Thanks to all who commented! I used random.org to plug the names in and the winner is:
Amber Gilmer!
Amber, I will be in touch and getting the book to you soon!
I'll have more contest throughout the summer. Keep reading.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Heroes - and a book contest
I have a signed copy of Hero Type by Barry Lyga to give away. In thinking about how to do that, I got to thinking about what makes someone a hero. I remember several years ago filling out my Myspace profile page and putting that very question in the "heroes" section-what makes someone a hero?
Is a hero someone who saves a life? Someone who excels in sports? Someone who is in the military or on the fire department or a law enforcement officer? Someone who stands up for his or her beliefs?
What happens when our heroes do something to get themselves knocked off their hero pedestal? Golden boy Tiger Woods has been criticized recently for his behavior and one of the things people are saying is that as role model he should have known better. Was he a hero before this happened?
I want your thoughts. I have a signed copy of Hero Type to give away. I will randomly choose the winner using one of the randomizing websites. This contest will close on May 23 at 11:59pm central time. I also have post cards from The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, & Boy Toy that I will include in this contest.
Here's how you can win and earn extra entries:
1. Comment on this blog post telling me what, in your opinion, makes someone a hero. You get one entry for your first comment only.
2. Post a link to this contest on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc. and send me the link (you can send me the link in comments, or send it to sandilu (at) hotmail (dot) com- please put "hero type contest" in the subject line.) You will get one entry for every place you post.
This is open to anyone. People outside the US are welcome to enter as well. I look forward to reading what you have to say!
COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!
Is a hero someone who saves a life? Someone who excels in sports? Someone who is in the military or on the fire department or a law enforcement officer? Someone who stands up for his or her beliefs?
What happens when our heroes do something to get themselves knocked off their hero pedestal? Golden boy Tiger Woods has been criticized recently for his behavior and one of the things people are saying is that as role model he should have known better. Was he a hero before this happened?
I want your thoughts. I have a signed copy of Hero Type to give away. I will randomly choose the winner using one of the randomizing websites. This contest will close on May 23 at 11:59pm central time. I also have post cards from The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, & Boy Toy that I will include in this contest.
Here's how you can win and earn extra entries:
1. Comment on this blog post telling me what, in your opinion, makes someone a hero. You get one entry for your first comment only.
2. Post a link to this contest on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc. and send me the link (you can send me the link in comments, or send it to sandilu (at) hotmail (dot) com- please put "hero type contest" in the subject line.) You will get one entry for every place you post.
This is open to anyone. People outside the US are welcome to enter as well. I look forward to reading what you have to say!
COMMENTS NOW CLOSED!
April books
I didn't read nearly as many as I had wanted to, but summer break is only three weeks away so maybe I can get more read :)
April
Prom ~Laurie Halse Anderson (215 pages)
Need~Carrie Jones (290 pages)
The Dead Tossed Waves~Carrie Ryan (407 pages)
Twilight The Graphic Novel vl 1~Stephenie Meyer/Young Kim (224 pages)
Captivate ~ Carrie Jones (258 pages)
Hero Type~ Barry Lyga (304 pages)
6 books 1698 pages
cumulative 30 books 8187 pages
Prom is about a girl who has no intention of going to Prom but when the sponsoring teacher runs off with the prom money, Ashley is roped into helping. Along the way, she learns about herself.
Need & Captivate follow a girl who goes to live with her step-grandmother. She is being stalked by a man who turns out to be a pixie and discovers that a few other people in her town have secrets of their own. She becomes involved in a battle between the weres (as in werewolf, weretiger, etc) and the Pixies, and finds out her biological father is not human.
The Dead Tossed Waves is a follow up to the fabulous Forest of Hands and Teeth and picks up several years later. The story centers on Mary's daughter as she deals with the undead. I don't want to give too much away, but go read these two books! I cannot wait for the third installment.
Twilight the Graphic Novel - I am an unapologetic Twilight fan and I like graphic novels. The illustrations in this are well done and the story itself is preserved. My only complaint is that it is only the first half of Twilight and I didn't realize that until I had already bought it.
