Not flippin’…clickin’

Some days I find that even if I have a few quiet minutes, I don’t feel like reading a book.  On those days, I like to  turn to glossy magazine photos for a little visual inspiration.  If I don’t have a magazine on hand (so many of the good ones are no longer being printed…), I tend to visit pretty blogs with lots of pictures, or Pinterest, where there’s so much to see you could lose HOURS in there.

But I love how all kinds of online magazine are cropping up everywhere.  They’re the perfect little break from writing…or life, with gorgeous photographs, fun party ideas, yummy-sounding recipes, and interesting articles.  If you haven’t checked them out, you should…just for the fun of it.



Posted in magazines, pretty pictures on 04/04/2011 02:43 pm | 2 Comments

The Power of Book Blogs

Once upon a time I considered this somewhat of a book blog.  It is, first and foremost, an author blog, but it is the blog of an author who, like most, loves books.  Wants to gush about books, and covers, and really cool metaphors.  (Or maybe that’s just me.)  Anyway, I said ‘once upon a time.’  Why?  Because I’ve recently come to the realization that this is not a book blog.  Not in the way that some blogs are book blogs.

A couple of weeks ago (you may remember), I signed up to participate in a blog hop, hosted by two book blogs:  I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Books Complete Me.  Over the course of that experience/experiment, I discovered several things:

1.  Book Blogs have a LOT of fans and a LOT of traffic…they can drive pre-order sales (not to mention post-launch sales).
2.  Book Blogs are strictly about books.  They hype new releases, host a crazy number of giveaways, interview authors, share the love with other book bloggers…  You name it.
3.  Book Blogs participate (and host) blog hops and book tours.
4.  Book Blogs post an astounding number of reviews, some of them for ARCs donated by authors and publishers
5.  Book Blogs host and advertise book clubs and hold (and promote) contests

In fact, Book Blogs are one-stop-shopping as far as books are concerned.  You can find out about new releases, read reviews from reviewers you trust, *win books* and other book related paraphenalia, read author interviews, and get in the loop on all the latest hype.

In my ‘research,’ I’ve discovered that the bulk of the big Book Blogs tend to be focused on either YA books or paranormal, or both.  Which is understandable, given the current trends in publishing right now.  But if you look, you can probably find Book Blogs dedicated to any genre you’re interested in…like say, Jane Austen fiction…or chick-lit, should you be so inclined.  These Book Blogs wield a lot of clout with a LOT of readers, so no author…and no reader should be unaware of such an awesome resource.

Posted in blogs, books on 03/31/2011 09:58 pm | 7 Comments

Poems…for Everyone!

Reading to my boys from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein last night.  It has probably been thirty years since I’ve read those poems–I remember loving them the first time.  We only read a few because it was almost time for bed, and we realized we were missing Dancing With the Stars (which they love to watch with me–how about that Daniel Laruso!), but these were my favorites from last night:

LISTEN TO THE MUSTN’TS
Listen to the MUSTN’TS child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me–
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.
MAGIC
Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins’ gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself.

Then found this picture today, and it made me this of this second poem all over again…


Posted in poems, reading on 03/29/2011 10:53 pm | 4 Comments