Posts
Sorry for the delay!! Things got so hectic I didn't get a chance to post the winners! But here they are now (courtesy of a random # generator):
Hillary
Simply_Megan
Liv
AmandaSue
Just Blinded Book Reviews
Congrats! And many thanks to all who participated & to those who posted about it!
Thanks for all your responses--I loved reading them! :)
If the winners could just drop me a line at bookvault @ yahoo.com w/ their name and mailing address asap, that's be great!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Winners To Be Announced Tomorrow
The Top 8 contest winners will be announced tomorrow! Sorry for the delay--I got a lot more entries than I expected, so I need to finish counting them all up!
Thanks to all for entering! :)
Oh, and I realized that I've been tagged for a playlist meme, unfortunately, when my computer crashed, it took my playlist down with it. And I don't have an ipod or mp3 player, so you'll have to forgive me for not participating! But if anyone would like to take part in this meme, consider yourself tagged :)
(Check here or here for details)
Thanks to all for entering! :)
Oh, and I realized that I've been tagged for a playlist meme, unfortunately, when my computer crashed, it took my playlist down with it. And I don't have an ipod or mp3 player, so you'll have to forgive me for not participating! But if anyone would like to take part in this meme, consider yourself tagged :)
(Check here or here for details)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Sorry...
Hey guys!
I'm sooo sorry for the lack of updates. Life has been so much more hectic than I expected it to be and I've been bogged down with work and whatnot. Once December is half done, I think most things will be back to normal for me. But I'm hoping to get my review of Forever Changes up soon, as well as In Too Deep, Hottie, and a few other books I'm currently trying to finish up.
I should be getting my own new computer soon which will also make things so much easier!
But in the meantime, don't forget to enter my contest for 5 signed copies of Top 8 before Nov. 16th!
thanks,
Dominique
I'm sooo sorry for the lack of updates. Life has been so much more hectic than I expected it to be and I've been bogged down with work and whatnot. Once December is half done, I think most things will be back to normal for me. But I'm hoping to get my review of Forever Changes up soon, as well as In Too Deep, Hottie, and a few other books I'm currently trying to finish up.
I should be getting my own new computer soon which will also make things so much easier!
But in the meantime, don't forget to enter my contest for 5 signed copies of Top 8 before Nov. 16th!
thanks,
Dominique
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
An interview with Coert Voorhees!
Recently, I got a chance to interview the awesome Coert Voorhees, author of The Brothers Torres! Check out my review of The Brothers Torres here! If you still haven't read The Brothers Torres yet, grab a copy some time! It's a fantastic and honest coming-of-age novel about Frankie Towers, younger brother to local soccer star, Steve, as he steps out of his brother's shadow!
1) Where did you get the inspiration for The Brothers Torres?
I wrote a short story a while back in which two kids play with fireworks in the back yard, and because it was a short story, I had to end it. Unfortunately, it ended poorly for the characters, and they were no longer friends at the end. A few years later, I picked the story up again and decided that I didn’t like the fact that the characters weren’t friends. So I imagined a world in which that ending never happened. What if they stayed best friends up through high school? What would their world be like? How would they have changed? And The Brothers Torres pretty much came from that starting point. There’s still a bit of that original short story in chapter two of the book, actually.
2) Were any characters based on any one you knew? Any part of the book on events that happened in your own life?
Most of the “true” things in the book are related to the setting, or to descriptions of people, of the food, etc. I went to soccer camp once with a kid who had only one eye, though. He used to take it out all the time, put it in people’s soup, wash it off in his mouth. That’s where Zach’s eye tricks came from.
3) Will there be a sequel to The Brothers Torres?
That’s a good question. I’ve always thought it would be fun to write a sequel, but tell it from Zach’s point of view. That way we could learn more about him at the same time that we pick up on the next part of Frankie’s story.
4) Do you have a favorite New Mexican dish? (Is it the same as Frankie’s, by any chance?)
Indeed, Frankie and I share a weakness for the stuffed sopaipilla. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at making them, although I don’t have a deep fryer with a temperature gauge, so my sopaipillas aren’t as light and fluffy as I’d like.
5) Favorite Shakespeare play?
I’m a big fan of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I played Oberon in college—shaved my head, wore leather, had tattoos drawn all over me, and decorated my head and face with 22 different piercings—so I’m partial to that one.
6) Do you have a favorite place to write? Favorite place to read?
I generally alternate between my house, a bubble tea place, and a coffee shop. When I find myself getting too comfortable in any of those places, I know it’s time for a change.
7) Do you listen to music while writing?
I listen to music, but I can’t just listen to any music. Generally, I listen to house or electronica concerts/podcasts I’ve downloaded. They’re two hours long, have few words to distract me, and have a continuous beat that keeps me going.
8) Favorite YA books & authors?
