Blog, Page 396

14th Virtual Poetry Circle

September 26, 2009 by Serena

Don’t forget about the Verse Reviewers link I’m creating here on Savvy Verse & Wit.

Send me an email with your blog information to savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

And now, for the fourteenth edition of the Virtual Poetry Circle:

OK, Here’s a poem up for reactions, interaction, and–dare I say it–analysis:

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.

Today, we’re going to look at a contemporary poem from eleven-year-old Maya Ganesan and her book Apologies to an Apple:

September

One by one the leaves turned orange
and red and gold
and slipped off the trees.

And every morning I went
to the willow grove
and brushed the trunks

and I whispered questions
like, how are you doing?
and Is it very cold here at night?

I don’t know if they heard,
because trees don’t have ears.
And I don’t know if they replied,

because they don’t have mouths
to talk. But in some corner of my
consciousness I thought I just

might have heard someone
whisper back, very softly,
We’re fine. Yes, we’re all fine.

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, check them out here. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Don’t forget all those great giveaways in the right sidebar for BBAW. I know its over but the giveaways continue.

Also, look for my review of Maya Ganesan’s Apologies to an Apple next week.

Filed Under: virtual poetry circle

Susan Helene Gottfried discusses blog tours

September 25, 2009 by Serena

Today, we have a guest post from our wonderful blogging buddy Susan Helene Gottfried of West of Mars fame. If you missed my review of The Demo Tapes Year 1, check it out. If you missed my two part interview with her, check it out as well.

She’s discussing The Demo Tapes and blog tours. . . and offering one ebook copy of The Demo Tapes Year 2. Stay Tuned for details . . . and now let me turn it over to Susan.

I was recently having a discussion with another author about virtual book tours. She wanted to know if they work, if they result in book sales. The general consensus was that no one knows for certain, but then again, you can say that about almost any advertisting campaign, especially something not done through one of the major advertising agencies.

We authors are often in a hard spot. We’re told that we shouldn’t pay to be published, that money ought to flow to us — but we need to pony up and pay for a publicist. Have you see what some literary publicists charge? Some authors can’t even afford a small Virtual Book Tour through one of the established companies. This author I was speaking to was one of them.

Then she said something that horrified me. She wanted to set up a book tour for herself, on her own. But the “big book bloggers” will only talk to an author’s publicist. And she didn’t want to visit the smaller book bloggers, the ones with only a few readers.

Well… huh. Color me offended. Deeply. Top to bottom, and from outside to in. Making distinctions about the size of a blog’s readership or its Alexa ranking never occurred to me. What’s important in this game of getting your name out is exactly that — getting your name out.

Maybe it’s because of the way my own books — yes, there are two of them now! — came about. The Demo Tapes were never meant to be collected into book form. They were never meant to be the subject of guest blogs. I’d never imagined standing at book fairs with my two slim volumes displayed on a black crushed velvet cloth, telling actual people, in a face-to-face method, about my books.

Nope. The short fiction in The Demo Tapes was meant to do one thing and one thing only: build my audience and the demand for my novel, Trevor’s Song. I figured that if I got my readers as hooked on Trevor and Mitchell as I am, they’d build up buzz. Eventually, the buzz would reach the right ears and the novel would come out.

A famous rabbi once said that a revolution begins with a single person. And then another. And then another.

That’s how my Trevolution began. That’s why I call it the Trevolution. My readers rallied. They wanted the story of Mitchell and Trevor from the beginning. On a timeline. They wanted to watch the boys grow up, grow into themselves, become rock stars. One piece of short fiction at a time. One reader at a time, they called for The Demo Tapes to be born.

To a person, those demanding readers of mine who blog have blogs this other author is dismissing as not being big enough for her. Some of my readers and fans aren’t even bloggers. But they are people who pick up books. People like you, who’re reading right now. It doesn’t matter if there are ten of you or ten million of you. What matters is that you catch my passion for my fiction. That you decide to share it.

