Heidi Ayarbe's Blog, page 10
December 6, 2011
The Year of Prime ... On the Sixth Day of December ...
As promised, three more recommendations to catch up on the days I've missed!!! And as the rush of December and life kind of swamp me, my recs will be sincere enough but perhaps not as "in depth" as they should be. (Yes, that's a way of saying I'm a slack blogger. Yikes!)
Today, I'm tipping my hat to Edward Bloor. I've heard about TANGERINE for the last ten years or so and was always intrigued but never got around to reading it until this past year. I. Loved. It!
Paul is your average seventh grader ... except for the fact he's "legally blind" and his brother is a psychopath. He has distorted flashbacks about why he's blind, but his fear of learning the truth blocks memories.(Yeah. it's not every day we face those kinds of obstacles).
Paul's looking forward to a fresh start in Tangerine, Florida. While his mom and dad are wrapped up in work and his brother's "football dream", Paul proves himself to be one of the best soccer players at the school, befriends a group of "tough kids", and learns to love the art of tangerine growing. What's most remarkable and wonderful about this novel is Paul -- unassuming, kind, and though he doesn't think so, incredibly courageous. (It takes loads of courage to be kind.) This is a great novel to read for readers and writers, like a blueprint on how to create a complex and wonderfully developed, unexpected hero.
Another classic on my list falls into that "uncomfortable read" category. It's truly, though, one of the most masterful YA novels I've ever read. Most have heard of Robert Cormier's, THE CHOCOLATE WAR. I read it, for the first time, several years ago and just wanted to weep. Jerry begins his refusal to sell chocolates for the annual school fund raiser because he's put up to it by the school mafia -- the kids who really rule the school. But when they tell him it's time to sell and he refuses, the entire balance of power rocks and Jerry becomes an anti-hero, pariah, scapegoat, loathed, admired and totally misunderstood. This is a brutal study of human nature and how we live in a clockwork society -- and what happens to those who live on the edge of what we consider "normal". Intense. Heartbreaking. I'd venture to say it's edging toward that "must read" pile. (Though I hate those "must read" piles because, heck, if anybody told me I "must read" Ulysses, I'd poke my eyes out.) Simply phenomenal. How's that? (Instead of "must read.")
My final rec for the day is a psychological thriller. THE OTHER, published in 1971 and written by Thomas Tryon, is about thirteen-year-old twins growing up in Connecticut in the thirties. One is the "good twin", the other absolutely evil. It takes the reader on a freaky journey through two incredibly messed up kids and has one of those "holy crap" endings. I read it in high school (ahem, over twenty years ago) and still remember wishing I could sleep in my parents' room for about a week. (I didn't. But don't think I didn't REALLY consider it.) Don't read this at night.
Happy reading!
Today, I'm tipping my hat to Edward Bloor. I've heard about TANGERINE for the last ten years or so and was always intrigued but never got around to reading it until this past year. I. Loved. It!
Paul is your average seventh grader ... except for the fact he's "legally blind" and his brother is a psychopath. He has distorted flashbacks about why he's blind, but his fear of learning the truth blocks memories.(Yeah. it's not every day we face those kinds of obstacles).
Paul's looking forward to a fresh start in Tangerine, Florida. While his mom and dad are wrapped up in work and his brother's "football dream", Paul proves himself to be one of the best soccer players at the school, befriends a group of "tough kids", and learns to love the art of tangerine growing. What's most remarkable and wonderful about this novel is Paul -- unassuming, kind, and though he doesn't think so, incredibly courageous. (It takes loads of courage to be kind.) This is a great novel to read for readers and writers, like a blueprint on how to create a complex and wonderfully developed, unexpected hero.
Another classic on my list falls into that "uncomfortable read" category. It's truly, though, one of the most masterful YA novels I've ever read. Most have heard of Robert Cormier's, THE CHOCOLATE WAR. I read it, for the first time, several years ago and just wanted to weep. Jerry begins his refusal to sell chocolates for the annual school fund raiser because he's put up to it by the school mafia -- the kids who really rule the school. But when they tell him it's time to sell and he refuses, the entire balance of power rocks and Jerry becomes an anti-hero, pariah, scapegoat, loathed, admired and totally misunderstood. This is a brutal study of human nature and how we live in a clockwork society -- and what happens to those who live on the edge of what we consider "normal". Intense. Heartbreaking. I'd venture to say it's edging toward that "must read" pile. (Though I hate those "must read" piles because, heck, if anybody told me I "must read" Ulysses, I'd poke my eyes out.) Simply phenomenal. How's that? (Instead of "must read.")
