My Reading Challenge for January

The List Challenge was started in one of our shelfari groups to help us feel like we were making progress with our incredibly daunting mountain of books to be read. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to take a book off my TBR. It will be more of a challenge than ever though because starting January 5 I'll be waking with the chickens and driving to work everyday whereas for the last eight months I've been reading-oops!- I mean working at home.

Hopefully I'll be able to hang with the big dogs and keep up each month.

Evie's List Challenge for January

1. At Grave's End (Night Huntress, Book 3)
2. The Luxe
3. Heart of Stone (The Negotiator Trilogy, Book 1)
4. The Vampire's Betrayal
5. Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West (Bloody Jack Adventures)
6. City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments)
7. Tiger Eye (Dirk & Steele, Book 1)
8. Him Her Him Again The End of Him

Alternatives:
1. Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery)
2. Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1)
3. By Venom's Sweet Sting (Hallowmere, Book 2)

Fairy Rock in St. Fillans, Scotland

This is the news clip I was desperately searching for several months ago when I had the paranormal news contest for Breaking Dawn in the forum Vampires, Witches, Weres and All That II. A few years ago I found it surfing the web and it became the inspiration for the fairy I wrote about in a writing group. I think it's incredible!

I'm reading a book, In the Serpent's Coils by Tiffany Trent, and St. Fillans, Scotland is mentioned on the first page. I recognized the name right away.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ifs_news/hi/newsid_4450000/newsid_4458200/bb_wm_4458256.stm

Living by the List Challenge Icons

Which ones would you like for the challenge? Anyone want to make the blog for our challenge and add everyone so they can post?

Prince Nuada in Hell Boy and Why I Got A Spear For Christmas

I have always enjoyed the choreography of fight scenes in movies, especially those with sharp, pointy things. Special effects enhance the visuals so I can't look away-not that I would anyway- because I'm so completely enthralled. It goes along with my favorite book genres to read: urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal, paranormal romance, science fiction and historical fiction.

So this year I got a beautiful Greek Hoplite spear for Christmas and it looks similar to Prince Nuada's, sans the magic. The magic really ups the price these days with the economy being what it is and the shortage of magic spear craftsman around.

While opening the long, narrow box, I was thinking it was a flag pole or a garden spade...a very loooong garden spade. But through fits of laughter my family told me what it was and I couldn't believe it.

"You got me a weapon?" I asked, incredulously.

My pulse quickened. Photographs are proof of the fey-like grin that slowly spread across my face. My eyes sparkled.

I have a spear. I have a real spear! I can protect my kingdom from things that go bump in the night. I'm alpha female, one kick-ass chick.

Yeah, right!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

The 2009 Pub Challenge

I've decided to give The 2009 Pub Challenge a try!

I haven't decided on the books just yet but here are the rules:

Here are the 2009 rules:

1. Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009.
2. No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
3. At least 5 titles must be fiction.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
6. Sign up http://1morechapter.com/pub/?p=1
7. Have fun reading your 2009 books!

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Little Girl Giveaways

Little Girl Giveaway!



These items are just too cute! Head on over to http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2008/12/prize-pack-1-little-girls.html to enter to win!



Again, I'm very sorry about the delay in getting this posted, and it's still only the first part of this contest! The rest will be up this weekend, I swear!This first "gift basket" is for young girls. I won't say a specific age. I think everyone can decide that on their own based on the prizes. First up, we have some nailpolish and nailpolish remover from Piggy Paint, which is a company that sells these cute polishes and removers that are "non-toxic, odorless, and kid friendly." The one included in this prize pack is this!Next up, we have a $25 gift voucher from Hannah's Tutus. Whoever wins will have this emailed to you. It can be used at their site.Finally, this prize pack will include 6 ladybug cupcake wrappers from Yummycuppycrafts. Her shop can be found here!If you have a daughter, niece, granddaughter, goddaughter, family friend, etc. who you think might like all or some of these items, please enter this contest!DEADLINE: December 30, 2008 at 11:59 ESTWays to Enter: +1 for commenting+2 for following my blog already (just let me know!)+1 for following my blog NOW (let me know!)+5 if you go and buy something from one of these places (email receipt or proof of purchase to Lauren51990 AT aol DOT com)Another item from Hannah's Tutus: