My Journey With Audio Books – and a GIVEAWAY for you!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)60 Comments

Today is the kick off to audio book week (thank you Jen at Devourer of Books!)and I could not be more THRILLED!  I listen to as much audio as I read books…. some weeks, audio beats out the books.  Now – before you non audio book listeners click off this page, bear with me because really – this post is for you.  😀

Those of us who listen to audio know how awesome it is… yet I know from many of my readers, they think it is all good and well for me… but they really couldn’t possibly.  SO let’s take a little journey together shall we?

It’s fall 2009 and I have several trips I need to make to Grand Marias Minnesota.  this is a 4 hour drive, one way from my home.  Now normally, I am an 80’s rockin’ to the music kind of gal… but 4 hours of hard pounding tunes in my head (even if some are pop music – yup… I said it :razz:), gets to be too much.  At that point… I would rather listen to silence.

But this particular fall is different… as I am  fairly new to the book blogging world and recently had discovered Hachette Audio.  They gave audio books away to listen to and review.  Seriously new concept for me.  SO sure enough, in my jeep I have an audio book… it is James Patterson’s Worst Case (the Michael Bennett series – and yes…totally the third book in the series but how would I have known that?)  Anyway… I popped the audio into my vehicle and I was hooked.  The story grabbed me and while making the long haul to Grand Marais, I was able to get deep into the story – loving the sound effects, the narrator, EVERYTHING.

I ask myself, “Where can I get more of this?”

So that is where it began – but it only lead to more… I had to have more.  I loved it and I could listen to audio when I was unable to read a book.

*Hand waving rapidly back and forth*

“But Sheila, I can’t listen to audio – I can’t stay focused on it and it puts me to sleep!”

I hear that a lot.  So here’s the thing.  I can not just get cozy in a chair and listen to audio.  I would be passed out in no time or my mind drifting to something else…. like if there is ice cream in the house, or is the DVR is set up right to record Survivor…. HOWEVER as many of us readers are multi taskers, here is how audio works, and when it works for me:

  • In the car – I have audio all the time.  I listen to it to work, to the grocery store, everywhere…. and road trips where I am riding alone – it is awesome and passes the time!

  • While mowing the lawn.  We have a big lawn.  On the rider I still invest 3+ hours on the lawn once, sometimes twice a week.  I pop in my ear buds on the IPOD and mow to a story… now instead of singing while I mow and scaring the neighbors, I can laugh out loud or cry and let them think I am crazy.  😛

  • While cooking.  I don’t have the patience to stay in the kitchen.  I have to start dinner, then move on to something else which usually means I forget about dinner.  Dinner dies.  BUT now I listen to audio Cd’s in the kitchen and I hang out…. its like it calms me and suddenly I enjoy chopping vegetables, and cleaning up while an audio is on.  I am happy – my hubby is really happy.

  • While Cleaning… if I am working on one room I place the audio where I can listen to it and go to work.  I enjoy the work more, and get a book in on the side.  “Look ma – no hands!”

  • Getting ready in the mornings.  I spend about 30 minutes average a day in the bathroom in the morning.  I keep my IPOD speakers in there and can listen to audio while I get ready for my day.

Audio doubles my “reading” in a year.  There are books I would probably never get to if it were not for audio.  I am more daring with audio… I listen to classics on audio, and non fiction as well as fiction.  You may be amazed at what a great narrator can do. 

*hand shoots up*

“But Sheila…. audio can be pricey…”

True.  However check your local library.  Ours has a wide variety of audio and is connected to many more libraries in the state so I can reserve from another library on-line and have it delivered to my library within days of the request.

Also – audible.com is your friend.  I signed up last year and right away you receive two free audio, after that you receive a credit a month to pick one out for 7.99.  No contract – you cancel anytime.  AND they have wonderful sales – a couple of months back I picked up quite a few for 4.95 each.

That all being said – audio and non audio listeners alike, here is my challenge to you.  This week… start an audio.  Any audio… once you have listened to it come back here and link your review to this post.  I will make a side bar contest link so you can find it.  If you are not a blogger, you can still participate by coming back after you have listened to an audio and share in the comments what you listened to – where you listened to it and what you thought of it. 

