Book Journey

Morning Meanderings… Still Here

Published on May 5, 2015May 5, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)102 Comments

Checking in. At 31 days since the accident, life has taken on a new normal. I cry every day, yet every day I wake up and wonder if this will be the day I have no tears left. Every day to this point I have had more than enough tears. I have been surrounded with friends and family from morning to night and that has brought me through many HARD days. At this point I am trying not to lean so heavily on these amazing people who come to sit with me, text me, message me, or bring me coffee or provide dinner for my family or encourage me to go out for a walk or a bike ride. I am learning ever so cautiously to stand in this new world breathing this unfamiliar air and trying (trying trying trying) to imagine a world without the amazing light and love of Justin.

Quite honestly…. I don’t like it.

Which brings me to my point today. I can not sit and watch TV. My mind will not settle into the story line and something will leave me unsettled – a laugh in a comedy, a family… a pregnant woman. However, I have found that over the last couple of weeks I have been able to settle my mind into a book which does not surprise me. Through the tragedies of my life – it has been books I have always been able to turn to for escape and release of the pain of the real world. So slowly I am reading when I go to bed at 7 pm because I am done with what the day has to offer and I don’t know what else to do, I pick up a book and I read a little each night. I will write reviews because I love to talk about books. As easy as it would be to stop doing all the things I used to do I know that would make Justin very sad.

I always referred to him as the male version of me. If it was fun, unique, and crazy – we would encourage each other to do it. He loved that I lived life the way I did. I have to remember that. I will continue Book Journey. I imagine that my morning posts will become hopefully lighter than this one. I know I am changed forever and that will reflect on how I write, for better of for worse. That kid though, he is worth every bit of pain I am going through right now. I love him so much… and for that reason. I will continue to live life out loud. He would have wanted me to stay that way.

I am still here.

Picture taken on April 2nd at the premiere of The Longest Ride movie. Justin died on April 4th.

To My Book Loving Friends… An Update On Me

Published on April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)217 Comments

Dear Friends, while I am up to it I want to share with you my absence. On Saturday April 4th my wonderful 24 year old son Justin was killed in a car accident. I can not even tell you the pain that myself, his father, and his brother are in. Justin was an amazing kid with such a great spirit and love for all things. If you want, you may follow me on Facebook at Sheila DeChantal where I am posting occasional updates. Beyond that I am unsure when I will be able to return to this spot, although I do hope that some day I will.

Morning Meanderings… Meeting Bloggers and Announcing a Winner

Published on April 3, 2015April 3, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)31 Comments

Good morning! It is Friday! To me that means the end of the week, coffee meet up, project clean up, letters to write, meetings to plan, a work out or two and considering what Easter will be like this year and what should I make….

Yesterday I had the privilege of being part of a round table discussion with the two main actors in the movie The Longest Ride, Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson. I am going to write about that interview tomorrow, but today I wanted to talk a bit about the other people who were at the round table with me.

Going into this “adventure”, I was not really sure who would be in the room. Once I was there I seen it was a group of bloggers. A good group of them were really young bloggers, some even in high school. A couple (thankfully!) were closer to my age.

We went in the room with the actors and we were each allowed to ask one question – I will share with you tomorrow what I asked as I think it was a great question and an even better answer… but that is…

another story.

After the interview time, I was speaking to the lady sitting next to me whose name is Ruth and she runs the blog flixchatter. We hit it off chatting about how thankful we were to see each other in a group of young(er) bloggers. We exchanged cards and walked out of the Minneapolis hotel together chatting like old friends (you know how we bloggers are!)

flixchatter, http://flixchatter.net/ — Flixchatter. See what she is writing about. Tell her your friend Sheila sent you 🙂

Then… in the elevator on the way down there were a few of us from the interview and I asked them if they were bloggers. (We really did not have a chance to say who we were , where we were from, or what we did). They said yes, and Donna from Donnahup.com handed me her card. I did not really get a chance to chat with her as we were all on our way out, but I did check out her cool website this morning. Her site is all books and movies, crafts and recipes, travel and giveaways. It’s a site you can spend some serious time checking out.

And… my final mention of the morning is I have a winner for the giveaway package I had going for The Longest Ride. Using the magic of Random.org this morning my winner is:

Christina T from Reading Extensively

Congratulations to Christina! She won the $25 Visa gift card, the coveted by me tote, and the book, The Longest Ride! Email me your shipping information at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com and I will pass on your information to have that sent to you. YAY!!!

My contest may be over but you can still enter this giveaway at Bermuda Onion and Booking Mama .

Have a super start to your weekend. I am thrilled to have the morning to do some catching up as my morning commitment was postponed until next week. It has been a while since I had a free morning and I am taking full advantage. 🙂

Literary Blog Hop – My Giveaway!

Published on April 3, 2015April 9, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)

I am participating in a LOVELY Spring Blog Hop hosted by My Book Self. Win a book here! Check out the details of what I am giving away and how you can enter here! (It’s pretty exciting!!!!) *This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of Book Journey through April 12th when a winner is chosen.

Morning Meanderings… An Actor Meandered Into A Movie Theater…

Published on April 2, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning from St. Paul Minneapolis.

I am at my son’s apartment where I am currently drinking coffee out of his Harry Potter mug and enjoying the absolute quiet. He is still sleeping and I never noticed at home but the dogs and the background noise of the equipment from our excavating business must create some sort of low-level noise because this here is

QUIET.

And I like it.

I am in Minneapolis because Justin (son) and I went to the pre-showing of the movie The Longest Ride last night. It was kind of a cool invite and we were told that when we came to the theater that we were supposed to check in with the studio rep and to be there by 6:45 pm.

We were there around 6:35 pm and we were directed to a LONG LINE of people waiting to get in at the door they had mentioned. Justin and I walked to the end of the line and waited in the line that barely moved until 6:55. I asked Justin to go check out the front of the line and see what was happening. I was hoping we were doing this right as this was my first invite of anything like this.

Justin disappeared around the corner and then came back waving me forward. We were doing it wrong. We went to the front of the line, checked in with the lady with the clip board and on in we went. It was a little crazy as there were security people letting us into the theater.

We were told to stay in our seats after the movie because Twentieth Century Fox was there filming for future advertising and wanted shots of the crowd. We watched the movie (which was really good!) and afterwards we sat there as we were told and a side door opened and…

YES! A side door opened and Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson walked in to the front of the theater. We had a fun 20 minutes with them as they answered questions about the moving, bull riding, their “romantic scenes” together….

What a fun event!

Yesterday I razzed up the whole “I am not a fan of country things” and I have to admit to a little softening of the heart today. The movie was very good and opens at the theaters on April 10th. This afternoon I have the opportunity of sitting at a round table and asking these two stars questions about the book that became a movie. I am geeky excited and nervous all at the same time.

Also, my giveaway I am hosting for the $25 Visa card, tote, and copy of The Longest Ride book is still going on. If you have not signed up… you should. Winner will be drawn this Friday.

Do you have any brilliant questions I should ask?

Outside The Lines by Amy Hatvany (Audiobook)

Published on April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Growing up, Eden was used to her father, David’s, whimsical ways. He was always letting her stay home from school to go on adventures with him. Eden’s mother constantly was at odds with David and his inability to hold down a job just added to the household tensions. When Eden’s father returns home after a short stay in a mental hospital, 10-year-old Eden finds him on the floor of their bathroom having slit his wrists. This attempt on taking his life leads to Eden’s parents divorce.

Twenty years later Eden has a successful catering business. Since that fateful day all those years ago Eden has seen her father only on rare occasions. She occasionally hears that he is living on the streets or staying in a shelter. Eden, who has poor attempts at relationships with men, wonders if perhaps if she could try to repair her relationship with her father would help her be a better person for someone else. While searching for her father, Eden meets Jack.

Jack is everything Eden would want in a man. He is kind and thoughtful. Jack also decides to help Eden find her father. Yet as the two get closer to what Eden is looking for, more comes to surface than she had planned. Secrets her mother had kept, and the question of if her father even wants to be found.

I thought the synopsis of this book was engaging. A story centered around mental illness and what it does to the family living with it. While the story unfolds through Eden’s eyes, you also slowly learn of what it was like for her mother to be in love with a man that just could not keep it together.

Narrators Candace Thaxton, and Corey Brill create a flawless flow throughout this read. A book that would work well for a summer read, Outside The Lines is an interesting look into a family trying to move on. The end comes together a little too neatly, but still worth a read or listen.

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 29 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audible.com Release Date: December 10, 2013

Morning Meanderings… It’s about to get… Country.

Published on April 1, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Hey all! Happy Wednesday! (I actually had to think for a minute as I typed that, “Is it Wednesday?”) The week as usual is moving

FAST!

I told you a little bit a week ago about my invite to a round table discussion with the actors of The Longest Ride (Nicholas Sparks latest book to movie), Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson. That happens tomorrow afternoon in Minneapolis Minnesota. A new addition to all of this is that my son and I are going tonight to a special invite at the Mall Of America to a preview of the movie.

HAZAH!

I am totally “got my geek on” excited! I have two dresses picked out for the events… my husband thinks I am crazy (but I think we all knew that already) and my son is loving how I just jump in and LIVE LIFE.

For long-term readers of Book Journey, you may know a few things about me. One that might be important right now is my strong aversion to all things country. (Ok not quite all things, I have a really great friend who is from Alabama and I really like her!) For whatever reason I do not like cowboy boots, cowboy hats, westerns, cowboy related books or movies, or country music. There. I said it. I feel…. lighter somehow. 😀

I have no idea why I feel this way and have come to believe that perhaps as a small child a cowboy kicked me or took away my lollipop and I have buried this deep hurt yet have a trigger (pun intended) knee jerk when something is country near me.

