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BBAW 2010 Interview With Holly Grierson of Book Harbinger

September 14, 2010 by

Today’s my Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2010 interview with fellow book blogger Holly Grierson who blogs at Book Harbinger and has been doing so since about May 2010.  She’s an avid reader of fantasy and young adult novels, a mother, a wife, and an assistant librarian.

You can find her on Good Reads and Twitter as well.

1.  You read quite a lot of fantasy and young adult books.  What interests you about these types of books and do you feel differently when reading these books as opposed to when you read literary fiction?

Part of reading for me has always been about transportation to another time and place. Too often contemporary novels seem so familiar, so like my normal day-to-day life that they’re uninteresting. That’s not saying I haven’t read a lot of great contemporary novels, adult and young adult alike, but I tend to alternate them with a couple of fantasy novels. There’s nothing like going to a world with endless possibilities yet one that still feels like home.

With young adult, the potential for genre-bending and original premises also seems limitless. Young adult readers are more flexible than adults in their expectations and authors can get away with anything. At the same time some of the pickiest, most reluctant readers are young adults so some of the most page-turning, entertaining books are found in the young adult section. For these reasons I don’t think YA will ever fail to entertain and excite me. In addition it’s often the teenage protagonists, with angst-y insecurities and challenges and all to whom I relate the most. I can’t seem to get enough of coming-of-age stories and the many “firsts” that young adult characters experience.

I don’t read much literary fiction at the moment but I do feel like I have different expectations when I read it as opposed to fantasy. For example I expect more of the writing in literary fiction more from the setting and characters in fantasy. In some ways anything goes with literary fiction and I definitely would like to get back into that genre.

What three fantasy novels would you recommend to someone who claims to “hate” fantasy novels and why? And what three novels or authors exemplify the best of the genre?

Is there any way I can talk to this fantasy “hater” personally and find out what they don’t like about the genre? That would definitely help. I don’t think I can recommend three novels if I know nothing else about the reader’s individual tastes. There are so many subgenres and different types of fantasy that I honestly believe there is something out there for everyone. It’s usually just a matter of finding the right genre or author. Some fantasy is lighter on the world-building and heavier on dialogue and character development and relationships. Some fantasy is much more realistic and requires less suspension of disbelief from the reader. By contrast epic or high fantasy may not be for everyone – even me – but I think scifi/fantasy, romantic fantasy, or historical fantasy can be many readers’ cup-of-tea occasionally if they find the right authors.

I still feel like too much of a fantasy novice to be doing this but the best authors IMO would be Juliet Marillier for historical/romantic fantasy, Sharon Shinn for scifi/angel fantasy, and Ilona Andrews for urban fantasy.

As an assistant librarian, do you work in a particular capacity or section? Did your library duties inspire you to blog about books or did blogging about books inspire you to work at a library?

Since my position is flexible I’ve worked all over the library, including collection development, reference, and circulation. I’ve even spent several months working with the City’s arts development. My favorite areas have been media, fiction, and general reference.

As far as my library employment affecting my blogging, it was more in an indirect way. After a couple of years of working at the library, some of my co-workers started signing up with Goodreads. After I joined in, I went from rating to writing short mini-reviews and finally to writing full-length ones. From there I began meeting other bloggers on Goodreads and started Book Harbinger.

On your blog, you mention a love of learning. Has this trait spilled over into your reading habits and how? And where do you think this love of learning originated (i.e. parents, friends, etc.)?

I think my love of learning may differ from the traditional sense, but it is true that I love learning both on an independent basis and in a more formal environment. I treasured my university years and would go back to school for an MLS or PhD in a heartbeat. A part of me wanted to stay in school forever and never become part of the real, less fun, and more uncertain working world. Since I’ve been out of school I try to keep up (very badly sometimes) with the latest in art history and keep my brain alive by reading non-fiction sometimes. Mostly I end up reading self-help books whenever I’m facing a problem, whether it be domestic, childcare-related, relationship-related, or concerning childbirth or religion. I enjoy research and find that being knowledgeable on all of the experiences I’m currently facing in my daily life is a given. It’s just who I am.

My love of learning definitely originated from both my parents and my in-laws. My mother-in-law is a professor of English at BYU (my undergraduate alma mater) who has varying interests in a number of subjects like physics, neuroscience, psychology, and religion as well as literature and the arts.

