First of all, I had to select another winner for the Simon’s Cat giveaway. So, without further ado:

Congrats to Marie from Kids, Cats, Books and Chaos!

————————————–

I was lucky enough to receive a couple of awards.

The “Ooh La La! I adore your blog!” award came from J. Kaye and it does come with a few questions attached.

1. Where is your favorite place to read a book? That would be on my comfy chair in the living room.
   
2. Bookmarks or dog ears? Both actually. I buy mostly used books and I will dog ear those if the book lover before me already had some ear flaps of their own. New books or those in super condition always get a bookmark.
3. What is the best book you have read so far this year? Oh my, this is a difficult one. Off the top of my head, The Road, Kafka on the Shore, Good Omens, I Am Legend and Her Fearful Symmetry come to mind but are by no means my only favorites.
   
4. Do you like to snack while reading and if so, what is your favorite snack? I usually have a cup of tea but surprisingly, not a big snacker. I do not want my hands occupied by anything else. They need to be available at all times to hold a book and turn a page.
5. Book borrower or book collector? Collector, collector, collector!! Wait a minute, I need to pick up that pile of books that has toppled.

I now pass this award onto:

Calico Contemplations

Natalie from The Book Inn

Stacy from Stacy’s Books

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The next award came from Tam of Bailey’s and Books. For this award, the rules are to award it to 15 other bloggers I have newly discovered. This is by no means a conclusive list of those blogs I love. Here goes:

• Alison’s Book Marks
• Alita Reads
• Biblioaddict
• Bloody Bad
• Book-a-Rama
• BookNAround
• Carol’s Notebook
• Eclectic/Eccentric
• Educating Petunia
  
• Me and My Big Mouth
• Melancholy Musings
• Novel Discussions
  
• Park Avenue Princess
• she reads and reads
  
• The Reading Journey

————————————–

The holiday season is fast approaching and I know what is at the top of my wish list – an electronic reader!!! There are some great giveaways going on for a chance to win the ultimate book readers gift.

Want a Kindle II? Join the Great Kindle II GiveAway! at Bibliofreaks blog. There are ways to earn more than one entries and there may even be more then one Kindle II given away. While you are there, check out the rest of the blog for some other great giveaways, reviews and information.

Park Avenue Princess is giving away your choice of a Kindle II, Sony Pocket E-Reader or the Barnes and Noble Nook in the “Sell you soul for a …” giveaway sponsored by Liquid Soul author Matthew Carter. Numerous ways to gain entries. And of course the Princess has tons of other great stuff to explore on her blog.

Noobie is a great site to check to find the latest information on the current gadgets and/or technology. They offer consulting services, articles and even courses. They are also offering a chance to win a Kindle. Easy sign-up and earn extra entries by letting your friends know about the drawing.

martyduren.com has just launched and is offering a Barnes and Noble Nook. Again, easy to enter with ways to gain additional entries. This site has a little bit of everything including book and movie reviews.

Good luck to anyone who enters!!!

This and That (new winner, awards, e-reader giveaways) is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• October 29, 2009 -- Found it – another award! (0)
• October 4, 2009 -- A few more awards! (8)
• May 18, 2010 -- Very late winner announcements (1)
• March 25, 2010 -- The River Kings’ Road – Review/Tour (0)

Well, it is the fifth stop on the Megan’s Way blog tour.  I have had the great fortune to have already read and reviewed this lovely book.  The story is honest, heart breaking, humorous and inspirational.  Melissa Foster was kind enough to be interrogated regarding her experiences in writing this heartfelt story.  So, without further ado:

Megan’s Way covers a very serious topic in a very open manner with some humor thrown in).  What was your inspiration behind the book?

The main inspiration for Megan’s Way came from the surgery that my mother had years ago. She told me that she’d had ovarian cysts, and the surgery was just to remove her ovaries. Little did I know that she was keeping the rest of the story from me. She failed to mention (for several years) that the doctors thought it might be cancer, and an oncologist was in the operating room to see for himself. She also hadn’t told me that if she’d had the cancer, then she had also decided that she wasn’t going to undergo treatments. That threw me way off – from a very selfish, childish perspective, how could she leave me?

I so enjoyed the banter and love between Megan and her daughter. Have any of your children read the story and if so, do they feel it was realistic?

It’s funny that you ask – My step daughter began reading it and told me that it was difficult for her because it was too much she was living it! So, I suppose she felt that it was very realistic!

