And the winners are………….

CMash August 23, 2011 1 Comment

………….for THE THINGS WE CHERISHED by Pam Jenoff

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

55	25

Timestamp: 2011-08-23 10:40:08 UTC

nfmgirl said… 55 I follow on Twitter: nfmgirl
rj7777 said… 25 The word brings back history of horrible acts commited against the Jews and involving Hitlers crazy rein.

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 all that entered.

08/23/11

Due to a previous win from another site, another name was chosen via Random.Org. Thank you nfmgirl for notifying me.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-08-23 21:40:32 UTC

ellie said… 42 I follow you on Twitter @eswright18
An email has been sent and Ellie has 48 hours to respond or another name will be chosen.

Monday Memes

CMash August 22, 2011 Leave a Comment

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Do you prefer character-driven stories, or plot-driven stories?

My Answer:
I would say both, however, the characters have to be life like and believable first and foremost no matter what the plot is. Especially if it is a story line of relationship dynamics. But then if a book does have the elements of characters that one can relate to, but the plot goes nowhere, what good are these life like characters. I have read a couple of these books recently and even though I understood what the author was trying to convey with their characters, the books’ plot was flat and I struggled through them. So I think they have to be of equal proportion.

What about you? What do you think? Characters or plots?

August is being hosted by Staci from Life in the Thumb

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.”

WOW Planned TV Arts Kaye Publicity

Monday Memes

CMash August 22, 2011 16 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
Do you prefer character-driven stories, or plot-driven stories?

My Answer:
I would say both, however, the characters have to be life like and believable first and foremost no matter what the plot is. Especially if it is a story line of relationship dynamics. But then if a book does have the elements of characters that one can relate to, but the plot goes nowhere, what good are these life like characters. I have read a couple of these books recently and even though I understood what the author was trying to convey with their characters, the books’ plot was flat and I struggled through them. So I think they have to be of equal proportion.

What about you? What do you think? Characters or plots?

August is being hosted by Staci from Life in the Thumb

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.”

WOW Planned TV Arts Kaye Publicity

Sunday's Shining Star

Sunday’s Shining Star

CMash August 21, 2011 Leave a Comment

Sunday’s Shining Star is still having technical problems due to blogger

Once again, blogger and photobucket are fighting. And I am o frustrated. I have tried everything. I thought it might be that blogger wouldn’t accept the site where I create the frame from, so I tried just adding the blogger’s picture, and blogger also refused that. I have contacted blogger regarding this issue but have not gotten a response. Is anyone having this problem?

I try to draft my posts far in advance, especially for Guest Author showcases, in case real life interferes. This way I don’t have to scramble at the last minute. But I can’t even do that. I can’t add author and or book images. Another issue I can’t seem to do lately is “preview” a blog post or after I publish it, “view” it.

I am wondering if I should go to wordpress. How much work is involved? Has anyone made the switch? Which do you prefer? Or would owning my own domain help?

Over the past 2 weeks, I have wasted so much time trying to work around these problems, trying different methods that I can think of, but being computer challenged makes it even harder. I have also been having problems with google documents. Would love to hear your thoughts, comments and/or any suggestions you may have because the panic is starting to kick in as the dates are getting closer for my agreed upon Author showcases. (I would have inserted here an image of somebody panicking lol so you will have to use your imagination lol)

Sunday's Shining Star

Sunday’s Shining Star

CMash August 21, 2011 7 Comments

Sunday’s Shining Star is still having technical problems due to blogger

Once again, blogger and photobucket are fighting. And I am o frustrated. I have tried everything. I thought it might be that blogger wouldn’t accept the site where I create the frame from, so I tried just adding the blogger’s picture, and blogger also refused that. I have contacted blogger regarding this issue but have not gotten a response. Is anyone having this problem?

I try to draft my posts far in advance, especially for Guest Author showcases, in case real life interferes. This way I don’t have to scramble at the last minute. But I can’t even do that. I can’t add author and or book images. Another issue I can’t seem to do lately is “preview” a blog post or after I publish it, “view” it.

I am wondering if I should go to wordpress. How much work is involved? Has anyone made the switch? Which do you prefer? Or would owning my own domain help?

Over the past 2 weeks, I have wasted so much time trying to work around these problems, trying different methods that I can think of, but being computer challenged makes it even harder. I have also been having problems with google documents. Would love to hear your thoughts, comments and/or any suggestions you may have because the panic is starting to kick in as the dates are getting closer for my agreed upon Author showcases. (I would have inserted here an image of somebody panicking lol so you will have to use your imagination lol)

Winners

And the winners are……

CMash August 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

…………..of AN UNSAFE PAIR OF HANDS by Chris Dolley

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10	14

Timestamp: 2011-08-20 22:09:54 UTC

Denise Z said… 10 I am a GFC follower – Denise Zaky

Karen said… 14 GFC Follower 🙂

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

Winners

And the winners are……

CMash August 20, 2011 2 Comments

…………..of AN UNSAFE PAIR OF HANDS by Chris Dolley

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10	14

Timestamp: 2011-08-20 22:09:54 UTC

Denise Z said… 10 I am a GFC follower – Denise Zaky

Karen said… 14 GFC Follower 🙂

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

A Bit of Me

A Bit Of Me

CMash August 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

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: Do you have a favorite holiday? Which one?Read more: http://www.theresabook.com/category/a-bit-of-meme/#ixzz1VOtjUl8A

For 23 years, my favorite holiday was Christmas Eve. The Italian custom is to have a 7 fish dish supper and for 23 years, I hosted that. It became a 4 day tradition with my boys. The day before school officially let out for Christmas vacation, I would keep my youngest son home from school and we would go grocery shopping for Christmas Eve. Then come home and clean the house. The following day, pick up the fish and start cleaning it and preparing the food that was on our menu. It would take 2 full days of preparation and cooking. Christmas Eve we would have a sit down dinner with immediate family and close friends, approximately 20 people. And then around 10pm we had an “open house” until the wee hours into the morning with family and friends stopping by, eating leftovers, having coffee and, a couple of drinks and enjoying the company. It became a tradition not only for my boys, but for their friends too. And as they got older, the longer the night became lol.

Approximately 6 years ago I had to, and it was a disappointment to many including myself, I physically couldn’t do it anymore due to my back. And in those 6 years, Christmas has changed. Now they are bittersweet. I didn’t think being in the tail end of the baby boomers, issues like holidays would also be affected.

What about you? What is your favorite holiday?