Author Interview & Book Giveaway - Scary School by Derek the Ghost

Welcome to Author Derek the Ghost.

Bio:

Derek is an eleven-year-old ghost who haunts the classrooms and hallways of Scary School, writing down all the spine-tingling often hilarious things that go on there. Despite his ghostly state, Derek still enjoys reading comic books and hopes to one day become a master ninja. If that doesn’t work out, he will continue to share the fun of this very special, very secret school, so all kids can experience the scariest school on earth. Derek the Ghost communicates through the first-time ghost whisperer Derek Taylor Kent, who is a writer and performer in Los Angeles, California.

Links:
Website: www.ScarySchool.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/scaryschool

Interview:
What is one book everyone should read?
The one book (or multiple everyone should read) though it may sound hokey, is the Harry Potter series, for sure. It revolutionized reading amongst the youth and made it something that was fun and cool again. It might be the biggest pop culture phenomenon ever. Even if you aren't into the genre, I think it's important for all writers to read those books and analyze what made them work so well if it is your goal to become a successful author. I teach classes in YA and Children's writing here in Los Angeles, and we extensively discuss why the character's she created resonated with so many kids and adults, and how JK Rowling was able to create a unique yet believable world that got millions of readers as emotionally involved with the fictional characters as their real lives.

Night owl or early bird.
Night owl. I get a lot of writing done without the distractions of the day.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Because I guarantee you will laugh out loud three times every page!

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Yes, the Scary School series will be continuing with new books coming out ever June. Book 2 comes out June 26, 2012, Book 3 June 2013 and hopefully many more after that. I also have a couple book offered exclusively through my website (www.ScarySchool.com). One is called Rudy and the Beast Book One: My Homework Ate My Dog! That one was my attempt to do something akin to Harry Potter. It's a book about a boy who learns he has magical powers and must use them to rescue his dog that was dog-napped by an evil wizard. There's also a picture book adventure about space called Simon and the Solar System, which was illustrated by internet sensation "MaryDoodles" (search it on YouTube), Mary Gutfleisch. I recently finished a new middle grade book about a boy who becomes principal of his school called Principal Mikey and I'll be working on some fun new books this year - possibly a spin-off of Scary School.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
It's been really awesome getting fan email everyday from both kids and adults saying how much they loved the book, and when I make my appearances at schools, bookstores, or libraries, it's awesome to see the kids' enthusiasm not only for Scary School but for reading in general.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
Well, funny you should mention that! I'm actually a songwriter as well, and I composed the theme song for Scary School! You can listen to it when you go the website (www.ScarySchool.com) and also get it through iTunes! Just search Scary School Theme Song.

What is your favorite Quote?
TS Eliot has a great one: "If you don't impose your terms on life, life will impose its terms on you." Another one a like, though it's a bit cynical: "99% of everything you ever hear in your life is someone trying to convince you something that's not true in order to get into your pockets." That quote is actually a big reason why I love writing these books. With Scary School and my other books, I feel like I give kids something that's genuinely entertaining, funny, and educational, plus it's relatively cheap! I think it will instill a love of reading amongst the audience. Basically, I'm not selling any BS, which I've to at some of my other jobs, so I can feel good about what I'm doing every day.

Favorite Food?
I am a ridiculous foodie. I love all food so much and I also love cooking. I kind of did a Julie and Julia thing, but I cooked my way through Mario Batali's book (don't worry, I didn't blog about it) and my favorite thing I made was a Frutti di Mare pasta in Cartaccio, which is a baked seafood pasta in a bag. When you take it out of the oven, you open it up like a present and the steam hits you in the face and smells like the ocean. Yummm.

How do you react to a bad review?
Luckily, the reviews have been about 99% positive, which would be an amazing score on Rotten Tomatoes! I actually really enjoy criticism though and love taking notes. When my editor, agent, or friends give me notes about the writing, I generally like to implement the notes they gave even if I might not agree with it, just to see how it works out. So if a reviewer has a honest criticism, I will take it into account and try to make those improvements in future books. If someone just doesn't like it without any good reasons why... i think they're insane.

