Taking it One Book at a Time: Randomness

Showing posts with label Randomness. Show all posts

Saturday, July 15, 2017

So, It's Been a While...

HI EVERYONE!!

I know, it's been quite some time since I've posted, but honestly I've been extremely busy with life!

I've had 4 weddings to do (see the pictures below)

and just trying to keep my children busy during the summer AND working from home has left me feeling a little like this.....

So I appreciate all of you who have hung around during this drought, but I am back and will be posting GREAT things soon!

Friday, April 15, 2016

Evolution of a Blog Pt. 2 This makes me sad......

As some of you know I have been blogging for over 5 years now.

(CRAZY!!!)

I've had my fair share of ups and & downs, posting slumps, and even a reading slump....but I've pushed through the mental haze and forged on.

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Today I was visiting a review on Goodreads from a few years ago, and as I'm scrolling down the page through the other reviews I see one from a fellow blogger I use to be pretty close with. Out of curiosity I click on her profile, then proceed to her blog only to find out she stopped blogging roughly 2 years ago!

My first reaction was, "I'm a horrible friend, I mean I should have noticed this right?!"

Stunned & saddened as I'm reading her post of literary resignation, I notice on the sidebar are names of all the Blogs she supports, or supported I should say. Instantly I'm ecstatic because I recognize the name of each blog on that list!

"YAY, let's see how everyone is trucking along!!"

Well guess what?!

90% of those bloggers have stopped blogging too....and quite frankly it makes me sad!

What pushed my friends to stop??

The pressure to keep up?

The pressure to be "New & Exciting"?

Or the pressure to be make your next post better than your last?

Yes this online community is growing, it's evolving, and every day there is a new blog on the block trying to standout and make a bigger impact than the one before them. Though I'll be the first person to give props and kudos to anyone trying to take a step into this world of literary review. It's not easy.

Keeping up on posts, reviews, trying to make sure agents/authors/tour hosts, shit even other bloggers, see what you can do.

But then these questions are constantly floating in the back of your mind:

Are you original enough?

Should I add a some extra UMPH to that post?

Have I gained followers, received comments, retweets, "Likes"?

Not only does this take it's toll on new bloggers, but old bloggers alike.....and will mentally exhaust you at some point or another. I know that in the past it has for me.

So my little tidbit of advise for you is this:

Have fun with it, be goofy, be explicit if you need you, ~~do not hold back for anyone~~ try to hold back sometimes, do not lie/cheat/borrow or steal, and be genuine

Everyone in the literary community appreciates someone who tells it from the heart, even if it's brutally honest.

Remember stay true to who you are, always know why you started doing this in the first place, and always take a breath.

I don't want to stumble upon your blog one day to see that you've virtually posted your Blogger letter of resignation too.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Evolution of a Blog (Pt. 1)

The evolution of a blog.......just think about it......

Have any of my fellow bloggers ever taken the time to look back at your posts from the early days?

Now when I say easy days I'm talking 4-5 years ago, before we become engulfed with publishers, promoters, blog stats and networking. It almost seemed like my thoughts back then were more pure and original.

Please do not get me wrong, I am beyond thankful to have the connections and people that are in my literary life. Without them I would be lost at times, they are truly a blessing!

But, there are times when I look back at my earlier posts and feel like I was WAY more honest, sort of like a part of me is missing from my posts.

No one worry though! What I'm missing will come back!

Through hell or high water I will start inserting myself piece by piece back into these posts. Who knows, maybe I'm the only blogger who's ever dealt with this, or maybe I am part of a large community I never realized I was a part of......like an AA support group!

Whatever the end result is I will keep touching on the subject and hopefully I'm able to shed a sliver of light onto this subject of Blog Evolution with other literary nuts I know!

Monday, November 16, 2015

{Fantastic Fives + Giveaway} Yay! I'm Turning Five!

Taking It One Book at a Time is 5 years old, I can't believe it!!!!

So to celebrate this milestone the lovely ladies at Me, My Shelf and I & Two Chicks On Books decided we all should do it in style!

Here's a little bit about ME!

How did you get started blogging?

One of my close friends had just started doing it, so I decided, 'Hey I wanna do that too', and here I am!

How did you pick the name for your blog?

I knew that I didn't want to try to be too speedy when it came to the pace of my blog, I had no idea I'd be doing the volumn I'd be doing today....so I wanted my viewers to know that I would be taking it one book at a time.

If you could go back in time and tell your newbie blogger self 1 thing what would it be?

Use the "Schedule" option on Blogger more often! Honestly for years I didn't even realize it was there LOL!

What have you learned in your 5 years of blogging?

Don't fill your plate too full.

