I still can't figure what the hell was up with that whole Mission Impossible bullsh*t. I think you should stop by and help me figure it out before I lose whatever faith I have left.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tune in Tuesdays: 90's Edition
This weekly meme is hosted by Ginger at GReads and is meant to showcase another passion: music. Each week you can post an old or new song so that it gains more interest or is discovered by new ears. So let's help Ginger spread our love of music. Oh and don't forget to submit a link to your post over on Ginger’s site by clicking on the banner.
I believe this is our last 90's edition Tune in Tuesday and I'm a little sad about it. I think it's only right we go out with a bang. Or rather, some headbanging. ;-) Here are some of my favorite rock songs of the 90's. Enjoy and don't start moshing kids. Trust me, it's dangerous!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Bout of Books Read-a-thon Grab Bag Giveaway Winners (#BoutofBooks)
Want to give a big thank you to all those who participated in the giveaway. Hope everyone had fun and was able to reach their goals. Okay so without further ado, here are the winners:
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Angel C. @ Mermaid Vision Books
Mandy P. @ Reality Bites
Sniffly Kitty @ Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books
Congrats winners! I'll be sending e-mails and/or Twitter messages your way to confirm your shipping address so please be on the look out for those. You've got 72 hours to reply. If I don't hear from you new winners will be chosen. Thanks again for participating!
Bout of Books Read-a-thon Finish Line (#BoutofBooks)
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Books I Actually Knocked Out:
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James
Updates
8/22
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Total number of books I’ve read: I've made it to the halfway point so I guess 1/2.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Can't put the damn book down!
Side note: Managed to put in about an hour and a half to two hours of reading today.
8/23
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Um, I've got maybe 3/4 left.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: President Snow is a friggin' a-hole!
Side note: Didn't have to cook dinner so I managed to get a solid two hours of reading time. Woohoo!
8/24
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: I only have 6 chapters left!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: I can't read this fast enough!!!
Side note: Still trying to figure out what took me so long to start this series. It's been balls to the wall the whole way through!
8/25
Book read today: Finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Finally finished 1. Woohoo!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: This book is an emotional rollercoaster!!
Side note: Despite the stupid drama I had to endure last night, I managed to finally finish reading this book!
8/26
Book read today: Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James (Book 3 in her Rough Riders series)
Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and a couple of chapters
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Lorelei knows how to write smut! *fans self*
Side note: Put in an hour of reading time. Was hoping to get to Mockingjay last night but, realized I had my copy loaned out and by the time my friend from work was able to Kindle lend me hers I was ready to catch some z's.
Book ready today: Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James (Book 3 in her Rough Riders series)
Total number of books I've read: Managed to finish my second book today.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Loved Cord and AJ's story. Next!
Side note: Need to take a break from the intensity of Catching Fire so I decided to finish reading this instead. So glad I did. Love me some cowboy smutty goodness.
8/28
Book read today: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Final tally is 3 books!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Holy shit what a crazy ride!
Side note: I'm going to need at least a day to wrap my brain around this series!
Things I Learned During This Read-a-thon
- Turning the TV off significantly improved my chances of meeting my goals.
- I’m not a fan of drawn out love triangles.
- Twitter hashtags are a great way to meet new people if you remember to use them. ;-)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Plinky Question of the Day
The Plinky Question of the Day is a weekly feature I added to the blog to get to know you guys better and vice versa. Sometimes the questions will deal with books or reading but, most of the time they won’t. Because, let’s face it, there’s more to us than what we read.
I’m all about visual presentations so I’d like to show you what my ideal Saturday night looks like. Please note these aren’t actual pictures of my stuff (with the exception of that last picture) because the apartment is in a bit of disarray. Perhaps during the next visual presentation I’ll throw up some actual photos of the pad.
And that’s my ideal Saturday night.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
True Blood Recap
I’m back in the True Blood recap saddle over at Bite Club. Stop by and check out which moments from Episode 9 had me spitting mad, completely cringing or fanning myself. C’mon click on the banner. You know you want to. ;-)
Tune in Tuesdays: 90’s Edition
This weekly meme is hosted by Ginger at GReads and is meant to showcase another passion: music. Each week you can post an old or new song so that it gains more interest or is discovered by new ears. So let's help Ginger spread our love of music. Oh and don't forget to submit a link to your post over on Ginger’s site by clicking on the banner.
Hello my fellow music lovers. Since I brought you the boys of Hip Hop last week, I’ve decided to bring you the ladies of R&B this week. So kick back, relax and get your groove on. ;-)
Monday, August 22, 2011
Bout of Books Read-a-thon Grab Bag Giveaway (#BoutofBooks)
Hello fellow read-a-thoners and welcome to my Bout of Books Read-a-thon Grab Bag Giveaway! Here’s what’s up for grabs:
Those books are all over the board, huh?! There’s a really good reason for that. Since I’m all about the more the merrier, I’m going to draw four (4) winners for this giveaway. Here are the deets:
- Leave a comment with your first and second choice picks.
- Leave an e-mail address or Twitter handle where I can reach you in the event you win.
- Contest is open to read-a-thon participants who reside in the US or Canada only.
- Contest closes on 8/28 at midnight EST.
- Winners will be chosen using Random.org.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Bout of Books Read-a-thon Starting Line & Updates (#BoutofBooks)
Well, this is it folks. The start of Amanda’s read-a-thon is fast approaching. If you decided to participate, good luck! Looking forward to seeing what you guys are able to accomplish. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for my Bout of Books Grab Bag Giveaway!
My Starting Line
Read-a-thon Goals:
Try to read at least 3 books. (Yes, I know that’s not a very big number but, I’m not sure my week will allow much else. =/ )
Books to Knock Out:
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Enclave by Ann Aguirre *This selection was changed to appease my Smashy Poo*
Other Books I’d Love to Get to:
- You Dropped a Blonde on Me by Dakota Cassidy
How Much Time I Intend to Read:
I’m going to try my best to read for a couple of hours once I get home. I ‘d say I’d try to read before going to bed but, I have been strongly advised not to read these books before bedtime. Something about possibly nightmares and/or making you stay up waaay past your bedtime.
Updates:
8/22
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: I've made it to the halfway point so I guess 1/2.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Can't put the damn book down!
Side note: Managed to put in about an hour and a half to two hours of reading today.
8/23
8/23
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Um, I've got maybe 3/4 left.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: President Snow is a friggin' a-hole!
Side note: Didn't have to cook dinner so I managed to get a solid two hours of reading time. Woohoo!
8/24
Total number of books I’ve read: Um, I've got maybe 3/4 left.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: President Snow is a friggin' a-hole!
Side note: Didn't have to cook dinner so I managed to get a solid two hours of reading time. Woohoo!
8/24
Book read today: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: I only have 6 chapters left!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: I can't read this fast enough!!!
Side note: Still trying to figure out what took me so long to start this series. It's been balls to the wall the whole way through!
8/25
Total number of books I’ve read: I only have 6 chapters left!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: I can't read this fast enough!!!
Side note: Still trying to figure out what took me so long to start this series. It's been balls to the wall the whole way through!
8/25
Book read today: Finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Finally finished 1. Woohoo!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: This book is an emotional rollercoaster!!
Side note: Despite the stupid drama I had to endure last night, I managed to finally finish reading this book!
8/26
Total number of books I’ve read: Finally finished 1. Woohoo!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: This book is an emotional rollercoaster!!
Side note: Despite the stupid drama I had to endure last night, I managed to finally finish reading this book!
8/26
Book read today: Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James (Book 3 in her Rough Riders series)
Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and a couple of chapters
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Lorelei knows how to write smut! *fans self*
Side note: Put in an hour of reading time. Was hoping to get to Mockingjay last night but, realized I had my copy loaned out and by the time my friend from work was able to Kindle lend me hers I was ready to catch some z's.
8/27
Book ready today: Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James (Book 3 in her Rough Riders series)Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and a couple of chapters
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Lorelei knows how to write smut! *fans self*
Side note: Put in an hour of reading time. Was hoping to get to Mockingjay last night but, realized I had my copy loaned out and by the time my friend from work was able to Kindle lend me hers I was ready to catch some z's.
8/27
Total number of books I've read: Managed to finish my second book today.
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Loved Cord and AJ's story. Next!
Side note: Need to take a break from the intensity of Catching Fire so I decided to finish reading this instead. So glad I did. Love me some cowboy smutty goodness.
8/28
Book read today: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Total number of books I’ve read: Final tally is 3 books!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Holy shit what a crazy ride!
Side note: I'm going to need at least a day to wrap my brain around this series!
8/29
Wrap-up Post
Total number of books I’ve read: Final tally is 3 books!
Challenges: N/A
Today #insixwords: Holy shit what a crazy ride!
