Neil Freakin' Gaiman! Haven't I already established he is one of my 3 favorite authors?? If that isn't enough of a reason to read this, how about the fact this book won the 2009 Newberry Medal?? I haven't read a Newberry that I have disliked...and all the fantastic reviews make me pretty sure I'm going to love this one!! Enough said!

Rise of the Evening Star is Book 2 in the Fablehaven Series. Although I wasn't over the top about Book 1, I found enough good in it to continue the series. Why not sooner, rather than later?? It seems when I put off continuing a series, I never actually get back to it!

Magyk by Angie Sage is Book 1 of the Septimus Heap Series. I love, love, LOVE the covers of the books in this series! Not really a great reason to read a book, I know. But I can't help it. I'm drawn to cool covers. Besides, the reviews of this series are fantastic, and I'm totally looking forward to this one!!

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr is another series starter. YA Urban fantasy.....dealing with the fae, and the faerie world. Yep....this is what I meant when I said "back to the books I love". Right up my alley, this one is. And like the others, I have read some fantastic reviews of this series.

Looking for Alaska is actually a book I have on my list for Dewey's Challenge. And even if it wasn't, between Chris and Nymeth's wonderful reviews of this book, I still would be dying to read it!! John Green seems to be the man of the hour, and I figured I might as well start with this one.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins hit my radar about eight months ago when I read a review that Stephen King wrote about this book. He liked it. And if it was good for Uncle Steve, then it's good enough for me. Especially since I love dystopian books! Also, I'm using it as a selection for the What's in a Name Challenge.

Purple Hibiscus is another Dewey Read. I'm also using this as a selection for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge. Besides, with all the fantasy I picked up, a little seriousness is necessary.









American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (who really is a woman) is another book I've been wanting to read for a long time. I read her first book, Prep, a few years ago and loved it. Besides, I'm using this as a selection in the What's in a Name Challenge.







So.....if this doesn't bring my funk to a grinding halt, I don't know what will!! I also requested a couple of graphic novels through Inter-library loan. Can't wait to get those in!

The Letter Meme....and I got "G"

Nymeth gave me a letter WEEKS ago....and I've put it off until now. Mostly because I was having trouble with "G". I mean, really. G. Let's just say, this is a whole lot harder than I thought it would be!! Here are the 10 Things I Love that Begin with G:

• Gaimen. Neil, that is. Ever since that fateful day when I picked up American Gods, Neil Gaiman is on the very short list of favorite writers.




• Going Green. What can I say? I'm a tree-hugger at heart. We all need to do our part and try to save this planet, even if it's just changing the light bulbs we use in our house. Come on people....let's get environmentally conscious!!



• Gold Coast....as in downtown Chicago's most beautiful neighborhood!! It's affluent, upscale and contains the "Magnificent Mile" otherwise known as Michigan Ave!! Watertower Place, the John Hancock Building and Navy Pier are just a few stops you can make in the Gold Coast!




• Grandparents. There is nothing better than Grandparents!!




• Grosse Point Blank - I think I might have mentioned once or twice (or 50 times) that John Cusak was my favorite actor. Well...this is one of my favorite Cusak Movies. So Smart....and SO funny!! And it begins with a G!




• Gone With the Wind - The book is in my top 5 of favorite books, and the movie ranks pretty high itself.




• Goodfellows or the Godfather - Or can you say, Mafia Movies for $1000?? A precursor to The Soprano's (which is one of my all-time favorite TV shows), these movies really showed us a whole different way of doing business!




• Grey Goose Vodka Dirty Martini - Doesn't it just sound like a wonderful way to relax after a LONG day??




• Green Day - Just one of the greatest bands ever.....enough said!

• Gorrilaz - Figured I might as well end with a couple of bands since you all know how important music is in my life!!

There.....it's done! Damn. That was really hard!! If anyone else plays along and wants a letter just let me know. I like seeing everyone's answers!!

A Not-So-Ideal Way to Lose Weight!!

After my little interview with Annette, I had planned on posting this the next day. But 4 double shifts, and any time that I wasn't at work, was home in bed!! So here is my review, although a bit delayed! The Break-up Diet by Annette Fix (285 pgs, Orange Curtain Publishing, 2008).

The cordless phone ran. Once. Twice. With my eyes still glued shut, I fumbled through the layers of bedding to find it.

Annette Fix was a single mother living in Orange County, California. Her dream was to be a writer. But in the meantime, the bills needed to be paid. So, Annette worked as a topless dancer. Her live-in boyfriend, Kevin, was the love of her life....until the day he dumped her....over the phone!

The Break-up Diet is a memoir. Although non-fiction by nature, the book reads easily and could even be called by some, "Chick Lit". Annette Fix is extremely sharp and witty, and that shines throughout this book. There were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments in this book. But what is especially inspirational is Annette's strength of character. It is admirable the way she picked up the pieces of her life after Kevin left. She is also a very dedicated mother, and that is another element of the book that radiates from every page.

Annette is a talented writer and creates a fun story to read, even when the situations AREN'T funny. There are a few problems that I had with the story, but it's hard for me to criticize a memoir since these things actually happened. What is the old saying? "Hindsight is 20/20"...and I SO agree. It's easy for me to look at the past and see what I did wrong. It's also easy for me to judge things that someone else does....when I can see all sides to a situation.

This book made me laugh...and I enjoyed it. I came to care what happened to the characters.....and I wanted to see the happy, fairytale ending that Annette hoped for. All in all an enjoyable read. Recommended for anyone who has ever been dumped before....and isn't that all of us???

3.75/5

And You Thought I Forgot......

all about the drawing for the 5 copies of Dan Simmons' The Terror!! I really did mean to do this on Monday....but you know me. As I always say, Better Late than Never. With a little help from the kiddies....and my husband's motorcycle helmet!! Drumroll please...........

Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings

Michelle from Master Musings by Michelle

John Mutford from The Book Mine Set

S.M.D from The World in the Satin Bag

and

Tif from Tif Talks Books

Thanks to all who participated...and especially left me comments about how wonderful I am!! I had a lot of fun reading them!! If you guys could send me your snail mail address, I'll forward it to Valerie at Hatchette books!

Interview with Annette Fix - Author of The Break-Up Diet

Today, I had the honor of conducting a little interview with Annette Fix, author of the new memoir, The Break-Up Diet. (Stay tuned for my review!)

Good Afternoon! Writing a memoir has to be a very personal experience -- you are basically putting yourself out there for the whole world to "read". How hard was it to open yourself up like that? And to be honest about your flaws? Was it emotionally draining for your or was it a cathartic experience?

I've always been an open book. From the time I was young, I've always said what was on my mind and been candid about my thoughts and emotions. Translating that openness to the page wasn't difficult. Of course, there were scenes that were just as hard to re-live in my mind as they were when they happened, and I'd often cry while writing. I don't know if I would say it was draining or cathartic. It just "was." That may sound a little Zen-ish. But I don't know how to explain it. I just lived the experience twice. Once in a life and once on the page.
As far as being honest about my flaws, I think it's easy to be honest when you don't consider them flaws. I'm human--that's really all I can ever claim. Flawed? Perfect? It's all subjective and based on someone's perception of me. If I embrace who I am, where I've been, and own the choices I've made in my life, it makes it easy not to care what other people think.

Why start with a memoir instead of something less personal...like fiction?


I was a screenwriter; I never intended to write prose. The break-up of my relationship sent me in a completely different direction. I believe the story chooses the medium. Of course, I'd love to someday see The Break-Up Diet made into a movie--probably small screen, cable -- maybe Oxygen or Lifetime. But, initially, I needed to tell the story free of screenplay structure. Writing in those two mediums feels like the difference between marching in a tailored business suit down a narrow path and dancing barefoot in a field of flowers.

