Monday, June 18, 2012

Caterpillar Blog Tour: The Writing Nook








The Writing Nook

I was just reading Maggie Stiefvater's blog the other day and had a major pang of jealousy.  No, no, not of her bestseller status.  Of her office.  It's fabulous.  There are bookcases that go all the way to the ceiling, with those nifty wooden ladders you used to see in Borders before it went belly-up.  And there's no photo of it, but I bet there's even a door.  With a lock.

Someday, I hope to have an office of my very own, with a door.  For now, My writing nook is on a corner of my kitchen counter (honestly, I spend so much time in my kitchen, either writing or cooking, that when my kids can't find me there they freak out.) 
  
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Normally there's a chair, but someone seems to have run off with it here. Probably using it to get the cookies off the top shelf of the pantry. Possibly it was me.



Fortunately, it does have a nice view of the woods.

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Occasionally I see Bambi out there, or a fox, or a hawk.  Once there was also something I swear was an R.O.U.S., but still.  It's nice.

Also, there's artwork. 

Pic3.jpg

And if I get hungry,the fridge is behind me.


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About the author: Kate Oliver is a writer of Young Adult and Middle Grade novels of every variety. Having worked as everything from a professional statistical programmer to a professional student to a professional parent, she now splits her time between writing and wrangling her children just outside of Washington, D.C.
Her first novel, Caterpillar, a sci-fi romance, will be released by MAB Books on April 10, 2012.

Author website | Facebook | Goodreads



Sunday, June 10, 2012

In My Mailbox #4 and update









In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to spotlight what books we've received for the week.


This is a few weeks in one because as you know I have just finished participating in  Armchair BEA, which was wonderful. I have a small haul this week, just three books!

Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves, #2)

Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2)


SO I ABSOLUTELY LOVED Raised By Wolves. I just had to get the sequel!

Here's the Goodreads Summary:
Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.
 
But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.
 
Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves

Following my need for sequels I also picked up Vanish (Firelight #2)
Vanish (Firelight, #2)

Goodreads says:

An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.


To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

This last book I picked up on a whim, I just liked the title but it sounds interesting so we'll see! Besides I met Daniel Handler and loved him!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I never really got into the whole unfortunate events series, I still loved the ones I read.

Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up

by 

Goodreads:  

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.




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So i'm officially off of my blogging funk! ^_^

I decided that obsessively worrying about blogging and reviewing and meme's were making the whole experience un-fun. So I've cut back my meme's and just gonna have fun reading and reviewing!!!! Armchair BEA really helped me see that! Last week was so fun.

Anyway so look out for reviews!

Friday, June 8, 2012

ARMCHAIR BEA: ask the experts Day #5

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

So today, Were asking everyone questions on what we always wanted to know!!!

so here I go.......................

  1. Who is your favorite publisher to work with
  2. What are some cool book events you've been too.
  3. Do you review self published books.
  4. How do you keep your reviews schedule
  5. how often do you comment on other blogs
  6. Know any good YA blogs?
I'd love to know all about this...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Armchair BEA #4 Beyond the Blog




Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads 


Ok so today's topic is beyond the blog...... Oops, I kind of did that yesterday (here).

Long Story Short, through blogging and networking I got a internship offer.

Moving on...

^_^

Beyond the blog for me would involve my current internship.(NOT THE SAME AS ABOVE) I intern remotely with Euterpe YA Books, just recently started actually.

Euterpe ~ YA Imprint by Musa Publishing

Being a college student with little work experience, I put my blog on my resume.

Yup that's right I put it right there under Related Experience.

Now that I'm interning I have the lovely task of using my blogging know how (or lack there of ) to help out Euterpe Authors. I also spend time contacting bloggers about Euterpe Young Adult Contest!

I haven't been interning for long, but I love it already!

.......

Beyond the blog ALSO!!!!! I'm hosting my first tour kinda. I'll be having a week of THRONE of GLASS by Sarah J. Maas on my blog starting August 7th. I will have reviews and giveaways of all 4 novellas as well as character interviews and a interview with Sarah!



SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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So thats me!

WHAT'S BEYOND YOUR BLOG


Armchair BEA: A Positive Experience With Books


Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads


Hey Everyone!

Today’s daily topic is Positive experiences with books... this is also a short story.


The Blog


So I started my blog, as many of you know, in early Jan. I set it up and let it fly. My very first week I recieved a tweet from Nina Berry asking me to be apart of her cover reveal!!! (insert major squealing)

My blog and my twitter became awesomely connected in my eyes that way.

Twitter 

Through twitter I gained I met a lot of awesome people and learned a lot about publishing. I found myself becoming more and more intrigued and loving how I could connect with like mind book lovers! I started following industry people and author. Making a few good friends.



Publishing JOB OH MY!!! ^_^


unexpectedly one day I received a tweet.


Through my tweets, an agent had found my blog and saw that I wanted to work in publishing.


She wanted to know if I would be interested in interning for her Agency in NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(Squealing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


<*_*>


Unfortunately I was unable to except but I was so excited! I never expected my blog to bring me such an awesome gift.


I am so ready to move to NYC after graduation and pursue this career now. Before working in publishing was just a dream, and now I know that it is a viable one that I can make happen and it's just because  of blogging that I know this.
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IN SHORT BLOGGING HAS made the biggest impact on my reading life


THE END


p.s. I really do need some help actually networking. any ideas?? I would love to make some blogging friends but i haven't thus far.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Armchair BEA: Best of 2012... So Far













Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads


Hey Everyone!

Today’s daily topic is Best of 2012. SO here are some of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE 5 books I've read in 2012 so Far.
HITS







MY REVIEWS 


TEN THINGS WE DID by Sarah Mlynowski

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons


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I'll be hosting a review week in CELEBRATION of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas  in August TOO! Because I just love that book!



Monday, June 4, 2012

Introductions: Armchair BEA

Grab this button


(credit to Nina from Nina Reads for the image) 

INTRODUCTIONS


Hi everyone! My name is Marnise. Welcome to Reading Whims and to my Introduction. I was so excited to learn about Armchair BEA just over a week ago. I had been feeling totally bummed that I would miss BEA this year, but now I have this awesome event to participate in!

I have been blogging a relative short time and this is an absolutely awesome way to make blogger buddies!!!! So feel free to say hi.

Now on to Questions:

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

So hello everyone, My name is Marnise and I have been blogging since Jan. 2012. I started blogging in the funniest way. Long story short. Christmas came by and everyone bought me book vouchers. I had a little over $200 and so I convinced my mom to let me blog to show that I appreciate my gifts! You can find the long story here

2.What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?

I  am currently reading Vanished by Sophie J. 

My favorite read so far in 2012 is split between Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

Well the only thing I can think of is that I am a incoming college senior and a twin. My sister is also a big reader.

4. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner with Danielle Steele and Sarah J. Maas definitely. I'd also love to have dinner with all of the males from Christina Feehans books!

5.Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?

Yes actually! I have noticed that I read almost always YA books, before I was mixed in my reading and was geared towards more romantic novels.