READ~WRITE~REVAMP

My Examiner Post About Kylie's Kiss by Delia Latham

2012-01-16T23:31:00.000-08:00

Visit my Fresno Books Examiner page and read my post about:

Chatting it Up with Kylie Matthews (Heroine of Kylie’s Kiss by Delia Latham)

I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I did reading it and writing about it! Pick up a copy today and get ready for the next one in the series, Gypsy's Game, out later this year. I can't wait!

Happy reading,

Shauna :)

Breaking Dawn Part 1 at VampChix today!

2011-12-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

Breaking Dawn Part 1

at VampChix today! :)

"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri (from BDp1 soundtrack):

~Shauna

Happy Thanksgiving/Holidays/Breaking Dawn p1!!!

2011-12-04T14:12:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it was! And, I got to go and see Breaking Dawn, part 1! And yes, I like going to the movies on Thanksgiving. I know, odd, but it's one of my favorite things. :)

My review will follow soon, but above is the picture I took of the huge poster they had up at the theatre that night when we went. AWESOME! :) So I thought I'd share it here. I've been a little under the weather since then or I'd have posted my review by now.

I hope your Holidays are going well! Happy reading and writing all!!
~Shauna

Check out my post today at VampChix!

2011-10-27T08:53:00.001-07:00

YA Vamps in Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses #8)

Check out my post today! :)

Happy reading!

Breaking Dawn Part 1!

2011-10-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Did you get your midnight showing tickets to Breaking Dawn Part 1? I did! :)

See my Examiner post about it here.

Happy reading and writing all!

~sla

One Day

2011-08-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

I saw this the day it came out... Last Friday, here, I believe. I just knew I'd love it, and I did!

What a great STORY! I recently saw where someone on Facebook (I think) asked if there was a book you wished you'd written what would it be? Well, I guess I would say this one. It's the ultimate story of friendship and love and loss over a twenty year span... I thought it was amazing. And I spent about a third of it in a flood of tears, but the rest smiling and laughing.

So very good.

And, my favorite line of the movie is in this preview...

"She made you decent... And, in return, you made her SO happy."

You possibly can't even begin to really appreciate that line until you watch the entire movie. Sigh...

So, this is an all time example of why I love stories, books, movies and even fabulous songs; some of which are in this movie.

I was also left wanting to go to Paris. Though, much of this is in England and other places, you do see some of Paris!

And, did I mention Anne Hathaway is amazing? Well, she is! In this too.

I highly recommend it, especially to the story-buffs. :)

~sla

p.s. I adore the movie poster:

My Revamp Bites ~ Blue October

2011-08-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

I've been kind of randomly posting Blue October stuff this past week on my FB page so I thought I'd do a Revamp Bites post since it's been a while... this time it's on Blue October! :)

I absolutely LOVE this song! Sounds like a waltz to me and OH MY GAWD that violin! I actually just heard this song recently, even though I have had the CD/album it should have been on for years. I apparently, accidentally, had gotten the explicit version (ooops!) and it didn't have this song so I just recently downloaded it to my iphone from itunes. It's awesome. "You're a superstar on your own." Sigh, love it.

Then, in my Blue October listening lately, I was craving even more of their music and I downloaded the Argue with a Tree cd and it's pretty darn good too. Another really slow one of theirs I like is this one and makes me think of me and my brother:

And they have a new cd coming out this month so I'm super excited! New single:

I really like Blue October because they play with so much emotion. And the writing is amazing. They seem to really know a lot about life and they write and sing and play about it. Pretty darn cool if you ask me! And I like that they have super fast, loud screamy (why isn't that a word, it should be a word, lol) songs and then super slow ones. I just don't really know of another band like them. I really enjoy listening to them for writing. So I listen while I walk or write or really, anytime is a good time. Oh... :)

So, as I was Blue October listening this past week, my mom casually tells me that her cousin's daughter (whom I have met, they are from Kansas though and we are in Cali!) married the lead singer, whom I knew of as Justin. And I was like, "Really? What? Wow!" She even showed me their wedding anniversary announcement my grandma had kept (she kept everything and knew about all of us cousins lives :) ) So, that is really cool, but now I'm wondering if it's kinda weird that I like them so much. Ha ha. Makes them real people and ones I even know of. Yeah, still trying to wrap my mind around that, but anyway, my second cousin did good! LOL :) I obviously think they rock so, yeah, good for her. =] Welcome to the family, Justin! Sorry so late, I mean they say they told me this, and maybe they did, but I seriously didn't realize. Well, maybe, I'll get to meet my distant cousins someday either in Kansas (would love to see where my Grandma was from) or at a concert! Also, you can see in this next video at the end (listen for what he says after), they named their baby Blue! So cute. <3

Have a great week all, another one that's more upbeat and is about life and the ups and downs, but still a really fun song:

Happy reading, writing & Blue October listening! :)
~Shauna

Frank O'Hara reads "Having a coke with you"

2011-07-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE this poem that is read (most of it anyway) in Beastly. Great movie, but I am so glad to have found out about this poem because of it. And here is the author of the poem reading it from many years ago, the same year or so he died. I could listen to this over and over again. I could also tell you the many reasons I love this poem, but I think it speaks for itself. Have a listen! I found this video on another blog if you want to see the wording of the poem here. It's just lovely if you ask me. Well, no one really did, but anyway...

I've posted about Beastly before, if you want to check out that post here as well. :)

Have a great day!

~Shauna

My Spike! :)

2011-07-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've had to shuffle dogs around a bit, but here's the one I've ended up with. Poor Honey kept jumping my old fence, but she has a new home now so I'm sooo happy for her. And while I miss my big dogs desperately, they are doing well! :) So, meet Spike, my 'lil Pomeranian that I named after Spike from Buffy and Angel. :)

He's so little he can go just about anywhere with me and he loves to go to Starbucks with me and sit in a chair outside with me while I read. :)

TV Spike:

Well, this was the Gothic punk phase of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer anyway... :)

And this is me and Spike at the beach:

See, he's a trooper, he goes anywhere I go! =]
Yay Spike, aka Spikey. LOL

Check out my VampChix post today on City of Fallen Angels!

2011-07-26T02:07:00.000-07:00

YA Vamps and More in City of Fallen Angels!

Happy YA Vamp Reading from your YA VampChix-ster!

~Shauna Leigh Atkinson

blog*twitter*goodreads

Stay Tuned ~ Review of Zombies Don't Cry on Bite Club Friday!

2011-06-01T02:05:00.000-07:00

HINT: I liked it, a lot! :)

Check out Bite Club on Friday for the review... I'm new to zombies, but it's a great read & Rusty has lots of cool books coming out soon too!

Happy Reading!

My Review of Bloody Valentine on Vampchix today!

2011-05-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

My Bloody Valentine Review!

Happy reading! :) ~S

Visit VampChix Today for My YA post on Ghost Town!

2011-04-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Visit VampChix today for my post:

YA Vamps in Ghost Town, Morganville Vampires bk 9!

Happy reading all!

~Shauna

BEASTLY

2011-03-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

Saw it... LOVED it! :)

This movie is based on my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast (of course!) Beastly was a very nice modern telling of the story. The witch was also quite good. It's not really an A+ movie, necessarily, but I completely enjoyed the overall movie-watching experience! The soundtrack was also very good; I came home and downloaded it right away.

:)
sla

Would You Love Me Anyways

2011-03-31T00:28:00.000-07:00

I think the title of this song speaks volumes! WOULD YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY? Shouldn't the answer always be yes? Wow. I love the words of this song so much. I encourage you to play it and just listen to the words. Especially for women, I think it is important for us to know who we are and then to ask or maybe even expect those closest to us to accept us for who we are. ACCEPTANCE is something that I've learned is not always freely given. Sometimes we have to ask or even demand. So, who are you? What do you want? And, do those around you love and accept you? I'm still swimming through all of this myself so be kind and always consider others before you squash their silly dreams or odd quirks... Sometimes we all just want to be accepted, just as we are, or for who we want to be... I think this song addresses these concerns quite nicely.

WOULD YOU LOVE ME ANYWAY?
IF I GIVE UP MY DREAMS OR WANT TO FLY?
I HOPE SO... :)
~sla

Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington blog tour!

2011-03-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Bound by Guilt
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Shuttled between foster homes, Roxi Gold will do anything to fit in. Soon she’s traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society—and not just at work. One fateful night, both their lives are changed forever. One searches for justice, the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free?

Bound by Guilt is a great second installment to the Thicker Than Blood series by C.J. Darlington. With many of the same characters as supporting characters there are some new ones that come into play and take center stage. I really enjoyed the new spin on the book heist except that some unexpected events left damaging effects. Great story telling on C.J. Darlington's part!

Those damaging effects play out across families and towns and show that love and forgiveness can release those who are in fact "Bound by Guilt". Whether it is telling the truth or putting in the time for the crime, and being surrounded by loved ones can release one from guilt they may be carrying with them. Bound by Guilt was written with great emotion and care.

And, if you love books, you'll love these stories... You get to hear about first editions and rare classics that are apparently worth committing crimes over to some people. This is noted by the author as being a part of her book that is based on true stories. I myself love books and it was very interesting to read about that part of the book business. Although, I hope it isn't usually so costly to the human species!

If you haven't read it yet, I hope you also pick up and enjoy reading Bound by Guilt as much as I just did!

Great job! You kept me turning the pages.
--Francine Rivers, Internationally best selling author

C.J. is a wonderful, talented writer . . . extraordinary . . .
--Bodie Thoene, best-selling author of the A.D. Chronicles

This one engages your senses and reaches your heart.
--Jerry B. Jenkins, NY Times best-selling author & owner of The Christian Writers Guild

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:
C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site www.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com

QUICK LINKS:

Awakened Review (HoN #8) on Vampchix!

2011-01-31T01:00:00.000-08:00

Awakened, House of Night book#8, review by me on Vampchix!

I just LOVE the cover of this book!

Happy reading and writing all! :)

~Shauna

Happy New Year & Blogoversary(#2)!

2011-01-30T01:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

Can you believe it has already been one month in the new year? I can't. It has flown by and I haven't even had a chance to blog on my own blog, eeek!

Well, the new year brings new things... Has yours? I got a new dog named Honey (see left) and she's quite the squirrel hunter! :) She's an adopted doggie from A.C.T.

Now, if you have been with me for a while, you know I had bigger dogs, but this year did bring a loss... My new place is way too small for them so with regret, my big 'ol black lab Rollie is now with my cousins and is spoiled as ever and my hunting dog Georgia is out in the country now with extended family also doing well. They are happy, so even though I will miss them, I know that they are being cared for and treated well so I am happy for them. Ya know? It's the first time I ever had to give away a pet so that was tough, but I know it was the right thing to do based on the situation for the pets.

Macchi (left) and Midi (top right) are also indoors these days, yay!!

And this is them on their new cat tree. :) They LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

Poor Macchi has kidney disease and was quite sick throughout November and December so I feel very blessed to still have him here and cherish each day with him enjoying his tree. Normally, he is the one on the top perch, but this particular day Midi got top bunk. I don't know if he LETS her have that spot or if she TAKES it...hmm. As I write this, she is up there now! :)

Well, I hope the new year will continue to bring more new and exciting things! Like writing for one. I've already started working on my WIP again. Yay! :) And as things progress in writing and life, as I can, I'll post here. So, check back soon for more.

And, I almost forgot, it's my BLOGOVERSARY!!! 2 years I believe, yay! :-) Thank you all for sticking it out. I will be around more this year, I can feel it, writing is in the air! Don't forget to check out my book reviews at my Fresno Books Examiner page and YA Vamp blogposts at VampChix blog.

I hope your holidays were nice and that your new year has started out well so far!
~Shauna

On Vampchix ~ Review: Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz

2010-12-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Review: Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz

— Shauna Leigh Atkinson for VampChix

VampChix YA Post Today - The Hunger Games

2010-11-24T02:01:00.000-08:00

The Hunger Games Series at VampChix

Happy Reading & Thanksgiving all!! :)

~Shauna

Thicker Than Blood by C.J. Darlington

2010-11-02T17:23:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of reading Thicker Than Blood, which was sent to me by none other than C.J. Darlington! Whom I’ve been blessed to converse with over Facebook, ACFW and her blog; and the moment I heard about this book I wanted to read it. C.J. is an inspiring writer both in and out of the page. By that I mean her posts and blogs are encouraging, real and helpful for all who are listening. She probably doesn’t want any credit for that (sorry, C.J.!), but it is due to writers such as her, who are so very real, that make me desire to open their books and read what they have to say fictionally, spiritually and beyond…

Thicker Than Blood opens up with thirty-three year-old Christy being pulled over and then arrested for driving under the influence on her birthday. A bit depressing at first read...and even more so once we find out who she calls to pick her up from jail in order to avoid losing the job she loves at a used bookstore and one of her only real friends and boss. However, from there, we see Christy’s story unfold and how it overlaps with that of her sister Mary’s and what exactly it is that Christy was running from all these years. We also find out whether or not the past and her present troubles will take her back to her sister and reunite them.

What Christy doesn’t know is that Mary has found something else, something “thicker than blood” while Christy has been gone. We find out what that is and get to see how this affects Christy and helps her to deal with her past and present troubles and what she chooses to do with the steps towards her future. The characters and the struggles they deal with are very real and put in dangerous situations at times that hopefully most of us won't face in everyday life.

It’s an exciting and enjoyable read filled with grace for ones past and hope for the future that I was so honored to have had the opportunity to have received and read. I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of "Thicker Than Blood" and read it! I can’t wait for the next installment “Bound by Guilt”, which comes out in the beginning of 2011! You can find out more about both books and C.J. Darlington at her website http://www.cjdarlington.com/.

Happy Reading!
~Shauna

VampChix YA Vampires & Fresno Books Examiner Posts

2010-10-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

YA Vamps Update in The Morganville Vampires ~ FADE OUT

Loved book 7, Fade Out! :)

Fresno Finds - Author Event: Linda Watanabe McFerrin's Signing of Dead Love

There's going to be an author signing in Fresno, this coming Tuesday night, woot! :)

Happy reading!

~Shauna :)

Examiner Update! - Fresno Books Examiner

2010-10-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Fresno Books Examiner ~ New Link!

http://www.examiner.com/books-in-fresno/shauna-leigh-atkinson

My site has a new link to the website, please update! It even has my full name I was born with in there, cool huh? Well, I thought so anyway... :) More updated articles to come soon!

Thank you ~ Shauna

Examiner.com also has a new look and logo... I hope you like it! Happy reading and writing everyone. Thank you for your patience as I get everything updated on both my sites and start posting on them again shortly... I have lots of books ready to go! Take care all!! ~sla

VampChix YA Post Today - YA Manga

2010-09-29T01:29:00.000-07:00

YA Vampires in Manga ~ BLOODY KISS Series

Happy reading & writing all!

More posts coming up soon, stay tuned... :) I've missed ya! I hope all is well with everyone & look forward to catching up soon. I've been reading and writing & plan to post more soon.

~Shauna

Today's Vampchix Post...

2010-09-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

Today's post:

http://vampchix.blogspot.com/2010/09/ya-new-releases-vampires-more.html

~Shauna

Vampchix YA Post Today - Buffy YA Book 1

2010-08-18T03:01:00.000-07:00

Visit VampChix today for

YA Vampires... Er, werecoyotes? Vampire Slayer!

Have a great day!

~Shauna

Meeting Maggie Stiefvater in Menlo Park!

2010-07-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

I had the great honor to meet Maggie Stiefvater at her book signing last Friday, July 23rd, at Kepler's bookstore in Menlo Park!

It was awesome! Maggie is awesome!!! :) I was so happy to listen to her talk about her books and writing and meet her in person. And, she signed my copy of Linger and said "Look to the woods"!

I LOVED it all!!!

Thanks so much Maggie!!!

Oh, and she even said she thinks I'm blond, that everyone in California is blond for the purposes of her stories. I thought that was cute. Too funny. It was her first trip to California and she had driven up from San Luis Obispo that day, which is not a short trip. I know, because I drove up from Fresno and man oh man, that's a long enough drive and I went up to Dublin to drop off my stuff with friends and then over to Menlo Park. Menlo Park is adorable, by the way. I'd totally go back. I want to, for more book signings, loved it!

I wish many of my book-reader-writer pals could have been there, I know how much many of you wanted to be! It was definitely worth the drive. :)

Happy Linger-reading all!

~Shauna

VampChix YA Post Today - Key to the Repository (Blue Bloods)

2010-07-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

YA Vampires - Keys to the Repository (Blue Bloods)

Happy reading! :)

~Shauna

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!!!

From me and my kitties...

This is Midi and Macchi earlier in the week on the hottest day we've had (108 F) so far taking refuge in the shade. Aren't they cute in their little Siamese twin positions? I just love them! They'll be eleven next month, sigh...

I'll be posting and reading and writing more and more this month (July and beyond!), so, be back soon. :)

I did post an updated review of Eclipse on my Fresno Books Examiner page on Friday and I went to see it again that night with my mom, woot! :)

Enjoy your day!

~Shauna

Eclipse Movie Review at VampChix - Team Edward or Jasper?!

2010-07-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

I went to the midnight showing of Eclipse last night and it was awesome! You can see my review over at VampChix: Eclipse Movie! Below is the poster they had outside the theatre here and I just loved the way it looked in the neon purple lights at night! :)

Here's me in my Team Edward Shirt with my very good friend Gisela!

And, while I love Edward, my secret crush vamp stole the show.... Ah, Jasper, yeayyy!!! :) Loved him in this! Check out my review for more Jasper gushing, he is just oh so cute and a fighter, in a good sense I think. Sigh... Loved all of his scenes, this one was really cool, very endearing. I can't wait to see it again!! :)

Well, has everyone else seen it yet? I know some are waiting a bit, I've tried not to mention much, but it's tough. Go, watch, so we can all chat about Jasper, er, I mean Eclipse! Ha ha!!! :) Great movie, by the way. Lots of cool things to chat about. So excited to talk/blog more about them. Keep me posted on what you think or when you get to see it.

Happy Eclipse-watching!

~Shauna

YA Vamp Stuff ~ VampChix & Eclipse!

2010-06-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

My VampChix YA Post today:
http://vampchix.blogspot.com/2010/06/ya-vamps-in-morganville-vampires.html

It's on some reading I've done this past week or so on The Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, feel free to head on over! :)

And, Eclipse is in less than five days, yayyyy! :) Here's the clip they played at the MTV movie awards... I can't wait!

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - "She has a right to know" clip:

Happy reading, writing & watching all!
~Shauna

Bree Tanner

2010-06-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Out now and read it for free:

Are you going to check it out? I haven't read it yet... have you?

MY REVAMP BITES ~ "Don't You Know You're Beautiful?"

2010-06-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

I struggled whether to file this under My Worry Rock Week posts or this one, but in the hopes of things looking up and the spirit of this song I chose this one...

I heard this on the radio yesterday and heard it was by Seabird and just feel in LOVE with it, which further pressed it should be under MY REVAMP BITES...

I leave you with this, it really needs no real introduction, is speaks, well sings for itself!

And, I also posted it in part inspired by another post of a song/video I really like that was posted by C.J. Darlington recently, which you may also like or find inspiring in similar fashion. Or, at least, I did and I pass them both on to you today (above link, and video below).

"Don't You Know You're Beautiful?" by Seabird:

Speaking of CJ Darlington, keep an eye out for my long overdue post of her fabulous book Thicker Than Blood! Not overdue on her part at all, but on my worry rock weeks... which, I suppose I owe a post or two about that soon too. More to come... :)

And, you can find me on YouTube, although I mostly just "favorite" other peoples fabulous works, but we can share great finds, like Seabird TV's Channel there! I'm JUST learning about this group, but the more I learn I LIKE! They do mission work and they have some videos up on there of that as well. I'm actually watching one about them as I post this of them at an orphanage in Haiti, with an area called the Miriam center. I'm guessing they play music for the kids there too. Fun! [Okay, I might cry now too! :)] *Sorry, got a bit off track there, but anyway...

May your day be blessed & we all know we are beautiful and not alone! :)
~Shauna

p.s. I don't know about you, but I'm gonna (yes, I said 'gonna') keep listening to this song... :)

VampChix YA Post Today - Demon Week, Eeeek!

2010-06-09T03:28:00.000-07:00

Visit VampChix today for my YA post on The Mortal Instrument Series & The Infernal Devices!

And the next one in...

Visit the Infernal Devices website!

Happy reading all! ~S

One Question Interview Blog Tour with Lauren Baratz-Logsted!

2010-06-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to...
Lauren Baratz-Logsted's One Question Interview Blog Tour!

Today, she is visiting us here on my blog! I'm so thrilled to have her here and have the chance to ask her a question about one of my favorite YA books... Crazy Beautiful, which came out in September 2009. Her next YA book, The Education of Bet comes out in July 2010!

The Education of Bet "is about a 16-year-old girl in Victorian England who impersonates a boy in order to get a proper education."

From Goodreads:

"Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.
Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.
But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.
So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.
But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting."

Without further ado...

One Question Interview Blog Tour!

RWR (me): What was your supernatural spin on Beauty and the Beast weaved into writing the story of Crazy Beautiful in relation to Lucius that drove him to do what he did that ended him with hooks for hands and then upon seeing Aurora for the first time, when he referred to her as his Dark Angel, that he vowed to be her Gallowglass, protector, when Lucius says, “Whatever happens, I will stand beside her”? And, when I say supernatural, I just mean, what was yours or Lucius’s deep, dark and twisty tale that was alluded to, but maybe left out or not completely included in the story that you could share with us today. I am of course, still holding out hope for a sequel; Lucius is a great character and Beauty and the Beast is in fact my favorite fairy tale! So, do tell!

LBL (Lauren): At Lucius's previous school, he was bullied mercilessly. Something of a science genius, he stole chemicals from the lab at school with the intent of creating something to cause an explosion. Since Lucius wound up blowing off his own hands, it's impossible to know if he ever would have gone through with it and, if he had gone through with it, if he would have blown up the school with people in it or at a time he thought it would be empty. Knowing and loving Lucius as I do, I like to think that even if he hadn't blown off his hands, something would have stopped him from blowing up the school, particularly with people in it. Whatever the case, though, Lucius's heart was definitely dark when he worked on creating that device. He imagined causing great harm to those who had harmed him. So how does that relate to Beauty & the Beast? In both B&B and Crazy Beautiful a decision that the hero makes causes his own tragic condition. And in both stories it is only through the process of learning to love another person, and place the other person's interests ahead of one's own, is the tragedy overcome.

Crazy Beautiful "is a contemporary re-visioning of Beauty & the Beast, told in he-said/she-said fashion, about a boy with hooks for hands and a gorgeous girl who meet on their first day at a new school."

Amazing story, thank you for sharing that with us! I'd like to thank Lauren for being here today and for taking time to answer my question about Crazy Beautiful; I loved it so very much! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. I got it for my birthday in February and couldn't put it down!! :)

I am also looking forward to her other upcoming books as well. Education of Bet has definitely peaked my interest. As has a gothic novel called The Twin's Daughter, which "is a chilling, gothic mystery about a girl whose mother’s newfound twin might just have a murderous agenda." It is coming out in August 2010. I can't wait! Visit her website for even more books coming out this year! I found out about the last one on yesterday's tour on June 2nd at Lauren: Everyone has guilty pleasures (T.V. shows, movies, books, etc.), so what are some of yours? and then looked it up on my Goodreads account where I found the link and description...very spooky! :) Tomorrow, June 4th, you can visit Katie Alender: Tell me about your favorite/best birthday out of all your birthdays.

You can also find Lauren at her website, some of her blogs and a new site (new to me anyway!) I just found out about called Red Room. I know I'll be checking that one out, very cool! Some neat blogs of hers too.

Happy reading and writing! :)

~Shauna

Missing Grandma on Memorial Day, her Birthday!

2010-05-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

She was and will always be my hero...

And, isn't this the best cross ever?!

I started my blog after this date so she never saw my blog and I really think she'd like me posting this... smiling from heaven. I think she'd approve, anyway. She would have encouraged me to write & blog at least, so, I like to think she would have smiled on this too. Love & miss you, Grandma*! =*)

*We were quite close, perhaps some day I will share more. To me, this picture speaks pages, if not volumes. Sigh...

Happy Memorial Day, all!

slk

Online Book Club Radio!

2010-05-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Pajama Chat Readers Blog has a new Book Club for Saturday mornings!

Check it out! The have an Online Book Club Radio on Saturdays and the next one is on June 5th and is for Wicked Becomes You.

I do hope to catch this one, but if not since I have something that day, but hope to see about slipping away or listening afterwards, then I'll be sure to catch the next one. These sure sound like wicked fun! =*] I would love to even participate in one sometime... Ooooh, will have to see about that! :) I have met or blogged and tweeted with a couple of the ladies putting these on and they are just wonderful! Terry Kate from Romance in the Backseat let me know they were having this one. Thanks Terry!

Enjoy & let me know if you get to listen in or participate, I'd love to hear about it.
Happy reading!
slk

MY REVAMP BITES ~ Invictus Poem

2010-05-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

MY REVAMP BITES presents...

I recently watched Invictus and wow, I fell in love with this poem and Rugby! Why don't we have Rugby in the USofA?! We should, we totally should. LOL. Anyway, I looked up the poem and wanted to share it with you.

Invictus

There was a touching seen when Matt Damon's character goes into Morgan Freeman character's cell that he had spent 30 years in that his people had sent him to prison in only to later let him out and then make him president... And in it they have him looking out through the bars that Morgan Freeman's character would have been looking out of reciting this poem that he said got him through and that he later gave to Matt Damon's character to inspire him.

I can't say it is the most fast pace movie of all time, because that it is not, but it is still a pretty cool flick.

With that said, here is the poem I found and the link in the title. I hope you'll find it as inspiring.

For me, the last couple of sentences really hit home, but the entire thing really is quite amazing. Who hasn't been in a tough time, especially one that seems to never end? Who is the master of your fate, the captain of your soul?

Wow... I didn't expect that from Rugby, did you? Silence fills the crowd!!! :) *tears* For me, tears... Great poem!

Happy Friday!

~Shauna

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

VampChix YA Post Today - Vampire Kisses 7 "Love Bites"

2010-05-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello vampire fans, head on over to VampChix today for my posting on Vampire Kisses book 7 "Love Bites" by Ellen Schreiber!

Happy vampire reading all!!!

~Shauna :)

My Rusty Mailbox (27)

2010-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

My Rusty Mailbox*

New Releases:
Vampire Kisses 7, Bite Me! :)

EVOLVE by Nancy Kilpatrick and a bunch of other amazing authors!!! =]

B&N:

Bookmooch:

Authors:

I won this one from the author who did a guest post a little while back at VampChix! I was so excited to get it!! Thanks again! :)

And, Michele Hauf sent me these a while back as well! Soooo excited about them since I LOVED Her Vampire Husband as you all know!!! :) Highwayman and Moon Kissed go with HVH, yay! :) Getaway Girl looks awesome as well. I will keep you posted on those...

ACFW sent me a box of books (pic above) which is these stacks here (left) when I joined them a couple of months back! It was around the same time I went to my first book blog conference and started teaching my first class so it is the first time I am mentioning it... I know, sorry, I think it was mid-March, the blur of my life, lol. :) I'm SO glad that I joined though, so very glad.

I will do a writers post in the coming weeks, probably June, and talk about it some other writing groups and book blog stuff and my writing some more. I've since joined a couple of writing/book groups and am planning to join a critique group in June! And, just look at all of those books! Thank you ACFW!!! They were VERY welcoming and I'm so very grateful! :) Oh, and the reason I got the box of books, was because I happened to become the 2000th member to join! I was amazed... I still am. WOW.

Booknook:

Library:

Well, my book-eyes were a little too big for their own good and I got a little carried away... I also found out I can have out as many as 25 or 26 items at a time, eeeek! They should NOT have told me that. Ha ha! And, I can re-new them, up to 2 times, with having them 3 weeks at time. Hmm, sad that I know this? No, not really, just that I needed to renew because I was reading some books I already own for some other posts that I'm doing the next couple of weeks. So... yeah, big 'ol book eyes! [O_O] LOL.

I also got "Blood and Chocolate" by Annette Curtis Klause on Audio, but I guess it was already in my car, because it didn't make it into the photo! :) And, Need has already been returned. Gotta keep up! LOL.

Need, in audio, was sure good too! :) I listened to it on a road trip and now I'm hooked on audio books as well... I can't wait to hear the sequel! I put in for it at the library... I think I'm third on the list, but I may have to wait, because they just got it in, or so it says... Anyway, yay!

Nice how that works, huh? I can't wait!!!

How was your mailbox this week? Happy reading!

~Shauna

*Hosted by T he Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

Happy World Goth Day!

