Armchair BEA Day 4

I didn't do Armchair BEA Day 3--all about networking in real life---because it didn't really pertain to me. 
I live in a small town.  I just want to read some good books and cook some good meals and enjoy my friends and family.   AND talk about all these things.

I am forced to do enough networking with my job---on my own time I just want to relax.  I do sport a license plate on my car that is personalized with  BOOK LOVER.   Or rather  Booklvr,  cuz it fits.  Freinds and aquantinces mention it all the time, but  I  even have strangers that will come up to me and tell me that they love my licence plate and that they love to read and so on and so.  There you go for the networking.   I am like the random networker.

Today's topic from Armchair BEA is this:
Has blogging opened up opportunities for you beyond getting free, advance copies of new books? Has it helped you get offers to write or review elsewhere (maybe even for pay)? Have you gotten invites to special events or places you might not have been to otherwise? Today, we'd like you to talk about those opportunities in you own posts, and later this morning, we'll have a guest post from one of our own Armchair BEA team members, about her freelancing experiences


okay, I'm just going to be honest and put myself out there.
I haven't even gotten one free advanced copy of a book.  LOL.  I don't want to write a review  (I cannot do justice to a review type of post),  I don't care about going to events or other places  (well, I do care, but that's not why I blog).  I just blog because I enjoy it.  
I don't want the pressure of all that other stuff.

On Twitter this morning, there was a Tweet  (I don't understand Twitter at all.  I'm like the old lady of the Twitter world.  Anyway, I digress),  I can't remember who from  (but I think it was retweeted from Armchair BEA ) or exactly what it said word for word, but it was something like this:
 Controversial!  Book Bloggers seem to look down on 'not only book bloggers', why?

In my humble "not only book blogger" opinion,  I think this statement is false.
The book bloggers who I know and  who comment on my blog are VERY NICE.  Granted, there is not a lot of them, but even the ones I've contacted or asked a question to, were very friendly.  
I've never felt snubbed.  I am sure somewhere out there are purists who don't care for my type of blog, but the same could be said of any 'themed' blog, and as long as they don't seek me/us out and talk bad about me/us, then I think we can all live in peace, right along side each other.
Don't you?

I bounced all over in my post today---hmmm.  Am I throwing a rant?  Well, it's a good one!  I  just read and cook and write up a post every now and then to share my hobbies.  And because I just might like to hear myself talk.

Armchair BEA Day#2--Best of the Best

Never fear fellow Armchairers....I registered!!  All is good.

Today's topic from Armchair BEA is:
Today’s suggested posting topic is “Best of 2012”:

Share some of your favorite books so far this year, and/or the the books being promoted at BEA that you hope will end up among your favorites for the year!

Sheila from Book Journey just Tweeted that she is standing in line at BEA  to receive an advanced copy of "The Twelve" by Justin Cronin.
I really liked her, but now?   Now I am filled with a jealous rage.  Why?  Because I just checked and the book doesn't actually come out until October 16.  I don't know if I can wait that long.  (I purchased it to be delivered on that day and then I had to buy a cookbook to make myself feel better for having to wait some more).
I loved the first book in the trilogy, The Passage, and have been waiting for this 2nd book since the minute I read "the end" (or rather 'to be continued') in the first one.
(haha.... I still like Sheila. Her enthusiasm for reading is amazing)
So, that is one book being promoted at BEA that I hope will end up among my favorites!

Some of my personal best (having read them in  2012, not that they were published in 2012) are:
(all descriptions are from Goodreads)

A Grown up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Fifteen-year-old Mosey Slocumb-spirited, sassy, and on the cusp of womanhood-is shaken when a small grave is unearthed in the backyard, and determined to figure out why it's there. Liza, her stroke-ravaged mother, is haunted by choices she made as a teenager. But it is Jenny, Mosey's strong and big-hearted grandmother, whose maternal love braids together the strands of the women's shared past--and who will stop at nothing to defend their future.



It by Stephen King 

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they were grown-up men and women who had gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But none of them could withstand the force that drew them back to Derry, Maine to face the nightmare without an end, and the evil without a name. What was it? Read It and find out...if you dare!








11-22-63 by Stephen King

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed forever.

If you had the chance to change the course of history, would you?
Would the consequences be worth it?


Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.


Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.


Three Day Town by Margaret Maron

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While in New York, Deborah has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the apartment to pick up the box, but when they reach the apartment, they discover that it is missing and the doorman has been murdered. Despite their best efforts to enjoy a blissful getaway, Deborah and Dwight soon find that they've teamed up with Sigrid and her team to catch the killer before he strikes again



Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

From the acclaimed author of "Julia's Chocolates" and "The Last Time I Was Me" comes Lamb's most heartwarming novel to date, as three sisters reunite during a family crisis.







A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

Welcome to winter in Three Pines, a picturesque village in Quebec, where the villagers are preparing for a traditional country Christmas, and someone is preparing for murder.



No one liked CC de Poitiers. Not her quiet husband, not her spineless lover, not her pathetic daughter—and certainly none of the residents of Three Pines. CC de Poitiers managed to alienate everyone, right up until the moment of her death.


When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, of the Sûreté du Quebec, is called to investigate, he quickly realizes he's dealing with someone quite extraordinary. CC de Poitiers was electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake, in front of the entire village, as she watched the annual curling tournament. And yet no one saw anything. Who could have been insane enough to try such a macabre method of murder—or brilliant enough to succeed?


With his trademark compassion and courage, Gamache digs beneath the idyllic surface of village life to find the dangerous secrets long buried there. For a Quebec winter is not only staggeringly beautiful but deadly, and the people of Three Pines know better than to reveal too much of themselves. But other dangers are becoming clear to Gamache. As a bitter wind blows into the village, something even more chilling is coming for Gamache himself.



When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

I am red now. It was her first thought of the day, every day, surfacing after a few seconds of fogged, blessed ignorance and sweeping through her like a wave, breaking in her breast with a soundless roar. Hard on its heels came the second wave, crashing into the wreckage left by the first: he is gone.


Hannah Payne’s life has been devoted to church and family. But after she’s convicted of murder, she awakens to a nightmarish new life. She finds herself lying on a table in a bare room, covered only by a paper gown, with cameras broadcasting her every move to millions at home, for whom observing new Chromes—criminals whose skin color has been genetically altered to match the class of their crime—is a sinister form of entertainment. Hannah is a Red for the crime of murder. The victim, says the State of Texas, was her unborn child, and Hannah is determined to protect the identity of the father, a public figure with whom she shared a fierce and forbidden love.


A powerful reimagining of The Scarlet Letter, When She Woke is a timely fable about a stigmatized woman struggling to navigate an America of the not-too-distant future, where the line between church and state has been eradicated, and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned but chromed and released back into the population to survive as best they can. In seeking a path to safety in an alien and hostile world, Hannah unknowingly embarks on a journey of self-discovery that forces her to question the values she once held true and the righteousness of a country that politicizes faith and love.



Those are just a few, but they are ones that I've really enjoyed. 

Most of my reading is done in a big easy chair in my living room, so  having to think of my 'bests' brings up great memories!  These books, cup of hot coffee and a cookie or two.

What are some of your favorites for the year?

First day of Armchari BEA--THE INTERVIEW

I'm not really registered for Armchair BEA, but then....I'm not really a book blogger, (altho lots of times I do talk about books and I am passionate about them) nor am I a food blogger, (altho most of my posts are about food), I am just a blogger, one who is going to participate in  Armchair BEA...I did last year and had so much fun!!

Shhhh....don't tell, but I'm not registered yet.  I might get in trouble.  I'm not even sure if I have to...  I'll look into that, but for now:
DAY ONE of Armchair BEA,  I have questions to answer....for a self-interview, if you will.    I have to introduce myself to you.   On the official  Armchair BEA website there is a list of 10 questions, and they want us to choose at least 5. So, that is what I am doing...just  5.  (I was never an over achiever)

Question 1.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

My name is Debbie.  I am a wife, mother of four grown sons, a very young grandmother of 10...oops, I mean 9, and one on the way  (I just get so excited, I get ahead of myself).  I live in the high-desert of Nevada (that's the north part) and I love to read books, give dinner-parties, read books, cook, read books, bake, read books, garden a bit, read books in my garden,  eat cookies that I've made, as I lounge in my garden  reading a book, go for walks,  listen to audio books as I walk.
As you can tell, my interests are many and varied! 
Okay, I jest, but since we are all here for the same reason.....because we love books and are sad that we don't get to go to BEA,  I figured you'd understand if I mentioned how much I like to read books. 

I've been blogging since 2007, but I don't have a themed blog.  I am a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And that's okay with me.   I discovered blogging and used it as a forum with my friends for while, but  the blogging community, be it books or food, is interesting and supportive and you get to know people a bit.


Question 2.
Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.
This is non-book, but related to  (sorry I can't follow directions*)  I have an extensive book mark collection.  Like over 200 hundred.    Man, I bet my kids fight over that one when I die!!

Question 3.
If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?
Margaret Maron, the author
or
Deborah Knott, the character
I love those series of books.  In fact, it is raining outside right now and I wish I were home curled up with one!
Why?  Because I am in love with Margaret Maron of course!!  Seriously......the south, her south, beckons to me---minus the murders of course---but the talk, the food, the family connections, the stories...ahhhh, I love them.



Question 4
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?
I am trying to read John Irving's 'In One Person' but am having a hard time getting into it.  It's not the subject matter or storyline...and I've loved some of his other books, but this one is just hard.  And I've also had to interrupt the book for ones I had to get read for bookclubs I belong to, so that never helps.
My favorite so far this year?
Stephen King's   11-22-63!!   If you haven't read it, do so now.



Question 5
Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?
I don't think they have changed at all.  I've always  been a reader of many different genres.
OH WAIT---audio.  I never used to listen to audio, but once I started I discovered I love it.  I guess that would be a change in HOW I read, but not what I read.  I like everything.

And that concludes DAY ONE of Armchair BEA.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Now I'm off to check out some of these 360 other book bloggers  (I'm not kidding, that is how many who have linked on with Mr. Linky )  that couldn't make it to NYC and BEA either this year.  And I'm going to have a glass of wine while I read them all.  Maybe 2--this could take me quite awhile.

Armchair BEA Day #3

Today is the 'interview' day at Armchair BEA.  Where we were supposed to sign up to interview another blogger.

It was really hard to not chirp in with a Tweet on Monday, saying  "me too, me too.  I need an interview buddy".   I didn't because I did not know if I would have  the time...it's  been kind of a crazy  at home and work (renovations/remodels in both places), so instead, I am going to  showcase a few of my favorite bloggers.
(which is okay too....that is the alternative assignment)

My favorite book bloggers, that is.  (I don't want my favorite food bloggers to feel left out)

 Sheila from Book Journey.   I think she will make a lot of 'favorites'  lists. 
I love to go for a walk early in the morning and come home grab my own cup of coffee and sit down at my computer to see what she has written in her Morning Meanderings. And ya gotta admire someone who posts 2x a day, every day!

 Kathy at Bermudaonion.  She comments all the time whenever I write ANYTHING  (plus she has great book recommendations for adults,  YA and children.  I keep track of what she suggests) and I'm not even strictly a book blogger, but more of a random blogger who loves books and food.   Even tho I've never met her, she makes me feel very good about myself.  Almost as soon as I've posted a blog---I hear a little 'ding' for my email and I smile to myself and say  "oh, it's Brermudaonion"  and it always is. 
I'm sure she makes everyone feel as comfortable, but I like to think it's just me.

 Beth Fish Reads.  I love her Weekend Cooking meme/round up.  And I love her reviews too.  She is so prolific and productive.  She makes me tired just thinking about how dedicated she is to reading/books....and....and COOKBOOKS!  She wrote once that she stored most of her cookbooks and rotated them a few times a year, because she has SO MANY.   That made me feel better about my 200 cookbooks.


Those are just a few of the Book Bloggers I read regularly and I love.  It's funny, because between a morning meandering on Book Journey and a Tweet about hot dogs from BEA, I've seen photos of all these  wonderful women having the time of their lives in New York this week.

There are other bloggers, whom I admire, and even more that I've found this week by participating in Armchair BEA.
It's been a fun week!  It'll be fun to follow my new friends too.