My final rec for the day is a psychological thriller. THE OTHER, published in 1971 and written by Thomas Tryon, is about thirteen-year-old twins growing up in Connecticut in the thirties. One is the "good twin", the other absolutely evil. It takes the reader on a freaky journey through two incredibly messed up kids and has one of those "holy crap" endings. I read it in high school (ahem, over twenty years ago) and still remember wishing I could sleep in my parents' room for about a week. (I didn't. But don't think I didn't REALLY consider it.) Don't read this at night.
Happy reading!
December 5, 2011
The Year of Prime ... On the Fifth Day of December
ACK!!
I've missed four days. Four days of wonderful, phenomenal, fantastic books I'd love to recommend (great holiday gifts!), so, cheating (a bit), I'm cheating. I'm putting three-in-one here (and will catch up tomorrow with another three!) ... THREE BOOKS THAT I ABSOLUTELY a.) loved b.) really felt moved by c.) really felt disturbed by d.) and loved.
Sometimes a great book doesn't end up leaving you with a great feeling. It's uncomfortable, it makes you question yourself, how you feel about things, how you view the world. And my first rec of the month is such a book.
LIE, by Caroline Bock is totally and completely uncomfortable. A story about kids who, for kicks, go beating up Mexicans (any Latinos, really, but they just jumble them all together in the same basket) on weekends in Long Island and something goes horribly wrong. Told from several POVs of kids involved, parents not wanting to be involved, a Mexican coach, a principal who feels like this should just "go away" ... That idea of "everybody knows, nobody's talking" that we all get swept up in at time. The nuance of racism and how we often turn a blind eye to what's in front of us made me feel squirmy.
LIE is one of those books that I was SO RELIEVED I had finished but so glad I had read.
Next up on my rec list is a book I absolutely, positively loved. FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB by Antony John is simply wonder. Winner of the 2011 Schneider Family Award, this novel is about Piper, a teen misfit, who's been given the job of manager of the school rock band DUMB. She has one month to get them a payinggig. Easy, right? Except for the band's leader is an egomaniac who's invited a hot, talent-less girl on board because, well, she's hot, and the guitar players can't really play. Their only hope is a band-geek to get them in line. Basically, the band sucks. And on top of it all, Piper can't hear a thing because she's deaf. This is one of those perfectly written novels about kids being kids and overcoming insane obstacles -- not the obvious ones (being deaf and having tone deaf band members) -- but the ones that kids have to deal with everyday: acceptance, tolerance, first love, conflicts with parents and more. I laughed out loud. What a wonderful, WONDERFUL novel.
OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D Schmidt is next on my list. The Newberry Winner for THE WEDNESDAY WARS, OKAY FOR NOW has already gotten a National Book Award Finalist nod and it is so deserved. Doug Swieteck is new in town and has everything going against him: a drunk, mean father, an almost-meaner brother whose reputation makes it hard for Doug to do "anything" right at school, a brother who's returning from Vietnam a very different person, a horrible, PE teacher who's got it out for him ... basically, the list goes on and on. And on top of it all, Doug can't read. But Doug can draw, and gets drawing lessons from the town librarian, tutoring from the horrible English teacher, a job delivering groceries for his only friend, Lil's, father and somehow finds a way, through kindness, perseverance, and friendship to turn his life around. I cried many times in this heartbreaking story. It's so beautifully written. The story weaves in the themes of loss, hope, anger, abuse masterfully. Hats of to Mr. Schmidt for such a beautiful, beautiful story. He makes me want to be a better writer.
Happy reading!! Holidays and books ... you can't go wrong!
I've missed four days. Four days of wonderful, phenomenal, fantastic books I'd love to recommend (great holiday gifts!), so, cheating (a bit), I'm cheating. I'm putting three-in-one here (and will catch up tomorrow with another three!) ... THREE BOOKS THAT I ABSOLUTELY a.) loved b.) really felt moved by c.) really felt disturbed by d.) and loved.
Sometimes a great book doesn't end up leaving you with a great feeling. It's uncomfortable, it makes you question yourself, how you feel about things, how you view the world. And my first rec of the month is such a book.
LIE, by Caroline Bock is totally and completely uncomfortable. A story about kids who, for kicks, go beating up Mexicans (any Latinos, really, but they just jumble them all together in the same basket) on weekends in Long Island and something goes horribly wrong. Told from several POVs of kids involved, parents not wanting to be involved, a Mexican coach, a principal who feels like this should just "go away" ... That idea of "everybody knows, nobody's talking" that we all get swept up in at time. The nuance of racism and how we often turn a blind eye to what's in front of us made me feel squirmy.
LIE is one of those books that I was SO RELIEVED I had finished but so glad I had read.
Next up on my rec list is a book I absolutely, positively loved. FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB by Antony John is simply wonder. Winner of the 2011 Schneider Family Award, this novel is about Piper, a teen misfit, who's been given the job of manager of the school rock band DUMB. She has one month to get them a payinggig. Easy, right? Except for the band's leader is an egomaniac who's invited a hot, talent-less girl on board because, well, she's hot, and the guitar players can't really play. Their only hope is a band-geek to get them in line. Basically, the band sucks. And on top of it all, Piper can't hear a thing because she's deaf. This is one of those perfectly written novels about kids being kids and overcoming insane obstacles -- not the obvious ones (being deaf and having tone deaf band members) -- but the ones that kids have to deal with everyday: acceptance, tolerance, first love, conflicts with parents and more. I laughed out loud. What a wonderful, WONDERFUL novel.
OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D Schmidt is next on my list. The Newberry Winner for THE WEDNESDAY WARS, OKAY FOR NOW has already gotten a National Book Award Finalist nod and it is so deserved. Doug Swieteck is new in town and has everything going against him: a drunk, mean father, an almost-meaner brother whose reputation makes it hard for Doug to do "anything" right at school, a brother who's returning from Vietnam a very different person, a horrible, PE teacher who's got it out for him ... basically, the list goes on and on. And on top of it all, Doug can't read. But Doug can draw, and gets drawing lessons from the town librarian, tutoring from the horrible English teacher, a job delivering groceries for his only friend, Lil's, father and somehow finds a way, through kindness, perseverance, and friendship to turn his life around. I cried many times in this heartbreaking story. It's so beautifully written. The story weaves in the themes of loss, hope, anger, abuse masterfully. Hats of to Mr. Schmidt for such a beautiful, beautiful story. He makes me want to be a better writer.
Happy reading!! Holidays and books ... you can't go wrong!
November 11, 2011
The Year of Prime ... WANTED: COVER REVEAL AND PRIZES woot!
You can enter to win a plethora of prizes:
1. Best WANTED poster: signed copy of Freeze Frame
2. Best Bonnie & Clyde pairing (YA): signed copy of Compromised
3. Just check us out and get a signed ARC of WANTED (yep ... out May 1, 2012 ... be the first to read!)
4. SWAG
Just click here to enter!! Simultaneous contest with Kari and her fearless dog Toby from A Good Addiction and the lovely ladies Stacy, Nancy and Shannan from Girls in the Stacks!
Happy reading! Good luck. And have fun!
November 10, 2011
The Year of Prime ... WANTED: World Domination
Upload your own WANTED posters ... and the most witty, interesting, and funny ones just might win a prize.
Okay. You'll win a prize. You just have to make us laugh.
Check out what The Girls in the Stacks and A Good Addiction WANT ...
Okay. You'll win a prize. You just have to make us laugh.
Check out what The Girls in the Stacks and A Good Addiction WANT ...
November 9, 2011
The Year of Prime ... A Little about Bonnie and Clyde ... WANTED cover reveal and signed ARC giveaway coming upl!
We hear it all the time. "It's a total Bonnie and Clyde-style movie, book, TV show." And we say it with a little bit of reverence. Awe, even.
Bonnie and Clyde, the romantic robbing duo, are legendary.
But, really, who were they?
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow were leaders of a gang during the public enemy era -- something very similar to what Colombia went through in the eighties and Mexico is going through now: an era marked by violent criminal bands that steal and kill to further their own personal wealth and for cheap thrills. What set this particular gang apart is Bonnie. A woman. And a pretty one at that. Dillinger was sexy. Pretty Boy Floyd had the cool nickname. Clyde had Bonnie, and had it not been for her, he'd have been dismissed as the thug he really was. (Not so romantic, really. Downright scary.) Plus, two young UNMARRIED people traveling around the country together, chain smoking cigarettes created an aura of the forbidden. Hell, they were SEXY. (Plus, she was technically a married woman, having married a high school sweetheart when she was sixteen and never officially divorcing. When she was killed, she was still wearing her wedding band.)
There's been no proof as to whether Bonnie ever killed anyone. But the gang killed at least nine police officers and several civilians during their rampage across the Central US robbing small stores, gas stations, and a dozen or so banks. This gang wasn't spreading the wealth, either. "Steal from the rich, give to the poor," is Robin Hood, not Bonnie and Clyde. Basically, the fact that Bonnie was a hottie and Clyde wasn't so bad himself; the assumption they had a sexual relationship; the idea that they were a forbidden couple -- all of these things let them get by, literally, with murder and be swept up in a media frenzy of romanticism and legend. They were killed by officers in Louisiana, shooting about 130 rounds in the couple. Ouch.
Nevertheless, our mythic couple appears in modern-day movies all the time: Natural Born Killers, Pulp Fiction, even Justin Timberlake's latest futuristic movie In Time. (The last was insane to me since "Bonnie" spent the whole movie running at a full sprint in six-inch black heels. I sure hope she got paid extra for that. Her acting wasn't stellar, but how can you give the performance of a lifetime with pinched toes? Really? Could they not have found something a little more practical for her to wear?)
This is all building up to my big WANTED cover reveal this Friday (sharing the hoopla with my friends at Girls In the Stacks and A Good Addiction) in which I bought into the media myth of Bonnie and Clyde with the Robin Hood twist and turned it on the world of YA -- pairing up Michal and Josh, a high school bookie and trust-fund kid, who go from a school prank to a crime spree.
So before the big cover reveal this Friday in which YOU CAN WIN A SIGNED ARC OF WANTED, my novel that will be out May 1, 2012 (yay!), I'd like to know this: Which YA or MG characters would you pair up to reek havoc on the world whether it be for good or just plain old malice throwing in a little romance here and there? Here are my picks:
Doug Lee (the mc from FAT VAMPIRE by Adam Rex) and Dicey Tillerman (from HOMECOMING, DICEY'S SONG etc. by Cynthia Voigt)
Why? I get a little bored with sexy main characters. Yeah. I GET that it's our fantasy, but since I am into the real thing, I like real characters who look like real characters (aka, not sparkly) and are goofy and charismatic and funny and flawed and not necessarily beautiful from a media point of view; characters who struggle with their identities and are sometimes hateful and spiteful and not likeable but characters we can really relate to because of it. Plus, it'd be fun to pair Doug's overt need to fit in with Dicey's total disinterest in what people think of her. I think they'd probably end up killing each other, but it'd be fun to watch them find a way to fit together.
What about you?? Who'd you pair up and why?
And stay tuned for a cover-reveal Friday and a chance to win a signed ARC of WANTED ... Be one of the first to read it!
Bonnie and Clyde, the romantic robbing duo, are legendary.
But, really, who were they?
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow were leaders of a gang during the public enemy era -- something very similar to what Colombia went through in the eighties and Mexico is going through now: an era marked by violent criminal bands that steal and kill to further their own personal wealth and for cheap thrills. What set this particular gang apart is Bonnie. A woman. And a pretty one at that. Dillinger was sexy. Pretty Boy Floyd had the cool nickname. Clyde had Bonnie, and had it not been for her, he'd have been dismissed as the thug he really was. (Not so romantic, really. Downright scary.) Plus, two young UNMARRIED people traveling around the country together, chain smoking cigarettes created an aura of the forbidden. Hell, they were SEXY. (Plus, she was technically a married woman, having married a high school sweetheart when she was sixteen and never officially divorcing. When she was killed, she was still wearing her wedding band.)
There's been no proof as to whether Bonnie ever killed anyone. But the gang killed at least nine police officers and several civilians during their rampage across the Central US robbing small stores, gas stations, and a dozen or so banks. This gang wasn't spreading the wealth, either. "Steal from the rich, give to the poor," is Robin Hood, not Bonnie and Clyde. Basically, the fact that Bonnie was a hottie and Clyde wasn't so bad himself; the assumption they had a sexual relationship; the idea that they were a forbidden couple -- all of these things let them get by, literally, with murder and be swept up in a media frenzy of romanticism and legend. They were killed by officers in Louisiana, shooting about 130 rounds in the couple. Ouch.
