Saturday, October 22, 2011

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon Mid Event Meme


I was out to eat with my husband during the official mid-event mark, so I'm a little late posting, but wanted to do the meme.  I couldn't resist going out though - we didn't have the kids and had a free steak at Outback coupon to use - the meal was delicious and the company was great, now I'm home and ready to put some more hours to the readathon!

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
This Brave Balance by Rusalka Reh (translated by Katy Derbyshire)

2. How many books have you read so far?
I've finished 2 - Dark Eden by Patrick Carman and Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
I'm not sure what I'm reading next so I don't know.  I've just been going by the seat of my pants today picking books.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
No - I lucked into my arrangements when my parents asked to keep the kids this weekend so they could take them to the county fair and the hubby was hunting all day.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Just the supper interruption, and it was no big deal - I have learned to take the interruptions in stride, I know due to my health I am not making the full 24 hours so I'll just read as much as I can.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
How much reading I did today without getting sleepy.  And I think I have participated in more mini-challenges this readathon.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
No, I love it the way it is!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Nothing - I would hope I could get the kids to a grandparents house because I think that has made the biggest difference.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Not yet, but I will probably start winding down between 12am-1am.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
Not that I know of - thanks to the Cheerleaders and other Readers that have stopped by today!


End of Hour 14 update:
Time spent blogging: 120 minutes
Mini-challenges: 4
Time spent reading:  510 minutes
Pages read: 733
Books read: 2, Dark Eden by Patrick Carman, Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson
Time spent visiting blogs: 35 minutes
Blogs visited: 15
Misc time (lunch, supper & other things):  210 minutes


Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon Mini Challenge Top 5

It's time for another mini-challenge and an update.  This time Lisa at Lisa's World of Books has asked:


What are the 5 books you are looking forward to in the next few months or really into next year?
I had to think about this and do a little research, but 5 books I am eagerly looking forward to are:

Crossed by Ally Condie, releases November 1, 2011 - I read Matched last September when I received the ARC and have been dying for this book ever since.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - releases December 6, 2011 - another second book in a series that I am eagerly awaiting

The Litigators by John Grisham - releases October 25, 2011 - just a few more days on this one - I love John Grisham and always read his new books

Zero Day by David Baldacci - Releases October 31, 2011 - Baldacci is another autobuy for me

The Next Always by Nora Roberts - releases November 1, 2011 - I love her trilogies/series books and this looks especially good.

What are you looking forward to?

End of Hour 6 update:
Time spent blogging: 45 minutes
Mini-challenges: 2
Time spent reading:  245 minutes
Pages read: 372
Books read: 1, Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
Time spent visiting blogs: 35 minutes
Blogs visited: 15
Misc time (lunch & other things):  35 minutes




Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge Book Puzzles (Giveaway)

Melissa at One Librarian's Book Reviews is holding this hour's mini-challenge (and it lasts for 6-hours).  The challenge is to create a Book Puzzle.  Here's what Melissa has to say:

Essentially, this is a series of pictures, graphics, or photos that you put together that will describe a book title.

So here is mine:

The



And just for fun a second one:

The


Enter your guesses for my book puzzles (with the authors) and I'll randomly draw a winner for a book from my giveaway page.  US/Canada only, ends 10/23 at 8:00am EDT.

Hour 2 update:
Time spent blogging: 10 minutes
Time spent reading:  85 minutes
Pages read: 114 pages of Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
Time spent visiting blogs: 15 minutes
Blogs visited: 10

See you later!




Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon Hour 1


It's time and I'm excited.  I didn't plan this - but my parents have my kids for the weekend and they are taking them to the county fair today.  My husband is deer hunting all day long.  So I am all alone!  Yay!  I will definitely be reading a good part of the day, hubby and I may go out to supper tonight but I plan to read as much as possible.  I am happy dancing here.  I actually got up early so I could start on time as well - I usually get up around 9am on Saturdays.  But here I am with my hot tea and in a minute I'll go get my cereal and I'll curl up with my first book - Dark Eden by Patrick Carman - can't wait - I received this one through Amazon Vine. So what are you reading first today?



1)Where are you reading from today?
Cozy cool coastal NC, outside of Beaufort to be slightly more exact (that's pronounced Bow-fort in NC)

2)Three random facts about me…

  1. I hate to talk on the telephone
  2. I managed to melt my Dad's candles in his Tollhouse pile last night during his birthday celebration (no real harm done, but it was pretty funny - don't stick candles in after it comes out of oven)
  3. I stay cold all of the time so today will find me wrapped up in one of my favorite quilts my grandmother made.


3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I didn't make an official TBR pile this year - I'm just winging it!

4)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 plan is to read for 40-45 minutes an hour and blog and read blogs for 15-20 minutes of an hour an that can change.  No specific hour or page goals.  We have late church tomorrow so I may see how late I can go this year, I haven't done that yet.

