Winners

And the winners are……….

CMash January 26, 2012 2 Comments

……….of ALL I WANT IS YOU by Sherrill Bodine and

SANCTUARY COVE by Rochelle Alers

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

11 8 4

Timestamp: 2012-01-27 13:52:51 UTC

GFC Follower nancyecdavis

Molly…I follow you via Twitter

I follow you on Facebook. iowagramma.ann

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to those that entered.

2012 Challenges, Booking Thru Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

CMash January 26, 2012 2 Comments

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELIZABETH FROM SILVER’S REVIEW

Elizabeth has been selected as a nominee for the Top Writing Blogs Award! If you aren’t a visitor of her blog, you may remember her when she was showcased one Sunday as a Shining Star. (which I hope to eventually bring back). Elizabeth and I met online and seriously think we may be distant cousins, so much so, that we call each other “Cuz”. Voting started yesterday and I would love it if she won as she is definitely deserving of this award. So I ask if you could take a few minutes out of your days and do the following:

http://blog.ecollegefinder.org/writing-blog-award/

Voting for the competition began yesterday, January 24, 2012!

Visitors may vote as many times as they’d like during the voting period, which will continue through February 3, 2012, at 5 PM EST.

Please click on the button in the top right corner to get to the voting page or click on the button at the top of this post.

Once you get to the voting page, you will see a list of nominees.

Please put a check mark in the box next to my blog name:

Silver’s Reviews…..and press the VOTE BUTTON.

Thank you, from both my cousin and I. I’m off to vote, ~~once~~, ~~twice,~~ , ok a few times, I really want her to win!!!!!

http://btt2.wordpress.com

Today’s question:
What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?
(Of course, a book should have BOTH, but…)

My answer:
This took quite a bit of thinking, and yes, both are needed. But I think if the story or the premise is not there to grip you, no matter how well it is written, it won’t make for an enjoyable read.

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

Progress To Date: 7 1/2
Wednesday’s: 2 1/2 hrs
Previous Days’ Hours: 5 hrs

Oh well..another not s0 good reading day. Yesterday was an appointment with a lady who assists with liquidations of houses which I am still in the process of with my Mom’s house. Not an easy task for those who don’t know and for those who do know, understand. Both physically and emotionally draining as you go through memories of your life.

Winners

And the winners are…..

CMash January 25, 2012 1 Comment

……..of AMERICAN DERVISH by Ayad Akhtar

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1 5

Timestamp: 2012-01-25 23:33:24 UTC

Karen Gonyea Very intriguing

FB friend: Teresa Sprague Lukey

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to those that entered.

Guest Author

Guest Author Harlow Coban

CMash January 25, 2012 2 Comments

It has been 2 years now that I have had my blog and been part of the cyber world of book blogging and reviewing. Two years!! And I am enjoying it and am as enthusiastic today as I was that first day. And it still amazes me that authors contact me and ask if I would review their book and/or visit my blog. Today is one of those days. So please help me welcome my guest, Ms. Harlow Coban!

ABOUT HARLOW COBAN

Author Harlow Coban was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Denver, CO. She relocated to North Carolina five years ago with her husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.

She shares a birthday with the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. In keeping with his legacy, she is currently working on taking over the world. Harlow’s positive attitude and fresh take on life are her tools and conquest is certain.

She spends her free time writing, dancing, traveling and defending mailboxes from her 16-year-old twins’ driving.

Her debut novel, LIFE IN DEATH (February 2012), is a murder mystery which pulls from real-life situations from her own family history. She felt compelled to share her story with the world while offering a thrilling, entertaining, and amusing escape for readers.

In keeping with her commitment to improving the lives of children, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club in her home state of North Carolina.

She loves to connect with her readers and can be found on Twitter , Facebook , and her website

GUEST POST

HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL BASED ON A TRUE STORY

BY

HARLOW COBAN, AUTHOR OF LIFE IN DEATH

My story isn’t a warm and fuzzy one.

My father was murdered when I was 12 years of age.

A few years ago, at my uncle’s urging, I looked into what happened to him. The police had suspects, but no one was ever arrested and the case remains unsolved.

I learned a lot about police procedure when I looked into my father’s murder. It was then that I decided to write a novel.

While my murder mystery novella, Life in Death, is not entirely based on what happened to my father, it draws from real life experiences I had with him.

Writing the novel was a cathartic experience for me. What I liked most, and found particularly cleansing, about the experience was my power to spin the story as I saw fit.

We all love, hate, laugh, cry, and everything in between, so we’re never at a loss for stories to tell.