I like Pete Hautman’s Godless a whole lot. I just read E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which I enjoyed tremendously, and not just because the protagonist is named Frankie.
9) Favorite things/hobbies you like to do in your spare time?
I like to ski and scuba dive, but it’s been a while. I’m a fan of the Denver Broncos and the Universidad de Chile soccer team, but I’ll pretty much go to any live sporting event. I try to get on my bicycle for a long ride as often as possible.
10) Do you have a favorite word?
I like the word “Defenestrate,” both for how it sounds and for its meaning: to throw someone or something out of a window. In Spanish, I like the word “espectacular,” which tends to roll off the tongue.
11) Any advice for aspiring authors?
My only advice is this: if you write, you’re a writer. We tend to want validation from other people before we take ourselves seriously as writers, but if you’re serious about it, then it doesn’t matter what other people think. Put your butt in the seat, do your work, and have confidence in yourself.
12) Is there any specific question you would have liked to answer?
Nope. Thanks a lot!
A few This or That questions just for fun!
Cooking or eating out?
Cooking, mostly. At least I try.
Coffee or tea?
Decaf or Half-caf coffee.
Movies or TV?
Definitely used to me movies, but since my son arrived, it’s TV shows on DVD.
Hot dog or hamburger?
Burger, for sure, preferably from my wife’s restaurant, Becks Prime
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Vanilla or chocolate?
Vanilla ice cream. Chocolate pudding.
Cake or pie?
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
Ice cream or sherbet?
Rainbow sherbet whenever possible. My wife makes fun, but I love it.
City or country?
City close to mountains. Otherwise, country.
Winter, Spring, Fall, or Summer?
Late spring.
My thanks to Coert for a great interview! Now I definitely have to try a stuffed sopaipilla!
Keep you eyes open for a Brothers Torres-related contest soon!
1) Where did you get the inspiration for The Brothers Torres?
I wrote a short story a while back in which two kids play with fireworks in the back yard, and because it was a short story, I had to end it. Unfortunately, it ended poorly for the characters, and they were no longer friends at the end. A few years later, I picked the story up again and decided that I didn’t like the fact that the characters weren’t friends. So I imagined a world in which that ending never happened. What if they stayed best friends up through high school? What would their world be like? How would they have changed? And The Brothers Torres pretty much came from that starting point. There’s still a bit of that original short story in chapter two of the book, actually.
2) Were any characters based on any one you knew? Any part of the book on events that happened in your own life?
Most of the “true” things in the book are related to the setting, or to descriptions of people, of the food, etc. I went to soccer camp once with a kid who had only one eye, though. He used to take it out all the time, put it in people’s soup, wash it off in his mouth. That’s where Zach’s eye tricks came from.
3) Will there be a sequel to The Brothers Torres?
That’s a good question. I’ve always thought it would be fun to write a sequel, but tell it from Zach’s point of view. That way we could learn more about him at the same time that we pick up on the next part of Frankie’s story.
4) Do you have a favorite New Mexican dish? (Is it the same as Frankie’s, by any chance?)
Indeed, Frankie and I share a weakness for the stuffed sopaipilla. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at making them, although I don’t have a deep fryer with a temperature gauge, so my sopaipillas aren’t as light and fluffy as I’d like.
5) Favorite Shakespeare play?
I’m a big fan of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I played Oberon in college—shaved my head, wore leather, had tattoos drawn all over me, and decorated my head and face with 22 different piercings—so I’m partial to that one.
6) Do you have a favorite place to write? Favorite place to read?
I generally alternate between my house, a bubble tea place, and a coffee shop. When I find myself getting too comfortable in any of those places, I know it’s time for a change.
7) Do you listen to music while writing?
I listen to music, but I can’t just listen to any music. Generally, I listen to house or electronica concerts/podcasts I’ve downloaded. They’re two hours long, have few words to distract me, and have a continuous beat that keeps me going.
8) Favorite YA books & authors?
I like Pete Hautman’s Godless a whole lot. I just read E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, which I enjoyed tremendously, and not just because the protagonist is named Frankie.
9) Favorite things/hobbies you like to do in your spare time?
I like to ski and scuba dive, but it’s been a while. I’m a fan of the Denver Broncos and the Universidad de Chile soccer team, but I’ll pretty much go to any live sporting event. I try to get on my bicycle for a long ride as often as possible.
10) Do you have a favorite word?
I like the word “Defenestrate,” both for how it sounds and for its meaning: to throw someone or something out of a window. In Spanish, I like the word “espectacular,” which tends to roll off the tongue.
11) Any advice for aspiring authors?
My only advice is this: if you write, you’re a writer. We tend to want validation from other people before we take ourselves seriously as writers, but if you’re serious about it, then it doesn’t matter what other people think. Put your butt in the seat, do your work, and have confidence in yourself.
12) Is there any specific question you would have liked to answer?
Nope. Thanks a lot!
A few This or That questions just for fun!
Cooking or eating out?
Cooking, mostly. At least I try.
Coffee or tea?
Decaf or Half-caf coffee.
Movies or TV?
Definitely used to me movies, but since my son arrived, it’s TV shows on DVD.
Hot dog or hamburger?
Burger, for sure, preferably from my wife’s restaurant, Becks Prime
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Vanilla or chocolate?
Vanilla ice cream. Chocolate pudding.
Cake or pie?
Yellow cake with chocolate frosting.
Ice cream or sherbet?
Rainbow sherbet whenever possible. My wife makes fun, but I love it.
City or country?
City close to mountains. Otherwise, country.
Winter, Spring, Fall, or Summer?
Late spring.
My thanks to Coert for a great interview! Now I definitely have to try a stuffed sopaipilla!
Keep you eyes open for a Brothers Torres-related contest soon!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I <3 your blog!
Thanks to the lovely Ms. Rachael (aka The Book Muncher!) for her kind words again!!
The Rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!
Lenore of Presenting Lenore Lenore has great posts in general! Book reviews, blurbs, recommendations and other interesting tidbits! And don't we all just love the adorable pictures of Emmy?
Liv of Liv's Book Reviews I just love Liv's Bits 'n' Pieces interviews with authors!! That, along with some great reviews keeps me checking back at her blog often to see what's new!
Beth of Books and Love One of the first blogs I came across as I ventured into blogs featuring book reviews, and I've been checking her blog ever since! Beth is such a nice person with great reviews!
Carol of Bookluver-Carol Carol has great author interviews, reviews, and not to mention neat reviewer interviews!
Chelsea of The Page Flipper Chelsea writes some really detailed reviews that makes me really want to read those books! Not to mention that she's a fellow YABC demi-goddess and writes great reviews for YABC too!!
Kelsey of Reading Keeps you Sane Kelsey writes honest reviews that are to the point! And a very fitting title--reading definitely keeps me sane!! (Love the new layout, btw!)
Just Blinded Book Reviews First off, what a cool blog title!! Yet another site that I keep returning to for new, fantastic reviews!
Linda Gerber Ms. Gerber does plenty of interesting "ramblings" as she sometimes calls them, and has plenty of generous giveaways and some fantastic release parties!
Aella is a lovely person who has plenty of book reviews on great books!
And although she nominated me, I really do love Rachael's blog as well!!
Rachael of The Book Muncher Because she's just a wonderful person with a wonderful blog! Rachael posts so many great reviews and keeps adding more and more books to my TBR list!!
And an update on what I'm up to...
My computer crashed (yes, I know, again). My elderly IBM apparently decided it was through working for me and I now (or at least for the time being) must make my updates from other computer(s), which, needless to say, is not quite as convenient. I hope to get a new computer sometime soon (pity about my files, I hadn't expected my old computer to give out quite so soon) but school work and the like have been keeping me really busy as well. But I am reading! Or at least trying to, in between calc problems ;) And I am trying to keep up my reviews! Once December comes around, I think things will have settled down a bit, and hopefully I will find myself in front of a brand new, shiny, computer that isn't prone to crashing!
I have a few interviews and reviews on some great books to come!
Oh, and did I mention that I finally got a Facebook? :) If you have a moment, look for me there & friend me if you'd like!
The Rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!
Lenore of Presenting Lenore Lenore has great posts in general! Book reviews, blurbs, recommendations and other interesting tidbits! And don't we all just love the adorable pictures of Emmy?
Liv of Liv's Book Reviews I just love Liv's Bits 'n' Pieces interviews with authors!! That, along with some great reviews keeps me checking back at her blog often to see what's new!
Beth of Books and Love One of the first blogs I came across as I ventured into blogs featuring book reviews, and I've been checking her blog ever since! Beth is such a nice person with great reviews!
Carol of Bookluver-Carol Carol has great author interviews, reviews, and not to mention neat reviewer interviews!
Chelsea of The Page Flipper Chelsea writes some really detailed reviews that makes me really want to read those books! Not to mention that she's a fellow YABC demi-goddess and writes great reviews for YABC too!!
Kelsey of Reading Keeps you Sane Kelsey writes honest reviews that are to the point! And a very fitting title--reading definitely keeps me sane!! (Love the new layout, btw!)
Just Blinded Book Reviews First off, what a cool blog title!! Yet another site that I keep returning to for new, fantastic reviews!
Linda Gerber Ms. Gerber does plenty of interesting "ramblings" as she sometimes calls them, and has plenty of generous giveaways and some fantastic release parties!
Aella is a lovely person who has plenty of book reviews on great books!
And although she nominated me, I really do love Rachael's blog as well!!
