Sharing Beyond Books #78 Comment Giveaway 12/15/12

Hello and Welcome to another SBB!

Thanks for understanding why I didn't post last week. I hadn't had a chance to get the post ready ahead and the cruise internet is slow and costs per minute. I basically have to prepare the posts off line and then load up to save time.
Is everyone getting ready for the holidays by now?
Thank you to all who shared two weeks ago.

Surprisingly the larger group of commenters DOES re-read, some regularly and some only sometimes or just a special book or two. Others might re-read if they didn't have such big TBRs.

Also surprising to me - Many of you still send Christmas cards. Nine send out cards and several of us send e-cards and/or family cards. When are kids were young we did the family letter routine but we haven't for years now although that is a great way to keep others advised of changes, births and jobs, etc.. I think I would love to read one of nrlymrtl's letters with the farm antics!

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The Winner from SBB #77 comments is: #1 Mystica There are still 5 'love' books to pick from and new Christmas choices. Mystica please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining five Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #78 Questions

Q1. Winnie asks a book question: I know a lot of us stay up late at nights to read books, but I'm interested to know if there is anyone who would wake up early to sneak some reading time in before the day begins??

I do, I do! LOL. I will sneak in reading whenever I can even if it means waking up early. I don't necessarily 'get up' but I have the kindle or mp3 next to me so I can listen or sometimes I will go to the restroom and bring my book back for a half hour reading before I get up!  :-)

Copyright by Dormia Mattress 

Image found at The Book Garden (Thanks Birgit!)

Q2. Abby asks a holiday related question this week: Do you feel more obliged/in the mood of giving during the festive seasons? Or more so in times of serious crises ie. Sandy Relief??

A: I tend to give various times of the year and for special crises. I have certain charities that I like to make sure I give donations to and often that occurs early in a year.

Image found at Constantine Alexander's Blog

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 draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions.    Thanks for sending in questions! We can always use fresh questions.


Your turn to share:

1. Winnie asks: I know a lot of us stay up late at nights to read books, but I'm interested to know if there is anyone who would wake up early to sneak some reading time in before the day begins??

2.  Abby asks: Do you feel more obliged/in the mood of giving during the festive seasons? Or more so in times of serious crises ie. Sandy Relief??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (5 left) or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List 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, December 21, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Saturday Snapshot 12/15/12 - Baby Victoria

All my posting may seem off time as I am on Hawaii time (four hours behind Central) for the next two weeks. It is 4pm here but this will appear to post at 8pm central.
We are back from the cruise and I will put together some photos for next week.

But this is the STAR of my Saturday Snapshot this week:

Our new granddaughter, VICTORIA JOY!

Brand new!

Baby treasure was born Tuesday 12/11 at 11:33 am after a full day of labor.

7 lbs 3.4 oz, 20" long

To add to the blessing during labor our son caught this image 

of a rainbow outside the window of Tripler Hospital.

 Two days old, ready to go home!

The happy new family.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Winners of Giveaways Ended 12/7 and 12/14/12

CONGRATULATIONS
TO WINNERS OF

Giveaways 
Ended December 7, 2012 and December 15, 2012

Ended 12/7: 

Giveaway ARC Copy Where Angels Rest.

Kirsten W

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Giveaway Review Copy of Five Days of Fear.

Linda K

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Ended 12/14:

Giveaway Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman

C.E. Hart

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ARC Giveaway Deliver Me From Temptation by Tes Hilare

Latanya



Kirsten, LindaK, C.E. and Latanya please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll get the books mailed.  Please reply within 72 hours!  

Audio-Theatre: The Man Who Murdered His Mother-In-Law

This is a real quickie listen of a fun, ironic story!
The Man Who Murdered His Mother-in-Law
by Jeffrey Hatcher

Narrator: Steve Hendrickson
Publisher/Date: Audio-Visceral, 2012
Formats Available: MP3 Download
Listening time: 35 minutes
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

With Bollinger tastes on a Blatz budget, Gerald & Laura despair over their down-at-heel life until Laura's mother suggests an bizarre and unnerving solution.

Review:
Gerald and Laura have been together for many years. They have a comfortable, if not lavish, life-style living off Laura’s wealthy mother. When ‘mom’ is diagnosed with kidney failure it’s time to make up a new Will. Consulting with the lawyers shows that much of the estate may be eaten up by inheritance taxes unless a creative solution is found. Mom suggests a solution and the ironic twists begin!

Mom and Gerald marry and take off for a retirement community in Florida. At first Gerald and Laura miss each other but soon Laura is busy with house renovations, anticipating the inheritance. Gerald begins to feel affection for Mom, even through the elderly routines.  But unexpected details are revealed and Gerald gets caught in an ironic twist.
This is well worth the listening fun and a bargain on sale at $.99!

Audio Notes: This is a full production performance and very entertaining! It could be called audio drama or Audio Theater. I felt like I was listening to a play or old time radio drama. Steve Hendrickson does a great job with different and appropriate voices and you can easily visualize the expressions of the characters. The background music and sounds are just perfect.

I received this for review from Audio-Visceral Productions through Audiobook Jukebox.

Author Guest Post: Kaylee Baldwin Author of All I Want

 Before I Was A Writer

by Kaylee Baldwin

Long before I was a writer, I was a reader.

Even as a child I read anything I could get my hands on, including: the free encyclopedia (A) that a door-to-door salesman gave my family to entice us to buy the series, my mom’s Reader’s Digest magazine (cover to cover every month), and some totally not age-appropriate books I sneaked out of my parents room.

I’ve always loved writing as well, but it wasn’t until about six years ago that I really started to wonder if I could write a book. My husband had just taken a new job and we had to move away from our family and friends. I only had one child and wasn’t working at the time, so while he napped, I wrote.

It was a lot of fun writing that first book. I was really lonely, and my characters really came alive for me. I could make them do whatever I wanted. If I was in the mood to read a certain type of scene, I would just write it. I have strong doubts that the first book I ever wrote (a young adult contemporary, btw) will ever see the light of day, but I learned so much from it.

It was eye opening to me to go from being a reader to a writer. I’d never thought about how much work went into word choice, making sure the story had good pacing, making sure it flowed, answering all the plot questions, giving the plot enough conflict without overloading my characters, and coming up with a satisfying conclusion.

Being a writer has changed me. Everywhere I look, I see story ideas. I make sure I have a notebook or pieces of paper that I can scratch my ideas down on at any given moment so that I won’t forget them. I also find myself reading other books with a more analytical mind. I ask myself questions like: What elements in this story are making me like it so much? Why does the pacing feel fast/slow and what could the author do to change it? I find myself editing the books like I would for a critique partner because I’ve trained my mind to think that way.

When I write, I create. When I read, I escape. I think that all good authors have to be readers as well. We have to make time for other people’s words as well as our own. And although I love writing, and it fills up a part of me that nothing else could, my first love will always be reading.



Author Kaylee Baldwin

I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University
with a degree in English literature.

I currently live in southern Arizona with my husband, Jeremy, and our three children. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with my family.

Author Links:

Facebook * Website * Twitter

ALL I WANT

Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry

The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.

Six Days of Christmas

by Kaylee Baldwin

When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.

Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson

When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.

Purchase All I Want

Kindle Ebook * Paperback

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See GIVEAWAY information at Book Blast Giveaway