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May 31, 2011

And the winners are........

.............for Dead Of Wynter by Spencer Seidel


Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

20      58

Timestamp: 2011-05-31 22:03:52 UTC


Gigi Ann said... 20 I am a follower on GFC.
Anonymous said... 58 Yes, I found out some kinda weird cult stuff that my grandparents were into when we cleaned out their house after they both died.

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.



GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE "INSTANT INFLUENCE" ENDED

MAY 31St to JUNE 14th, 2011


INSTANT INFLUENCE
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by MICHAEL PANTALON, PhD.

SYNOPSIS:
If you want to motivate your employees to be more productive, convince your customers to use more of your products and services, encourage a loved one to engage in healthier habits, or inspire any change in yourself, renowned psychologist Dr. Michael Pantalon can show you how to achieve Instant Influence in six simple steps. Drawing on three decades of research, Dr. Pantalon's easy-to-learn method can create changes both great and small in 7 minutes or less. This scientifically tested method succeeds in every area of work and life by helping people tap into their deeply personal reasons for wanting to change and finding a spark of "yes" within an answer that sounds like "no."


THANKS TO ANNA AND THE AMAZING
PEOPLE FROM THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP
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I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS
INSPIRATIONAL BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
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*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: HOW DO YOU TRY TO MOTIVATE OTHERS?*
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*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
  BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT TO LET ME KNOW  THAT YOU
  RETWEETED THIS GIVEAWAY (LEAVE LINK).

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.
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*U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**PER PUBLISHER / HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
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*GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 14th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND WILL
 HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
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DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the
above. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in
exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are
ever sold...they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries
if rules of giveaway are not followed

Teaser Tuesday

TUESDAY

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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading
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!


"I see."  Her mind racing.  So much to put in order.  Daniel would need a first-rate criminal attorney, stat.  The media had already crucified him in absentia; now that he'd been arrested, the whole cycle would start again.  God, it was going to be the trial of the year, had all the elements:  sex, violence, money, celebrity.
page 161


May 30, 2011

And the winner is........

.......for Running From Secrets by Stephanie Void

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2011-05-30 22:17:07 UTC


Tore said... 6 Yes I have had dreams that seem so real sometimes that I think about them for days. I have also had dreams about vampires. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book.


An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.


GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE 'TREASURES FROM THE ATTIC" ENDED

MAY 30th to JUNE 13th, 2011

TREASURES FROM THE ATTIC
by MIRJAM PRESSLER

SYNOPSIS:
Publisher's Note
In 2001, as described in the Afterword, a cache of several thousand letters, photographs, and other documents was found in the attic of the house in Basel belonging to Buddy Elias, Anne Frank's cousin. It was soon realized that these documents were of major significance for the history of the Frank family, and cast a new and clearer light on Anne Frank herself. These papers, organized and edited by Buddy Elias's wife, Gerti Elias including both previously published letters and documents and some that have never been published form the basis of the following family history. Mirjam Pressler, who wrote the chronicle that contains them, is the German translator of the Defi nitive Edition of Anne Frank's diary and a winner of the German Book Prize in 2006 for her literary life's work. In the German edition, letters are quoted exactly as written, without modernizing the German orthography, correcting spelling mistakes, or fi lling in abbreviations; punctuation is added for clarity in a few places, and obvious typos in typewritten letters are corrected, but the edition aims to preserve the authentic feel of the personal documents. These features have been carried over as much as possible into the English translation


THANKS TO LIZ AND THE FANTASTIC

PEOPLE FROM DOUBLEDAY
I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES OF THIS
 HISTORICAL BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.
*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*
AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: HAVE YOU READ
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK?*
*EXTRA ENTRIES*
*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
  BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU   
  RETWEETED THIS GIVEAWAY (LEAVE LINK).