I chose to write it as a memoir instead of fiction because I wanted readers to realize the happily-ever-after aspect of my story is true. Anyone can write a novel that has a happy ending. I think it offers more hope when women can see the fairytale concept of the prince and the sunset really does exist.

Your son, Josh, is a huge part of your life....obviously. But that makes him a huge part of this book. How did/does he feel about you writing about HIM?

I was a single mom for 15 years (sole support and care), so my son and I have always been and still are extremely close. I thought the answer should come directly from my son, so I called his apartment (he's 20) and asked him your question. He said, "I lived it, so I don't need to read it. I trust what you wrote in there. Being in your book makes me feel like I'm having my 10 seconds of fame. And since most of my friends have read it, it allows them to know me better."

Now for some fun questions....If they were to make a movie of The Break-Up Diet, who would play you? And Kevin?

Oh, for me, that's easy. Definitely Elizabeth Shue. The way she portrayed the character in Cocktail reminded me of me--casual, playful, kind of goofy. For Kevin...that's a little more difficult. Actually a lot more difficult. He was blonde with blue eyes, so of course my mind goes right to all the Hollywood hotties like Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey, Paul Walker, Charlie Hunnam. But they're all not quite right somehow. Kevin was very conservative, sensitive, and maybe a little lost--so whoever played his role would have to be able to capture that. As far as looks, I think Charlie Hunnam (if he had short hair) would be the closest match.

Who are your writing role models?

I love a good storyteller, but I don't know if I have any writing role models per se. I have my own voice and do my own thing. But I've recently come to admire the work of David Sedaris and Jen Lancaster. I'd never read anything of theirs until after my book was published--a reader mentioned that I would probably relate to the way they write. She was right. I like their voices and their worldview -- how they call it as they see it.

What books are on your nightstand right now?

The Leaning Tower of Piza in books: Life is a Verb by Patti Digh, Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Fin Gardner, Paint it Black by Janet Fitch, The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd, Grub by Elise Blackwell, The Other Mother by Gwendolyn Gross, The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer. And my all-time favorite that I'm reading again: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Finally....what is next for Annette Fix?

Ah, so many ideas, so little time. I'm focusing on book promotion right now, but in the near future, I may explore my wild-child youth in another memoir. I may write a book about single parenting. I'm kicking around the idea of a collection of personal essays about my time working at the gentlemen's club. I've considered adapting The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir to a screenplay. I'm really not sure what's next, whichever idea manages to wrestle my muse to the ground!!

Thank you so much for your time, Annette!!

*****

Annette Fix is a freelance editor, a publishing industry and single parenting speaker, Senior Editor of WOW! Women on Writing, and the author of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir.

Visit her writing blog at Annette's Paper Trail and The Break-Up Diet site. She enjoys hearing from her readers and other writers. You can email her directly at annette[at]annettefix[dot]com.

For the length of her blog tour, Annette will be giving away free digital copies of her memoir. If you'd like a copy, send an email to promo[at]thebreak-updiet[dot]com, please put "Confessions of a Book-a-holic" in the subject line.

You can purchase copies of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir online and from any independent or chain bookstore.

True Beauty

When I was contacted by a publicist to receive an ARC of North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley (384 pgs, Little, Brown Young Readers, 2009), I was really excited. I love a good YA book, and this one was extremely good.

Not to brag or anything, but if you saw me from behind, you'd probably think I was perfect. I'm tall, but not too tall, with a ballerina's long legs and longish neck. My hair is naturally platinum blond, the kind that curls when I want it to and cascades behind my back in one sleek line when I don't. While my face couldn't launch a thousand ships, it has the power to make any stranger whip around for a second look. Trust me, this mixture of curiosity and revulsion is nothing Helen of Troy would ever have encountered. Please don't get me wrong: I've got all the prerequisite parts -- and in all the right numbers, too: one nose, two eyes, and twenty-four teeth that add to to not a bad smile. But who notices pearly whites when a red-stained birthmark stretches across the broad plain of my cheek?

