Sunday Words of Encouragement March 18, 2012

I got up at 5am this morning in Texas to get to the airport for my flights home. The first leg was delayed so my two hour layover in Atlanta turned into a half hour rush to get to the connecting flight. DH picked me up in Tallahassee and we had lunch and walked around Costco. We finally got home close to 5pm and I hit the bed to nap.  I am doing laundry, this post and Monday's post then I think I'll crash again.

I am sharing this lovely song tonight and hope you enjoy the peace it can bring.

I Lift My Hands (Let Faith Arise) by Chris Tomlin:

A Verse For Today:

Psalm 46:10 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

   I will be exalted among the nations,

   I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sharing Beyond Books #40 Comment Giveaway March 17, 2012

Welcome to another Saturday SBB. When this posts I will most likely be enjoying a steak dinner with some wonderful new friends I have met at the EPICCon here in San Antonio. I have met other publishers, some editors and many authors.  I plan on reviewing and featuring some of them in the next few months.

Thank you to all those who commented last week.
Eight people sleep on the right side of the bed; seven sleep on left, and four in the middle. And we all prefer the bed for sleeping.  No couch lounges among us!

Although five people have not changed their reading habits, the majority, 15 of us, have changed reading habits due to blogging. Whether we are bloggers or readers most of us agree that we read broader genres and have find more new authors through the blogging world.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #39 comments is: #11 Krystal. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Krystal please let me know if you want a GC (if you are international) or choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #40 Questions

Q1. This week heavensent1 asks:  If you could have anyone to be your sidekick on your adventures...who would it be (real or fictional)??

A:  Okay - for once I tried to give myself a day ahead of time to think of an answer to this. That didn't really help. If Rourke counts as a sidekick to Eve Dallas (series by JD Robb) then he's my choice. But I am thinking I like Jenks as a sidekick too from The Hollows series by Kim Harrison (I have to get the new book!).

Chewie is a good choice for brawn. :-)

Q2. My book related question this week: Have you ever attended a book/publishing conference, including the open book sale portion??

A:  Since I am attending a conference this weekend I thought of this question.  This is the first time I have attended as an actual member of the industry - as a publisher. It has been very enlightening and helpful for me in focusing my goals and plans.  Beside meeting a great group of new friends.  Several summers ago I did go to the book fair day at the RT Convention in Orlando. That was fun and I met several authors who I had met online.  Hopefully I can share a few pictures in the next few weeks. 

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form.  At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)  The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions!

Your turn to share:

1. heavensent1 asks: If you could have anyone to be your sidekick on your adventures...who would it be (real or fictional)??

2. My book related question this week: Have you ever attended a book/publishing conference, including an open book fair??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 10 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, March 23, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This a beautifully written and haunting story. 

The Snow Child 

by Eowyn Ivey

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (February 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316175676
• ISBN-13: 978-0316175678

     Genre:  Fiction

     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 1, 2012
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.. 

Review:
This tale starts slowly but ends wonderfully. At midway I was actually thinking of stopping. I am sincerely glad I did not as from that point on the tale was captivating and I didn’t want to put the book down.

The story starts by introducing Mabel and Jack: a couple in mid life who are struggling to survive a new life they have chosen in the brutal, harsh land of Alaska. Their nearest neighbors are miles away and Jack is barely able to get enough crop to see them through winter. They are together but separated by unshared grief at the loss of their only child who died at birth.  Jack was unable at the time to comfort Mabel and she drew into herself so they became disconnected as a couple. They moved to Alaska so that Mabel could be away from her family and all the reminders of what she lost and does not have. The depression, sorrow and life struggles, though poignantly written, made the story difficult at that point.

One evening Jack and Mabel have an unexpected frolic in the new snow.  They join in making a little snow girl. It is the first time in a long time that they have shared some happiness together. The next morning when they look out the scarf and mittens are missing and there are footprints leading away into the woods. They begin to see a child, who wears the scarf and mittens, peeking out from the trees. But is it just a dream?  At first Jack barely acknowledges the presence and allows their new “neighbor” friends to think that Mabel has suffered from snow madness. Yet slowly the child begins to show herself and finally comes into their home. But when summer comes Faina disappears and they, and the reader, are left wondering if she was real.

Mabel had a fairy tale story as a child about a snow child. Is this all a creation from her childhood memories?  And how did that story end? Was there a happy ending or only tragedy?

Over the next years Jack and Mabel watch over the wild child, Faina, as she visits in winter and disappears each summer. She becomes a daughter to them. Their neighbor’s son, Garrett, who loves hunting and trapping, has become an invaluable help to Jack on the farm.  They have to be careful that Garrett doesn’t shoot Faina’s companion, a red fox, but, in truth, that will not be their only worry.

It became fascinating to share the joy and pain of Mabel and Jack as they watch their “child” come and go...and grow. They have no way to hold her wild spirit, and no way to protect her.  The writing is beautifully rich and haunting.  I am not certain if there are real fairy tales of a snow child but this one certainly brings the idea alive. Although you may want to be prepared for a slower pacing in the beginning, I do recommend this as a wonderfully enchanting story full of rich human emotion.

Examples of the beautiful writing:
Mabel's depression:

Fear of the gray, not just in the strands of her hair and her wilting cheeks, but the gray that ran deeper, to the bone, so that she thought she might turn into a fine dust and simply sift away in the wind. P32

Motherly love:

Love and devotion, the devastating hope and fear contained in a woman’s swelling womb—these were left unspoken. P338

Thank you to  Little Brown & Co. (Reagan Arthur Books) for providing this book for review.

This story is set in Alaska for the Where you are Reading Challenge. I will add this to my ARC and New Authors challenges too.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the hardcover review copy:

1. Please visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest there OR follow the book link at the title above, watch the video trailer and comment on that.   One of these is required for entry. 

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower (GFC, Twitter, FB, email) or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 31 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday's Pick Giveaway March 16, 2012

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.] 

Hi Y'all from San Antonio, Texas! I am here attending EPICon this weekend. I am very tired tonight (Thursday) after getting up at 3:30 for an early flight. I almost went to sleep without doing this post.

Thank you to all who entered March 9 Pick.  There was only ONE Automatic winner this week (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks).  JUST TO CLARIFY the blocked books are like Maggie Shayne's pair that was chosen by Louisa and Rachel. I only award an automatic win when the book is not being sought at by two people.
There were three books blocked this week. :-)

bn100 chose Double Blind for four weeks with no block (no one else choosing the book.).

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from March 9 Pick:

Krista chose Cathy Maxwell's Marriage Pair of books
and

marybelle gets a GC

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual or sexy and I have a new supply of sweet bookmarks. 

Are you going to be wearing Green on Saturday??
Image found at Hey Boo Books

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012
These are Paired sets - two per author.
Four are parts of series the others are just singles by the same author.
Winners get both books if you pick these.

Cathy Maxwell - Marriage Series

     Married in Haste (#1) and The Marriage Contract (#3)

Maggie Shayne - Wings of Night Series

     Demon's Kiss (#1)  and Lover's Bite (#2) or #13 and #14 in the larger series
Jude Deveraux - The Velvet Series
     Velvet Song and Velvet Angel
Sabrina Jeffries - The School For Heiresses Series
     Only a Duke Will Do (#2) and Beware a Scot's Revenge (#3)
Nora Roberts
     Inner Harbor (#3 Cheasapeake Bay Series) and Blue Dahlia (SC) (#1 In the Garden Trilogy -(nice trilogy!)
Mary Higgins Clark
     Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Moonlight Becomes You  (SC)
Dick Francis
     Smokescreen (SC) and Field of Thirteen
James Patterson
     Sam's Letters to Jennifer and The Beach House    

New Group #25 January 12, 2012

*Smaller books on the right would be okay for most international mailing.

Endless Chain by Emilie Richards

Baby and All (3 Novels in 1) by Candace Camp, Victoria Pade and Myrna Mackenzie

Leopards Kill by Jim DeFelice

Thinner by Stephen King

Category 7 by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson

Dangerous Lady by Amanda Scott

November of the Heart by Lavyrle Spencer

Long Way Home (Friends Romance Series) by Wendy Corsi Staub

Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman

Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov

The Firebird Deception (Silhouette Bombshell) by Cate Dermody

*Shadow Rider: Apache Sundown by Jory Sherman

*Prime Time by Sandra Brown  

*Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark

*Out of the Blue (Allegheny Hopes) by Janice A. Thompson

*A McKaslin Homecoming by Jillian Hart 

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011
(The only Thanksgiving title I found is a Harlequin I'd like to read someday so no Thanksgiving titles for November.)

After Dark by Beverly Barton(spine wear)

The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley

Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell

Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey

Praying for Sleep by Jeffery Deaver

Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery

The Wedding Wager by Cathy Maxwell

Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon

Destiny Unleashed by Sherryl Woods

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October -
Halloween or dark minded.

Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)

Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic

Death Angel by Linda Howard

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Singles:

Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught

A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook

Blackwater Sound: A Novel (Thorn Mysteries) by James W. Hall

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011

There are eight mysteries and I have asterisked nine books that are smaller and would be good for oversea choices if so desired.

Coffin Underground (Inspector John Coffin) by Gwendoline Butler

Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

* I. O. U by Pickard, Nancy (spine creased)

Stand by Me Anthology with Dallas Schulze, Roberta Leigh and Linda Randall Wisdom (spine creased)

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Singles

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books:

Group #19

Singles

Disguised Blessing

Rhapsody: A Love Story

Primary Colors - audio tapes

Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!

Not all of these are two from a series but several are. Each pick gets two books.

Patricia Cornwell Pair:

Cruel and Unusual

At Risk (Win Garano)

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways. 

I started Friday Pick in November 27, 2009 and in two years I  posted 26 groups of 16 books to find new homes! (March 2012)

I have periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about 318 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 and $6.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.

WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List
#17

Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
Saving Faith by David Baldacci (Audio Book)

12/3/10 Book Set:

#16

Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith

Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

The Texas CEO's Secret (Silhouette Special Edition) by Nicole Foster

List #14

Blood And Glory (Soldiers Of War) (Soldiers of War, Book 1) by Larson Reed

Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom

Here is set #13 of Used books!

Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix

This is a group of books I have had for several years but not gotten to read. Since it doesn't look like I will get to read them for another year (or more!) I am passing them on. Although as I type them part of me still says "But you may want to read that some day!" Yes, yes; along with the other 700 books I am housing! Must Let goooooo.....

Group #12

The Ripple Effect by Lynn Erickson

Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt

The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case

Group #11

Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher

Looking Back by Belva Plain

The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2

The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

Pick #3

One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon

Pick #4

Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford

The Sixth Sense

The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)

Swear by the Moon by Shirley Busbee

Pick #5

See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel

The Jester by James Patterson - Audio Tapes

The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole

Misfortune by Nancy Geary

False Prophet by Faye Kellerman

Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6

The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*

Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan

Pick #7

Scarred by William Heffernan (spine creased)

Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape

Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8

(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape

The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes

Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)

No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9

Spyder Web by Tom Grace - Audio Tapes

Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology

On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes

Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10

The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)

Double Blind by Ken Goodard

Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

What me - funny? Guest Post by Amanda Forester withand Giveaway

What me - funny?

by Amanda Forester

Two years ago I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the reviews of my first book, The Highlander's Heart.  I was thrilled when Publisher's Weekly gave me a favorable review writing, "the talented Forester has constructed a highly entertaining debut romantic comedy."   Great!  Wonderful!  Wait... comedy?  I wrote a comedy?

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next person, but I have no idea how to write anything amusing.  If someone asked me to write something funny, I would stare blankly and edge for the door.  Fortunately, I am not the one in control.  My characters are.  And they are infinitely more amusing than I could ever be. 

Take this moment in True Highland Spirit where my heroine, Morrigan, is trying to spark a little romance in her life:

Etiquette books were of no use whatsoever. Morrigan rummaged through her mother’s things trying to find something useful. She had spent the past two hours struggling to read a book that purported to be a guide for ladies but it was no help.

“Morrigan? Are ye… reading?” asked Alys.

Morrigan glanced up at her sister-in-law. “I think I might show my earlobes.”

“Pardon?”

“This book is no’ verra helpful, but it did warn showing the earlobe may send a man into an uncon­trolled, lustful frenzy.”

“Ye canna show yer earlobe. ’Tis no’ proper.”

“Hang proper. I’m looking for uncontrolled, lustful frenzy.”

I do enjoy reading humor.  In fact, I started reading romance during a particularly difficult time in my life and I naturally gravitated toward books that could make me laugh.  I already had enough of things that could make me cry.  It is the amazing power of humor to lift the spirit and to give the gift of laughter even in difficult circumstances.  Those books were vital and life-affirming to me - so important during the rough times. 

So when I write, I naturally write things I would enjoy reading.  This includes action, adventure, romance, and even if I don't intend it, a moment or two of humor to make it all the more enjoyable.  I especially enjoy characters who are able to laugh at themselves - a very important attribute we all could use!

Do you enjoy humor in books?  What authors have you read that make you laugh out loud?  I love books that make other people in the room stare at me because I'm suddenly overcome with giggles and they have no idea what is wrong with me.  Good times...

Comment for a chance to win a copy of True Highland Spirit!!

Stop by to visit Ms. Forester here.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 31. 
Winner will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.