Final Blog Stops for June!

Please visit Perpetual Folly for a review of Springtime On Mars by Susan Woodring.

And, later this evening, stop by Trish's Diary to read her thoughts about Apologies Forthcoming by Xujun Eberlein.

Two Blog Stops today!

See what Annie thought about Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming at writers and witches, and words...oh my!

And then, check out Writing From Kiddom for a review of Madapple by Christina Meldrum.

Summertime... and the living is?

I adore Spring. Everything wakes up, greens up, perks up. Summertime, not so much amore.

It's starting to get hot here. My computer hard drive begins to complain at around 3 pm when the house temperature climbs above 85 degrees. I'm thinking about cooking dinner at 5 am, so that I don't have to add to the sweat factor in the evening.

I can't whine too much though, as we need the high temps to encourage a huge yield of tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. If you get the chance this summer, try grilling sliced zucchini and summer squash. Slide skewers through them sideways, gloss them up with olive oil, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper - then lay them on the grill. Amazing!

I am off now to get chores done before it gets too warm. And then, back to work.

One Blog Stop today!

Erika, over at Musings From The Mitten, shares her views about Apologies Forthcoming by Xujun Eberlein.

Edited to add a stop posted late in the day. Stop by Trish's Reading Nook for a review of Springtime On Mars, by Susan Woodring.

Time to think...

The littlest boy is off at the movies with Grandma, middle boy is with his dad and oldest boy can take care of himself. I can actually hear myself think. Woah.

I need to add books to my Shelfari bookshelf. I need to come up with ten questions for an author interview. I need to update my website. I need to build the Blog Stop page for the author on tour in July. I have four hours.

Best get to it!

AW June Blog Chain

I am taking part in the Absolute Write June blog chain. This time the chain had no theme. It started out with a post about Abstinence Pants and worked its way around to suggestions for things to blog about. I like reading random blog posts, but it makes it interesting to wrap up the chain.

I've decided to write about perspective and abundance. Every single post in the chain can be interpreted from many different perspectives. I can see a lot of different opinions being held on each topic. That's what makes the world interesting.

As for abundance, well, it's June. Flowers are blooming, strawberries are ready to be picked, and friends and neighbors are visiting each other, now that the weather is conducive to spending days and evenings outside. Summer is the season for connecting, with people and nature.

I'm feeling terribly blessed with abundance lately. Are you?

To read the rest of the chain, follow the links below.

Spittin' (Out Words) Like a Llama

Polyamory

Life in Scribbletown

Polenth's Quill

Auria Cortes

Blog in a Suitcase

Delirious

Asian Business

If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer.

As Yet Untitled

Puttin' Words on Paper

Fumbling with Fiction

Rotating Bear

spynotes

Virtual Wordsmith

Two Blog Stops today!

I just posted a guest book review here at Virtual Wordsmith for Susan Woodring's Springtime On Mars.

And, cruise on over to Maw Books to read a review of Madapple by Christina Meldrum.

Book Review - Springtime On Mars by Susan Woodring

Ok, I admit it – in my mind, the words “short fiction” or “a collection of short stories” are synonymous with “read only if forced” or “not interesting enough to be a novel”. And if the title even slightly hints of science fiction, forget it, fiction isn’t supposed to make me think that hard.

Susan Woodring’s Springtime on Mars doesn’t fall within any of my preconceived notions of short fiction. With solid writing and a willingness to reveal the person behind the persona, Woodring’s writing is straightforward without being raw, her stories fresh and imaginative.

Springtime on Mars provides an entertaining and thought-provoking look into the varied lives of mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and spouses . Whether you like them as people or not, you can’t help but recognize their humanness, regardless of their age, gender, or life lived. It’s a great summer read, to be enjoyed on a lazy afternoon (or two).
- Lori Schneider

Lori was kind enough to be a guest reviewer for Blog Stop Book Tours. And for more information about Susan, please visit her website, www.susanwoodring.com .

One Blog Stop today!

To read a beautifully written, insightful review of Susan Woodring's Springtime On Mars, please stop by Writing From Kiddom!

Book Review - Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible

Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible
Jeff Golden
AuthorHouse
ISBN # 978-0595471928

"What if John F. Kennedy had survived his wounds in Dallas and gone on to serve two full terms in the White House? What if the aftermath — astronomical public approval ratings, a presidential agenda that sails effortlessly through Congress, a parade of the world’s most beautiful women through the White House at his whim — moved him to wonder “Is this all there is?” What if he decided to see if America’s walk could match its talk?"

Jeff Golden has written an historical fiction novel that reads like a fantastical memoir. Unafraid paints the picture of a country forever changed by the near death of its president, and the accomplishments he achieves during his eight years in office.

Written from the perspective of Caroline Kennedy reading the first draft of the must read biography about John F. Kennedy, you'll find yourself caught up in the hope of a life lived to fulfillment. I would find myself having to shake off the world I was reading about, and momentarily shocked at the way America really is today.

Color me an idealist, but I enjoyed reading about a world where the President had integrity and advisors who were smart and reasoned. I loved this book, because it provided one vision and answer to a question asked by millions of Americans.

My mother was 19 years old and a senior in high school when Kennedy was assassinated. She has related the story of that day to me. Kennedy's death was the end of many dreams of a better America for many people. None of us can know what the world would have been like had that bullet been off by a few inches, but Jeff Golden has shown us what Camelot could have been.

I want to believe in hope, and strength, and courage in the face of danger and adversity. I want to believe that the world is a safe place for my children. Unafraid let me pretend for a little while.

(February 27, 2008, pp 355, $18.95)

Two Blog Stops today!

Please visit Vitesis to read an excellent review of Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming.

Drop by YA Bookmark: Novels for Young Adults to read a review of Christina Meldrum's Madapple.

Confession

Hello, my name is Mary, and I am an addict. I'm addicted to books. I lose sleep, I put off things I should be getting done to read a few more pages, and find myself putting the book down after a few more chapters.

When I know a book is due to arrive in the mail, my heart beats a little bit faster when I see the mail truck. If the book is in the mailbox I dance a little jig. If it's not, I am disappointed.

When I visit people's homes, I am drawn to their bookcases. I stand there, head cocked, scanning titles. I ask to borrow books without even thinking about it. I exclaim over books I've read and start a discussion about them.

It's sick, I know, but I don't know how to stop.

Two Blog Stops today!

Pop on over to Escape To Books to read a review of Springtime On Mars by Susan Woodring.

And then, stop by Something She Wrote for a review of Christina Meldrum's Madapple.

Where did the day go?

I don't typically post on Saturday, but I was out last night when the other two reviews were posted for Blog Stop, so I wanted to share the links today. I have some amazing bloggers reviewing books, and these two are no exception.

Hop on over to Not Enough Coffee to read a review of Springtime On Mars by Susan Woodring.

And then stop by From The Cheap Seats... Reviews, Writings and More to see what Laskigal had to say about Christina Meldrum's Madapple.

Oh Lord, what a morning...

After a night of being woken up by a tossing-and-turning husband, and a small, adorable child crawling into bed with and snuggling up to me, I gave up on sleep at 6:30 this morning. I poured myself some hot coffee, fired up my laptop and leaned back in the cushy chair. As I was checking emails and catching up on blog feeds, I realized it was quiet, but for the sound of the breeze and the birds twittering outside the window. Take time to smell the roses, or listen to the birds, people. It's so worth it.

There will be a few posts today, as the reviews are posted for the books touring with Blog Stop Book Tours. The first one available today is for Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming at Escape To Books.

Enjoy your day!

Blog Stop today!

Please stop by Writing From Kiddom and read a fantastic review of Apologies Forthcoming by Xujun Eberlein.

Storms

It's been storming here, off and on, all morning. The weather pattern this Spring has been just as odd as the Winter was. A couple days of gorgeous, sunny weather, and then days of rain and storms.

When the storms are severe, as they can be here in the Midwest, I shut my computer down. I can't afford to lose the information, and I can't afford to buy a new one right now. So, I protect it at all costs.

I actually need to look into business insurance. Is there such a thing for work-at-home freelancers?

I'll do some searching today and fill you in tomorrow. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share.

Yeah! It's there now!

Due to a brown out, the review Xujun Eberlein's Apologies Forthcoming at From The Cheap Seats, was delayed by a day. But, it was well worth the wait. It's an insightful review. Take a look!

Watch for two more blog stops Thursday and Friday for this amazing book!

Three Blog Stops today!

Xujun Eberlein’s Apologies Forthcoming - Review at From The Cheap Seats

Christina Meldrum’s Madapple - Review at Mom Is Just A Nickname

Susan Woodring’s Springtime On Mars - Review at Devourer of Books

Office space vastly improved... !

I posted about my office months ago. Click here to see what it used to look like.





This is what it looked like around 1 yesterday afternoon.















This is what it looks like today!


















Little did I know that I would be treated to an amazing acoustical box effect, as well. The sound from my Bose speakers is channeled and amplified by the desktop and shelf above it. Anyone who knows me, knows that sound is incredibly important to me. I plugged in the speakers, turned on the music and just about fell on my bum. I literally cried with joy!

My husband is the best man I know.

Two more Blog Stops today!

Read a review of Madapple, by Christina Meldrum, at The Book Faery Reviews. I love the name of this blog, by the way!

And read Susan Woodring's (author of Springtime On Mars) thoughts on why short story collections are great for discussions in book clubs at Books On The Brain. There is a link to a review of Susan's book and a book giveaway at the bottom of the post, as well.

Wow! What a week!

Yes, I know it's only Thursday, but it feels so like a Friday. This week has been an exciting, emotional roller coaster for me.

Saturday, May 31, my daughter graduated High School and moved out on her own. Monday was the first time there have been three books to promote with Blog Stop Book Tours. Tuesday was a presentation at the WAH Expo. Wednesday, more blog stops to promote, and an internet radio interview with Erika Geiss. Today is the last day of school before my other three kids start Summer break.

I'll be grateful to see the weekend, if only to decompress from this very full first week of June.

Two blog stops today!

Read in interview with Susan Woodring, author of Springtime On Mars, at She Reads Books.

And, there will be a review posted of Madapple, by Christina Meldrum at Sharp Words today.

WAH Expo

Today, at 11:30 am Eastern Time, I will be talking about Blog Stop Book Tours at the WAH Expo. The WAH Expo is a three day event with speakers and exhibitors talking about what they do and how they do it. It's free to attend, so please drop in!

Blog stops today!

Check out Perpetual Folly for a review of Apologies Forthcoming by Xujun Eberlein.

Stop by Book Advice for the Book of the Month, Madapple by Christina Meldrum.

Please visit Mom Is Just A Nickname to read the review of Springtime On Mars by Susan Woodring.

And tomorrow, please join Susan Woodring tomorrow at 12:30 for a virtual lunchtime chat! She'll be discussing her story, 'Birds of Illinois' from her new collection of short stories, Springtime on Mars. You can find the
entire story at Press 53's website: http://www.press53.com/Chat_Room.html.