Hero Type is reviewed in the previous post. A boy goes from zero to hero after saving a classmates life then back to zero when he is seen throwing away some Support the Troops ribbons. A great story about standing up for your beliefs and thinking for yourself.
March books
February books
January books
April
Prom ~Laurie Halse Anderson (215 pages)
Need~Carrie Jones (290 pages)
The Dead Tossed Waves~Carrie Ryan (407 pages)
Twilight The Graphic Novel vl 1~Stephenie Meyer/Young Kim (224 pages)
Captivate ~ Carrie Jones (258 pages)
Hero Type~ Barry Lyga (304 pages)
6 books 1698 pages
cumulative 30 books 8187 pages
Prom is about a girl who has no intention of going to Prom but when the sponsoring teacher runs off with the prom money, Ashley is roped into helping. Along the way, she learns about herself.
Need & Captivate follow a girl who goes to live with her step-grandmother. She is being stalked by a man who turns out to be a pixie and discovers that a few other people in her town have secrets of their own. She becomes involved in a battle between the weres (as in werewolf, weretiger, etc) and the Pixies, and finds out her biological father is not human.
The Dead Tossed Waves is a follow up to the fabulous Forest of Hands and Teeth and picks up several years later. The story centers on Mary's daughter as she deals with the undead. I don't want to give too much away, but go read these two books! I cannot wait for the third installment.
Twilight the Graphic Novel - I am an unapologetic Twilight fan and I like graphic novels. The illustrations in this are well done and the story itself is preserved. My only complaint is that it is only the first half of Twilight and I didn't realize that until I had already bought it.
Hero Type is reviewed in the previous post. A boy goes from zero to hero after saving a classmates life then back to zero when he is seen throwing away some Support the Troops ribbons. A great story about standing up for your beliefs and thinking for yourself.
March books
February books
January books
Hero Type by Barry Lyga
Hero Type by Barry LygaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kevin Ross saves a classmate from a serial killer and goes from a nobody to hero overnight. But his reasons for being in the right place at the right time are not exactly something he wants everyone to know and he doesn't exactly feel like a hero. His time at the top doesn't last long when he is seen removing some 'Support the Troops' ribbons from his car and he goes from hero back to zero. Suddenly, he is viewed as someone who doesn't support the troops and hates America.
My Thoughts:
I love Barry Lyga's writing style and characters. Hero Type takes place in the same school as Goth Girl Rising & Boy Toy and characters from those books make brief appearances.
One of the things I loved the most about this book is that I agree with Kevin and I love that he stands up for his beliefs. I think it is important for people to think for themselves. I support the troops and love America, but I don't have to have ribbons on my car or say the pledge at every gathering to prove it.
Like Kevin says, "I guess what I'm saying is that I wish people would think for themselves. Don't just do what everyone else does- use your own brain and figure things out for yourself. If you want to put a ribbon on your car because it's important to you, then great-just don't do it because everyone else is doing it or because you're afraid not to. Because freedom of speech is pretty pointless if everyone keeps saying the same thing." (Hero Type, pp 136-137)
View all my reviews >>
Friday, April 02, 2010
where has my wit gone?
I am re-reading old blog entries from one of my very first blog sites. Reading them, I see that I used to be kind of witty.
What happened?
I think it was as I have said before, people I know in real life are reading my blog now and I tend to self edit too much. And I have gotten so much busier and stressed out so writing has taken a back seat.
I also think I wrote more because I knew people were reading and commenting. I get so few comments on this blog (Thank you for commenting, Laura! You're awesome) This brings up the question-why do I post- for others or for me?
Then there is Twitter which has taken blogging and shrunk it down to 140 characters or less.
Maybe I'll re post a few of them better ones here to help get my creative juices flowing again.
What happened?
I think it was as I have said before, people I know in real life are reading my blog now and I tend to self edit too much. And I have gotten so much busier and stressed out so writing has taken a back seat.