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.
*U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*
**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.
*GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 13th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND WILL
 HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
DISCLAIMER / RULES
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts the giveaway on behalf of the
above. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in
exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are
ever sold...they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries
if rules of giveaway are not followed

Memorial Day and Monday Memes


ANNOUNCEMENT:
  Before getting to today's memes, I wanted to share some exciting news with you!!!!  LOL I know what you are all thinking.....not that kind of news....I'm right, aren't I.....You all thought I was going to say someone was pregnant. lol
  Emily from Blogaholic Designs, the very sweet and talented designer that created this blog has now created something HUGE.  She announced yesterday that she has launched a social networking site.  I joined as soon as I received her email and wanted to pass the info on to you in case you may be interested.  The info is as follows:
The network is a place where bloggers can get together and share everything that has to do with blogging, but it also stands as a resource center for bloggers where they can find blog tips, tricks, tutorials, and much more. Here are just a few other things you can do:
Meet other bloggers in your niche
Gain followers
Start blog groups
Start discussions
Add your blog hops, giveaways, and blog events
There is much more to come!
I would love to have you join me from the start! It's completely free and simple to join as a member. Hopefully it grows into something wonderful that can be very resourceful, and fun for all bloggers.
Here is the link: Blogaholic Social Network
Hope to see you there!


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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading
This week's question:
This week’s musing asks…

Describe the last time you were stumped for something to read, and you took measures to remedy that — either by going to the bookstore, the library, or shopping elsewhere. What book did you choose? Did it get you out of your slump?
My answer:
I don't think I have ever been stumped for something to read, only because I have a 5 shelf bookcase of both requested and personal tbr books to be read.  When I do go into a reading slump, which I am in a mini one right now, and I just can't focus on a book, I'll just pull another one off the shelf and try to get engrossed into that one.  I know why I am in my present slump, which is due to some recent real life issues and will hopefully return to normal shortly and so will my reading pattern.


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May is being hosted by Mari from Mari Reads
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”
                                The Hachette Book Group                                Doubleday
            
  Both books from the author, Mary L. Tabor


May 29, 2011

Sunday's Shining Star

animated Happy Memorial Day
I would like to explain how this came to fruition. Hubby and I were having a discussion about the old days, (for the young'ens reading this..a little history lesson) but before the dark age. When Sundays were special and had traditions and rituals. Sunday mornings Church, come home to a big gravy (sauce) cooking on the stove, a big Sunday dinner, then either off to visit relatives/friends or wait for relatives/friends to drop by. We would spend the afternoon sitting around the table, talking, catching up, having coffee, pizza, calzones, etc etc, dessert. And now, how sad, all those traditions are gone. And then I got to thinking, why not have something similar here on my blog. This past year, I have met so many amazing and wonderful people (some I now call friends) through blogging, and how I am in awe of what they do and accomplish. How much respect I have for them, for their honesty, integrity, credibility and so enjoy when a bit of their personality shines through. So every Sunday, here at my place, the coffee will be on, the dessert is on the table and friends will be stopping by. And I will be rolling out the red carpet for my Sunday Shining Star Blogger guest.
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I was told when I first found this community of book blogging that "book bloggers were the nicest bloggers there are" and I have never forgotten those words. And over the past year, I have truly met the nicest people. I also believe, even though we live behind a screen, a bit of our personality shines through. That is one of the reasons I am having so much fun with this weekly event, and hoping you are too, because we are getting to know those "nicest bloggers" around and about bloggyland a little bit better.

I can't think of a better way of spending Memorial Day Weekend than with all of you, and having a virtual outdoor BBQ by our pool.   Jeff  (Lori's hubby...Dollycas's Thoughts) has on his "Kiss The Cook" apron and chef's hat on (I tried to tell him the hat was a bit much....but would he listen???   Men!!!) and is in charge of the grill.  Steve, my hubby, is in charge of the drinks, so just yell out Garçon when you need a refill!! lol  Today's guest is quite special to me.  I haven't known her long but I have known about her for a couple of months.  Speaking of hats, she wears a few.  Today, we will meet the blogging person.  I will tell you more about her, after we get to know her better, but I guarantee, once you hear her story, you WILL agree, she is a Shining Star.  Today my guest is MARY from SEX AFTER SIXTY


ImageChef.com


*When and why did you start blogging?*
My answer strikes even me now as hard to believe: My husband announced: Oh so Greta Garbo: “I need to live alone.” We’d been married twenty-one years and I had just turned 60.   I cratered.   I’m a writer and my first book had just been published.   Yeah, I know, a little late.   But I say, “It ain’t over 'till it’s over.”   But at that point, I thought my life was over.