Terra Cooper is about to complete high school in three years. She smart, ambitious and even though she doesn't realize it, an extremely talented artist. But Terra has spent her entire life hiding behind a port-wine stain birthmark. Years of laser treatments and creams have done nothing to diminish it, and she now wears a "mask" of cover-up so she can feel normal.

But Terra's reasons for wanting to complete high school so fast doesn't have as much to do with her birthmark as it does getting away from home. She wants to attend college as far from home as possible. Across the country in fact. Her father, a disgraced cartographer has made her life a living hell. He is mean as a snake, constantly criticizing every move she makes. But it's not just Terra that lives in constant fear from her father. It's the entire family. Both Terra's brothers have "escaped". Her oldest brother, Merc is now a lawyer in China. He doesn't ever call or write. And Claudius is now in college, and is always "too busy" to come home. Terra's mother, who takes most of the brow-beating, turns to food to quell the harshness that Grant constantly doles out. And she has gained an enormous amount of weight. It's a viscous circle for her mother. Grant constantly tells her she's fat, and yet she turns to food to blot out the pain.

On a trip home from yet another doctor's appointment, Terra and her mom, stop for coffee, and get into an auto accident. It's here they meet the Fremont's. Norah, the gorgeous coffee-buyer from Seattle and her adopted son from China, Jacob. Although Norah seems to have it all: money, beauty, a high-power job -- looks can be deceiving. Her husband has just left her for a much younger woman. When an unlikely friendship is formed between the mothers, Terra and Jacob start spending time together. And it's through Jacob that Terra starts to question everything she has ever thought the word "beauty" meant.

Justina Chen Headley has taken a pretty big leap with this book. In today's world when young girls are bombarded with images of what is deemed "beautiful", Headley has tried to re-write the definition. And it's admirable. I know how young girls think. I remember what it was like growing up. I was the "smart" girl in my group. Definitely not one of the "beautiful" people. It's hard on young girls when the barrage of the media defines super-model looks as beauty. And even though we have all heard that true beauty is on the inside, it doesn't make it any easier to understand. And that is the lesson this book tries to convey.

At times heartbreaking, North of Beautiful is a wonderful book. Grant comes across as such a horrible person, it's hard to feel anything for him but revulsion. Any father that would deem to tell his own daughter how ugly she is isn't worth anything in my book. And his constant degrading comments to his wife just makes me cringe.

But read on a little farther and you find that both Terra and her mom, with a little help from the Freemont's, come to grip with who they really are. The four take a trip to China...and it's certainly a trip of self-discovery. The transformation is fantastic. This book is a must-read for any person who has ever felt they didn't quite muster up to standard. For anyone who had ever felt they were far from perfect. Personally, a book like this should be a must read for every teenage girl. Justina Chen Headley has created some unique characters to which we can all relate. And I, for one, am certainly glad to say I read it! 4.5/5

Beauty and Justina Chen Headley

A few weeks ago, I agreed to be a part of a blog tour for the latest book by Justina Chen Headley called North of Beautiful. I was going to post my review first, then a little essay by the author. Now, I've decided the essay deserves a post all it's own. So....I'll review tomorrow. There are so many things I want to say about this book. In a world where "beauty" is defined by others, I think it's an important topic. I have 2 little girls of my own, and the thought of them feeling the pressure society has placed on beauty is enough to keep me up at night. I don't want either of them to feel like they just aren't pretty enough or thin enough. This book looks at beauty from the perspective of a young girl that was born with a birthmark on her face....and how she has/is coping with something that she feels makes her less than perfect.

But we'll get to that tomorrow. For now, here is the essay that Justina wrote:

An Open Letter to Phenomenal Girls Everywhere from Justina Chen Headley (author, North of Beautiful)

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine called me up in tears. An acquaintance had commented on a photo my friend had uploaded on Facebook: "You must have turned heads in your heyday".

"What does she mean, in my heyday? Is she saying that I'm ugly now?" my 44-year-old friend wailed. "Am I ugly?"