Nevertheless, our mythic couple appears in modern-day movies all the time: Natural Born Killers, Pulp Fiction, even Justin Timberlake's latest futuristic movie In Time. (The last was insane to me since "Bonnie" spent the whole movie running at a full sprint in six-inch black heels. I sure hope she got paid extra for that. Her acting wasn't stellar, but how can you give the performance of a lifetime with pinched toes? Really? Could they not have found something a little more practical for her to wear?)
This is all building up to my big WANTED cover reveal this Friday (sharing the hoopla with my friends at Girls In the Stacks and A Good Addiction) in which I bought into the media myth of Bonnie and Clyde with the Robin Hood twist and turned it on the world of YA -- pairing up Michal and Josh, a high school bookie and trust-fund kid, who go from a school prank to a crime spree.
So before the big cover reveal this Friday in which YOU CAN WIN A SIGNED ARC OF WANTED, my novel that will be out May 1, 2012 (yay!), I'd like to know this: Which YA or MG characters would you pair up to reek havoc on the world whether it be for good or just plain old malice throwing in a little romance here and there? Here are my picks:
Doug Lee (the mc from FAT VAMPIRE by Adam Rex) and Dicey Tillerman (from HOMECOMING, DICEY'S SONG etc. by Cynthia Voigt)
Why? I get a little bored with sexy main characters. Yeah. I GET that it's our fantasy, but since I am into the real thing, I like real characters who look like real characters (aka, not sparkly) and are goofy and charismatic and funny and flawed and not necessarily beautiful from a media point of view; characters who struggle with their identities and are sometimes hateful and spiteful and not likeable but characters we can really relate to because of it. Plus, it'd be fun to pair Doug's overt need to fit in with Dicey's total disinterest in what people think of her. I think they'd probably end up killing each other, but it'd be fun to watch them find a way to fit together.
What about you?? Who'd you pair up and why?
And stay tuned for a cover-reveal Friday and a chance to win a signed ARC of WANTED ... Be one of the first to read it!
September 26, 2011
The Year of Prime ... The Lamentable Act of Banning ... or worse NOT READING!
I miss banning. I miss people getting offended about a book and making a stink. I miss the debate about whether or not a book is appropriate and should be removed from the shelves.This is a weird lament considering I'm an author and find any kind of censorship appalling. But when I hear about a censored, banned, or challenged book in the States, part of me feels a sense of longing because that can ONLY happen when there are readers. (Certainly misguided, ignorant readers, but readers nonetheless. And, yes, I'm aware most banning happens when a parent, administrator, blockhead, whoever hasn't actually READ the book but HEARD about the book.) Here, though, when I mention book banning, I sometimes, very rarely, get a response akin to: Oh yeah. That happened to me in the 1970s when there was this popular erotic poet. My parents FREAKED out when I was reading his work.
And then the topic changes from books to something very not book related. This is because, quite simply, people don't read in Colombia. I'm not saying they CAN'T read, but the habit of reading, joy of reading is virtually non-existent. In Pereira, the average book read PER YEAR is fewer than one. (This counts ALL SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO ARE "FORCED" TO READ BOOKS).
People FIGHT to read in some places. People DIE to read in some places. I live in a place where this freedom is there ... at all times ... but it's not cherished.
Excuses abound:
Time. "I don't have time." (This makes NO sense to me since I always have time to read ... ALWAYS. It's just part of my daily habit. It's like eating. Sleeping. Reading. Essential daily activities.)
Expense. "Books are expensive." (Welcome to the world of the library!)
Interest. "There's nothing to read." (*faint*)
See what I'm getting at here?
So book banning is a conversation we can't have until we have book reading. So maybe I don't miss banners after all.
I miss readers.
September 6, 2011
The Year of Prime ... Random Acts of Publicity!
Random Acts of Publicity was started by the amazing Darcy Pattison, a tireless blogger, author, and promoter of great children's literature ... great literature, in fact.