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

Have fun, that is the main thing, don't get caught up in having to do something, just have a great time!




Author Interview: Saewod Tice (The Chronicles of 2020 Amongst the Ruins)


Today I welcome Saewod Tice, author of The Chronicles of 2020 Amongst The Ruins.  She's stopping by My Reading Room today for an interview as part of the Sizzling PR tour, so grab your favorite cuppa and enjoy.

What did you do to celebrate when you found out you would be published?

After I got over the shock, I annoyed the hell out of my husband. I’m pretty sure I repeatedly said “Hey,”
he would look up at me, “I’m gonna be a published author.” He was an amazing sport, who would just
laugh at me and say “I know baby. Congratulations.” Then I let my mom know, who about blew out my
eardrum on the phone. She came up to visit the weekend after that and we all went to dinner.

Describe the area you write in.

You mean my old, overstuffed, lazy boy chair? J

I don’t restrict my writing to one area. I like to branch out in different genres for different audiences-
whatever fits the story best.

What drew you to the young adult post-apocalyptic genre?


The story just went there. When the idea for Amongst the Ruins came to me, I knew it would be a
dystopian work just because of the inspiration source. However, I didn’t immediately decide that I
would go for Y/A. In fact, most of my writing until that point had been extremely ‘mature’, but ATR just
formed into young adult. While it is edgier and a little dark in some aspects- since I refuse to just fade
everything to black, it still resonates with older teens and even adults.

Tell us a little bit about Amongst the Ruins.

Inspired by the show ‘Life After People’ on the History channel, my dystopian world was born:

In the year 2220, only about 15% of Earth's population have survived and thrived after the Nuclear Disaster of 2020.

With the collapse of modern society, the population has regressed into eight clans.

Amongst these clans, an unusual girl grows from child to adult.

Raised on the run and in hiding, Shilo wants to be free of the expectations of women. But in a ruined world where anyone could be an enemy, only the radiation-twisted mutants are clearly identifiable. A fertile female is a precious treasure, and any lapse in caution can mean a loss of the freedom she longs for.

Training as hard as a soldier would, in order to free herself from social constraints, she finds herself faced with an offer from a new clan--an offer that provides her with what she desires. But her recently found independence brings discovery, and discovery brings two very different men from her past—and each of them is determined to claim her.

One is obsessed with owning her, the other desires her as the only person who can make him
love again.

Was there any character or part in Amongst the Ruins that was difficult to write?


There is one part that was very hard to write, due to the emotional chaos of the scene. It wasn’t easy to
put the actions into words, let alone the heroine’s emotional tornado. She suffers a heavy loss and it’s
something difficult for her to escape and it actually carries over into book two.

Was there any character or part in Amongst the Ruins that was really easy to write?


Anything to do with the secondary character Mister Reed. His voice was so easy to wrap myself around
that the scenes involving him were just light hearted and fun. He wasn’t supposed to have much
personality – originally – but he had other plans for himself. J

What's your favorite season?

It used to be Spring, but as I get older I’m starting to favor Fall. Not sure why that is though.

What is your favorite snack food?

I am without a doubt, a junk food junkie, but I probably eat potato chips or pretzels the most.

What is your favorite TV show and why?

It changes with the viewing seasons. Currently Dexter is my must watch show. Oh how I love my dark
avenger! Not only is this based on an amazing book series, but it’s a serial killer that you can’t help but
love and root for. It’s an amazing accomplishment to create that kind of character.

If you could have any car what would it be and what color would it be?

All environmental turn your head ….. Now!
The Hummer. Not the H3 or any of those, I want the super sized, tank-like original- in Black.

What is a typical day like in your life?


Prepare to be bored…
Wake up at 6am, kids dressed, fed and out to bus by 7:10am. Day job by 7:30am- as glorified
spreadsheet maker. Leave work at 5pm, pick kids up and home- hopefully before 6pm. Then dinner,
time with kids and hubby, perhaps I can squeeze in one of my shows. Finally, about 8:30 I can write,
research, or do some self and friend promo.

What are you working on now?

I have a second novel tentatively releasing at the end of this year- it’s still in the editing process with
the publisher. This one is a different genre- Women’s Romance- and is titled ‘Live In Position’. I’m also
working on the sequel for ‘Amongst the Ruins’ and preparing for Nanowrimo.

Do you have any upcoming tours, blog tours or events you would like people to know about?

I’ll be on the Sizzling PR tour until the end of November, October 28th – 31st I’ll be participating in an
online Halloween party at www.booksnmakeup.com, and finally in December I will be a part of a Noble
Y/A Blog Hop.

Anything else you would like to share?

I want to thank you for allowing me to hang out on your site today and chat. And thanks to everyone
who stops by. Come hang with me on Facebook (V Saewod Tice), Twitter (@saewodtice), and/or on my
blog (www.saewod.webs.com).

xHugs and Blowing Kisses x

Thanks for being a part of My Reading Room today!