Literary Friday ya’ll….

Friday…….. I’ve been ready for you all week.
A round-up of what’s happening for Literary Friday:

1. Deep South Magazine– talking about movies and Southern book festivals going on this weekend (and in the upcoming weeks!) If you are near Decatur, GA- go to the Decatur Book Festival- Kimberly Brock will be there!

Deep South Magazine has quite a few feathers in the cap with past author interviews, but I do believe the news I was told today will be the icing on the cake (thus far!) Friday, September 7 at 1-2 pm CST on Twitter will be a tweet chat with Kathy Patrick. If you are not sure who Kathy Patrick is- have you heard of the Pulpwood Queens? Girlfriend Weekend? Beauty and the Book? If you have, then you have heard of Kathy Patrick. The basics behind Kathy is this: Pulpwood Queens was formed because book clubs should be fun, not stuffy. The group does great things, reads great books, and the Girlfriend Weekend is supposed to be a fantastic time- it’s on my bucket list of book events to go to!

For more information on Kathy Patrick, click HERE!

For more information on Girlfriend Weekend, click HERE!

For more information on Pulpwood Queen Book Selection, click HERE!

Psst: A past Pulpwood Queen book selection (main selection) was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  And the October Bonus Selection is Kimberly Brock The River Witch! And the September Bonus Selection is Mary Beth Whalen The Guest Book.

Kathy Patrick and the Pulpwood Queens have this philosophy: Where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the RULE!- Now, that’s a philosophy I can greatly admire. Tiaras and reading good books- sign me up!

2. Over the past couple of days, an idea has been spinning in my head- featuring either up and coming writers, bloggers who love books, and other people related to the writing process. I have a couple of pieces lined up to publish to my blog- but always interested in more. If you are interested in chatting with me about this idea- having your book or writing featured or blog- let’s chat!

3. My #fridayreads is Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. While on opposite ends of the spectrum, both are great books!

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying a great book!

Happy Reading!

Indie, Chain and Amazon- what’s your preference?

Where’s your favorite book-buying place?

Many people have strong opinions on where to buy books- some prefer to support the independent bookstores, some support chain bookstores, and some like Amazon. Personally, I support all three. I support independent bookstores when I’m there for book signings and other events. Chain bookstores (such as Barnes and Noble) tend to have good deals on bargain books so I check that section out as often as possible. However, Amazon is my easiest option for buying books- living just enough out of the way of a good bookstore- I find Amazon to be the place I buy many books. Between my Kindle and the lower prices, Amazon does work the best for me.

However, the appeal of an independent bookstore is hard to beat. Walking around, sipping a cup of coffee, looking at the books, seeing table after table of books- that makes me happy. Also, as an avid people-watcher, a book store is usually filled with a good mix of people. Plus, the employees- generally, they have strong opinions on good books and are willing to make recommendations.

In the end, I’ll continue my ways of shopping for books- supporting all 3 types of places. Buying my cozy books from Amazon, buying copies of books to be signed from indies (and other books that catch my eye while I’m there) and bargain books from Barnes and Noble. It may not work for everyone- but it does for me.

So spill the beans: Where do you shop for books?

Bucket List Things: Authors on my “To Meet” List

I go to book signings as much as possible. I live relatively near 3 different independent bookstore and I keep an eye on the events pages. I follow on Twitter the big name authors and hope that one day they’ll come down South for a book signing.

So I read and read and read- I read reviews of books, check out the books that have the “buzz” about them, and hope that one day- I’ll have had the chance to meet every author I’d like to meet.

My current bucket list of authors I’d like to meet:

1. Judy Blume (seriously, when I found out that Judy Blume was on Twitter- that was the coolest thing to me. Being able to see the tweets from the genius behind Tales of a 4th grade Nothing, Superfudge, Just As Long As We’re Together, and many,many, many more favorites of mine- well, that was just something else!)

2. Michael Lee West– Gone With A Handsomer Man and A Teeny Bit of Trouble– both are delightful and quirky books. I want to see the lady behind the creation of Teeny!

3. Gillian Flynn– her dark and twisted stories have intrigued me- Gone Girl– I just wanted to buy everyone a copy and tell them to read!

4. Erika Marks– author of Little Gale Gumbo and The Mermaid Collector (out in October 2012). “Gumbo” was a favorite of mine in early 2012. The story line was great, but the book cover kept catching my eye- it was so peaceful-looking.

5. Nichole Bernier– her book The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. has intrigued me- from the cover, the story, the questions the story brings to mind.

While this is in no way a comprehensive list- these are the ones topping my bucket list as of now. I still hold out hope for people like Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark, Janet Evanovich, and more like that- however, many of them do not even come near where I live.

So what authors are on your bucket list to meet?

 

Rainy Day Books..

It’s a rainy day here, a perfect time to curl up with a good book.

What is your “rainy-day” book? Do you like a suspense book since the weather is gloomy? Or maybe because the weather is gloomy, you want to read a book that makes you think of sun and fun?

Chime in with Rainy Day Book reads!

WWW Wednesday (Should be Reading) Aug 29

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

1. What am I currently reading?

Currently, nothing. I just finished a book this morning with breakfast.

2.What did you recently finish reading?

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier. Highly recommend. Strong tale of relationships and how well you can really know a person.

3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Maybe Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook or Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.

 

Teaser Tuesdays (Should Be Reading) Aug 28

Ok, I’m late to the game on Teaser Tuesday since today is Thursday. But on Tuesday, it was crazy busy- so I’m just going to contribute late.

My TT is this:

The single greatest point of interest about a woman’s thirty-eight years was not what she had done, but what she hadn’t told anyone she’d done.

But silences, like solitude, could contain any amount of comfort or discomfort, any degree of truth.

–The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier, pg 61

Becoming an Author…..

A person likes to write- does that make them an author? Or is being an author like a super-cool-party-people ( note: the Lorelai  Gilmore reference) club?

I blog because I enjoy it.  I read because I genuinely cannot imagine a life without books- good, no great books- books that absorb me, make me look at things in a new light, a new way. Books are my heart and soul- and finding a person who enjoys reading like I do makes me know that we are in the super-cool-party-people book club- a club of people who love to read and discuss books.

Over the past year or so, I’ve had the good fortune to meet some great authors, to get to talk with them and hear about some of the inner-workings on the way to become an author. I’ve met some more established authors and some who are up and coming- but each person, whether they are new to the author club or have been admitted for years, has this brightness about them when they speak of the writing process.

However you are able to live the author dream, whether it’s being self-published or through a more traditional route of becoming an author- it’s an admirable achievement. Finding your voice, your section of readers, promoting the book- it’s tough, but at the end of the day- loving what you do is worth it.

Who would you leave your diaries to?

I’m beginning the book The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier- I’m about 40 pages into the book and really enjoying it thus far.

Nichole Bernier takes an interesting concept and weaves a story from it. Elizabeth, a friend of Kate’s, has passed away and leaves a request in her will that her journals will be left to Kate-not to Elizabeth’s husband or her children. Kate (at least at the point in the book I’m at) is unsure as to why she left the journals to her.

Now, while the book may take a million different paths and stray further than my mind can anticipate- right now, for me, the fact that Elizabeth left her friend Kate the journals is a delicious turn, with many possible outcomes.

Think about this: Many of us have blogs, Twitter, and Facebook- where we can post our thoughts, comments as much as we want (maybe sometimes more than what we need to!) But out of all the followers and the facebook fans and the internet friends- how many know the “real” you? The you that you would write about in a place where there was no prying eyes, no judgement?

Take it a step further- how many times in real life friendships- do you let the person know all the good, bad, and ugly about yourself?

Elizabeth, in my opinion, has taken a piece of herself- the truest part of herself, one might argue and given it to Kate- with absolutely no way of ever changing Kate’s thoughts if she does not like the Elizabeth in the journal. Elizabeth has let Kate in on secrets that no one else knows. It’s interesting, awe-inspiring, and yes, maybe, even a bit selfish of Elizabeth to show Kate a different side of her, to potentially alter the Elizabeth in Kate’s mind.

Back to original topic: Is there anyone that you would leave the journals to after death? Would you care if anyone saw the “real” you? Would you rather leave instructions for the journals to be burned?

As I was beginning this book, I thought for a minute- While I don’t always write in a journal- I do have some journals and diaries from other times in my life and I’m having a hard time thinking of someone who would know or be able to honor my wishes about the journals if I left them to someone.

Thanks Nichole Bernier- you have given me an interesting topic to think about!

Literary Friday ya’ll….

Friday- it’s a beautiful day and I  have a glass of lemonade- it almost does not get more #southernlit than this.

Deep South Magazine has their Literary Friday up and running- with news of Huckleberry Finn and ABC, James Franco, various festivals and book signings, and writing tips from Mark Twain.

Also, if you’re a fan of Erin Z. Bass- creator of Deep South Magazine (and if you’re not- you need to be; this girl is fantastic, funny, and fabulous!) Erin was a guest on Melinda McGuire’s Southern Creatives blog this week- so click HERE for that!

And  not to toot Deep South Mag’s horn too much- but they are tasting and discovering new Southern Food products and want to know other people’s favorites and must-haves! Click HERE for that article. Personally I feel that Blues Hog BBQ Sauce needs to be on the list- it’s got a sweet, but somewhat tangy flavor, and makes a pork tenderloin great! My next addition to the list, for when a person gets thirsty, would be Fat Mama’s Knock You Naked Margarita Mix from Natchez, MS (but can be found in many stores and even Amazon- if Natchez is too far away!)

Friday Reads- Currently reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and A Teeny Bit of Trouble by Michael Lee West. Both books are good- if you read Gone With A Handsomer Man and loved Teeny- rest assured, she’s back and better than ever.

In addition to Friday Reads- let’s discuss authors- new and old! Any favorite authors coming out with new books that are eagerly anticipated?  See a book by an author that you’ve never read before but are drawn to? Chime in! And do tell- I’m all ears 🙂

If you do the Twitter thing- check out #SRblognetwork- a great group of bloggers that are reviewing books that She Reads Book Club has picked.

Listening to a discussion the other night, and a woman was talking about how she dislikes “chick-lit” and called a couple of books that are really more “Southern-lit” the term “chick lit”. Is there a difference between Southern-lit and chick-lit (I think there is, but do others think that?) Is any book that is written by a female considered “chick lit”? Is “chick lit” dead, evolving, or staying strong in terms of readership?

And finally to end Literary Friday on the cutest note possible- my dog, my wonderful Zeke, pictured earlier on my blog “reading” Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich- the other day, while I was reading the book, sat beside me and kept looking at the book. I imagined him saying “Hey! I wasn’t finished with the book!”

Happy Reading!

 

Yeap- I buy duplicates of books…..

Yeap- I buy duplicates of books. Not because I want 2 copies. But because I see a book on sale (especially one with a beachy cover- I get those confused all the time)- it’s a good price, so I get it. Maybe a little niggling thought of “do I have this at home?” but mainly knowing that if I DON’T- I’d hate missing out on a sale. Then getting home and seeing that I do have it. Frustrating for me- good for my book friends- I give them “unexpected happy-s”!

Hopefully, if I keep up my Books I Own bookshelf on Goodreads- this problem will not happen much anymore.

Am I the only one this happens to? Or are there others that find themselves in same situation?