Monday, June 15, 2009

Day 191 - It's Monday!

Photo credit : Moriza


It's Monday! What are you reading this week?, hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog, is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.



Books Gobbled Last Week:
Strange Angels :: Lili St. Crow


Currently Gobbling Down This Week:
Circus of the Damned :: Laurell K. Hamilton
The Chris Farley Show :: Tom Farley Jr. & Tanner Colby





**Sidenote(s)/FYI**
-I'm so happy I got through both the books this week! *does happy dance*
-I'm planning on having both reviews up later on today or at least April & Oliver.
-I have my 2nd Pre-Calc test tomorrow & my first Public Speaking speech for Thursday so all of that will probably get in the way of reading for this week. *ugh* But I will do my best.
-P.S. I hate Public Speaking class - TOTAL WASTE OF TIME! Yes, communication skills are important, but I officially hate this class. Negative attitude = my best friend!




Sunday, June 14, 2009

Day 190 - Book Arrivals 11.0

So I'm definitely thinking I should stop numbering these. It'll look pretty ridiculous the higher I go. I'll just leave it at Book Arrivals from now on lol. Hope you don't mind.

This time I got a lot of books from some blogging buds through contests =), which always makes me super happy!



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From Book Mooch/Paper Back Swap:

The Ice Queen :: Alice Hoffman

Be careful what you wish for. A small town librarian lives a quiet life without much excitement. One day, she mutters an idle wish and, while standing in her house, is struck by lightning. But instead of ending her life, this cataclysmic event sparks it into a new beginning.
She goes in search of Lazarus Jones, a fellow survivor who was struck dead, then simply got up and walked away. Perhaps this stranger who has seen death face to face can teach her to live without fear. When she finds him, he is her opposite, a burning man whose breath can boil water and whose touch scorches. As an obsessive love affair begins between them, both are forced to hide their most dangerous secrets--what turned one to ice and the other to fire.
A magical story of passion, loss, and renewal, The Ice Queen is Alice Hoffman at her electrifying best.

2nd Chance :: James Patterson w/ Andrew Gross
Book two in the Women's Murder Club Series

2nd Chance reconvenes the Women's Murder Club, four friends (a detective, a reporter, an assistant district attorney, and a medical examiner) who used their networking skills, feminine intuition, and professional wiles to solve a baffling series of murders in 1st to Die. This time, the murders of two African Americans, a little girl and an old woman, bear all the signs of a serial killer for Lindsay Boxer, newly promoted to lieutenant of San Francisco's homicide squad. But there's an odd detail she finds even more disturbing: both victims were related to city cops. A symbol glimpsed at both murder scenes leads to a racist hate group, but the taunting killer strikes again and again, leaving deliberate clues and eluding the police ever more cleverly. In the meantime, each of the women has a personal stake at risk--and the killer knows who they are.

Alanna: The First Adventure :: Tamora Pierce
Book one in the Song of the Lioness Series


"From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight."
In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her brother, Thom. Disguised as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. The road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, magic — and also polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart. With stubbornness, skill, and daring, she wins the admiration of all around her, and the friendship of Prince Jonathan of Tortall himself. But she also makes an enemy of the prince's uncle, the powerful and charming Duke Roger....
Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins — one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

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From Contests/Giveaways & Misc:

The Disappearnce of Irene Dos Santos :: Margaret Mascarenhas
(From Drey at Drey's Library - part of Latino Book Month Giveaway - thanks Drey!)

Irene dos Santos disappeared at age 15. Believed to have drowned while on holiday with her best friend, Lily Martinez, her body was never found. Now, years later, she appears ghostlike in Lily's dreams, prompting a quest for the truth behind her disappearance. Mysteriously, Lily, eight-months pregnant with her first child, slips and falls on the same day that the statue of Maria Lionza, Patron Saint of their Venezuelan town, cracks in two. Confined to her bed, Lily is surrounded by her family and closest friends, who agree that a Novena to Maria Lionza will guide the baby's spirit safely into the world. Together, through their nine nights of prayer, each offers a story to entertain Lily and her baby. What emerges is a vivid picture of Venezuela during a time of revolution and uncertainty-and the unraveling of the mystery behind Irene dos Santos.

Wings :: Aprilynne Pike
Book one in the Laurel Series
(From Alyssa at The Shady Glade - thanks so much!)

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.


Strange Angels :: Lili St. Crow
Book One in the Strange Angels Series
(From The Compulsive Reader - thanks! I loved it, review coming tomorrow)

Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called "the touch." (Comes in handy when you're traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)
Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they're not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?



The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts :: Tom Farley, Jr. & Tanner Colby
(Sent for review from Caitlin Price)

After three years of sobriety, Chris Farley's life was at its creative peak until a string of professional disappointments chased him back to drugs and alcohol. He fought hard against them, but it was a fight he would lose in December 1997. Farley's fans immediately drew parallels between his death and that of his idol, John Belushi. Without looking deeper, however, many failed to see that Farley was much more than just another Hollywood drug overdose. In this officially authorized oral history, Farley's friends and family remember his work and life. Along the way, they tell a remarkable story of boundless energy, determination, and laughter that could only keep the demons at bay for so long.

Cathy's Ring: If Found Please Call (650)266 - 8263 :: Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman
Book Three in the Cathy Series
(From J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog! You're the best =) )

Cathy cannot manage to find more than a few days to relax in her hectic (and mortal) life - she barely has time to put the mystery surrounding her father to rest before she finds herself targeted by a group of Ancestor Lu's professional killers!
Recognizing she is a serious threat to everyone in her life, Cathy makes plans to leave town. But her friends, Emma, Pete, Victor, and, surprisingly, Jun, unite to convince Cathy that they must finish Lu once and for all to have any chance at peace - mortal or immortal. In order to defeat Lu, the friends must come together in a way they never have before.
Meanwhile - unbeknownst to Cathy - Victor has made the ultimate sacrifice hoping it will bring him closer to a normal relationship with Cathy. But when Victor is seriously wounded and Cathy finds herself attracted to another mortal with similar feelings for her, Cathy's world turns upside down and she is forced to make a decision about her future with Victor, while his life hangs by a thread. What will Cathy decide, and how will their epic battle with Lu play out? Find out in the newest adventure-packed installment of the Cathy story!

Into the Beautiful North :: Luis Alberto Urrea
(From Drey - part of the Latino Book Month Giveaway)

Nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop in her Mexican village and dreams about her father, who journeyed to the US to find work. Recently, it has dawned on her that he isn't the only man who has left town. In fact, there are almost no men in the village--they've all gone north. While watching The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli decides to go north herself and recruit seven men--her own "Siete Magníficos"--to repopulate her hometown and protect it from the bandidos who plan on taking it over.
Filled with unforgettable characters and prose as radiant as the Sinaloan sun, INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH is the story of an irresistible young woman's quest to find herself on both sides of the fence.

B as in Beauty :: Alberto Ferraras
(Another one from Drey - part of the Latino Book Month Giveaway)

Everyone in the world, it seems, is either prettier or thinner (or both) than Beauty Marie Zavala. And the only thing "B" resents more than her name is the way others judge her for the extra 40 pounds she can't lose. At least she has her career. Or did, until she overhears her boss criticizing her weight and devising a scheme to keep her from being promoted. Enter B's new tax accountant, a modern-day matchmaker determined to boost B's flagging self-esteem by introducing her to rich, successful men who will accept her for who she is. As B's confidence blossoms, so do her fantasies of revenge. But will B find true happiness or true disaster when she unwittingly falls for the one guy she shouldn't?

Hungry Woman in Paris :: Josefina Lopez
(Another one from Drey - part of the Latino Book Month Giveaway)

A journalist and activist, Canela believes passion is essential to life; but lately passion seems to be in short supply. It has disappeared from her relationship with her fiancé, who is more interested in controlling her than encouraging her. It's absent from her work, where censorship and politics keep important stories from being published. And while her family is full of outspoken individuals, the only one Canela can truly call passionate is her cousin and best friend Luna, who just took her own life.
Canela can't recover from Luna's death. She is haunted by her ghost and feels acute pain for the dreams that went unrealized. Canela breaks off her engagement and uses her now un-necessary honeymoon ticket, to escape to Paris. Impulsively, she sublets a small apartment and enrolls at Le Coq Rouge, Paris's most prestigious culinary institute.
Cooking school is a sensual and spiritual reawakening that brings back Canela's hunger for life. With a series of new friends and lovers, she learns to once again savor the world around her. Finally able to cope with Luna's death, Canela returns home to her family, and to the kind of life she thought she had lost forever.

Houston, We Have a Problema :: Gwendolyn Zepeda
(From Drey - Last part of the Latino Book Month Giveway)

Jessica Luna is your typical 26 year old: she has man trouble, mom trouble, and not a clue what to do with her life (though everyone else in her family seems to have plenty of suggestions!) After a lifetime of being babied by her family, Jess is incapable of trusting herself to make the right choices. So instead, she bases all of her life decisions on signs. She looks to everything for guidance, from the direction her rearview-mirror-Virgin-de-Guadalupe sways to whatever Madame Hortensia, her psychic, sees in the cards.
When her sort-of boyfriend Guillermo, a gifted unmotivated artist, disappoints her again, Jessica thinks it's time to call it quits. Just to be sure, she checks in with Madame Hortensia who confirms that yes, it is time for a change. (Who knew $20 could buy so much security!) Right on cue, Jess meets Jonathan; he's the complete opposite of Guillermo--of all Jess's boyfriends, in fact. He's successful, has a stable job....and is white. Jess isn't sure if Jonathan is really the change Madame Hortensia saw. Sure he gives great career advice, but is he advising her on a career she actually wants? And yes he's all about commitment, but is it Jess or her mother who really wants marriage?
Jess runs back to Madame Hortensia for advice, but even she is out of answers. Now there's only one thing that's certain: no one--not her mother, her sister, her boyfriend or her psychic--can tell her what to do. For better or for worse, Jess will have to take the plunge and make her own decisions if she wants to have any future at all.

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I sure do miss my B&N boxes lol. Hopefully I'll be buying books sometime next month - we'll see. Until next time dearies :


Happy Reading!!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Day 188 - Friday Finds [2]


**Hosted by MizB, click here to see more Friday Finds

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list throughout the week. This is just a small glimpse into the ones that were added on recently.

Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.



My finds this week:











Thursday, June 11, 2009

Day 187 - Thursday Thunks [8]

Welcome to the June 11th version of Thursday Thunks!
Where we make you think a little bit before you blog.



We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want. Write about it on your blog... simple as that. Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post. Please mention us in your post, and link back to the blog here.Don't forget to go visit the other participants' blogs. Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks! Thats what all this is about afterall, isn't it? We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the number 1 (because I am) and the color nude.





1. What is your least favorite candy bar?

Three Muskateers

2. If I were to call you, what would you say?

Hello?


3. What is your favorite type of leaf?


Uhh...Four leaf clover =) Or maybe a maple leaf. Oooh I know. The tree star from Land Before Time!!!







4. When was the last time you....



- had sex? January - yes it's been a while lol

- swam in a lake? Never actually.

- went barefoot outside? A couple of hours ago


- ate peas? Yum I love peas! A couple of nights ago.



5. Since Father's Day is right around the corner, tell us about the person that you are celebrating.

I'm not close to my Dad at all. So I won't be celebrating the day.

6. Were you dropped on your head as a child?

I'm sure I was.

7. How often do you clean your toilet?

Not as often as I should.

8. Have you ever been sunburned? Tell us about it.

I'm so lucky to have taken after my mother (white girl) and not my father (the asian one) *sigh* I burn terribly. I burned last summer and still have the marks lol true story! But no, after a good burning session I usually get tan afterwards, but it sucks to go through all that just to get darker for a lil while.

9. On average, how many hours a sleep do you get a night?

Probably around 6ish.

10 How many hours did you get last night?

8 - wow lol bonus hours!!

11. Take a picture of something. Post it.

Went to go see what my cat, Binx, was up to...



12. Are the bottom of your feet dirty?

Nope =)

13. Do you know the names of every member of the family who lives next door to you?

No I do not. I don't really talk to any of my neighbors.





Day 187 - From the Desk of...

...author DCS!


I thought long and hard about what to write for this, and I decided I’ve got to talk about the book. I babble on about a lot of things on my blog related to some of the important concepts I’ve interlaced into the Synarchy story but I’m going to take this opportunity and share a secret behind Synarchy that makes me love it so much.

I consider myself really lucky that I’m surrounded by so many creative people and really gifted writers. Some of the characters in Synarchy are not my orginal creations but based off of characters that I roleplay with. When I say roleplay, I mean text based, open ended, whatever your creative heart desires acting online, so to speak. Some of your blog readers may be familiar with it, it’s been pretty popular for a while. I like to think of myself as an old school roleplayer, and I run a game loosely based off the novel, you can find links to that on my website. I think being a roleplayer has improved my writing and really kept my creative juices flowing. I’m always writing something, everyday and that’s an awesome feeling, especially since I’m not always alone. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, but when you can get with other great writers and create something together it’s almost magical.

There are about five or six snippets in the book that are brief collaborations with another author. They get their appropriate shout outs in the beginning of the book and it’s all done with their permission. I could have written the book without including their creations, I’m so schizophrenic it’s not even funny, but then the Terenzio family just wouldn’t be the same. This makes it better I think and it adds this really awesome dynamic because some of the history behind these characters we really experienced. A lot of it was not planned, it just kind of happened randomly, and when I decided to write Synarchy it was great that I could take pieces of that and interlace it into the book. I feel like the story is more alive because of it.

It also gives me room for some pretty fun contests in the future, like having readers guess which scenes are the ones that are roleplayed and how much history I tweaked for the novel versus what is actually “true”. Anywho, I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to share that and stop by your blog, Mishel! Much thanks and I hope your readers enjoy reading Synarchy as much as I did writing it.




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A big thank you to DCS for stopping by and hanging out for the last three days and talking about the book. Make sure to check out my review && go out and get yourself a copy of this book! You won't regret it =)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Day 186 - Waiting on Wednesday [16]

from penguin.com:


A mesmerizing novel about estranged sisters and the cultural and family history that binds them.

Van and Linny Luong are as baffling to each other as their parents’ Vietnamese legacy is to them both. Van, the quintessential overachiever, has applied the same studied diligence to her law career and marriage—a beau idéal that vaporized when Mr. Right walked out. Linny—pretty, fashionable, untethered—is grasping for purpose when her affair with a married man takes a humiliating turn. Each is the last person her sister would call, but when Mr. Luong summons them home for his American citizenship party, Van and Linny find themselves communing about their past—their late mother, their father’s obsession with his Luong Arm invention, even the irony of their romantic straits. As these unlikely confidantes chart the uncertainty that defines them, they forge a tentative new relationship and the wherewithal to overcome disappointment.

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “a writer to watch, a tremendous talent,” Nguyen recasts her gifts marvelously in this first novel, infusing it with humor, compassion, and insight into siblings, aging parents, and the desires and ambitions that drive us.


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Reason: I have two sisters. I live with the younger and my older is off in California with her family. I know how easy it is to grow apart from one another. I don't speak to my older sister and I think if given the chance my younger one would lose touch too. If it does happen I hope the separations don't last too long. I'd really hate to lose them both. I'm definitely thinking I'm going to enjoy this book!

Cover Discussion: How cute is the cover!? I absolutely love the little colored additions to the words of the title.


Short Girls will be released July 23rd!






What are you waiting on this week?
To see more books that are being waited for click
here.

Day 186 - Synarchy Book One: The Awakening

Synarchy Book One: The Awakening
DCS

Series or Stand Alone: Synarchy Series, book one

Synopsis [from amazon.com]:

A plan is exposed, centuries in the making and so sinister not even the legend himself could have predicted the depth of its impact on the world. In his lifetime Stefano Terenzio had a merciless ambition for absolute power. Two generations later the shock wave he ignited was still being felt. Now, as the world inches closer to 2012 sides are chosen, families divide and an epic battle begins that will determine whether mankind continues existing in a world of lies or shatters the chains that have held us prisoner since his-story was written. "I will die to see my will done, and it will be done." Shocking yet hopeful, Synarchy slowly unravels the tightly laced reality we have created for ourselves. Blending the metaphysical with conspiracy, fact with fiction, debut author DCS has opened up a world that will force you to rethink everything you believe about your own. The knowledge within provokes the question: do you really want to know?

Review:

It’s hard for me to put The Awakening into words for you to understand how much I really enjoyed it. But let me try…

In the beginning, I was thrust into a world I knew nothing about. But as I turned each page I found myself surrounded by heavy emotions: family loyalty, trust, honor, betrayal, vengeance, love, lust. Twists and turns were intricately woven into the novel that had me wanting more. The plot was never really simple; I did have to re-read the entire beginning to get a better sense of the characters. But the complexity of this story became crystal clear as I read the last word and closed the book.

Set in the very near future (2011), the Terenzios are one of the most powerful families in the world. They are also among the very few who will stand up to who’s in charge. It is the Terenzios who are up to the challenge of taking on the Brotherhood - thirteen bloodlines who have been in control since the dawn on man. A battle has begun by an unforgettable character named Stefano Vasco Terenzio, who's mark is still being felt generations later.

The characters and the plot itself are so delicately intertwined that I quickly found myself mesmerized by the story until I just had to finish it. I'd say this is definitely a book you need to take the time to read. No quick skimming through aloud, otherwise you'll lose the importance of every action by these well-thought out characters. And this is definitely a book where every action seems to matter!

I'm eagerly awaiting book two and the next segment into this exciting world that closely mirrors our own. The story made me question so many different things that I have come to accept about the world, including the government and reality in general. I highly recommend you (YES YOU!) pick up this book because it has so many different aspects weaved into one fantastic story! Mystery, a little romance, conspiracies, huge amounts of emotion, and a whole lot of drama for everyone.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Day 185 - Teaser Tuesday [14]

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:












-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
-Please avoid spoilers!








"April knows she must be out of her mind. Oliver left another message on her machine asking her to come, saying she was isolating herself and that she needed the family. Family, she thinks. She and Oliver aren't even from the same planet." (123)









Day 185 - Q&A with Author DCS


I'm so excited to have author Crystal Storm, who writes under the penname DCS, here at mis(h)takes today. She's generously agreed to answer some questions about herself and Synarchy Book One: The Awakening.

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A lil background info before we proceed:

Crystal was born in Alexandria, VA. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte intent on earning a degree in Political Science and becoming a lawyer. Instead, she had too much fun not going to class and after a year they politely asked her not to return. [ Their loss =) ]

She now lives in New Orleans, LA and Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening is her debut novel. Crystal is a self taught world student, her studies cover the 2012 mystery, quantum mechanics, metaphysics, parasphysic science, conspiracies and strange phenomenon. Taking full advantage of the creative energy of New Orleans, she is hard at work on the second book in the Synarchy Series, The Ascension and several short stories loosely based off of a few characters from the book, but following more along the vein of the txt based roleplay game, Synarchy 2012. (More info on the RPG game http://www.commandcenter.synarchy2012.com/)

You can find out more about the Synarchy Series by visiting http://www.synarchynovel.com/.


Or visit her blog at http://www.dcs-svt.com/

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Me: Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer some questions Crystal. Could you tell us a little bit about Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening.

DCS: In their quest to dominate the world, a powerful crime family, the Terenzio’s, discover who the real players are that control the planet, and just how far they’re willing to go to keep their hold on humanity. Because of sheer arrogance, and the fact that they may be the only ones who can, Terenzio decides to fight back. Now, they’ve got until December 21st, 2012, to stop a sinister, centuries old plan, and give Earth a choice it was never given before. You can get a copy on Amazon, or from now until the summer solstice, I’m offering personalized autograph copies. See the books website at www.synarchynovel.com for more details.

Me: What inspired you to write a story like Synarchy?

DCS: Synarchy was the culmination of a very personal journey for me, and that urge every writer has whose got a story to tell that just has to come out. I don’t just want to entertain, I want to mix in what I think are some important concepts for our times. Ideas that take us out of the mundane and into the possibilities of the fantastical. It is my intent that someone will read Synarchy, find something in there that perks their interest, go look it up and it will be the catalyst that starts them on their own journey of awakening.

Me: Did you always plan for Synarchy to be broken up into different parts?

DCS: My novels tend to write themselves, so no not at the beginning. About mid way through was when I began to realize all the potential there was to really break the story down into a series of books.

Me: Which of your characters would you say is most like you? Why that character?

DCS: All my characters share a few of my personality traits but the one the most like me I would have to say is Simone. She’s handling the sudden changes in her life in ways that are similar to how I would have if thrust into that position.

Me: I definitely enjoyed all of the characters and Simone specifically! If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author, who would you choose and what would the book be about?

DCS: Dean Koontz, without question. I love the way his mind works, and he is one of my favorite authors. I have no idea what that book would be about, lol, but I’m sure he and I could come up with something pretty awesome.

Me: Dean Koontz is definitely a favorite author of mine, excellent choice! So, I noticed that a Role Playing Game was created in 2006 in the Synarchy world, can you tell us about the game and how it came to be?

DCS: Synarchy 2012, is very loosely based off the novel and provided a lot of inspiration for writing it. A few scenes from the book were actually roleplayed. I’ve been roleplaying for about ten years now, and I think it’s really improved my writing. In that setting, you’re always being creative, always writing something so, it’s really kept my brain humming with ideas for this and that. I was a part of really great RPG called Shaddai Bloodlines until it closed in ’05, and it was run by a very good friend of mine who is also a brilliant writer, and amazing photographer, Grey Cross. (There are links to his work on my blog, very edgy stuff). Anywho, when his game closed I decided instead of finding another one to go play in I’d create my own. We’re very small right now, there are only four of us, but I’m hoping we’ll get bigger soon because that’s when the real fun comes in.

Me: The best of luck to the RPG game Crystal. Can you tells us what you're currently working on?

DCS: I suffer from too many ideas syndrome so yes, I’m always working on something. The big project right now is getting book two done. I also want to write Stefano’s story but I want it to be a graphic novel so I’m starting to collaborate with a comic artist who is a good friend of mine, so we’ll see what comes of that.

Me: I for one am super excited about book two and a story specifically for Stefano would be awesome. I'm sure you get asked this question a lot but do you have any advice for upcoming writers?

DCS: I read this article discussing the publishing industry and the recession, and at the end of the article one piece of advice for a budding writer was, “write an awesome story.” And I think that’s the best advice. Stick with the basics, yah know? Make it great. Fabulous. Unforgettable. Then dig your heels in, grit your teeth, prepare for a difficult but richly rewarding ride, and everything else will fall into place.

