I let random.org choose the winner of my Monday Madness giveaway, Dead Boys, and it is…comment #15…

Sunny

I have sent you an email as well, so please send me you mailing address so I can get your book in the mail to you this week.

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog this week.  I will be announcing the winner of Blood Brothers tomorrow.  I will also be posting a review of Creepers tonight or tomorrow and there will be a giveaway of an ARC of the book.  Stay tuned…

The round-up this week can be found over at Check It Out. 

I chose a Maya Angelou poem today for 2 reasons.  One, I love her poetry, and two, this poem speaks to me.  You do not have to be like every other woman (or man if you want to change it) because each of us is unique and phenomenal in our own way.

I am so pumped about the Book Giveaway Carnival that I have decided to try to do a giveaway each day.  Today’s selection is a book I have read and loved, so the copy is gently used.  It is Book One of a trilogy.  The final book is due to come out around Christmas, so this will get you started.

I love this series by Nora Roberts.  In fact, I love almost everything she does, but this was a different angle for her as a writer.  Here is a taste to whet your appetite:

It had been the Pagan Stone for hundreds of years, long before the three boys stood around it and spilled the blood in a bond of brotherhood, unwittingly releasing a force bent on destruction…

Every seven years, there comes a week in July when the locals do unspeakable things-and then don’t seem to remember them.  The collective madness has made itself known beyond the town borders and has given Hawkins Hollow the reputation of a village possessed.

This modern-day legend draws reporter and author Quinn Black to Hawkins Hollow with the hope of making the eerie happening the subject of her new book.  It is only February, but Caleb Hawkins, descendent of the town founders, has already seen and felt the stirrings of evil.  Though he can never forget the beginning of the terror in the woods twenty-one years ago, the signs have never been this strong before.  Cal will need the help of his best friends, Fox and Gage, but surprisingly he must rely on Quinn as well.  She, too, can see the evil that the locals cannot, somehow connecting her to the town-and to Cal.  As winter turns to spring, Cal and Quinn will shed their inhibitions, surrendering to a growing desire.  They will form the cornerstone of a group of men and women bound by fate, passion, and the fight against what is to come from out of the darkness…

If you like series, then you should leave me a comment to win this book.  Since this is by my favorite adult fiction author, tell me who your favorite adult author is.

• open to US residents
• contest ends Sat, Nov. 8
• winner chosen by random and notified by email and on this blog, Sun. Nov. 9
• winner has 2 days to respond or new winner is picked

It’s Monday and I’m MAD!  Not angry mad, just mad about books!  Aren’t you?  What better way to celebrate my madness than with a book giveaway?  I’m participating in the Book Giveaway Carnival over at Bookroomreviews.  This is my very FIRST giveaway, so I hope you enjoy what I have in store for this week.  Check back in daily as I will post more giveaways throughout the week.

The first giveaway is for Dead Boys by Richard Lange.  I have not read this because my TBR pile is overwhelming, so I’m giving someone else a chance.

From Booklist
In the dozen heartbreaking stories collected here, Lange homes in on a group of twentysomething slackers living in the markedly less-prosperous suburbs of L.A. These bereft young men don’t seem to suffer so much from a lack of ambition as from a surfeit of emotion. Frayed nerves and broken hearts have kept them from realizing even the smallest of dreams; they’re always “between jobs or between marriages, between runs of good luck.” In the title story, the nameless narrator is beset by a host of worries—he thinks his wife is having an affair and that one of his office colleagues is about to commit suicide. Little wonder, then, that he can barely keep his mind on his job—pushing a new brand of yogurt. The yawning divide between his sterile work environment and his chaotic emotions prompts him to remark, “I’m full to bursting and empty at the same time.” Lange’s slice-of-life scenarios, emotionally wrecked characters, and piercingly funny dialogue make for a powerful combination that recalls the work of Thomas McGuane and Denis Johnson. 

• This contest is open to addresses in the US only. 
• To win, leave me a comment about your favorite short story or male character.
• I will leave this contest open through Friday, Nov. 7. 
• Winner will be chosen Saturday, Nov. 8 and notified via email and on this blog.
• Winner must respond by Monday, Nov. 10 or another winner will be chosen.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed your time here and will return frequently.

I am getting ready to leave for Austin to attend a birthday party for the sweetest lady who just turned 100 years old! 

Reviews to be posted this week:  Creepers, The Day Leo Said “I Hate You!”, and You Think it’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? with author interview.  I am currently reading The House on Tradd Street and The Book of a Hundred Truths.  Reviews to be posted upon completion.

Come back tomorrow to see what book I will be giving away for the Book Giveaway Carnival.  Go to Bookroomreviews Weblog to find out more or to join us in the Carnival.

What’s happening in the blog world?  Who’s hosting giveaways?  Wednesday Wanderings is my way to let you know what’s going on with some of my favorite blogs and some that I just happened upon this week.  Anybody out there that could make me a cute button? I would forever be grateful!

Here’s what I’ve found this week.

Book Chatter and Other Stuff is giving away Tethered.  The contest ends Oct. 30, so hurry!

Have you checked out the Bloggy Giveaways?  They are having their Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival.  There are links to hundreds of giveaways going on this week.  See what you can find!

Over at Book Critiques, there are 2 giveaways.  One for The Healing Choice (11/1) and one for Lost and Found (11/3).  Which one would you choose? 

Have you been to BookingMama this week?  She has 3 new giveaways going on; WOW!  The first one is In the Land of Invisible Women, 2 copies ending 11/7.  Second, Hollywood Crows, up to 5 copies ending 11/9.  Just posted this morning is Life After Genius, 1 copy ending 11/11. 

Want to read Testimony?  Head over to Bookroomreviews Weblog and enter to win a copy.  She also has a $10 gift card to Build-a-Bear and Bethesda Sunscreen Soap. 

Dog Ear Diary is giving away a hardbound copy of Millions.  This ends on 11/4, so get your name in the random drawing by leaving a comment on the blog.

The Heretic Queen has been a popular giveaway this month.  Have you read it yet?  If not, Medieval Bookworm has a hardcover copy to give away.  This one ends on 11/7 so you still have some time to get your name in the drawing.

I love My Friend Amy.  She is always doing great things over there.  There are 4 copies of How to Be a Wicked Woman to be given away…great title for Halloween, huh?  Also just in time for Halloween…are you a vampire lover, read vampire books, or know vampire lore?  Share what you know tomorrow for Vampire Day on Amy’s blog.  

One more thing…I mentioned earlier this week, but don’t forget that next week is the Book Giveaway Carnival.  There will be book giveaways all over the blogosphere…including here!

If you have a giveaway you’d like me to post, or something exciting going on at your blog, please let me know so that I can add it here.  Until next week…

No, it is not supposed to say “wonderings,” I did that on purpose.  I have been wandering through my favorite blogs this morning, reading the latest posts, learning about books and people, and entering challenges.  This is the part of blogging that I love the most, because it’s through other blogs that I learn so much and find such great reads, ideas, and thoughts.  So, I thought that I would share with you what I’ve found today.  I am going to try to make this a weekly thing on my blog, so if there are any button makers out there reading this, I would love a button for Wednesday Wanderings, if you’d like to make one.  I’m so bad with all of the technical stuff!

I stopped by Hey Lady, Whatcha’ Readin’? and found a great review and giveaway.  It is, The Likeness by Tana French.  To steal a quote from Trish, she says, “THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ THIS YEAR. Truly, seriously, I’m not even kidding, I can’t stop thinking about this book.”  I encourage you to stop by, read the review and enter the contest.  All you have to do is leave a comment about how many pets you have – different, huh?  It has nothing to do with the book either.  If you post about the giveaway on your blog, you will get 3 extra entries.  What are you waiting for?

Do you like history, historical fiction?  What about Nefertiti?  Well, take a look at what Dar has at Peeking Between the Pages has to giveaway this week.  Michelle Moran, author of Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen, stopped by for a guest post.  She gave Dar 2 copies of The Heretic Queen and 1 copy of Nefertiti to give to 3 different people.  Just leave a comment for 1 entry, comment about something specific from the guest post for another, and blog about it for one more.  The drawing is on Oct. 31.

Finally, I visited My Friend Amy, where today, she poses a great discussion question: What kind of blogger are you?  I had to get in on that one…check it out!

So, what do you think about Wednesday Wanderings being a weekly thing here at Write for a Reader?  Where have you wandered today, or this week even?  What did you find that piqued your interests?  Please let me know by commenting.

OK…so for my first read-a-thon, I think I did pretty well.  I managed to hold my eyelids open until 1 AM CST, and then got up about 6:30 AM to finish out.  I made it to chapter 22, p. 486 of Eclipse.  Not complete, but that will happen today I’m sure of it.  There is a contest for completing this meme, so here goes:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

12 – 1 AM

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer held my interest, but they are long books so I don’t know how others would do.  It definitely kept me going with the same characters and storyline.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Still none that I can think of.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Aerin’s page with the updated feeds

5. How many books did you read?

almost 2 – they were 500-600 pages.

6. What were the names of the books you read?

New Moon and Eclipse

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

both of them

8. Which did you enjoy least?

neither

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

n/a

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I will definitely participate as a reader and possible host a mini-challenge/giveaway…those added to the fun.

All in all it was a great experience and I’m so glad I did it.  My goal next time is to hang out with the hard-core 24 hour readers in the wee hours.  I just didn’t have the stamina this time.

Okay, so I’m already an hour behind everyone else, but I’m starting just the same.  I will start by completing the introduction meme, so you know a little about me:

Where are you reading from today?  I am on my couch…my favorite place to read…in Conroe, TX

3 facts about me …

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?  I have 6 books, 2 are very long.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?  My goal is to finish the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.  I am sooo hooked on these vampires!  My other goal is to keep up with all of the posting, contests, etc.  I want to be reading, but I want to “play” also.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time? This is my first read-a-thon, so advice is welcome.  I’m just excited to be participating!

…these great giveaways!

Are you in the mood for some spooky reading?  The Hidden Side of a Leaf is giving away a box of 10 spooky books just in time for Halloween.  Get over there and check it out!

2 picture books are up for grabs at A Patchwork of Books - The Day Leo Said, “I Hate You” and Mail Harry to the Moon.  Just leave a comment about your favorite picture book you’ve read this year.

I found this great new blog and I wanted to let you know about it:  Bookworm’s Dinner Children.  To celebrate her new blog, Wisteria is giving away a 3 volume set of Anne of Green Gables, 100th anniversary edition.  Thank you to Lesa from Lesa’s Book Critiques for leading me to this blog!