Happy Halloween

Just wanted to take a second to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween!

___________________________

Also there is an amazing contest that Book City Chick is having. She is giving away 3 bundles of 7 books to 3 lucky winners. So hurry over there and good luck!!

Design It Up! (2)

Today, we are going to tackle something that will help all bloggers with networking: the blog button grab box. This is a great tool will help others take your button, and spread the word about your blog. There are three steps to this process, so you may wish to look at each step to see if you need to complete it.

Step One: Blog Button

You will need to have a blog button. This can easily be made using Photoshop, or by searching Google for sites that can help you make on.

Once you have the button, you will need to upload it to an online storage site. Personally, I like Photobucket for its ease and flexability of use.

Now, we are ready to install it to your blog. In order for it to display, you will need to copy the following code into a "HTML/JavaScript" gadget found under the "Layout" section in Blogger:

<center><a href="URL of where you want the link to go to"><img src="URL of where the image is stored"/></a></center>


Step Two: Scroll Box

In the same "HTML/JavaScript" gadget, you will paste the following code underneath:

<div style="border: 2px solid black; overflow: auto; height:
125px; width: 200px; color: black; background-color: white;">
TEXT HERE</div>

If you wish, the color and size are adjustable. You can change the size or thickness of the box by adjusting the px, or color by specifying a different color.


Step Three: Putting it all together

Now that we have the basic layout, you are going to want to add your link code for others to put on their blogs. Please note that if you just put the code from Step One, it will show your image. So, instead we need to put an altered version of your HMTL. The easiest way I have found is to visit JavaScript Kit, which automatically alters it for you. All you need to do is put in your information, then copy the altered code into your gadget.

This is what your finished product should look like:

<center><a href="http://www.theneverendingshelf.com"><img src="http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac342/neverendingshelf/header3.jpg"/></a></center>
<br/>
<center><div style="border: 3px solid black; overflow: auto; height:
60px; width: 170px; color: black; background-color: white;">&lt;center&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.theneverendingshelf.com&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac342/neverendingshelf/header3.jpg&quot;/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</div><center></center>

Special Notes:

• Make sure you replace the bolded areas with the links (or text) which are specific to your blog
  
  
• By using <center> at the beginning and ending, it will center the object on your page. It is not a required part of the HTML.
  
  
• You can also add <br> in between Step One and Step Two code in order to a space.

Now you should have a great looking Grab Button box for your sidebar!


Special thanks goes to Jenieshell for helping me learn this process.

Change

Just wanted to share with you my excellent news. My blog has undergone a transformation from http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com to www.theneverendingshelf.com. I am not completely sure if there will be any issues with links and such, but if you locate any issues, please leave me a comment or email me at neverendingshelf(at)gmail.com.

Thanks!

Book Review: Gateway

Author: Sharon Shinn
Released: October 15, 2009 by Viking Juvenile
Description from GoodReads:

As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that “black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .

There were so many features in this book for me to love: the cover, world travel, setting, etc. Yet, for some reason, most of this novel just fell flat. While Shinn's premise was really interesting and creative, the pacing of the novel was just not fast enough for me. I kept waiting for something exciting to occur which would fully grab my interest, but it never happened. In addition, the novel was pretty straight forward. I had hoped that there would be some great twist, but sadly, that did not happen.

Despite a few flaws, I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were unique, and I love the idea of world travel. I am not sure if this novel will have a sequel, but I really hope it does. There are many questions that went unanswered and with an open ending, I would really like to learn more.

Quickie 250 Business Card Giveaway

Thanks to the wonderful people at UPrinting, I am able to give 1 lucky winner 250 business cards. These cards are great for bloggers and business professionals alike. They have been in business for over 25 years with wonderful results, so you know that they will help you with your personal and business needs.

The Prize:

250 business card for One Lucky Winner

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Rules:

Open to US Residents only.
Contest Ends November 2nd.

To Enter:
Leave a comment letting me know how you would use 250 free business cards.

For additional entries:
+2 Tweet about the giveaway. Include @uprinting and #giveaway.
+5 Make a blog post about this contest with a link to this contest and UPrinting.com

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored giveaway hosted by UPrinting.com. In return for hosting, I will also receive 250 free business cards.*

Fallen Contest

Dying to get your hands on the upcoming novel Fallen by Lauren Kate? Well, I am giving you a chance to win a very gentle used ARC.

To Enter:
Just leave a comment letting me know why you want to read it.

Rules:
Contest is open Worldwide.
Contest ends November 18th

Extra Entries:
+1 Follower- If you follow on anything except Google Friend Connect, please let me know.
+1 Advertise on blog, twitter, etc. Just leave me a link.

Book Review: Fallen

Author: Lauren Kate
Releases: December 8, 2009 by Delacorte Press
Description from Random House:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

It is official: vampires are so last year. Kate's Fallen helps lead the way in this new angelic revolution. Novels such as Fallen will easily do for angels what the Twilight series did for vampires.

Fallen was almost exactly what I was hoping it would be. It was dark, romance, and had tons of unexpected plot twists that had me gasping. While there is some room for improvement with the pacing of the novel, the overall premise was amazingly creative. It features a wonderful blend of religious ideals with Kate's fictitious world. Kate has a wonderful way of pulling the reader into the world of Sword & Cross. I constantly found myself thinking I had only read about five pages, only to discover it was closer to twenty. This is due in part to how well Kate explores the world she has created. Every detail has been thought of, and is explained beautifully.

But by far, my favorite aspect has to be the characters. Luce is an interesting heroine. I am really interested to see how she develops since there is a lot of potential with her. And I can't wait to see more of her and Daniel. They are an interesting pair to say the least. While I love those two, it is Cam that really has my attention. He is an alluring mixture of good and evil. I am dying to learn more about him, and his overall role in the plot. In regards to secondary characters, Kate has created some of my favorites of all time, with Penn leading the way. They are funny, creative, and above all else, memorable.

Despite certain plot issues that need to be addresses, I have to say that I am pleased with this novel. It was highly creative, and left me wanting to know me. I can't wait to see what twists await me in the next book.

***

I usually do not post book trailers, but I really enjoyed this one. It is a bit spoilerish, so watch at your own discretion. (P.S. The Daniel character is way off in my honest opinion.)

Blog Tour: Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me

Author: Lisa Fineberg Cook
Released: October 20, 2009 by Downtown Press
Description from GoodReads:

This humorous, moving, and insightful debut memoir follows a young newlywed from Beverly Hills to Nagoya, Japan, where her husband has a new job.

I normally do not read memoirs, but I decided to try this one since it involves the Japanese culture. Generally, I enjoy anything that gives me insight in this culture, and this hilarious novel did just that. The novel take the view point of a young women finding herself immersed in a completely foreign world for the sake of her new husband. This novel is very fast paced, and full of insight.

I have always wanted to visit (and possibly live) in Japan, and I think that I want to do so more now. Cook presents the culture in a very moving and touching way. Although she undergoes some trials, the novel as a whole is very funny. I am really glad I tried this novel, and would really love to read more about her life in Japan.

________________

Other blogs on the tour:

The Life (And Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object: http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
A Sea of Books: http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
Libby’s Library News: http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com/
Bookin’ With Bingo: http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
That’s A Novel Idea: http://thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Just Another New Blog: http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
Blog Business World: http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com
My Friend Amy: http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
Chick With Books: http://www.chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/
Book N Around: http://booknaround.blogspot.com/
My Book Views: http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
So Many Books, So Little Time: http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
Keep on Booking: http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
Reading at the Beach: http://ilratb.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
I Read: http://sumanam.wordpress.com/

Blog Tour: Flesh and Fire

Author: Laura Anne Gilman
Released: October 13, 2009 by Pocket Books
Description from GoodReads:

Fourteen centuries ago, all power was held by the prince-mages, who alone could craft the spell-wines. But the people revolted against harsh rule, and were saved by a demigod called Sin-Washer, who broke the First Vine, shattering the hold of the prince-mages. In 1378 ASW, princes still rule, but Vinearts now make spellwines, less powerful than in days of old. Jerzy, a young slave, has just begun his studies to become a Vineart when his master uncovers the first stirrings of a plot to finish the work Sin-Washer began, and shatter the remains of the Vine forever. Only his master believes the magnitude and danger of this plot. And only Jerzy has the ability to stop it…before there are no more Vinearts left at all.

Enter a world like no other. A world where wine is the essence of everything. The novel starts off well by explaining the intricacies of wine magic. While needed and interesting, the passages can be a bit dry since there is much discussion and vocabulary relating to wine. However, I felt like I needed this explanation to fully understand this world that Gilman has created.

Flesh and Fire is a very creative start to what I believe is a trilogy. Gilman had created a very interesting premise featuring very likable characters. There is still a lot to be explored in this world, and I am eagerly awaiting more.

__________

Other tours stops:

All About {N}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Beth’s Book Review Blog: http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Revenge of the Book Nerds: http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
Layers of Thought: http://www.layersofthought.net/
Fantasy Freak: http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/
Undercover Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
Carol’s Notebook: http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
My Friend Amy: http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
Opinionated? Me?: http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
One Person’s Journey Through A World of Books: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
My Life In Not So Many Words: www.ziarias.blogspot.com
Geek Girl Reviews: www.geekgirlreviews.com
Sci-Fi Guy: www.scifiguy.ca
Wendy's Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
25 Hour Books: http://25hourbooks.wordpress.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/

Blog Tour: Random Magic

Today, I am happy to feature Random Magic by Sasha Soren. For this stop, I will be giving you a quickie review, and taking you into the Garden of the Muses. This tour is brought to you by my sister site, Other Shelf Tours.

Description from GoodReads:

When absent-minded Professor Random misplaces the main character from Alice in Wonderland, young Henry Witherspoon must book-jump to fetch Alice before chaos theory kicks in and the world vanishes. Along the way he meets Winnie Flapjack, a wit-cracking doodle witch with nothing to her name but a magic feather and a plan. Such as it is. Henry and Winnie brave the Dark Queen, whatwolves, pirates, Struths, and fluttersmoths, Priscilla and Charybdis, obnoxiously cheerful vampires, Baron Samedi, a nine-dimensional cat, and one perpetually inebriated Muse to rescue Alice and save the world by tea time.

Quickie Review:

Random Magic is just that: random. But thankfully, it still holds on to many magical elements. Sasha Soren combines a multitude of different plot themes and pulls them together in a way that somehow just works. There is something for everyone in this little gem.

***

Now, take a journey with me into the Garden of the Muses...

The Garden of the Muses is a visual explosion of color. The garden is vast and nearly limitless, and literally overflowing with flowers.

The purpose of the depicting the astonishing palette of colors in the Garden of the Muses is to give the reader something really wonderful, colorful and magical to enjoy.

But it’s also to give readers a sense of just what the Nine Muses actually are. The Nine Muses are nine sisters, who inspire great works of art. The very air they breathe is, literally, magical.

Henry notices, when he first enters the garden, that the air is alive with color, and everything seems to be freshly painted, as if an artist is painting the scene on canvas.

It's an accurate observation. The Muses don’t just inspire or create art -- they are art. They’re the living embodiments of poetry, or music, or dance.

So, of course, if there are flowers in their garden, they will have a nearly limitless palette of colors. They don’t have to choose between red or white or pink or yellow roses, because they have every single color from any part of human history at their disposal. Any color and any combination of colors.

The flowers that spring up around them, too, aren’t just something to look at. Humans look at a flower that’s been created, and enjoy the beauty of a temporal thing. The Muses, on the other hand, breathe creative energy into the entire world. So, they not only enjoy the flowers around them, but they're actually part of them.

(On a side note, you might consider that in later Judeo-Christian tradition, there was also a very important garden mentioned as both the place of divine creation and the scene of the downfall of the human race -- the Garden of Eden.)

Flowers are beautiful, as the Muses are, but flowers aren’t something that they’re given for their birthday. Flowers are something they actually breathe into being, the same way they’d breathe a painted picture, or a new book, into being.

The flowers, to the Muses, wouldn’t be objects, as much as they would nearly be living thoughts. Gardens are a metaphor for life, but the Nine Muses -- and their garden -- are more than the metaphor. They don't paint with pigments, they paint with life, itself.

In My Mailbox (13)

IMM is brought to us by the lovely Kristi of The Story Siren. This week I am really behind, so unfortunately there is no vlog. I am also having to post it a day early due to blog tours I am participating in the week.

For Review:

Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
Explorer X-Alpha by LM Preston

There are a few more books that I got over the week, but for some reason my brain is having a hard time remembering. It must be due to my lack of sleep. Hope everyone got some really great things and happy reading!

Branching Out (13)

Branching Out is a feature focusing on new(ish) bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better.

Today, my special guest is:

Name/Screen Name: The Bookologist
Blog: http://the-bookologist.blogspot.com/

1. Tell us about your blog.
My blog is about book reviews, author interviews, basically anything connected to books. :)


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?
My favorite part about having a blog, well a book blog, is reviewing books. I might not have the time but I do make sure I review books. I like helping readers which books are good in my opinion.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?
I like this question :) Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors, and DupliKate by Cherry Cheva


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?
I have so many favorite authors! There's too many to list! Some genres I like would be young adult, fantasy, paranormal, drama, humor. etc... I like reading all kinds of genres :)


5. What are you reading right now?
Right now I'm reading Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran, it's good so far :)


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...
If I wasn't blogging I would be either sleeping, reading, doing homework, my email, the mall, there are so many possibilities that I could be doing something else.. hehe.


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.
Everyone's blog is my favorite blog, it's basically if I follow you, that blog is my favorite blog. Check who I follow, and all of those blogs would be my favorite :) I actually sometimes stop by in other blogs but I just forget to follow them some times, sorry!

8. List 3 random things about you.
I love sushi!
I'm afraid of heights.
Lastly, I can't think of anything else.... hmm I'm random???

Thanks so much for letting us get to know you better. Readers, take a second to go check this blog, it is fantastic!

Wicked Announcement

It has been announced that Dreamworks has acquired the rights to Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie's Wicked. Writers Aaron and Matthew Benay are already set to adapt the book. Personally, I have been meaning to read this series, but have never gotten around to it. Guess it will be going up on my TBR pile.

Anyone looking forward to this?

Want To Be Discovered?

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a one-on-one chat with one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. All 20 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary. ONE Grand Prize Winner will win a free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at http://www.writingclasses.com/ContestPages/YAPitch.php. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET),

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo

In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org)—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So apply now! http://bit.ly/1PYGaN

JUDGING

YA literary agent Regina Brooks, along with editors at Sourcebooks, will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Dan Ehrenhaft, head Acquisitions Editor at Soucebooks Fire; Alisha Niehaus, Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin); David Linker, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books; Michele Burke, Editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House); and Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to four winners and a grand prize winner—all five will be provided commentary on their submissions.

Random Magic Tour

Just wanted to take a moment to let you know about the first tour that I am helping to organize as part of Other Shelf Tours. It is for the novel Random Magic. Here is the tour schedule in case you are interested in learning more about the tour and those hosting:

Random Magic Tour
Oct. 17 - Nov. 25, 2009

Author site: Sasha Soren
Main blog host: The Other Shelf
Contact the tour: @RM_TheCoven
Catch up with the tour: @RandomMagicTour

1/Oct. 15
[Tour prep]

2/Oct. 17
Michelle
Michelle’s Book Blog
http://michellesramblins.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
review
author interview

3/Oct. 18
Aimee
My Fluttering Heart
http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/aimeefluttering
tour bio
tour announcement
review
other book mentions: fill in the gaps 100 project
other book mentions: Good Reads

3b/Oct.19
Honorary Witch Meri Greenleaf
(not part of tour proper, but a good egg)
Elbit Blog
http://merigreenleaf.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/MeriGreenleaf
bio
review

4/Oct. 20
Allison
Well-Read Reviews
http://www.wellreadreviews.com
tw: http://twitter.com/wellreadreviews
tour bio
tour announcement
review
author interview
other book mentions: friday firsts meme
other book mentions: sunday salon meme
other book mentions: J.Kaye comments
other book mentions: Good Reads

5/Oct. 22
Casey
A Passion For Books
http://casey62588.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/casey625
tour bio (to be added)

6/Oct. 24
Kim
And Anything Bookish
http://andanythingbookish.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/sunxxmoon
tour bio (to be added)

6b/Oct. 25
Kate
The Neverending Shelf
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/random-magic-tour.html
Alt: The Other Shelf (Tour site)
tw: http://twitter.com/neshelf
tour bio (to be added)

7/Oct. 26
Trisha Lynn
Trisha’s Book Blog
http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/trishalynn0708
tour bio

7b/Oct. 27
Becky
The Bookette
http://thebookette.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement
Becky's alter ego: Nevermore

8/Oct. 28
Brande
Book Junkie
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
review
author interview
Brande's alter ego: Winnie

9/Oct. 29
Jenny
Take Me Away
http://takemeaway-jennala9.blogspot.com
tw: https://twitter.com/JennyTakeMeAway
(Related: Doing Alice in Wonderland challenge, Sept.1, 2009 - Aug. 31, 2010)
tour bio
tour announcement

10/Oct. 30
Elnice
Ellz Readz
http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement
reader notes: inside random magic: 'the garden'

11/Oct. 31 (Halloween)
Mariah
A Reader’s Adventure
http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

12/Nov. 2
Cat
Beyond Books
http://beyondbooks.ca
tw: http://twitter.com/beyondelsewhere
tour bio

13/Nov. 3
Jill
The O.W.L. Blog
http://owlforya.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement

14/Nov. 4
Juju
Tales of Whimsy
http://talesofwhimsy.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

14b/Nov.9
Charity Lynn
Keep On Booking
http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/CharityGamble
tour bio
tour announcement

15/Nov. 10
Alaine
Queen of Happy Endings
http://alainereading.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/madscrapper
tour bio
tour announcement

16/Nov. 11
Tina
Tina’s Book Reviews
http://willowdustreviews.blogspot.com
(alt: http://blogwithbitereviews.blogspot.com)
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement
review

17/Nov. 12
McKenzie
The Book Owl
http://thebookowl.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement
McKenzie's alter ego: Nevermore

18/Nov. 13
Willow Raven
Red House Books
http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

19/Nov. 15
Emily
What Book Is That?
http://whatbookisthat.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/heynocupcake
tour bio (to be added)
tour announcement

20/Nov. 17
Jenn
Fallling Off The Shelf
http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement

21/Nov. 18
Nicole
Books!
http://my-book-views.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

22/Nov. 20
Bianca
Wicked Good Reads
http://wickedgoodbooks.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement
Bianca's alter ego: Nevermore

23/Nov. 21
Michelle
The True Book Addict
http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict
tour bio
tour announcement

24/Nov. 23
Andrea
The Little Bookworm
http://thelilbookworm.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/lilbookworm
tour bio
tour announcement

24b/Nov.24
Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)
Strange & Random Happenstance
http://strange-and-random-happenstance.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
tour announcement

25/Nov. 25
Eleni
La Femme Readers
http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders
tour bio

The Historian Winners

Thank you to all who entered my giveaway for The Historian. I had an amazing 292 entries. For this drawing, I tried something a little different. Instead of just using random.org to randomly list my winners, I tried something I saw on someone's else blog (Sorry, I don't remember who. But if I did, I promise I would have given you credit).

I used the List Randomizer to randomize it a few times, then used the number generator to pick the winners. I might continue using this, since I think it gives everyone a more fair chance--meaning extra entries are more spread out.

Anyways, on to what you really want to know... the winners. And they are:

Barbrafl

Ky2here (Your comment made me laugh so hard!)

~The Book Pixie

Danosor

Pamela S

Thank you to all that entered, and congrats to the winners. If you were a winner, please email me your address so that you may receive your prize.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is presented by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. My choice of the week is:

Possessed by Kate Cann

Releases: February 1, 2010

Description from GoodReads:
Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

Book Review: Vampire Kisses

Author: Ellen Schreiber
Released: 2003 by HarperTeen
Description from GoodReads:

The mansion on top of Benson Hill has been empty and boarded up for years. But a new family has moved in. A family that never ventures out during the day. Who are these creepy people; especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town gossip actually be true? Are they vampires? Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.

Vampire Kisses was one of those novels for me that I thought I would never read. It sounded too blah and overdone. However, I love to admit when I am wrong, and this one I was definitely wrong about. I thought I would have a hard time connecting with Raven, a self proclaimed Goth girl, since I am not exactly a lover of the night. But I ended up loving her character. She is funny, caring, and just like any normal teenage. Plus she has an amazing sense of humor. This alone caused me to love this book since I think every chapter had some little quirk that made me laugh out loud.

The only thing I would have like to have seen was more of Alexander. It seemed that the novel seemed to focus too much on Raven and her enemy. I seriously would have thought she would have ended up with him, if Alexander did not show up in the last 1/4 of the books. All in all, I am not sure if I will keep reading this series. I like Raven and Alexander, but I am not sure of them as a couple. I think I may need to give the second book a try before I make any final decisions. This is a great book for those who enjoy a quick vampire romance, and would be wonderful for a rainy day.

Interview with Fiana + Contest

Interviewer: We are talking today with Fiana, the antagonist of Rowan of the Wood & Witch on the Water. Tell us Fiana how does it feel to be a nemesis?

Fiana: Nemesis! I'll have you know that I am the hero of these stories.

Inter: I thought Cullen was the hero.

Fiana: That little snot? All he did was stumble upon Rowan's wand while sniveling in the forest. I dedicated centuries towards saving Rowan from his prison. Talk about undying love

Inter: But you never did find him.

Fiana: So? I know where he is now, and that little rug-rat is going to rue the day he ever got between me and my love.

Inter: Okaaay. Well lets move on. How do you like having the sequel named after you?

Fiana: What, Witch on the Water? How do you think I feel? I mean what's wrong with Red-Headed Hottie on a Secluded Private Island?

Inter: But you are a witch aren't you?

Fiana: That is a very sexist word! I don't hear anyone running around calling Rowan a "witch" or even a "warlock." We were trained together by the same people after all, yet I'm labeled the witch. Rowan's called a "wizard." Ever notice how "wizard" doesn't have the same negative connotation as "witch." What's up with that? Misogyny certainly hasn't lessoned in Western culture over the past thousand years.

Inter: Have you talked to the authors about this?

Fiana: Are you kidding? They won't even talk to me. They get all their info from Cullen and Moody. Why do you think the story is so skewed in their favor? Its all propaganda because their readers like kids. Well I like kids, too.

Inter: You do?

Fiana: Yes, for dessert.

Inter: Well (clears throat) I think that will be all. Do you have any final words?

Fiana: Funny, but I was just going to ask you the same thing.

Inter: What do you mean—Hey! Get away from me!

(The previous is a transcript from a recording found on the scene. Most of the interviewer was also found. He had no comment.)

****

Thanks to Fiana and her lovely authors, I am able to give one lucky winner a copy of Rowan of the Woods, Witch on the Water, and a lovely bookmark.


Rules:
Open Worldwide!
-Contests ends November 13th.

To enter: Leave a comment.

For extra entries:
+1 for follower (new and old)
+1 for advertising (please leave a link)

Book Review: Witch on the Water

Authors: Christine and Ethan Rose
Released: October 12, 2009 by Blue Moose Press
Description from GoodReads:

"Witch on the Water" chronicles the continuing adventures of twelve-year-old Cullen and his friends, Maddy and April. Cullen thought he had enough trouble surviving school, dealing with his miserable home life, and being possessed by Rowan, a 1400-year-old wizard. But when Rowan's wife, the sadistic vampire Fiana, comes back seeking revenge, Cullen and his band of misfits must do what they can to stop her. This time Cullen's favorite teacher is Fiana's first target. Imaginative and poignant, the adventures of Rowan and Cullen thoroughly enchants the reader and promises to be a great series for readers of fantasy, young and old. "Witch on the Water" is the second book in the award-winning "Rowan of the Wood" fantasy series.

Witch on the Water is the sequel to the novel, Rowan of the Woods. The novel follows the continuing adventures of Cullen, Maddy, and April. All in all, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this novel and its predecessor. Witch on the Water is action packed and filled with some very suspenseful moments. This is a book that I think readers of all ages could enjoy.

One aspect that I really enjoyed was that the characters came into their own in this book. While they did grow a lot in the first novel, I was able to see a lot more of their potential. Sadly, the plot still leaves me wondering a few details, but I am hopeful that these will be addressed in the third novel. Take a rainy afternoon and try out this series, I do not think you will be disappointed.

The Heretic's Daughter Giveaway

About the book:

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live.

Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft.

This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.


Giveaway Details:

Thanks to the lovely Valerie at Hachette Book Group, I am able to give 5 wonderful readers a copy of The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent.

The Rules:

Open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes).
Ends on Friday, November 13th. Winners will be announced on Saturday, November 14th.

To Enter:

* Leave a comment below stating that you would like to be entered.

Extra Entries:
+1 for following (new or old)
+1 advertise this giveaway by blogging (sidebar is fine), tweeting, etc. Please leave a link.

In My Mailbox

Sorry, there is no IMM this week or vlog since I am out of town. I may try to do one later in the week if I am able, or do an extra large one next week. Happy Sunday and IMM to everyone though. I cannot wait to see what you got when I come back.

Design It Up!

Saturday Swap is dead for the moment. But I am hoping to revamp it for next week as The YA Report (in case you have not noticed, I do mini-reports during the week too on my sidebar)

Now for something different. As you can see, my site as been completely revamped, while I cannot take all the credit, there are a lot of HTML things that I have learned over time, so I thought it would be fun to give mini-tutorials on how to pretty up your site/blog.

This week we are going to start off with something simple: Scroll bars. As you can see from my blog, I love using scroll bars. They free up a lot of space on your sidebar, as well as make things look so organized. So here is how to add scrolling to your site:



1. Go to Layout- Page Elements.

2. Edit HTML

3. Click on "expand widget templates"

4. Then use ctrl + f to search for the sidebar name you are looking for. In this example, it is My Pages.

5. Once you find the section that you are wanting to change, look for <div class='widget-content'>.

This is what my unaltered html looks like:

<b:widget id='Text3' locked='false' title='My Pages' type='Text'>
<b:includable id='main'>
<!-- only display title if it's non-empty -->
<b:if cond='data:title != &quot;&quot;'>
<h2 class='title'><data:title/></h2>
</b:if>
<div class='widget-content'>
<data:content/>
</div>

6. For the final step, change <div class='widget-content'> to this: <div class='widget-content' expr:id='data:widget.instanceId + &quot;_container&quot;' style='overflow: auto; display: block; overflow-x: no; overflow-y: scroll; height: 225px; width:177px;'>

To adjust the scroll bar to your personal tastes, just change the height and width.

Good Luck! And if you would like to suggest a topic for Design It Up! feel free to leave a comment, or email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com

Book Review: Horrid Henry + Contest

Author: Francesca Simon
Released: September 2009 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description from GoodReads:

Horrid Henry makes a deal with his parents in return for eating his veggies; accidentally wears girls' underwear to school; tries to prove he is sicker than his brother; and writes the meanest thank-you cards ever (and makes money on it too).

Author: Francesca Simon
Released: September 2009 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Description from GoodReads:
Horrid Henry encounters the worst babysitter in the world; traumatizes his parents on a long car trip; goes trick-or-treating at Halloween (with disastrous results); and emerges victorious from a raid on Moody Margaret's Secret Club.

Author: Francesca Simon
Released: July 2009 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description from GoodReads:

Horrid Henry indulges his favorite hobby—collecting Gizmos; has a bad time with his spelling homework; starts a rumor that there's a shark in the swimming pool; and spooks Perfect Peter with the mummy's curse.

This was my first adventure into the world of Horrid Henry, and I have to say that I love his antics. Horrid Henry has a lovely way of getting into trouble and bring laughter to his readers. It seems that you never know what he will be getting into next.

I was really surprised how versatile I found these books. As a female reader, I was certain that they would be attempting to appeal more to male readers, but I was wrong. Simon does an amazing job at making this series appeal to both boys and girls, as well as make family reading accessible. These books are geared towards children ages 7-10, and make great starter books. I would recommend these to any parent with readers just starting out or having a hard time reading. Overall, the Horrid Henry books are a great series for kids looking for action, adventure, and laughs. They will definitely keep your child's attention, and have them begging to read more about Horrid Henry and his antics.

*Parents be aware that Horrid Henry can be a terror, so if you are picky about what your child reads, you may wish to glance over the book's material before giving it to your little one.*

___________________

Ready for a chance to give your little reader a set of these amazing books? Thanks to Sourcebooks' generosity, I am able to giveaway a copy of Horrid Henry's Underpants, Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter, and Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse to one lucky winner!

To enter to win, simply leave a comment below. Open Internationally. Contest ends November 6th.

-- Contest Closed --

Just a Quick Note

Just want to leave a quick note, I will be leaving tonight for Ohio. I will be returning sometime Tuesday night. I have plenty of great posts scheduled for you including not 1, but 2 fun contests.

Speaking of contests, I will be extending the deadline for The Historian since I will not be able to draw names until I come back. That contest will now close on Wednesday the 21st at midnight.

BEA 2010

While the BEA conference is not until May of 2010, Kristi of The Story Siren (who is also doing a post on BEA) and I decided that it might be a nice idea to start discussing the upcoming event. Personally, this will be my first BEA event, so I am hoping those with previous experience will be kind enough to share your experience and tips. First things first, an overview of BEA:

What is BEA?

BEA is the BookExpo America's annual conference. The event basically brings together the publishing industry showcase what is new and upcoming in the publishing world. It also gives booklovers a chance to gather to spread their passion for books. Generally, BEA showcases over 500 authors and over 1,000 exhibitors.

When/Where is BEA held?

For 2010, the event will be held in New York City, May 25th-27th.

How much does it cost to attend?

At this point, I am not 100% sure. I have sent an email to BEA personnel in hopes of getting more information for us bloggers.

What does registration include?

Your Attendee Show Badge gives you access to:

• Exhibition Halls featuring over 2,000 companies
• Autographing Sessions highlighting over 500 authors
• Many Free Educational Sessions. 3-Day Attendee Show Badge allows you to Free Educational Sessions throughout the event. 1-Day Attendee Show Badge allows you access to Free Educational Sessions only on the day of your Pass.
• Access to Hot Deal Show Specials on-site
• Access to Special Pavilion Areas on the Show floor.

For those of you thinking about going:

Are you looking for a roommate?
Where do you live? (so that some of us may be able to travel together)
How are you thinking about traveling?

For those of you have attended previously:

How did you get there?
Where did you stay?
Any tips or advice for those of us who will going for the first time?


If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave a comment so that we may address them. If you would like more information, please check out BEA's site or leave your email address-- I am hoping to start a monthly or bimonthly e-newsletter to keep everyone informed as well as to address any additional questions.

Last Day of AIW Week

Thank you so much to all who commented, participated, left links, etc. AIW week could not have been as successful without your help. If possible, I would love feedback on AIW week. What did you like or dislike? This was my first time hosting this type of event, so I would love to hear your comments. Thank you again for all your support.

Alice: Then and Now

Literature has always been a thing of wonder, some books get praise when they deserves very little, and some are never noticed although they could almost be considered a masterpiece. Then there are the pieces, books, poems, short stories that are so unbelievably universal that they become classics, loved by almost everyone. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, almost anything by the Brontë sisters or Jane Austen, and more recently Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, can be recognized by title, no author needed. Not to mention William Shakespeare, who needs no introduction no matter who you are or where you're from. These books are taught as soon as middle grade, however there is one classic that isn't taught very often in schools (at least not in any school/class I attended), and by far it's one of the most imaginative of them all: The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

No matter who you are, young or old, as long as you can read, then you've heard of Alice and her trip through Wonderland. You might have even read it yourself, had it read to you, or seen one of the numerous movies based on the beloved book. Perhaps the Disney version (Alice In Wonderland, 1951), which is slightly watered down with events that aren't exactly what they were in the book, or maybe you've seen the ones that stick to the plot better as the one featuring Martin Short, Gene Wilder, Christopher Lloyd and Whoopi Goldburg (Alice In Wonderland, 1999). Also, lets not forget also, the very anticipated Alice remake by the legendary Tim Burton coming out in 2010. Maybe, you've even read a different version of Alice, like in Frank Beddor's series The Looking Glass Wars, or even played as Alice in, what I honestly would have to say is my favourite retelling/rethinking, the Alice PC game by American McGee (which according to EA will be getting a sequel in late 2009/early 2010!). It doesn't matter how you came upon it, what matters is that you've heard about it, just like millions before you since the original publication by Lewis Carroll in 1865. From the moment of it's release Alice's adventures became an instant classic, children loved it, parents loved it, and to this day, the majority of those who know about it love it. It's a book which has never been out of print, has been translated into 125 languages, and has had retail success as well with wallets, lunchboxes, t-shirts, Halloween costumes, and even with it's own sculpture placed in the beautiful Central Park in New York. This tale told by one man to three little girls almost a hundred and fifty years ago has managed transcend generations and capture the hearts of millions in the past, present, and surely in the future.

The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, and it's follow up Through the Looking Glass is the story about a curious girl who isn't exactly happy with the way her life is going, which pretty much anyone can relate to at one time or another. So she slips into Wonderland, weather through a rabbit hole, a mirror, or simply her own head - it's very relevant to what anyone does once life gets a little overwhelming. Usually, we retreat, we find a space that is our own that we can wait it out, or where we can formulate a plan to make it better. Although riddled with puzzles and strange characters there is always something you can take from the books, be it a life lesson, a silly joke or a crazy idea. Alice and her alternate world has the innate ability to transform you, to open your mind and your imagination to encompass much more than is possible to see around you. It teaches you to believe in things you can't see, and that you can change the appearance and actions of the things you can see. Not only do you change it by reading it with your own interpretations, but it, in the end, changes you too. Weather it's from a mad person to a sane one, or a sane person to a mad one, it doesn't matter, in the end little or big it changes every person who reads it. And that is the number one signal that something is a classic, or is destined to be one, it may not stop wars or famine, but it changes the world and how we look at it. And that is a new perspective that we all need every now and then.

~ Guest post written by Anna of Book Nerds

Book Review: ArchEnemy (Looking Glass Wars, Book 3)

Author:Frank Beddor
Releases: October 15, 2009
Description from GoodReads: (This is the third book of the trilogy, description may contain spoilers from previous books. Read at your own risk.)

The Heart Crystal’s power has been depleted, and Imagination along with it. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive, and most alarmingly, even Queen Alyss is without her powers. There is some comfort in the fact that the vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled. Amazingly, she is attempting to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch. Alyss might have no choice but to accept Redd’s overtures, especially when she begins to receive alarming advice from the caterpillar oracles.

In this third and final installment of The Looking Glass Wars trilogy, Beddor takes no prisoners as he closes this beautifully crafted retelling of the Alice in Wonderland tale. The plot was well done and well paced. I felt like every plot aspect took its time to be resolved and was not rushed. I still love all of the characters, but find myself loving Redd a lot more than I had ever anticipated. While the reader discovered much of her true personality and history in Seeing Redd, I felt like ArchEnemy gave me a chance to see a different side of her. Yes, she is still evil and wants Wonderland for herself. But I was surprised to see how vulnerable she was in regards to King Arch, and how much I sympathized with her experiences.

All in all, the ends are nicely tied up with reasonable explanations given for certain character's actions. While this novel was a bit different than the previous two, it still maintained the charm and magic that made me fall in love with this series in the first place.

Book Review: Seeing Redd

For today's review, gentle readers, we are traveling down the rabbit hole to visit Sara of The Hiding Spot for a review of the second book in The Looking Glass series: Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor.

Reviews: The Looking Glass Wars

If you have not figured it out yet, The Looking Glass Wars is by far my favorite Alice retelling. The series beautifully blends historical information with fiction. This is one of the few books that I recommend to every one, especially Alice in Wonderland fans. I decided to put this book to the test by enlisting the help of two of my favorite bloggers, Kim of And Anything Bookish and April of Good Books and Wine. I was curious to see how these Alice fans would evaluate this retelling.

This is what Kim had to say:

Review: There is only one word to describe this novel: captivating. Every detail, character, and chapter of this book is worth looking at. I loved the way Lewis Carroll’s real life creations turned into something else in this novel. Lewis Carroll was also a character in this story by his last name. The whole idea behind this world that Alyss is in is really something. Alice Liddell receives an update and is nothing we would think. I normally do not enjoy prologues, but it was because of this book’s that made me want to read ever more. Frank Beddor might as well be Lewis Carroll. The pacing is great, the characters are great, and most importantly, the story is beyond awesome.

The Alice we knew in Lewis Caroll's story were nothing but lies in this book. That wasn't even her name--her real name was Alyss Heart. The only reason her name changed was because she was adopted. Even the Mad Hatter turned out to be something else in this novel--Alyss' body guard. The white rabbit transformed into Alyss's tutor, also with a different name. Even Jabberwocky was present in this novel.

The beginning of the novel was a great start. By the 9^th or 10^th chapter, I was a goner and kept flipping pages to know more about Alyss. By the next chapters or so, it got even better as Alyss was lost in Victorian London, trying to find her way back home. Alyss soon had to change her name to Alice, no matter how hard she tried. No one in the real world believed she was a princess. I don’t want to give anything away, but through those couple of chapters, the suspense is doubled and you won’t be able to stop flipping through the pages as Alyss confronts her Aunt Redd. I really enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to start Seeing Redd to stay in Wonderland.

Rating: 5/5



April's take:

The Looking Glass Wars is an exciting book. I felt there was never a dull moment while reading it, as some books do lag in spots. The Looking Glass Wars is a re-imagined Alice In Wonderland. It's incredibly creative, I mean things would happen in Wondertroplis and then be mirrored in our world. Plus Hatter Madigan is fricken awesome and not loony like the mad hatter in the Disney film. I thought the characters were a bit cardboard, though. There is a brooding, quiet soldier/warrior, the villain Redd had some horribly cheesy lines. Oh yes, and Alyss Hart is a warrior princess, which is cool, but I remember back when there was a princess named Xena who was a warrior. Yes, it's been done. However, that is not to say I didn't enjoy the book, because I did. Despite it's flaws, Beddor had me hanging onto every single word which was something I was not expecting. Also, Beddor's female characters were incredibly strong, which as you know is incredibly important to me. I hate when books have weak-ass females. -cough-Twilight-cough-

I thought the cover was pretty damn cool as well and I think it could appeal to boys who would be reluctant to read a book with a female as the main character. The cover doesn't have females on it, but some robots which look sort of Star Wars to me which is frickin awesome!

While reading this book, I would suggest you have a cup of coffee with chocolate raspberry creamer. Coffee is chock full of caffeine which gives energy and you need energy for the amount of action contained within The Looking Glass Wars.

In My Mailbox (12)

IMM is brought to us by the lovely Kristi of The Story Siren. Sorry, but no vlog this week. Actually, I am surprised that I got around to doing IMM since I am at Southern Books Festival this weekend and I am hosting AIW week. My life is a little busy at the moment, but I love IMM so I just had to give in and post this really quick. Sorry it looks so plain.

Review:

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

Won:

Lone Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond) by Kathryn Lasky (Thank you to Scholastic)
Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson (Thank you to Scholastic)
Raiders' Ransom by Emily Diamand (Thank you to Scholastic)
Changeling by Delia Sherman (Thank you Jackie Dolamore and you bloggers for giving me the most referrals)
1st 3 Harry Potter books (Thank you Shauna)
1st 3 Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson (Thank you Elie)

Bought:

How to Ditch your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier (signed)
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr (signed)
The Debutante by Kathryn Williams (signed)
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters (will be signed later today)