Anyhoo…. before I digress too far…. the next two days may cure me. 😀 I leave this afternoon to meet up with my son for dinner and then off to the movie we will go! I am staying overnight at my sons apartment this evening in the cities, tomorrow I will meet and talk with the actors and then come back home.

Crazy cool…. and I really hope I get at least one great picture. A girl can dream….

Last thing – I recently posted about a giveaway for a $25 Visa card to see The Longest Ride movie, a cool tote, and a copy of the book – if you have not entered yet I hope you do! I will ~~draw~~ (having trouble letting go of cowboy words) choose the winner on Friday morning using random.org. Enter here!

Have a g’day. Partner.

The Longest Ride Movie and SWEET Giveaway Package

Published on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)117 Comments

About the Film

Based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks, THE LONGEST RIDE centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple. Spanning generations and two intertwining love stories, THE LONGEST RIDE explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.

Starring: Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, and Alan Alda

Directed by: George Tillman, Jr.

Anyone else getting excited about this movie? I sure am! I have always enjoyed movies that originate from books! Here is the trailer:

Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox I am able to give away one sweet package:

One (1) winner receives:

$25 Visa gift card to see the film in theaters
Tote Bag
Copy of the book (movie tie-in book cover)

(I am LOVING that cool tote bag!)

You can enter this giveaway by:

1 entry: Leave a comment letting me know what your favorite Nicholas Sparks book (or movie!) is and why.

2nd entry: Tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the following into Twitter:

Enter to Win The Longest Ride movie gift card and gift package! http://wp.me/pdoWq-8C9 @bookjourney #LongestRide

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced here on Friday April 3rd.

Official Websites

Like The Longest Ride on Facebook

Follow on Twitter, Google+, Instagram

Subscribe on YouTube

Visit the Official Website

#LongestRide

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on March 29, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Hello! Welcome to It’s Monday What Are You Reading? The meme that we use to share what we read this past week and what our plans are for the upcoming week. It’s a great way to see what others are reading and add to your own To Be Read list. 😀 You never know where that next great read may come from!

I had a busy week but do not think that apply’s to my reading and listening to audio. I was buried in projects, building websites, working with both of my non profits… and well.. here is what I posted:

The Mystery Writers Of America Cook Book edited by Kate White

The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos

The Boy Who Loved Rain by Gerald Kelly

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen (with a recipe!)

A Day InThe Life Of A Book Blogger (you may have seen this fun meme around the past few days) I was late, but I joined in!

That’s my week. It may look like i did ok but in all honesty I have had the Writers Cook Book and The Precious One done for a while – I was just waiting for their release date.

This week will be another busy one. Remember that little fun interview I get to do this week? Well that will take me out of town Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening. My reading I plan on is this:

For My Ears

There have been many books – on a large and small scale – about Steve Jobs, one of the most famous CEOs in history. But this book is different from all the others.

Becoming Steve Jobs takes on and breaks down the existing myth and stereotypes about Steve Jobs. The conventional, one-dimensional view of Jobs is that he was half genius, half jerk from youth, an irascible and selfish leader who slighted friends and family alike. Becoming Steve Jobs answers the central question about the life and career of the Apple cofounder and CEO: How did a young man so reckless and arrogant that he was exiled from the company he founded become the most effective visionary business leader of our time, ultimately transforming the daily lives of billions of people?

Drawing on incredible and sometimes exclusive access, Schlender and Tetzeli tell a different story of a real human being who wrestled with his failings and learned to maximize his strengths over time. Their rich, compelling narrative is filled with stories never told before from the people who knew Jobs best and who decided to open up to the authors, including his family, former inner circle executives, and top people at Apple, Pixar, and Disney. In addition Brent knew Jobs personally for 25 years and drew upon his many interviews with him, on and off the record, in writing the book. He and Rick humanize the man and explain, rather than simply describe, his behavior. Along the way the book provides rich context about the technology revolution we all have lived through and the ways in which Jobs changed our world.

Schlender and Tetzeli make clear that Jobs’ astounding success at Apple was far more complicated than simply picking the right products: he became more patient, he learned to trust his inner circle, and he discovered the importance of growing the company incrementally rather than only shooting for dazzling, game-changing products.

For My Eyes

Molly Bloom reveals how she built one of the most exclusive, high-stakes underground poker games in the world—an insider’s story of excess and danger, glamour and greed.