"Sweetie," I said. "You're gorgeous! Forget about it."

Right. How can we forget dings to our beauty -- intentional or not -- when we've been taught to care how people view us? "Does my butt look big in this?" -- a demand for reassurance disguised as a question. "Do I look old?" -- we ask the mirror, studying every cavernous pore and buying creams to combat wrinkles and age spots. We count calories, we cut fat grams. We wear our fat jeans on bloated days only to curse our fat genes because every day is a bloated day.

I remember the first time I was called ugly. I was eight and arguing with my father who sneered that I was like a stepmother -- you know, the ugly, mean ones who populate fairy tales. The second time I was called ugly, I was spat upon by a racist in my high school. And the third time? I had just moved to Australia and was in a bush pub when a drunkard eyed me over his cavalry line of empty beer steins and slurred, "God, you're really ugly."

Luckily, three times isn't' the charm. I'm not dragging myself through life, the poster child for All Things Ugly. What saved me from seeing myself as ugly wasn't being shortlisted as the cover model for a magazine or being named princess at many a high school ball. It was Maya Angelou's poem, PHENOMENAL WOMAN. Her words opened my eyes to transcendent and incandescent Beauty:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cut or built to suit a fashion models size...
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal Woman,
That's me.

I held the poem in my hands -- the words a map to Me. To my inner and outer Beauty. And as I whispered those words - phenomenal woman, that's me -- I realized I've been glorifying an unattainable fashion-model beauty as mythic as Aphrodite. That fashion-model beauty isn't even real in today's plasticized, photoshopped world.

Once I stopped buying into fashion-model beauty, I realized that our society's worst insult leveled at a girl -- God, you're really ugly -- is actually....laughable.

I'd rather be The Most Phenomenal Me I can be than The Most Beautiful Girl in the room. One will sustain me forever, the other will fade and leave me yearning for my glory days. I don't want to live in memories of my past prime when I have the beauty of now.

One of the reasons why I wrote NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL was (in my humble way!) to attempt to put Maya's glorious words into prose for today's girls, especially since I think the media's insistence that we be forever thin and young and beautiful is even more prevalent than ever. I wanted to challenge women and girls not to define beauty for themselves, but to find beauty in themselves.

What is truly beautiful? For me, I find beauty in a person's spirit, generosity, confidence. It's being honest and brave and doing the right thing. It's being at our own personal best physical and spiritual shape. It's about making a difference, leaving the world itself more beautiful.

What can be more truly beautiful than living so fully and generously that every day is our heyday? So let's write our own Beauty Vow: make every day our heyday. Find your beauty. Be phenomenal. Start now.

To true beauty,
Justina

The Find Beauty Challenge:

So phenomenal girls around the world, here is my challenge to you: Define beauty. True beauty.

Load a 90-second video here on what you find truly beautiful and you might win an iTouch. I'll also donate $10 per video (up to $1,000) to Global Medical Surgeries, which helps kids with cleft lips in third world countries.

For all the rules, check out http://www.justinachenheadley.com/

Now...THAT's Beautiful!!

ARC's Galore!!! Mailbox Monday (on Tuesday, No Less!)

A SERIOUS week with the ARC's rolling in. I need to get a grip....fast!! Just wanted to share some of my books!

Land Of Marvels by Barry Unsworth. (Actually, I'm not really sure where this one came from. It just showed up on my doorstep!!) It's a historical fiction/thriller from the Booker Prize winner, Barry Unsworth. Sounds like a fantastic read!!








Bones of the Dragon (Book 1 in the Dragonships of Vindras Series) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is an ARC that I picked up from Shelf Awareness. Published in January, this one looks like it will be right up my alley!! Gotta love a good fantasy book. I can't wait to read this one!








Buffalo Girl by Laura Pederson is a memoir. Laura Pederson is the youngest person to ever hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. It's about her life growing up in Buffalo. This one was sent to me by Anna from The Book Report.