I also think I wrote more because I knew people were reading and commenting. I get so few comments on this blog (Thank you for commenting, Laura! You're awesome) This brings up the question-why do I post- for others or for me?
Then there is Twitter which has taken blogging and shrunk it down to 140 characters or less.
Maybe I'll re post a few of them better ones here to help get my creative juices flowing again.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
March books
March
Catching Fire ~Suzanne Collins (391 pgs)
Shiver ~Maggie Stiefvater (390 pgs)
Stop in the Name of Pants ~Louise Rennison (310 pgs)
Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?~ Louise Rennsion (310 pgs)
The Forest of Hands & Teeth ~Carrie Ryan (310 pgs)
Lessons from a Dead Girl~ Jo Knowles (215 pgs)
Living Dead Girl~ Elizabeth Scott (170 pgs)
7 books 2096 pgs
cumulative- 24 books 6489 pgs
Catching Fire is the follow up to Hunger Games. This continues the story of Katniss after the her participation in the Hunger Games. Her rebellious actions might during the games might have set some things in motion in the other areas. OMG this was action packed and a few twists and turns. and that ending! I cannot wait until August for the third book!
Shiver is a book for werewolf lovers. A teen was attacked my wolves as a child and has had a fascination with them ever since, especially one that watches her from the woods behind her house. There is more to this wolf than meets the eye.
Stop in the Name of Pants & Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? are the 9th & 10th books in the Georgia Nicholson series. They are written like a diary and are "vair vair" funny. Too bad this series is now over.
The Forrest of Hands & Teeth is one I have heard about but just recently bought and read. It is the story of Mary who lives in the US but after some event that has turned most of the population into zombies. Her community is surrounded by a fence to keep the zombies out and they live in fear everyday of infection. When an outsider gets in and just as suddenly disappears Mary knows something is not being told to the community. I loved the book, but had a few questions about what initially happened and what the Sisters knew. I look forward to reading the follow up.
Lessons from a Dead Girl is about a girl who was abused by her best friend when she was younger and tormented by her later on. It is a sad story about kids abusing kids.
Living Dead Girl is a story about a girl who was abducted then abused for five years. The story is written from her perspective and is a disturbing look at emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
To see what I've read previously, go here
Catching Fire ~Suzanne Collins (391 pgs)
Shiver ~Maggie Stiefvater (390 pgs)
Stop in the Name of Pants ~Louise Rennison (310 pgs)
Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?~ Louise Rennsion (310 pgs)
The Forest of Hands & Teeth ~Carrie Ryan (310 pgs)
Lessons from a Dead Girl~ Jo Knowles (215 pgs)
Living Dead Girl~ Elizabeth Scott (170 pgs)
7 books 2096 pgs
cumulative- 24 books 6489 pgs
Catching Fire is the follow up to Hunger Games. This continues the story of Katniss after the her participation in the Hunger Games. Her rebellious actions might during the games might have set some things in motion in the other areas. OMG this was action packed and a few twists and turns. and that ending! I cannot wait until August for the third book!
Shiver is a book for werewolf lovers. A teen was attacked my wolves as a child and has had a fascination with them ever since, especially one that watches her from the woods behind her house. There is more to this wolf than meets the eye.
Stop in the Name of Pants & Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? are the 9th & 10th books in the Georgia Nicholson series. They are written like a diary and are "vair vair" funny. Too bad this series is now over.
The Forrest of Hands & Teeth is one I have heard about but just recently bought and read. It is the story of Mary who lives in the US but after some event that has turned most of the population into zombies. Her community is surrounded by a fence to keep the zombies out and they live in fear everyday of infection. When an outsider gets in and just as suddenly disappears Mary knows something is not being told to the community. I loved the book, but had a few questions about what initially happened and what the Sisters knew. I look forward to reading the follow up.
Lessons from a Dead Girl is about a girl who was abused by her best friend when she was younger and tormented by her later on. It is a sad story about kids abusing kids.