In the late 2000s, Molly Bloom, a twentysomething petite brunette from Loveland Colorado, ran the highest stakes, most exclusive poker game Hollywood had ever seen—she was its mistress, its lion tamer, its agent, and its oxygen. Everyone wanted in, few were invited to play.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were won and lost at her table. Molly’s game became the game for those in the know—celebrities, business moguls, and millionaires. Molly staged her games in palatial suites with beautiful views and exquisite amenities. She flew privately, dined at exclusive restaurants, hobnobbed with the heads of Hollywood studios, was courted by handsome leading men, and was privy to the world’s most delicious gossip, until it all came crashing down around her.

Molly’s Game is a behind the scenes look at Molly’s game, the life she created, the life she lost, and what she learned in the process.

I have other books I am listening to and reading that I mentioned last week.

What are you reading this week? What did you read last week? Add your Its Monday What Are You Reading here where it says click here:

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A Day In The Life Of A Blogger (late… with books!)

Published on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015 by Sheila (Book Journey)64 Comments

Mt friend Trish over at Love, Laughter, and a Touch Of Insanity had the idea to have us share what a day is like in our lives. I loved the idea, had every intention of doing it this past Friday, started a post even… and then promptly forgot about it.

Hmmmm….

Then yesterday evening I was reading a few posts and read Kathy’s at Bermuda Onion (love her day by the way!) and thought, I can still do this. 🙂

So without further ado, here is my Friday March 27th:

6:47 am – wake up, let 5 dogs out. Yes. FIVE. I have three, and I am dog sitting my friends two terriers while she is in Korea visiting her daughter.

7:00 am- COFFEE ready and I sit down to read emails. (First I click on all the junk mail and delete that out of the way). Then I first read the two emails I love to see each day, Shelf Awareness and Hungry Girl.

7:30 am – I open up a newsletter I am working on for a company and complete the updates.

8:00 am – Second cup of COFFEE. I normally post a Morning Meandering in the morning but can not think of anything (in reality it should have been this post lol!) so write up my review of First Frost to go live late morning.

8:20 am – I launch my new website for my Freelance Business and post about it on Facebook. That was scary.

8:25 am – jump in the shower with audible audio playing on my phone with a speaker so I can hear it over the shower. Get ready to go!

8:50 am – Fill up COFFEE cup and I leave the house for the library, grabbing a Fiber One bar on my way out the door for breakfast. For some reason I really like real coffee cups instead of travel mugs so curse myself a bit when I turn out of driveway and spill a little coffee on me. Think of a post title called “5 Stupid Things That I DO”, with the coffee cup and driving being one of them. It is only 3 miles up the road to the library from my house so I am there by 9 am. I meet Ruth and Gail there and we go downstairs to look at the donated books for the spring book sale that is in three weeks. Discuss plans.

9:30 am – leave with Gail to go and look at the building we will be using for the book sale a block away. This is the first time we will be moving the book sale off site due to the large quantity of books. It’s exciting.

10:00 am – Gail leaves and I go to the printer to pick up our tickets for Wine and Words. I take the tickets to the library (yes, I am back!) to drop off 50 for them to sell. I talk with the head librarian, and staff.

10:30 am – back in my car and sit in the parking lot of the library while I respond to a few texts.

11:00 back at house, grab mail on my way in, and open up work portfolio and spend time on my current client projects.

12:45 pm – Leave house to go and pick up Vicki at Mid Minnesota bank for lunch. We discuss the Camp Benedict Bike Ride in July and I secure her for helping out with the food that is needed and cooking the supper at camp that night. HAZAH!

2:00 pm – drop Vicki off at work and I head to the gym.

2:15 pm – work out on elliptical and stretch until 3 pm

3:10 pm – at grocery store where I pick up a few things and what I need to make Al meatloaf and potatoes for dinner. (His request)

3:45 pm – Home! Back to working on client projects.

5:30 pm – turn on audio book and start super while listening to The Pocket Wife. (Unsure of it so far… I am getting a Girl On The Train vibe).

6:00 pm – with dinner cooking, I continue on work projects and a couple of Camp related phone calls until Al comes in from work around 6:50 pm.

7:00 pm – dinner with husband, he has the meatloaf and potatoes, I have a grilled chicken wrap and corn. Catch up on each others day.

8:00 pm – Go downstairs to watch a little TV with Al. He is a big fan of Shark Tank.

8:45 pm – Al goes to bed.

8:50 pm – I turn on Netflix, find a movie I can half listen to while I work on the Camp Benedict website rebuild.

11:30 pm – finish the Camp Benedict website, switch the domain over and launch the new website to our social media spots. Look up at movie I chose and question why I decided to watch Twilight. 🙂

11:50 pm – Bed.

Disclaimer: That was a full Friday. I usually am home working more than I was this past Friday. I usually dedicate more time to working with clients, yet this last Friday I spent a lot of time working on Camp stuff which is one of the charities I am on the board of.

Check out others posts about their “Day In The Life” here.

The Books: