Blog Award

Angelika Devlyn, the author of the dark erotic fantasy, Black Ice, has give me an award, and it's an easy one to do!  So, I'm passing it along to all of my bloggers buds.

Here are da rules:

1. Share 7 things about yourself
2. Pass The Award to 15 bloggers recently discovered (or however many you can manage).
3. Notify the blogger recipients.
4. Link your blogger to the one who gave the award.

Here are 7 things about myself:


1.  Tinkerbell is my all time favorite Disney character, because she as the 'tude dude!  But, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are my favorite all time Disney love stories.  I've read all kinds of stories translated from their original language where Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast are involved.  


2.  I started reading romance/fantasy books and writing my own stories back when I was 10 years old, I'd tell the stories to my younger siblings.  I love reading storybooks aloud and adding my own sound effects to the enthralled audiences of preschooler and kindergartens.


3.  I used to be a speech disorders teacher, but I taught Spanish at one of the local high schools, even though I'm not fluent in the language.  I've taught every grade/subject imaginable/disability.


4.  I love kitties and puppies, sadly my kitty left us a few weeks ago.  I miss Killer more than I thought I would, even if he was smelly, lol.  He was nineteen years old and the best kitty in the world.  I still have my doggie, but he's demonic, sometimes growling at the unknown in his sleep, but I still love him and most of the time, he loves me.... when he's not threatening to bite me.


5.  I'm a HUGE fan of the SciFi Channel (hate the new syfy logo).  I'm a Trekkie from birth, Captain James Tiberius Kirk (who I recognize as womanizer and demeanor, lol, but I have a weakness for bad boys) was my favorite, as well as Bones, Spock, Scotty, Chekhov, and Sulu.  Chris Pine is the sexiest James T. Kirk!!  I freaking love the rebooted movie.


6.  I don't own an iPod (really want one, holding out for an iPhone), but I'm a huge fan of music and dancing (and yes, I can dance on one leg with crutches, lol).  I don't own one because I tend to put small things down in unknown places, and lose them for months at a time, lol.  (See the incident with my car keys... only found them by mowing the grass) I'm constantly losing car keys, and my daughter seems to have inherited the affliction.  It's a wonder I don't lose my cell, but there a few things I can't live without, phones are one of them (hence the iPhone would be a safe bet!).


7.  Halloween is my favorite holiday (used to love playing dress up), but I do love the Christmas lights, never turn off my tree once I finally get ambitious enough to put it up.  My dad's house used looks will the Griswolds, lol, he gets a kick out of Christmas lights too (who knew you could inherit a love of shiny lights?). 




All my blogger buds deserve this award; Lea, Amy, Michelle, Blodeudd, Anna, Ms. Moonlight, Alyssa @ Teens Read and Write, Blanche (Blanche recently closed her blog :(, miss her), Cecile, and Hawk, are just a few off the top of my head, but there are many more.  Everyone who visits my blog or whose blog I visit, should pick up this award, you all work way to hard!  Anyone who blogs knows how much hard work book bloggers do to write reviews, interview authors, post giveaways, and how many hours are spent trying to make our blogs the best they can be.  Thanks to the blogging community for being supportive, blogging has been a source of outlet for physical activities I can no longer do, sharing my love of good books, and dabbling in writing which I hadn't done in years and I probably would not have attempt again without finding blogging.

To all the blogger friends, thank you! (And a special thank you to Angelika ((hugs)) for the award!!)

Random Musing from a Random Muser (and contests)

Random Musing

I'm thinking expanding my flash fiction from the Dames' contest, considering, playing with ideas, but I'm not sure about it yet. I'm thinking Demons and Angels, fallen angels to demons.....maybe.....thinking.....

I so happy for all the bloggers out there that were nominated for BBAW awards. Congrats and Good Luck!!!

Leontine has been having a Karen Marie Moning review week, KMM's Highlander Series. My favorite of course is Dark Highlander. I'm also partial the Kiss of the Highlander. The twins, Drustin and Daegus, are too sweet for words. And boy, howdy, do they know how to treat the ladies.

Thanks for so much to Teddyree at The Eclectic Reader for my newest award. The Bingo Award for 'g' for gorgeous blog. Thanks Teddyree!



