Caitlin McColl's Blog, page 5
May 25, 2011
New Facebook Author Page
In case you don't know, I now have a Facebook author page! You can find it at:www.facebook.com/caitlinmccoll.writer
And on that page, I also have an Author Page App - which you can find HERE.
In other news, I now have a custom email address if you want to contact me regarding my writing! you can reach me at: info@caitlinmccoll.ca
And on that page, I also have an Author Page App - which you can find HERE.
In other news, I now have a custom email address if you want to contact me regarding my writing! you can reach me at: info@caitlinmccoll.ca
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 18
18. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
I feel I've been repeating myself a lot with these questions! I'm going to have to say Stephen King's The Dark Tower series books (surprise, surprise!). And lucky for me (and all other DT Junkies) there is a film coming out! To be released May 17th, 2013 (or is it May 13th? May anyways!). The book series is being made into a trilogy of film and each film is going to bridged with a TV series. I can't wait!
And usually I read a book first before I see the film (usually because that's how it happens - book comes out first, I read it, and then a few years later a movie is made of the book). And I like to read the book before I see the film (unless its a book series I don't care about reading the books but just want to see the film).
However, I haven't read any of Steig Larsson's Millenium series (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo etc) and i've seen both of the films so far, which makes me want to now read the books because I really enjoyed the films (well, not the subject matter. They were both quite disturbing, but really good). So I haven't yet read the books but I plan to!
I think most books that are made into films that I want to see, i've already read the books long before.
What about you? What book do you want to see made into a movie? and do you see the films and then read the books? or vice versa?
I feel I've been repeating myself a lot with these questions! I'm going to have to say Stephen King's The Dark Tower series books (surprise, surprise!). And lucky for me (and all other DT Junkies) there is a film coming out! To be released May 17th, 2013 (or is it May 13th? May anyways!). The book series is being made into a trilogy of film and each film is going to bridged with a TV series. I can't wait!
And usually I read a book first before I see the film (usually because that's how it happens - book comes out first, I read it, and then a few years later a movie is made of the book). And I like to read the book before I see the film (unless its a book series I don't care about reading the books but just want to see the film).
However, I haven't read any of Steig Larsson's Millenium series (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo etc) and i've seen both of the films so far, which makes me want to now read the books because I really enjoyed the films (well, not the subject matter. They were both quite disturbing, but really good). So I haven't yet read the books but I plan to!
I think most books that are made into films that I want to see, i've already read the books long before.
What about you? What book do you want to see made into a movie? and do you see the films and then read the books? or vice versa?
May 24, 2011
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 17
17. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
Of course I recommend books to other people! Who wouldn't?!
And does it have to be one book? Can it be a series of books? if so, I would definitely recommend all of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of 7 books! They're amazing and fantastic and heart warming and heart wrenching and everything in between! They're fantasy, horror, sci-fi, western, a mix of everything. How can you not love that?!
So that's my recommendation of book(s) I would force everyone I know to read!
What about you? what book (or book series?) would you force everyone you know to read?
Of course I recommend books to other people! Who wouldn't?!
And does it have to be one book? Can it be a series of books? if so, I would definitely recommend all of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of 7 books! They're amazing and fantastic and heart warming and heart wrenching and everything in between! They're fantasy, horror, sci-fi, western, a mix of everything. How can you not love that?!
So that's my recommendation of book(s) I would force everyone I know to read!
What about you? what book (or book series?) would you force everyone you know to read?
May 23, 2011
30 day book challenge - Day 16
16. What is the best book you've read in the past year?
I haven't read all that many books in the last year. Besides Stephen King's Dark Tower series I read at the beginning of last year (around this time) the best book i've read this year is Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. They're a great bunch of paranormal/urban fantasy romance books (i've never read any romance books before this, and because it was mixed with urban fantasy i didn't actually mind it!). I loved how the series took place in Dublin, Ireland. I've been to Dublin just once, and only for the day but it was a lovely city. The main character, a young 22 year old girl called MacKayla Lane is a pretty, and vain young girl from the South in the States. Her life is just pools, and parties with friends until her older sister is murdered while living and going to school in Dublin. MacKayla, who goes by 'Mac' then goes on a mission to find out what happened, and who killed her sister by going to Dublin (against her parents wishes), and there she stumbles into a dark and sinister world of demons, monsters and angels, and gets caught in the middle of a hunt for an ancient grimoire, a powerfully magic book that is wanted by all factions (demons and angels alike). Mac is taken under the wing of Jericho Barrons, a mysterious an intimidating man, and owner of Barrons' Books and Baubles, a lovely big old bookstore that MacKayla stumbles into as a safe haven from the scary things in the shadows of un-used areas of the city.
It's a great series - 5 books in all, I read them all in a matter of days - about 2 weeks in total, I think - which gives you an idea of how much I enjoyed them. I highly recommend them!
What's your favourite book of the last year? reply in the comments!
May 22, 2011
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 15
Today's question is:
15. Do you re-read a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have re-read many times.
I have to say no, I don't re-read books. Mainly because...well, i'm not really sure actually! Possibly the same reason why I don't re-watch movies i've already seen (usually) because I remember most or all of what happens, so why bother?
BUT -the books I probably will re-read is Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's such an epic series (7 books, and as is traditional Stephen King, most of them are long!) and he's currently writing the 8th book in the series (even though it's actually finished - but this 8th book is to go in between some of the other ones ( i think book 4 and 5). The story and the characters are so great, and so .... epic, that I'm definitely going to read them again! in fact, I did re-read the first book in the series immediately after finishing the last one, and I picked up on a lot of stuff that i'd missed the first time around (because it didn't make sense at the time).
So most books, despite enjoying them, I probably won't re-read. And there hasn't been many (or any, rather) that i've re-read multiple times. The most i've re-read a book (so far anyway) is just once. I have re-read The Neverending Story and Alice in Wonderland. And I was thinking I should re-read The Secret Garden (that I mentioned in a previous post). In fact, i've just realized I can download that for free to my Kobo ereader!
What about you? Do you re-read books, or not? and if not, why not?
15. Do you re-read a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have re-read many times.
I have to say no, I don't re-read books. Mainly because...well, i'm not really sure actually! Possibly the same reason why I don't re-watch movies i've already seen (usually) because I remember most or all of what happens, so why bother?
BUT -the books I probably will re-read is Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's such an epic series (7 books, and as is traditional Stephen King, most of them are long!) and he's currently writing the 8th book in the series (even though it's actually finished - but this 8th book is to go in between some of the other ones ( i think book 4 and 5). The story and the characters are so great, and so .... epic, that I'm definitely going to read them again! in fact, I did re-read the first book in the series immediately after finishing the last one, and I picked up on a lot of stuff that i'd missed the first time around (because it didn't make sense at the time).
So most books, despite enjoying them, I probably won't re-read. And there hasn't been many (or any, rather) that i've re-read multiple times. The most i've re-read a book (so far anyway) is just once. I have re-read The Neverending Story and Alice in Wonderland. And I was thinking I should re-read The Secret Garden (that I mentioned in a previous post). In fact, i've just realized I can download that for free to my Kobo ereader!
What about you? Do you re-read books, or not? and if not, why not?
May 21, 2011
Bookworm Revival
[image error] Are the rise of E-books hailing the demise of physical paperback books (and therefore eventually of the Library?). An article on May 20th, states that according to Amazon sales of digital ebooks have out-sold regular paper and hardback books. Amazon announced it has sold 105 e-books for every 100 printed books over the past six weeks.
I don't think ebooks will ever fully kill of people's love of the actual printed (not digitally printed!) word, nor will it spell the end of Libraries. Even though I have an ereader and read digital ebooks, I still prefer the feel of an actual book in my hand. I don't know why, but I do. And libraries are great places! especially the amazing ones in ancient cities and Universities all around the world - libraries are part of our past, our history as a civilization. It contains knowledge that is free to all. And most ebooks are not free! I would prefer to buy an actual book from a bookstore than spend the same amount on a digital copy with no...character. I think that is what ebooks lack. Character. Maybe if I had a colour ereader like a Nook colour (or some other colour ereader), it might be different, it might be more like holding a colour cover version of a hardcopy book. But I have a Kobo, which, like the Kindle with its eink technology currently cannot support colour - unless it is an LCD screen - which is harder on the eyes for long periods (like a computer screen).
There is just something comforting about curling up with physical paper book, instead of this hard, thin, flat characterless piece of technology. It's like a real log fire, cracking away, compared to a gas fireplace with those fake whatever-they're-made of logs, where you just flip a switch and the flames pop on. Its similar, but just not the same.
Ebooks just can't compare to 'real' books, and I don't think Libraries (and bookstores) will collapse just due to the popularity (even the dramatically increased popularity) of ebooks.