As the shock and horror of this author’s snobbery goes away, it’s replaced by sadness. I wouldn’t trade you guys even for a spot on Oprah and all the copies that inevitably sells. I’ll stay a small potatoes author any day, if it means staying close to the people who’ve inspired not just one book, but two.

Best of all, more’s on the way. If you haven’t joined the Trevolution, now’s the time to do it. There’s no right or wrong place to get started; just dive on in. The water’s fine, the rock and roll is loud and thunderous, the men are hot (so’re the women, for any of you who lean that way).

And behind it all is an author who appreciates each and every one of you.

Thanks Susan for stopping by the blog today!

Now for the giveaway details:

1. Leave a comment on this post about whether you’ve read Susan’s first book and what you thought.

2. Leave a comment about why you want to read The Demo Tapes Year 2.

3. Blog, tweet, or Facebook this post and receive an extra entry.

Deadline is October 9, 2009 at 11:59 Pm EST

Filed Under: giveaway, guest post Tagged With: susan helene gottfried

The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

September 24, 2009 by Serena

The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini is loosely based upon Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the youngest judge appointed to the bench of San Francisco and Meryton is not a town in England, but a town outside of San Francisco, California. Elizabeth Bennet is an attorney with Gardiner & Associates, and the lead attorney is not her uncle Mr. Gardiner, but her boss. California has laws about fraternization between judges and attorneys who work on the same cases, and when sparks fly between Elizabeth and Will, it becomes a sticky situation.

“‘So, what are you doing during the first two weeks of June?’ Jane asked. Elizabeth switched the phone cradle to her other ear and spread the California Bar Journal in the desk before her.

‘Um, same thing as usual. Bill ten hours and work fourteen. Go home, eat Lean Cuisine over the sink, and go to bed convinced I’m never going to meet Mr. Right. I blame Mom. Oh, and I’ll probably have Lou give me a massage.'” (Page 63 of ARC)

Angelini has a brash style all her own in this modern take on these famous characters, but readers could find the explicit sex scenes and sometimes crass language tough to take if they are looking for the same Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam. However, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy exhibits the dynamics of modern relationships well, from the frenzied first glimpses of attraction to the obsessive first moments together and more.

Elizabeth and Darcy spar well in the courtroom before they realize their attraction, but attorneys, clients, and readers will cringe at the biting remarks they make to one another in the courtroom following a break from the realities of California.

“‘How did it go?’ he asked anxiously.

‘I’ve got competition,’ Elizabeth replied.

‘Lady Boobs-a-Lot?’ he asked, referring to Caroline.

‘Yep. She’s catty too.’

‘I know you. You can match her bitch-slap for bitch-slap.'” (Page 251 of ARC)

Readers will enjoy this retelling, though they should expect differences in the characters’ personalities from Elizabeth’s greater outspoken nature and stubbornness to Lou Hurst, Elizabeth’s gay friend and confidante. Jane is in the novel with Bingley–both work at the hospital in Meryton–but their love story is more of a sideline and is derailed less by Darcy and more by Jane’s need to defend her sister against Bingley’s sister, Caroline.

Overall, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini could have been its own stand-alone chicklit novel without the references to Pride & Prejudice, but the modern spin Angelini gives to the characters and the plot makes the novel a quick, fun read. A great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for providing the advanced readers copy of The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy. Stay tuned for a guest post from Sara Angelini on Sept. 28, 2009 with a giveaway.

This is the second book or third item I’ve completed for the Everything Austen Challenge 2009.

Filed Under: ARC, chicklit, everything austen challenge, Read in 2009, reviews, sourcebooks Tagged With: Sara Angelini, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy

National Book Festival 2009

September 24, 2009 by Serena

As many of you may have heard, The National Book Festival 2009 commences this weekend–Saturday, Sept. 26.

Mom and I will be going to see the following authors, though there may be some conflicts. . . we’ll work it out.

