Saturday Splash

K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple sherlock or shurley or sally or silly - you choose the s word.

How do you like my new look? I'm a person who can't work in clutter, can't read when there are too many pretty things on a page, overshadowing the words, can't write with music going because it totally relaxes me. So, the blog reflects me. It was getting a bit cluttered and had been thinking of making a few changes, plus coming up with a new challenge blog. However, not in the midst of nano and starting a new class. Oh well.

I've been writing, however I don't know my word count because I haven't typed it up yet. I'm taking my laptop and notebook with me to work today and will work on that between customers. And because of the fact I have something else I want to do, it will be ultra busy. Murphy's law, you know. Paying customers - who can complain about that.

My online art history class - art from the ancients up to the 14th century just started and I have 36 pages to read this week, plus write up a couple short discussion papers. That will keep me busy.

Went to the doctor on Monday and my blood pressure was through the roof. Of course, I had just come from getting mammogram done and having your *books* squashed vertically and horizontally probably accounted for some of it. However, I've been bad lately - eating out a lot, drinking two or three pepsi's a day. Soooo.... I've given up my beloved Pepsi. I have discovered Snapple's Earl Grey Ice tea though - delicious yet expensive. Will also be brown bagging it and trying to exercise everyday.

Totally my fault and since I will be turning fabulous 50 in a couple weeks, am going to dedicate more time for physical fitness. Notice I didn't say schedule more time. I don't do well with schedules. Deadlines and goals work for me, but schedules no. I have to remain flexible. Which means less time blogging and being on the internet. I really don't want to give up anything. There is time for all. I just have to more judicious with my time.

Stay tuned for this weeks homeschool report, book reviews on "The Recipe Club" by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel and "Holiday Grind" by Cleo Coyle. I'll be updating my word count sometime this weekend and putting the word count meter up.

In Arnold's infamous words "I'll be back"

Blew up my blog.

I unintentionally blew her up. Yep. If you think my blood pressure was high before, I think I just sent it out of the stratosphere. I was playing around with templates for setting up the Hugo Award challenge. Picked the wrong blog. Of course, I hadn't backed up in a while, so....

I'll be reconstructing from bookmarks and what not. At least I didn't lose my posts. I was getting slightly bored with the newspaper template. So guess now is the time to make major changes - whether I like it or not. I knew I should have waited until November was over before thinking about the Hugo award challenge blog.

Awesome Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine

Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine recently had a giveaway promotion for bloggers. I managed to score one of 15 advance copies of the December issue. Lucky me! As everyone knows I cut my reading teeth on fantasy and science fiction books growing up and keep going back to my true love time and again. This magazine is awesome - I love and have already signed up for a one year subscription which is $34.97 for 6 big issues - Jan/Feb, March/April, June/July, Aug/Sept, Anniversary Oct/Nov and one big issue for December. The magazine started publishing bimonthly with the april/may 2009 issue. Each issue has Novelets and Shorts Stories, plus features book reviews by Charles DeLint, and other authors, a section about curiousities, films and a bit of humor.

The December 2009 is the size of a paperback novel with 258 pages full of short stories and novelets. Not a magazine to read in one sitting. I'm still not done reading all the stories, but have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I have so far. What I found interesting is the editoral by Gordon Van Gelder about a contest they had back in 1980. The magazine had a 30th anniversary contest: Win $2010 in the year 2010 and asked readers to come up with something from science fiction that they thought would be a reality by 2010. They drew a winner and managed to track down the winner who predicted hand held computers. His response is interesting and amusing.

It will take me a while to finish this particular issue, so can see the benefit of bimonthly issues. If you like science fiction and fantasy, I definitely recommend subscribing. And this is totally my unbiased, unpaid, peace, and happiness, I love science fiction opinion.

Check out their website, where you can find all the information about the magazine, the current issues, the departments and even an extensive bibliograghy. Plus they have a blog to check out. Thank you to Mr. Gordon Van Gelder, the editor and his staff for providing me with a copy. It is greatly appreciated.

National Novel Writing Month

Welcome to November - the month of writing madness

After a month of research, character development, outlining and writing the story in my mind, I gleefully sat down to start writing "Eyes in the Ashes." The goal is 50,000 in 30 days. The story will probably end up being longer than that - between 75,000 to 100,000. The goal for now is at least 1666 words per day to make the 50,000. I did cheat a bit today and didn't exactly turn off my internal editor. I wrote about 1300 words this morning, then when I went back in this afternoon, added to and expanded the scenes a bit. Which brought it up to 1751 words. Hey, if it works, it works. At least the scenes don't sound totally stupid and disjointed.

In the next few days, I'm going to write as much as possible to give myself a buffer. Because this is going to be a busy month since in addition to everything else, my next class - art history up to the 14th century starts tomorrow, Also my 50th birthday is coming up this month and I'm trying to figure out what going to do to celebrate. Perhaps a book bundle giveaway or two. Then add in Thanksgiving and family visiting. Well, you get the picture. Crazy cool, man.

Speaking of pictures, I picked out some pictures from hair style models online who matched what I thought my characters look like.

Female Main Character - Dr. Isabella D'Angelo

She's 5'5", Italian, nice shape, spunky and outspoken. Doesn't take any guff. Doctor of ethology - study of animal behavior and runs Wild Eyes Wildlife Foundation. She is an expert on bats.

Main Male Character: Sheriff Gregory Elias

This is the best picture, but add a few lines to make him a bit more craggy - like Joe Penny. He's 6'2, Greek, quiet and intense. He's the Sheriff of Wildtree Valley and a retired Texas Ranger.


Siblings: Ashley and Victor McCourt


They recently renovated an old mission into a exclusive inn and retreat for artists - Ashtor Court Inn. She's a classy bitch and he's arrogant. They think they have the Sheriff under their thumb, but he's got news for them. Bats invade the old chapel and belfry and they want the bats removed by any means possible.

In steps feisty Dr. Isabella who not only takes them to task for trying to harm protected animals, but is curious why the bats are abandoning their roosts in the caverns. Isabella stumbles across a dead body or two, bumps up against small town politics and the good old boy network, small town secrets and what may be an illegal smuggling ring.

2009 Book Reviews

2009 Book Reviews

*Note: this post rotates to the first of the month every month

1. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
   
2. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
   
3. If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper
   
4. Love by Design (2 classic novels) Loving Jack by Nora Roberts
5. Best Laid Plans by Nora Roberts
   
6. Five in a Row by Jane Coffey
   
7. Bad Faith by Aimee Thurlo
   
8. Unspeakable by Sandra Brown
   
9. Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble
   
10. To Catch a Thief by Christina Sky
    
11. Black Sands by Colleen Coble
    
12. Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods
    
13. Split Second by David Baldacci
    
14. Kiss - Ted Dekker
    
15. Spider's Web by Agatha Christie
    
16. Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur
    
17. Prey for a Miracle by Aimee Thurlo
    
18. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen
    
19. The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary
    
20. Dance with the Dragon by David Hagberg
    
21. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
22. For Her Eyes Only(3) Cait London
    
23. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
    
24. Hercules Poirot Christmas by Agatha Christi
    
25. A Ghost in the Machine by Caroline Graham
26. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
    
27. House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
28. Crimson Moon – Rebecca York
29. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
30. Promises in Death - J.D. Robb
31. Blood Bound (2) Patricia Briggs
32. Line of Duty by Teri Blackstock
33. The Girl She Used To Be - David Cristofano (review book)
    
34. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
35. Coral Moon - Brandilyn Collins
    
36. Dangerous Depths - Colleen Coble
    
37. Sag Harbor - Colson Whitehead (review book)
    
38. Fireproof - Eric Wilson
39. Hadassah - Tommy Tenney
40. The Seven Storey Mountain - Thomas Merten
    
41. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
42. Long Lost - Harlan Coben (review book)
    
43. The Mystery of Grace - Charles De Lint
44. The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie
45. Mercy Street - Mariah Stewart
46. The Titian Committee - Iain Pears
47. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn - Alison Goodman
    
48. 14 - J.T. Elison
    
49. A World I Never Made - James LePore (review book)
    
50. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
    
51. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
52. Stone's Fall - Iain Pears (review book)
    
53. Too Hot to Handle - Robin Kaye (review book)
    
54. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure - Alice Kimberly
    
55. Servant: The Acceptance - L.L. Foster
56. Servant: The Awakening - L.L. Foster
57. 1st to Die - James Patterson
58. Take No Prisoners - Cindy Gerard
59. Whisper No Lies - Cindy Gerard
60. Enemies and Allies - Kevin J. Anderson (review book)
    
61. ReDeal - Richard Turner (review book)
    
62. House of Dark Shadows - Richard Liparulo
63. On a Pale Horse - Piers Anthony
64. Visions in White - Nora Roberts
65. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
66. Inside Out - John Ramsey Miller
67. Thread of Fear - Laura Griffin
68. The Alchemist: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Michael Scott
69. Living a Charmed Life - Victoria Moran (review book)
    
70. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe (review book)
    
71. French Bred by Frederic Guarino (review book)
    
72. Virgin River by Robyn Carr
    
73. Homicide in Hard Cover - Kate Carlisle
74. Full Moon Rising by Keri Author
75. Safe Haven by Hannah Alexander
76. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
    
77. Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart
78. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
    
79. Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader by Joe Hilley
80. The Soul Collectors - Charles Quince (review book)
    
81. Hero Under Cover - Suzanne Brockmann
82. B is for Burglar - Sue Grafton
83. Night Fall - Cherry Adair
84. Shelter Mountain - Robyn Carr
85. Whispering Rock - Robyn Carr
86. Right Next Door - Debbie Macomber
87. Walls of Phantoms - Courtney Thomas
88. 20 Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler (review book)
    
89. Last Look - Mariah Stewart
90. Last Breath - Mariah Stewart
91. Last Words - Mariah Stewart
92. Forgotten - Mariah Stewart
    
93. Harbor Lights - Sherryl Woods
94. Baby I'm Yours - Susan Andersen
95. High Stakes - Lisa Jackson
96. Wizard's Secrets - R.L. Geerdes (review book)
    
97. Chasing Demons - R.L. Geerdes (review book)
    
98. Duma Key - Stephen King
99. Ice Blue - Anne Stuart
100. Fire and Ice - Anne Stuart
101. Second Chance Pass - Robyn Carr
102. Temptation Ridge - Robyn Carr
103. Cry Mercy - Mariah Stewart
104. Find Me - Debra Webb
105. Breakpoint - Joanna Ross
106. Black Ice - Anne Stuart
107. Black HIlls - Nora Roberts
108. I Can See You - Karen Rose (review book)
     
109. Benny and Shrimp - Katarina Mazetti (review book)
     
110. 1-2-3 Magic - Thomas Phelan
111. The Rapture - Liz Jensen (review book)
     
112. The Year of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs
     
113. Blood Dreams - Kay Hooper
114. Boneman's Daughter - Ted Dekker
115. The Divorce Party - Laura Dave
116. Kill Zone - Vicki Hinze
117. Paradise Valley - Robin Carr
118. Shattered - Joann Ross
119. Too Far Gone - Marliss Melton
120. The Inn at Eagle Point - Sherryl Wood
121. Flowers on Main - Sherryl Wood
122. Water Witch - Deborah LeBlanc (review book)
     
123. The Atlantis Revelation - Thomas Greanias (review book)
     
124. Side by Side - John Ramsey Miller
125. Watcher in the Woods - Robert Liparulo
126. Eighth Shepherd - Bodie Thoene
127. Blackening Song - Aimee and David Thurlo
128. Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Luis Zafon
     
129. A Circle of Souls - Preetham Grandhi (review book)
     
130. Paris City of Night - David Downie (review book)
     
131. Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey
132. Touch Not the Cat - Mary Stewart
133. 4:50 from Paddington - Agatha Christie
134. R is for Ricochet - Sue Grafton
135. Hot Blooded - Lisa Jackson
136. My Soul to Take - Rachel Vincent (review book)
     
137. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
138. Whiskey Gulf - Clyde Ford (review book)
     
139. From the Query to the Call - Elana Johnson (review book)
     
140. Witching Moon - Rebecca York
     
141. Intertwined - Gena Showalter (review book)
     
142. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
143. The Murder of King Tut - James Patterson (review book)
     
144. Vanished - Joseph Finder
145. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
146. The Angel - Carla Neggers
147. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
148. The Judas Strain - James Rollins
149. Hunt Her Down - Roxanne St. Claire
150. The Magician - Michael Scott
151. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny
152. Dracula: The Undead - Dacre Stoker (review book)
     
153. Hush, hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
154. Blind Descent - Nevada Barr
155. Kill Her Again - Robert Gregory Browne
156. The Ark, the Reed & the Fire Cloud - Jenny Cote
157. The Red Siren - M.L. Tyndale
158. From a Whisper to a Scream - Charles DeLint
159. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
160. NightWatch - Sergei Kukyanenko
161. Holiday Grind - Cleo Coyle
162. Sizzle and Burn - Jayne Ann Krentz
163. The Recipe Club - Andrea Isreal
     