What do you thin
I don't think ebooks will ever fully kill of people's love of the actual printed (not digitally printed!) word, nor will it spell the end of Libraries. Even though I have an ereader and read digital ebooks, I still prefer the feel of an actual book in my hand. I don't know why, but I do. And libraries are great places! especially the amazing ones in ancient cities and Universities all around the world - libraries are part of our past, our history as a civilization. It contains knowledge that is free to all. And most ebooks are not free! I would prefer to buy an actual book from a bookstore than spend the same amount on a digital copy with no...character. I think that is what ebooks lack. Character. Maybe if I had a colour ereader like a Nook colour (or some other colour ereader), it might be different, it might be more like holding a colour cover version of a hardcopy book. But I have a Kobo, which, like the Kindle with its eink technology currently cannot support colour - unless it is an LCD screen - which is harder on the eyes for long periods (like a computer screen).
There is just something comforting about curling up with physical paper book, instead of this hard, thin, flat characterless piece of technology. It's like a real log fire, cracking away, compared to a gas fireplace with those fake whatever-they're-made of logs, where you just flip a switch and the flames pop on. Its similar, but just not the same.
Ebooks just can't compare to 'real' books, and I don't think Libraries (and bookstores) will collapse just due to the popularity (even the dramatically increased popularity) of ebooks.
What do you thin
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 14
Day 14's question is:
Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
I get books from the library but not as much as I probably should or would like to! only because there isn't a library close to me (but there is one right near my husbands work!). And a lot of the time, the books I want to read seem to be checked out at the library (or damaged or lost) and i'm impatient and don't want to wait until they get returned!
If I try before I buy (i.e. get a book out of the library) I most likely will read it, return it and then not bother buying a copy of it.
And yes, I'm fine with lending books to my friends! as long as they give them back to me - and don't lend them onto other people which then makes it difficult for me to get back!
If I borrow books from friends I definitely remember to return them afterwards - and try to do so as quickly as possible!
What about you? what are your answers to the question? Answer in the comments!
Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
I get books from the library but not as much as I probably should or would like to! only because there isn't a library close to me (but there is one right near my husbands work!). And a lot of the time, the books I want to read seem to be checked out at the library (or damaged or lost) and i'm impatient and don't want to wait until they get returned!
If I try before I buy (i.e. get a book out of the library) I most likely will read it, return it and then not bother buying a copy of it.
And yes, I'm fine with lending books to my friends! as long as they give them back to me - and don't lend them onto other people which then makes it difficult for me to get back!
If I borrow books from friends I definitely remember to return them afterwards - and try to do so as quickly as possible!
What about you? what are your answers to the question? Answer in the comments!
May 20, 2011
Character Chatter #3
Okay, okay I did it again. I missed posting this yesterday when it should've been up. So sue me! First meet the characters (you should know them by now, they're the same as the previous weeks - from my upcoming novel The Clockwork Universe):
Rue: She's stubborn, snarky, acerbic - a tomboy of a teenage girl trapped in a Victorian-esque society of lady-like behaviour.
Kieran: Rue's guardian. an inventor/scientist, all round clever guy. Mild mannered, soft spoken, polite.
This week's question (all thanks to Austine at The Magick Pen) is:
Would you rather have super strength or super intelligence?
Rue: Super strength. Definitely.
Kieran: Why, intelligence of course! It's more important than strength, that much is obvious ot anyone. You can think your way out of any troublesome situation you may find yourself in.
Rue: No, you can fight your way out of anything! It would help if you had some big swords, or guns...
Kieran: We've talked about this before...
Rue: How are you going to use super intelligence to help you if an army of those metal men are heading straight for you? you can't, that's what. Only super strength would work. Don't be an old fuddy-duddy.
Kieran: I am NOT a fuddy-duddy! Do you even know what that means?
Rue: Of course. I don't need any super intelligence to know that you're a dull old geezer!
Kieran: I don't have to sit here and take this *stalks off*
Rue: *pouts* Fine then! I can continue talking about my weapons and my super strength with out!
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 12 and 13
I would've posted day 12's post yesterday (actually ON day 12) but when I got to the point where I had time to write it, I was in too much pain and discomfort to concentrate - after cleaning the house for 3.5 hours straight and I think pretty much pulling/straining every part of my lower back (stupid bathtub and bathtub wall tiles! grrr). so yet again i'm lumping 2 days together.
But you don't mind, do you?