Here’s how you get started writing a novel based on a true story:

Determine what kind of story you want to write. Talk to family and friends. Look at newspaper articles. I don’t want to be morose, but look at obituaries, too. Take notes. There are stories there.
Determine the story’s theme: Good/evil, love/hate, birth/death, peace/war, etc. Again, take notes. This may be where the title of your book comes from or maybe not. The title of my book came to me in a dream.
Construct a compelling plot. I suggest creating a plot outline to start with. I used the “what if” technique to determine what would happen in my chapters. Basically, you ask yourself “what if” this or that happened to your character and expand from there.
Create dynamic scenes. My advice is something has to happen in “every” chapter or scene.
Create multi-dimensional characters. Many writers, including yours truly, base their characters on real people and then add nuances to create more complexity and depth. This is one way to go.
Read, read, read. The more you read, the better writer you’ll become.
Lastly, start writing. “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

Truth can be stranger than fiction, but maybe not as entertaining. The key to writing a novel based on a true story is in how you spin the story to make it enjoyable for readers. Cheers!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis:

When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. She’s been targeted for death and she doesn’t even know it. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

THANKS TO AUTHOR, HARLOW COBAN,
I HAVE ONE (1) SIGNED COPY
OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.
ONE ENTRY GIVEAWAY WITH A TWIST!!!

DISCLAIMER

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners

via publisher, agent and/or author. This blog hosts

the giveaway on behalf of the above.

No items that I receive

are ever sold…they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Book Giveaway, Giveaway

GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “LIFE IN DEATH” by HARLOW COBAN

CMash January 25, 2012 11 Comments

JANUARY 25th to FEBRUARY 8th, 2012

LIFE IN DEATH

by HARLOW COBAN

SYNOPSIS:

When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. She’s been targeted for death and she doesn’t even know it. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

THANKS TO AUTHOR, HARLOW COBAN

I HAVE ONE ( 1 ) SIGNED COPY OF

THIS 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: (FROM THE AUTHOR)

FIRST READER TO GUESS THE AUTHOR’S FAVORITE

COLOR ( from the author: “trust me, not a typical color”)

WILL WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF BOOK.*

*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 JANUARY 8th 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,
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

W.W.W. Wednesdays

W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash January 25, 2012 2 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

Total Progress To Date: 5 hours
Tuesday’s hours: 3 hours
Monday’s hours: 2 hours

Murphy’s Law…it never fails. I sign up and it is a time frame when I have my worse reading schedule albeit, real life obligations, not feeling well, appointments, etc etc. Next time I will not announce nor sign up for a read-a-thon and I can guarantee, it will hours of reading lol. Yesterday, I think I have bronchitis, I sat in my recliner, switched on Kimmy Kindle and the next thing I remember was that Steve was calling to let me know that he was leaving work ( he still has not been released to drive from the surgery so a coworker drops him off at a drop off/pick up spot where I meet him everyday to bring him to and from home). So again yesterday I didn’t get much reading time in.

Winners

And the winners are……….

CMash January 24, 2012 2 Comments

………of COME BACK TO ME by Melissa Foste

Gigi Ann I think they each fall in love with others.

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

Teaser Tuesday

CMash January 24, 2012 6 Comments

My good friend Gina, from Hott Books, recently interviewed me and today she posted it on her site. It was an honor to be asked . Let me tell you a little about Gina, she has a huge, caring heart. A great Mom!! Even though we have not met face to face, we have become close friends via the internet. If you haven’t visited her blog, (btw she designed it), take a look around, read her interview, say hi, and once you see what you have been missing, become a follower. I’m headed there now. Hope to see you there too.

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!

Arianna gasped slowly for air. She didn’t cry. The pain she felt in her side wasn’t bad enough to give her husband the satisfaction.
“When I say it is time to leave, it is time to leave. There is no room for negotiation in this marriage.”

Kindle 5%

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

Progress:

Pitiful…just pitiful. Whenever I sign up for a Read-A-Thon, I just can’t seem to accomplish my goal and that is to read. Yesterday I worked at the computer, thinking I would get a lot of items taken care of, then get snuggly in the recliner in my recliner and read. Good plan, right? WRONG. For some reason, yesterday I was in slow-mo, got hardly anything done, kept getting interrupted by phone calls, real life chores, etc and only got a whopping 2 hours of reading time in.

Today my goal is the same except that I will be off the computer by noon, even if my work is not completed and will start reading. And oh yes…I just may be screening my calls lol.