Feature and Follow Friday: A Dinner Invitation

It's been a while since I've participated in anything: Feature and Follow, Top Ten Tuesday, Waiting on Wednesday, etc. I was on a little hiatus over the Easter holiday - three weeks to be exact - but now it's over and I'm back in the game... sort of.

I'm kind of taking my time getting back into the swing of things because.... (and this is a secret just for my fellow bloggers)... I've started writing again. Many of you probably don't know that I go through phases of writing for months, non-stop except to work, eat, sleep and use the potty. Then I poop out and don't touch a thing I've worked on for months. So I'm going full force this time, except with the intention of taking breaks and non pooping out and maybe, finally, possibly, hopefully attempting to publish (probably self pub) something. So with that being said, I want to start looking to authors and see what tips worked for them. Obviously mainly self-pub'd authors but even some bigger names. Which brings me to the reason I'm here today:

This week's Feature and Follow Friday question is:

What living author or authors would you like to have dinner with? (Try to think beyond JK Rowling)

That little addition kind of screws me up because honestly, my answer is J.K. Rowling. But for the sake of being a good sport and thinking outside the box, I've come up with my next answer(s) which were almost as easy as the first:

Rainbow Rowell,

Jodi Picoult,

and Nora Roberts

Rainbow Rowell is a recent addition to my list of favorites and I would love the chance not only to meet her, but to pick her brain about her amazing books and her writing process.

Jodi Picoult is one of the first authors I ever loved and everything of hers I've ever read, I've loved. Seriously. And I've read a lot of her novels. I'd love to talk over dinner and find out how she always packs one hell of a punch into each and every novel she writes.

and Nora Roberts: My writing hero. Though I've strayed a bit from the romance genre in recent years and while I know Nora tends to be a bit predictable and redundant in some of her newer novels, she is still the queen of descriptive passages and strong characters (female, especially). She is the first author I ever loved, and yes she has her faults but she'll always have a place in my reader's heart and maybe, maybe one day I will have the chance to pick her brain, too, about how she writes in such detail and sticks to such strong and willful female characters in different storylines.

So consider this my official dinner invitation:

I cordially invite you, Rainbow, Jodi and Nora, to a night out on the town with the highly sought after author of the blog I Solemnly Swear: Amanda (that's me!) :)

So ladies, will you have dinner with me?!

What authors would you like to have dinner with?

Happy Reading!

A.

Feature and Follow Friday: The Last Book That Made Me Cry

Happy Friday! The week is finally over. That never usually means anything for me because I work weekends, but this time I'll be enjoying some time off. This week's Feature and Follow (Alison Can Read) topic is:

What was the last book that made you cry?

I just finished this book for the first time two days ago and I'm still suffering from it. For the record, no I don't hate the book or the ending. I posted a jumble of my thoughts on Goodreads a couple of minutes after I finished it in case you're interested in what I mean. Otherwise, I'll be posting a review in the coming weeks, but regardless - this book broke my heart. And I totally respect Veronica Roth for doing things the way she did. She literally had me sobbing and curling up in a ball on my couch - that's how hard I was crying over this book. I can honestly say it has been a really, really long time since I've cried like that over a book and I'm still not over it.

So first of all, what did you guys think of Allegiant? Like I said, it's only been two days since I've read it and I'm still so interested in discussing it... Second, what is the last book that made you cry?

Leave a link to your blog in your comments so I can pay you a visit back! :)

Happy Friday,

A.

P.S. My Giveaway ends in one week! Enter below while you still can! You can win a SIGNED copy of The Pentrals by Crystal Mack, a Pentrals poster and tattoos! Giveaway ends February 28, 2014, at midnight. The Giveaway is not international (sorry!). U.S. only.

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Feature and Follow Friday: Look What Santa Brought Me!

HAPPY FRIDAY - AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Did Santa visit you all this Wednesday? He sure did visit me!

I received:

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell from my sister

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Frostbite by Richelle Mead, and

Legend by Marie Lu all from my wonderful fiance.

My parents gave me a giftcard with which I proceeded to order (no pictures cause they haven't arrived yet):

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling, and

Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

I also got some books from my dear blogging bud Amber from Paradise of Pages, but I haven't opened them yet because my package to her is late (dang post office!), so I'm waiting.