The Break-up Diet by Annette Fix is a memoir as well. I'm touring this book for Annette's Blog Tour. Sounds like it will be a fun one!











The Unseen by Nancy Bush isn't released until until April 1. It's a thriller and was sent to me by Kim from Nancy Berland Public Relations. I just finished a book that Nancy co-wrote with her sister Lisa Jackson and it was really good.








Fashionably Late by Nadine Dajani is a book that I won from S. Krishna's blog!!











The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker is a LibraryThing ARC. It is the first book in an all-new Epic Fantasy series. Another one right up my alley!










True Colors by Kristin Hannah is a new release from the popular author. It was another book sent to me by Anna from the Book Report!

Finally, I received my own copy of The Terror by Dan Simmons (don't forget to sign up from my giveaway!). Sent to me by Valerie from Hatchette Books!!







Now it's time to get back to my reading!!

Sorry for the Delay....

but a migraine has sidelined me for the last few days. I was supposed to be posting a review of Jason Pratt's Cry of Justice, but I haven't had a chance to finish it. (Sorry Jason!) This migraine started a few days ago...and I haven't been able to pick up a book since. Hell, I've barely been able to get out of bed!

So....stayed tuned for the review. I'll try to post it this weekend!

Another Giveaway!! The Terror by Dan Simmons

Thanks to Valerie Russo at Hachette Books, I have 5 copies of Dan Simmon's The Terror to giveaway. It has just been released in paperback!! Unfortunately, this giveaway is going to be restricted to US and Canadian residents....sorry!!

All you have to do to be entered is leave me a comment. You know...something along the lines of how great I am!! Gotta feed my ego, you know!! (kidding, just kidding!)

For a 2 more entries, blog about this giveaway and post a link to your blog!! Easy, peasy right??

I will announce the winners on February 16th!! That's almost 2 weeks to get your entries in.

A Little About The Terror:

The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape.A haunting, gripping story based on actual historical events, The Terror is a novel that will chill you to your core.

"Dan's Arctic adventure-dark fantasy novel The Terror was on a variety of Top 10 lists for 2007, including Entertainment Weekly's Top 10 Books of 2007, USA Today's Top 10 Books, Stephen King's "Top 10 from My Reading in 2007" list also quoted in Entertainment Weekly, and was # 1 on Amazon.com's "2007 Top 10 SF and Horror Novels" list.

See? Now you MUST have this book!! Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!!

Mailbox Monday

Well, it looks like this week I hit the mother lode of ARC's! Dang. I need to get a grip on all of them or I think I could be in some serious trouble!! Considering how poorly I ended up reading in January, February had better be a great reading month!!


First of all, I need to thank Miriam Parker from Hatchette Books. She could possibly be my new best friend!! She had posted on Book Blogs about a book tour involving Vampire/Werewolf books. OK....you all know my love of all things vampire related, so I sent her an email. Turns out, she's organizing a blog tour for Carrie Vaughn's newest books in the Kitty Norville series. Of course, I haven't read any of the previous books, but I did express my interest. Imagine my surprise when a box arrived from Hatchette books...with all 6 of the books in the series!! I'm super excited about these!!

Next, I'm doing a blog tour for Jason Pratt's book Cry of Justice. Another book that is sure to be right up my alley. "HOPE AND LOVE - PRIDE AND HONOR. Monsters wander the world of Mikon. Caught in the aftermath of a vicious international war, thousands of refugees have fled the Coastal States, bringing their dangers with them into the wilderness near the untamed Middlelands." It's a fantasy book, and one that sound like a lot of fun. I'll keep you updated on the blog tour!

The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez is another ARC that has hit my pile. This book isn't being released until April. So I have a little time to get this one finished. It is "the story of a young woman reconciling an existence between two cultures and confronting a life of hardship with an endless capacity to learn, love, and forgive. " About a woman finding out who her father really is. Sounds like a wonderful book. Another that I'm really anxious to read.