Which part of the writing process was a surprise?

Oh my gosh, so much of it was a surprise to me! The personalities of everyone except Megan and Olivia, who I had pretty much envisioned before I started writing, came as surprise to me. Holly and Jack’s relationship, and certainly Holly and Peter’s was a complete surprise to me, and I had no idea that Olivia would have a boy in her life either. When jason appeared, he was like a breath of fresh air!

The ending was also a suprise. I had no idea where the book would end, and then suddenly I knew the story was complete.

Which part was most difficult?

I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, so I will not divulge the actual secret, but Holly’s secret was the hardest for me to write. I wanted to convey the severity of her act, but I also wanted the reader to understand what was going on in her mind at the time. I had hoped that even the harshest reader would be able to empathize with Holly and the emotional struggle that led her to such an irrevocable decision.

You chose to go the self-publishing route. How daunting of a road has that been?

Self-publishing was not a decision I made lightly. My husband really wanted me to get Megan’s story out there so I could continue on with my other writing without distraction. Eventually, I gave in and self-published, with his unyielding support.  The self-publishing route was not difficult, and certainly less daunting than querying agents for a year.

I have owned a Human Resources consulting firm for over twenty years – marketing is my game, so to speak, so the aspect that people find the most difficult, the marketing process, is something that I am very familiar and comfortable with. But my feeling is that even if I had secured a literary agent before publication, agents do no market your book. That’s the author’s (or publicist’s) job. I happen to love people, so marketing is a joy to me!

The only negative side to self-publishing, in my opinion, is that typically an author needs sales upwards of 5000 to attract large publishers and literary agents. That’s a large number, but one I hope to surpass. I’m certainly not afraid of the challenge. I truly believe that Megan’s Way will find its way through reader referrals, and eventually, the right agent will read it and move forward.

The final outcome of publishing, through a literary agent or self-publishing, is having your story read. People are reading Megan’s Way, and for that, I am thankful.

Are there any other works in progress? If so, can you give a little hint?

I just answered this today for someone else, so I’m going to give you the same information (sorry!), because I don’t want to reveal too much in a different interview.

I am working on rewriting my first nove, The Knowing.  The Knowing is a mystery with a paranormal twist (of course), which takes place in my hometown, Boyds, MD over a seven-day period. Here’s a little glance into The Knowing:

When seven-year-old Tracey Porter slips away unnoticed from the local park, it ignites fears and mistrust throughout the small town. Molly Tanner is blissfully unaware that the visions she has had her entire life are about to become horrific and compel her to step out of her safe little existence and begin a dangerous and emotional investigation. Laughed at by the police, and unable to ignore her visions, Molly takes matters into her own hands and begins a dangerous, clandestine investigation to save Tracey.

Weaving her way through the darkest cavities of people’s lives, Molly uncovers potentially lethal secrets held by highly respected residents of the small town, and finds herself forced to make decisions with life altering consequences. When all clues point to the local pastor, whose brother was beaten to death twenty years earlier for his association with a prior abduction, it only intensifies her mission to save Tracey and right the wrongs of the town.

And now for some non-book questions:

What are the 3 items you absolutely cannot leave the house without?

My cell phone, my purse, and a pad/pen.

What is on your bookshelf?

I’m currently reading The Help, and on my bookshelf are The Wednesday Letters, Shanghai Girls and What the Dead Know. I have ordered When She Flies as well.

The Women’s Nest is a great site (I have spent some time browsing around). How did that come about?

I am thrilled that you have browsed around! Log on and join us!

The Women’s Nest (or the Nest, as I call it) is a social and support community for women, which came about for me to reach out and connect women across the world. I had wanted to open a venue for women to read, gather and gain free medical and financial advice, etc., but there were a few problems with the idea. The first was that I didn’t want to leave my family for hours-on-end to run the business , and the second was that it would only connect those women in the central location. The Nest ofers a venue for such activities, all free, to all women! We have forums, blogs for each member, a book club (which hosts guest chats with authors), free professional medical and financial advice, and in general, a great escape from the chaos of our daily lives.

You can log onto the Nest from work, home, cell phones, just about anywhere there is an Internet connection. We are very lucky, the women on the Nest are wonderfully supportive and fun. There’s no nastiness on our forum boards, and we don’t allow websites, sales, or promotions, so there’s no spam. Although I must admits, as the Founder, I have plugged Megan’s Way!