In the poetry pavilion:

10 to 10:30 AM Julia Glass, a poet
10:30 to 11 AM Valerie Martinez, a poet
11 to 11:30 AM Edward Hirsch, a poet
11:30 to 12 PM Poetry Out Loud
12 to 12:45 PM Kay Ryan, a poet and U.S. Poet Laureate
4:15 to 5 PM Tim O’Brien, author of some of the best Vietnam War literature out there.

In the mystery and thriller pavilion:

12:55 to 1:25 PM James Patterson
2:40 to 3:10 PM George Pelecanos
3:15 to 3:45 PM Lisa Scottoline

In the fiction and fantasy pavilion:

10 to 10:55 AM John Grisham
11 to 11:30 AM Jodi Picoult
2:10 to 2:55 PM John Irving
3 to 3:30 PM Nicolas Sparks

In the teens and children pavilion:

11:45 to 12:15 PM Paula Deen
5 to 5:30 PM Judy Blume

Signings we are thinking about are for the poets; those will be easy since those are separate from the traditional author signings. The other signings, though we may not make these are:

11 to 12 PM James Patterson
11:30 to 12:30 PM George Pelecanos
12 to 1 PM Nicholas Sparks
12:30 to 1:30 PM Jodi Picoult
1 to 2 PM Lisa Scottoline
1 to 2 PM Paula Deen
2:30 to 3:30 PM Tim O’Brien

What authors are on your schedule?

Filed Under: Events, National Book Festival Tagged With: 2009

Some BBAW 2009 Winners

September 23, 2009 by Serena

I wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and well, though not commenting on blogs this week. I’m visiting with my parents for the week, but hope to see some of you at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Also, I used Randomizer.org to select winners for Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Here are the winners for the autographed posters from Sourcebooks of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse.

1. Anna of Diary of an Eccentric
2. Windy Cindi
3. Lindsay Frost

Winner of Never Let Me Go:

1. Rebekah C.

Winner of FU, Penguin:

1. Sandy of You’ve Gotta Read This!!!

Winner of A Disobedient Girl:

1. Dorte

Please double-check my interview with Sandra Dallas–part 1 and part 2. I posted them this week even while having fun. I should have some photos of my travels this week too. See some of you at the bookfest.

Filed Under: BBAW, Events, winners

Sandra Dallas & Michelle Moran Interviews

September 22, 2009 by Serena

I recently reviewed Sandra Dallas’ Tallgrass here on Savvy Verse & Wit (click on the title for my review).

Ms. Dallas graciously submitted to an interview for my D.C. Literature Examiner page where we discussed Tallgrass and her writing process for the book.

Also in honor of Cleopatra’s Daughter’s debut in stores, I had the opportunity to interview Michelle Moran here and here.

I also should have a list of winners from Book Blogger Appreciation Week later this week. Also, I’ll be headed into D.C. at the end of the week for National Book Festival.

Filed Under: examiner.com

Mailbox Monday #48

September 21, 2009 by Serena

Welcome to another Mailbox Monday, sponsored by The Printed Page. I’ve tried to slow down on the ARCs, etc, but somehow they keep finding their way into my mailbox.

Books Bought:

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Steig Larsson

Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

Other Books:

Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal for a tour in October

The Way Home by George Pelecanos

Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke

Something Mis ing by Matthew Dicks

Still Midnight by Denise Mina

What came in your mailbox?

Filed Under: mailbox monday

BBAW 2009 Wrap Up & Givaway Links

September 20, 2009 by Serena

While BBAW is officially over, there are giveaways that are still going on.

Have you checked all of them out yet? Well, you should because today is the last day for most of them. You might have to do some work, though. But not too much work.

I’ll start off with the official BBAW Giveaway links and end with the BBAW-related giveaways I still have going on here and at War Through the Generations.

