Sunday Summary & #ROW80

1. Okay, this looks like fun, not to mention inspirational. Lynn Viehl posted about smashing which apparently is a new trend in scrapbooking. I’m not sure about the trend being new, certainly the name is. Hey, anything to make a buck. Paper scrapbooking is being beat out by digital a little more each year…hmm, sounds familiar. I will paper scrapbook until the supplies are no more. Anyhow, Lynn is encouraging us writer types to create “smash journals” for our stories. Brilliant. Go forth and smash
2. The Writing: Another muse-less week. I’m thinking I have too many pans in the fire elsewhere to focus. What worries me is the longer this goes on the harder it is to get the ol’ bubble butt in the chair. :sigh: Tomorrow is a new day of a new week.
3. Last check-in I followed a link from Robin McCormack’s blog over to Query Tracker. Awesome interview questions for the character you need to dig a little deeper to know.
4. The Reading: I’m halfway through a book Patti O’Shea mentioned on Facebook Friday, Crimson Rogue by Liz Maverick. I’m enjoying the story. However, the inconsistent formatting is distracting and, giving the author the benefit of the doubt here, the typos are frustrating, making me wonder if a second set of eyes saw this before publication.
5. The Blogging: Check with the original goal. Not so much with the new goal. Sigh, April is slipping by me. Maybe I’m ‘partying’ too much with my blogiversary
6. Speaking of blogiversaries, the amazingly talented Jenny Hansen is also celebrating a year of blogging this month. Check out her first ever More Cowbell vLog!
7. The Social Media: I think I’ve held steady on the sharing, thanks mostly to the ease of Triberr. I had a few conversations and am not feeling quite as spammy as last week
8. The Health: I sucked at tracking the water intake this week but think I did pretty good, especially with being in the triple digits last weekend. We’re in the high 80′s-low 90′s this weekend. Me thinks summer is here. What happened to spring? Dog walking, sadly only got out three times. Sugar reduction is going well and I’m toying with the next food change I want to incorporate.
9. Snacking is my big challenge in the food department. Either I don’t then pig out at the next meal or I do, but not necessarily a healthy one. August McLaughlin offered up some healthy snack choices earlier in the week. Yum.
10. To support the awesomeness that is ROW80 you can go HERE

Group 3: Congrats (says congratulations inside), Happy Birthday, Thank You, Birthday cards.

And here is your final look at the cards up for grabs in the blogiversary giveaway…

Just a reminder, I’ll be drawing the winners tomorrow night (April 30th), so hurry and post your comments. The more April posts you comment on the more chances you have to win. Good luck and THANK YOU so much for your support! You guys are awesomesauce

Tuesday Book Talk

Let’s talk books!

This is my version of Lynn Viehl’s 3 Books feature.

Just Read

The Wallflower by Jan Freed, paperback

Why I picked it up: I read Patti O’Shea’s review and was intrigued.

What I liked: The idea of going back to high school and being one of the “elite” appealed to me. Sarah, the heroine, gets to do this. Her relationship with the other kids was one of the best pieces of the story as she helps them live up to their potential.

What I disliked: This is an older book so some of it is a little outdated but not anything I’d call a true dislike.

Reading

Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, hardcover

Why I picked it up: Kristen Lamb mentioned it in her time management post back in April. I’ve had less than stellar luck with books of this sort so I’ve been waiting for a used copy, which arrived Saturday.

What I like: There are some gems like “20% of your activities will account for 80% of your results.” He also explains the idea behind ABCDE prioritizing in a way that resonates with me better than others have.

What I dislike: Sadly, this feels a lot like every other time management book in the history of man. So far, I’m not getting a powerful “ah-ha” sensation.

Will Read

Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder, paperback

Why I picked this up: Is there an author out there NOT recommending this?

What I expect to like: I’ve already read some about his “beats” online so I’m looking forward to gaining a better knowledge of the system.

What I expect to dislike: Hmm…can’t think of anything. I’ve enjoyed his blog so I imagine I’ll enjoy the book.

• And I’m looking forward to: Serpent’s Kiss (A Novel of the Elder Races) by Thea Harrison — releases today by the way

What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Tuesday Book Talk

Let’s talk books!

This is my version of Lynn Viehl’s 3 Books feature.

Just Read

The Devil To Pay (Second Chances) by Maria Zannini, E-Book

Why I picked it up: Maria sent this to me though I would have bought it anyway as Maria is a go-to author for me.

What I liked: I love Maria’s voice. I enjoy her world building and character development. She has a way of making each word count. This story has two delicious heroes (even if they perhaps don’t see themselves that way), an imp, and a lost soul, and the potential for a love triangle…quadruple? Quadruplet? (I’ve mentioned I’m a sucker for a menage before, right?)

What I disliked: It was too short, LOL. I was a little disappointed in the ending but I know this is the set-up for a series and trust the author to deliver the goods.

Reading

Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer by Kristen Lamb, E-Book

Why I picked it up:I’m still trying to find my groove and trust Kristen to deliver the facts with a good dose of humor.

What I like: It’s delivering exactly what I expected.

What I dislike: The first half feels like a rehash of her first book We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media. It’s all awesome information, and if you haven’t read the first book this one will give you a good overview, but having read the first book fairly recently I’m left with a bit of an overload.

Will Read

The Spiritualist: A Novel by Megan Chance, Paperback

Why I picked this up: This was a recommended read from Alison Kent and experience tells me I can expect to enjoy what she recommends.

What I expect to like: In Alison’s words:

To be blunt, there are not a lot of authors who do this for me, but Megan Chance is one. She’s one I wish wrote faster, so I could selfishly gobble up more of her books, but instead I anxiously await word of new works because I know the time it takes her is the reason her books sweep me away. I finished this one on Sunday and am still caught up in the world of Evie and Michel and 1856 New York. That is Megan’s skill.

What I expect to dislike: The historical aspect worries me a wee bit. I used to read historical fiction till it oozed out of my pores and I think I overcompensated by going in a completely different direction.

• And I’m looking forward to Craving Perfect by Liz Fichera just released last week!

What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Tuesday Book Talk

Let’s talk books!

I love books.  I love all books; paper (soft or hard covers), digital, audio, it doesn’t matter.  I love the feel, the smell, the taste–

Sorry.  Where was I?

Books and the reading of books.  I doubt there is a writer alive who didn’t get into writing because of a love of reading.  I’m no exception.

When I was setting up this blog, I debated adding one of those “what am I reading” widgets to the sidebar, because I like seeing what other people are reading.  The problem is I inhale books at an alarming rate and would end up spending all my time keeping it updated.

Then I remembered Lynn Viehl’s 3 Books feature.  Every once in awhile, Lynn Viehl takes three books from her TBR pile; Just Read, Reading, and Will Read, and answers why she picked it up, what she liked, and what she disliked about each.  Hey!  I can do that.

I picked Tuesdays because a lot of releases come out on Tuesday and I like to show the love when I can.

But I’d like this feature to be a little bit more.  More like a book club.  I hope it will become a place we can find and make recommendations, talk about new and upcoming releases, favorite authors and books, and whatever else might come up at a monthly book club meeting.

Just Read

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich, Paperback

Why I picked it up:  I came late to this series and now I can’t get enough.

What I liked:  The humor kills me.  Each book in this series has laugh out loud moments and this one was no exception.  I love the story line with big bad Ranger needing more lucky than competent Stephanie to help him out.

What I disliked:  I want Stephanie to get both the men in her life (I’m a romance lover what can I say and I like menages :shrug:), despite the sizzling tension in the love triangle, she can only have one.  Go ahead Ms. Evanovich prove me wrong.  Please.

Reading

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Hardcover

Why I picked it up: This was a recommended read from Lynn Viehl and experience tells me I’ll enjoy what she recommends.

What I like: This story is magic. Not just the having of magical aspects. Lynn Viehl said it best:

Ms. Allen’s debut novel does not read at all like a debut novel, and it’s the kind of book you end up sharing with everyone you know, even people who don’t like to read, so it can work its magic on them.

What I dislike: Not a thing. This is one of the rare — and I do mean rare! — books I would rate 5 stars!

Will Read

Creating Characters: How to Build Story People by Dwight V. Swain, Hardcover

Why I picked this up:  Besides the obvious, a book on craft, it was recommended to me.

What I expect to like:  I’m hoping to get new insight, tips and tricks, into the developing of fully realized characters. I want my characters to be people you’d expect to meet on the street.

What I expect to dislike:  I’m a wee bit worried it’ll be a dry read.

• And not to be left out, I’m looking forward to Apocalypse Rising by Maria Zannini on May 9th!

What are you reading and loving at the moment?