The Nest offers a private, anonymous way to talk through hard times and gain valuable insight from other women who may be sharing the same issues. You can laugh, cry, hang out, shout, joke or simply visit. I have no monetary gain from the Nest, in fact, I’m in the red yearly! LOL! It is my labor of love, and the friendships I have made and fostered are truly a gift.

Christine, I have really enjoyed your questions, and I am thankful that you are sharing your review, and this interview, with others! I am happy to answer any reader questions – through you or through email – at any time!

Thank you Melissa for the opportunity to read your wonderful book and to share it with others!

I have to say, I have logged onto The Women’s Nest and there truly is a wide variety of information, chats, blogs…pretty much something for everyone. I would highly recommend taking a peek!

photo courtesy of The Women's Nest

Now, there is so much more fun in the next few weeks of the Megan’s Way blog tour. If you would like more information concerning the next dates and destinations on the tour, mosey on over to Melissa’s informational website. There you will find not only the tour information but also a little about Melissa, her blog, other upcoming events (including a chat with Melissa on LibraryThing, October 1st through the 15th) and how to contact Melissa for yourself.  You can also check out a great interview with The Gazette.Net – an online Maryland newspaper where Megan really opens up about experiences in writing and publishing Megan’s Way. And don’t forget, today (midnight CST) is the final day to enter to win a copy of Megan’s Way courtesy of me – I just have to share the book love!

photo courtesy of Megan's Way website

Megan's Way – Blogtour stop and Interview is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• September 17, 2009 -- Updated winner – Megan's Way (2)
• September 16, 2009 -- Winner – Megan's Way (0)
• August 23, 2009 -- Megan’s Way – Review (21)
• August 19, 2009 -- Frozen Tears – Review/Interview/Giveaway (36)

**Reading Rainbow has been introducing children to the love of books for 26 years.  My daughter and I spent many a day watching Levar Burton and jotting titles on a slip of paper to take to the bookstore.  I cannot imagine the amount of books I would have begged my mom to buy if this show was around when I was a youngster!  Reading Rainbow didn’t teach children how to read, it instilled a desire to read, and that is special.  It saddens me to think the programmers at PBS have elected to not renew this wondeful program.  There is an online petition to save this purveyor of book love.  Head on over and take a look!

**OnlineColleges.net has gathered a great selection of 100 Twitter feeds for book lovers.

There are feeds from authors:

• @chuckpalahniuk: Learn more about the books of the well-known author of books like Fight Club from this feed maintained by Dennis Widmeyer
• @neilhimself: Follow this feed from author and graphic novelist of Stardust and Sandman fame
• @talexander: Author of Elizabeth: The Golden Age, made into a major motion picture, Tasha Alexander tweets about writing and her daily life in this feed.

and from publishers:

• @PicadorUSA: A division of Macmillan, this publisher puts out everything from thrillers to religious books
• @fantagraphics: This Seattle publisher is known for putting out some of the greatest cartoons, comics and graphic novels
• @orbitbooks: Keep up with new sci-fi and fantasy releases from this publisher here

The list also includes libraries, booksellers, book lovers, book news and reviews, social network and blogs and release updates.  I am updating my Twitter account today!

**On a personal note, after much debating with myself and reading some great feedback from others, I have decided to forgo a rating system for book reviews for now.  I am still trying to decide exactly how I want to handle a way to keep track of my reviews but heck, that is part of the fun of having a blog, watching as it evolves.  Thanks to everyone who offered their words of wisdom! I truly was helpful!

Some book related news bits is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• December 8, 2009 -- Teaser Tuesday (12.08.09) (20)
• December 1, 2009 -- Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, and Madness (Matt Birkbeck) – Review (2)
• December 1, 2009 -- Teaser Tuesday (12.01.09) (7)
• November 24, 2009 -- Teaser Tuesday (11.24.09) (14)

Isn’t it lovely?  If you read my previous post,  I received an offer from Jason of CSN Office Furniture to choose something from their great selection of office furniture to office accessories.  I chose this lovely lamp with the help of my lovely daughter.  It arrived over the weekend.  I never have seen this lamp in my room.  The first words out of my daughter were “That will go perfect with my new sheets!!!!!!”  She proceeded to prove her point by picking up the lamp, carrying it to her room, removing her old lamp and setting up the new lamp.  “See, it looks soooo good in here. Why don’t you just let me have it for a while mom until you paint you room?” Good plan diabolical daughter.  I have suggested I need to paint my room but have no intention of doing it in the very near (or possibly far) future as I despise the chore.  So, my review is a thumbs up.  The lamp is just the right size for a bedside table or on a desk.  The colors were much softer and attractive in person than the picture online.  My daughter is another thumbs up, she likes the soft lighting it gives her room at night and yes, the color!!!  That would be two resounding thumbs up CSN Office Furniture (and Jason) – thanks for the opportunity!

My(?) new lamp!!! – Review is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• May 19, 2010 -- The Brothers of Gwynedd – Volume One Review (0)
• April 22, 2010 -- Firefly Rain – Review/Tour (3)
• April 15, 2010 -- Jane Slayre – Review/Tour (4)
• April 14, 2010 -- How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly – Review/Tour/Author Guest Post (4)

Since my reader and favorites folders contents have disappeared into that internet graveyard in cyberspace (yes, you can join me in shedding a few tears ), I cannot find the original purveyors of the posts.  If you are the originator or know who it is, please clue me in so I can give credit where credit is due.

I didn’t comment on this question since I felt it is really a personal opinion and there is no right or wrong answer.  I have been using a rating system.  I like them.  I think they offer a quick snippet of what a reviewer thought of a book and if a reviewer happens to be on the same page as far as digging the same books as I do, a little star/bug/heart/grade is very useful in narrowing down those reads I may be have interest.  The original post expressed a concern in trying to decipher exactly what the reviewer was rating – content, personal satisfaction, writing style.  I understood this point but thought those details would probably be covered in the review itself and the rating was an overall impression of the book. Well, I have finished two books in the last week or so where I believe it would be completely unfair to rate them. One is a disturbing story and so not my cup of Java Monster that I am not able to generalize this book.  Do I rate it low because I personally was uncomfortable with the story?  Do I rate it high because I think that is exactly what the author wanted?  The other book is a second installment in a series.  I liked the book but felt I missed out by not reading the previous adventure.  Do I rate it low because of this or rate it higher because I became intrigued and interested in how everything would end? (Reviews will be posted later this week)

Needless to say, I am now questioning using a rating system for my reviews.  I suppose if there is clear cut, 100%, life altering book I run into it will be easy to appraise it with an all-inclusive “grade”.  This does not happen often and I guarantee, there is someone out there who will completely disagree with me.

While I ponder the question, I am forgoing ratings.  I am not sure how I will handle my reviews because I do believe a succint way of expressing my opinion is useful.  Arrrgh!!!!

What do you think?  Any suggestions?

To rate or not to rate? is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• December 1, 2009 -- Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, and Madness (Matt Birkbeck) – Review (2)
• October 26, 2009 -- Simon’s Cat – Review/Giveaway (32)
• July 27, 2009 -- Who did it? (3)
• July 26, 2009 -- Is this really your lucky day? (0)

A beautifully written family memoir, Bending Toward the Sun explores an emotional legacy—forged in the terror of the Holocaust—that has shaped three generations of lives. Leslie Gilbert-Lurie tells the story of her mother, Rita, who like Anne Frank spent years hiding from the Nazis, and whose long-hidden pain shaped both her daughter and granddaughter’s lives. Bringing together the stories of three generations of women, Bending Toward the Sun reveals how deeply the Holocaust lives in the hearts and minds of survivors and their descendants.

Leslie Gilbert-Lurie’s memoir is more than a story of the horrors her mother, Rita, and 13 other family members endured for two years while hiding in an attic from the Nazis.  It is a intimate portrait on how fear of loss, guilt and depression can unknowingly be handed down generation to generation.

Rita’s first-hand description of her family’s existence in the attic is harrowing.  The elation and relief that is felt when they learn of their “freedom” is short-lived when they discover they are free to be transported from one location to another, one country to another, while searching for someplace to call home.  Years later, Rita still struggles with the foreboding worry of losing those she loves and inadvertently passes these worries onto her own daughter.

Leslie has a need to know of her mother’s childhood and finds a way for her mom to disclose those dark times – by writing a memoir together.  Leslie also fears loss and is constantly battling feelings of guilt and anguish and she wants to understand why since her own life has been full of stability and love.  She is concerned that she sees these same traits in her own daughter but to a lessened degree.

I finished this book a week ago and am still in wonder.  The personal account of Rita was difficult yet beautiful in its simplicity and honesty.  I found the story of the family’s struggles after the war especially traumatic.  Imagine living in hiding for so long then being freed to go nowhere with nothing and having to search for a place to call home.  The ability to overcome this struggle, to survive and prosper (to some extent) is amazing!  Ms. Lurie-Gilbert has done more than write a memoir of her mother’s survival, it a story of her own self-examination and research into the trickle down effects tragedy and horror can have on a person and their descendants.  This is truly a stunning work!

Book information:

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: HarperLuxe; Lrg edition (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061885134
• ISBN-13: 978-0061885136

Ms. Gilbert-Lurie has a wonderful website that only adds to the reading experience with photos, a family tree and additional resources concerning the Holocaust and its survivors.  I would encourage everyone to visit!

Ms. Gilbert-Lurie will also have an appearance on the Today Show this Tuesday, September 1st to speak of the release of her book.

Ms. Gilbert-Lurie also has a blog on The Huffington Post and recently posted an insightful article:

Bending Toward the Sun – Review is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• November 20, 2009 -- The Sugarless Plum (Zippora Karz) – Review (0)
• October 29, 2009 -- Ecoholic (when you’re addicted to the planet) – Review (0)
• November 23, 2009 -- Nibble & Kuhn (David Schmahmann) – Review/Giveaway (16)
• November 10, 2009 -- Rough Country (John Sandford) – Review (1)

Are you are as curious about Scott Westerfeld’s book Uglies as I am, we can now download a free, DRM-free PDF made available by Mr. Westerfeld’s publisher, Simon & Schuster.  Pretty snazzy and timely with the upcoming October 6th release of Mr. Westerfeld’s latest title, Leviathan. I have already downloaded and am anxious.  I have entered a couple of giveaways in hopes of owning a copy but at least I have the opportunity to take a gander!  You can download (here) the PDF from the Simon & Schuster website.

I adore Penguin book covers and the Penguin blog has just started a monthly post highlighting some up and coming covers.  The five in-house designers, two folks working on finding images and numerous freelance artists diligently design and pump out 35 to 50 new covers a month.  The post gives some great insight into what is involved and includes a few examples of rough draft to final product.  Here are just a couple of July’s new covers:

And a new take on a classic:

Finally, and most importantly, thanks to all who nominated booktumbling for Best New Blog!!!  Wow, I am surprised and so, so ecstatic!!!!!  Now, I just need to live up to the nomination!

Brief book news and a big Thanks! is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• July 15, 2009 -- Judging a book by it's cover (1)
• August 17, 2009 -- The Wild Things are almost upon us! (2)
• December 8, 2009 -- Teaser Tuesday (12.08.09) (20)
• December 1, 2009 -- Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, and Madness (Matt Birkbeck) – Review (2)

In Alaska’s stunning but brutal interior, where white and native cultures clash, Kale Weaver struggles to survive a devastating tragedy that becomes the genesis for allegiance to wolves and the circumstances making her target of a primitive superstition.  Aided by her best friend, a worn-out helicopter pilot, and the bond shared by a wolf shaman, she then struggles against what follows: the bigotry and rejection imposed on her and her half-breed son, until she is challenged by the ultimate ordeal.  Whatever the risks, she must fulfill a wish for her young son that she had never imagined for him.  But above all, Kale’s page-turning journey shows that love can triumph over life’s most dire challenges and painful losses.

Set in remote Alaska, Kale LeLand leads a rather basic life: job, boyfriend, good friends.  Her present and future is both joyfully and devastatingly changed when she meets Elliot Weaver, a local Ennuit, during a night out at the neighborhood tavern.  The connection is strong between them and they are ultimately married.  What follows is a story of their struggle to be live in both the native and non-native cultures of the area,  a tragedy that imparts a strong bond between Kale and the wolf population, the determination of Kale to understand the native’s anciet rituals and legends and ultimately Kale’s will to grant a wish when obstacles are constantly set in front her.

I am glad I took some time before reviewing this Frozen Tearsby Mary Ann MacAfee.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized I enjoyed the story.  The descriptions of the vast Alaskan wilderness, the frigid weather and the poverty of a native village paint a picture.  The relationships between Kale and Elliot, between Kale and her friends and especially between Kale and the elders of the Ennuit village are intriguing.  There are some “oh my gosh” moments where I was surprised when the story took a different direction than I was expecting.  I truly enjoyed the character of Kale.  Her devotion to her son, friends and the wolves was relatable and honest.

Rating:

Book information:
ISBN: 1-4392-1819-8
361 pages
no illustrations

The auther, Mary Ann MacAfee, was gracious enough to take some time to answer some questions concerning the book.  Please enjoy!  **Spoiler Alert**

1. With a background as a CPA and running/selling your own business, have you always had the writing bug?

Yes. I wanted to be a writer but my parents said they didn’t make any money. I think they were afraid they’d have to support me forever! My parents pushed me into studying business in the university so that I would be imminently employable. I was no sooner out of college working as a financial analyst when I had a CPM computer set up in the closet as my makeshift office and wrote stories . . . lots of them. My profession, albeit successful, was a means to an end.

2.  You give very detailed descriptions of Alaska, especially the Ennuit village (especially how isolated and impovershed the residents were).  How much research was involved in preparing to write this book? Have you ever visited Alaska?

The book evolved from years of reading what interested me: avalanches, rescues, and the uncertain diagnosis of what constitutes brain death, native myths and superstitions, and my deep love for wolves. I even took a 4-day avalanche survival course to increase my understanding of survival and rescues. I feel a bit like a charlatan in that I have never visited Alaska . . . yet. I’m waiting two more years for my son to enter college before my husband and I can spend an unspecified amount of time there. I lived in rural Woodinville at the foothills of the Cascades east of Seattle for ten years. The ethos (and terrain) was similar to southern Alaska in many ways. For several years, I jogged in a watershed preserve, home to bears, cougars, deer, beavers, and more. I carried pepper spray and a cell phone and was up close and personal to many of the animals indigenous to this area except for the shy bears. The closest encounter was watching the fat end of one disappear into the foliage! For the most part, I rely on reading for much of my impressions of the Alaskan landscape and the villages.

3.  Ennuit beliefs and traditions are a major element of the story.  Again, what was the research process?

Ennuit is a fictional name because I took much liberty in characterizing the race that was a conglomeration of Alaskan Native culture and American Indian. The similarity was the importance of animals to their cultures.

4.  What was your overall inspiration for the story?

Not long after relocating to the Pacific Northwest, in the span of two years, I had toxic shock when my son was born. Both of us whisked away and separated; me to ICU and him to neo-natal ICU. A week later, we were reunited with miraculously little collateral damage. A little more than a year later, I was hospitalized in isolation with viral meningitis then only months thereafter, lost my baby girl during labor when the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. She had beautiful black hair and amazing ballerina legs. Holding her in my arms, I got the message loud and clear: joy and sorrow are partners, dealt with in the same blow. Death is inherent in life. Although my grief was just as real as it would be of a parent who’d lost an older child (I’d still projected my hopes and dreams onto that being) I had a deepened sensitivity for parents that suffer losing a child after raising them for several years as though a promise of a full life had made to them. It’s been my greatest fear in raising my son. I hope to have communicated my tribute to motherhood.

5.  What was the most enjoyable experience while writing this book?

All the other books I read during my research, how much I learned.

6.  Are you working on anything new at the moment?  If so, can you give a hint?

I am working on another story, not a sequel, but with some of the surviving characters. On her deathbed, Sarah, the old Ennuit woman at the village, has asked Kale to become Innicot’s (the feral child) caregiver. Kale has only recently lost her own son. There is a twist that I can’t give away!

And a some non-book questions:

What are the three things you must have when leaving the house?

Cell phone, keys, and sunglasses. I am a very practical person.

What is on your bookshelf?

Before I donated most of my books now that I’m an avid Kindle user (though still limited selection of books) I had an eclectic collection of Stephen King, Alice Hoffman, Alice Sebold, Stephen Hawking, John Krakauer, Alan Lightman, Jeffery Archer, Michael Crichton . . . now on Kindle I have Charles Martin and John Hart, for starters.

I have include something Ms. MacAfee said in one of our email exchanges concerning her avalanche survival course.  I think it would work in deflecting her feeling of being a charlatan.   I wouldn’t be able to do it!

In my avalanche survival training course, our final act was to get buried in Blewitt Pass in the cascades with a beacon so we could be rescued. When the instructor said I’d write a better account of an avalanche if I participated with the mostly men volunteers, I said I didn’t need to commit murder to write about one! Guess that applies to using Alaska as my story’s setting.

Winners announced!

Please check the giveaway tab for the list.

Thank you for stopping by!

Frozen Tears – Review/Interview/Giveaway is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

posts you may enjoy

• August 4, 2009 -- Giveaway/Interview/Review – Dancing With Ana (25)
• November 2, 2009 -- Loving chocolate in style (reviews/giveaways) (47)
• October 26, 2009 -- Simon’s Cat – Review/Giveaway (32)
• September 15, 2009 -- Megan's Way – Blogtour stop and Interview (4)

The Wild Things — based loosely on the storybook by Maurice Sendak and the screenplay cowritten with Spike Jonze — is about the confusions of a boy, Max, making his way in a world he can’t control. His father is gone, his mother is spending time with a younger boyfriend, his sister is becoming a teenager and no longer has interest in him. At the same time, Max finds himself capable of startling acts of wildness: he wears a wolf suit, bites his mom, and can’t always control his outbursts. During a fight at home, Max flees and runs away into the woods. He finds a boat there, jumps in, and ends up on the open sea, destination unknown. He lands on the island of the Wild Things, and soon he becomes their king. But things get complicated when Max realizes that the Wild Things want as much from him as he wants from them. Funny, dark, and alive, The Wild Things is a timeless and time-tested tale for all ages.

I am very interested in taking a gander at Mr. Eggers interpretation of the story.  Hopefully, readers will not walk away feeling that some things are better left as is and I hope those that pick up this version will also embark on Max’s original journey with the Wild Things.

Now, do you see the book cover above?  That is not the only choice you will have if you decide to spend some duckets.  There will also be a furry version which should raise some eyebrows at the local coffee shop.

The New Yorker has actually published the first chapter of Mr. Eggers adaptation along with an interview with Mr. Eggers.

As I am sure most everyone has seen the trailer and I have to say, I am excited.  I am hopeful the movie honors the original work and it may be possible since Mr. Sendak was a fixture on set and has given his approval to the final product calling it gorgeous a controversial.  Here is a short video featuring Mr. Sendak with appearances by the directors:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3idqJVVYwA&hl=en&fs=1&]

The Wild Things are almost upon us! is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

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Publisher’s Weekly

A few years ago, I worked at Barnes and Noble. Let me just say, favorite job! I received discounts on my purchases, ARCs and any magazine that was being replaced with the new issue. Actually, my favorite part was shelving the books and setting-up displays.  Love love love playing with books.  But anyway, I never had to worry about where I would buy my books. When I left that job (oh sad face ), I have to admit my literary purchases did go down. I survived though so don’t worry. I had built up quite a library during my time at B & N and since my subsequent employment resulted in 80 hour work weeks at times, I didn’t have the time or the ability to keep my eyes open long enough to read anything but my cereal box in the morning.

I recently lost my job. While it has been a treat to have the time and energy to do those things I have neglected,  I do have to ponder and weigh every purchase. What’s a book girl to do? Well, before my stint as bookseller extraordinaire, I spent many of my days and the little bit of jingle in my pocket at second-hand bookstores. So, in my search for a deal, I have returned to the gently loved book world and am having a grand time. There is such a sense of accomplishment when you find those books that you have always wanted to read, books by authors that have sparked your curiosity and those surprises that seem to jump off of the stack and wave! I am sure I look a little goofy with the huge smile on my face as I stroll through the exit, goodie bag in hand consisting of oodles of great finds. I believe I will continue this when the bucks start rolling in again. It is economical and a great way to support a local book business. Win Win!!

I know there are other options for getting your book fix and I thought I would share a few I have come across to aide anyone going through a book drought.

• Book Sale Manager enter your state or zip and receive email updates when a library or other non-profit groups have a book sale
• PaperBack Swap “Mail a book. Get a book. Any book you request is yours to keep, share or trade. No late fees. No processing charges. No hidden charges. Every time you mail a book to another member, you can request one for yourself.”
• Read Print free online book library with thousands of novels, poems, essays, short stories and plays both fiction and non-fiction
• Bookswim is a rental library along the lines of Netflix, it includes paperbacks, hardcovers and even college textbooks, choose your monthly plan and keep the book as long as you want (with an option to purchase if you like) and then return,  shipping is free both ways

Now, for something completely unrelated to books.  If you happen to not be one of the almost 20 million who have viewed this, please take a a few moments.  I guarantee it will put a smile on your face – I am still smiling!!

Have you changed where you buy your books? is a post from: booktumbling

©2012 booktumbling. All Rights Reserved.

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