If you were a bird, which one would you be?
My favorite animals are actually Macaws. I had a pet Dusky Conure (a small parrot) named Darby who was my best friend sine I was ten years old. I actually started writing children's stuff at that time by writing a series of funny poems called Derek and Darby that were about me and my bird.

Which authors have influence you most how?
For the Scary School series, my biggest influences were Kurt Vonnegut because I just LOVE how he interweaved creative, imaginative, hilarious short stories into is books, which was what I tried to do with Scary School. I also loved the stories of Martin McDonough from his play Pillowman. The humor and tone of Scary School was most influenced by Louise Sachar's Sideways Stores from Wayside School

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
Ready Player One. Took all my geek love from my childhood in the 80s and turned it into an awesome adventure. So upset I didn't think of that first! But glad Ernest Cline did it so well.

Write a Haiku about your book
The drawbridge lowers.
Learning, horror, and mayhem.
Don't eat me, teacher!

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Actually, it looks I might be co-authoring a book very soon with one of my favorite authors, Jessica Brody! We're talking about it right now, but it could happen this upcoming year!

Pizza or Pasta?
Pasta.

Gum or Breath Mints?
Gum.

PC or Mac?
Mac.

Scary School by Derek the Ghost

You think your school's scary?

Get a load of these teachers:

Ms. Fang, an 850-year-old vampire
Dr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recess
Mr. Snakeskin—science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie
Mrs. T—break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex!

Plus

Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch

And

The narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost!

Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!

Giveaway Details
3 winners will each receive a copy of Scary School
Open to US & Canada Only
Ends 12/14/11

Optional Extra Entries:
+1 http://www.facebook.com/ScarySchool
+1 http://twitter.com/derektheghost

Winners:
Sherry Lebow
Patsy Hagen
Viva

In My Mailbox

Bought:
Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

The hilarious, clever, and much-anticipated follow-up to the breakout hit, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda!

It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . .

With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy sequel to his breakout bestseller.

The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney

Now you can write your own bestseller!

With The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, you're the author, illustrator, and main character. Filled with loads of interactive pages and plenty of space to write your own life's story, this book is all you need to create your masterpiece. Whatever you do, make sure you put it someplace safe after you finish. Because when you're rich and famous, this thing is going to be worth a fortune.

Includes more than 60 new pages! 32 pages of full-color comics (16 brand-new)!

Divine Deception, Daydreams & Desert Fire by Marcia Lynn McClure

Mistreated, disheartened, and trapped, Fallon Ashby unexpectedly found the chance of swift deliverance at the hand of a wealthy landowner. The mysterious deliverer offered Fallon escape from unendurable circumstances. Thus, Fallon chose to marry Trader Donavon, a man who concealed his face within the dark shadows of an ominous black hood—a man who unknowingly held her heart captive.
Yet malicious villainy, intent on destroying Trader Donavon, set out to defeat him. Would evil succeed in overpowering the man whose face Fallon had never seen? The ever-hooded hero Fallon silently loved above all else?

Sayler Christy knew chances were slim to none that any of her silly little daydreams would ever actually come true—especially any daydreams involving Mr. Booker, the new patient—the handsome, older patient convalescing in her grandfather’s rehabilitation center.
Yet, working as a candy striper at Rawlings Rehab, Sayler couldn’t help but dream of belonging to Mr. Booker—and Mr. Booker stole her heart—perhaps unintentionally—but with very little effort. Gorgeous, older, and entirely unobtainable—Sayler knew Mr. Booker would unknowingly enslave her heart for many years to come—for daydreams were nothing more than a cruel joke inflicted by life. All dreams—daydreams or otherwise—never came true. Did they?

She opened her eyes and beheld, for the first time, the face of Jackson McCall. Ruggedly handsome and her noble rescuer, she knew in that moment, he would forever hold captive her heart, as he then held her life in his protective arms.

Yet, she was a nameless beauty, haunted by wisps of visions form the past. How could she ever hope he would return the passionate, devotional love she secreted for him…when her very existence was a riddle?

For Review:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Choose Your Path Book (Can You Survive?) by Ryan Jacobson

He’s the world’s most famous detective, and thanks to this brilliantly adapted book, he’s you! The cases are yours to solve.

