Friday, December 2, 2011

November In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren that I have decided to participate in.

How IMM works:
Make your own IMM post! You can post about books you've bought, gotten from the library, received for review... books don't have to arrive via your mailbox.
I post every week, but you don’t have to. You can do one week out of the month or every other week it’s up to you.
You don't have to call your post In My Mailbox... (some people don't even have mailboxes!)
I post my IMM on Sunday, but choose a day of the week that works for you.
Once you have your IMM posted, come back to The Story Siren on Sunday and add your link to the list.
Try to post a comment on other bloggers IMM posts. I don’t expect you to post a comment on every single one, but pick a few!

All book bloggers are welcome, while I’d like to keep the theme to YA literature it’s NOT a requirement.

There is no right or wrong way to do In My Mailbox, you can vlog, you can take fun picture, you can use the books cover art, it’s up to you!

Most importantly HAVE FUN!
 
 
I have been very good this month about not adding to my giant TBR pile!
 
Synopsis from Goodreads: "Where had it come from? Whose money was it? Was I to spend it? Save it? Pass it on to someone more needy? Above all else, why was I chosen? Certainly there were others, countless others, more needy than me...

Her reporter's intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page.

Newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the remarkable secret behind the "Christmas Jars", glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously left for people in need. But along the way, Hope discovers much more than the origin of the jars. When some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness, Hope's greatest Christmas Eve wish comes true."




Synopsis from Goodreads: "The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart"



See?! I was very good and have been under very strict orders not to buy any more books till after Christmas!
 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Mount TBR 2012 Challenge Sign up



So its official, I am signing up for Mount TBR Reading Challenge for next year hosted by Bev at My Readers Block.  I really need to check some books off my mountain before I have an landslide of books cover me!

So a few rules first . . . Quoted from the signup page at My Readers Block
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level.

*A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.


Ready for the Challenge Levels?!




Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s



Looking at my Mount TBR, it is definitely over Everest height
Do you see that? That bookshelf is 6 feet tall and mount TBR is just as tall and partially double deep?!
But because I plan a few re-reads, want to participate in other challenges and read new releases I am going to shoot for Mt. Kilimanjaro in hopes of climbing to El Toro.

Here are the rocks I will tackle on my climb of Mount TBR
in no particular order

1. Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
2. Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon
3. Soldier's Heart by Elizabeth Samet
4. Cleo the cat who mended a family by Helen Brown
5. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
6. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
7. Eldest by Christopher Paolini
8. Brisinger by Christopher Paolini
9. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (hopefully I get this one for Christmas)
10. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
11. Enchanted No More by Robin D. Owens
12. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
13. Frost Kisses by Kailin Gow
14 Forever Frost by Kailin Gow
15. Silver Frost by Kailin Gow
16. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
17. The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot
18. The Secret of Shadow by TJ Silver
19. Rapture by David Sosnowski
20. Cinderella Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan
21. Liberty by Garrison Keillor
22. True Grit by Charles Portis
23. The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle
24. Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
25. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
26. Tithe by Holly Black
27. Tinkers by Paul Harding
28. Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
29. Darkborn by Alison Sinclair
30. Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout
31. Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguie
32. The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
33. The Irish Duke by Virginia Henley
34. Butterfly Swords by Jean Nie Lin
35. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly
36. Highlander's Curse by Melissa Mayhue
37. A Highlander's Destiny by Melissa Mayhue
38. Soul of a Highlander by Melissa Mayhue
39. Healing a Highlander by Melissa Mayhue
40. Highlander Guardian by Melissa Mayhue
41. A Highlander of her Own by Melissa Mayhue
42. A Highlander's Homecoming by Melissa Mayhue
43. Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber
44. Dakota Home by Debbie Macomber
45. Always Dakota by Debbie Macomber
46. Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell (duel challenge)
47. The Book of Mordred by Vivian Vande Velde (duel challenge)
48. Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick (duel challenge)
49. Shadow of the King by Helen Hollick (duel challenge)
50. The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick (duel challenge)


So are you going to join me in this climb? Which mountain do you think you will scale?!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

November RAK Ending & December RAK gearup

Book Soulmates


So I got my first RAK in the mail this month!! I am super excited, Michelle from Michelle's Book Blog sent me a book that has been on my wishlist for years!  Thank you so much Michelle!

Synopsis from Goodreads: "Quentin Coldwater is brillant but miserable. He's a senior in high school, and a certifiable genius, but he's still secretly obsessed with a series of fantasy novels he read as a kid, about the adventures of five children in a magical land called Fillory. Compared to that, anything in his real life just seems gray and colorless.

Everything changes when Quentin finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery. He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom. But something is still missing. Magic doesn't bring Quentin the happiness and adventure he though it would.

Then, after graduation, he and his friends make a stunning discovery: Fillory is real."


Unfortunately I wasn't able to send any books out this month, but I did purchase several popular books to send out in December! I can't wait to browse everyone's wishlists.



As far as December, I will be signing up for RAK again and of course my wishlists are giant but some of my top books are:


So what's on the top of your December wishlist?



Writing Wednesday - The End of Nano

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).






Current Active Project:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.








Other Works in Progress:


Princess Bs - 32,131 words
A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Tamlyn Marie's Grace - 12,072 words
Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)


The Last Mountains - 15,352
A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?


Night Rider - 17,229
Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?


Other Ideas Plotting:
Bloodsoar's Story
A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.


The Assassin's Assassin
A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.



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Well Nano draws to an end today, and I have the second lowest word count I have ever had for nano :(  but that won't discourage me.  In fact over the past couple of weeks while sick and without a computer new inspiration hit me.  I think I will be revisiting the Princess Bs.  I think I will be able to finish that one and possibly have an idea for a sequel.  I would also like to revisit Last Mountains because I think that would be the one story I would be brave enough to submit for publication.

I send my congrats to all the Nano winners out there and to those of you who stuck with it and got even the smallest amount of words down.  Any writing is an accomplishment!  Good luck on your future adventures!!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday Reading List






Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!



What I Read Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

Nothing :(
Currently Reading:
Sabriel by Garth Nix - PB - on page 231 of 496
Torment by Lauren Kate - PB - on page 132 of 452
A Knight's Enchantment by Lindsay Townsend - Nook - on page 97 of 282
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke - PB - on page 18 of 348
A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin - on my Nook, page 20 of 1439
Next Books to be Read:
Catundra by Stephen Cosgrove - Childrens/Bedtime stories
Holes by Lewis Sachar - Middle Reader/ 2011 Challenge
Christmas Jars by Jason Wright - Book Club
 
 
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I am finally on the mend from the cold and am really ready to get some books read and written, but of course now the Christmas season has started and I always take on way too many homemade projects!