In two weeks from today I will draw a name using random.org out of those who link (or comment) about an audio they listened to and the results.  (If you have a blog – I would prefer you also link your review of the audio).  The winner will receive an audio sent to them from Amazon of a value of $20 or less before shipping.

That’s it – happy audio week everyone – let the festivities begin!  😀

** When you have your audio reviewed – link it below to be entered!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)92 Comments

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  D  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited.  **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

Last weeks winner:

Samita at Book Purring

WOO HOO!!!!  Please choose an item out of the Reading Cafe Grab Shelves  and email me your choice with your mailing address as well!   journeythroughbooks@gmail.com

**Updates have been made to the Reading Cafe Grab shelves!

Wow…. it probably looks like I have not been reading this week but I have.  😀  I have just been posting like crazy all things BEA related while they were fresh in my mind and before it was all old news.  Believe me…. I have posts backing up over here which is kind of exciting.

So speaking of the crazy posts I put up this week…. you really will want to check some of these out:


From Books To Broadway – a review of Mary Poppins

Dinner with Beth Hoffman (Author of Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt)

Almost Home by Mariah Stewart (yes – a book review!!!)

The Crocodile Hunter meets BEA Box #1 (If you want to hear me make a complete idiot of myself… you have to see this…)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (yes – an actual book review!  :D)

Box 2 from BEA and what was in it

What I Learned at Book Blogger Con (BBC)

Touring Greenwich Village and Lunch With Adriana Trigiani

Harry Potter Exhibition and why I can’t let go (I can’t… I just can’t… I’m not ready yet… *sob*)


Weekend Cooking:  Spiced Almonds (a treat from New York!)

BEA – That’s a Wrap – The Final Post of BEA 2011

So as you can see – I have been busy posting posting posting about BEA.  😛

Moving forward for this week I think the biggest thing I want to tell you is that Thursday is my 2 year Blogiversary.  If you attended last year, you know I go all out – as you the readers are what makes me want to share bookish stories and reviews.  If you want to see what was given away and what fun happened here (of the comments are as fun as the post) check it out here.  And know that this year will be more of the same – big giveaways, and hopefully a lot of fun comments from the party attendees and you are all invited!!!

Other than the blogiversary – it is also Audio Book week!  I have many audio reviews and audio related posts lined up for this week, and even if you are not a fan of audio I am going to ask that you check out what I am posting, you just never know :D. 

Mary Beth Latham is a happily married woman entirely devoted to her three teenaged children. When her talented daughter Ruby casually announces she’s breaking up with her boyfriend Kirenan, a former neighbor who’s become like family, Mary Beth is slightly alarmed, but soon distracted by her son Max, who’s feeling overshadowed by his extroverted, athletic twin brother Alex. Quindlen’s novel moves briskly, propelled by the small dramas of summer camp, proms, soccer games and neighbors, until the rejected Kirenan blindsides the Lathams, and the reader, with an incredible act of violence. Left with almost nothing, Mary Beth struggles to cope with loss and guilt, protect what she has left, and regain a sense of meaning.

I had this one at reserve at the library and have already started listening to it.

 

 

 

With her older sister, Emma, planning a wedding and her younger sister, Sophie, preparing to launch a career on the London stage, Lulu can’t help but feel like the failure of the Atwater family. Lulu loves her sisters dearly and wants nothing but the best for them, but she finds herself stuck in a rut, working dead-end jobs with no romantic prospects in sight. When her mother asks her to find a cache of old family recipes in the attic of her childhood home, Lulu stumbles across a collection of letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. In her letters, Jo writes in detail about every aspect of her life: her older sister, Meg’s, new home and family; her younger sister Amy’s many admirers; Beth’s illness and the family’s shared grief over losing her too soon; and the butterflies she feels when she meets a handsome young German. As Lulu delves deeper into the lives and secrets of the March sisters, she finds solace and guidance, but can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu find a place for herself in a world so different from the one Jo knew?

I was soooo excited to pick this up at BEA!

 

 

I don’t know a lot about this one and Amazon did not have a good description.  I picked it up at BEA from my good friends at Blackstone audio and thought I should really give it a try for audio week. 