From the BBAW site:

1. Book Cover Scavenger Hunt (International)
2. We Use Book Bloggers Too by Jory Strong (International)
3. Speculative Fiction Scavenger Hunt (International)
4. Book Bloggers and Chocolate (U.S. only)
5. Caption Contest (U.S. only)
6. Name That Book Club (U.S. only)
7. Glue and $25 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
8. Short Story Bundle (U.S. only)
9. Non-Fiction Scavenger Hunt (International)
10. Graphic Novels Scavenger Hunt (International)
11. Crime Fiction Bundle (U.K. and Ireland Only)
12. Nalini Singh Appreciates Book Bloggers (International)
13. $50 Powell’s Gift Card (International)
14. Large Giveaway (International bundles, US Only bundles, UK/Ireland Bundles)
15. Historical Fiction Giveaway (U.S. only)
16. Signed Box of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Bad Moon Rising (U.S. and Canada)
17. Reader/Writing Books (U.S. only)
18. Lost Symbol Bundle (North America Only)
19. What Book Am I? (International)
20. Romance Is in the Air (International)
21. Favorite Picture Books (International)
22. Guess the Landmark (International)
23. Thank You from Cynthia Eden (International)
24. Share Your Blogging Memories (International)
25. Kyle Semmel and The Writer’s Center (D.C. area only & International portion)
26. Mahbod Seraji Thanks Book Bloggers (International)

From War Through the Generations for BBAW: (International; Sept. 20)

1. Autographed copy of Annie’s Ghosts (Those participants having read 5 books)
2. Copy of Libby Cone’s War on the Margins for New Participants signing up during BBAW week through Sept. 20

From Savvy Verse & Wit for BBAW:

1. Mahbod Seraji and Rooftops of Tehran (International; Sept. 20)
2. Prize Pack of books (International; Sept. 27)
3. Open Letter to Book Bloggers from Sourcebooks’ Paul Samuelson (U.S./Canada; Sept. 20)

Filed Under: BBAW, Events, giveaway

13th Virtual Poetry Circle

September 19, 2009 by Serena

Don’t forget about the Verse Reviewers link I’m creating here on Savvy Verse & Wit.

Send me an email with your blog information to savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

And now, for the thirteenth edition of the Virtual Poetry Circle:

OK, Here’s a poem up for reactions, interaction, and–dare I say it–analysis:

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

Today’s poem is a classic from one of my favorite poets Emily Dickinson.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death (712)

Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me –  
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –  
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –  
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –  
We passed the Setting Sun – 

Or rather – He passed us – 
The Dews drew quivering and chill – 
For only Gossamer, my Gown – 
My Tippet – only Tulle – 

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground – 
The Roof was scarcely visible – 
The Cornice – in the Ground – 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads 
Were toward Eternity –

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, check them out here. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Don’t forget all those great giveaways in the right sidebar for BBAW. I know its over but the giveaways continue.

Filed Under: virtual poetry circle

50 Words About Savvy Verse & Wit

September 18, 2009 by Serena

The last task for Book Blogger Appreciation Week is to talk about our blogs in 50 words or less in terms of what we like and what our goals are for the next 12 months. Well, we all know how long winded I am, but I’ll give it a shot to be brief.

Reviews = Satisfactory
Interviews = Need more
Guest Posts = Need more interactivity
Giveaways = Great
Changes = clean up sidebars, speed up downloading, increase page views and subscribers

How did I do? Only 29 words. Not bad. What about you?

****

Ready for the end of BBAW Giveaway??

All you have to do is tell me who said this quote:

“Once the people begin to reason, all is lost”

And for a bonus:

“A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.”

These are all books from my shelves and have been gently used or came from library sales or other places:

1. copy of Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart

2. copy of Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip

3. copy of For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews

4. copy of Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine’s Guide to Life and Love by Patrice Hannon

5. copy of The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

This prize pack of books will go to one winner anywhere in the world.

Deadline Sept. 27, 2009, 11:59 PM EST