The rules:

This award was started by Bookin With BINGO and here are the rules:

This "B-I-N-G-O" BEAUTIFUL BLOG AWARD means that this blog is...

B: Beautiful - Lea @ closetwriter & Blanche @ There's No Such Thing As Too Many Books & Sophie/Charlotte @ Scribe's Scroll
I: Informative - Doug @ SciFiGuy & Anna @ Anna's Book Blog & Leontine @ Leontine's Book Realm
N: Neighborly - Cecile @ All I Want and More & Chris @ Stumbling Over Chaos (& Mayhem) & Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-castell
G: Gorgeous - Amy @ Romance Book Wyrm & VFG @ Lovin' Me Some Romance & Barbara @ Happily Forever After
O: Outstanding - Ms. Moonlight @ Moonlight to Twilight & EH @ Erotic Horizon & Hawk @ Houston A. W. Knight

Thanks to everyone for making my blogging experience great!!!


If you want to catch up on some 'hot' reads, you might want to check out Erotic Horizon's blog. Check out her interview with Jenna and Bryce from Hot in Here by Sophie Renwick. It's priceless! EH does the best reviews of some of the hottest read in the blogosphere. Go check out this fun site.


Contests from another the blogosphere.

Lea, Barbara, Chris, Amy are all out in force promoting 'The Great Western Drive' and who doesn't love a good western. So, pony on up, and check out this great contest!


From Lea's blog:

Kristie from Ramblings on Romance Etcetera, Etcetera; Sybil from the Good, the Bad the Unread, and Wendy of The Misadventures of Super Librarian have banded together in a very worthy cause this week to promote Westerns called "The Great Western Drive".

It seems Westerns have waned in popularity in recent years and these lovely ladies are putting forth a concerted effort to bring attention to this situation and promote said sub-genre. After all "Cowboys Need Love Too"..

Cowboys do need love and it's been a long time since I've read one, I think it's high time that I give one a try.

Now, it's Wendy at The Misadventures of Super Librarian who's hosting the contest for four copies of A Reason to Live by Maureen McKade. Here's the information directly from Wendy's blog: {click on Wendy's name to enter}

Contest Alert!

Because she is the coolest, smartest, most awesome duck in the pond, Sybil landed four copies of A Reason To Live by Maureen McKade on a recent shopping excursion. Better still? She's giving me all four copies to give away on my blog! I will draw four winners from random commenters on any of my recommendation posts. (The one you just read, Tuesdays or Wednesdays). Winners will be announced Wednesday, August 26 (contest is open to non-US readers as well).

Go to Wendy's site to enter!


Doug at SciFiGuy is giving away Bleak History by John Shirley (there's several contest for this book around the blogosphere)




Roxanne from Fang-tastic Books has created a book trailer for Mr. Darcy, Vampyre.



Roxanne is also having a free book friday contest. It's for Child of the South by Joannna Catherine Scott.



From the Back Cover:

Joanna Catherine Scott
author of the acclaimed Civil War
novel The Road from Chapel Hill, returns with a gripping
tale in which loyalty, duty, and love collide in a devastated
South---where the war is over but conflict lives on.

Eugenia Mae Spotswood endured years of hardship and toil during the Civil War. Now she has returned to Wilmington to find out who her mother is---the white woman she called Mama or her father’s slave. Her search falters when the ongoing forces of racism and hatred almost break her spirit...until she is befriended by Abraham Galloway, the most powerful Negro leader in the North Carolina Senate.

Also driven forward by the tides of peace are the strong-minded ex-slave Tom and his former enemy and captor, Clyde Bricket. Tom spent the last years of the war working for the Union as a spy. Clyde, crippled from battle wounds, watches as his family farm slowly dies. Only when they work together do they discover that something good can be made of the chaos around them.
But as these four struggle to create a greater future. others struggle to bring them to destruction...

If the Civil War is your cup of tea, go check Roxanne's blog out.


This is also your last chance to get into the drawing for Sophie Renwick's contest for an ARC of Highlander's Christmas.



and check her new book, Velvet Haven, Book One of Immortals of Annwyn Series, available March 2010 from NAL, a paranormal hot romance.

From the Cover: Hidden from mortals for all eternity, Annwyn, the Otherworld, is home to shapeshifters, wraiths and dragons. But in a nightclub called Velvet Haven, desire brings humans and immortals together…

Built atop the mystic passageway to Annwyn, the gothic nightclub Velvet Haven has seen its share of lost souls—both mortal and immortal. It is here that Bran, the shapeshifter king of the Sidhe, searches for his brother, who is ensnared by a centuries-old curse. When a vision foretells his own death, he knows his time to find Carden is running out.

For help he must turn to Mairi, a mortal woman with an unusual aura. Bran has never liked humans, other than using their sexual pleasure to restore his magic energy. But with Mairi everything is different. Her lush curves and teasing caresses enflame him like no Sidhe has ever done. He has no idea that the woman he’s falling for holds the key to his destruction – or his salvation.

To read an excerpt, click here.


Amy at Romance Book Wyrm is having a contest for G.A. Aiken's Dragon Actually (Amy's throwing in this copy) and What A Dragon Should Know (copy provided by the fabulous Ms. Aiken). Hurry over and enter this great contest! A great fantasy read! Contest ends 8-24-09.




Here's a peek at some fabulous fantasy art from Amy's blog! It's beautiful!




Ms. Moonlight is having a guest post and contest today too with Enid Wilson! Click here to check it out. Here's whats up for grabs. Contest ends 8-31-09.


One of my favorite authors, Jocelynn Drake, is having a couple of contests, she's giving away a copy of Rachel Vincent's Prey. She's also having a flash contest for Unbound, as well as Nightwalker and Dayhunter. All fantastic reads each and every one; really get thee over to her site! Ends this weekend, hurry to enter!

Remember to check under my banner and on the right sidebar for other contests. There are so many going on around the blogosphere. Dark Hunger, Dark Time....and so many more!

I think that's everything I have for today my lovelies! Everyone have a wonderful weekend and a happy Friday in case you're not around this way for the weekend!!!

(((((hugs)))))

A Post That's Long Over Due

Hi Everyone!

I have received a few award that I like to thank some of my favorite bloggers for:

Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Cecile at All I Want and More sent me a Splash Award!




Ruthie over at Books Books and More Books! has given me the Lets Be Friends Award!











I've also been invited by Ms. Blodeuedd to participate in The Royal Reviews Hunky Hero.



The Royal Reviews Hunky Hero needs a bit of help in learning how to be a leading man!

So I've agreed to help him out with some pointers from my favorite hero!

My favorite hunky hero is of course Kisten from the Hollow Series (Rachel Morgan Series) by Kim Harrison! Why? Well, because he was extra especially gorgeous, thoughtful, sweet, sexy washboard abs, and the scent of vampire in the morning....need I say more?

Who I would like to play Kisten in the movie? Hmmmmm.....that's a hard one!



I would have to pick Alexander Skarsgard because of his wavy blond hair, his build, piercing blue eyes, and his sexy attitude. He sure would get my attention from across the room **sigh** Well, I can dream can't I?

I'm not tagging anyone else, but if you'd like to participate, please do!

Here's a sweet taste of Alexander Skarsgard as Eric Northman in HBO's True Blood.


I also wanted to give a shout out to Meljean Brook, I won a copy of her book Demon Angel and I'm pleased as punch!! I've been looking for the book and she was giving a copy away on her website. If you'd like to check her giveaways -- she has them all the time -- please click here. She usually posts in the body of her blog and on her sidebar. Check them out!


Hold on! I'm not done yet!

I subscribe to Writerspace, I don't know if you do, but they have fantastic tips for writers and a ton of giveaways. So, take a peek if you'd like! Please click here.

Sorry this post is soooo long, this is what happens if you procrastinate long enough!

Oh, I almost forgot, this is my 100th post -- I so happy!! Now I need to come up with something to do to celebrate!!

Reading Meme - Blame Anna and Lea -- and Yes it is an Obsession

I picked up this meme from Lea who saw it on Anna's blog, and who in turn picked it up from Renee. It was a lot of fun, everyone should try it!

1. What author do you own the most books by? That would probably be Kim Harrison - The Hollows Series (Seven Books), Harry Potter Series (Seven Books), followed by Twilight (Four Books). I tend to donate my books to the library or give them away to good homes - that is when I can talk myself into parting with them.