I think that is about as much as I will get done this week unless I get into more audio.  I have a bike ride this coming weekend – a 150 mile for MS and I will be leaving Friday for the cities for that ride which will take place on Saturday and Sunday – 75 miles each day.  HOPING for good weather 😉

In the mean time – I am UBER excited to see what you are all reading as we enter into June.   Please add your link to your Monday What Are You Reading post below where it says “click here”. 

Have an awesome week!  😀

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BEA: That’s A Wrap (as in my FINAL post about BEA)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)29 Comments

Ok I know I know…. I have been trying to get through sharing with you the BEA experience with the posts I have put up this week.  Honestly – I could do a few more, however, I need to wrap this up.

Next week is a HUGE week here at Book Journey.  Starting tomorrow, it is AUDIO WEEK and I have many fun things lined up for that including audio reviews, discussions, an interview with a narrator that you audio lovers will most likely recognize, and a giveaway.  On Thursday it is also my Blogiversary and I like to party it up big time over here.  For a hint of what to expect, check out last years post.  We had so much fun and the giveaways were awesome.  Your comments cracked me up and really made my day – I plan to run it very similar this year as well :).  I have great things lined up for this year too so please mark your calendars to be sure to stop in on Thursday.

So let’s get back to BEA.

Here is the final run down of what I have not yet chatted about….

  • On Monday when Reagan and I arrived in New York we hurried to Simon and Schuster as we were already late for that, and then walked what we thought would be an easy walk to the YA Teen Author Carnival.  We walked a LONG time, and later in the week found out that this area of New York is quite difficult to navigate so mental high-five to us who eventually found our way 😀
  • While I have chatted about Tuesday at BEA (and running the info booth which was awesome!), and I chatted about Wednesday at BEA too – but did not share with you Wednesday evening.  Wednesday evening was the Harper Collins Book Blogger Reception which was AWESOME!  This was for me the first chance for this year to get to hang out and catch up with some of the other bloggers I chat with on-line and off.  The reception was wonderful and crowded with authors, Harper Collins peeps (Hi Jennifer!!!) and bloggers. It was really fun to chat and connect.
Me and Alison (Alison's Book Marks) - I adore Alison. I met her last year at this same event and we just started chatting like old friends. It was awesoem to connect with her again.
M L Malcolm and me. You always know this lovely lady by the hat. M L wrote Heart of Lies and Heart of Deception
Talia Carner and me. Talia wrote Jerusalem Maiden, a book I am on tour for this week...
The Harper Collins reception - (R) Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews,Theresa from Shelf Love, me, and Ash from English Major's Junk Food

I really wish I would have taken more pictures – but next year I will work on that.  I swear I had moments where I just…. forgot. 

After the reception, Heather from 3o+ A Lifetime Of Books had gathered a group of us to go out to dinner.  It was just a few doors down from the reception so we all walked to Bice.

Me and Florinda from the 3 R's
Here we all are at dinner.... it was so much fun!
I had a shrimp and mushroom past that was delicious!

I think I shared with you all of Thursday and Friday…. so I will end this last of the BEA 2011 posts with a few random pictures I have not had the chance to post:

Reagan and I commented how some of the streets of new York look like the Stay Puff Marshallow Man from the movie Ghostbusters could show up arnound the corner anytime...
Me and Jill from Rhapsody of Books - I ran into her more than anyone else all throughout BEA - it was funny! We never said good-bye, we said see you later. 🙂
Sarah Pekkanen (Author of Skipping A Beat) and I met last year and had a chance to reconnect again this year.

I think that about covers it… for touristy type things we did this year, Reagan and I went to the Happy Potter Exhibition (I posted about this earlier today), The top of the empire state building, and to Mary Poppins on Broadway (also posted about earlier this week.)

It has been a lot of fun sharing BEA 2011 with you.  If you are an attendee – that is so awesome and I hope I get to see you next year!  If you are considering attending, I have to tell you if you can do this one time – DO IT.  I have a hard time putting into words what a great experience this is but I hoping the oodles of posts this week gives you a hint.  😀

Weekend Cooking: Spiced Almonds

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Hi everyone.  If you have been around here lately you may have noticed the mess from BEA everywhere – books, notes, swag stuff….  I have literally been chatting BEA all week-long.

Ummm…. can you say “addict?”

This is my post for Weekend Cooking the weekly meme from Beth Fish Reads.  Earlier this week I talked about a dinner at Mercer’s Kitchen in New York with the amazing Beth Hoffman.  I had also mentioned the delicious spiced almonds we had while sitting at the bar and waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.  Since coming home… my mind has still been thinking about the almonds. 😛

With a little help from Google (my gosh… what did we do before Google?) I found a recipe that I thought would be fun to try to see if I can come close to the awesome experience I had at Mercer’s Kitchen. 

 

Spiced Almonds

Yields 2 cups  (I doubled this as I am that much in love with these!)

You will need:

2 cups raw almonds (you can use another nut…. but my fav is the majestic almond)

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)

3 tablespoons white granulated sugar

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground allspice

½ – ¾ teaspoon cayenne powder

½ teaspoon salt

 

Directions:

Prepare counter space or a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil to place nuts to dry.  Set aside.  Take the sugars and spices and mix well in a medium size bowl.  In a large dry saute pan on medium heat stir in the almonds and continue stirring frequently to avoid burning.  Once they are well heated, then stir in the butter.  Once almonds are well coated, transfer to the bowl with the spices and coat well.  Put the almonds on the prepared paraffin wax or foil.  Spread them apart so they can cool, separating with a fork.  

Store in an airtight jar - or freeze in a large ziploc for future use

 

That’s it.

Results? 

It’s close.  The spices did not stick as well to the nut as they had at Mercer’s Kitchen.  (Any advice on what would make that happen is welcome :D) 

I think these would go well with a cold beverage of choice – The Lemonade recipe here would go well.

Morning Meanderings: Harry Potter Exhibition and Why I Cant Let Go…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Mmmmm…..good morning.

I feel like I had a good nights sleep after a 10 hour headache which I believe is all about the pollen.  It was so thick yesterday when we went bike riding you could see it on the side of the roads and in the grass.  I have been sniffly (my word) and sneazy (like the dwarf) ever since.  And with such an exciting week coming up – I really do not have time to be lying low.

I suspect soon I will be done talking about BEA but I still have not quite spilled out everything I seen and did.  This morning seems like a great day to be talking about the Harry Potter Exhibition in New York.  To someone who has grown up herself on the books along with her kids (hey… I am about as grown up as I am going to get here!) this was a must see.  Even linking it now gives me a bitter-sweet feel as it is with heavy heart that we close out the final chapter of the movies in July of this year.

*sigh*

Ok….

When you walk into the Exhibition we stand in a room where all around us are screen scenes of the actors through the years with great “Potterish” background theme music.  Within the first two minutes I had tears in my eyes.

In the next room we have a chance to be sorted by the sorting hat (which I had heard about pre-exhibit and was going to be sure I had a chance to be sorted.  I was…….  GRYFFINDOR!!!!

*whew!*

Once inside you will find everything from school uniforms the actors actually wore through the years, their wands (OH!  *sigh* again), Quidditch uniforms, the brooms, Harry’s invitation to Hogwart’s, ball gowns, the tri-wizard cup, the Marauders map, Harry’s glasses, props from the classrooms, and we were able to give a try at pulling a young mandrake out of their pots…. awesomeness!!!

Ahhh, but don’t take my word for it…. (a mere Muggle) see for yourself:


and here is a sneak peek into the exhibition in New York which is supposed to sadly be the last stop in North America for this exhibition.

Reagan from Miss Remmers Reviews and I enjoyed seeing this very much and even had a chance to play a little Quidditch.  (I am sure we are both going to be asked to join the team).

A must see for any Harry Potter fan!

As I have talked about before J K Rowling and the entire cast of characters that came out of her mind, and then out of her pen – fascinate me.  Both my boys grew up reading these books and I read right along with them.  For me, the books were a wonderful way to connect with my kids – and even when Justin was a Junior in High School and that final book came out, we were still reading them together.  I have pictures (somewhere) of my boys in capes and casting spells with sticks from the yard)… if a book can make you want to ask it out… it much have magic in it.  😀

Once you get through the exhibit of course you are deposited into a store with everything you may wish to purchase for your full experience:  t-shirts, wands, ties, robes, the candy, collector pieces, books, costumes, board games, and more.  I made a purchase that really excited me – and that was the first book, hard cover Anniversary Edition.  I am so excited about this as I have all the books but this one in hard cover.  I have never been able to find the first book in hard cover.  SSQQUUEEEEEE!!!!!

