Morning Meanderings

Morning Meanderings…

Published on August 11, 2009August 11, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Two days in a row…. looks like we have sunshine! YEAH!!! Today I have office work in the morning until mid afternoon, payroll, mow the lawn hopefully and the Bookies meet tonight for book club.

I did a little traveling this morning with Coffee Cup. My find today brought me to a new and great blogger, Ryan at Wordsmithonia. Ryan has a book reviewed called Under This Broken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. The book sounds wonderful! I would love to tell you all about it, but instead I am going to encourage you to stop over and welcome Ryan and read this incredible review for yourself.

How is the BBAW voting coming along? I am still working on mine! 😉

Have a great day!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on August 10, 2009August 10, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

It looks like we may have a sunny day here in Minnesota! I almost hate to type that for fear of the big “jinx, jinx, double jinx” (or maybe that’s just a grade school flashback). According to the computer it is suppose to be stormy. *SIGH*

ANYWAY…. I certainly do not want to talk about the weather. I was of course, cruising through the blogesphere this morning with Coffee Cup. Not at warp speed or anything as after all – it is Monday, but at a fair pace. I stopped in at The Book Lady’s Blog and found a book review on a book called How To Buy A Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson. The review is WONDERFUL – the books sounds INCREDIBLE. I just love books about books.

Don’t take my word for it, go over and visit The Book Lady’s Blog and see it for yourself.

BBAW nominations due in by August 15!

Morning Meandering

Published on August 7, 2009August 7, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Coffee Cup and I didn’t travel very far this morning from home…. I clicked on the left side of my blog and traveled through Twitter a bit, something I am still reminding myself to do. Up until book blogging, I didn’t really use Twitter. I set up my Twitter account just a couple months ago mainly to connect with other Book Bloggers and that is what I do. It has been worth it and I have met some wonderful people again who talk books.

Today my goal is (besides helping prep for a large Sunday picnic/potluck after church and get to the gym) 3 reviews that I must post, another giveaway of a great book as well as a new Freebie Friday and a couple winners to announce yet this afternoon.

I will be posting quite a bit today so be sure to stop back, coffee is on. 🙂

Oh and if you missed out on my late night blog post on Balderdash, Word Verification, check it out. I think it may be fun.

Here also is my BBAW (Book Bloggers Appreciation Week) post which if you are not already signed up…. get over there and do it!

Morning Meanderings and BBAW – Lots To Do!

Published on August 6, 2009August 18, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

This morning with Coffee Cup… I have my printed out BBAW (Book Bloggers Appreciation Week) nomination sheets beside me as I have had for the past week. The categories are wonderful and there are so many! There are also so many WONDERFUL Book Blogs out there that this is really in some cases, tough decisions. I am loving it all!

At the BBAW website they have a few questions for those who participated last year, and a few for those who are new to the BBAW. I fall into the later category and am more than happy to participate.

What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

I actually have book blogged for over a year – however I did not actually start “Book Blogging” the way you see it now, until this past June. I guess you could say I book journaled. I am a little embarrassed to say that I did not know this community – at this level – existed. (I cant tell you how glad I am to find that it does!)

I created a blog to record my reading … just for record keeping. It was in June of this year that someone commented on a post I had put up (that was rare too, maybe 2 hits a week.) and when I looked to see where they came from I seen they were a member of Book Blogs. I had no idea what that was, but going to that website was like Alice going through the rabbit hole – a whole new world for me and I have never turned back!

So – after all the babbling, the answer to this question is – community! I had no idea this existed, let alone at this level. And most Book Bloggers are incredible! I love reading their book related topics, I have added so much to my wish list! I love connecting with authors and publishers (also new to me!) My husband laughs and says this is what I was wired for. LOL

What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

This is a tough question as many Book Bloggers have been so nice to me when I ask my questions…. and I have asked questions! There are many I am thankful for – from helping to create sidebar widgets, explaining Twitter lanquage, and more!

To answer I have to say that when Natasha at Maw Books started the Blogiesta, I was still so new. The Blogiesta was so helpful and I just loved it! That weekend I took every mini challenge (thank you to each of those who hosted these!) and I learned something new at every one! I wish I would have a picture of what my blog looked like before because I can not remember but it was nothing like what you see today. I put so many hours into the challenge trying to learn and the timing was perfect! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 🙂

One more blog I want to mention here would be Michael’s, A Few Minutes With Michael. He created my Morning Meanderings Meme and I just love it. I seen his creative work on another blog, went to his blog and asked him if he would consider creating one for me. After about a week of sharing what I liked and what I was thinking…. there it was. I love that there are Book Bloggers out there that share their knowledge and talent!!!

What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

I think my only questions would be as this is year two and I was not around for year one… what is being done different this year? I look at all the categories and I am curious if this is the same as last years or did you add more?

I am enjoying all of this – the relationships, community, talking books…I have met wonderful authors who email me or call me. Publishers who contact me when something new is coming up….. I am having such a great time! Book Blogging for me? I am like a kid in a candy store.

Final words – print out your BBAW nomination list today if you have not already. All nominations must be in by August 15! If you Blog or not, you are all welcome to vote. This is a great way to appreciate all those great Book Bloggers out there!

During BBAW Week I will have great appreciation giveaways going on here. Be sure to stop back often! The coffee is always on! 🙂

Morning Meandering

Published on July 31, 2009July 31, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

Looks like it will be a nice day out there today and that is sooooo good! I have a family gathering at our home tomorrow and have many tasks to do prior to that event – indoor and outdoors. 🙂

This morning, after a late night of reading… I grabbed Coffee Cup and we set out on a casual stroll through the blogesphere. My meandering this morning took me over to Bermudaonion’s Weblog where I read a wonderful review for the book, Looking For Salvation at The Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore .

I have heard of this book, but Kathy’s review is the first I have read on it. This sounds like a fun read from a new author. Quoting Kathy,

This is the wonderful debut novel of Susan Gregg Gilmore. (It’s hard for me to believe this is her first book!) There is so much more to this book than appears on the surface.

Stop in today to Bermudaonions Weblog and read the full review and wander around her great blog while you are there, she has many reviews and can give you ideas on your next read….

Have a great day everyone! I am off to many tasks and taking advantage of the first fully sunny day we have had this week!

Morning Meandering Confession

Published on July 29, 2009August 5, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Ok…. does this happen to anyone else?

I like to get up early in the morning and have my coffee while I visit some of my favorite book blogs. Oh, you know who you are….I am on your door step with coffee cup in hand and hair still wild as actually attempting to fix it prior to two cups of coffee is not a good idea…

So I go to a book blog and I am reading about some delightful book review or book related happening when my eye wanders over to their side bar. Whats this? Another book blog? So after I pay my comment respects to said blog owner, I click on the sidebar blog and find a whole new blog filled with book related things that make my typing fingers tingle with excitement to post a comment on what I have found. AND THEN, I see something on their sidebar… that’s right – another book blog that sounds interesting…. and I click on that…. (are you seeing the pattern?)

By the time I come out of the blogesphere (although there are times I wonder if I ever fully come out of it….) many things have happened:

1. I have no doubt added a book to my “TBR” list

2. I have no doubt found my way into a blog I have not read before and liked it

3. I have no doubt become lost, and by the time I snap out of it (usually because duty calls and I must go to work!) I can not remember how I got to where I wound up.

Lately I have found that in work conversations I think in book titles or book quotes. Yesterday afternoon I handled a particularity difficult phone conversation well and hung up and and said “Crisis Management” (then wrote it down because I liked the “title”) Later I cleaned up around the coffee room where it can quickly become a disaster zone and satisfied with my job well done said, “Mischief Managed.”

Ok… enough morning rambling…. and I have to go to work. 🙂 Anyone else out there care to share?

Published on July 28, 2009July 28, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Another cloudy morning in central Minnesota and I am a bit bummed as I was hoping to go biking a bit after work this afternoon… well, I can always read.

Yesterday, Coffee Cup and I found a book on Julie’s Jewels, My Favorite Things that I keep thinking about and have already added it to my wish list tab. Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway not only has a title that rolls musically off the tongue, but the book sounds like a wonderful read set in West Africa as Kris Holloway (the author) is part of the Peace Corp. This is her story and I dont want to say too much here because I really would like you to link on over to Julie’s Jewels and read this review for yourself.

Morning Meanderings

Published on July 27, 2009July 27, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Coming off a great weekend and new memories with my friends. I did some blog hopping last night as a little catch up session from my time away. While doing this I stopped over at Between The Bookendz and found a review on The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

Its interesting that this book, with a rather plain cover and a description that may or may not have caused me to read, captured my attention because of the review. The way Eve at Between the Bookendz describes the book by first saying that the character Flavia De Luce is “one of the the best character names she has ever run across” and then going on to saying she adored the book…. that is what peaked my interest.

As book reviewers I thing we get a feel for what we like in a book, what makes us want to turn the pages. When we read I review, at least for me, how the reviewer expresses their thoughts on the book can speak to me. Eve’s delight in this book made me take a second look at it and now I think it would be a fun mystery – which, as Coffee Cup and I look out my window at a drizzly cloudy Minnesota morning, makes me think this is a book that would be a perfect read for today.

Stop by Between the Bookendz and say hi to Eve. She has many more great reviews and as I explored her site I found other books that i felt I would enjoy as well.

Morning Meandering..

Published on July 23, 2009July 23, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

I was hoping to have a review ready to go this morning…. but man I was tired last night. I hope to get it up before I leave this afternoon for my girls weekend at our cabin. I am excited for the chance to get away with the girls and catch up!

This morning I wondered into a great little spot called Book Nook Club. While I was enjoying reading several of their posts, there was one that got me thinking. They have a great post on The First Born Series by Karen Kingsbury.

What got me thinking was that I have had two of her books on my book shelf for years. One Tuesday Morning and Beyond Tuesday Morning. A friend recommended them and I being the bookie that I am, purchased them…. and … uh… shelved them. A couple weeks ago I loaned them to a friend who asked if I had any Kingsbury. I did. They are brand new.

The post at Book Nook Club made me wonder if any of you have authors out there that you know are good… you may even have their book(s) but for one reason or another have just never made it to those books.

I know these books will be good. Just this morning while looking them up I discovered there is a third to this series, Every Now and Then.

So two questions really….

1) Is there an author out there that you have wanted to read but as of yet… have not?

2) Who has read Kingsbury? I know she has a lot of books out there.

I plan to post a review later today before I leave. I have posts scheduled for the weekend so please keep stopping back… there will be something new every day!

Morning Meanderings…

Published on July 22, 2009July 22, 2009 by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

I was up extremely early…. I even beat Coffee Cup today... the automatic brew didn’t kick in until an hour after I was awake. So caffeine free this morning (How unusual!) I found a great read at Virginie Says called The Sidewalk Artist by Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk.

I quote Virginie,

I think, at one time or another, every girl has wished they could be in Tulia Rose’s shoes and travel to Paris and Italy alone, meet a handsome artist and fall in love (and if the truth be told, I fell in love with Raffaello, too).

This blog site gives a sense of peace to it. it was a great place to wonder into early this morning…. Take a moment and stop on over to Virginie Says and see this beautiful book and review.

Have a wonderful day! If you were not here yesterday, be sure to see yesterday’s Morning Meaderings as I posted a wonderful giveaway and a few great reads as well!