Sunday’s Shining Star

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 don’t know if it is hot and humid where you live but it sure is here in New England.  So I thought we would move our “gab sessions” out by the pool and have a cook out, so I hope you brought your bathing suits.  However, I do apologize, for the 2 grumpy men, Jeff and Steve, in the corner over there who are trying to decide who is going to be charge in of the grill and the drinks.  Shhhhh….I also heard them plotting that they were going to try and speed up our “gab session” so that they can get in at least 9 holes in at the golf course.  Men!!!!

I keep repeating myself and I’m sorry that I do but I am being very honest.  It still amazes me how many genuine and kind people I have met in this neighborhood and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.  It is so hard to make people understand, who aren’t involved with book blogging or even to explain it to people in real life, the connections that we make herein this book blogging neighborhood that do become true friends.   That’s why I love this event, to get to know our friends a little bit better.  And today’s guest falls in that category.  Today’s SHINING STAR is JACKIE from HOUSEWIFE BLUES and CHIHUAHUA STORIES

*When and why did you start blogging?
Started back in 2009 as a way to get extra entries in book giveaway contests on “Bitten By Books” and book blogger sites… My blog then became something to help relieve stress when my father contracted pneumonia and then went into Rehab back in April of 2009 where he was sent to convalesce until better….

From there it evolved into the fun way it is today to reach out and share the love of books I read, will read and want to read with others who feel the same…

*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
I am a Housewife, had the “blues” from my living situation at the time and my Chihuahua is my buddy so it was going to be a blog to keep a journal on my favorite things he did to make me laugh… Then I discovered the book giveaways and the bloggers who were having them made me feel like I had finally discovered a “niche” of people where I could hang out and enjoy my book obsession with people who felt the same bookish love!

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
The main content of my blog covers the books that I read, or would like to read someday, secondary content is to help promote book giveaways and share anything “fun” that I think others might get a smile out of…

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
Urban fantasy, Paranormal Romance with some Historical or Contemporary Romance thrown in… I also like Mystery Thrillers and some Sci-Fi Fantasy….

*How often do you post?
I post every day, sometimes only one post mostly have two… I will be downsizing posts due to having eye surgery on my right eye at the end of February and my left eye in March, am looking for guest posters at the moment to fill in some of the gaps while my eyes recuperate….
  (update: surgery went well)

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The people who I have met online, the ones who both love to read exactly what I do and the ones who have opened my eyes to books that are somewhat outside my comfort zone…

I love to be able to finally share with a huge audience of people something that has been my passion for my entire life, books and reading them… I grew up in a family of one other reader and my father only enjoyed Westerns, my taste is more eclectic and never had anyone for most of my life to share the interest with…

*What are some of the negatives?
One of the negatives is when people plagiarize others work and take credit for it themselves… One of the biggest negatives is when someone posts something hurtful to either an author or another blogger, it might cause controversy and lots of comment traffic but is not a nice thing to do….

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I enjoy doing the “Waiting On Wednesday” MEME hosted by Jill from “Breaking The Spine”, the “On My Wishlist” MEME hosted by Caroline from “Book Chick City” on Saturdays and love to share my thoughts on the books I read on 2 or 3 weekly posts…

The MEME’s are a great way to find books to read and also to find bloggers who enjoy reading the same genres as myself, and find books in other genres I normally do not know about as do not read them as often… Like YA books for instance…

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Enjoy what you do and do not try to “Copy” the success of others, it is only going to be interesting/fun to you if you really believe in what you choose to share with others on your blog….

If you have questions about how something works, ask and I bet someone somewhere will be glad to help you…

*What draws you to follow someone’s blog?
I follow other blogs whose owner shares my same love of certain authors, shares my love of pets or has something interesting at least once a week that makes me laugh! If a blogger is a good story teller and never writes a book review that is good enough for me!

*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
My number one pet peeve is word verification/captcha when you are trying to write and publish a comment…. That and some of the “Darker” blogs that use red letter texting kills my old eyes, I no longer visit those blogs because they are too hard for me to “see” without getting a headache…

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
1. I am in my late 40’s and have finally discovered how much fun teenagers can have by reading YA books! It makes me appreciate surviving my teen years even more than while I was doing it!

2. My Mother is my 2nd best friend and my Husband is my number one friend, provider and all around good guy to know… (I say that after having known him for 33 years of my 48 years of life…)

3. Besides reading my 2nd passionate hobby is Cross-Stitching, to create something from a plain piece of fabric fascinates me… Especially when the something actually looks like an animal in full color and it is made out of thread…

4. My favorite color is almost any shade of blue…

5. My favorite “comfort food” is homemade chili and cornbread, especially in winter…

6. To be able to wake up every day and know that the area I live in will be the last place I move to in my married life is the greatest gift that was ever given to me by my husband… We moved every year to couple of years until 2001, now we finally have a “Home” that we plan on staying in as long as our health allows us to…

7. I am the proud pet parent of an almost 12 year old Chihuahua, an almost 8 year old Calico Tabby and an almost 6 year old Tomcat… My furry babies make life interesting every day…

Jackie, thank you for sharing with us today and being my guest.  First, from what Jackie said in her interview….well…I guess we know where we will be visiting this winter lol.  You might have to make a lot more of your chili and cornbread lol.  You can see, also in her answers, her kind heart, that she considers the feeling of others.  I, and I apologize Jackie but senior moment, can’t remember how I found her blog, but I know that I have been following it from the time I started blogging.  Her reviews are honest and well written.  And on a personal note.  I mentioned her kind heart, it really is a heart of gold, along with compassion, caring, thoughtfulness and always has and knows the right words to share.  As some of you know, this past year has been a rough one for me,  but Jackie has sent me words of encouragement, a gift for my anniversary, and even a snail mail Christmas card.  BTW…I hope you liked the blue text….lol.  How can you explain to someone in the “real world” about a real friend that you have, but have never met.  Jackie…you truly are a SHINING STAR!!!!

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18 thoughts on “Sunday’s Shining Star

  1. Morning Cheryl, only a little after 6am here and still in the 80's. I am looking forward to spending some time poolside with you and anyone else who gets a chance to hang out with us today, thanks for having me and your very kind words made my day and also put a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye! Here is to many more online *chats*, may they be positive encouragement for both of us.

  2. I love this feature! Jackie's so right about YA – it's for adults too. I haven't gotten to the point where I know this will be the last place I'll ever live.

  3. Kathy good morning and glad you could join us, how are liking the pool today in this heat is it nice and relaxing?

    Yes YA is not just for the age group it is written about and I for one am really enjoying reading a few in the genre here and there much more than I thought I would!

    In reference to settling in the last place I will ever live, for me it is a matter of finally feeling like I have found a place that compares to the best memories of my childhood home… We are out of town but not so far it is inconvenient, we have many trees and since we live in a small secluded neighborhood it is peaceful and full of wild life to watch and also look up in the sky and star gaze by the pool at night. Best place I have lived since moving away from where I was raised as a child until we got flooded out when I was 6 years old, it also happens to be a place that allows us to enjoy our love of being outdoors as we have a huge yard to putter in….

  4. I found Jackie through her Chihuahua! I saw her pup on Goodreads and then read she was a fellow Texan so I just had to friend her.

    Little did I know then what a kind and noble person she is. She always thinks about the other person before herself.

    As an author, I've been touched with her support and her kind words. It's my wish that every author should have a fan like Jackie.

    PS Nice to meet you, Cheryl! The other benefit of knowing Jackie is all the new people I meet through her.

  5. Love my Jackie Girl!

    We have this playful rivalry over Damon (Vampire Diaries – actor) and enjoy sharing our "TOO HAWT" moments over his smoldering looks. I send him over to her pale every second night with the express condition he be returned before sun rise.
    Which reminds me… Jackie … you've kept him for the LAST WEEK! Give it OVER – NOW!

    PS Cheryl… time to take those golf clubs and hide them… and hey where's tequila ;P

  6. Maria so very glad our shared love of dogs allowed me to get to know you online, getting to meet you in person is going to be even better come November!

    And it is great to be able to share my other online friends with you, always happy to find new sites for people to enjoy and Cheryl's is a really good one to visit….

    Maria it is easy to be a fan to an author when they are as nice as you, plus you write good reads so the books are very easy to promote and fun too.

    PK, told you Damon left and not sure where he went in a snit. Anyway happy to have met you too because we need a person to bounce our mutual "addiction" to the smoldering bad boy that is Ian Somerhalder AKA Damon Salvatore.

  7. Wonderful Choice. A True Shining Star!!!! I found Jackie's blog early in my adventure into blogging and am happy I did. I love her blog!!!

    o.k., Does mu butt look big in this suit? Maybe another drink and I won't care. Cheryl, I took Jeff's clubs out of the trunk before we left home. No golf today, tee hee, now fire up the grill and let's visit!!!

  8. Lori thanks bunches, your blog is one I go to more in my email post feed than I get to in person these days… Still nice to keep up and happy to have met you online and wish we lived close enough so I could visit in person!

  9. Nice to meet another Harlan Coben, David Baldacci and Amanda Quick fan among other authors we both like Nise. Come over and help my Chihuahua play fetch with his favorite toy and you will feel at home in no time!

    Cheryl sorry about disappearing for awhile, took a nap and could not get myself out of bed as did not get to bed until after 1 this morning… It is very hot already so think am going to lounge out in the cool pool for a bit and just chill…

  10. I look forward to visiting her blog, sounds like she likes an eclectic mix of books.

    BTW we came Boston to see Sade in concert, I couldn't think of any bloggers in Boston, we are staying in Back Bay but leave in the morning.

  11. Marce thanks for stopping by to join in on this fine Sunday, my taste runs the gamut of genres and even though my main reads are paranormals of all kind I am game to try pretty much anything…

  12. Hi Everyone…sorry I'm late. Had a bridal shower this afternoon. Hope you all had fun.
    Jackie..I thought I was up early..lol 5:30a here this morning
    Maria…nice to meet you too.
    PK..now why didn't I think of hiding those darn stick things the boys play with..lol and are you and Jackie hiding some hunk…who is Damon?
    Lori..trust me…after a few mimomas. I think you look great in that thong lol
    Marce: oh nooooooo. I live an hour away from Boston…would have loved to have met you. Geez if only I knew ahead of time.

  13. Cheryl I have to get up every weekday morning with my husband so do so even on weekends as my internal alarm clock will not reset…
    How can you not know about Damon, not a fan of Vampire Diaries on the CW are you?

  14. ok…I admit…no vampires for me..would have nightmares…I'm such a wimp. There was some show when I was young…I think it was called Dark Shadows?? and I remember some of my friends HAD to stop playing outside to watch it and I just didn't see what the "big thing" was. I just remember I couldn't wait until we could go back out and play.

  15. Dark Shadows, okay I admit it I was a fan of the show… Only I saw it in reruns in my mid 20's and now if you mention Barnabas Collins in the same breath as vampire I shudder in disbelief! Cheryl you did not miss much but The Vampire Diaries is sexy and sweet and cruel and intriguing and at times quite fun to watch… Damon is the big draw and if you look up Ian Somerhalder you will see why!

    If I drop out of the ongoing party soon it is because am trying to finish a couple of book reviews and read one on my Kindle DX just for me… Back to the author requests when I am more rested next week…

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