164. The Associate - John Grisham
165. Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
     

2009 Books Challenges

Challenges

(Note: Post rotates to first of every month)

Hosted by Callapidder Day's
September 22nd through December 20, 2009

Link to book reviews

1. Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (banned book week)
2. Vanished - Joseph Finder (Take a Chance Challenge) (400)
3. The Arc, The Reed and The Firecloud - Jenny Cote (Random Reading Challenge)(464)
4. The Brutal Telling - Louise Penny (review book) (384)
5. The Red Siren - M.L. Tyndale (288)
6. Kill Her Again - Robert Gregory Browne (320)
7. Nightwatch - Sergie Lukyanenko (464)
8. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin (674)
   
9. Here Be Dragons - Sharon Kay Penman (720 pages)
10. Silent Thunder - Iris Johansen (384)
    
11. Strong Poison - Dorothy L. Sayers (272)
    
12. The Lost City of Oz - David Grann (352)
    
13. The Wyndham Case - Jill Paton Walsh (223)
    

Hosted by Jenners
June - November 30, 2009

1. Random Book Selection: Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper
   
2. Random Word: Lady Liberty by Vicki Hinze
   
3. Birth Year Book: 1959 Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell
   
4. Judge a Book By Its Cover: Vanished by Joseph Finder
   
5. Phoning An Author: The Venetian Affair - Helen MacInnes
   
6. Public Spying:
   
7. Random Bestseller: 1976 - Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart
   
8. Lit Riff
9. Poetic Review
   
10. Movie/Book Comparison: Inkheart (now to watch the movie)
    

Really Old Classics Challenge
hosted by Rebecca and Heather
Goal to read really old works per 1600 AD
November 2009 to February 2010

1. Confessions of St Augustine
2. Bonus book - to be determined.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge
Hosted by BethF of Beth Fish Reads
July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010

1. Dead Until Dark
2. Living Dead in Dallas
3. Club Dead
4. Dead to the World
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone

Lisa Jackson Reading Challenge
Hosted by J.Kaye Book Blog

August 2009 through December 2010

1. Hot Blooded
2. Cold Blooded
3. The Night Before
4. Shiver
5. Lost Souls
6. Wicked Games
   

Challenged by Heather J.
Challenge Blog
To be completed by 4/10/10

1. Watch The Princess Bride
2. Watch Willow
3. Watch The Last Unicorn
4. Watch Labyrinth
5. Watch at least 3 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess
6. Read Dune by Frank Herbert
7. Read The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
8. Read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
9. Read Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
10. Do a video blog about at least one of these items

Hugo Award Reading Challenge
Hosted by Me

1. 1953 The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester (have)
2. 1954 Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
3. 1955 They'd Rather be Eight - Mark Clifton
4. 1956 Double Star - Robert Heinlein
5. 1957 none
6. 1958 The Big Time - Fritz Leiber
7. 1959 A Case of Conscience - James Blish
8. 1960 Starship Troopers - Robert Heinlein
9. 1961 A Canticle for Leibwitz - Walter Miller
10. 1962 Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
11. 1963 The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick
12. 1964 Here Gather the Stars - Clifford D. Simak
13. 1965 The Wanderer - Fritz Leiber
    
14. 1966 Dune - Frank Herbert
    
15. 1967 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
16. 1968 Lord of Light - Roger Zelany
17. 1969 Stand on Zanzibar - John Brunner
    

Perpetual Challenges

Agatha Christie Reading Perpetual Challenge
Hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise

Dropping out as of 2010

1. Spider's Web
2. Hercules Poirot Christmas
3. Mysterious Affair at Styles
4. 4.50 from Paddington
5. The ABC Murders
6. And then there were none

U.S. Presidents Reading Project

1. His Excellency George Washington by Joseph Ellis
2. John Adams by David McCullough
   

Completed Challenges

Winter Reading Challenge

Hosted by Me!