There's Just Something About a Boy by Jenny Lee Sulpizio

There's Just Something About a Boy is a children's keepsake picture book celebrating the special bond between a mother and her newborn son by depicting the love, laughter, and unparalleled adventure that will surely come from raising a little boy.

Won:
A beautiful necklace and set of earrings from Author Cheri Schmidt.

The Alchemist: The Graphic Novel by Paul Coelho

Andalusian shepherd boy Santiago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within.

Since its first printing The Alchemist has been translated into seventy-one languages and sold forty million copies worldwide, establishing itself as a modern classic that will enchant and inspire readers for generations to come. Beautifully rendered, The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel is a must have for any collector's library.

ARC Tour:
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John

When sixteen-year-old Luke's book, Hallelujah, becomes a national best seller, his publisher sends him on a cross-country tour with his unpredictable older brother, Matt, as chauffeur. But when Matt offers to drive Luke's ex-crush, Fran, across the country too, things get a little crazy. Luke thinks he's enlightened, but he really needs to loosen up if he's going to discover what it truly means to have faith, and do what it takes to get the girl he loves.

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library.

Ask Me Anything - Social Media Share Buttons

Today's Question comes from ME!  I know I know a little odd but I learned a great trick I want to share!

How do you get the social media buttons to appear below a blogger post like you have on your blog?

I searched for at least a half hour trying to figure out how to get social media share buttons below my blog posts.  I found several sites that had the buttons I wanted but I couldn't figure out how to get them to appear on my blog.  I found one site that was easy to use addthis.com.  I just didn't love the way the buttons worked.  I finally emailed three different sites asking how they got the buttons on their site.

If you are wondering what I'm even talking about here is an example of what I wanted.

I heard back from 2 blogs who both told me the same thing. They had no clue. Lori from Imagination Designs did their blog and she got them on there. I had to laugh because the 3rd person I had mailed asking was Lori. I heard back from her and it was so simple I can't believe I spent so long trying to figure it out.

Here is how you do it. Log into your blogger dashboard and click on Design.  Find the box in the middle that says Blog Posts and Click on Edit.

Then check the little box by Show Share Buttons

It's that simple to get these Social Media Share Buttons to show up below your post. They allow people to easily share your post on Twitter, Facebook, +1 on Google, email or blogger.

Thank you Lori for the great tip.  Be sure to stop by her book blog or design site.   I love her work!!

Please take a minute and get these added to your blog!  There are many posts I would share if the blog had these buttons in place to make it simple to do.

Do you have a question for me? Send me an email toobusyreading(at)gmail(dot)com or fill out the form below.

Young Adult Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop Sign Ups

Welcome to the
Young Adult Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop

January 6th to 12th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & vvb32reads

If I had to choose my favorite genre it would likely be Young Adult Fantasy.  I love young adult books with magic, mythical creatures, and supernatural & paranormal elements. 


Velvet from vvb32 approached me with the idea of hosting a giveaway hop just for young adult faerie and fantasy books.  It sounded like something right up my alley so we threw this together.


100 Blogs are each signed up to host a giveaway for a young adult fantasy book.


To host a giveaway just put up a giveaway for a young adult fantasy book that includes the hop image and linky. Email me a link to your post and let me know where you will ship to and I will add you to the linky.  No more than 3 entries per person.

If you have any questions email me toobusyreading-at-gmaildotcom

Author Interview & Book Give-away: Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright

Welcome to Author Julie Wright author of Hazzardous Universe, The Whitney Award Winning novel Cross My Heart, My Not-So Fairy-Tale Life and Eyes Like Mine.

Bio:

Julie Wright (1972-still breathing) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She's lived in LA, Boston, and the literal middle of nowhere (don't ask). She wrote her first book when she was fifteen and actually got the thing published. Thirteen novels later, she thinks she's finally getting the hang of this writing gig.

She has one husband, three kids, two dogs, and a varying amount of fish (depending on attrition).

She loves writing, reading, traveling, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.

She used to speak fluent Swedish, but now speaks only well enough to cuss out her children in public.

She hates mayonnaise.

Blog: http://juliewright.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scatteredjules
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=647963869#!/groups/137155239637505/

Interview:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? 
Past—I don’t want to know the future, but there are plenty people from the past who fascinate me.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? 
Solar charger, ipad filled with games books, pictures, and internet, fishing hooks.

If you were a superhero what would your name be? 
Mom.

Pet Peeves? 
People who don’t keep their word.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 
I just finished my thirteenth novel and two books are releasing next winter—Oliva which is women’s fiction and Hazzardous Universe Two—The Magician’s Last Words.

What inspired you to want to become a writer? 
I've always wanted to do something that enabled me to write, but I decided to write my first book because my tenth grade English teacher told me I couldn’t. I hate it when people tell me what to do.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. 
Winning the Whitney Award.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? 
Oh wow . . . the point of a good book is the conflict it brings to the character so that the character will grow . . . My favorite books are riddled with conflict, and I’m not all that sure I’d want to live in those worlds of turmoil. But if I HAD to pick one, it would likely be Pride and Prejudice .

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 
Live a full life. Being a good writer is meaningless if you’ve nothing interesting to say. Try things, learn things, LIVE LIFE, and then go back and write.

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why? 
I’m content in the time period I’m currently in. Women can vote, we have flushing toilets, running hot water, and air conditioned travel.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why? 
Gwynneth Paltrow, because I’d sound awesome with an English accent.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters? 
I can see bits of myself in all my characters—even the bad ones.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you? 
To keep writing—even when it’s hard, even when you take second place, even when you don’t place at all.

Favorite Food? 
Anything I didn’t have to cook

If you were a super hero what would your kryptonite be? 
Rejection

What do you do in your free time? 
People have free time? I must research this foreign concept.

Who or what inspired you to become an author? 
Mrs. Brown in seventh grade said I had a real talent with writing. She was the first person to teach me to believe.

Write a Haiku about your book
Hap is mischievous
Abducted by aliens
Saves the universe

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Neil Gaiman

Hazzardous Universe

Yesterday,
Hap Hazzard didn’t believe in aliens, talking spaceships or that he’d become the most hunted teenager in the universe.
Today . . .
Things are different.

Giveaway Details
1 paperbook copy open to US only
1 ebook open Internationally
Ends 12/13/11

Optional Extra Entries:
Follow Julie's Blog on Networked Blogs: http://juliewright.com/blog/
Follow on Twitter: Twitter: http://twitter.com/scatteredjules
Join the Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=647963869#!/groups/137155239637505/


Ebook:
Ilovebooks

Paperback
Brandy Lewis

Blog Tour - Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Kenny J. Anderson

Welcome to Author Kenny J. Anderson

Bio:

Kenny J. Anderson has traveled the world discovering the Common Denominators For Success in both corporate and personal excellence. Anderson has tapped into some of the most brilliant minds around the globe to help corporations and individuals discover their blueprint for success.

Anderson discovered his own success as an entrepreneur in the fields of finance, real estate, and as an inventor. As a financial advisor, Anderson has consulted individuals and companies throughout the U.S. on wealth management. In the field of real estate, Anderson created his own development company, and has contributed to over one hundred million dollars of closed real estate transactions. As an inventor, Anderson patented an idea for an athletic shoe, which later evolved into his company, Leaper Footwear LLC. Since 1998, Leaper has licensed its patent to some of the largest companies in the world.

Today, as an international consultant, speaker, and author, Anderson continues to share the formula for success to companies and individuals around the world. Recently, Anderson completed a World Tour, traveling 55,000 miles in 50 days, to 15 countries and 6 continents, interviewing leaders in the areas of business, sports, entertainment, and government. He now shares this knowledge and experience to help companies and individuals achieve their own success.

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

I would travel to the past if I could take my current knowledge.  In this way, I could learn from those who have gone on before me and make changes that would better the system.  Life is about learning, applying, and teaching.  If we could go back to the past with this wisdom we could make the world a better place.

What is one book everyone should read?

Common Denominators For Success of course.  The principles taught in this book can help anyone to reach their goals in their life both personally and professionally.  Once you have mastered these formulas you will be on your way to a happy, successful, and fulfilled life.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

To gain the results you want out of life both personally and professionally.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? 