So to begin celebrating my Random Acts of Publicity Week, I'm going to howl out to three amazing, talented authors whose work blows me away. (Not to mention the fact they're pretty amazing people!) The first HOWL, literally, goes out to:
CHRISTINE JOHNSON'S sequel to Claire de Lune, Nocturne, was released a couple of weeks ago to a hoard of happy fans waiting to find out what will happen with our, ahem, hairy heroine, Claire. :-)
Adventure, a little bit of blood (they're werewolves, remember?), romance, tension, and surprising twists make this a great read.
Fans of SCONES will be thrilled to hear LINDSAY ELAND has another book in the works. This light-hearted read about Polly, a misguided matchmaker, is quirky, funny, and a great break from the insanity of real life. It's the perfect choice for hopeless romantics and Jane Austin fans ... cynics and more!
Welcome to the world of steampunk, anamatrons, and pretty much the creepiest Harlequin on the planet. KATE MILFORD's take on making deals with the devil throws us into a dusty, summertime world of a small town in his clutches. Natalie Minks, our heroine, takes us on the ride of our lives.
A favorite element that all these novels has is a strong heroine -- flawed, unique, and really insanely determined. It's wonderful to see lit applaud the strength of female characters, turn cliches upside down and shake them up a bit.
Happy reading! And please spread the word about YOUR favorite novels. All week, I'll be howling out novels that I love and just happen to know the authors. (How cool is that?)
So to begin celebrating my Random Acts of Publicity Week, I'm going to howl out to three amazing, talented authors whose work blows me away. (Not to mention the fact they're pretty amazing people!) The first HOWL, literally, goes out to:
CHRISTINE JOHNSON'S sequel to Claire de Lune, Nocturne, was released a couple of weeks ago to a hoard of happy fans waiting to find out what will happen with our, ahem, hairy heroine, Claire. :-)Adventure, a little bit of blood (they're werewolves, remember?), romance, tension, and surprising twists make this a great read.
Fans of SCONES will be thrilled to hear LINDSAY ELAND has another book in the works. This light-hearted read about Polly, a misguided matchmaker, is quirky, funny, and a great break from the insanity of real life. It's the perfect choice for hopeless romantics and Jane Austin fans ... cynics and more!
Welcome to the world of steampunk, anamatrons, and pretty much the creepiest Harlequin on the planet. KATE MILFORD's take on making deals with the devil throws us into a dusty, summertime world of a small town in his clutches. Natalie Minks, our heroine, takes us on the ride of our lives.A favorite element that all these novels has is a strong heroine -- flawed, unique, and really insanely determined. It's wonderful to see lit applaud the strength of female characters, turn cliches upside down and shake them up a bit.
Happy reading! And please spread the word about YOUR favorite novels. All week, I'll be howling out novels that I love and just happen to know the authors. (How cool is that?)
August 29, 2011
The Year of Prime ... Dios a Domicilio ... Soccer Mania ... Colombia from the Hip
Okay. I've been slack.
Big time.
Time is no excuse since I know every blogger out there in bloggersphere has lots to do as well. Many have kids, full time jobs, but it seems all manage to maintain their blogs. I, however, do not.
That said, I'm back ... though I can't really promise this will be as regular as I dream. And I'm back with a rant, a rave, and A GIVEAWAY! (So that's not SOOOO bad)
RANT: DIOS A DOMICILIO
I live in Colombia, for those who didn't know, and am surrounded by the world of Catholicism. Which is fine. I was raised in a Christian tradition, baptized Lutheran, and many of the Catholic beliefs and values are what I was taught as a little girl. But there's something that just bugs the hell out of me here: mass ... everywhere. In shopping malls, grocery stores, tennis clubs, country clubs and more, mass services are given. EVERYWHERE. Like everywhere. Priests even go to people's apartment complexes to give mass. Now, I'm all for portable holy water -- it's almost comical to me to think of portable holy water, actually. Sure, we're in a world in which we need all the drops of goodness we can get, but what bugs me (besides the fact I'm not Catholic and don't like mass and don't really want to hear it EVERYWHERE I GO) is the idea that now God comes to your door if you're too bloody lazy to go to church. Harsh? Yep. I know it sounds brutal, but to me the idea of religion for those who practice is a sense of sacrifice. A sense of commitment outside of our regular day-to-day activities. So, if I'm too freaking lazy to go to church, but it's CONVENIENT for me to have mass at the mall or country club where it doesn't interrupt my day too much so I can have my coffee, meet with friends and do a little shopping, it all seems WRONG. And invasive. Dude, I don't want to hear your mass and services. Really. I don't. If I did, I'D GO TO CHURCH. Really. So this whole tendency of take-out God services just bugs me. Keep your church and services in your church, and let me buy my mangoes in peace. And if you can't manage to get to church or a cathedral or wherever you want to be to pray, then it probably isn't that important to you to begin with.
RAVE: U-20 WORLD CUP MANIA
Colombia put on one of the most beautiful, organized World Cup tournaments ever!! And I'm so proud. Our local stadium was revamped for this occasion and is, without a doubt, one of the classiest, most gorgeous stadiums I've ever been in. (And I've been to Camp Nou in Barcelona and Boca's Bonbonera in Buenos Aires.) I think it's given a little uumph to our local team, Pereira, too. Last night they beat Equidad in Bogota ... and pretty much need a near-perfect season to NOT drop down to B ... So, hopefully it's an inspiration to play pretty amazing and win, like every game, this season. Yep. We kind of need a miracle here for Deportivo Pereira. If that miracle comes in the form of a new stadium, that works for me!
GIVEAWAY
As promised, a giveaway!! Click over on the cool GOODREADS button to the side and win a signed paperback of COMPROMISED.
Big time.
Time is no excuse since I know every blogger out there in bloggersphere has lots to do as well. Many have kids, full time jobs, but it seems all manage to maintain their blogs. I, however, do not.
That said, I'm back ... though I can't really promise this will be as regular as I dream. And I'm back with a rant, a rave, and A GIVEAWAY! (So that's not SOOOO bad)
RANT: DIOS A DOMICILIO
I live in Colombia, for those who didn't know, and am surrounded by the world of Catholicism. Which is fine. I was raised in a Christian tradition, baptized Lutheran, and many of the Catholic beliefs and values are what I was taught as a little girl. But there's something that just bugs the hell out of me here: mass ... everywhere. In shopping malls, grocery stores, tennis clubs, country clubs and more, mass services are given. EVERYWHERE. Like everywhere. Priests even go to people's apartment complexes to give mass. Now, I'm all for portable holy water -- it's almost comical to me to think of portable holy water, actually. Sure, we're in a world in which we need all the drops of goodness we can get, but what bugs me (besides the fact I'm not Catholic and don't like mass and don't really want to hear it EVERYWHERE I GO) is the idea that now God comes to your door if you're too bloody lazy to go to church. Harsh? Yep. I know it sounds brutal, but to me the idea of religion for those who practice is a sense of sacrifice. A sense of commitment outside of our regular day-to-day activities. So, if I'm too freaking lazy to go to church, but it's CONVENIENT for me to have mass at the mall or country club where it doesn't interrupt my day too much so I can have my coffee, meet with friends and do a little shopping, it all seems WRONG. And invasive. Dude, I don't want to hear your mass and services. Really. I don't. If I did, I'D GO TO CHURCH. Really. So this whole tendency of take-out God services just bugs me. Keep your church and services in your church, and let me buy my mangoes in peace. And if you can't manage to get to church or a cathedral or wherever you want to be to pray, then it probably isn't that important to you to begin with.
RAVE: U-20 WORLD CUP MANIA
Colombia put on one of the most beautiful, organized World Cup tournaments ever!! And I'm so proud. Our local stadium was revamped for this occasion and is, without a doubt, one of the classiest, most gorgeous stadiums I've ever been in. (And I've been to Camp Nou in Barcelona and Boca's Bonbonera in Buenos Aires.) I think it's given a little uumph to our local team, Pereira, too. Last night they beat Equidad in Bogota ... and pretty much need a near-perfect season to NOT drop down to B ... So, hopefully it's an inspiration to play pretty amazing and win, like every game, this season. Yep. We kind of need a miracle here for Deportivo Pereira. If that miracle comes in the form of a new stadium, that works for me!
GIVEAWAY
As promised, a giveaway!! Click over on the cool GOODREADS button to the side and win a signed paperback of COMPROMISED.
May 9, 2011
The Year of Prime ... GIVEAWAYS ... and some GREAT pickup lines!