1. The Unseen by T.L. Hines (finished 2008)
   
2. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb (# 1)
   
3. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (# 2) (#1 52 books)
   
4. If There Be Dragons by Kay Hooper (# 3)(#2 52 books)
   
5. Love by Design (2 classic novels) by Nora Roberts (#4)
   
6. Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble (# 5) (Also Christian Readers)
   
7. Five in a Row by Jane Coffey (Romance Challenge) (# 6)
   
8. Bad Faith by Aimee Thurlo (# 7)
   
9. Unspeakable by Sandra Brown (# 8)(# 3 52 books)
   
10. Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble (#9) (Christian Readers)
    
11. To Catch a Thief by Christina Sky (# 10)
    
12. Black Sands by Colleen Coble (# 11) (Christian Readers)
    
13. Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods (# 12)
    
14. Split Second by David Baldacci (# 13(#4 52 books)
    
15. Kiss - Ted Dekker (1/06/09) (#14)(Pub Challenge)
    
16. Spider's Web by Agatha Christie (# 15)
    
17. Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur (#16)
    
18. Prey for a Miracle by Aimee Thurlo (# 17)(#5 52 books)
    
19. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (#18)
    
20. The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary (#19)
    
21. Dance with the Dragon by David Hagberg (# 20)
    
22. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (#21)
    
23. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (#23)
    
24. Hercules Poirot Christmas by Agatha Christi (#24)(#6 52 Books)
    
25. A Ghost in the Machine by Caroline Graham (# 25)

Christian Readers Challenge – 2009

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

1. Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble
2. Distant Echoes by Colleen Coble
3. Black Sands by Colleen Coble
4. The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
5. Line of Duty by Teri Blackstock
6. Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins
7. Dangerous Depths by Colleen Coble
   
8. Fireproof by Eric Wilson
   
9. Hadassah by Tommy Tenney

Series to Finish Challenge 2009
(all books apply to Romance Challenge as well)
Hosted by Kathrin at Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic

1. Killing Fear (1) Allison Brennan
   
2. Playing Dead (3) Allison Brennan
   
3. Blood Bound (2) Patricia Briggs
   
4. Iron Kissed (3) Patricia Briggs
   
5. Take No Prisoners (2) Cindy Gerard
6. Whisper No Lies (3) Cindy Gerard
7. For Her Eyes Only (3) Cait London
   
8. Edge of Midnight (4) Shanna McKenna
9. Thread of Fear - Laura Griffin (3)

Once Upon A Time III
Hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings

1. Eon: Dragon Eye Reborn - Allison Goodman
   
2. House of Dark Shadows - Robert Liparulo
   
3. Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian 1) - Keri Arthur
   
4. Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
   
5. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
   
6. On a Pale Horse - Piers Anthony
7. The Alchemist: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Michael Scott
   
8. The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan ( also src)
   
9. The Mystery of Grace - Charles De Lint
   

Spring Reading Thing 2009
Hosted by Katrina at Callipidder Day's
Theme: First time author reads.

1. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
   
2. 1^st to Die – James Patterson
3. 14 - J.T. Ellison
   
4. A World I Never Made - James LePore
   
5. French Bred - Frederic Guarino
   
6. Homicide in Hard Cover - Kate Carlisle
7. House of Dark Shadows – Robert Liparulo
8. Inside Out - John Ramsey Miller
9. Long Lost - Harlan Coben
   
10. Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stuart (didn't finish - meh!)
    
11. Re-Deal: A Time Travel Thriller - Richard Turner
    
12. Safe Haven - Hannah Alexander
13. Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader- Joe Hilley
14. Stone's Fall - Iain Pears
    
15. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure - Alice Kimberely
16. The Lightning Thief - Riordan
17. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
    
18. The Link - B. Sandy (shelved)
    
19. The Physick Book Of Deliverance Dane -Katherine Howe
    
20. The Soul Collectors - Charles Quince
    
21. The Titian Committee - Iain Pears
    
22. Too Hot To Handle - Robin Kaye
    
23. Virgin River - Robyn Carr

Dewey's Books Reading Challenge

Hosted by Robin at A Fondness for Reading
and Chris at Stuff as Dreams are Made On

1. Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
2. The Uncommon Reader (also part of casual challenge)
   
3. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
   
4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
   
5. House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

Random Reading Challenge
Hosted by Caribousmom
August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010
Level III - 12 books randomly picked from TBR list and read randomly
Link to reviews

1. The Blackening Song - Aimee and David Thurlo
2. Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
3. Side by Side - John Ramsey Miller
4. R is for Ricochet - Sue Grafton
5. Charmed and Dangerous - Toni McGee Causey
6. The Magician - Michael Scott
7. The Angel - Carla Neggers
8. The Arc, The Reed, and the Fire Cloud - Jenny Cote
9. The Red Siren - M.L. Tyndale
10. The Associate - John Grisham
11. The ABC Murders - Agatha Christie
12. Sizzle and Burn - Jayne Ann Krenze