31 Days of Fairy

Hop on over to The Fairytale Nerd for something fun and fairy every day in October. There will be guest posts, interviews, and even swag giveaways. Don't miss it! You might even see me over there. ;)

A few words from JoAnne of The Fairytale Nerd

I cannot believe tomorrow is the start of October already. It feels like it was only yesterday when I was planning the 31 Days event. But now, it's here, and you guys are in for a fairy treat!

31 Days of Fairy will be a month long event, and I hope you join us in celebrating books about fairies. Looking back when I was hunting for fairy books, I realized that they are not as common as vamps and shifters. Hard to find, that's what fae books are... so more reason for us to have a ball this October.

For this event, my posts will be mostly about fairies. This means that the memes, the reviews, the interviews, guest posts, and of course giveaways will have something to do about fairy book, fairy movies, fairy art... You get the picture.

Anyway, I have created a homepage in my blog especially for this event. You can visit it HERE anytime you want to check out the schedule, giveaways, and posts related to the event. I will also put it up on the sidebar of the blog for an easier access.

For one of the giveaways, I will be trying something new - The Top Commenter Giveaway. 

New Cover for Stay...

Here is the finished cover for Stay....

It was done by the amazingly talented Meghann Pardee. She is a fantastic artist to work with. She included me on the design every step of the way. I highly recommend her for cover art or anything else that you may need. 

If you want to take a look at her other projects you can view her portfolio here... Kurios Illustrations

You can also follow her on Twitter... @whatakuriosgirl

Link with her on LinkedIn... Meghann Pardee

Or check out her blog for more of her awesome designs... What A Kurios Blog

Do Not Go Gentle

I have never been one to be overly superstitious, but when something seems to keep popping up time and time again, I do eventually pay attention. Not one, but two of the books that I have read this week referenced Dylan Thomas's poem Do Not Go Gentle.

I had to stop and ask myself... am I raging against the light?

In some ways I think that I am but I also think that it's time I started living my life to the fullest. I need a bucket list, I need to try new things and meet new people.

Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was some sort of sign. Either way, I think I need to take heed and find my rage.

I hope that you find your rage too.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Matched by Ally Condie- Review

Synopsis

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review

I truly thought this book was amazing and I am in awe of the author's brilliance. Ally Condie depicted this dystopian society down to the tiniest detail. It's a world that is completely controlled by the government, even down to what is eaten and who we marry.

Cassia is a seventeen year old girl who has just learned who has been chosen to be her mate. She is happy to learn that it is a long time childhood friend until she sees a flash of another face she knows on the screen. 

As hard as she tries to abide by the ways of the society, Cassia can't help but wonder which guy she was really supposed to be with. She soon founds herself drawn to someone else and despite everything she begins to fall in love. 

As her society begins to fall apart and life as she knows it gets turned on it's side, Cassia has to learn to fight for what she wants.

I fell in love with this book and it's characters and found it difficult to do anything else but read until it was finished. 

I can't wait to read Crossed to find out what happens to Cassia and her family.

I gave it 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Halloween Reading Challenge

I absolutely love all things Halloween!! What better way to celebrate than to take part in a spooky read-a-thon? Especially one hosted by The True Book Addict. Check out the details on her blog- Castle Macabre. I'll list a few here as well.

I would also love some suggestions on what books to read.

Details

• Dates:  Monday, October 3 at 12:00am through Sunday, October 9 at 11:59pm (your time zone).
• To go along with the scary theme, this time I will have a requirement.  You must read at least ONE scary book during the read-a-thon.  If you are not a horror fan, then make it a thriller or a mystery, as long as the book has some kind of spooky premise to it.  Those of you who fulfill this requirement, and sign in at the starting line, will automatically be entered in the participant giveaway.
• Read as much or as little as you want.  You do not have to join in all week.  Start during the week or just do the weekend.  It's your decision.  Just be sure to sign in at the starting line when you start reading.
• I will be hosting a scary themed mini-challenge and hopefully we will have other mini-challenges and/ or giveaways (see note above).
• Our hashtag for Twitter will be #frightfall 

Zombie Prom

This is a great cause being put on by some awesome people close to where I grew up in Harford County, Maryland. If you know or are a High School aged person in the area, this event looks like it is one not to be missed. The best part is ALL proceeds go to Scares That Care and that means 100% of the money donated goes to help kids in need.

There is a new website in the works... 2011 Zombie Prom and a Facebook Page Harford County Zombie Prom

Please check it out!! There is also a link on the website if you would like to donate. They can use all the help that they can get to make this event a success. 

I am contributing a C.C. Jackson swag pack to be given away as a door prize. I'm sure that they would love something like that from other writer's too. 

Here is a some info from their website...

Zombies from all over Harford County will gather together for prom.  Come out and join your fellow undead as they dance the night away for a good cause.  There will be a DJ spinning all of the tunes Zombies love to hear as well as some awesome food to munch on.  That should help save a few people from the Zombie invasion on their brains!  Don't forget to vote for our Zombie Prom King and Queen! Circle the calendar;Saturday, November 5th!! Tickets are just $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Unfortunately there will only be a limited number of tickets at the door, so get 'em quick! Proceeds from this event will go to Scares That Care.  A great non-profit that gives 100% of it's funds to sick kids.  How awesome is that?!

Huff and Puff, Just Don't Blow My House Down

A house about two miles from mine.

It looks like we are winding the summer down with a bang this year. An earthquake and a hurricane within a week of each other on the east coast. Excessively hot and dry temperatures here in the south. Now a tropical storm that has stalled just off the coast of Louisiana. Mother nature is an awe inspiring force.

The end is near? 2012? Global Warming? Who knows? 

I don't really buy into all of that. I think there have been catastrophic weather events for thousands of years and these are no different. Still, they can be pretty scary.

I hope that everyone manages to stay safe. Take care.