I recently returned from traveling the world interviewing leaders in business, sports, entertainment, and government.  I traveled 55,000 miles in 50 days, visiting 15 countries in 6 continents meeting the most amazing people.  My next book will be a collaborative effort taken from these interviews and this experience.  A person can only learn so much in a lifetime, but when we gain knowledge from the experiences of others, we discover a reservoir wisdom that can have powerful results in our lives.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

My desire to become a writer stemmed from a deep seeded passion to help people achieve results in their life.  Life is so much more than gaining, it’s about contribution.  If we spend our whole lives only pursuing our own personal gain, we will have lived a very limited and lonely life.  As we contribute what we have to offer to the benefit of others, we receive a satisfaction and success that is beyond description. Writing and speaking is my way of contributing.  If I can teach others tools that will make their life better personally and professionally then I will have succeeded.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

When I have someone write me and tell me that the principles talked about in my book have motivated a change in their lives for the good.  I am passionate about life and about people living their dreams.  When I get feedback that I may have contributed to that, even in a small way, that is very gratifying.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Find the message within you that is unique to you.  Everyone has a unique perspective of life that can be learned from.  Often times the principles of success are the same, but can be told in a unique way.  Write from the heart and tell your story in the way that only you can. When you write and speak with passion, you don’t have to sell anyone, the message sells itself.

What is your favorite Quote?

“What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” “Napoleon Hill

How did you know you should become an author?

At the age of 21, I read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  The principles resonated with me and I knew then that teaching others to succeed and to attain a fulfillment to their lives was my passion.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Your life is what you make of it.

What was your favorite children's book?

“The Little Engine that Could” because he never gave up.  If you are persistent you can achieve anything.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?

I would travel the world with my wife and children.  Experiences of life are priceless and I can’t think of any experience more valuable than learning from different cultures and people. 

Which authors have influence you most how?

Napoleon Hill and Stephen Covey.  Napoleon Hill was a leader in personal development and really got people thinking differently about improving their lives.  Stephen R. Covey because his teaching of correct principles really resonated with me at a young age.

What do you do in your free time? 

I like to spend time with my family.  I have four awesome kids and a wonderful wife, they are my best friends.  I enjoy doing fun activities together, traveling, and just talking about life.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

“Live life to the Fullest”

Give us a glimpse into a typical day in your day starting when you wake up till you lie down again.

I wake up at 5:30- 6:00 AM and go to the gym.  When I come I get ready for the day, eat, and see my kids off to school after family prayer.  I read for half an hour, check my emails, and return phone calls.  The rest of my work day is comprised of managing my businesses, creating new content for writing and speaking, and making new contacts.  I love to create so I am constantly brainstorming new ideas.  I finish my work day (It’s hard for me to call it a work day because I love what I do) around 5 or 6 PM, and spend time with my family going to their various activities.  I go to sleep about 10:30 PM after watching the news.

I take my wife on a date night every Friday night.  We love to go to dinner and visit, and then go see a movie.  Saturday is spent hanging out with the family and running kids to soccer, gymnastics, basketball, etc.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I have a double jointed neck and can juggle while eating an apple.

Common Denominators for Success

For centuries people have searched for the underlying elements of lasting success that would produce results in every aspect of life. Kenny J. Anderson has devoted 20 years of research to uncover these 7 Formulas, in his book Common Denominators For Success.
Whether you are looking to pursue a lifelong goal, increase your ability to connect with others, be in optimal health, maximize your use time and money, increase the profitability of your company, or create a dynamic workplace, these seven timeless principles will uncover the answers that will allow you to reach your potential and turn your personal and professional ambitions into reality.
Ordinary people throughout all eras of time, have achieved extraordinary results as they have applied these seven powerful formulas, but now is the time for you to live your dreams and get the results you want.

Giveaway Details:
1 copy available to US only
Ends 12/1/11

WINNER:
Kelly Grant

Know Me Better 11/17

;

"Know Me Better"

Wow this is late!  I won't even tell you how many hours I've spent working on the Gratitude Giveaway Hop and how many emails I've answered in the past 24 hours.  Really I don't want to think about it or add them up. At least I have a good excuse.