What did Santa bring for you all! I can't wait to see!

A.

Feature and Follow Friday Tag

Happy Friday.. Aahh, still coming off my high of seeing Catching Fire last night. It was amazing in case you were wondering.

Well this week's Feature and Follow is a rather simple one:

Q: You Are It! We are playing #FF tag this week. Comment on as many blogs as you can, even if they aren’t participating in #FF. Just say Happy #FF! At the end of your comment. Keep a running total if you want and update your post with it. The bigger the number the more impressed we will be!

So lets play tag, you guys! See you around!! :)

Tagged : 27 bloggers

(updated 11/22 11:35 a.m. EST)

A.

Feature and Follow Friday - Book to Movie Adaptations

This week's Feature and Follow (hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read (just almost met the President!)) topic is:

Q: Are there any book to movie adaptations where you think the movie is (almost) better than the book?
YES! Well maybe not better than the book. I don't think I could ever go that far, but there are a couple that come pretty damn close:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - we all know the Harry Potter movies change a lot of the intricate details which can be super annoying, but this movie is the only one I think I enjoyed more than the book because it gets all the issues and emotions across without taking 800+ pages to do so. I recently read OotP and though I loved it as I do all Harry Potter books, I wouldn't have minded it being maybe 100 pages shorter?

The Time Traveler's Wife - one of my favorite books of all time. I cried for like a week after I read that book... then I took my mom, sister and cousin to see the movie... Lets just say at least we were able to laugh after we made fools of ourselves sobbing like small children in public. (omg I literally might cry just looking at some of the movie poster.. I'm pathetic)

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - definitely not one that it better than the book, but I enjoyed it so much I wanted to see it again, and I think it brought a lot of the action to life when I was struggling to connect with Clare's writing.

oh and how about
The Vampire Diaries - I know this is a show, but as far as adaptations go, I love the show 103876827 times more than the book. I couldn't even finish the first book, but I am obsessed with the show and the spin-off show, The Originals.

How about you? Any movies you think are better than the book? Or like me, almost better? Cant wait to hear from ya!

A.

Feature & Follow Friday - Guilty Pleasures

Happy Friday! The weekend is almost upon us. Any special plans? I will of course be working all weekend - how about you?!

This week's question for Feature and Follow Friday (hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read) is:

Q: What book are you embarrassed to admit you LOVED enjoyed (try to think beyond Twilight)?

Well, first of all, I've edited the question a bit. Only because everything I've LOVED, I still stand by because I obviously loved it for a reason. There are some things I really enjoyed that maybe wouldnt be my favorite anymore but grudgingly have to admit that I was a fan once upon a time.

First up is (and I'm really not going much beyond Twilight here) is Fifty Shades of Grey. When I read this book, I thought the premise and plot were pretty good and unique, but as we all know, the writing was garbage. I picked up the second one and my thoughts were confirmed, the writing was still garbage. I hate when my non-reading/non-blogger friends ask me if I've read Fifty Shades because they are so proud that this is the one book they've read and loved. I always have to admit that I did, and that I liked it. But my response is always the same, so I have some sort of disclaimer to go along with it, "I did read it. The first one was good but the second one was crap, so I didn't bother to finish the series, cause the writing sucked." Poor unsuspecting friends... all they did was ask me if I'd read the book.

Look- its freaking
lingerie on the cover.
I can understand why some
people are reluctant to pick these up

Second is not a book but a very general genre: romance. I don't mean YA dystopian or fantasy or sci-fi which almost always features some sort of romance. I mean romance, where the book probably wouldnt really hold up too well without the development of a certain romantic relationship. Now this is something I can say I LOVE. I am a huge romance fan, but I've gotten away from it in recent years after jumping on the YA dystopian train. I am Nora Robert's biggest fan (pre-ordered her newest book actually, Dark Witch, and I can't wait for it to get here!). I used to love those monthly Harlequin releases, the ones you can get for like $4.00 on the little romance displays in the aisleway at the book stores. Obsessed. Anyhow, it's not that I'm necessarily embarrassed, but I feel like romance isn't exactly taken seriously, especially with those covers and the sometimes less than stellar writing. But I suppose the latter is something you encounter in any genre, not just romance.

