WWW Wednesdays (Should Be Reading) July 18

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 are you currently reading?

Currently reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Sweet Life #1 by Francine Pascal.

2. What did you recently finish reading?

Finished Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks on Monday.

3.What do you think you’ll read next?

I’ll read the 2nd part in the Francine Pascal 6 part e-serial next. I also have Where We Belong by Emily Giffin and The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March.

Meeting Whitney Miller- Masterchef Season 1 winner

Back in July 2011, Whitney Miller had a book signing at Turnrow Books in Greenwood, MS. Being a slight fan of Masterchef, but more of a fan of a small-town Mississippi girl achieving a dream- I went to see her and get my cookbook signed.

Whitney was delightful- sweet and kind- willing to pose for pictures and spoke to each person with a smile. Whitney had also had some food to taste from the cookbook prepared for the book signing. Her tea was wonderful (as well as the other food!) The book signing was fun and memorable.

One of the reporters from the Greenwood Commonwealth came and took a picture of Whitney and me while I was getting my book signed and did an interview with Whitney about her book, winning the Masterchef contest, and cooking in the South. The reporter published the picture and the interview in the Greenwood Commonwealth, along with a blurb from me about Whitney ” Seeing a small-town girl, especially from Mississippi, just gives every girl and young woman hope that she can really do something big with her life even if she is from a really small dot on the map.”

Whitney is proving every day that believing in yourself is the key to success. For a good cookbook, one that has recipes that are yummy and will not require a million special ingredients, consider Whitney Miller’s cookbook Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes with Southern Charm.

Whitney Miller’s Cookbook

Whitney Miller and Me

It’s a little thing called Double Decker Arts Festival- Oxford, MS

As much as I love summer (think sitting on beach, ice-cold drinks, beach reading, tan lines, too many good things to name), spring also holds a good place for me. It’s getting me close to summer and it’s the perfect time of the year for outdoor festivals. Enter Double Decker Arts Festival. Held every year in Oxford, MS on the historic square- it’s a fun event to go to. Combining art, kid’s stuff and music for the adults/collegians- it’s the kind of event that you do not want to miss.

Picture this: Walking onto The Square in Oxford. Vendors and tents everywhere- food and art vendors. People walking around and enjoying the ambience. Music playing the majority of the day- local music, bigger bands for the later shows- if this is the kind of thing you like, prepare for a treat.

Did I mention it’s free? Oh sure, you have to pay for what you buy- but the music and getting into Double Decker is free. In the last couple of years, Double Decker has also had musical acts for Friday night before the Double Decker Arts Festival on Saturday. Generally, that is 10 buck admission-but worth it if you enjoy live music.

There is a real live Double Decker bus that does tours for a nominal fee. It’s something fun to ride and a memorable picture for people that like that kind of stuff.

There is so many kinds of art and crafts- it’s fun to walk through and look (plus, with Mother’s Day being just a few weeks later- it’s a great time to get Mom something).

If in the month of April, you are looking for something fun to do, consider Double Decker Arts Festival. It’s an experience.

Traveling with T’s Reading Challenge/Resolutions….

I wrote about reading challenges the other week, and while I see pros and cons to a “reading challenge”, I generally don’t participate in them. However, this is not a challenge exactly- this is more of resolution (like my New Year’s Resolutions- except I hope to not fail miserably at this like them!)

Ok- here goes:

1. To read books I’ve confessed for “literary confessions” that I haven’t read yet.

2. To make 2012 the year I read The Night Circus.

3. To put my special signed books in a great location for easy access.

4. To make significant progress in my “to be read” list.

I probably have several more resolutions, but this is all I can think of now.

Do you make resolutions for reading? Or just enjoy books as you can?

Teaser Tuesdays (Should Be Reading) July 17

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers:

But the game was over.

For her, too.

The Sweet Life #1- E-Serial by Francine Pascal, page 5 (maybe- Kindle version)

Literary Confessions….

Last week I confessed to never reading Jane Austen or The Great Gatsby. So far, I’m working on changing the “never read Jane Austen” confession- I’m reading Pride and Prejudice and enjoying it.Eventually, I will begin reading The Great Gatsby.

This week my literary confession is: I’ve never read Gone with the Wind. I have watched the movie a gajillion times; but the book- never read it.
It’s a secret shame (well not so secret anymore), but I’ve always wanted to read it- I’ve just been intimidated by the size. I generally enjoy reading books around the 200-300 page size- a good quick read. I read longer books; but I still prefer the smaller books.

Gone with the Wind fans- book or movie better? Will the book just fly by as I get immersed in the story? As far as literary confessions go- does not reading Gone with the Wind rank as “shocking” or “not a big deal”?
As always, I appreciate your thoughts- feel free to chime in.

Literary Tidbits (list-style)

1. Just as I was seconds away from ordering The Great Gatsby, I checked my email- my brother had sent me a copy. Yay me!

2. I met the lovely Karen White on Friday, July 13. She was fun, nice, and entertaining. Plus her taste in jewelry was making me very envious! I cannot wait to read the books I bought and blog about my meeting with her.

3. I read Carol Higgins Clark Popped and Gypped this weekend. Regan Reilly is a character that I enjoy quite a lot.

4. I’m still reading Pride and Prejudice.

5. Yesterday the first 2 parts in the 6 part e-serial release of The Sweet Life by Francine Pascal was released. Looking forward to reading the new adventures of the Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield.

6. I’m now reading Message in a Bottle- look at my Musing Mondays for more information on that.

Happy Reading!

Musing Mondays (Should Be Reading) July 16

Should Be Reading hosts a variety of weekly bookish memes: Today is Monday so it’s Musing Mondays!

This week’s musing asks…

What are you currently reading? Is it any good? Would you recommend it?

I began Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks yesterday. It’s very good if you like a story with some romance, some sadness, and a teensy mysterious side ( the woman who found the message in the bottle has not let him know that is why she is there)

Nicholas Sparks are good for a couple of things- a good cry usually and a few pages of a romance that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and happy.

The downside of most Nicholas Sparks books is that someone usually dies and it’s very sad.

Nicholas Sparks is good for a quick read when you want to take your mind off heavier reads. He’s the book equivalent of chicken soup for the soul, in my opinion.

Friday Finds (Should be Reading) July 13

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).
So, come on — share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

My Friday Finds:

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March

The Mermaid Collector by Erika Marks

Sea Change by Karen White

Literary Friday ya’ll….

Friday is HERE! A round of all things literary happening for Friday:

1. Karen White will be signing and reading at Lemuria Books today. I will be there. I hear Sea Change is supposed to be great. I’ll be live-tweeting from the book signing using #karenwhite.

2. Deep South Magazine teased us avid readers earlier in the week with a picture of books (most notably Mary Kay Andrews newest book- Spring Fever!) Perhaps that book will be given away to a lucky person today! Deep South Summer Reading List

3. Chick Lit Central is giving away a copy of Stacey Ballis Off the Menu– for the links and how to enter, see previous blog post or Google Chick Lit Central.

4. Judy Blume is on Twitter and since I’m a #booknerd that makes me happy!

5. I’m 6 or so chapters in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice– enjoying it.

6. Melinda Mcquire (@melindamcquire) has an interesting idea for writers, photographers, etc of Southern ways. If you are interested in hearing more about her idea- follow her or use the hashtag #STHRN to get more info.

7. Mia March, Mia March- I may have to add you to my list of writers who are using social media to their advantage- thanks for the follow!

Since it’s been raining all week- it’s been a great week to cozy up with books. Also, I’d missed the 2 previous weeks of Drop Dead Diva- watched the first episode yesterday that I missed- Owen and Jane- engaged- so cute!