Now that I have it – I am going to read it before I shelf it. 

In answer to my own question on this post title, I can not let go because these books were such a  big part of many years of connecting with my kids, and with a story line that blew me away with each new book that came out.  These books made both my boys readers.  They made me believe in the magic and beauty of words… more than I think I ever have before. 

If you are reading the Harry Potter books this year as the final movie closes in, or if you were thinking about it… Shannon at Giraffe Days sent me this link to a Harry Potter Read A Long that starts this month…. one book a month.  How exciting is that?  AND Elle and Kate from The Book Memoirs sent me an invite to join their Harry Potter Week and The Book Of Memoirs that starts tomorrow, June 6 – 12.  I don’t know a lot about this one other than it looks like their will be a giveaway a day!

** Random note – biked 40 miles yesterday on the Tour Of Lakes bike ride.  The weather was GORGEOUS.  I have a 150 mile ride coming this next weekend and hoping the weather can be the same for that two day ride.

Touring Greenwich Village and lunch with Adriana Trigiani

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments
Me and Adriana
Me and Adriana

Throughout the week I have been sharing with you moments of last weeks BEA.  I probably could have bunched them up into fewer posts, but each topic I have posted on has required more of me than a few descriptive words.  I think even with this being my second year attending BEA, I have trouble believing such an event exists, as this is truly what I would have envisioned Heaven to be like….. books, books everywhere :D…

That said – forgive me as I gush out even more BEA posts….

On Thursday May 26, I had a wonderful opportunity to go on the tour of Greenwich Village as invited by one of my favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani.  Our event started with a taxi ride to Greenich Village (apparently called “The Village” by New Yorkers) where we met Nikki, who was our tour guide.  What was super cool is this is Adrianna’s own tour – Called Adriana Trigiani Tours.  The tour(s) is centered around places she mentions in her books and for a book lover and a big fan of Adriana Trigiani it is beyond AWESOME! 

There were 10 of us on the tour and it was so much fun.  Nikki was amazing and I soon learned she knew her stuff.  As we walked we learned not only the connections of the places to the books, but also the history they held in New York, as well as the history of Greenwich Village.  Our tour took us to the Church that is mentioned as a place you may have found two of Adriana’s favorite characters, Lucia Sartori and Valentine Roncalli (Lucia Lucia).

Gorgeous isn't it?
Gorgeous isn't it?

The oldest house in the village built in 1799, updated and expanded in 1836, and a third floor added in 1928 still remains at 77  Bedford Street.  The skinniest home in New York (I believe it was all of New York) is also in the Village, notably 9 1/2 feet on the outside, 8 1/2 feet wide on the inside and 32 feet deep. 

*groan* Where would I put my books?

We walked on and seen gorgeous homes and gardens, at one point our guide pointed out an apartment and said that we may recognize this as the outside of Monica’s apartment from the show Friends.  (I LOVED Friends!!!)

Monica's Apartment from the sitcom Friends

As we walked and took in the sights and learned the facts, we stopped at McNulty’s Rare Teas which was a delight for the senses!  Walking inside there were rows and rows on assorted teas with incredible names like Apple Pie, Cinnamon Stick, etc… I just INHALED. 

MMMM..... smelled delicious inside and out!

Of course there is so much more to this walking tour and I know I am not doing it justice but trust me – this is an experience you will not want to miss.  Check out Adriana’s Tour site and learn more AND for those of you going to Italy (I am jealous…. but that’s beside the point :D) be sure to see Adriana’s Italy tour as well which I here is just as divine!

As if that was not enough of a treat, we were then escorted into the Standard Grill which has a gorgeous floor tiled in pennies…. I kid you not.  PENNIES.  Check it out here.  We all sat at a long table in a room all set up for us and while we chatted with our group… in walked the lady we had all come to see…. Adriana Trigiani. 

“Hello Ladies!” she exclaimed and we instantly greeted her.

Adriana is always so down to earth and real.  She treats us like old friends, and once I stop pinching myself, I believe I am.  As the bread is passed around the table and the water glasses filled, Adriana starts sharing stories – which I LOVE to hear, from her early writing days, to how she came to live in the Village…  I could listen to her for days….

When it came time to order, we had little menus placed in front of us as and we chose a soup or salad starter, a main dish, and dessert.  I went with the orange squash soup, as I was intrigued that it said it had Yogurt in it.  It came served chilled and it was delicious!

Then came my main dish – I chose the grilled egg plant and I was so pleased I forgot to take a picture of it.  It was fantastic and I would definitely have that again and highly recommend it.

In the end came a lovely dessert, I went with the raspberry topped cheese cake that was… oh my gosh…. words can not describe but I can tell you my mouth is watering right now as I think about it….

The food and the company – SUPERB!  We talked and laughed and had pictures taken.  I adore my time with Adriana and this group of fantastic bloggers.  I can not wait for her next book to come out!!!

Left back: Julie (Booking Mama), Candace (Beth Fish Reads),Dawn (She's Too Fond Of Books), Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews), Me, Adrianna Trigiani, Alison (Alison's Book Marks), Nikki our wonderful tour guide, Front left: Diane (BookChickDi), Lenore (Presenting Lenore), Kathy (Bermuda Onion), and Tanya (Dog Eared Copy).

As we gathered to leave, Adriana handed each of us two of her books, signed to each one of us. 

Hopefully I did not overdose on the pictures here but this was such a visual experience I had to share it.  😀

Morning Meanderings… Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning.  This is an early one today as Wendy and I are on the road at 6:30 am to get to our bike ride – The Tour Of Lakes by 7:30 am starting time.  30 or 60 miles…. we have not decided yet.

Yesterday afternoon I sadly had to return many (MANY) library books unread.  *sigh*.  I had renewed them on-line twice and then finally it came down to who was I kidding… as much as I wanted to read them… it wasn’t going to happen in the time frame I needed to read them, and really…. has it come to this?  Book hording?  Really Sheila?  Holding books for my own selfish reasons making it impossible for others to read them…

What am I?  Two?

SO back they went.  As my habit would go – I had two to pick up that I had on hold.  Of course I am not so cured that I left them behind… oh no, I hauled home the copy of Discovery Of Witches I have been so curious about and the audio of Every Last One by Anna Quindlin.  What?  Did you expect me to be cured overnight?  Please!  This will take YEARS of practice….  😛

What I Learned at BBC (Book Blogger Convention)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)56 Comments

The Book Blogger Convention (BBC) for the last two years has followed the excitement of the Book Expo of America (BEA).  When the expo ends on Thursday, Thursday evening has been a Book Blogger Reception and then Friday is the BBC, a day committed to Book Bloggers connecting with authors, publishing houses…  it is a Book Blogger work shop and well worth attending.

After a delicious breakfast served at 7:45 am and a chance to build your own swag bag, we all settled into a large room to listen to our Keynote Speaker, Sara Wendell.  Sara is a fellow book blogger and if I remember this correctly (it was early after a crazy busy week) I think an author too.  Sara was funny, describing the first time she was offered a galley…

“What’s a galley?” she had asked.  When they said it was a book sent to her for free to read and review she was shocked.  When a large box a short time later “THUMPED” on her front step she was beside herself….  FREE BOOKS.  MY PRECIOUS!  (picture Gollum here).  When Sara had finished reading the books she called the company and asked where to return them.  They laughed at her and told her to do what she wanted with them – the lady on the phone told Sara that she burned her copies…

“Burning BOOKS?” Sara had cried out in disbelief…. no, “I will keep them.”  The lady had laughed and explained that the books tend to accumulate…. (as a two-year book reviewer… *looking around reading room* I can not agree more.)

Besides being funny Sara also had great advice for taking your blog to the “next level” which means something different for each of us. 

I really enjoyed listening to Sara.