Here we are again ... giveaways, SWAG, and all sorts of nutty things going on ... That said, I LOVED this blog tour because it made me work really hard, I got to create some interesting side stories for my secondary characters and INVESTIGATE BEST PICKUP LINES ... EVER!
So, here you have it. Luc's best pickup lines at Page's place at One Book Time blogspot! Along with the sweet lines you can win a cup of the real deal ... Colombian coffee and SWAG.
So, here you have it. Luc's best pickup lines at Page's place at One Book Time blogspot! Along with the sweet lines you can win a cup of the real deal ... Colombian coffee and SWAG.
May 7, 2011
The Year of Prime ... CHEERIOS PLETHORA ... LIFE LAG AND GIVEAWAYS
Considering Colombia is only a two-hour time difference from Nevada, I can't really call this jet lag, but it's been a bit of an insane week with life, travel, family, AN AMAZING BOOK LAUNCH, ongoing blog tour and more (even though I'm not PRESENT during blog tour, I'm sure paying attention!) ... So this is my LIFE LAG blog.
Okay. And I've been busy consuming inordinate amounts of honey bunches of Ohs ... wait. Wrong slogan. Cheerios, Cheerios ... ahhh ...
On Thursday, we had a wonderful launch party to celebrate COMPULSION and the amazingness of my community -- the librarians who hosted the party, Comma Coffee, and the local band Hick'ry Switch (bluegrass music and book signings ... couldn't be better!)
That said, I'm listing the wonderful bloggers and links to their posts ... places where you can win everything from SWAG to books and more.
On Monday, May 2, Mundie Moms had a great post on OCD and compulsions with A SIGNED COPY OF COMPULSION to give away! (Great prize!)
May 3: Stop by Jessica's place, at a Fantastic Book Blog to hear from Luc, COMPULSION'S heartthrob and win a cool Colombian movie that will, no doubt, shed some light on Colombian customs and soccer
obsession.
May 5: At Sherry's place, at Flipping Pages for All Ages, this was one of my favorite blog posts that has character tweets from three different characters in my three novels. Win SWAG!
May 6: Over at Kathy's, at I am A Reader Not a Writer, I talk about my dinner with John Stewart and Anderson Cooper ... AND ... you can win a paperback copy of COMPROMISED. (Very cool!)
May 8: On Mother's Day, I'll be over at Melanie G's place, the Reclusive Bibliophile, talking about what I do when I'm not writing! (Which is most of the time!). Win SWAG and peek into the very unglamorous world of a writer and mom! ;-) (But happy world!)
I will be better ...and soon the massive mailing of SWAG, books and prizes will begin! Thanks to everyone. Now ... back to Cheerios!
Happy Weekend!
Okay. And I've been busy consuming inordinate amounts of honey bunches of Ohs ... wait. Wrong slogan. Cheerios, Cheerios ... ahhh ...
On Thursday, we had a wonderful launch party to celebrate COMPULSION and the amazingness of my community -- the librarians who hosted the party, Comma Coffee, and the local band Hick'ry Switch (bluegrass music and book signings ... couldn't be better!)
That said, I'm listing the wonderful bloggers and links to their posts ... places where you can win everything from SWAG to books and more.
On Monday, May 2, Mundie Moms had a great post on OCD and compulsions with A SIGNED COPY OF COMPULSION to give away! (Great prize!)
May 3: Stop by Jessica's place, at a Fantastic Book Blog to hear from Luc, COMPULSION'S heartthrob and win a cool Colombian movie that will, no doubt, shed some light on Colombian customs and soccer
obsession.
May 5: At Sherry's place, at Flipping Pages for All Ages, this was one of my favorite blog posts that has character tweets from three different characters in my three novels. Win SWAG!
May 6: Over at Kathy's, at I am A Reader Not a Writer, I talk about my dinner with John Stewart and Anderson Cooper ... AND ... you can win a paperback copy of COMPROMISED. (Very cool!)
May 8: On Mother's Day, I'll be over at Melanie G's place, the Reclusive Bibliophile, talking about what I do when I'm not writing! (Which is most of the time!). Win SWAG and peek into the very unglamorous world of a writer and mom! ;-) (But happy world!)
I will be better ...and soon the massive mailing of SWAG, books and prizes will begin! Thanks to everyone. Now ... back to Cheerios!
Happy Weekend!