Yes we want to get page views, subscribers, publishers, promoters, whoever it might be looking at our blog, but a few years ago I went through a very difficult time on my blog due to stress. Yes, a lot of it was personal pressure, but in that year I think that I posted a total of 40, yes 40, posts. So take your time, don't try to compare what you're doing to anyone else. Be your own blog, be original and people will come!

What was the first ARC or book you ever received from a publisher?

First physical ARC was Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

When you’re not reading or blogging, what can we find you doing?

Besides working 50 hours a week, raising 3 kids......you can either find me playing softball 2 nights a week, playing way too much Fantasy Football, or playing with my America Bully, Max

The Fives: (and yes, you can ONLY have 5! *muwhahahah*)

Five Favorite Books

The Demon Trapper's Daughter - By Jana Oliver

Shadow Fever - By Karen Marie Moning

Shatter Me - By Tahereh Mafi

The World Without a Future - By Nazarea Andrews

Shade - By Jeri Smith-Ready

Five Favorite Book Boyfriends

Finn - The World Without End Series by Nazarea Andrews

Bones - Night Huntress Seires by Jeaniene Frost

Ash - The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

Barrons - Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Kaidan - The Sweet Series by WendyHiggins

Five Favorite Book Quotes

“He pulls me around and kisses me. "You're Mac," he says. "And I'm Jericho. And nothing else matters. Never will. You exist in a place that is beyond all rules for me. Do you understand that?" - Fever Series

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“Z: "You know, this was a hell of a lot easier when you were out cold in the back of that truck."

Phury: "That was you?"Z:"You think it was Santa Claus or some shit?" -Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

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“I'm not going to waste time being angry about things I can't control. If I only have one life, I should make the most of it.” - Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

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Love sucks. Sometimes it feels good. Sometimes it's just another way to bleed.” -

Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton

Five Blogging Tips For New Bloggers

1. Social Media until you're fingers are bleeding. Make those connections

2. Be as original as possible, whether it's in your verbiage, your style of post, anything that looks original is good.

3. Don't assume you're entitled to ARCs, those are an earned privilege, not a right. So make sure when you do get them respect them.

4. Do not EVER under any circumstance copy any part/section of another bloggers post or review.

5. Be 100% honest about everything when it comes to your blog. Whether it's your subscribers, page views, how fast you read a book or what author's you've met, it's imperative that in this blogger community you are what you claim to be.

Five Blogs You Want The World To Know About

All of these blogs I have known about for years, I have great relationships with all these amazing ladies!

Book Soulmates

Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

Fiktshun

Two Chicks on Books

Me My Shelf and I

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Now onto the giveaway!

1. $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Intl)

2. Assorted Swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to check out all these fantastic blogs who are turning 5 too!

November 8 Books Etc.

November 9 Fiktshun

November 10 Two Chicks On Books

November 11 Me, My Shelf and I

November 12 Bewitched Bookworms

November 13 Novel Novice

November 14 Book Angel Booktopia

November 15 Maer Wilson

November 16 Taking It One Book At A Time

November 17 YA Book Shelf

November 18 Musings of a YA Reader

November 19 Bookish Lifestyle

November 20 Once Upon A Twilight

November 21 Stories & Sweeties

November 22 Bookaholics Anonymous

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Talkative Tuesday....It's Coming Back!

A few years ago (roughly 2010-2012ish) I had a weekly post called Talkative Tuesday, it essentially was where I would introduce you all to an awesome Blog/Blogger out there that I am in love with.

Lately I've felt as though I need something a little more personal on my blog, just get back to my old school blogging roots of being more spontaneous.....so that's when the decision was made for a newer, revamped Talkative Tuesday to come back!

So this is what you can expect from Talkative Tuesday each week:

Featured Blog
All the Stalker Links
Fun Facts about the Blog/Blogger (i.e. Stats, Likes/Dislikes)
Giveaways ~ Based on the Blogs Favorite Author(s) {as many as I can possible get}

All this, plus whatever else the Hamster in my mind can come up with!

If any of you have suggests, whether it's who should be featured or additional information you'd like to see on the posts, feel free to email me:

takingitonebookatatime@yahoo.com

Sunday, March 29, 2015

{Blog Tour: Review + Random Things + GIVEAWAY} Guardians - By SusanKim & Laurence Klavan

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Author(s): Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan

Website

Release Date: 3/24/2015

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

The Emmy Award-nominated and Edgar Award-winning duo of Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan deliver a heart-pounding finale to the postapocalyptic teen world of the Wasteland, filled with dramatic twists and turns. Bestselling author of Criminal, Karin Slaughter, called Wasteland "a Lord of the Flies for future generations. An irresistible page-turner."

No one dares to leave the District—the towering structure of glass and steel that is their protection against the unruly bands of Outsiders that roam Mundreel and the deadly rain that carries the disease that kills all over the age of nineteen.