2. What book do you own the most copies of? Twilight (two copies - don't know how it happened) and Lord of the Rings (knew I had a copy, but my son needed it for school, bought another copy)

3. What fictional character are secretly in love with? Kisten (cute, sexy, hot vampire with tight buns and knows how to treat a woman) - tragic hero to Rachel Morgan, sadly he was killed by an undead vampire; although Heathcliff and Rochester were favorites from my youth - I was going to save them.

4. What book have you read more than any other? Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - such good stories, lost loves, cry every time - don't know how many times I've read them.

5. What was your favorite book when were ten years old? Was I ever ten years old? That was a long, long, time ago - In a land far, far away - It was probably The Wizard of Oz, but in truth, I soon discovered Barbara Cartland - and the world of wicked romance - bodice ripping, viscounts, damsels in need of saving, and wild passionate...you know. (All right, I was advanced for my age! Had to read in secret, Mom outlawed the books, but Grandma didn't. Kept me secretly supplied, probably warped my young brain.)

6. What is the worst book you've read in the past year? Sunset by Stephen King - just didn't appeal to me.

7. What is the best book you've read in the past year? Hmmm, I can only pick one...can't just pick one...so here's my picks: White Witch Black Curse by Kim Harrison (actually any of her books), Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake, Dark Highlander (Well, any of the Highlander Series) by Karen Marie Moning (as well as any of her Fever Series), and Heat Lightning by John Sandford (I love Virgil Flowers).

8. If you could tell everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I'm not tagging, but read whatever you like, just have fun.

9. What is the most difficult book you've ever read? The Dairy of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and The Four Perfect Pebbles by Marion Blumenthal Lazan - both books on the Holocaust.

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians? Does it matter? Nikolai Tolstoy and Victor Hugo were both wonderful authors - who could choose - love them both.

11. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer? Who could choose Shakespeare and Chaucer - Midsummer Night's Dream to The Canterbury Tales? Loved both too much for words. Milton would be a second to either, Paradise Lost is very much a must read.

12. Austen or Eliot? Again who can choose, I guess Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice - outstanding!

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I would have to say Crime and Punishment - I don't believe I finished this novel even though it was required reading, I loved the love story, just too long and emotional to finish.

14. What is your favorite novel? I could never choose, too many great writers out there!

15. Play? Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, or Much Ado About Nothing - get all excited even when the movies are playing (All right, I admit it, Shakespeare rocks!!)

16. Poem? Anything by Maya Angelou or Shel Silverstein

17. Essay? Hmmmm..."A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries A Gun" - I know it doesn't sound like it, but has lots of humor and she really does need the gun.

18. Short Story? Mary Janice Davidson's Love's Prisoner (Wyndham Werewolf Series) - she has also written several including a Fred the Fish ones I really enjoyed and several Queen Betsy stories that can be found in her anthologies.

19. Non Fiction? Falcon and the Snowman (If Forrest Gump was a true story, it would have been my pick)

20. Graphic Novel? Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter

21. Science Fiction? Katherine Allred's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, Alien Affairs Series or Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

22. Who is your favorite writer? If I can't choose one favorite novel, how could I choose a favorite author!

23. Who is the most over rated writer alive today? I read somewhere on the internet that a recent author and/or publisher was demanding ARC's to be read at a certain way -- ALL CAPS AND UNDERLINED (seemed to feel the need to scream). I won't name names, but it turned me completely off this writer.

24. What are you reading right now? Twilight (this is a re-read) by Stephenie Meyer (no tomatoes Lea), Addicted by Charlotte Featherstone (100 pages in), and Bite - Anthology (70 pages in) including LKH, Charlaine Harris, Mary Janice Davidson, Angela Knight, and Vicki Taylor

25. Best Memoir? Recent? Toss up between Bill Clinton and Barack O'bama - both interesting lives. Past? Martin Luther King

26. Best Historical? Les Miserables Romantic? Currently, Addicted

27. Best mystery or Noir? Oh, way too many to choose, do you want playful or heart stopping afraid to turn off the light? Current? Harley Jane Kozak, Elaine Viets Nancy Martin for playful - they're all great fun. Robin Burcell, John Sandford, Patricia Cornwell --- intense dramatic mystery, Dean Koontz --- can scare the bejesusus out of you.