Side note: I'm going to need at least a day to wrap my brain around this series!
8/29
Wrap-up Post
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Plinky Question of the Day
The Plinky Question of the Day is a weekly feature I added to the blog to get to know you guys better and vice versa. Sometimes the questions will deal with books or reading but, most of the time they won’t. Because, let’s face it, there’s more to us than what we read.
I know you guys think I’m going to say True Blood considering that I have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with a certain hot ass werewolf but, I’m not. Was that a collective gasp I just heard? Anyway, the answer is actually a three-way tie between:
Because at the end of the day I’m all about the funny and making myself and others laugh.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Authors After Dark 2011: Part 2
Sooo I swear I had every intention of posting this yesterday but, I kind of forgot how much stuff happened on Friday and Saturday and realized it wasn’t going to happen so yeah... *shrugs*
Friday was a fun filled day of panels followed by the Masquerade Dinner and Ball. First panel of the day was Beyond Reviewing: The Blogger/Author Relationship. The authors and bloggers on this panel were Jules a.k.a. Minx from Loose Knickers and Window Lickers (@juju221), Pam a.k.a. SpazP from Wicked Little Pixie (@SpazP), Dakota Cassidy, Mandi from Smexy Books (@smexybooks), Nancy Holzner, Carolyn Crane and Nicole Peeler. I think this panel was geared more toward authors but, I found it interesting nonetheless. One of the main points stressed during the panel was for authors to keep their review requests straight and to the point. Crazy PowerPoint presentations and fancy binding need not apply.
Next panel we hit up was by far the best one of the entire Con. It was the Guess the Author by the Sex Scene panel. Oooohhhh yeeeaaahhh! The authors who participated were Carolyn Crane, Nicole Peeler, PJ Schnyder and Dakota Cassidy. Not only was I fanning myself but, I was laughing so hard I damn near peed my pants. If that weren’t enough, we were joined by a BBC film crew who were doing a special on the romance community during the reading. Don’t believe me? Well see for yourselves.
Yes, that’s THE Nicole Peeler with a boom mic over her head. Told ya! *ahem* Anywho, we broke for lunch and then headed to the Bloggers Tell It panel. The bloggers who participated were Robin K. from Intense Whisper (@IntenseWhisper), JoJo from JoJo’s Book Corner (@JoJosBookBorner), Jules (a.k.a Minx) from Loose Knickers and Window Lickers, Pam (a.k.a. SpazP) from Wicked Little Pixie and Mandi from Smexy Books. The ladies were the epitome of grace under pressure as they answered questions from authors and bloggers alike. I have a horrid fear of public speaking but, I managed to raise my braced up hand and ask a question. I asked them what their biggest blogging challenge was and the most popular answer was time. I hear ya ladies. I sooo hear ya.
Next up, the Urban Fantasy panel. Our panel consisted of Nicole Peeler, Carolyn Crane, Erin Kellison, Jennifer Estep, Jess Haines, Kristen Painter and Anton Strout. This was set up more as a Q&A where the authors got to ask each other questions as well as taking questions from the audience. One of my favorite questions asked was what direction they thought Urban Fantasy was going in.
The day ended with the Masquerade Dinner and Ball. I loved watching everyone walk in decked out with their costumes. Definitely a cool sight to see. Once dinner was over we headed downstairs to hang out and dance to some fresh tunes. It was fun to see everyone kick back and have a good time. The only thing I regret is not taking a single friggin’ picture the whole night. Ugh!
First panel of the day was Demons, The Next Big Thing? Authors in attendance were Larissa Ione, Allison Pang, Dakota Cassidy, Meljean Brook and Alexandra Ivy. They touched a little on why they decided to use demons as characters and how that plays into the whole good vs. evil thing and/or the whole moral code thing. It was interesting stuff.
And then in was time for the book signing. I don’t know if I was more excited or nervous but, I definitely made out like a bandit.
In order of appearance: Allison Pang, Anton Strout, Carolyn Crane, Dakota Cassidy, Erin Kellison, Jennifer Estep, Larissa Ione, Meljean Brook, Nancy Holzner, Nicole Peeler and Theresa Meyers
The night ended with a Steampunk Dinner and Ball. Costume wise the Steampunk Ball beat the Masquerade Ball. Music wise, not so much. There was an interesting side show/freak show act that performed during the ball. It was…interesting. Penny (@sweetiepiepen) and her facial expressions totally made my evening. Here’s the only picture I managed to take. You can’t really see it but, that dude is bull whipping flowers out of that girl's mouth. Told ya it was interesting.