My daughter and son-in-law, both philosophers, saw me weeping and falling in and out of love like a Victorian ingénue or a romantic comedy heroine in a film of my own making, and said: You’re a writer: Blog.   And I did.

*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My daughter and son-in-law came up with the title: Sex After Sixty.   Pretty apt for the foolishness and the fairy tales I was both reading and seeking.   The title was apt for the memoir I was writing—but I didn’t really realize that while I was living and writing the story.   The blog became a book (Re)Making Love: a sex after sixty story.

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
For the period of about two years—my husband and were separated for four—the title worked because the content was the blog that became the book.

But now I am writing about writing and some times I review a book I truly love.   One of the worries I’ve had about the title is that it would be associated with erotica.   Though I pull no punches in my memoir, I am not writing a sexually explicit story.

So, I’m not sure what to do about the current title.   I’m kinda branded with the blog now and have readers on every continent except Antarctica.   Boy, I’d love some advice on this question for those who do visit the blog and see what I’m doing.

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
I read literary fiction, literary memoir and poetry.   When I am doing research, I read anything that might help me get answers.  I sketch. So I am a fan of art books.

*How often do you post?
I know that I should post more often to keep a larger following.   But since what I really do is write books, I post about once a week, some times less often.  I am writing a novel now that deals with the question of memory.  In a blog post I did some time ago, I give a glimpse about where this novel wants to go.  What I wrote here is memoir, but I can’t tell this story and be tied to fact.  Still you’ll get an idea in this post: http://maryltabor.blogspot.com/2010/04/time-limits.html


*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
My readers.   They helped me through the most difficult journey of my life.   I am in their debt.

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
If you’d like to get a taste of my memoir, read a chapter on the blog (I still have them posted). Here’s one of my favorites: http://maryltabor.blogspot.com/2009/03/hypersensitive.html

Read about the terrific blogger and storyteller Cathryn Wellner.  I do take guest bloggers. Cathryn is just terrific here and everywhere: http://maryltabor.blogspot.com/2010/10/cathryn-wellner-on-risks-storyteller.html

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
I think I need advice.   And would welcome it.   So comment away.

*What draws you to follow someone's blog?
When bloggers write from the heart, I’m there whether it’s about books they love or whatever drives them.

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the "real" you!!
I’m a writer who came to writing late in life.  In 1996, I left my corporate job when I was fifty and went off to grad school to find time for what had lain in wait.

My first book The Woman Who Never Cooked won Mid-List Press’s First Series award and was published in 2006.   In a slant way—'cause how else do we seek answers to the unanswerable?—I use food as metaphor to tell this real-life story: My mother died in 1990, my sister in '93, my father in '99—all from long, tortuous and serious illnesses while I remained well and strong.  Their lives, their difficult journeys made me question not only existence, but what I deserved.

So perhaps it was inevitable that when the bottom dropped out of my life in a way I could never have anticipated that I would end up writing a memoir.

I didn’t really know that I was writing a book until about a quarter into the blogging when the writer Marly Swick said to me, “This stuff is gorgeous, evocative, and you’re giving it away.   Do you know what you’re doing?”  (You may not agree with Marly, but let me tell you this: To have a reader who encourages and believes in you helps the creative process immeasurably.)

Did I know what I was doing?   By then the blog had a following and I was hooked by ordinary folk who kept reading and commenting.   The blog had taken on a life of its own and I couldn’t stop.   By the time my story reaches its ending—an ending I could never have anticipated, Marly has read it all and tells me I have a book: She tells me it’s luminously insightful, that I’ve written a literary love story when—as Vivian Gornick says in The End of the Novel of Love, that’s impossible—we’re all too cynical and wised up.   And Marly wants me to find an agent.

But then I did something else—very risky: A publisher comes along: 3ones, Inc., that describes itself as “a product development company for hire.”   But Kelly Abbott, is the owner and CEO.   He’s under forty, loves the manuscript, and says, “It reminds him why we bother to read in the first place: that empathy is better than callousness, trust more rewarding than cynicism.”   Pretty seductive stuff.   And he gets me.

More important to me is that, despite the fact that he is not an established publisher, he is the son of the writer and literary lion Lee K. Abbott and whose praise along with Fred Busch’s also graces my first book.

But on the blog to book road that is part and parcel of my story let me close with this: I forged ahead on the sea of my readers’ belief.   So you decide for this literary author: Here’re the q’s: Crazy or risky? Worth it or not?   Maybe you’ll have to read me to find out.

*Any other info you would like to share.
I am deeply grateful for Cheryl whose generosity shows in every word she writes on this blog.

  Thank you Mary for being my guest today and sharing a bit of you with all of us.
  And now, for what I promised to tell you about the history of how I was introduced to Mary, and have gotten to know the shy, humble, genuine, personable and caring person that I have come to know in a very short period of time.
  A few months ago, I was contacted by a publicist asking if I would like to read and review Mary's book.  I had informed her that I was very behind but was interested and also offered to showcase Mary for a Guest Author posting.  I was told that they would check with the author and get back to me.  That was the last I heard.  Until a couple of weeks ago.
  Mary contacted me and asked if I remembered any correspondence with the publicists regarding her book.  She went on to say that the company informed her that they filed for bankruptcy, kept her money and gave her a list of bloggers that had been contacted and closed the door.  I was one of those bloggers.  Once again, she was knocked down.  It took her some time, as she told me in a later email, to get up the courage to contact me.
  Today you are meeting Mary, the blogger.  Next month, you will meet Mary, the author, as I have booked her for a Guest Author showcase as she tries to get the word out about her book since she is now starting from scratch.  She paid a large amount of money to this publicist to book virtual tours and contact bloggers to read and review her book, and now is on her own.  I felt so bad when I heard everything she has gone through and the obstacles she has had to overcome.  Even though I am just a little old blogger from New England, I felt that on a personal level, I wanted to lend a helping hand by booking her as a Guest Author, to introduce her and her book.
  This is one lady who keeps getting up and dusting herself off and in my eyes, she is a Shining Star!!!



May 28, 2011

And the winners are.........

.........of DOUBLE TROUBLE by Katie Lane

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

16     4

Timestamp: 2011-05-28 23:04:04 UTC
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Gina Hott said... 16 I'm a FB follower
Sarah @ The Brazen Bookworm said... 4 My first thought...if all cowboys in Texas look like that and walk around shirtless, clearly I need to go to Texas ASAP. ;)

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.


A Bit Of Me




SATURDAY

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Hosted by Danielle at There's A Book
From Danielle's blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week's question: 
Because BEA is happening I’m breaking the “no book rule” and asking you to share your top 3 books you are looking forward to reading in the coming year.
Read more: http://www.theresabook.com/2011/05/a-bit-of-meme-three-truths-and-one-lie/#ixzz1MzHSmeRm
  First I hope that everyone that was able to attend the BEA, are having a really fun time, meeting bloggers, authors, publishers and publicists that they speak to everyday from behind a screen and are now getting to see face to face.  I can't wait to hear about their experiences.    When I heard about this event last year, I was a newbie but thought that if I was still having the fun and enjoying this new world that I had found, I may consider attending this year.  But then the surgery, and then the complications and limitations from the spinal procedures, and knew, that I would not be able to go.  I would never be able to walk the distances or stand the length of time that I have read that is needed.  Maybe some day!!!  Putting that goal on my Bucket List!!

 
  OK...back to today's meme question:
  Another tough question from Danielle.  I guess the top three shelves of my bookcase isn't what she means when she asks "share your top 3 books".   But that is exactly what I wish I could read.
  But I will play along with the rules as best I can lol.  I have 2 in my possession and one I know is in the works but not sure of when it will be published or even the title.


What about you?  Can you name your 3 top books?  It's a hard question, isn't it? Hmmm..... thinking that today's question is going to add to our ever growing tbr lists!!!