2010-05-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a very happy GOTH DAY and got their goth on! :)

~Shauna :)

MY REVAMP BITES ~ The Last Dance

2010-05-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

Be still my beating heart... I've discovered The Last Dance! Sigh...

I listen while I write... And well, other times too. This is just one of many of their songs that I like. And they have been around for over a decade so they have newer and older stuff, which I really like. They are kind of near and dear to me and my writing right now! That's all I'm going to say about that. Sorry, my lips are sealed...for now! :)

Here's some fun stuff from their myspace site though:

The Last Dance on myspace

Goth Day - May 22nd

The Last Dance VampireFreaks.com

And, if I can use my math skills and figure out what hour this is West Coast, USA, time this is cool:

MY REVAMP BITES ~ They Paused (& Bones)

2010-05-14T01:55:00.000-07:00

This is really cool! Okay, they aren't my revamp bites...lol. But, they inspire, which is the point! I was watching Bones and saw that Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, who play Bones and Booth on BONES, did a video for this site and you can see it here, just click on "Watch & Listen":

http://www.fox.com/pause/

This is cool not just for Bones fans, but for inspiration on taking a moment, seriously, to pause... and think before acting. I think we can all take something from that, no matter what age! :) And, there are clips from other stars as well. Very cool, I think. Let me know what you think too.

Okay, now for Bones fans, upon further digging... I also found this... a Graphic Novel of Bones!!! (OMG, I'm so excited!)

The Bones in the Booth

You can also watch Bones on Demand. Cool! :)

Also, another Revamp Bite... A great song from tonights episode, "Seen Enough" by Dryer:

And, I made it all the way through without even mention Angel, the vampire that David Boreanaz played before Booth! Ooops, I guess I didn't quite make it! :)

Happy Friday!!
slk

My Rusty Mailbox (26)

2010-05-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

My Rusty Mailbox*

Well, I was in Sacramento last weekend with friends & family and I ran by the Barnes & Noble there and picked up a couple of books! I already had If I Stay by Gale Forman on my wanna reads list so when I saw it I grabbed it! And the other one is new to me, but is five were books in one and sounded interesting. :)

And when I got home Avatar was waiting for me! "I see you!" :)

And I had pre-ordered this! Burned, House of Night, so excited!

What did you get?

Happy reading!!! :) slk

*Hosted by T he Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

YA Wolves at VampChix today!

2010-04-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

Some Wolfy Reads at VampChix (WOLF WEEK)!

My post today for Wolf week on some wolfy reads...

Head on over to check out some of the other posts as well.

Enjoy!

slk

My Rusty Mailbox (25)

2010-04-27T23:50:00.000-07:00

My Rusty Mailbox*

Well, things have been busy, I was at the blog conference in mid march and I've picked up a teaching job and books have been coming in over the past few weeks. I have many to share in the coming weeks, but here are the books I've gotten in my box just recently... What have you received in your mailbox lately?

I got my signed copy of Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf, Thank you! :) I LOVE it! Sigh... She also sent me a signed copy of Winter Kissed. Yay!

And I got the latest in The Dark Guardian series, Shadow of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne.

And the 6th book in the Vampire Diaries The Return series (2nd in return), Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith

I also got a copy of Thicker Than Blood from C.J. Darlington! Thank you so much!

I am reading it now, awesome...

I've also gotten a bit magazine crazy lately.... And these are just a couple of them...

Well, I've gotten more the past month that I plan to share in my upcoming MRM's, but I wanted to get started back ASAP! I hope your week was nice to you! More to come soon...

Happy reading!!! :) slk

*Hosted by T he Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

Eclipse ~ Poster & Trailer

2010-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

~Eclipse~

A new trailer is out, and it is all kinds of awesome!

Check it out here as it was debuted and some more info here from the Twilight Examiner.

This one is so much better than the teaser and follow up one, I'm so pleased with it. I'm smiling!!! I am so excited I just can't stand it, oh wait, yes I can!!!

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

slk

MY REVAMP BITES ~ Angel

2010-04-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

Have you met Angel? I just did and wow, I'm in love. I mean, yep, I am. I know, most everyone likes Spike, that's okay, I'm cool with that! :) I'm an Angel fan though. He's the sweetest! He's brooding, angsty & has his conscience back. And, I'm a David Boreanaz fan from his role as Booth on Bones since day one so maybe I'm biased, but still... Angel! And his full name is Angelus, great name, so cool!

I really never thought I'd watch this show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer IMDb. It didn't seem like something I'd really like, but I'm hooked! Lots of cool things going on that I'm sure I'll blog about in other REVAMP BITES, old school vamp stuff, but I just had to mention Angel here. :) I'm probably one of the few watching for the first time through, but if not, then you should also watch! He's definitely worth it (don't listen to those Spike*-watchers, LOL. :-)

*Okay, Spike is a super fun villain vamp, but Angel is well, Angelus vampire so there, that's enough for me, and we only get him for 3 seasons and then he is on to his own show "Angel" so I'm already sad about that, but also happy for 5 Seasons of "Angel" watching... =]

slk

Can't sleep? Just listen...Vampire's Tango

2010-04-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Vampire's Tango at Fresno Books Examiner

The other night I listened to my downloaded copy of Vampire's Tango on my iPhone and Oh My it's such a dance to hear! I didn't sleep until the sun rose, but I didn't mind at all.

Vampire dancing with vampire slayer...oh my! So much fun!

I wanted more, but hey, I'll take what I can get. I really enjoy Michele Hauf's vampire stories and this one was no except. Have you downloaded it yet? The e-read or audible version? You should!

Happy dancing all!

I used to dance too, though, not the tango... Fun*! =*}

*I keep saying fun! :)

VampChix YA Post Today - Recent & Upcoming Reads!

2010-04-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

Check out my VampChix post today on YA Vampires Recent and Upcoming Reads

I also mentioned Beastly! :)

Come by VampChix next week for WOLF WEEK!

Winner of MIDNIGHT CRAVINGS by Michele Hauf

2010-04-16T01:11:00.000-07:00

And the winner is ... using random.org...

Samantha Hunter

for Michele Hauf's MIDNIGHT CRAVINGS

Congratulations!!!

Please email me your postal information to fresnobooksexaminer@gmail.com. Thank you!

And thanks to Michele and everyone who stopped by for the interview & who entered!!

Happy Friday! =*]

Michele Hauf Interview on Her Vampire Husband, Paranormal, Writing & More!

2010-04-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

Author Michele Hauf is visiting today & we are talking Her Vampire Husband, among other things! I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her. Please bear with me as this is my first interview (thanks, Michele!)

SK (me): Her Vampire Husband is very unique involving a werewolf and a vampire union. Most books or series are either vampires OR werewolves... How did the idea of a werewolf marrying a vampire first come to you? Where was this novel idea born? :)

MH (Michele): I wanted to do an arranged marriage story, and took a look over my ‘world’ of creatures that I like to write about and decided the two breeds that would most NOT want to get involved with one another are definitely the vamp and were. They have a lot of bad blood between them.

SK: Your characters names are so unique and have such rich backgrounds, how do you come up with them? Blu, Creed, Fresno (The city where I happen to be from!)... For instance, Blu's character wears different colored wigs which the reader learns why along the way, but she is very colorful as well & is exciting to read about.

MH: Names are tough! You’d think, with probably billions of choices for names in this world, it would not be so difficult to put a name to a character. But when I’m constructing a character I find there’s about one, maybe two or three names if I’m lucky, that will fit any given character. I’ve wanted to use the name Blu for years, so she was named before I started realizing who and what she was. And that she wore colored wigs was kind of funny with her name, but it really worked. Creed was not Creed to start with. He was originally Henri (Still is, to me). My editor actually called one day and said “Henry is not going to work.” And I was like, “Well, it’s Henri—pronounced the French way—not

Henry.” That didn’t really help my argument. Editorial likes strong, alpha male names. Henri is a very strong, kingly name in France, but ah well. So then he became Edward (no, I was not even thinking Twilight at the time), until the story went through edits and a copy editor made the comment “Does she (meaning me, the author) really think she can compare Edward and Blu to Edward and Bella?” Well, no I didn’t think I could, and hadn’t meant to. But once it was brought up I didn’t want to use names so close to that OTHER book. So the hero became Creed. I like the name. It works for me, and for him. But I do go through the name game with almost every book. Someone along the editing process will not like a name and I’ll have to change it. Sigh...

SK: HVH is a very sensual, adult read, but also very relatable in an everyday way and still a vampire-y/werewolf-y paranormal way! For example, when Blu and Creed are exchanging banter over her cereal as if a normal married couple. “Seriously?” she said. “Because I’m eating breakfast here.” p. 244, Blu. Was this part of your goal in writing HVH?

MH: I always write as if the paranormal were normal. I mean, they live everyday lives just like you and I, expect they do different things to survive. So the heroine can take her black credit card and go max it out, then when she gets home she’ll shift to wolf form and go out for a run. The hero is a tribe leader, which is probably close to leading some kind of corporation, then snack on hot blood later in the evening as he’s watching the news. The only part of my paranormal world that I guess is not going to be at all ‘normal’ is Faery. More on that to come in 2011. ;-)

SK: I have read that you started writing after your son turned 18. What first inspired you to write and especially about the paranormal world of vampires? What is your favorite vampire book of all time. What writer has inspired you the most in your writing? Is there anything you would pass down from them or in your own experience to aspiring writers?

MH: Hmm... Actually I started writing after my son was born. Home on maternity leave and wanting to do something. I’ve always told stories in my head, and wanted to write one down and see what came of it (Note: My son is 19 now). I always had the snippet of a vampire story going on in my brain before I even started to write it down. And then, after I had began to write I saw the remake of Dark Shadows on TV and that pretty much cemented my interest in vampires.

Fav vamp book? The Vampire Lestat

Writerly inspiration? Oddly enough, I got really inspired after reading Stephen King’s ON WRITING, and not even so much for the writing bits, but for the genuine love he has for his wife and how it showed through on the written page.

Aspiring writers? Write! And write some more! And read, always read in all genres to open your mind to all possibilities.

SK: Could you explain a bit about your recently announced Beautiful Creatures Paranormal World and how Creed and Blu fit in and whether or not we will be seeing more of them in future books? For instance, the link between Alexandre in Her Vampire Husband as best man to the main character in Vampire's Tango.

MH: I just decided on that name, Beautiful Creatures, for my ‘world’, but basically it is a term that encompasses all my paranormal books. Because I realized they all belong to the same world. So if you read vampires and witched in one book, but then see a vampire pop up in say, and angels and demons book, that vampire will be the same as my previous vampires, so same world. I would love to revisit Creed and Blu in maybe a short story, because they are one of my favorite couples. I do know Creed

gets a mention in the next book, SEDUCING THE VAMPIRE, which will be out Jan 2011. And I like to link characters in books and have them pop up for cameo appearances just to show readers that, yep, it’s all related.

SK: Thank you so much for visiting here today on your tour!

MH: Thank you!

Michele is also giving away a copy of MIDNIGHT CRAVINGS to a commenter! =*)

Blurb for HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND:

She may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms…

Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won't allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.

When Blu uncovers her pack's secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband. Will she choose the only life she's ever known or accept his vampire bite?

Blurb for Vampire's Tango:

Vampire Alexandre Renard never met a more intriguing woman than Veronica Marshall. He waited for weeks for the mysterious woman to make her move...and wasn't disappointed when they shared a seductive dance at a Paris tango club. Their passion made him want to savor their embrace forever--even though he knew that Veronica was waiting for her chance to destroy him....

Faced with an early death, Veronica wants to do some good in the world before being forced to leave it. But as her game of cat-and-mouse with Alexandre turned into nights of unforgettable pleasure, how could she destroy the man she came to love?

With time--and their enemies--against them, they will have to fight to win just one more day in each other's arms....

You can also read my review of Her Vampire Husband. I kept it as spoiler free as possible since I don't normally like spoilers myself. I loved this book, if I haven't said so yet today! Happy reading all.

Thanks for stopping by, and spread the comment joy to thank Michele and for your chance to win! Check back Friday for the winner of MIDNIGHT CRAVINGS!! Mm, sounds yummy... :) ~Shauna

Find Michele online here:
Website - michelehauf.com
Blog - dustedbywhimsy.blogspot.com
Facebook - facebook.com/michelehauf
Twitter - twitter.com/michelehauf
Visit the Beautiful Creatures page - michelehauf.com/worldcharacters.html

For a limited time get the audio version of Vampire's Tango free at Audible.com
If you purchase HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND at Audible.com you receive Vampire's Tango included free.
All through 2010 download KISS ME DEADLY free at your favorite online retailer or at tryharlequin.com.
Read the first chapter of HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND: michelehauf.com/hvh.html
Read the first chapter of Vampire's Tango: michelehauf.com/tvt.html

Watch for these releases from Michele in the coming months:
"Vampire's Tango" - March - Nocturne Bites (out now!)
Her Vampire Husband - April - HQN
Rogue Angel: The Bone Conjurer - May - Gold Eagle (Alex Archer pseudonym)
Angel Slayer - June - Nocturne
"Halo Hunter" - June - Nocturne Bites

My Worry Rock Week ~ Puzzled

2010-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

My Worry Rock Week update:

I've been super busy the past few weeks. It all started about March 19th when I started teaching a class and March 20th when I attended my first ever blogger convention! I've since been working on my class and actually just got caught up on some of the blog panels before they took them down! Now, I'm going to get caught up on my own blog. So, I have been a bit light on my posts lately and should be around more often as I was before things got so busy. Speaking of posts, stay tuned for Michele Hauf's visit on Tuesday for Her Vampire Husband!

I have started taking out The New Yorker at the beginning of the year... and I'm so glad I did! I've always wanted to and for some reason they sent me a special to subscribe for one year for $25! And I said, Well, yeah! Every week it comes in my mailbox the cover alone is a delight! And this week (not this cover here though, since we are now in April, but this one was so pretty I had to post it) I saw an add inside for PUZZLES online and I followed the link to check it out. I love puzzles. And I love this link, and well, if you do beware, it is way too much fun!

newyorker.com/go/jigsaw

MY REVAMP BITES ~ Joshua Radin

2010-03-31T01:19:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of Joshua Radin. His songs are my Muses' Muse so to speak. Wow! I keep downloading song after song and I hope he is recording more, because I. NEED. MORE. PLEASE?

Here is a video of his newest song coming out and it is great, but it isn't even my favorite, which means that he his is already AWESOME in my book and I just need MORE and MORE and MORE. LOL. Seriously, I just listen on repeat. Hmmm.... Is there a problem? I don't think so. Also, don't you think he'd make quite a lovely vampire? Hmmm... =]

Anyway, I figured this was the perfect post to introduce my new post(s) called REVAMP BITES, which is pretty much anything that is not really book related, but inspires me deeply. Pretty much movies, music, shows...pictures, anything really. So, please feel free to add what inspires you. For me, I grew up on books, movies & music. And, a tad of attempting to write and draw when I was a kid, but with aid, like those how to draw a horse books, lol, and I think it was seeing others create that has always inspired me to want to create something of my own and still does. And lately I keep seeing and thinking of things to share that inspire me constantly.

So, I bring you REVAMP BITES, or rather bits, pieces, tidbits of life that inspire or move me to attempt to do the same in one way or another. Whether or not the fruits of my labor see the light of day like these great artists do, who knows, but the point is like so many who do make it seem to say to those trying to do so is just that, TRY! And, at the very least, be inspired! :)

I just finished reading the third book (favorite of the series, first was not so much at all) in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz and decided to check out her website and she has some writing links and one of which led me to Elizabeth Gilbert's site who also has some great writing advice here. In short, she warns writers to resist becoming insane, but says, and this is one of my favorite writing advice quotes so far, but she says, "Become a knight, a force of diligence and faith."

With that said, I hope to spend much of April, May and June writing and working on my WIP (work in progress)! Which means that I need to get back in step with that goal of mine. And if you are in Twitter land, we say #amwriting! :)

Happy reading, writing & trying!!!

slk

Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf

2010-03-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

My review of Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf!

Hits stores today, so grab your copy, it's an instant paranormal romance favorite!

Come back and visit here with author Michele Hauf on April 13th!!!

Happy Reading! ~ slk

My Worry Rock Week ~ was craggy, rugged & stony

2010-03-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

My regularly scheduled posts have been missing...lacking, lately. Sorry!

The last couple of weeks have been L.O.U.S.Y. in the land of me. Well, other than some cool writing stuff that has been going on. I've been blogging over at VampChix the last 3 Wednesdays,

which has been A.W.E.S.O.M.E. If you want to check them out just head over to

www.vampchix.blogspot.com and check out the last few Wednesday posts from yours truly. Stay tuned for more monthly YA vamp posts to come over there in the future as I am in the YA Vampire "expert" contributor to the blog. The blog is ran by author Michele Hauf who will be visiting us here on April 13 to discuss her upcoming novel Her Vampire Husband, which the review of which is one of my next posts to come... I got to read the ARC and L.O.V.E.D. it! Sigh...

Other than that, I will be working to catch up on reviews and my own blog posts here at READ~WRITE~REVIEW. Along with working on my own WIP, which maybe someday I'll tell you about. He, he. I never used to like secrets, but that one is a fun one for me right now. Except for my writing pal(s) and the writing group I joined this past month who are slowing learning bits of it. Hopefully, some day it will be published and all will get to enjoy! =]

So...stay tuned, hopefully some of the other parts of my craggy, rugged, stony life will look up the next couple of weeks and my posts will get back to normal! Stay tuned all. Thanks so much for following, I enjoy seeing you here and visiting your blogs as well. Have a great week, hope yours goes smoothly!

~ ADA LOVELACE DAY ~

2010-03-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

In honor of Ada Lovelace Day I am posting this free link that I found online. She was the first computer programmer! And, back in the day, it seems, she either couldn't or didn't get to take credit... So I'm helping give it to her! =] This publication looks like it is from the International Conference on Engineering Education, on August 6

– 10, 2001 in Oslo, Norway. There is a section on Ada Lovelace included with some reference notes links at the end.

Here is the link:

Session 6B7 NOTABLE ENGINEERS: A PROJECT BOOK

Here is Ada's section:

ADA LOVELACE

Augusta Ada Byron Lovelace was the first computer programmer. She lived one hundred years before the modern computer was even invented. Lovelace was the first woman to be a computer engineer.

Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke. Byron was a very famous poet and writer, but Lovelace’s mother steered her toward mathematics. When Lovelace was growing up, few people went to school. She was well educated because she was from a very prominent family, and she had a respected mathematician, De Morgan for a math tutor. He never told her just how good she was. The tutor did not think women could hold up to the stress of being a mathematician. Besides math, she studied music and languages. Lovelace was fascinated by mechanical things and had a knack with machines. At eighteen, she saw Charles Babbage’s difference engine at a party. To Babbage’s amazement the young lady understood his machine. This was the beginning of a livelong friendship and cooperation [26].

In 1842, L.F. Menabrea wrote a major paper in French analyzing the Analytical Engine. She translated it for Babbage and a

dded many notes and examples. She wrote directions on how to set up the machine to do certain procedures. These directions were the first computer programming. Refined women did not write scientific papers, thus, Lovelace could not put her name on the paper, but signed it with her initials, AAL [13]. In her paper, Lovelace suggested the use of a binary storage system that is used in all modern computers. She also wrote test programs for Babbage’s machines. she used loops, storage, keypunch, routines, and central processor 150 years ago [27].

The difference and analytical engines were made of wood and brass and looked like clock works. During Lovelace’s time, machines were not capable of building accurate parts. The engines of Babbage could not be built to put her programs to work. If the machines could have been made and reproduced at that time, the computer age Lovelace envisioned may have come sooner [26].

Unfortunately, Ada’s life was cut short. She died of cancer at the age of 36. In the 1980’s the Department of Defense named its computer superlanguage Ada in honor of her contributions [13].

Notes: See the links and notes in the document too, but one cool one I thought I'd share is below...

[26] Rheingold, H. “Chapter Two: The First Programmer was a Lady.” Tools for Thought, MIT Press, April 2000. (10/31/00), www.rheingold.com/texts/tft/2.html

Wikipedia Links:

Ada Lovelace

Computer science

Civil engineer me *smiles* at this day and post! Yayyy for Ada Lovelace!!! Thank you for paving the way for me and others like me (That's all of you all out there!) You rocked! =]

~Shauna

YA Vampires at VampChix Blog Today - Blue Bloods

2010-03-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

Visit VampChix Blog today for my YA vampire post...

Blue Bloods talk at VampChix today!

Feel free to comment over there about them so we can chat about them...

slk

Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Conference

2010-03-20T03:43:00.001-07:00

My internet is finally up! Yay! :)

I'm excited to attend this conference later today!! I just hope my
Internet is back up at home or I'll be off to the tea shop, bagel
place or catching up later in the day. Either way, it's going to be a
great weekend! And my friend will be there too, yay! It is going to be
awesome.

http://bbpcon.blogspot.com/

Have a nice weekend!
~Shauna

New Moon at Midnight!

2010-03-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

> Currently New Moon Watching! Looks great on my den TV! Sigh... :)
>

Get Fuzzy: Stephen King, Red Sox & Professional Curiosity - LOVE IT!

2010-03-18T02:13:00.000-07:00

I found this posted on comics.com for 03-17-10, St. Patty's day, & it's one of the funniest I've seen in a while. They've been running this movie screen post with Bucky for a while and this one just pulled it all together and with a couple of my faves as well. I've been wanting to post a Get Fuzzy on here and this one won! Stephen King is the first book about writing that I read believe it or not, actually I think I still have a bit on the Tool Chest to finish in On Writing so I better get on that... But, his say it as it is voice really speaks to me so I'm just sort of a fan with only having read a couple of his books. Also, I have the same initials and that makes me smile for some reason. Wishful thinking? Perhaps, yes. :) And, I've been to Fenway Park! And since then the Red Sox are my east coast team. The SF giants are my west coast team, hellooo, I live in California! :) And the bit about drooling on the t-shirts just made me think of zombie movies and I love Zombieland. I like the reference to professional curiosity and almost as if it is research too. Too funny. I know teams I support tend to not do well. Eh hem, SF giants. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (last year anyway!)... Ouch! Lastly, this is my favorite comic since Garfield. Yes, I used to read Garfield, I said it. That's right. :) This irate, sarcastic Siamese cat takes some getting used to for some and this strip can take reading days and weeks in a row to follow the story line, but I just LOVE IT!!!

What do you think? Do you like Get Fuzzy? I think there is a widget for it, I may add it to my blog somewhere at some point. I have some REVAMP-ing to do to my blog so you may see a few things added, moved, etc. I also have some posts coming, promise! :)

Have a great day! Happy reading & writing!!! slk

VampChix YA Post Today - Twi~Mania!

2010-03-17T02:19:00.000-07:00

Visit VampChix today for my YA post on some Twilight, New Moon releases this week and the recent Eclipse Trailer! :) Lots of fun and exciting stuff! I hope you come by and visit. Let us know what you like and feel free to leave comments. We need to show some YA love! =]

Happy St. Patty's day!

slk

Her Vampire Husband Author Michele Hauf is visiting RWR in April!

2010-03-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

Her Vampire Husband

(out 3/30/10!)

Author Michele Hauf is going

on a Blog Tour and is

visiting READ~WRITE~REVAMP

on April~13~2010!!!

(Stay tuned for my review!)

I'm really excited about this! You won't want to miss it! Thanks, Michele, can't wait!

~Shauna

Remember Me

2010-03-13T23:59:00.000-08:00

I can't even talk about this, eeeek! Wow, I just saw this tonight... And, wow...

And, that's all I can say, really, until anyone else watches it. Have you seen it yet? Let me know so we can talk. I really had no idea what this movie was about before I saw it.

SUMMIT makes great movies. And so does Rob Pattinson. I even forgot he plays a vampire for a while (not in this movie, duh). I told my husband that when I got home, because I went with my friend instead and I'm not sure he believed me, but it's true. I thought Rob did a great job! You?

Wow. Funny. And, sad. So, watchers beware, it's not just about Rob. In fact, it's much more. And, that's why I like Rob as an actor too, because I'm pretty sure that's why he chose this role, because of what it involves. It is wrapped in levels! You'll see. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of cute, romance in it too. Just. Bring. Tissue.

Okay, let me know if you saw it, or when you might see it, so we can chat about it! :)

I loved it by the way, in case you were wondering... In spite of the tissues. Sigh...

There is so much more I want to say about this, but I will wait... I'm not great at waiting. I can do it, but I don't like to. LOL. I guess this will be good practice for something like say publishing...on a very small scale of course. :) Have a nice weekend!

Just a few stills to leave you with... More at imdb.

Angel Week on VampChix!

2010-03-10T01:30:00.000-08:00

Visit VampChix blog for some great posts on Angels this week! Including a post from yours truly today on Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. There was also a great interview from Skyler White on and Falling, Fly earlier this week!

I hope your week is angelic! :)

slk

Robert is Bothered with Jimmy!

2010-03-07T22:25:00.001-08:00

Just watching this makes me smile! I hope it brightens your day or night as well. And, I can't wait to see Rob in Remember Me this coming weekend!!! Also, you can catch the entire interview with Jimmy on his website; it was very cool. It was Jimmy's one year anniversary! slk

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

My Rusty Mailbox (24)

2010-02-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My R usty Mailbox*!

This was my birthday haul!!! It took me a bit to get it posted, but here it is...Stay tuned for reviews on some of these books coming up. :)

And, this was one of my birthday card wishes from.....yep, Jasper sent me wishes, sigh. :)

I couldn't help, but laugh with joy of course when I got this in the mail, great card. (Thank you!) :)

And, from friends and family I got these!

This is a pretty good picture....so, I'm not going to name them off individually....And, that's what I got. How about you?

And this was hand delivered (Thank you!)

And these movies!

Glee

Julie & Julia

Away We Go

Zombieland

BloodTies (Season 1 & 2)

Close up view:

I think Zombieland is HILARIOUS!!! :) Okay, maybe I have a morbid sense of humor... And BloodTies is one of my faves, Henry is an all time favorite vamp of mine, you must see him if you haven't already...

Some other goodies:

I felt so spoiled on my birthday this year... I mean, dark chocolate, in the mail!!! And the best book light ever!!! And so many other goodies. I also got an awesome Twilight inspired necklace, which did not make it into the picture.

It was the best birthday I have had in YEARS! Thanks everyone! I didn't want to point out individuals here, but thank you all very much. :)

slk

Stay tuned for book reviews in March!

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

My Worry Rock Week - 1000 Words & 2010

2010-02-24T01:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, February is already almost over. And it is my favorite month, and birthday month, sigh... So, better late than never. My 2010 list of TO DO's! And some of my FAVES from 2009 and new on 2010! So much to cover it seems so I'll just highlight my very faves... Okay, here goes. I will probably always do this in February, so yes, this is NORMAL, for me. :-)

2010 Resolutions:

1. Finish my very first novel.

2. Take a writing course.

3. Enter a short story contest.

4. Get a new desk and chair (got the chair!).

5. Get more bookshelves.

6. Join a writing association (will be doing this, this week!)

7. Join critical writing group.

8. Write 1000 words, or more, a day. (writing word goal per day)

For the record - I came up with this goal all on my own, and was quite proud and then shared it with my writer pal after she had come up with her own goal and we rallied and agreed on a goal together and then I saw this and it just seemed meant to be. And second of all, for me to post this here, a year after I've started my blog and been interested in writing, is a REALLY BIG DEAL. It sort of feels like I'm saying, "Hi, my name is Shauna, and I'm a writer." :) Also like writer's anonymous, only, not so anonymous now that I've pasted this badge on here. However, the point I believe of the badge is to have some accountability. Don't worry, I didn't quit my day job. I engineer. I write. That's allowed. =*]

9. Join Twitter. (done!)

10. Walk/stretch daily. (For my back, but probably good idea for writers since they sit in chairs all day anyway)

11. Blog & reviews schedule/coordinate - work on.

I do YA vampire reviews/news posts at VampChix and book reviews at Fresno Books Examiner. I'll keep you posted here of any other news and information. I also have a LiveJournal account that I really like, for one reason because it is easy to make friends and say "listening to" at the end of posts. I LOVE that feature. Silly I know, but it is really fun*. :)

12. I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT I KNOW THERE IS ONE MORE THING I WANT TO DO THIS YEAR.....OH YES....If possible, go to the Smart Chicks Kick it Tour in CALIF, either SF or LA.

13. This ones feels like a wish since it's on #13, but meet my reader/writer/blogger pal in Seattle and go to La Push beach. :-0 A very big wish!!!

14. A trip somewhere with my hubby! My top choices would be Charleston SC, Miami FL, a tropical island or Vegas NV. :) (I wonder if he'll read this... ha ha.)

So, what are you doing or wishing for this year to come?! Tell me about it...

Some Faves (some of):

Books (just some, for links to the author's sites see my sidebar):

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Crashed by Robin Wasserman (2009)

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (Dec. 2009)

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (2010) - just finished reading this one!

Movies (just some):

Avatar - favorite line: "I see you."

The Perfect Getaway** (mystery, thriller)

Away We Go

Dear John (2010, I loved the so far controversial ending)

Shutter Island (scariest!)

Catch and Release** (re-watched & loved!)

**same guy in both of these movies & he rocks!!!

TV Shows:

Bones

If you haven't watched Bones, the relationship dynamic between Bones and Booth is the best of any show I have ever seen. I highly recommend you give it a shot. And Booth, did happen to be a vampire in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See, everything is connected. :) And, the music per episode is usually pretty cool. The story line is pretty detailed and they even have episode companion books, which I got for Christmas, score!

The Vampire Diaries (CW)

Supernatural

(New to me! I'm only on Season 1, so shush) (CW)

Life Unexpected (2010) (CW)

CW=are we noticing a pattern here? LOL Also, Netflix is the answer, at least, when it comes to catching up on Supernatural episodes. I just LOVE the relationship dynamic between the two brothers on this show. And I like the family dynamic developing on Life Unexpected as well. And the Vampire Diaries is well, they have vampires so...yeah. One thing I also really like about the CW shows is the MUSIC, and they usually point out some of the albums at the end of the shows. Very convenient. And they have lists online. Also, convenient. :)

Songs:

Hello Hurricane CD by Switchfoot

Dear John Soundtrack

Vampire Diaries episodes (various artists)

I Was Broken by Marcus Weston (Sung by Robert Pattinson, really give it a try!)

100 Monkeys (Yes, I like them, they are fun, silly.)

Music inspires me and keeps me going, whether I am engineering or writing so my list of favorite songs is 100's long. How about yours? What are your favorites? I'd love to add more to my list. Let's share names. =*]

Have a great day (& 2010)!

~Shauna

*Listening to: "What If You" by Joshua Radin

My Rusty Mailbox (23)

2010-02-15T22:28:00.001-08:00

Welcome to My R usty Mailbox*!

Well, better late than never, I guess...This is actually my first week of February's batch. Next time with be my birthday batch, which I would post now, but I'm still getting over being sick for a week and I have to get up for work in the morning, AND it is quite a birthday haul so I will save it for next time. Can't wait to share it with you!

BN.com:

Well, I have been reading an adult paranormal series and some Stephen King books became part of the side story and Salem's Lot was one of the ones mentioned and I just had to get it! I can't wait to read it. If you want to know what series, just see my current read in my Goodreads sidebar widget. :)

And, for Dark Rapture by Michele Hauf, I also got Wicked Angels as a digital download and this one is the first of that series so I am looking forward this series as well. Click her name above to see about that one too.

Two things that I have wanted to post about and have not had a chance to are BONES and AWAY WE GO. Bones is my favorite TV show (okay, well, if you don't count The Vampire Diaries show!) and Away We Go is a pretty cool movie and they BOTH have some pretty cool music. That's all I'm going to say for now since I still plan/hope to post about why I love them. :)

Book Nook:

Book finds in the YA section in the used bookstore in Fresno, whew whoooooo!!! I was very excited about these. And yes, one of them is a graphic novel, and now I need to find the first one since it is the 2nd in a series. :) And, this is just one of several of Laurie Halse Anderson's books that I have found too. Yeayyyy!

So....What did everyone else get lately?

Happy reading!!!

slk

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

Don't Linger - Maggie's Giveaway!

2010-02-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

Rob is bothered by Valentine's Day!

2010-02-12T00:06:00.001-08:00

I LOVE THIS! Love Rob, love Jimmy, too funny... Happy Valentine's Day weekend all. :) slk

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

The Dark Divine Lit My Fire

2010-02-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain was a wonderful twenty-four hour surprise journey for me last weekend. I would have devoured it in one sitting if not for needing a bathroom break, meal and some other humanly duties I can’t remember now before I picked it back up and finished reading it.

This dark, divine, paranormal read was a true surprise for me in the purest sense of what kind of paranormal creature was going to surface. And the joy in that for me was that it turned out to be one of my favorite kinds of supernatural creatures. And, no I won’t tell you, because I would be ruining the surprise journey for you and any others who would otherwise pick up this book. Normally, I am NOT one for surprises. Ask anyone who knows me well enough, I don’t like surprises. Paranormally speaking...this one rocked!

The second surprise for me was a spiritual element threaded throughout the storyline that was equally thrilling. It is something that I have tinkered with in my own writing and have worried that it can’t be done with paranormal and young adult...but guess what? Two words, it can. As a reader I couldn’t have asked for more from a book and as an aspiring book writer I have renewed faith in young adult paranormal. I could not be happier. And congratulations to Bree Despain on an excellent debut novel!

Pick up this excellent read by Bree Despain and enjoy this dark, divine read with its beautiful characters full of depth that will leave you wanting more. Luckily, Bree is already working on the next installment! Read more about The Dark Divine books at Bree's site.

A quote on her site says:

“Oh my goodness, talk about a book that had everything I wanted: a bad boy with a dark, tortured past, a complicated romance, and a mystery that made my heart beat in double-time right up to the last page. The only thing I can hold against this book is it robbed me of a night's sleep. Do I regret it? Not one bit. Darkly comic and surprising, this paranormal rises to the top.”

-Becca Fitzpatrick, New York Times best-selling author of Hush Hush

Book Synopsis:

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood—but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.??

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.??

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Looking forward to the next divine novel from Bree Despain!

As originally posted on Fresno Books Examiner by Shauna Kemp.

My Obsession...Awards...Dear John...Weekend

2010-02-05T01:01:00.000-08:00

I just watched this weeks the Vampire Diaries and thought I'd leave you with this...

So, if you don't know me well enough to know by now...I'm helplessly obsessed with The Vampire Diaries TV series on the CW by now. It's amazing. The music is icing on the cake to Stefan's dreamy eyes. It's my birthday, I figure I can talk Vampire Diaries all day long if I want to, ha ha! :)

So yes, Stefan is still my forever favorite of this series, though I did feel quite a bit for Damon this week...just when he seemed almost human too. :(

I would also like to say thank you to Crystal Clear Proofing for awarding me last week with:

Thanks so much! :)

I also want to pass this award on to Alissa at Heart of Darkness for never steering me wrong, especially with The Dark Divine recommendation last week and in keeping it an amazing secret until I read it, sigh...among other reading and writing bits!

And actually, anyone following my blog with a love of books and furry creatures and a blog of their own deserves this award as well; Crystal mentions something similar on her own blog so please feel free to take and pass along.

And, well, TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! And, I plan to go see DEAR JOHN with my hubby and I can't wait! Here is a peak at what is opening today:

I'm pretty sure I'm going to want the Dear John Soundtrack to this already! Stephenie Meyer talked about the movie on her site and how she already got to see it (and loved it!) It is by one of the same guys who did Twilight, which made sense to me once I read that, because there is definitely some familiar element that is drawing me towards it even though I know it will make me cry...and on my birthday no less! Oh well, it looks worth it. :) And...Channing Tatum was on Jimmy Fallon after the Vampire Diaries as well, too much fun!

After all that party fun, and maybe some super bowl watching, I will get back to much more blogging & writing time...which includes my years list of to-do's (I haven't forgotten!). :)

Happy Friday everyone!

slk

Worry Rock Week - REVAMP

2010-02-02T02:38:00.000-08:00

January flew by and now it is February, 2010! And, my first Blogoversary is here! One year down and it has been a blast. I enjoy it here. Just before the new year I changed my blog name subtly from Read~Write~Review to READ~WRITE~REVAMP. Review to revamp, mostly because I do more reviews on my Fresno Books Examiner page now and because revamp means changing things and that seems to fit my blog and my life best. Revising, which is what I'm working on! This post is just a quick update since I have been sick all of January and I will post some more in the coming week(s)...

Just a couple of changes for me this past week alone:

I caved... I decided to check out twitter for some of my favorite authors. So, now I tweet (still learning!) @shaunakemp if anyone is so inclined to follow my tweets.

My other big change this past week, or last week rather, was I got my first mac. My old laptop was dying and I made the plunge. So, that's why I haven't posted in a week, I'm still figuring things out. I just figured out a bunch of things tonight by way of a friend helping me out so now I should be able to post some things this coming week or weekend! So stay tuned... For instance, I now have a right-click and home key to the Internet, which macs don't really have, but now I do! Blogging is mostly the same, but looks like links to pics only slightly trickier. This will be fun! :)

Have a good week! slk

My Rusty Mailbox (22)

2010-01-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My R usty Mailbox*!

It was a great week & weekend. :) I hope yours was too.

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater came for me from BookMooch:

I haven't read anything from this series yet, but I read Shiver and loved it so I'm looking forward to this series as well. And Maggie is awesome!

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain came to my door from BN.com:

I've heard good things about this book and I look forward to diving into it...

Magazines:
EW comes weekly in the mail and you can see in the top right hand corner that it has some of Twilight The Graphic Novel in it this week, 10 pages, beautiful too.

My Twi-mania continues with The Real Boys of Twilight! And the boys are all in here...it's quite a fun read for the week! :)

So........what did everyone else get?!
~slk

I'm a VampChix!

2010-01-23T23:07:00.001-08:00

I'm a VampChix!

It's official! I am the "YA expert" contributor to the VampChix blog put together by author Michele Hauf. I have proof too! Just click on the VampChix logo above and scroll down along the far right side and my name appears under contributors. I think that is pretty cool, but sometimes I am easily amused... I am very honored to be a part of this and I thank Michele very much for this opportunity.

P.S. You may want to head on over there for a post I'm doing (Sunday, January 24, 2010) as an update to the Twilight Graphic Novel coming out with a print of one of the pages already released from Entertainment Weekly.