Armchair BEA Day #2 My Favs for 2011

Yesterday was so much fun---visiting new blogs and learning about new bloggers.  Following Twitter was also a blast--just getting those little snippets of what's going on at BEA.

I don't have anything to give-away today, but be sure and check out the site (Armchair BEA) for some links to great blogs that are doing some give-aways today.

I do have, tho,  my best for 2011 list ready to go!

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

Room by  Emma Donoghue

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by  Tom Franklin

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

And....  for my, a personal favorite  Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron.  (if you love a good traditional mystery series, with Southern charm, family ties--this series is for you!)

I really enjoyed all these books, a few I even LOVE.   A few have been controversial,  one is a bit dark, a couple are funny, all have kept my interest and made me 'not want to do anything else" but curl up and read until they are done.   And....leave me wanting more.  I think that is the sign of a good book....not wanting it to end.

I am not linking to any reviews, because there are reviews galore out there...just giving you a taste of what I like to read. What my Favs have been so far for 2011.
Now off to visit other Armchairers to see what they like to read!

Welcome Armchair BEA

Book Expo America (sigh) ....I wish I was there.  But this is the next best thing! Armchair BEA.
(for those (4) of you, who read my blog regularly--this week I'm participating in Armchair BEA.   For all of us who couldn't go to the Book Expo America convention in NYC,  today is an introductory post)


At first look, you might think...what the heck? this doesn't look like a book blog, more like a food blog.   Well, this blog kind of has an identity crisis.  Books, food, gardening, bird, etc.    But if you look at it closely, books are  in, out, and all around this blog.  Books go good with food  (especially baked goods).  Books go good with gardening...I mean what's better than having a nice garden to go read a book in?  We hang a hammock and that hammock and a book?  It's HEAVEN, I tell ya, Heaven.   And while lying in that hammock, eating a homemade chocolate chip cookie, (which I have most likely blogged about), besides reading my book, I am noticing all the different birds which come into my backyard.  Books go good with EVERYTHING.

So, there you have it.  That is the introduction to me.  Debbie. I like to read, cook, read, garden,watch birds, and spend time with my grandchildren. I have 9 of them. Oh...and my kids too.  I have 4 of them.

I guess by now you have kind of figured out that I don't 'review' books per se, but I love books more than anything, and so when I found out about Armchair BEA, I thought---why not participate!    Even tho I'm not an official book blogger, I have worked in libraries in the past  and now I'm on the library board in our little rural Nevada town.  I love to talk books.  I belong to  5 bookclubs:
The Lit Wits  (we cook too.  It's a book and cook club)
Totally Lit
Word Shakers on line book club
The Literary Guild
and my church has a quarterly book club that I participate in. 

I think I pretty much read 'across the board'.   If I had to pick a favorite genre, it would be  series mysteries.  I love the character development.   But I read everything.

The BEA organizers wanted us to post a random fact about ourselves.  This is really hard because I think I blab everything about myself all the time.

Ummmm.....  in the fall of  2009, I did the  Susan G. Komen 3Day-60mile walk for breast cancer.  It was the most amazing thing I've ever done.
I've walked in the "Bay to Breakers"  12k walk in San Francisco 3 times.  Also an amazing  thing.  (and so much fun!!)
Last month, I walked in the March of Dimes walk for babies in Sparks, NV.  It was also amazing, because my little twin grandchilren walked (they are 2).  They were born 8 weeks premature, but are now growing and thriving and walking in a 2mile walk.  Amazing!

Walking seems to be a theme of my life also.  I do like to walk.
I  used to watch a women walk and read a book at the same time. Thank goodness we now have Ipod's so we can walk and listen to a book.  But she held a paperback in her hands and walked and read.  She would walk all over town reading while walking.
I thought I would try it. 
It didn't work for me.  It's not an easy thing to do.    Can you do it?

Last but not least.....for a random thing about me.   My license plate on my car says:

That is BOOK LOVER , not book liver.  and yes, I do need to wash my car.

and that is it for this introductory post.   I'll be back later today to participate in  "It's Monday" and to tell more about my birding weekend.  (no laughing, unless you've tried it)
Come back later and check it out.  (much later---like tonight)