Living Dead Girl is a story about a girl who was abducted then abused for five years. The story is written from her perspective and is a disturbing look at emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
To see what I've read previously, go here
Harry Potter and the disappointed Sandi
My name is Sandi and I am a Potternerd.
When I heard that Universal Studios was transforming part of their park into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter I could hardly contain my glee. The more i heard about it, the pictures that were posted on The Leaky Cauldron website, the more excited I became. I would have the chance to see Hogwarts! I could get a WAND from OLIVANDERS! I could try Butterbeer! OMG!
Then I found out they were planning to open the park in the Spring of 2010.
Since my parents, Mark & I were planning to take my nephew to Disney World I planned to get a couple of tickets to Universal and spend part of the day geeking out.
I took a gamble, partly because my dad & I are pre-planners and want to get things in place and scheduled ahead of time, and partly because I figured they meant Spring as in "the time before Memorial Day" since that day is usually the unofficial start of summer for most tourist hotels. I got a little excited when they started offering their vacation packages for trips taken beginning May 25.
Boy, did I lose out on that gamble. BIG TIME.
I guess technically June 18 IS still Spring, but it is, what, THREE days before summer....and about two weeks after I am there.
Sigh
And the biggest slap in the face? They are letting people who bought their packages in to that part of the park. Which, really, is only the right thing to do. But if they can let them in, why not all of us? I am tempted to stand at the gate and gaze longingly at the people who were lucky enough to be in there.
The bright side is that NCTE (that conference I go to where I meet all the awesome authors) is in Orlando this year, so I'll try again later this year.
When I heard that Universal Studios was transforming part of their park into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter I could hardly contain my glee. The more i heard about it, the pictures that were posted on The Leaky Cauldron website, the more excited I became. I would have the chance to see Hogwarts! I could get a WAND from OLIVANDERS! I could try Butterbeer! OMG!
Then I found out they were planning to open the park in the Spring of 2010.
Since my parents, Mark & I were planning to take my nephew to Disney World I planned to get a couple of tickets to Universal and spend part of the day geeking out.
I took a gamble, partly because my dad & I are pre-planners and want to get things in place and scheduled ahead of time, and partly because I figured they meant Spring as in "the time before Memorial Day" since that day is usually the unofficial start of summer for most tourist hotels. I got a little excited when they started offering their vacation packages for trips taken beginning May 25.
Boy, did I lose out on that gamble. BIG TIME.
I guess technically June 18 IS still Spring, but it is, what, THREE days before summer....and about two weeks after I am there.
Sigh
And the biggest slap in the face? They are letting people who bought their packages in to that part of the park. Which, really, is only the right thing to do. But if they can let them in, why not all of us? I am tempted to stand at the gate and gaze longingly at the people who were lucky enough to be in there.
The bright side is that NCTE (that conference I go to where I meet all the awesome authors) is in Orlando this year, so I'll try again later this year.
Goth Girl Follies!
Goth Girl Rising is a really great follow up to The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga. In Goth Girl Follies, you get to learn even more about our favorite girl. Click the image to go see more!
LIES!:
LIES!:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Movies I like!
I like to watch movies that are fun. I am not particularly fond of the big, sweeping dramas that are nominated for Academy Awards. And I refuse to watch movies if I know the dog or other significant animal dies (This goes back to my childhood and bawling my eyes out when Dumbo wasn't allowed to see his mother and she cradles him in her trunk outside of her crate and sings to him *sniff*) But fun for me and fun for a lot of other people are vastly different...For instance I hate Will Ferrell movies-especially Elf. I also hate movies like Super Troopers, etc. I think it has something to do with people acting dumb.
I also want to know what's going to happen in movies so if we are watching one at home I will get on a movie spoiler site to see what's coming. I really don't like the edge-of-your-seat feeling that some movies cause so I'd rather know ahead of time what's coming. (I also glance at the back of books to see if character names are still showing up. I have to know! Except I didn't do this with the last Harry Potter book or Breaking Dawn. Those stayed spoiler free, amazingly enough)
Here is a list of some of the movies that I watch over and over. Sometimes I pop one in because there is nothing on tv worth watching. Sometimes it's because I border on being attention deficit and have to be multitasking, so I will put a movie on in the background as I am grading papers or whatever. I know these aren't what movie snobs consider marvels of film making but I don't watch movies for that. I watch them because I like the stories or the characters or they are just plain fun.
