Emily H. Bates's Blog, page 5

Farewell, Alan Rickman

“The air is full of spices.”

“It could be worse. You could be the manically depressed robot.”

“Because it’s dull, you twit, it’ll hurt more!”

“There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class.”

You’ll start happening too

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.

(Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!)

* * *

Things have been happening all over the place around here. Last week, I heard there was a new bookstore in the area, and I had to go check it out.

The Neverending Bookshop is a delightful little used bookstore in downtown Bothell. Scout loves the children’s se...

Strong female leads aren’t enough

Along with the Demon’s Heart trilogy, I’m working on another series that’s been brewing in one form or another for a good decade now. I’ve worked at it on and off through the years, but it went through a long stretch on the shelf for one reason:

Both the main characters were boys.

I felt somehow that I was betraying my fellow women by writing a story in which the female characters play only supporting roles. I read articles about how we need more strong female leads, how girls need better lit...

“Do you think things always have an explanation?” “Yes. I...

“Do you think things always have an explanation?”

“Yes. I believe that they do. But I think that with our human limitations we’re not always able to understand the explanations. But you see, Meg, just because we don’t understand doesn’t mean that the explanation doesn’t exist.” (Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, 47)

It’s coming!

I had a lovely rant planned for today, but I can’t muster enough energy to get worked up about it right now. So look forward to that next week. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few updates on things that are coming up in the near future.

First things first. As I’m now less than three months out, I suppose it’s about time that I announce I’m having a baby. Some of you who follow me on Twitter may have picked up on that already, but I don’t think I ever got around to posting it here on th...

Top reads of 2015

I shared my complete Goodreads list from this year’s reading in my last post, but I wanted to take a minute to highlight some of my favorites. Because, you know, everyone needs a few more books on their to-read list. :)

This was apparently a big year for reading/finishing series, so we’ll start with those.

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (series, graphic novel): I picked this series up when I was exploring the world of graphic novels and loved it. Great story for young readers.

Jinx by Sage B...

Another year of books

“Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true.” (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society)

Another year of fabulous reading is almost at an end! I was wretchedly ill on Christmas, but still managed to enjoy the day reading (and rereading and rereading) Scout’s horde of new books (more just kept appearing under the tree, I don’t know how it happened). Once she went down for her nap, I pored ov...

12 Giveaways: Bloodline

Welcome to the last day of our 12 Giveaways! Tara Ellis is our final author, giving away her sci-fi novel Bloodline. Read on below, then take advantage of this last day to enter all 24 giveaways!

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12 Giveaways of Christmas

WELCOME!

I’m excited to be a part of a great group of ‘clean read’ authors, who have come together this Christmas season, to offer twelve days of book giveaways! Each day, until the 25th, I will be sharing another authors giveaway, as well as my own!

Be sure to enter t...

12 Giveaways: Angela Carling

Today you get a choice of four novels from author Angela Carling! Get the details below, then check out all 24 other giveaways running! Only two days left now!

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Welcome to the 11th Day of the Twelve Days of Giveaways!

Twenty four authors of all genres have worked together to bring you AMAZING giveaways and just in time to celebrate the big day of giving.

Today is Day One of the fun and it’s my giveaway day. Who am I, Young Adult Author Angela Carling. Here’s my bio for those of you seeing...

12 Giveaways: Christmas Socks

Cassie Shiels is visiting today with a giveaway of her new children’s book, Christmas Socks. Read more about it below, then visit here for a chance to get even more free books!

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Myself and 23 other authors are giving away one of our books during a very special 12 days of Christmas!

From Dec 14th to Dec 25th we are all giving away a book and winners will be announced daily.

The book I am giving away is my new Children’s book called: Christmas socks

About the book: Macy, Ally and Ruby love...