This skyscraper stands amid the urban devastation, the city rumored to have once been called "Montreal." Esther and her allies have created a haven on the rooftop, a garden that flourishes, and a home for her new baby, hidden from all but the very few who know her secret. But as Gideon's power grows and factions form, the ultimate darkness is born from greed, and Esther must find a way to save the citizens from themselves.

Hooked!

From page one you could tell there was a power struggle in this diverse group that would define this book. Not having read the first 2 books

In this

Series I was a little lost in the beginning, but the authors had such a great way of giving all the back stories without dragging the story line out. You could tell there have been some pretty big issues in that the characters were able to overcome, but there are those specific characters who just can't let things go.

I felt as though Esther took a lot on in this book, she seemed a little emotionally unhinged at times....but I mean with some of the characters killing each other off I would be too. Plus that's one aspect of this book I really enjoyed. No one was safe, it made for a more interesting story, because just when you thought you'd fallen for a someone...BAM! They're gone! Esther did take on a lot to keep her people safe, she knows what needs to be done and I felt as though she genuinely struggled to make those tough decisions throughout the entire book.

I really, really wish Gideon had been one of those characters who got the "BAM", because he was an asshole....sorry....no one likes a power hungry tyrant....no one.

Overall I highly enjoyed the story line in this book, it was meticulously thought out, and I foresee the series going to great places!

4/5

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Random Things About Susan & Laurence:

Susan:

1. I was in a comedy improv group called Spontaneous Combustion. We toured around other colleges and also spent a summer performing at the Royale Lounge in the old Mount Airy Lodge (“your host with the most in the Poconos”.) It was a great experience in that it was genuinely trial by fire: you will never appreciate what rejection feels like until you try making a roomful of surly, drunk people laugh.

2. I majored in English and theatre, but adored psychology and almost tried to do a triple major.

3. Most of what I wore was from thrift shops. Some of my favorite pieces: a Boy Scout uniform shirt, a stewardess cape from Qantas, a rugby referee shirt, a striped mini-dress from the 60s, and a green silk bomber jacket that said “Korea”. As Macklemore sang, my idea of a great time was popping some tags.

4. I had a terrible (as in nonexistent) work ethic. At the library, I’d talk so much, my friends stopped asking me to study with them. I’m actually kind of amazed I graduated.

5. Even though I mostly took theatre and literature classes, I appreciated that you were encouraged/forced to study other things. Two of my favorite classes were intro geology and playing the Javanese gamelan.

Laurence:

1. I went to college in New York City and once accidentally dropped my books on the subway tracks.

2. Maybe it wasn’t accidental.

3. I worked in publishing during college but was laid off when the company was sold.

4. I broke up with my high school girlfriend during college.

5. Actually, she broke up with me.

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About the Authors:

SUSAN KIM is a playwright, TV writer, and author. Her two graphic novels w/co-author Laurence Klavan, “City of Spies” (artwork by Pascal Dizin) and “Brain Camp” (artwork by Faith Erin Hicks), were published by First Second Books in 2010. “Flow: the Cultural Story of Menstruation” (co-written w/Elissa Stein) was published by St. Martin’s Griffin in 2009. Plays include the stage adaptation of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (Dramatists Play Service) and various one-acts that were produced in the EST Marathon, including Death and the Maiden, Rapid Eye Movement,Dreamtime for Alice (Dramatists Play Service and Farrar Strauss), and Memento Mori (Smith and Krauss). Her work has been produced internationally. Ms. Kim has been nominated five times for the Emmy and four times for the Writers Guild award for her work in both non-fiction and children’s TV; she won a WGA award in 1996 for Best Documentary. She lives in New York City, teaches dramatic writing in the MFA program at Goddard College and currently blogs for the Huffington Post.

LAURENCE KLAVAN wrote the novels, “The Cutting Room” and “The Shooting Script,” which were published by Ballantine Books. He won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for the novel, “Mrs. White,” co-written under a pseudonym. His graphic novels, "City of Spies" and "Brain Camp," were co-written with Susan Kim and published by First Second Books at Macmillan. His short work has been published in The Alaska Quarterly, Conjunctions, The Literary Review, Gargoyle, Louisville Review, Natural Bridge, Pank, Stickman Review, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, among many other journals, and a collection is forthcoming from Chizine Publications. He received two Drama Desk nominations for the book and lyrics of "Bed and Sofa," the musical produced by the Vineyard Theater in New York and the Finborough Theater in London in 2011. His one-act, "The Summer Sublet," is included Best American Short Plays 2000-2001.

Webiste

Twitter
Susan's Goodreads

Laurence's Goodreads
Facebook

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GIVEAWAY:

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

2 Signed Copy of Guardians by Susan Kim & Laurence Klavan.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, August 24, 2014

{Hiatus} Surgery.....it's a Scary Thing....

Have no fear....I'll be back quicker then you know it!

Most of you are probably not even remotely aware of what I'm talking about, but it's ok because I'm going to explain it in great gory detail.

It all started roughly 8 weeks ago, it was just another typical Tuesday night at softball....there I was running the bases when an outfielder caught a one hopper slightly more gracefully than I had expected. Stopping to go back to first base it happened, POP! Falling to the ground in agonizing pain, all while screaming like a girl, I held my knee in hopes that the burning sentation would go away.

Guess what, it didn't....after an ER trip, follow-up MRI's & robot braces, I am now preparing to have complete ACL reconstructive surgery in roughly a week.

Very few things about this excite me, I am actually the opposite. Terrified.

Never in my life have I had surgery, so the whole thought of being put to sleep only to wake up in with a screws in my knee & stitches scarring my leg isn't pleasant. But the thought of being able to bend my knee again after 8 weeks of not being able to physically do it almost brings me to tears.

(In this picture you can see how much atrophy I have in my injured leg, on the right, compared to my non-injured leg)

So, I'm hoping for only the best & a quick healing process. Thought I know this will entail roughly 6 months of hard physical therapy & won't be able to do activities on it until the 8-10 month mark, it's a light at the end of my tunnel.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

{Blog Tour: The Burning Star + MASSIVE GIVEAWAY} Top 5 YA Paranormal Book Boyfriends - By Jessie Lane

If you love fantasy, the paranormal, romance and twisty-turny stories featuring

two young women in the fight of their lives then we have the book for you! Pick up Jessie Lane’s THE BURNING STAR, available now, and today we are happy to have the author join us for a visit!

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Top 5 YA Paranormal Book Boyfriends

Hi everybody! Today I'm stopping by Taking It One Book at a Time to talk about my favorite book boyfriends from YA Paranormal books. Now, please keep in mind that I have NOT read a YA book in quite some time, so you may think some of my picks quite dated. Personally, I think I'll love these guys until the end of time though. Here we go:

1) Jace Wayland from Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments Series - Sarcastic, handsome and witty. Jace reminds me of that boy that I was torn between wanting to kiss and wanting to punch in high school.

2) Niall from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely Series - OMGAWD!!! He is a powerful Fae that oozes bad-ass pheromones and ends up becoming the King of the Dark Court. Sexy, intelligent and absolutely wicked. Isn't that what every girl wants?

3) Daemon Black from Jennifer Armentrout's Lux Series - The KING of smartass. He's absolutely the boy I love to hate... and drool over. When he does have his sweet moments, they melt me straight to my ooey gooey marshmallow core.

4) Rafe from Rachel Hawthorne's Dark Guardians Series - BAD BOY... YUM. Okay, so I'm sure you've noticed a pattern here. YES, I'm a sucker for the bad boy. That little trait got me into many a trouble back when I was a teenager, but now I just drool over them in books. This werewolf can make me howl to the moon anytime. *wink wink*

5) Seth from Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely Series - When Marr created the character of Seth, I'm pretty sure she broke the mold. Seth is THE GUY that every girl dreams of (when she's not dreaming about the bad boy like me). He's good to his core, he's unbelievably sexy with his lip ring and rock star style and he loves Aislinn with an intensity that takes my breath away. Over the length of the series, he proves the extent of his love over and over again, causing me to fall in love with him each and every time.

So tell me ladies, who are your favorite book boyfriends from YA books? Anyone else a sucker for the bad boy like me?

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The Burning Star by Jessie Lane

Re-Release Date: March 23, 2014

Original Publication: May 23, 2012

Links: Website | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Hosted by: Author's Taproom

*This book is a re-release and revision from the original book. Please be aware that some things have been added, deleted or changed.*

Kay’s journey of a lifetime started in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was there that the 17 year old met a beautiful man along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn’t exist; a place where myths and fairy tales were real, and in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer.
With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters that she would meet along the way, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, it would become clear that Kay wasn’t the only one with problems.
Yet another 17 year old young woman was fighting for her freedom and her life.Kira had lived in a magical world that Kay had only dreamt of. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. As a matter of fact, she considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life. She fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture.
Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira’s master, Lord Donovan.
As the two young women set forth in their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. The only question that would remain was who would come out alive and whole in the end?

WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance/OMNI Lit | Kobo

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Crystal and Melissa often live half their lives with their heads in the clouds dreaming of alpha military hunks, werewolves and kick ass heroines crazy enough to chase after creatures that they unquestionably should know better than to chase.
Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance. They are now working on their next two novels, Walk On The Striped Side and Secret Maneuvers. With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | GOODREADS

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