Rachael of The Book Muncher Because she's just a wonderful person with a wonderful blog! Rachael posts so many great reviews and keeps adding more and more books to my TBR list!!
And an update on what I'm up to...
My computer crashed (yes, I know, again). My elderly IBM apparently decided it was through working for me and I now (or at least for the time being) must make my updates from other computer(s), which, needless to say, is not quite as convenient. I hope to get a new computer sometime soon (pity about my files, I hadn't expected my old computer to give out quite so soon) but school work and the like have been keeping me really busy as well. But I am reading! Or at least trying to, in between calc problems ;) And I am trying to keep up my reviews! Once December comes around, I think things will have settled down a bit, and hopefully I will find myself in front of a brand new, shiny, computer that isn't prone to crashing!
I have a few interviews and reviews on some great books to come!
Oh, and did I mention that I finally got a Facebook? :) If you have a moment, look for me there & friend me if you'd like!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Top 8 Contest!
Thanks to Scholastic, I have 5(!!) signed copies of Top 8 to give away to you all!!
Check out my review of Top 8 here & my interview with author Katie Finn here!
[EDIT] Sorry guys! I completely forgot to mention that this contest is only open to people in the US! So sorry!! Thanks to Ellie who brought this to my attention! [/EDIT]
A quick blurb for Top 8 (courtesy of Barnes & Noble):
Madison MacDonald is seriously freaking outWant to win a copy of this great book? Just comment on this post with your name, email address, and your favorite social networking site!
Madison MacDonald
16
Putnam, CT
Status: Single?
About Me:
Everything in my life was working out. I had my three best friends, a brand-new boyfriend, and the lead in the school play. Aside from that history paper I hadn't started, things felt perfect.
Then I returned from spring break to find my Friendverse profile hacked. Someone clearly out to ruin me had spilled the most damaging secrets - AND posted the worst photos of me ever taken - online.
Now my boyfriend and I are broken up, half the school hates me, and I'm in deep trouble.
Goals:
Get my boyfriend back, figure out who could have done this, and clear my name!
Also, pass history.
Want an extra entries?
1) Post about this giveaway on your blog, myspace, etc. somewhere people can see it, and send me/comment with the link! (1 extra entry)
2) Know the answers to these questions? Drop me a line at bookvault@yahoo.com for 2 extra entries! (hint all answers can be found either in my interview w/ Katie Finn or my review of Top 8!)
- Where did author Katie Finn grow up?
- What color is main character Madison's computer?
- Where did Madison vacation with her family?
Please put "Top 8 Contest" in the subject line!!
Please get all you entries/extra entries in by November 16th (midnight, EST)!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Savvy Girl by Lynn Messina
Lily may be life-guarding on a beach with cute guys during the summer, but her best friend Chrissy Gibbons has really hit the summer jackpot—she gets to intern for the hippest, coolest magazine that so many people love: Savvy! Despite having to do some mundane things during her internship internship, there are some definite perks: parties, cute guys like Michael Davies, and meeting ex-supermodels like Jessica Cordero.
To top things off, Savvy is holding a contest for the interns to determine who the first teenage Savvy columnist will be! Chrissy knows she’s the perfect candidate for the job, but she doesn’t have to worry about that yet, right? I mean, she has all summer to write her entry column. In the meantime, Chrissy would rather be setting up “chance” meetings with Michael and hitting the hotspots with Jessica at night!
But when Chrissy bails out on Lily over and over again so she can attend parties of famous designers and other star-studded events with Jessica (and stagger into her home at unearthly hours, more than a little buzzed) Chrissy might be turning into someone completely different. She wasn’t the kind of person to ditch her best friend all the time, and definitely wasn’t the kind of girl to stumble in drunk past
Surely Lily understands why Chrissy can’t turn down these fantastic parties, right? Doesn’t Lily have that cute guy Graham to hang out with, doesn’t she? And Chrissy can hardly turn down Michael when he wants to hang out with her!
But is all this glitz and glamour really that good for Chrissy? She’s come to work more often hung over than not, and she’s already caught Michael hitting on hot girls at the parties she brings him to, more than once. She’s become a rebellious party girl who’s lost her good sense and put herself above her friends and family. And with the summer quickly drawing to a close, Chrissy better shape up and think of what to write, or she may miss out on a great opportunity to become a Savvy columnist—and may even lose her best friend!
At first Chrissy didn’t act and sound mature enough to be a seventeen year old, but that quickly passed. Savvy Girl was a very realistic novel with, in my opinion, well crafted and believable characters. After becoming a Savvy intern and getting invited to a few bashes, Chrissy acted like most sixteen-year-old girls would after hitting a few high-class parties and meeting cutes guys for the first time. All the same, it was nice to see her grown up and learn more than how to file papers during her summer internship and adventure!
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