September is Ending - W.W.W.

Just a quickie post to say thanks to all my followers for hanging in there while I have been so lax in posting lately!  I have been so incredibly busy - I haven't had time to even check out too much of the blogging world much less actually blog!  I didn't even successfully finish the Catch-Up Read-a-thon:(  

I am hoping that with any luck I will be caught up in my world and ready to get back to regular blogging!  Thanks again to all my followers - especially since this isn't the first time I have fallen behind!

I try to get all my real world things done before I take the time to blog - I may have to just suck it up and start scheduling my blog posts so I have time to go to all yours!!!     Happy reading!

I am currently reading Minder by Kate Kaynak.

Next I am reading Adversary by Kate Kaynak

Then I will go on to The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard

after that: From the Dead by John Herrick and The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman

I just finished reading: Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa, Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa, and My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking!

It's Friday!!!

It's Friday - I haven't done a Friday Hop or Follow in awhile - sorry I have been slacking!

I thought I would take a little time today on my lunch and try to hop around!

Friday Hop Question: When you write reviews, do you write them as you are reading or wait until you have read the entire book?

My answer: I wait until I have finished the book to write my reviews - which is probably why I am always at least 5 books back with them.  I do highlight and/or write down my favorite quote or something that I think was my "favorite" part - that kind of thing.  Looking at it to write this post has me thinking that I should be writing them as I read the book and then I would be ready to put the finishing touches on and then publish in a more timely fashion.

I am currently reading Minder by Kate Kaynak - loving it, but not getting a lot of time to read - I am reading it and two other books for the Catch-Up Read-a-thon, but so far I am not really catching up - just trying to stay afloat - I am sure I am not the only one!

My next read will be Adversary also by Kate Kaynak and then next will be The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard.

The last books I read were Winters Passage and Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa - amazing stories - can't wait for Iron Queen to come out!

My DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IT book will be Alpha: Shifters Book 6 by Rachel Vincent.

I just got a copy of Blameless by Gail Carriger from a friend and am also planning to try to get that to the top of my TBR in the not so distant future!

What are you reading?

Fall Catch-Up Read-a-thon! - - Update #1

This is my first update for the Fall Catch-up Read-a-thon!

Okay - I am not getting very far on my reading - I seem to keep running into more and more things that must be done and my reading time gets shorter and shorter, but I am still hoping to finish all three books that I planned to read.  I figure I will be reading all night Wednesday night - sleep is over-rated anyway right!!!

So...I am still reading Minder by Kate Kaynak - so far it is fantastic and I can't wait to have a few hours of uninterrupted reading time!  The next book I am planning to read is the sequel to Minder called Adversary!

Laurie Halse Anderson - Speak Poem - Speak Loudly

This is the author of Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson speaking up and speaking loudly in defense of not only her book - but all the victims out there who benefit from books like hers (Speak)!

Mailbox - - it's still Monday - for a few minutes yet!

I continue to be fortunate with my books!  This is what has been in my mailbox since my last post!

Minder and Adversary by Kate Kaynak
Thanks so much for the opportunity to read your books Kate!

Foresight by Sherry D. Ficklin

The giveaway was hosted by Jessica B at Booksake!

The prize package was mailed out from the author - she added the button, hand sanitizer, bookmark, pen, calendar, and the great bag!!!

Thanks so much  much to both Jessica and Sherry!

I also won:

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden (The Minding Spot)

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt (from Bibliophilic Book Blog) and

The Moment of Truth by Mark O'Neal  (from Dollyca's Thoughts)

Must Love Hellhounds was a gift from my friend Kathy.

Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

August 2010 Early Reviewers Group Book

Poisons of Caux by Susannah Appelbaum

Thanks goes out to Liz at Cleverly Inked for this one!

Burning Up - - - thanks to Danielle at Romance Book Junkies!

Hero by Cheryl Brooks 

Thanks to Paranormal & Romantic Suspense Reviews!

This prize package is from Sharon of Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews!

Included in her prize package was:  the great bag you see in the background, and five books!  The books are: Mistress of the Game by Sidney Sheldon, The Breach by Patrick Lee, The Geneva Deception  by James Twining,  Lincoln's Sword  by James Twining, and the final book being added is A Groom of One's Own by Debra Doyle.

Thanks so much to everyone who had a contest or a giveaway!

Thanks for the great stories!!!

Read-A-Thon! September 20 - September 26

The Book Addict is hosting The Fall Catch-Up Read-A-Thon! Go here to check out her post and sign up on the linky!!!  This is my start up post - here is my tentative book list!

1. Minder: A Ganzfield Novel by Kate Kaynak

2. Adversary: The Second Ganzfield Novel by Kate Kaynak

3. The Ways of Khrem by D. Nathan Hilliard

Click here to see my first update post!

Minder by Kate Kaynak

Kate Kaynak sent me a copy of her book Minder - I just started reading it - literally, I am on page 4!  I just wanted to quick post and say, "I LOVE IT!" The first chapter is great - grabbed me right away! I can't wait to read the rest.  Go check it out!

New Winner for my 300 followers Giveaway!

Unfortunately my first winner never got back to me and all my emails were returned undeliverable! 

So.... time for a new winner!

The Winner is:  Aleksandra!

I will be emailing you soon - you have until Monday - 9/20/10 to respond!

Congrats!!!

Here is a reminder of what you have won!

Okay - I'm back - so to speak!

I have been losing it for days - - - I returned from the Decatur Book Festival and school started right away! I guess I wasn't ready for summer to be over and for my "real" life to begin again.  So, thanks for hanging in there followers.  I have been reading, just not on my blog as much as I was able to be during summer.  Please understand if I don't blog more than a couple times a week.  I will be checking in on all the blogs that I follow.  

WINNER!!! 300 followers contest winner!

Library Cat - I have been trying to email you for over a week - it all keeps coming back undeliverable!  Please email me by Wednesday (9/15/10)!

Alpha book trailer and contest!

Rachel Vincent is having a contest for my most awaited book!  Alpha!  Here is the trailer - check it out!  Click here to go to Rachel Vincent's site to see more and sign up for the contest!

Alpha will be the sixth book in the Shifters series - Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey, and Shift!

More pics and books from the Decatur Book Festival!!!

Book Festival Flyer!

This is the fantasy world building panel: 

Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer), Jessica Verday (The Hollow), Cinda Williams Chima (Warrior Heir series), and Kathleen Duey (Skin Hunger and Sacred Scars).

I also got to meet: 

Carrie Ryan!

and 

Alyxandra Harvey!

I got a few books at the signings and am waiting for some book plates for books I already own that I didn't bring with me!  The books I got at the signings were:

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell, Hearts at Stake and Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, The Hollow by Jessica Verday, and The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima.  

I met other authors too - I got signed books, but forgot to get photographs!

Gale Borger - Totally Buzzed, Sam Morton - Betrayed, Candace Christian - Summer of Seven, and Nick Valentino - Thomas Riley.   I also got books signed by Peter Abrahams (Into the Dark) and T.A. Ridgell (Operation Stiletto) - but didn't get to meet the authors.  I also got a few books that aren't signed and didn't meet the authors either - Allon: Book 1 by Shawn Lamo, Pattern of Vengeance by C. Hyytinen, Each Little Bird That Sings and The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles, and Pretty Pretty by K.C. Oliver.

I couldn't walk away from a discounted book booth without two audio books too!  So I got Knock Out by Catherine Coulter and Blood Game by Iris Johansen - both on CD.

Saundra Mitchell sent me back with a stack of book marks for my kids at school too!

WINNER!!! 300 followers contest winner!

Thanks to all of my followers and twice to those who entered the giveaway!!!

The Winner of my 300 follower contest (chosen by Random.org) is...

#18 - - - Library Cat!!!

Congrats!!! 

I will be emailing you shortly!

300 Follower Prize from the Decatur Book Festival

I just returned from the Decatur Book Festival and the book for my 300 follower contest!!!

I was able to meet quite a few emerging authors - at the festival talking about their first published book!

The book I have chosen to give away to my follower winner is:

  Thomas Riley by Nick Valentino  (It is a Steampunk Novel)

Amazon Product Description:

For more than twenty years West Canvia and Lemuria have battled one another in a constant war.From the safety of his laboratory, weapons designer Thomas Riley has cleverly and proudly empowered the West Canvian forces with his brilliant designs. But when a risky alchemy experiment goes horribly wrong, Thomas and his wily assistant, Cynthia Bassett, are thrust onto the front lines of battle.
Forced into shaky alliances with murderous sky pirates in a deadly race to kidnap the only man who can undo the damage--the mad genius behind Lemuria's cunning armaments--Thomas' own genius is put to the ultimate test.

Monday! Sweet Monday!

In My Mailbox is hosted each week by: The Story Siren!

These are the books I got in my mailbox this week!

Private by James Patterson (audio book) from Nise' @ Under the Boardwalk
The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker (audio book) from Chrissy @ Chrissy's World of Books
White Heat by Brenda Novak - - prize package including specially designed lip gloss and the world's greatest little bag from Michelle @ Michelle's Book Blog
Here Comes Another Lesson by Stephen O'Connor from Mary @ Bookhounds
The Kindling of Greenfyr by Mark Freeman from Jess @ The Cozy Reader

I also bought:

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione - - read it immediately and loved it!
39 Clues: Book 10:  Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Desire Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver
On the Prowl and Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney

Fall Catch-Up Read-a-thon!

I am participating in the Fall Catch-up Read-a-thon!  This is where I will post my list and such!

It is being hosted by Michelle at A True Book Addict and you can sign up by clicking here!

My list will be posted later today - I just got back from Decatur, GA (Book Festival) and will have to choose my books!

I am going to be gone for a couple days - I will be at the Decatur Book Festival!

I will try to be checking my blog - so I will be posting about what is going on at the festival!

Stay tuned for updates and the book for the 300+ followers Giveway!

Decatur Book Festival - September 3 - 5, 2010

Michelle Zink - author of Guardian of the Gate and Prophecy of the Sisters will be at the book festival on September 5, 2010.  She will be part of a panel, but I am hoping for a chance to buy her books and maybe even get a signature! Wish me luck!