Finally, a new PI thriller/mystery by Walter Mosley, The Long Fall is due out in March.

I think these should keep me busy for some time to come!!

The Sunday Salon - Life's Playlist

First of all, let me begin by saying this post is not going to be book-related. Sorry. I was going to do a January wrap-up post, but frankly it was a lousy reading month for me, in terms of quantity that is....and I figured it was going to be a pretty boring post! So feel free to skip right over this post, if you like.

My Ipod has a huge range of music. I don't like to be boxed in, and it includes songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Madonna, Prince, Ministry, and My Chemical Romance, just to name a few. I was thinking about music this weekend. I don't know about the rest of you, but music defines me. A song is one of the few things that can instantly bring up a memory so vivid for me, it's rather startling. I was working Friday night, and I had the radio on. There is a station that has the "Ultimate 80's Flashback" on every weekend, and I was listening to it. The song Broken Wings by Mr. Mister came on and immediately tears came to my eyes. Not because of the song, but it brought back a rush of memories for me about a friend that passed away a few years ago. It also put me in the mood to reminisce. Hence, this post.

So, here in a nutshell, is Stephanie's Playlist. A few songs that brings back a few memories. I have always listened to music. Starting with piano lessens at 6, I think music has always been a big part of my life. My parents listened to Country and Western....and I hated it. So, I became a big "Rocker Chick" in high school. Big hair....and music. That's what high school was for me!! But it seems the songs that I most remember from high school are the ballads and the anthems. I remember going with my friends to see The Breakfast Club. It spoke to me. Always has...and still does. I sometimes forget that the song we all know....Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds is it's own entity. It will forever be linked in my mind to the movie!




My Senior Prom theme was from Bon Jovi. Never Say Goodbye. Always the rebel, in days when prom dresses were white and pink and pastels....I wore black! It was a kick-ass dress too!!



They say you never forget your first love. I know that's true. Billy was my first love. We spent the summer after my high school graduation together, listening to the soundtrack to Stand by Me....dancing, laughing, and loving. But when that wonderful summer was over, so were we. Later the next year, when my brother was killed, Billy came back into my life to help me get through it. He was my rock in a time when I needed one. He knew me inside and out....and swore no one would ever know me better than he did. I sometimes think this is true. And I will forever be in debt to him for being there when I needed him....and probably always still just a little bit in love with him! Whenever I hear this song, a rush of those memories just flood back to me.




College was such a great time. A time for discovery and finding out who I was. I joined a sorority. Scary, isn't it?? Not really my thing, but I found a great group of friends. Still the rebel, I turned into a major "Goth Chick". With a little help from my friend Tommy, I discovered music like The Ramones, Skinny Puppy, Lords of the New Church......and the Sisters of Mercy!! Here is Lucretia, My Reflection:



My senior year, I started hanging out at a club called Night Faces. It was a dark, dance club.....and Pietor, the owner became a great friend (who gave me job when I needed one!) Pietor was from Sweden, and came to Peoria by way of Saudi Arabia where he worked in the oil fields. He was a great guy, and I loved him like a big brother. This is one of the songs we used to dance to all night long.....Pat and Mick's Use it up!




When I met Mike, music was one of the ties that bound us together. We had such common interests....like my very favorite band ever!! So What is the song that we have danced to our entire life together. It has meaning.....again the rebel in me:
So what, its your problem to learn to live with
Destroy us, or make us saints
We don't care, its not our fault that we were born too late
A screaming headache on the brow of the state
Killing time is appropriate
To make a mess and fuck all the rest,
we say, we say So what? so what?



Finally, now I'm a family person. I have kids, a house....and a dog. I want the world to be a better place for us all. This is the song that I put my kids to sleep with when they were little. A song that will always hold a place in my heart. John Lennon was a great man. If only he was still with us today, the world would be a little calmer.





Sorry for that trip down memory lane. I hope I didn't bore you today!!



Enjoy the Superbowl....go Cards!! More book stuff tomorrow!! Happy Sunday!