What are some of your obsessions outside of reading and blogging?

Watching TV shows with DH (Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Parenthood, Chuck, and Community are some of our favorites). I live for traveling and tourist activities, which I did quite a bit of when I lived in London. I love exercising, particularly running, and yoga, which I try to teach and practice when I have a chance. I also enjoy discovering new bands and going to concerts. My main albeit mandatory obsession outside of reading is taking care of my 2-year-old son. I am also expecting a girl in January.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

You have two art history degrees. Have these degrees influenced your reading or blogging? Who are some of your favorite artists and do you think their works could be adapted into fantasy novels?

I’d like to think my very ‘style over substance’ interest in discussing book cover art on my blog is due to my art history background. Picking favorite artists is difficult but some of the ones I liked enough to research extensively during graduate school are Alfredo Jaar, a contemporary installation artist; Hannah Höch, a German Dadaist; Gabrielle Münter, a German Expressionist; and Rachel Whiteread, a contemporary British sculptor.

I haven’t ever given thought to the idea of adapting a painting into a fantasy novel, but it’s an interesting concept. Hannah Höch did some Surrealist paintings in the 1920s like Vereinigungen (Associations) which would be both imaginative and abstract enough to form the basis of a scifi or dystopian novel. There are some lovely works of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and paintings by J.W. Waterhouse that would be perfect for more traditional fantasy novels.

Check out this slide show of images to get an idea of what Holly is discussing:

Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) is a celebration of all book bloggers and continues to grow strong. As a new book blogger, how did you hear about the event and what prompted you to join in?

I heard about BBAW last year when some of the bloggers I’d been following like Angieville were up for awards. I enjoyed voting and reading the memes and blogging topics. It was a given once I’d started my own blog that I’d participate. It’s such a great opportunity to meet new bloggers, improve your own blogging, and promote your blog.

How many blogs do you read and how many are in your RSS reader? Are they primarily blogs that focus on the same genres as your blog?

Right now there are about 30 blogs in my reader. Lol I’m probably one of the rare bloggers that could use more blogs in their reader. I hope this BBAW week will change that! Most of the blogs I follow either focus on fantasy, young adult, or urban fantasy but I do read some that have more of a focus on romance or literary fiction. The writing, opinions, and voice of the blogger often matter more to me than whether they are necessarily reading the same books as I.

Do you see yourself as part of the book blogging community and how so? Did you have to do anything in particular to become a part of the community or did you just blog and hoped readers would find your blog?

Good question! Sure, I see myself as part of the book blogging community. Perhaps a very small portion of it but I couldn’t live without my little corner. I don’t think much is required to become a part of the community. Maybe keeping your blog updated and well-written. Visiting and commenting on other blogger’s posts also is a large part as well as participating in memes and reading challenges. I think any blogger can feel a sense of belonging if they want to. Of course I still hope readers will find my blog, and I participate daily in social websites like Twitter and blogger sites like Book Blogs mostly because it’s fun but also because it gives me a chance to meet new bloggers and get my blog out there.

Write a six word memoir for yourself.

Earnest, factual, loyal, accepting, observer, friend-for-life

Holly, thanks for answering my detailed questions and joining in the BBAW celebration.  I hope everyone will take the time to check out my interview on Book Harbinger.

Filed Under: BBAW, Events, Interviews Tagged With: ,

Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2010 Starts Today!

September 13, 2010 by

If you are new to BBAW, you can check out the topic suggestions for the week.  I tend to pick and choose what topics I’m going to cover, and this year will be no different.  Rest assured, I will be sharing with you an interview with another blogger and the link to her interview with me on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

BBAW is a time to celebrate one another’s achievements and reading through discussion, features, fun activities, and even giveaways and awards.

What can you expect here on Savvy Verse & Wit?  Well, a celebration of poetry, a couple of reviews I had prescheduled, and some fun activities for you to participate in.

I hope everyone has a good time, and let’s check out the first fun activity I have for you.

Scholastic has this great little tool for kids to try their hand at several different forms of poems from haiku to free verse.  I think the site has a lot of other offerings to help kids learn about and enjoy poetry.