In no particular order:
1. All of the Harry Potter movies
2. Juno-Ellen Page!
3. Day After Tomorrow (what! I love this, especially the tornadoes in Hollywood. It's flawed and I can only remember one character's name but I like it!)
4. Whip It- Ellen Page!
5. Penelope
6. Twilight
7. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
8. Napoleon Dynamite
9. Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist
10. All of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
I would put the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on this list because I can watch them over and over, it just takes a long time. LotR movies are some of my all time favorites!
So, what are some of YOUR favorite movies? or movies that you watch over and over?
I also want to know what's going to happen in movies so if we are watching one at home I will get on a movie spoiler site to see what's coming. I really don't like the edge-of-your-seat feeling that some movies cause so I'd rather know ahead of time what's coming. (I also glance at the back of books to see if character names are still showing up. I have to know! Except I didn't do this with the last Harry Potter book or Breaking Dawn. Those stayed spoiler free, amazingly enough)
Here is a list of some of the movies that I watch over and over. Sometimes I pop one in because there is nothing on tv worth watching. Sometimes it's because I border on being attention deficit and have to be multitasking, so I will put a movie on in the background as I am grading papers or whatever. I know these aren't what movie snobs consider marvels of film making but I don't watch movies for that. I watch them because I like the stories or the characters or they are just plain fun.
In no particular order:
1. All of the Harry Potter movies
2. Juno-Ellen Page!
3. Day After Tomorrow (what! I love this, especially the tornadoes in Hollywood. It's flawed and I can only remember one character's name but I like it!)
4. Whip It- Ellen Page!
5. Penelope
6. Twilight
7. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
8. Napoleon Dynamite
9. Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist
10. All of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
I would put the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on this list because I can watch them over and over, it just takes a long time. LotR movies are some of my all time favorites!
So, what are some of YOUR favorite movies? or movies that you watch over and over?
2010 books- February
February
Seeker bk 10~ Cate Tiernan (pgs 172)
Origins bk 11~Cate Tiernan (pgs 188)
Guardian of the Gate~Michelle Zink (340 pgs)
Eclipse bk 12~Cate Tiernan (pgs 184)
Reckoning bk13~Cate Tiernan (189 pgs)
Full Circle bk 14~ Cate Tiernan (190 pgs)
Night's Child bk 15~Cate Tiernan (318 pgs)
7 books 1554 pages
cumulative- 17 books 4393 pages
I am finishing up Cate Tiernan's Sweep series. Seeker is told from Hunter's pov as he looks for his parents and tracks down someone collecting the true names of things. It was different to read Hunter's story but I didn't feel it was as strong as some of the earlier books in the series.
Origins This was the story of Morgan's ancestor Rose and is told from her perspective. It is the story of where the Dark Wave originated and gave some background on the Woodbane clan.
Guardian of the Gate is the following up to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters. In this installment, we follow Lia as she searches for the missing pages to help her end the prophecy. She travels with her two companions and keys, Sonia & Luisa to Altus, a safe haven for the Sisters to meet her Aunt Abigail. She discovers much about herself, love, & betrayal.
Guardian of the Gate moves us closer to a final showdown between Lia & Alice. I can't wait to see what comes next!
(for the purpose of disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and consider Michelle as an online friend. I was in no way compensated or influenced in my review of Guardian of the Gate)
Eclipse This installment is told from both Morgan's perspective and Alisa's perspective. Alisa is the youngest member of the Kithic Coven and is not sure if she still wants to be part of the coven. She discovers something about her late mom that changes her outlook. At the same time Morgan and Hunter are still battling Ciaran and trying to find a way to stop a Dark Wave.