What books/genres are you embarrassed to say you loved... or at the very least, liked? Can't wait to hear from you guys!

A.

P.S. Don't forget! I'm having a giveaway for 3 lucky winners - a PDF copy of Dance the Moon Down, a historical romance that I absolutely loved. Enter below - and good luck!!


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Feature and Follow - Magazine Love

Happy Friday! Is it the end of the week for many of you? I work weekends, so my weeks all just run right into each other, haha. This week's topic on Feature and Follow Friday is:

Q: What are some of your favorite magazines?

Well, I've had a subscription to Cosmopolitan for years now. Actually - quick story - it's the magazine that got me back into reading again. I was 18 and hadn't read for pleasure in years and in the back of every Cosmo there is a section with a book of their choosing, with an excerpt and everything. This one particular month featured a Brenda Jackson book - a romance. I can't remember the name but I still own the entire series. I was back in the game! I read romance non-stop for a while until my cousin turned me on to Twilight (cue eye roll), and since then I've been a YA fan and ever expanding my horizons. So - THANKS COSMO! They're partially to thank for this book blog being in existence, don't you think?

I don't really read any other magazines to be honest. I stick to books mostly, but I don't think I'll ever get rid of my Cosmo subscription.

What are some of your favorite magazines? If you follow, leave me a comment with a link to your blog so I can pay you a visit! :)

A.

Feature and Follow Friday - Blogging Besties!

Happy Friday! This week's Feature and Follow topic from Parajunkee is:

Feature Your Own Favorite Blogger!

Aha, this one is easy. My very best blogging buddy runs one of my favorite blogs out there - Paradise of Pages. 

Everyone, meet Amber:

Amber and I started out talking about Harry Potter (I know, no surprise there), and nowadays, though we do still talk HP (those tattoos have to happen eventually), we now do the occasional post together and talk via text all the time about a little of everything. She's become more than just a blogging friend and hopefully one day we can finally hang out in real life. :)

You should all pay Amber a visit, check out her awesome reviews, leave her some love and definitely follow her!

You're the best, Amber! <3

Honorable mentions:

Katie at KCross Writing - she is such an amazing writer and downright hysterical! Give her some love.

Elizabeth at so long and thanks for all the fish - she totally gets me and is always willing to talk Harry Potter with me. You should also give her some love.

(You girls are awesome, and I hope we get to know each other better and become better blogging pals!)

Who is your favorite blogger? A friend of yours or someone you admire from afar?

A.

Feature and Follow Friday - Reading Spots

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly feature hosted by Parajunkee. This week's FF Topic is:

Reading Nook Tour!

Unfortunately I'm at work and didn't get a chance to take any pictures or videos today, but my answer is very basic. My favorite reading spot is in my fiance's recliner, because well... it reclines. And it rocks and I love rocking chairs.

With that being said, I'll read almost anywhere, especially in my bed, at work, on my mom's couch when I go to visit. Check out this awesome post on Barnes and Noble's blog (that made me crack up several times and actually consider some of the other options) called 100 (Pretty Weird) Ways to Squeeze Reading Into Your Day. Seems like a lot of people out there can read just about anywhere. I just love reading. :) I suppose you all do too, haha.

Maybe later tonight I'll update this post with a pic of our ratty old recliner :)

Where's your favorite reading spot?

A.

P.S. If you follow, leave a comment with your link and I'll pay you a visit back !

Feature and Follow Friday - Are You My Mother?

Happy Friday! This week's F&F Friday (hosted by Parajunkee) is:

What were some of your favorite picture books as a kid? If you have kids, what are your favorites to read to them?

I had a lot of favorites as a kid. Are You My Mother? is one that I hold dear to my heart. My grandmother doesnt speak much English and would sometimes read my books, including this one. My dad, aunts and uncles would always jokingly ask her in English "Are you my mother?" I even went to see the traveling show (which is just a small theatre company that puts on the show) last year with my 9-year-old brother.

I also loved Dr. Seuss. Everyone loved Cat in the Hat, of course, as did I. But I remember a particular fondness for One Fish, Two Fish.. I was a weird kid, what can I say, haha.