Picture by Meg from "Write Meg!" as she was awesome enough to get pictures! (Click on it to go to her wonderful post about BBC)

Next up was Ask A Publisher or Publicist session and I took a lot away from this.  A great panel led by Jennifer Hart (Harper Collins).  We had on the panel:

Lydia Hirt (Penguin Group)

Kelly Leonard (Hatchette Book group)

Lucille Rettino (Simon and Schuster)

Allison Verost (Harper Teen)

Ksenia Winnicki (Macmillan)

Here is my take away:

  1. You may have heard of some of the big promotions around the blog when they chose blogs to represent Districts for the release of Mockingjay by Susanne Collins and again when they chose blogs to represent courts for the release of the latest Iron King book.  These promotions generate excitement and the panel encouraged us as reviewers if we have ideas to feel free to share them by emailing the publishers.  (They graciously gave us lists of contact emails)  

  2. Galleys cost more than the actual books (I did not know this and this was really a wake up call for me).  In respect of this new-found knowledge I have been taking all the books as they come into my home and adding their release dates to my Google calendar so I can better watch when i should be reviewing these.

  3. We can post a  review for an upcoming release at the point it is available for pre-order.  We do not have to wait for release date.

  4. Posting your review to other sources besides your blog is important.  I currently always try to also put it on Amazon, but learned that when the Publishers were asked, they really would like to see it on Good Reads as well as Good reads apparently connects to other sources.  (I did not know this!)  I am a member of Good Reads but terrible at posting my reviews there as the time spent writing the post, adding it to Amazon… but knowing now that this is important I am going to make the time to do this.

  • They also said that we save them time if we also send them a link to our reviews when they are up, as they like to let the authors know.

  • Also – they do appreciate it is we also let them know of reviews we do to older titles as well.

5.  When requesting a book for review – be polite.  (I would think this is a given, but apparently it is not.)  Explaining which blog you have, traffic, etc… is helpful if you do not already have a relationship with this publisher.  Do not demand a book – in one case the blogger apparently said they needed the book by the weekend…. wow…. uhhh…. *delete request*.  Also helpful is to include your mailing address at the time of the ask.  This saves them the time of having to connect with you again and request it.  *I have a separate email I use for my bookish side and I have added my address to my signature so it shows up on all emails.

I then went into the author Speed Dating event with Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews) and Alison (Alison’s Book Marks)  *waves*.  I really enjoyed this session where we (bloggers) sat around tables and a different author came to our table every 15 minutes to discuss their book  and we had opportunities to ask questions as well.  This idea was BRILLIANT!  (Yes I quote Harry Potter….)  .  I had a lot of fun meeting authors that were new to me, as well as a few that I had previously met and it was so fun!!  Of course this also added to my “must read” list.  *sigh – but a happy sigh*

The final session I went to Technology For Blogging because seriously – I need all the help I can get.  I went into this blogging gig hardly knowing how to make a post.  Everything else I learned by visiting blogs, seeing things I liked, emailing the blogger and asking how they did it.  Another reminder that book bloggers are incredibly generous and helpful people. 

What I took away from this session was:

  1. Do NOT automatically connect your blog to Twitter and Facebook.  *Guilty as charged*  I think it was Anna Moore who said this (Blog Graphic design).  She said that we should only connect to other social media with our “best of the best” posts.  I agree and disagree… I believe I will keep my posts connected to Twitter as they are all bookish people there – the only twitter connections I have.  I do however agree on the Facebook part as that is everyone from family, friends, co workers, bookish types… some of my posts do not need to go there.  I have not decided at this time to open up a blog page on Facebook and do not think I will.  One more thing to try to keep up with 😀
  2. Connect connect connect… we talked about Tumblr which I know little about – but also other ways to connect with others which in turn will create relationships that in turn will (possibly) become readers of your blog.  

By the end of BBC I was full of information and chalk it up as a successful and fun day.  I learned a little, made many connections with bloggers and authors and publishers and say hats off to the hard-working behind the scenes bloggers who pulled off a successful event!  😀

Morning Meanderings: Is It Possible To Be More Of A Book Addict Than I Already Am?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Good morning! 

*fumbles for COFFEE Cup*

I keep thinking I am over the tired of last week and then suddenly I feel wiped out again.  I passed out in the recliner yesterday at about 5 pm and slept until 6:30….

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? 