Eclipse moved along better than the previous two books. A major event happens close to the end of the book and I am curious about the fallout
Reckoning is the 13th book in the Sweep series. This one is told solely from Alisa's pov. She is still coming to terms with being a witch and runs off to Massachusetts to meet and get to know her late mother's family. There, she helps uncover the reason behind the strange hauntings at her grandmother's house.
I do enjoy getting to know some of the back story with some of the characters from this series and it's interesting seeing how Alisa works through what she learns. I hope a certain male friend of hers shows back up.
Full Circle is another installment written from dual perspectives- Hunter and Morgan. Morgan is being haunted in her dreams from someone from her past. Hunter has given up being Seeker but is approached by someone who needs his services to help check on the leader of her Coven. (I'm not wanting to spoil too much)
While I did enjoy this one, there were times I felt Hunter's part was forced.
Night's Child is the final book in the Sweep series. I was a little worried since this one jumps ahead 20 years when Morgan has a 15 yr old daughter,Moira Byrne. Moira discovers some painful truths about her family that shakes everything she has believed to its core. This one is action packed and ties up many of the loose ends. I was pleased with how this wrapped up the series.
To see my January books- go here
Seeker bk 10~ Cate Tiernan (pgs 172)
Origins bk 11~Cate Tiernan (pgs 188)
Guardian of the Gate~Michelle Zink (340 pgs)
Eclipse bk 12~Cate Tiernan (pgs 184)
Reckoning bk13~Cate Tiernan (189 pgs)
Full Circle bk 14~ Cate Tiernan (190 pgs)
Night's Child bk 15~Cate Tiernan (318 pgs)
7 books 1554 pages
cumulative- 17 books 4393 pages
I am finishing up Cate Tiernan's Sweep series. Seeker is told from Hunter's pov as he looks for his parents and tracks down someone collecting the true names of things. It was different to read Hunter's story but I didn't feel it was as strong as some of the earlier books in the series.
Origins This was the story of Morgan's ancestor Rose and is told from her perspective. It is the story of where the Dark Wave originated and gave some background on the Woodbane clan.
Guardian of the Gate is the following up to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters. In this installment, we follow Lia as she searches for the missing pages to help her end the prophecy. She travels with her two companions and keys, Sonia & Luisa to Altus, a safe haven for the Sisters to meet her Aunt Abigail. She discovers much about herself, love, & betrayal.
Guardian of the Gate moves us closer to a final showdown between Lia & Alice. I can't wait to see what comes next!
(for the purpose of disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and consider Michelle as an online friend. I was in no way compensated or influenced in my review of Guardian of the Gate)
Eclipse This installment is told from both Morgan's perspective and Alisa's perspective. Alisa is the youngest member of the Kithic Coven and is not sure if she still wants to be part of the coven. She discovers something about her late mom that changes her outlook. At the same time Morgan and Hunter are still battling Ciaran and trying to find a way to stop a Dark Wave.
Eclipse moved along better than the previous two books. A major event happens close to the end of the book and I am curious about the fallout
Reckoning is the 13th book in the Sweep series. This one is told solely from Alisa's pov. She is still coming to terms with being a witch and runs off to Massachusetts to meet and get to know her late mother's family. There, she helps uncover the reason behind the strange hauntings at her grandmother's house.
I do enjoy getting to know some of the back story with some of the characters from this series and it's interesting seeing how Alisa works through what she learns. I hope a certain male friend of hers shows back up.
Full Circle is another installment written from dual perspectives- Hunter and Morgan. Morgan is being haunted in her dreams from someone from her past. Hunter has given up being Seeker but is approached by someone who needs his services to help check on the leader of her Coven. (I'm not wanting to spoil too much)
While I did enjoy this one, there were times I felt Hunter's part was forced.
Night's Child is the final book in the Sweep series. I was a little worried since this one jumps ahead 20 years when Morgan has a 15 yr old daughter,Moira Byrne. Moira discovers some painful truths about her family that shakes everything she has believed to its core. This one is action packed and ties up many of the loose ends. I was pleased with how this wrapped up the series.
To see my January books- go here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)