Me: I think that's really great & simple advice. I'm curious though, if you weren’t a writer, what other career would you pursue?

DCS: Something business related. I’m lucky because while I’m a really creative story-teller I’ve also got a knack for the business world.


Me: That's where I'm headed...straight into the business world *sigh*. As long as I have my reading material under one arm I think I can do it lol. Thank you again Crystal for stopping by!

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Be sure to come back tomorrow for my review of Synarchy Book One: The Awakening and a really great guest post by Crystal on Wednesday!




SYNARCHY BOOK 1: THE AWAKENING VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially began on June 1 and will end on June 26. Be sure to follow along and find out more about her and the book!



June 1 The Fantasy Pages http://fantasy-pages..blogspot.com
June 2 Zensanity http://zensanity.blogspot.com/
June 3 Scribe Vibe http://www.scribevibe.blogspot.com/
June 4 Book Madness http://bookmadness.wordpress.com
June 5 The Book Connection http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/
June 8 Divine Caroline http://www.divinecaroline.com/49804/75767-interview-novelist-dcs
June 9-11 mis(h)takes http://creativitygone.blogspot.com
June 12 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell http://books-forlife..blogspot.com
June 15-16 The Plot
http://theplotline.wordpress.com/
June 15 Socrates Book Reviews http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com
June 17 A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com
June 17 The Book Tiger http://www.thebooktiger.co.uk/
June 18-19 A Journey of Books http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot..com
June 19 The Book Stacks http://www.thebookstacks.com
June 23 Self-Publishing Review www.selfpublishingreview.com
June 24 Confuzzled Books http://confuzzledbooks.blogspot.com
June 25 Morbid Romantic http://www.morbid-romantic.net
June 25 Bibliophiles 'R' Us http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com
June 26 Fiction Scribe http://www.fictionscribe.com

Day 185 - Tuber Tuesdays [1]

Tuber Tuesday is hosted by Emily over at her fabulous blog AyeCaptain Reviews (go check her out!)


The purpose of Tuber Tuesday is to share a great video you've found throughout the week. It can be funny, inspirational, gut-wrenching, interesting, a book trailer, a movie trailer, an author chat, or anything else you want to share!



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For my first video I wanted to give this little guy/gal (undetermined at the moment) a little more spotlight for those of us who haven't seen it. I for one think this anteater is freakin adorable! And how often does one say that in their life?? Check out it's cuteness =) The noises it makes totally made me have an "Awww" moment.



Monday, June 08, 2009

Day 184 - It's Monday!

Photo credit : Moriza

It's Monday! What are you reading this week?, hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog, is a weekly event to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.






Books Gobbled Last Week:
Gauntlet :: Richard Aaron (Review coming at the end of June - part of blog tour - stay tuned!)




Currently Gobbling Down This Week:
April & Oliver :: Tess Callahan
Strange Angels :: Lili St. Crow






**Sidenote(s)/FYI**
-So I finished the Gauntlet (big yay and I loved it!)

-I'm really digging April & Oliver (thanks again Mary, you totally rock my socks <3)
- I'm so frustrated with school/work/and home stuff because it's totally getting in the way of my reading and blog related activities. Can I just say GRRRR!!!!
-So this is why I'm hardly dishing out any reviews - so sorry about that everyone. I hope to pick the speed back up but no promises, sadly. Just bear with me! I'm hoping to keep the blog busy with some new weekly memes in addition to the normal ones I do. I hope that will keep you all coming back.
-&& Last but not least, Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening is getting it's review post on Tuesday the 10th. Make sure to come back the 9th-11th for an interview, guest post, and the review!! It's all part of a virtual blog tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Hope to see some friendly faces welcoming author DCS to my little abode =)



Friday, June 05, 2009

Day 181 - Friday Finds [1]


**Hosted by MizB, click here to see more Friday Finds

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list, I decided to join this meme and highlight some of the books that I've added throughout the week. Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.





My finds this week:


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