Now, I’d like all of you poets and non-poets out there to create your own poem using the Scholastic Poetry Idea Engine and share it in the comments.  It can be silly, intellectual, fun, or anything you want it to be.

Once you have your poem, please leave it in the comments, and I’ll select a winner or two for a gift card to Amazon.com for a U.S./Canada winner and a Better World Books gc for an overseas winner.

Have fun and read blogs!

Deadline for this giveaway, which is worldwide, is Sept. 19, 2010, at 11:59PM EST.

***Scroll down for today’s review***

Filed Under: BBAW, Events, giveaway

Darcy’s Voyage by Kara Louise

September 13, 2010 by

Kara Louise’s Darcy’s Voyage is a re-imagining of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen that places Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet on Pemberley’s Promise on their way to America.  Louise knows these iconic characters and retains their personalities easily through dialogue and internal monologue, and the novel uses shifts in point of view to provide readers with more than one side of the story.

Lizzy is going to America to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner who have expanded his business to the New World, while Darcy is headed to America to fetch his sister Georgiana after she visits her companion’s family in America and her companion falls ill.  Traveling by sea in those days could be rough and some passengers never made it to their destinations.  With a backdrop of adventure and possible disaster, Lizzy and Darcy strike up a rapport that defies convention.

“‘This is something I have to do.’  Elizabeth looked out the window.  She saw the masts of the ships, some with sails completely unfurled and already sailing, and others with sails still furled tightly about their masts.  Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she suddenly felt a wave of excitement pour through her.  Yes, this will be a life-changing adventure.  I will not be the same when I come back!”  (page 15 of ARC)

Louise’s rendition of the story is imaginative, and the shifts in POV — while numerous and sometimes from paragraph to paragraph — are not jarring enough to push readers out of the story. Readers will enjoy how Darcy and Lizzy interact with one another on board the ship and how the expectations of society are always on their minds.  Louise has captured the essence of these characters and added her own flare to the story.  Darcy’s Voyage is well worth the read.

Thanks to the author and Sourcebooks for sending a copy of Darcy’s Voyage for review.  Don’t forget to check out the giveaway of this book.

About the Author:

Ever since Kara Louise discovered and fell in love with the writings of Jane Austen she has spent her time answering the “what happened next” and the “what ifs” in Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s story. She has written 6 novels based on Pride and Prejudice. She lives with her husband in Wichita, Kansas. For more information, please visit her website, Jane Austen’s Land of Ahhhs.

This is my 7th book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010.

This is my 3rd book for the Everything Austen II Challenge.

This is my 45th book for the 2010 New Authors Reading Challenge.

Filed Under: ARC, everything austen challenge, fiction, Jane Austen Challenge 2010, New Authors Challenge, Publishers/Publicists, Read in 2010, reviews, sourcebooks Tagged With: ,

Mailbox Monday #96

September 12, 2010 by

Mailbox Mondays (click the icon at the right to check out the tour) has gone on tour since Marcia at The Printed Page passed the torch.  This month our host is Kathy of Bermudaonion Weblog.  Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme.  Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.

Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.

Here’s what I received:

1.  Green Beauty Recipes by Julie Gabriel, which I received from the author for review.

2.  Falling Home by Karen White, which I received as a surprise in the mail and can’t wait to read.

3.  Faefever by Karen Marie Moning, which is the third book in the MacKayla Lane series.

4.  Safe From the Sea by Peter Geye for review from Unbridled Books.

5.  The Wishing Trees by John Shors for review from the author.

What did you receive in your mailbox?

Filed Under: mailbox monday

62nd Virtual Poetry Circle

September 11, 2010 by

Today we remember those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks, and I’m sure everyone remembers where they were when it happened.  I can tell you that I was at work in my little cubicle when a colleague of mine told me to go to a certain television station’s Web site, and I saw the planes crashing into the towers.  I thought it was a joke, and then I saw the specks that were actually people jumping out of the building.  Those images will haunt me for a long, long time.  I often think about them when I pass skyscrapers.

Poetry, like images, can stay with you for many years if they strike a chord.

Welcome to the 62nd Virtual Circle!

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

We’re going to take a look at a contemporary poem from native New Yorker, Jonathan Thirkield found in his book The Waker’s Corridor:

New York New York

A runnel forks at a patch of wild lilies.
As day drains the monochrome.
Shade from the mountains.
It is just me.
And him for the day.
A creek below that we can only hear.
A film goes up against the sky.
My son climbs on the roof.
Why all the dust, son?
So I can be your eyes.
So green even in the fall, everything abend.
What can you see up there?
I see you in the moss.
I see a bobtail rushing uphill.
And the stone?
No stone from here.
The leaves block it.
Come down now, you might slip.
I will never slip.
I will never slip.
I think he is dancing to it.
I am not worried.
The runnel forks at a patch of wild lilies.
The distance is a dance.
Soon the brown leaves will hold their edges in its water.
Soon we will all move.
Downhill, downstate, together.
One girl carries a housecat in her basket.
One keeps stopping to tie your shoes.
One keeps her skirt from dragging the earth along with her.
Come down.
I’m not going anywhere.

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Filed Under: virtual poetry circle

Kara Louise Shares Her Writing Space

September 10, 2010 by

Kara Louise’s Darcy’s Voyage is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice under different circumstances — a journey to America.  Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet under unusual conditions, on Pemberley’s Promise, a ship sailing to America.  Darcy is on a voyage to collect his sister and bring her home, while Elizabeth is on her way to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.  Do sparks fly on the open sea?  What happens when they get back to England?

Kara Louise has offered to share her writing space with my readers, and Sourcebooks has offered 2 copies to my readers in the U.S. and Canada.  Stay tuned for details about the giveaway.

Without further ado, please welcome Kara Louise.

Thanks for inviting me to chat with you and your readers today. I hope you find it enjoyable to read about my writing space and my writing routine. This is a fun topic for me.

I have three writing places where I tend to do most of my writing. The first is my computer room, the second is a hanging chair out on our patio, and the third, since I have a laptop, is just about anywhere. I will tell you about the first two.

I do most of my writing in my computer room. It looks out over the front of our property at a lot of grass, trees, a pond, and if my husband has opened the gate to the pasture, often has our 3 horses grazing about.

I have a corner computer desk with a PC on one side and a MAC on the other. My husband recently became a MAC fan, and has tried to get me to convert. While I do enjoy using it, there are just some programs I will not give up on the PC! It’s also nice having 2 computers in case something goes wrong with one.

Our computer room is just an ordinary room, but there is something very special in it. I have sent along a picture of my bookcase that lines one wall. On the top of it there are some very special mementos. I’ll explain what some of those are.

On the left, you’ll see a pair of ship bookends. These are holding 6 hardcover books of each of the novels I self-published. The ship bookends represent, Pemberley’s Promise, which is the name of the ship in Darcy’s Voyage, released just this week by Sourecebooks. Darcy’s Voyage is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, where Elizabeth and Darcy meet on a ship bound for America. The events that take place on the ship then directly influence their meeting again in Hertfordshire, beginning when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield to visit her ailing sister.

Now, back to the bookcase. In front of the bookends on the right, you’ll see the small action figure of Jane Austen with quill in hand, her writing desk, and a small book entitled, Pride and Prejudice. To the right of that is a doll I bought that I call my Elizabeth Bennet doll. I thought she looked just like what I would imagine Elizabeth Bennet to look like. Next to her are other items that are all representative of something in each of my books. If I need any inspiration to write, I just look up there. If nothing else, I get a big smile on my face. By the way, I have since added my copy of Darcy’s Voyage to the other books.

Now, shall we go outside to my very favorite place to write? Our back porch goes along almost the full length of the house. We have a table with chairs, chaise lounges, a porch swing, but my favorite place to write is my hanging hammock swing. I have included a picture of it, as well.

Unfortunately, I can only sit out there when the weather is nice. In Kansas we have pretty cold winters, and in spring we can have severe thunderstorms. In summer the days can get quite hot (as they did this summer!), and fall, well, I love the fall! It is my favorite season, and you can find me in this chair as often as I can. The other seasons do have nice days, occasionally, and when the day is pleasant, I’ll grab my laptop, a bottle of water, my IPod, maybe the phone, and settle into the chair and write, and possibly doze off to sleep. Nothing can surpass that!