All in all I had an amazing time during AAD. Sure there were some cons mixed in with the pros but, as you can see the pros (one of which was getting to chit chat with Carolyn Crane!) definitely outnumbered them. I can’t wait to see the adventures that await me during AAD 2012. Here are some of the things I plan to do next year in New Orleans:
- Grow a pair of lady balls and not be so shy about introducing myself to my fellow bloggers. On that note I’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Pam (@SpazP) for being so friggin’ sweet, Penny (@sweetiepiepen) for having me laugh so hard I snorted and Bells (@bellie7) for her Smutty Monday Goodness posts…she knows why. ;-)
- Attend every panel Dakota Cassidy and Anton Strout are on if they attend next year because they're both friggin’ hilarious.
- Remember to take a picture with my roomie! I can’t believe we don’t have a single picture of us Jen! (@jenthebookworm)
- Bring extra cash with me in case the meal plan doesn’t pan out.
- Plan ahead so I can bring all the books I forgot at home this year.
- Do more sightseeing. Graveyard tour anyone?
- Make sure to match my flights to Larissa’s (@larissa_sarah) so that we can have more airport adventures. Because who wouldn’t want to finish of AAD like this:
Bout of Books Read-A-Thon hosted by On a Book Bender
What’s up everyone?! I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you guys about the read-a-thon that my bloggy friend Amanda is hosting over on her site, On a Book Bender. Since I suck at repeating details I’m going to post the details Amanda used over on her site.
Feeling overwhelmed because you have too many books and not enough time to read them? The Bout of Books Read-a-Thon is just what the book doctor ordered.
From August 22nd to August 28th, I will be hosting my first ever read-a-thon: Bout of Books.
Want details? I’ve got those for you!
- Read as much as you can whenever you can between 12:00am 8/22 and 11:59pm 8/28 (your time zone).
- There is no pressure! Participate even if you can only spare a day or two, a few hours, or even just a few minutes. Use it as an excuse to read. Whatever works for you.
- I believe read-a-thons are a great way to network with fellow bloggers. Bout of Books is as much about networking as it is about reading. Get to know your fellow Bout of Books participants.
- Still working on the details, but I will try to host some challenges along the way. If you want to host your own challenge, let me know!
- I can’t afford to host a giveaway, but if YOU want to, cool. Tell me.
- On Saturday, I’ll post again with an example starting line post. You can copy my example or not. At the very least, I would like to know your goals and what books you want to read! I’ll figure out how to get around WordPress restrictions on having a Mr. Linky for posting links. There may be more Google forms.
- Keep us up to date on your progress! Post on your blog, Goodreads, or Twitter. If you’re on Twitter, please use the hashtag #boutofbooks. (Following me @BookBender will also help me keep track of you ;) )
- Questions? Email me at onabookbender[at]gmail[dot]com
- Want to sign up? Fill out the 1st form below. The 2nd form is only for people who want to host a challenge or giveaway.
- And please, tell others. My blogging reach is still pretty small, so spread the word!
Fill out the form to be added to the master list. If you want to check to make sure you’ve been signed up, visit my Bout of Books Master List page (upper right hand corner). It updates every 5 minutes, so if you don’t see your name WAIT a few minutes before re-entering your information. I tried it myself last night and it took a while before it updated. If you’re concerned about your entry, email me or tweet at me @BookBender.
There you have it folks. I believe this is the first read-a-thon I’ve ever participated in so I’m excited (and maybe a little anxious) to see how I do. Click HERE or on the banner above so you can fill out the forms you need to participate. I think you should join me on this journey my friends. Why not? You’re going to be reading anyway, right?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Authors After Dark 2011: Part 1
Guess who’s back. Back again. Jen is back. Tell a friend. Guess who’s back, guess who’s baa, er, um…sorry. I’m just happy to be back in action. It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks but, it looks like the wrist is starting to heal which is definitely a good thing. As some of you know, I had the pleasure of participating in Authors After Dark last week and I wanted to share some of my exploits with you guys.
I landed in Philly on Wednesday morning and was picked up by my friend and roomie Jen. One of the things we noticed right off the bat is that people parallel park right in the middle of the street, or I guess what would be considered the median. Check it out:
We checked in, or rather we checked our bags in because our room wasn’t ready and decided to roam the city that was going to be our temporary home for the next 4 days. The architecture of the city is pretty stunning.
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