Each week I will pick 5 questions off of my author interview list to answers. In trying to figure out how to share more about myself I got to thinking that I would love to get to know the readers of my blog better too.  I invite you to share your answers to these questions as well.  You can share them as a comment on this post or share them on your own blog and link up to this post.

This Week's Questions:

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Beach or Pool?
If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?
Coke or Pepsi?
If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
My age.  People always think I'm much younger than I really am and are surprised to hear I have 5 kids.

Beach or Pool?
Pool most of the time although I do enjoy an occasional trip to the beach.  I just hate having sand in everything.

If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?
Curled up with a good book - no surprise there.

Coke or Pepsi?
Neither - I don't drink soda.  Water

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?
Hayley Mills who played Pollyanna in the Disney movie. I watched that movie over and over as a kid. She's easily 30 years older than me so it wouldn't work but I have a cowlick just like hers.

FYI - There will not be a Know Me Better Post next week since it is Thanksgiving.  We'll resume on Dec. 1st.

Now it's your turn! Share an answer to one or more of these questions as a comment or post your answers on your blog and link up here!

Giveaway Hop Policy Change

Starting in December I am changing the requirements for taking part in my Giveaway Hops.

My site is family friendly.  I try to read, review and promote books that are on the "cleaner side". Books that for the most part are free of graphic sex, strong language and gratuitous violence.

Up until now I've allowed any site who is interested to participate in my hops.  I check every link on the linky to make sure that there is a giveaway posted.  This is not working for me anymore.  I've been burned one too many times today while checking links for the Gratitude Giveaways.  My eyes are in serious need of a good bleaching.

Effective December 1st only "family friendly" sites will be allowed to participate in the hops I host.  You need not review only children's or young adult books to participate.  I consider many sites that review only adult books to be family friendly. There are many tasteful adult book review sites out there. It is the Erotic/18+ sites that I am referring to, sites that are covered with erotic covers and steamy pictures.

I know there will be mixed feeling on this change.  When I instituted the policy to require *adult* on the linky next to these sites I received many words of thanks.  By excluding these blogs now I know some people will not like the change.

Ultimately I have to do what I feel is best for me and the majority of the readers of my blog.  Thus I am making this change knowing I will likely lose a few followers.

I've been asked to be more specific on exactly what I mean by family friendly especially when it comes to romance, urban fantasy, paranormal, etc.  I have yet to come up with a concrete black and white line.   It honestly varies from site to site.  If your header and sidebar have steamy book covers & pictures then your site is probably one I'm talking about.  If you review the occasional romance book then I'm not referring to your site.  If you are somewhere in the middle email me with a link to your site and I'll tell you which side you fall on.


The best site I can come up with for where the line is is Good Choice Reading.  They just make the cut and remain on the linky: http://www.goodchoicereading.com/. They are an eclectic review site that features some "adult" books.  From time to time they have a cover as part of a book review I would prefer not to see but generally their header and sidebar are not plastered with racy cover. If you've got more on your site than they do then you won't make the cut. 


I hope that clarification helps.

Thank you for understanding.

Gratitude Giveaway - Thank you for Reading My Blog

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop hosted here on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and co-hosted by All-Consuming Books.   This hop runs until November 27th which will give you plenty of time to enter all the giveaways.

There are 300 blogs each saying thanks to their followers by offering a simple, easy, one entry giveaway. No long list of optional entries on this hop - they are not allowed.

I invite you to join us in this hop by hosting a giveaway for your followers.  I'd be happy to add you to the linky once you have a simple, one entry giveaway post up.  It must be for something a reader, author or blogger would enjoy and include the giveaway hop image & linky. Just send me an email with the link to your post and I'll get you added.

I'm love hosting hops and invite you to participate as often as you can.  Currently sign ups are open for The Book Lover's Hop, The Gift Card's Hop, The Mid-Winter's Eve Hop, The Happy New Year 2012 Hop, and The Dreaming of Books Hop.   Currently I also have almost 20 fabulous book giveaways open.  Links can be found in my right sidebar.

I appreciate all those who visit my blog.  Thank you for being such fabulous followers!!

I have 2 giveaways as part of this Gratitude Giveaway Hop.