I'm adding one question that wasn't asked.
28. Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy? Kim Harrison, LKH, Charlaine Harris, Jocelynn Drake....oh so many more!

I hope my answers aren't too confusing, sorry about the multiples, just couldn't pick one!


I also wanted to thank VampFanGirl and Cecile for their wonderful awards.





Thanks VampFanGirl!! Thanks Cecile!!

I like to share these awards with Kim.

Sorry this post was so long, trying to get everything I'm behind on done, not sure I'm going to be home tomorrow.

Happy Easter/Passover -- from me and you guessed it, Tink!!


MyNiceSpace.com

Blog Awards and Other Witty Banter

Hi Everyone!!

This has been an amazingly busy week, I haven't even had time to read....aarrggg!!
My hubs has been on vacation, and I'm suppose to drop everything (which of course has been rather easy since I'm at home most days) to go do whatever he wants to do! My dryer which I thought was fixed, started making a wonky noise, again, but the repair man didn't charge me this time because he said it was his fault, I know I couldn't believe it either! So, this is about the first time this week I've had to sit serenely in front of my laptop and relax. Aaaaahhhh. This feels good, I haven't even made any recent progress on the projects I've been working on.....Well, I did help my daughter make her death scene diorama for 'Julius Caesar', that was a woot! We used syrupy red koolaid (It was so thick it stuck to the spoon! Way cool on the gross out factor!) for the arterial blood spray --- now, that was cool! She'll have the bloodiness project at school. Imagine cute cuddly little bunny peeps in togas and a bloody massacre. She's quite proud!



And now, drum roll please.....BLOG AWARDS!!!!

I have received from Blodeuedd the coveted PREMIO DARDUS Award.



From Lea, Anna, and Blanche I received the magnificent ZOMBIE CHICKEN Award.



'The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...'

I'd like to share this award with Hawk.

And, lastly from dear Hawk, the amazing PROXIMIDADE FRIENDSHIP Award.



Now, I know I'm supposed to pass these awards along and I will pass it on to some of bloggers out there who have yet to pick up these beautiful badges to wear on their blogs, but instead I've created....(Frankenstein music please)....my own blog award!!!! It's a live!! (Well, actually I found a cute free pic, and my son was able to make something cute with it.)



The only requirement for this award is that you shared it with whomever you like, sharing the love is always a good thing. The blog has to show only one characteristic, caring. So, start sharing this enchanted award with five other bloggers. Let your bloggers know they have received this enchanted award. (Remember, fairies are fickle wee things, don't incur their displeasure by ignoring their gift.)

Seriously, we all saw what happened to Ella Enchanted.

So, without further adieu, the newest blog award on the block, The Enchanted Blog Award, goes to the following bloggers:

Lea
Anna
Blodeuedd
Blanche
Barbara
AmyC
Hawk
Cecile
VampFanGirl
Erotic Horizon

(Okay, I couldn't choose just five!!)

I'd also like to give a shout out to all those authors that make blogging so much fun! Without your wonderful books, I would be lost. I've listed some of my favorites, although if I listed them all....how long can a post be before blogger cuts you off? Anyway, you can understand my predicament!

Robin Burcell, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, John Sandford
Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Mary Janice Davidson
Dean Koontz, Jim Butcher, Robert Heinlein, The Always Great-Ray Bradbury
Jocelynn Drake, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs, Rachael Vincent
Patrice Michele, Christine Feehan, Keri Arthur, Angie Fox, Jenna Black
Melissa De La Cruz, Stephenie Meyer, Marta Acosta, P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
Karen Marie Moning, Kay Hooper, Katherine Allred, Gena Showalter
Nancy Martin, Elaine Viets, Harley Jane Kozak, Michele Martinez, Sarah Strohmeyer, Kathy Sweeney
New Authors
Judi Fennell, Samantha Sommersby, Brooke Landon, Sophie Renwick, Robin Schoen, Charlotte Featherstone, Julie James

and this only names a tiny portion of the great authors that I've read and that provide such great reads and escapes for my boggled mind. I know I've left off too many.....I'm going to blame old age! Please keep writing!! (^~^)



Addendum!

This is one of the reasons I love Tink so much!