Have a nice weekend!
slk

Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1

2010-01-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

I heard about this on Stephenie Meyer's website. The press release there mentions that she had a hand in EVERY panel! Wow. I can't wait to see them.

I think the cover is gorgeous! AND, it is going to be hardback, which is pretty cool for graphic novel collectors. I am pretty excited about this. So.... Did you order your copy already? I did! :)

I posted a bit more with the publishers synopsis and all at the Fresno Books Examiner if you want to take a look.

Happy Friday!

Talkin' YA vamps at VampChix

2010-01-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to talk about some YA vampires over at VampChix blog today! Click the link below to read about some pretty unique vampires in the young adult genre by Scott Westerfeld and stay tuned in the future for more YA vamp posts I will be doing at VampChix blog. Thanks!

Young Adult vamps by Scott Westerfeld @ VampChix

HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND By Michele Hauf

2010-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

HER VAMPIRE HUSBAND By Michele Hauf

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book and I am very excited about this! (Thank you Michele and Harlequin). I am both a werewolf fan and a vampire fan and it has both. Yep!

An arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampire.

There will be blood.

Her Vampire Husband will be out in April!

My Rusty Mailbox (21)

2010-01-18T23:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My Rusty Mailbox*!

It was a light week, which was good for me, my bookshelf and pocketbook (I found these at the used bookstore, so half off, yeayyy!). I was happy to add these to my stack. :)

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

1. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
2. Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz
3. White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
4. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

1-3 I have been keeping an eye out for the books in the series and authors. I have a couple of each, but haven't read them yet so I'll add these to them for when I do. As for 4, I have seen this book before and it wasn't until I picked it up in my own hand and read the back that I really felt like I wanted to read it and partly because it involves a cheerleader or the "in" crowd and the paranormal. Something I'm playing around with in my own writing. That's all I'm going to say about that right now. :-)

So...What did you get?

slk :)

My Rusty Mailbox (20)

2010-01-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My Rusty Mailbox* this (last) week (belated)!

I've been sick for almost two weeks so this is actually the last two weeks worth and this weeks is still in coming... I can't complain, I'm finally starting to feel better, breathe through my nose again (mostly!) and am reading and writing again.

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

This book is next on my list to read and I can't wait! Look at this cover. It's beautiful. I picked this up on high regard from my writer pal who just couldn't put it down so I know I am in for a treat with this one. I'm excited about the dark feathered beau!

Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton

This book proves that I can't even wait in the grocery store for a prescription without needing to browse and buy a book. Why does it do that you ask? Because it is the SEVENTH book in a series that I have not read any of the previous books in and by an author that I have also never read anything by as of yet. I mean really... It does sound really good though so I'm okay with my purchase. I am. :) If you are Faerie fans you should probably check this one out too.

Here's the back description at bn.com:

I am Meredith, princess of faerie, wielder of the hands of Flesh and Blood, and at long last, I am with child -- twins, fathered by my royal guard. Though my uncle, Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, claims that he is the true father since he abducted me from my home, betrayed, and defiled me. And now he has branded my guards as a threat to my unborn children.

Bearing an heir has placed me halfway to my aunt’s throne, that much closer to my reign over the Unseelie Court -- and well ahead of her son, my cousin Cel, in this race. Now I must stay alive to see my children born and claim my place as queen.

But not all in faerie are pleased with the news, and conspirators from every court in the realm plot against me and mine. They seek to strip my guards, my lovers, from me by poisoned word or cold steel. But I still have supporters, and even friends, among the goblins and the sluagh, who will stand by me.

I am Meredith Nic Essus, and those who would defy and destroy me are destined to pay a terrible price -- for I am truly my father’s daughter. To protect what is mine, I will sacrifice anything–even if it means waging a great battle against my darkest enemies and making the most momentous decision ever made as princess of faerie.

These last three are kind of random for me, but I found them in the YA section at the used bookstore and they looked good so I grabbed them. Just that there is a YA section in the used bookstore is awesome so if I see something I want, I get it, because I don't expect it to be there later. And, I actually got some that are not all about vampires or werewolves....some, ha ha. :) The first two I have actually seen on lots of other book blogs and have had them on my list for a bit now.

1. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
2. French Kiss by Aimee Friedman
3. Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

I hope your week has been nice! What did you get or read this or last week? :) ~Shauna

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

ECLIPSE of my heart

2010-01-12T23:00:00.000-08:00

A little over a year ago Twilight stole my heart. I read it, saw it and then read the entire series, twice. Then came New Moon and I read it again... and Eclipse stole my heart. While Twilight is the original book of the series and a forever favorite, Eclipse is the heart of the story (for me anyway). I got more from forever Edward, sigh, I cried for Jacob (I know!) and I got more muscle and heart from Jasper (he's my secret, well was-a-secret, fave). So...now we wait...just 5 more months! Not so bad really...

I found this nifty counter AND poster online today:

Is anyone else excited about this one? More or less than New Moon or Twilight? How about Breaking Dawn? I keep hearing they may or may not do that one in two movies. We shall see... The Twi-Saga countdown continues...

slk :)

Dog Days

2010-01-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

Good-bye 2009, Hello 2010!

Well, I entered the new year sicker than a dog, which I'm told is actually more of a seasick crocodile (thank you!). So, my year end revolutions and near year resolutions will be posted sometime this month in January when I can actually breathe out of my nose, which I hope is very soon.

This is one of my actual dogs, Georgia, who is actually quite thrilled that I'm home sick all day, every day so that she can go in and out as she wants and sleep inside all day when she'd otherwise be out.

Meanwhile, I'm on the couch watching movies, trying to breathe...

Talk...write...soon. ~Shauna

My Rusty Mailbox (19)

2009-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My Rusty Mailbox*!

My Rusty Mailbox was so good to me this week, especially with the addition of Christmas this week! A girl cannot complain...

Christmas:
Just a couple of books I got that I'm happy to now own in hardback...

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

Bought:

Dracula by Bram Stoker

I've been reading vampire books so I figure I should go back to the beginning as well...

Mooched:
I finally got a book I from my wish list at Book Mooch, yeay!

Speak by Laurie Anderson Halse

I had just picked this one up at the bookstore the day before, but had put it back down to get another time. So, I was excited to get this one!

I hope everyone's mailbox was just as nice!
slk

*Hosted by The St ory Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

My Rusty Mailbox (18)

2009-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to My Rusty Mailbox*!

My Rusty Mailbox caused so much trouble this week! Well, good that it delivered, but bad for the pocket book. Especially right before Christmas. So, this is more of a confession of compulsion when it comes to books! I guess it could be worse... :)

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

Bought new:
The fourth installment in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz, which I plan to start very soon. I hear it is fabulous!

The Vampire's Assistant (bk 2), which includes books 1-3. I want to see the movie, so I thought I'd read up first. I hear it is for younger readers, but sometimes I like to fit those in between the books that keep me busy for hours/days until I finish them.

Bought used:
YA~
Lust and Envy, the first two in the Seven Deadly Sins series by Robin Wasserman. She is one of my favorite authors from the Skinned, Crashed Trilogy (3rd out next year) and I am looking forward to checking out this series as well.

Bleed by Laurie Faria Stolarz (I hope I got the spelling correct), I haven't heard anything about this one, but it looked good...so, I grabbed it!

Adult~
Big Bad Wolf by Christine Warren. I've seen this one before and refrained, but this time I went ahead an got it.

Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. I can't resist a vampire story these days and this one looked pretty good.

Heart of the Wolf series 1-3, bk 4 out next year, by Terry Spear. I haven't yet read her books, but she is a very personable writer with newsletters and emails. I'm looking forward to getting back into wolves, been on a vampire kick lately, and looking forward to this series.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Happy reading,
slk

Vampire Diaries Obsession

2009-12-18T01:14:00.000-08:00

I thought it was just me...
I missed the beginning of the Vampire Diaries series on The CW so I'm catching up this week as the CW has a marathon of all ten episodes.

I read the books late this summer and waited a little while to watch so I would not get too worked up about the differences from book to show. And, I still notice them, but the show is SO GOOD that I don't even care that characters are mixed up and mismatched, well, except for Stefan and Elena's relationship, which MUST STAY the SAME! I'm a HUGE Stefan fan in book and now show. He is adorable! Hopefully my husband is not reading this, ha ha. I think guys are getting series VAMPIRE COMPLEXES these days. You know you are in trouble when they start say, "So, if I was a vampire...".

So, as you can tell, I've become a bit obsessed about this show this week. It is MY VICE right now, and I say that's okay. Plus, I'm really not the only one.
Check out People's Three Reasons The Vampire Diaries Will Suck You In.

As I am on team Stefan already from the books, it is made even better as he is played by Paul Wesley on the show. He does dark and broody quite well!
<<<---See, broody, quite well!!!

Also, one thing I did not get from the book is the eye effect when they are around blood. Pretty cool on TV if you ask me. Watch this YouTube video (one of my YouTube favorites) of Vampire Diaries for EYE EFFECT (at end):

I have also heard some compelling arguments that Damon, played by Ian Somerhalder, is the hot one.

<<<---You decide, good or bad, who's your favorite?!

Site back and enjoy the show. It will be good times for sure!

slk :)

My Rusty Mailbox (17)

2009-12-16T01:50:00.001-08:00

Welcome to My Rusty Mailbox*!

My Rusty Mailbox was a bit light this week, but that is okay, because I have lots of books still waiting to be red on my bookshelf.

*Hosted by The Story Siren, where more information can be found at In My Mailbox.

From bn.com:
Glee Vol.2. So far it is pretty good, however, I think I still like Vol.1 best.

Vampire Academy #2 & #3. I still have #1 waiting to be read, hopefully soon!

Well, that's it for me. How about you?
Happy Reading!