Written on 10/25/2008 01:57:00 AM by Yvette St. John
This is being blogged about over at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and Dear Author...
And Now: Buy a Contemporary, Save the World
Here’s the deal: we dig this book. We dig this book like damn and whoa, and we think you will too. So, in order to spread the word and the opportunity to read it we’re doing a multi-level giveaway in tandem with our reviews of Flat Out Sexy.
Part the First: free books! Leave a comment, and you’re automatically entered to win a copy. We each have 10 copies of the book to give away, so drop a word here and at Dear Author and double your chances. Comments will be open for 24 hours starting now.
Second: Spread the Word! Below is a Sprout widget about our campaign, and a simpler animated graphic. Right-click-and-save the graphic, or grab the Sprout for yourself, and put it on your site. Let us know that you’ve done so via email, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the book, and a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.com, where you can buy many, many books. Oh, the delightful zest of the phrase, “Many, many books.” Spread the word, let us know, and you’re entered to win. That’s it.
So, grab the sprout for yourself. Check it Erin McCarthy's book
Flat Out Sexy. I know I plan to ;)
Posted in
books,
romance
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Written on 9/05/2008 10:45:00 AM by Yvette St. John
We saw that Rowena blogged about this over at The Book Binge, and thought it was a great idea – especially as we’re just deciding our focus to be books, movies and other things that take us out of real life for a while ;) So we’re trying to spread the word, and of course participate!
My Friend Amy is putting together a Book Blogger Appreciation Week. The first of it’s kind. It's running September 15th thru the 19th! Check out Amy’s blog for more information.
What a great way to show appreciation and respect for our fellow book bloggers – and give them the kudos they deserve!
If you’re a blogger – Go Register! At the very least you get added to a Book Blog Directory.
If you’re a reader – Go Register!! Go Vote!! There are daily giveaways that you get entered into for registering!
Enjoy ;)
Posted in
blogs,
Book Blogger Appreciation Week,
books
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Written on 8/28/2008 04:45:00 PM by Yvette St. John
I have a ton of pet peeves. Things that irrationally annoy the hell out of me. I shouldn’t let them bother me like they do, but *shrug* who can help it?? Now my pet peeves range the whole gambit of life, from idiots that drive under the speed-limit in the passing lane to people that have more than 10/15/20 items in the “Express” lanes to liars, cheats and jerks.
Here though, I’m gonna talk about my book pet-peeves. Those things in novels (or about/associated with them) that just twist me up.
1. Improper spelling/grammar. Of course I know that there are going to be typos. I make a million of them myself. I know that occasionally a person is going to use an incorrect word that spell check simply won’t catch because it’s still a real word. I can forgive small things. Most of the time they don’t pull me out of the story. My problem is when they’re so glaring and obvious – and repeated – that I get annoyed. I can’t get into a story that has issues like this. It jars me out of it, and leaves me hanging. More often than not, I’ll remember the problems and not the story. And definitely walk away with the author firmly in my Never Buy Again list.
2. Inconsistencies. I tend to be slightly more forgiving of inconsistencies in a series. Especially one with a large intricate world, with lots of characters. But it still bothers me. I start to wonder which is correct. For example if I’ve been told for 4 books that a person has something specific and memorable, then suddenly in the 5th book it changes, I get annoyed. Wondering what the story is on why it changed, or if it’s just a mistake. But the inconsistencies that bother me the most are in single novels. 200 to 500 page paperbacks. No more than 3 or 4 main characters. How does a person go from lounging on the floor one moment to (a paragraph later) standing against the wall?? I can’t handle that. The action needs to at least be logical. I can fill in some blanks, but when there was obviously no movement – or there didn’t appear to be – how can I follow. I start to get lost in that instead of the story.
Are we seeing a pattern here? I get pulled out of the story and I get annoyed. LOL
3. This next one doesn’t pull me out of the story, but is my own little issue. I absolutely, positively can NOT read a series out of order. Now, I’ll clarify this slightly. As I usually don’t really get into short stories in anthologies, I don’t mind reading those out of order. But the main novels of a series? Absolutely have to read them in order. And here’s my problem. Series are NOT clearly marked 1. that they’re part of a series and 2. what book in the series they are. This is horrible! For example, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter novels are marked “A Dark-Hunter Novel.” Okay. That’s great. Obviously part of a series that has its own name. Which one is Night Play? Or Acheron? How am I supposed to know when I’m at the bookstore just browsing? (And SK’s books are just an example – there are far too many out there to name them all). So, I don’t buy the book. Or any by that author, because chances are if an author writes one series, they write other series – and how I am to know anything about any of them. I’ll try to write down or remember the author’s name and/or the name of the novel that looked interesting so I could check it out when I get home, but *shrug* I sometimes forget by the time I get there. Which results in lost sales. PUBLISHERS! Are you listening?? I impulse buy books. But I’ll quickly forget them if I get discouraged. It’s not hard to put on the spine: Dark-Hunter 1, Dark-Hunter 2. Wouldn’t take up much space. Honestly. Or even on the page where it lists “Other books by so-and-so” put the reading order. If I pick up a book that’s 5th in the series because it looks interesting, I’ll usually read up to that book at least. That’s 5 book sales lost by not having the damn order listed somewhere convenient.
4. Another thing that annoys me, and it’s a large reason that I don’t borrow books out a whole lot, are people that fold over pages. Or unnecessarily destroy the spine of a novel. Yes, it’s meant to be enjoyed. Yes, it’s meant to be read. But does any of that mean that you have to ruin a lovely item? Books are like … air to me. Precious and necessary to life.
I think I’ll leave it at that. No, this is definitely not an all-inclusive list, but it does cover some of the more Hulk inducing ones of mine.
What are some of your pet-peeves? If they’re something that can be fixed, what’s a possible solution?
Posted in
books,
Dark-Hunters,
pet peeves,
writing
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Written on 6/27/2008 07:23:00 AM by Yvette St. John
I got to thinking this morning about spoilers. There are a lot of books that I am waiting on, and some spoilers are all over the place, others - nothing.
Do you love spoilers? Avoid them like the plague? Or something in-between perhaps?
For me, I find it's different (and more/less difficult) depending on the book or series.
For example, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (by J.K. Rowling), I was adamant that I wasn't going to read ANY spoilers. Nothing even close. I didn't want to know anything before cracking open the book. And I didn't. I had friends (who didn't read HP) read reviews looking for anything spoiler related...they were my scanners ;) But it paid off, I opened that book at midnight not knowing a thing. Sure, I had my suspicions, but who didn't after so many years of speculating. And I'll tell you, it was validating to me to open that book while waiting in line, and see on the inside cover: No blurb. Nothing. Just a note presenting the final volume of the Harry Potter saga. It made it all worth it for me. And that night, and the next morning took me on a journey that I can never repeat without knowing. I wouldn't trade that for anything.
Now, Black Dagger Brotherhood (by J.R. Ward) I have such a hard time avoiding spoilers. I don't know what it is. I just can't resist. I want to know, and know NOW! LOL. I'll admit I got a lot of spoilers prior to Lover Enshrined. But it didn't ruin the story for me. I still had plenty of OMG moments. I have determined that I'm going to avoid spoilers for her next book, Lover Avenged, Rehv's book. I'm not reading anything about the book unless it comes from her mouth. LOL. Adamant.
Then there's the other kind. The part that just isn't interested in seeking out spoilers. I haven't read a single spoiler for Sherrilyn Kenyon's next Dark-Hunter book - Acheron. Not because I'm not excited about the story. Not because I don't LOVE Ash. Because I'm just not interested in spoilers, and I'm waiting (as patiently as I can) to find the journey that SK wants to take me on. Honestly, I don't even know if there are spoilers out there for Ash's book yet. And it's never occurred to me to go look.
So. How do you feel about spoilers? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Or does it just depend?
Posted in
Black Dagger Brotherhood,
books,
Dark-Hunters,
Harry Potter,
J.K. Rowling,
J.R. Ward,
Sherrilyn Kenyon,
spoilers
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Written on 6/03/2008 08:49:00 PM by Yvette St. John
I started watching Dexter last year at the behest of a good friend. I *heart* Dexter. Such a great sense of humor, which I don't think a lot of people would see unless they're like me - LOL.
I saw this shirt, and immediately knew I had to share. ;)
Posted in
Dexter,
tshirts
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Written on 6/02/2008 12:03:00 AM by Julia O'Keeffe
Third in the series. Animism, doppelgangers, and bad chi - oh my! Ben or Hunter... Ben or Hunter? A name is EVERYTHING. Zoe's return? Bring on the fourth!
The Touch of Twilight by Vicki Pettersson ~EOS Books
Posted in
books,
mobile,
reviews
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Written on 5/27/2008 08:37:00 AM by Yvette St. John
I don't have any excuse as good at Julia's, but I will be back soon as well.
I've been REALLY busy organizing and editing pictures - and promise to share some (along with my story of movie magic in Small Town, America) as soon as possible!
Posted in
update
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Written on 5/26/2008 02:54:00 AM by Julia O'Keeffe
I've been gone for awhile but will be back soon. Real life really is overrated and has gotten in the way.
Plus, my laptop is in the computer hospital for an undetermined amount of time.
Posted in
update
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Written on 5/08/2008 07:14:00 PM by Yvette St. John
I thought I'd do my "signature" drink, I guess you'd call it. Though I don't drink it all the time, it is the one thing that I consistently drink....others just come and go. Maybe I'll get into those another week ;) So introducing:
Southern Comfort Old Fashioned Sweet
Add drops of bitters to bottom of glass and stir in sugar. Once bitters and sugar are combined, add ice and pour in SoCo. Top off with 7-up/Sprite and add a splash of grenadine. Serve with cherries.
It's more common where I'm from to be a Brandy Old Fashioned, but I prefer the taste of Southern Comfort.
Posted in
alcohol,
drink
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Written on 5/06/2008 09:36:00 PM by Julia O'Keeffe
It's nearing the end of crawfish season in southern Louisiana. Any crawfish boil is a messy occassion. If it isn't - you're not doing it right.
Why waste rolls of paper towels? Go green! As the makers of this shirt say:
Crawfish are ugly, bottom-feeding bugs . . . and they are wonderfully delicious. It is a right of passage to go to a boil and learn the process.
A shirt meant to be worn to a crawfish boil and free to be used as your napkin. Wipe your hands freely. It will just add to the design.
Pick, Pull, Suck, Pinch, Repeat.
From one of my favorite shops, Dirty Coast. No copyright infringement intended, just sharing the great designs.
Posted in
crawfish,
tshirts
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