As for my writing routine, what really works best for me is when I am alone and have a good block of time. It’s those times I can be found in the computer room or swaying in my hammock chair outside typing away. Sometimes I like to put on music. I have a very broad love of music from my parents’ era like Gershwin, Sinatra, and instrumentals by Mantovani. I love music of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, musical numbers, and a variety of contemporary artists.

But most of all, I find it easy to write when I have a good plot in my head and feel it will be interesting and enjoyed by others. Then my fingers will fly at the keyboard in an attempt to bring it to life. That’s when I can truly get the writing accomplished!

Thanks Kara for sharing your writing space with us.

About the Author:

Ever since Kara Louise discovered and fell in love with the writings of Jane Austen she has spent her time answering the “what happened next” and the “what ifs” in Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s story. She has written 6 novels based on Pride and Prejudice. She lives with her husband in Wichita, Kansas. For more information, please visit her website, Jane Austen’s Land of Ahhhs.

Giveaway details:

2 copies for US/Canada readers.

1.  Leave a comment about what you would have in your dream writing space.

2.  Blog, Tweet, Facebook, etc. the giveaway and leave a link for a second entry.

Deadline Sept. 26, 2010, at 11:59 PM EST

Filed Under: giveaway, guest post Tagged With: ,

New Winner of Come Sunday

September 9, 2010 by

Out of 26 entrants to the Come Sunday giveaway, another winner had to be selected because Dar of Peeking Between the Pages already had the book.

So, without further ado, the new winner is KarenK!

Congrats and I hope you enjoy the book!

Thanks to everyone who entered, but remember there are more giveaways listed in the right sidebar for some excellent books.

Filed Under: winners Tagged With: ,

Ghost Hunt by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

September 8, 2010 by

Ghost Hunt by Jason Dawes and Grant Wilson is due out this September for young readers and contains not only short stories, but also a guide the Ghost Hunters use on every investigation, plus activity pages.  If you haven’t seen this show on television, you are missing out on one of the originals and best investigative teams examining the paranormal.  They never go into a case believing the ghosts are there, but enter homes with the assumption that noises and events mostly have logical explanations.

In this chapter sampler, readers get a glimpse into the short stories (based on investigations done by the TAPS team) available in the full book.  In each of the short stories, kids are at the center of the haunting activities.  This angle will help young readers see themselves in the stories and relate to the characters, but the prose does not condescend to readers in the way that some stories of this nature would, but it does explain some of the technology used in the investigations.

From ‘Pennies from a Ghost,’ “The sound grew louder, louder, LOUDER.  A deep throaty rumble.  Like thunder, Scott thought.  But it wasn’t thunder.

Without warning, a burst of light appeared on the wall across from the boys’ beds.  Scott heard Jerry make a strangled sound.  The light flickered.  It seemed to hover in the same place.”  (page 5 of the sampler)

Young readers will be engaged by the ghost stories and investigations, and will have a fun time working through the TAPS steps in the guide from the interview to the sweep of the house and the collection and analysis of evidence.  The guide also includes a glossary of terms used in the book and the guide to help readers not only understand the investigative techniques, but also expand their vocabularies.  Overall, Ghost Hunt would be a fun addition to the bookshelves of young paranormal fans.

***Thanks to Anna from Diary of an Eccentric for passing along her extra copy to me.

This is my 44th book for the 2010 New Authors Reading Challenge.

Filed Under: ARC, Hachette Books, New Authors Challenge, Publishers/Publicists, Read in 2010, reviews, short stories, young adult fiction Tagged With: , ,

Winner of Come Sunday

September 7, 2010 by

Out of 26 entrants to the Come Sunday giveaway, Random.org selected 1 winner:

#21 Dar of Peeking Between the Pages!

Congrats and I hope you enjoy the book!

Thanks to everyone who entered, but remember there are more giveaways listed in the right sidebar for some excellent books.

Filed Under: winners Tagged With: ,

Mailbox Monday #95

September 6, 2010 by

Mailbox Mondays (click the icon at the right to check out the tour) has gone on tour since Marcia at The Printed Page passed the torch.  This month our host is Kathy of Bermudaonion Weblog.  Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme.  Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.

Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.

Here’s what I received:

1.  Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden, which I won from Peeking Between the Pages.

2.  Ghost Hunt by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, which is a chapter sampler Diary of an Eccentric gave me since she had two.

What did you receive in your mailbox?

Filed Under: mailbox monday