MY GIVEAWAYS


Giveaway #1
$10 in Books
Your choice of a $10 amazon.com Gift Card or up to $10 in books from The Book Depository.
Open Internationally as long as you can use an amazon.com gift card OR as long as the book depository ships to your country.








Giveaway #2
Marcia Lynn McClure - 3 Book Giveaway
Divine Deception, Daydreams and Desert Fire
Open to US only
These are the fabulous new covers.

My giveaway is for same great books but they have the old Love Notes Collection Covers and look like this:


To enter just follow this blog any way you like (email, goodreads, GFC, facebook, twitter, etc.) and fill out the form.

WINNERS
$10 in Books: Jo Anne Benware
3 Marcia Lynn McClure Books: LizzieBeth

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: Aine & Faerie Folk By Kathleen S. Allen

Welcome to Author to Author Kathleen S. Allen


Bio:

Kathleen has been writing since she self published her first book of poems at the age of eight. Okay, she copied her poetry in her best printing, she hole punched the sides of paper, tied a red ribbon around it, made a construction paper cover and called it her first book! She writes in different genres, but Young Adult fantasy is her favourite.

Links:
Website: www.gaelicfairie.webs.com
Facebook: Witch Hunter https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Witch-Hunter/142372955812353
Guest blogger every Wednesday on www.downtownya.blogspot.com

Interview:
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 
A bagel with a schmear and tea.

Night owl, or early bird? 
I am a night owl. I stay up late reading and yet I still get up around eight every morning.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? 
Pern. I want to be a either a dragonrider or a Harper Hall singer, Mellony is one of my favourite characters from the Harper Hall Trilogy. I love Anne McCaffrey, she's one of my I-hope-I-can-meet-her-someday-writer.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 
Ireland, on the coast near Galway. My great-grandmother was from Ireland and I've always felt a connection to the country even though I never been there. That's why I set both AINE and FAERIE FOLK in Ireland.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? 
An actress, a singer or a writer. I recall when I was entering high school the career counselor asked me that question and I said, "An actress." And she said, "well, what else? Something practical." I remember walking out of her office thinking she was wrong, I was going to be an actress. . . or a singer. . . or a writer.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
A cottage on the Irish coast so I could write my fantasies there. Of course there'd have to be WiFi nearby!

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
The Dragonriders of Pern

In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with? 
JK Rowling or Anne McCaffrey.

Sweet or Salty?
Salty all the way. My favourite food is popcorn popped in a hot-air popper with butter and salt.

Harry Potter or Twilight? 
Harry Potter, hands down. I have a crush on Lupin and Sirius, oh and Snape. I think Lucius Malfoy is gorgeous but he's evil, so no.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit? 
The Rachel Zoe Project. I'm not into fashion at all but I love this show!

What is your favorite Quote? 
"This is reality, Greg."-From E.T.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? 
Shakespeare, maybe I could collaborate with him! Or Elizabeth I, she was a fiery queen. No, wait, King Arthur and Merlin because I am fascinated with Arthur and the whole legend. In fact I wrote two books inspired by the King Arthur legend. Both are with my agent right now.

Future goals? 
I am doing NaNoWriMo for the month of November---30 days of literary abandon---and then I hope to edit said novel and send it to my agent when it is ready. I just joined a YA/Children's Lit critique group and am looking forward to workshopping with them. I am also slated to start a MFA program in Children's Literature/Young Adult in January at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. It's a low-residency program meaning you do two ten day residencies a year and in between you write, write, write. I already have a Master's in English but one of my goals is to teach creative writing and you need a MFA to do that.

Aine

On Aine's (pronounced An-Ya) sixteenth birthday her Irish grandmother gives her a gift. She has the mark on the back of her right shoulder that signifies she is not human. She is a faerie.

Faerie Folk

Sequel to Aine. All Aine wants to do is come back to America from Ireland and finish the tenth grade. She wants to forget all about being a faerie and go back to being a typical teenager. But, a dark faerie named Grianne has other plans for Aine.

Giveaway Details:
2 winners
1 paperback copy of both Aine & Faerie Folk
1 ebook copy of both Aine & Faerie Folk
Open Internationally
Ends 12/11/11

WINNERS:
Ebook - Elizabeth Case
Paperback - Brooklyn Gibbs