However, when I think of my favorite kid's book ever, it would be this one:

Love You Forever is for sure my favorite, and my mom absolutely loves it too. In fact, whenever I look at the cover and replay the short story in my head, I get teary eyed. If you've never read it, and a children's book has never made you cry, pick this one up. I blubber like a fool every time I read it. I want to buy a copy for my niece for her birthday in a couple of weeks, and for my children when I have them. Its such a precious story, all parents will love it as well as their kids! Am I gushing? I could be the poster child for this book. I think I need to go dig out my old copy.....

So what children's books did you grow up on? Do they have a special place in your heart like mine do? Leave a comment below and let me know how you followed and I'll pay you a visit too!

A.

Feature and Follow Friday - Bookshelf Tour

Happy Friday! Here we are at the end of another wonderful week in blogging! Today's topic on Parajunkee's Feature and Follow Friday asks us to give a tour of our bookshelves!

I was going to do this long video showing my 3 stand up shelves and smaller shelf beneath my computer and explain what I've got going on, but I figured you didnt want to hang around watching my ridiculous video, so I chose to do a 7 second video on Vine then uploaded it to YouTube and - voila! So, please, without further ado:

I have 3 standing bookcases and some space underneath my PC plus random books lying all over the house that dont have a shelf to call home yet. Plus a long TBR list that I intend to buy and add to it the shelves (and hopefully get more shelves). One day I hope to have beautiful built in bookshelves in my future home... *sigh... a girl can dream, cant she?

Hope you enjoyed my short little tour, maybe one day I'll take ya for a real one? What do your shelves look like!?

Also, today is the last day for my giveaway (not international, I'm sorry!) of the first book in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles, The Red Pyramid. Enter below and a winner will be announced this weekend! Good luck! :)

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Feature and Follow Friday - Just One book... Forever?!

Happy Friday everyone! :) This week's question from Parajunkee's Feature and Follow Friday is:

If you could only have ONE – one book – for the rest of your life. Don’t cheat…what would it be?

Lol, great, this one specifically says "dont cheat". I know many of you are expecting me to choose something from the Harry Potter series, and if I was going to cheat, I would ;) buttttt, I am going to go with a book that has stayed with me since middle school, that I've passed on to many friends and family members, that I love so much... and that book is:

The Giver by Lois Lowry

That's my pick! This book has stayed with my for many years and a final installment has just been released late last year after many many years of waiting. Though, I'm sure since it is a short book, I'd get tired of it soon, but this post didnt say I couldnt write my own fanfic continuations of the story if I wanted to!! Gotta keep it interesting! :D

Honorable mentions: (totally not cheating) any Harry Potter book, any book from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, The Hunger Games, The Time Travelers Wife... Okay, okay, I'll stop, lol.

What are your picks for this week's Feature and Follow!? Leave me your links so I can visit and follow you back!!

A.

P.S. I'm having a giveaway! (U.S. Entrants only, I'm sorry!) I'm giving away a paperback copy of the first book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan in honor of his upcoming release, House of Hades, in his other series, The Heroes of Olympus. Enter below! and Good luck!! :)

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Feature and Follow Friday - Book-Selfie!!

Happy Friday everyone! It's been a quiet blogging week for me, work has been crazy and what not, so I've just been devoting my time to catching up on my reading cause I've kinda fallen behind. :( So this week's Feature and Follow hosted by Parajunkee is pretty simple:

Book Selfie! Take a pic with your current read.

Forgive me, blogging friends, because I went a little picture crazy, lol. I'm currently reading three books, as you'll see by the thing sI'm holding along with the books in my lap in certain pictures (my fiance was the one taking pictures and he basically just indulged in my silliness):

I know - I was vogue-ing. I couldnt help myself. I was going to "walk like an Egyptian" with my books in my hand, but I figured I was getting a little crazy. Oh, and in the spirit of awesome pictures, let me throw one in of the cutest baby in the world (she doesnt have a book, though):

My niece, Sophia, who will be a year the day before my birthday in October. I know - the plaid dress with a t-shirt? I asked my sister the same thing when I was there. This isnt the 90's, she cant be dressed like my baby pictures, lol. Not a book-selfie, I know, but I was reading one of my current reads when this photo was being taken, also by my fiance!

So, for those of you who care and are not totally distracted by the cute baby above, I'm reading:

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (thats the one on my kindle)

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare; and

HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

So, what are you guys currently reading? Leave me a link so I can check out your selfies which are hopefully more embarrassing than mine! Thanks for stopping by. :)

A.

P.S. Dont forget to enter my giveaway below for a paperback copy of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid!! (U.S. entrants only, sorry!)

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Feature and Follow Friday - Blogging is a Learning Process

Happy Friday!! It's Feature and Follow Friday, hosted by Parajunkee - visit her blog to find out how to participate!

This week's topic:

Share something you've learned about book blogging or just blogging in general in the last month.

In the last month? Wow, tons of stuff. I have to be honest though, and say that most of the stuff I know, I've known for a while, though there is so much I still havent learned yet. But the one thing that comes to mind is that I've recently learned about the existence of Google Analytics - which I'm still figuring out, mind you - and how helpful it is to know your stats, especially when contacting publishers for advance copies, etc.

With that being said, if you have any tips about Google Analytics, or know where I can find some good tips, please share, because at this point I only sort of know what I'm looking at, haha.

What's something that you've learned recently about blogging? 

A.

Feature and Follow Friday - Playing Teacher

Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly feature hosted by Parajunkee. Visit her blog to find out how to participate! :)

This week's activity:

Back to School! Create a reading list for the imaginary English Lit class you’ll be teaching this semester.

Well, I'm not quite sure how many books a class reads in a semester. Its been a while since I've taken an English Lit class, and since I went to a Business & Tech college, we were only required to take writing classes, no lit classes. Last one I had was in high school, around 6 years ago, haha.
So, with that said, lets assume I'm teaching a high school English class:

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Besides being a beautiful story of love, life and redemption, its very informative and interesting about Afghanistan (and U.S.) history.

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Its John Steinbeck. 'Nuff said. Plus, the movie makes me boo-hoo, imagine the book.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My fiance actually had to read this in his freshman English class before, and its not something he would've normally thought to pick up, but he ended up enjoying it a lot. Now, he didnt go read the other two, but he's willing to see the movies with me. :) Besides that, its epic. Again, 'nuff said.

4. Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare

I hold Romeo and Juliet dear to my heart. My favorite-est English teacher (he'd kill me for saying favorite-est), Mr. Erik Perez, may he one day read this and know he is amazing, introduced me to Shakespeare in the 9th grade and though I haven't read a lot of his works, I've read this one several times, once in school, a few times on my own, and it never gets old. It is a must!

5. Othello, Shakespeare

I didn't read this one with Mr. P, but he is the reason I decided to pick it up many years later and I think I loved this one even more than R&J. Watching the movie "O" doesnt count (though thats a crazy movie!!), it is a must read. I tried Julius Caesar, in case you were wondering, and didn't love it. Like I said, I'm not a Shakespeare pro, just scratching the surface on it and finding what I love, like this book!

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I'd love to say they should read them all (and they should), but the "school year" is only so long, and there are many more things to read. I expect them all to read the rest of the series on their own, though! :)

7. The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

LOVE LOVE LOVE Edgar Allan Poe. Another big thanks to Mr. P! The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, Annabel Lee, The Raven. Must I go on? I mean, I wouldnt make my students read the whole thing, but I think we'd be studying the ones I just mentioned at the very least.

Only seven books, leaves plenty of time for quizzes and essays! What books would you have on your reading list if you were teaching an English Lit class?

A.

P.S. My giveaway ends tonight (Friday, 8/9/13) at midnight!! I am giving away the first two books in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth to one lucky winner, to be announced Saturday afternoon! Dont forget to enter below and good luck!!!! :D

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Feature and Follow Friday

Its F&F Friday again, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Visit their blogs to find out how to participate!

This week's featured blog is: Jelly's Insider - make sure you pay a visit!

Parajunkee wants to to know:

We always talk about books that WE want. Let’s turn it on its head. What books have you given other people lately?
 

I dont give a lot of books, as gifts or for lending but the most recent gift I gave was to my loving boyfriend for Christmas and I gave him The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. This is havent read but my boyfriend doesnt read much but he loves the Walking Dead show and I desperately want him to read more, so I gave it a shot. He's had it for months and has maybe read a few chapters -___-

My cousin has been reading all of the books in the Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare, and has been loving them. These I have read, and enjoyed thoroughly, and cant wait for the movie!!

What books have you given lately?

A.