So without further delay, here's the questions for yesterday and today:
12. What author do you own the most books by and why?
Answer: Terry Pratchett. Simply because his books are hilarious, lighthearted, fun, entertaining, his characters are great, and his world (Discworld - I almost just spelled Discoworld there) is fantastic and he takes so much from our mythologies to create his world, characters and setting!
I think I own all of Pratchett's Discworld series books - all 38 (except The Truth and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents which is a YA book). So I own 36 - including the YA/teen books (i.e. A Hat Full of Sky - all the books with the Nac Mac Feegles).
And I LOVE all of the BBC's made-for-tv movies and miniseries so far that have been made of some of the books (Colour Of Magic, Going Postal and Hogfather). I loved Going Postal!
13. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
No. And the rare times that I have, I gave away the extra copy or dropped it off in a book charity box. The only reason i would own multiple copies of a book is by accident - i.e. someone (usually my husband) would buy me a book that he didn't know I already have of a series. Or I would buy a book, liking the look of it, only to realize I already had! I'm not the type of person to buy multiple copies due to different covers or updated info etc.
So what are your answers to questions 12 and
But you don't mind, do you?
So without further delay, here's the questions for yesterday and today:
12. What author do you own the most books by and why?
Answer: Terry Pratchett. Simply because his books are hilarious, lighthearted, fun, entertaining, his characters are great, and his world (Discworld - I almost just spelled Discoworld there) is fantastic and he takes so much from our mythologies to create his world, characters and setting!
I think I own all of Pratchett's Discworld series books - all 38 (except The Truth and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents which is a YA book). So I own 36 - including the YA/teen books (i.e. A Hat Full of Sky - all the books with the Nac Mac Feegles).
And I LOVE all of the BBC's made-for-tv movies and miniseries so far that have been made of some of the books (Colour Of Magic, Going Postal and Hogfather). I loved Going Postal!
13. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
No. And the rare times that I have, I gave away the extra copy or dropped it off in a book charity box. The only reason i would own multiple copies of a book is by accident - i.e. someone (usually my husband) would buy me a book that he didn't know I already have of a series. Or I would buy a book, liking the look of it, only to realize I already had! I'm not the type of person to buy multiple copies due to different covers or updated info etc.
So what are your answers to questions 12 and
May 18, 2011
30 Day Book Challenge - Day 11
Today's question is a nice, easy and quick one to answer (phew!). It is:
What is your current read, your last read and the book you'll read next?
I'm currently reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. A hilarious take on the Apocalypse and good and evil - the main characters are a demon and an angel, and they're supposed to find/track down the Anti-Christ. Both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have humourous writing styles, so the two of them together make this book a great, fun read!
The last book I read was the first of Cherie Priest's The Clockwork Century trilogy called Boneshaker. I really enjoyed it! It's a steampunk/alternate history/zombie apocolypse adventure story. I'd recommend it to all who enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy/steampunk stories!
And the next book I'm going to read? Well, that question is a toughie. There's so many I want to read I don't know what to start next! I have about 18 books on my Kobo ereader. And I have a few stories i've partially started already (i.e. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (by Susanna Clarke), The Difference Engine (by William Gibson) and American Gods (by Neil Gaiman). However, i'm also wanting to start the first of Gail Carriger's paranormal/steampunk romp series The Parasol Protectorate - the first book of which is called Soulless. So! I have my work cut out for me after I finish Good Omens, I think!
WHat
What is your current read, your last read and the book you'll read next?
I'm currently reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. A hilarious take on the Apocalypse and good and evil - the main characters are a demon and an angel, and they're supposed to find/track down the Anti-Christ. Both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have humourous writing styles, so the two of them together make this book a great, fun read!
The last book I read was the first of Cherie Priest's The Clockwork Century trilogy called Boneshaker. I really enjoyed it! It's a steampunk/alternate history/zombie apocolypse adventure story. I'd recommend it to all who enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy/steampunk stories!
And the next book I'm going to read? Well, that question is a toughie. There's so many I want to read I don't know what to start next! I have about 18 books on my Kobo ereader. And I have a few stories i've partially started already (i.e. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (by Susanna Clarke), The Difference Engine (by William Gibson) and American Gods (by Neil Gaiman). However, i'm also wanting to start the first of Gail Carriger's paranormal/steampunk romp series The Parasol Protectorate - the first book of which is called Soulless. So! I have my work cut out for me after I finish Good Omens, I think!
WHat