Anyway… I am still soaring high from BEA and just in awe of everything book related, the new people I met, the emails I am getting, the organizing of books, the choosing what to read first out of these lovely works of art….

books are my form of art….

Anyway – last night I came upstairs to see that when Al came home he had brought up my BEA box #2 and put it on the counter.  What a man to carry that all the way up from our business (which is behind the house quite a ways back) as that box was 46 pounds.  I was excited – but it was almost midnight so I decided until this morning to dig into it…. it kind of is like Christmas as this box was packed on day one of BEA and I had no idea any longer what was in it…

This morning, I opened it up (sorry… I had no clever idea for a book spoof so you will have to live through yesterdays for a while longer… :razz:)

Secret Legacy and Dark Legacy by Anna DeStefano (I spoke with the publisher on this one and they put them in that cute little bag you see behind then.

First Drop Of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (I am curious, not sure if it a fit for me – but it is audio and that is something I am always looking for!)

Witches Of East End by Melissa De La Cruz (Gorgeous cover!!!)

Sleight by Kirsten Kaschock (curious about this one!)

5 Love Languages of Appreciation In The Workplace (well who doesn’t like that?  LOL)

Following Atticus by Tom Ryan (look at the puppy!)

An Uncaged Eagle by Richard Toliver (wow.  I wound up talking to this author for about 15 minutes about his book.  It sounds really powerful).

Life Is Not A Stage by Florence Henderson (curious about this one… I do like the occasional memoir)

Oh Beautiful by John Paul Godges (This author tells me there are some Minnesota moments in this one!)

Living Beyond Your Feelings by Joyce Meyer (I will admit – I am not a big fan, but I have a friend who is that I can pass it to – or to my library)

Nazareth Child by Darrell James (This one looks good and had peaked my interest!)

Tuesdays At The Castle by Jessica Day George (I like the occasional middle grade and this one looks good!)

Escape From Zobadak by Brad Gallagher (another awesoem looking MG)

Agent 6 by Tom Rob Smith (author of Child 44 – what a writer!)

One Day I Will Write About This Place by Binyavanga Wainaina (I could not pass up such a cover…..)

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee (this is actually a read a long book I am doing later this year!)

Coffee Talk by Morton Satin (all about coffee.. what’s not to love?)  😛

We All Wore Stars by Theo Coster (Memories of Anne Frank by her classmates)

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler (VERY curious about this one – reading the back it has a 13 reasons Why feel to it)

Vampire Empire by Clay and Susan Griffith (I talked tot his couple at BEA)

What Happened To Good Bye by Sarah Dessen (I have read and enjoyed this author before)

Pure by Julianna Baggott (wow what a cover – and 429 pages!)

OOH!  Audio!  And SWAG! (I am getting lazy writing all these titles out, so if you have questions about these ask me in the comments.  😀

Fury by Elizabeth Miles (wowza…. cover love!)

GLOW by Amy Kathleen Ryan (I have heard good things about this one!)

The 39 Clues – Medusa Plot (Had to grab this one – the whole 39 clues concept I think is brilliant and fun for young readers)

The Art Of Fielding by Chad Harbach (no idea what this one is about but people seemed excited about it…)

The Ambition by Lee Strobel (I have not read Strobel in a long time and I am curious about this new to me title)

The Maid’s Daughter by Mary Romero (interesting… looks to be a true story and was categorized under the genre social sciences) 

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins (looks like a fun rainy day read!)

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel (loving this crazy cover…. wishing I could do that….LOL)

The Soldiers Wife by Margaret Leroy (looks good!)

The Orchard by Theresa Weir (oh I like the looks of this one too!)

So that is the end of the BEA books.  Both boxes made it safely and intact.  I have been trying to capture their release dates to try to read them around that time but wow – many of them release on the same day (and I wonder again – how important is sleep?)  😛

I still have BEA posts to write – I will be working on that a bit this morning as it really is one of the highlights of my year.  This afternoon my friend Wendy and I are joining in on the Twin Cities bike club ride in Nisswa for 30, maybe 60 miles, we will see how we feel as we are planning to do the Tour Of Lakes tomorrow too and that one is a 60 (hopefully).  I need the exercise – I have had a three-week sabbatical and man…. I feel it.  (Probably why I keep snoozing…)  😀