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Archives for 2008

And the Winners Are….

June 21, 2008 by

So, I decided not to wait for the hubby to come back from his deep sea fishing trip to draw the names and headed over to Randomizer to have the winners picked. I really find this site helpful. I know I read about it on someone’s blog; I just can’t remember which blog. Anyway, to anyone mentioning that site on their blog, thanks!

Ok the winners in order:

First Prize: Suey, who will be getting 3 A.M. Epiphany

Second Prize: BlueViolet, who will receive a one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest

Third Prize: Rashmi, who will receive a journal and “crafty” pen

Thanks to everyone who entered. I can’t wait to do another giveaway. This was fun. It was great to have everyone celebrate my blogiversary.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: winners

Last Chance and Book Sale in Bethesda, MD

June 20, 2008 by

Today, midnight EST, is your last opportunity to enter my blogiversary contest. Those without blogs, I hope you will leave me your email address so I can contact you for mailing information.

Also, this weekend is the last weekend for the book sale at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Md. Books are in their reading room, and are $1 per pound. If you are in the area, I am likely to be there at some point on Saturday, June 21. Hope to see you there with arm-loads of books.

Summer Book Sale June 3-22

The Writer’s Center’s First Annual Summer Reading Sale!
When: June 3-June 22 (Every day except Sundays and Mondays)
Where: The Reading Room (We’ll have tables set up to make book browsing easier.)

Choose from our wide variety of used books: $1 per pound

Or selected New titles 30% off the cover price (40% for members)

Come to our Open House June 7th. Get some great books, learn more about The Writer’s Center, and see what’s in store for summer workshops.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: Events Tagged With:

Blogiversaries, Giveaways, and Contests

June 19, 2008 by

Hello Readers:

I wanted to remind you of the June 20 deadline for entering my Blogiversary Contest. I have quite a few entrants already, but more are always welcome. It will be fun to find out who wins.

I also wanted to alert you to Diary of an Eccentric‘s Blogiversary Contest, which features book and yarn prizes. Contest Deadline is June 30.

Maw Books’ Contest is for all of Stephenie Meyer’s books, including The Host and Twilight Series. There are numerous ways to enter. Contest Deadline is June 30th at Midnight MST.

The Written Word’s Contest is for a copy of Nefertiti. Contest Deadline is June 23 by midnight EST.

Booking Mamma’s Contest is for The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Clayton. Contest Deadline is Saturday, June 21st at 11:59 p.m.

Interested in winning a book by Jodi Pocoult? Check out the contest at Book Addiction. Contest deadline is June 29, 2008.

At The Hidden Side of the Leaf (aka Dewey Monster) the contest is for a box full of 14 books, which are listed on the contest page, including one by Jimmy Buffett. The Contest has a rolling entry, but one winner will be chosen from today’s comments on Saturday, June 21. Check out the other timed drawings for the contest.

A Patchwork of Books is giving away The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson, and there will be five winners for this contest. Deadline is June 22.

West of Mars’ Contest is for Bobbie Faye’s Very (very very very) Bad Day, which is autographed. Deadline is June 22. The catch is you have to comment and spill one of your worst bad days to garner an entry.

A Book Blogger’s Diary’s contest is for three books. Check out the rules. Deadline for entry is June 30

Age 30–A Year of Books’ contest is also giving away three books. Deadline is June 26.

As I become aware of contests, I will periodically add to this post today. But for now, these should keep you busy, especially that one on Maw Books.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: giveaway

Blind Submission

June 17, 2008 by


Debra Ginsberg’s Blind Submission is another book I found through the book blogging world, and it qualifies for the Irresistible Review Challenge. I read the review of this book at Book Escape. While this book was deemed a mystery, I found it less mysterious than I originally expected. Whether that is because I am overly analytical, I don’t know. I did figure out the ending among the first mentions of the mystery manuscript, Blind Submission, but I was eager to see how the mystery unfolded.

***Spoiler Alert***

Angel Robinson is introduced as a book store manager of Blue Moon Books, but her book store is going out of business. Her boyfriend and writer, Malcolm, pushes her to apply to the famed Lucy Fiamma Literary Agency, one of the only literary agencies on the West Coast. Angel half-heartedly applies and goes to the interview, which she aces. Angel is beside herself that she interviewed successfully, but when she gets to the office, she feels a bit nervous about her ability to perform the tasks before. Angel quickly comes to realize that her boss is hard-nosed and a bit bipolar. She tells her to complete tasks one way and then complains when they are not completed the other way.

Eventually, Angel gets a handle on her job and grows a bit more confident in her position at the firm. She rustles the feathers of her co-workers. One of whom is named Kelly, but Lucy refuses to call her Kelly–Lucy calls her Nora and expects everyone to do the same. Nora-Kelly is an anorexic beauty, with little brains, while the other co-worker, Anna, is lazy and eager to please. Angel seems to be the only one excelling at her job. Meanwhile, the money man, Craig, takes the reins of the office in his hands to ensure the agency runs smoothly and the workers stay in line.

Meanwhile, Angel sells a major book, which Lucy takes credit for….eventually things spiral out of control at the agency and in Angel’s life. She breaks up with her boyfriend, becomes paranoid, and spends many sleepless nights reading over a manuscript that eerily mirrors her life.

However, in the process she finds love and direction to her life. The mystery of the Blind Submission manuscript unravels quickly toward the end of the book.

***End Spoiler Alert***

I’m glad I found this book at Book Escape. It was a worthwhile read, and I hope to see more from this author. I recommend that other pick it up and try it out.

Look forward to an upcoming book review later this week. And as always, fellow book bloggers, remember that I will add your links to my review posts if you review the same book.

Also, Please feel free to enter my Blogiversary contest.

And like a good blogger, I am posting information about a giveaway on The Written Word. Feel free to enter the giveaway and spread the word about her contest.

Another Giveaway at Maw Books for all the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. Check it out, numerous ways to enter.

Check out this Giveaway at Booking Mamma for The Wednesday Sisters.

Another Blogoversary or Blogiversary at Diary of an Eccentric, check out Anna’s contest; It’s for knitters, yarn lovers, and bookaholics.

Blind Submission Also Reviewed By:
A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: borrowed copy, fiction, irresistible challenge 2008, Read in 2008, reviews Tagged With: ,

Word Nerd Co-Op Update, Contest, and Giveaway

June 15, 2008 by

Here’s the June update of my experience with the Word Nerd Co-Op:

First, I have a great writing partner, who happens to be a teacher in New York. She enthusiastic and committed, which is great. I’ve been in writing groups before where some of the members are committed and some are not. It’s good to be in a summer online writing group with committed partners.

Initially my goals for June are as follows:

1. write or edit at least 3 times per week
2. finish my short story by the end of June
3. revisit one of my novels

Week one–June 1-7–was successful in terms of goal #1. I edited on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Week two–June 8-14–was a bit less successful. I only edited on Monday and Wednesday. I fully hoped to get more editing done on Saturday, but we had planned a cookout, which was cut short by thunderstorms. It was fun picking up all the stuff and heading out on a hike, coming back in the rain was not so much fun. We made it to the car from the hike without being soaked, which I guess is a plus. Heading into the house with all the cookout stuff, we got soaked. Then I was too tired and fell asleep on the couch after the stressful workweek.

This week, I vow to make the three times per week goal. And I hope to get the story at least through the second round of edits before I head up North to Massachusetts for bridal shower festivities. So, I may fall short of my third goal for the month, but I am hopeful.

On the other hand, my writing partner, met her writing goal for the week. I’m very proud. I hope that she continues to meet her goals, and that her success will keep me motivated.

I will close with a photo of a deer we saw on the hike. She’s a bit far off in the distance, but she was gracious enough to stick around for me to take her portrait. She is a bit blurry because I keep forgetting I need a tripod with my zoom lens…my hands shake a bit too much.

Look forward to an upcoming book review later this week. And as always, fellow book bloggers, remember that I will add your links to my review posts if you review the same book.

Also, Please feel free to enter my Blogiversary contest.

And like a good blogger, I am posting information about a giveaway on The Written Word. Feel free to enter the giveaway and spread the word about her contest.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: writing goals

Happy Blogiversary!

June 13, 2008 by

So, It’s been one year, and one day since I started this book review blog. Who knew that it would last this long? I certainly didn’t.

In honor of this occasion, I am going to hold a contest. Anyone interested in entering, feel free to do so. No fancy requirements for this one, although it would be interesting for you to drop a nugget of information about yourself, whether its your favorite color or your favorite food.

I’m sure you want to know what the prizes are, so here you go:

First Prize is a copy of 3 A.M. Epiphany

Second Prize is a subscription for Writer’s Digest

Third Prize is a journal and “crafty” pen

I will give you until June 20 to enter. Have fun and feel free to share a bit about yourself.

To show my good will, I will share one tidbit about me: I hate the color pink, but I do love my pink, cell phone.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: giveaway

Upcoming Blogiversary

June 10, 2008 by

Hello dear readers,

My blogiversary is coming up in a couple of days, June 12. I wanted to do something special for my readers, so I was thinking of a giveaway. Perhaps a poetry book, a writing the craft book, or something else.

Anyone have any ideas they would like to share? I will announce the official contest on June 12. If I use an idea from one of my readers, I will provide them with a prize of their own. And no, this does not exclude anyone from the contest. It will be an added bonus if that person also wins the blogiversary contest.

I look forward to your ideas.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: announcements

If You Were a Talking Baboon

June 9, 2008 by


Cornelius Medvei’s Mr. Thundermug is an imaginative short novel chronicling the life of Mr. Thundermug, a baboon who inexplicably learns how to speak English. This is another of the books I am reading as part of the Irresistible Review Challenge.

I originally found the review for this book at Diary of an Eccentric, which is listed as book 38, I believe, in the recap. What a great look at the life of a Baboon as a human, or should I say ape in a human world.

***Spoiler Alert***

Mr. Thundermug, his wife, and his two children, Angus and Trudy, are all given names by Mr. Thundermug. The baboon soon realizes that he is the only one in the family able to speak and understand English when it is spoken. Through a series of run-ins with the Council on Housing, Thundermug soon comes to realize that he is governed by two contrary standards–that of human law and natural law.

His grasp of speech amazes many, while others ignore the baboon who speaks their language as if he were a figment of their imagination. I wonder if this book is another look at discrimination, but at the same time I wonder if there is another meaning altogether. Perhaps as humans we are not as superior to animals as we would like to suggest or believe. Perhaps they are wiser than we are.

***End Spoiler Alert***

It’s interesting to see a study of animal conditions from another perspective, rather than the human entering the world of the gorilla, for instance. The baboon enters the world of humanity and what he learns is striking.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: borrowed copy, fiction, irresistible challenge 2008, Read in 2008, reviews Tagged With: ,

Bronzed Vampires, You Suck

June 9, 2008 by

Christopher Moore’s You Suck audio book is another find at the library that I should have taken out in book form. This book had us roaring with laughter in the car on the way to work over the weeks we listened to it.

***Spoiler Alert***

This is a vampiric tale of one young fledgling, Jody, turning her Midwest boyfriend, Tommy Flood, into a vampire so they can be together forever. Jody, who was turned by an older vampire, Elijah, teams up with Tommy and his co-workers at the San Francisco Marina Safeway to bronze the older vampire who has gone on a killing spree among the sick and infirm. Jody hopes to get away from the elder vampire and take Tommy into her dark world.

Along the way, Tommy starts getting used to his vampiric ways, but eventually “enjoys” some aspects of his nature too much for his Midwestern sensibilities. Tommy adopts the name Lord Flood with his minion, Abby Normal–o yes, you guessed it an old fashioned play on words. She is nothing short of normal by today’s standards with her Gothic clothes, her sarcasm, attempts to fit in with the rebels, and her love of the undead…but she also has a perky side and you eventually discover her favorite literary character is not from Lovecraft, but it is Pipi Longstocking, a perkier side of Abby.

Even Abby falls in love, and its not with a vampire or her gay friend, Jared.

***End Spoiler Alert***

Not only is their vampire hunting, love, sex, drugs, and stealing, but there is sarcastic humor, self-deprecating humor, and twists of fate in this book that are great. The narrator chosen to read this novel was well selected. Her character voices were believable.

What made the vampire book for me, beyond the vampires of course, was the narration, hilarious lines, and the character of Abby Normal. I would love to see an entire novel of her adventures from Moore; that would make great reading. I recommend this book, You Suck, in any form you choose. I’m going to have to go out and get the hard copy to add to my collection since I foresee myself reading it for the first time, only to re-read it again and again.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: audiobooks, borrowed copy, fiction, Read in 2008, reviews Tagged With: ,

The Art of Fiction Snooze

June 6, 2008 by

John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction is pretentious and not one of my favorite writing books at all. I’ve heard about this book for sometime and figured I would give it a try. So I picked it up from the library, hoping to learn something new and enjoy the book. I usually don’t bash books on the blog, but I cannot recommend this one outright.

Gardner’s style of writing in the book bored me to tears; it reminded me of those professors that put the class to sleep in college. I was an eager college student who wanted to learn in every class, but there were those teachers that don’t have the knack to keep students’ attention. John Gardner, I fear, is one of those people…or at least that is how he came across in this book.

What I can say that is good about it is that it helped me discern the type of story I have been working on and how to frame it better. I discovered this information in the section where he discusses tales vs. epic vs. yarn. I’m glad that I read that section of the book because it was helpful, though that was near the beginning.

Much of this book is written in a way that puts down the reader who is less familiar with Gardner’s “favorites” who are mentioned often, like Thackeray. I almost felt like I had learned nothing in my undergrad English major, though I know the contrary to be true.

In the copy of this book I got from the library, I found a small pen-written “Amen” in one section that highlighted what many students feel about literature classes in high school. Often students find classes overly focused on the classic writers, like Coleridge, when “Howard the Duck” is more entertaining. Gardner uses this discussion to draw a line between popular fiction and what he calls “art.” I wonder if he meant to be condescending in this passage. I got the impression that popular fiction is the crap on his heel as he walks down a pristine garden path.

However, there are some great nuggets of information in this book. He recommends that authors/writers allow their characters to have free will and not impose their own desires or direction upon characters. This same advice is reiterated throughout the book in regard to style. Gardner also points out some common mistakes made by amateur writers. I won’t list those here, but they were helpful in many ways. Sometimes, I slip as well.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: Read in 2008, reviews Tagged With: ,

Quick Contest Information

May 30, 2008 by

Hello dear readers,

I wanted to let you know about a contest at She Reads Books for a celebration of her 62nd post on her blog. There are five books that will be doles out as prizes and all you have to do is comment on her blog, and if you would like to, link to her contest in your own blog. So here I am increasing my odds of winning….posting the contest on my blog, which by the way runs through June 3, so hurry and get your entry in.

Also please check out this year’s Read-a-Thon! Unfortunately, I cannot participate because I will be traveling the weekend of June 27-29, but I encourage anyone else reading this blog to participate. Sounds like great fun!

FYI, I learned about both of these items from Nymeth at Things Mean a Lot.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: 24-hour Read-a-Thon

Word Nerd Questionnaire

May 28, 2008 by

Word Nerd Questionnaire

1. At what level would you describe yourself as a writer (for instance, just starting to take myself seriously; searching for a graduate program, etc.)?

I would love to finish a novel. I have three started, and none are finished. I am a published poet with several poems published in online and print journals.

2. What genre(s) do you write?

Poetry, novel, and short story

3. How do you fit writing into your life right now?

Usually on Wed. nights because the Hubby is off at class.

4. What is your goal for this project (June 1-Aug. 31)?

To finish a novel or get so close I can taste it.

5. What steps do you plan to take to reach that goal?

Set aside more writing and editing time, make definitive efforts to keep to a schedule

6. How do you reward yourself (or how would you like to be rewarded) when you meet a goal?

A stop at the library or bookstore for a book I am dying to read. Chocolate or cheesecake are good as well.

7. What writing craft books do you have/like?

I have a ton of writing books, but the 3am Epiphany has helped with my writer block.

8. Any craft books you’re interested in checking out?

I’m open to most any book, particularly those dealing with the long haul of writing novels, though I cannot outline to save my soul. I would really love to get the Art of Fiction by Gardner.

9. What inspires your writing?

My muse; honestly, I have no idea…things I observe in life

10. How would your author’s blurb read?

Small town girl with big dreams writes larger-than-life stories

11. Tell us about your family (partners, kids, pets, etc.)

One husband, one dog, two cats; that’s enough; some great and not so great friends.

12. Have you ever participated in Nanowrimo (finished or not!)?

twice, never finished. (one of the unfinished novels is a result of Nanowrimo)

13. What can you do to make it easier on yourself to meet your goal for this project?

Set an achievable writing goal for three days out of the week.

14. What are you looking for in terms of support from a writing partner (ex. Exchanging work for critique, being held accountable for meeting a word count goal, etc.)?

critiques and being held accountable to the writing times

15. What crafty pursuits do you enjoy when you’re not writing?

Photography and scrapbooking

16. What other hobbies/past times do you like?

Reading and tennis and hiking

17. What non-writing-craft books have you enjoyed?

Pride & Prejudice is my favorite.

18. What else would you like to share with us?

I cannot wait to get started.

Copyright of Serena M. Agusto-Cox at Savvy Verse & Wit 2007-2010. This is not original content, this content is owned and copyrighted by Serena M. Agusto-Cox
Filed Under: meme, writing goals