B.B. Shepherd's Blog, page 25

While we're waiting . . .

As the end of September comes hurtling (yes, hurtling!) toward us, I just want to remind everyone that there are TWO books to be won this month. Sign up on either blog (here or on Glistering: B's Blog on Blogspot if you prefer blogger) OR "like" The Glister Journals on Facebook and LEAVE A COMMENT that you'd like a book, and you'll be entered!



Meanwhile . . .



I had the pleasure of discovering a new band last month (new to me . . . they've actually been around for a while and have a devoted following). My friends and I had gone to see Tally Hall in San Francisco (if you are not familiar with them, look them up on YouTube. They're great too but this post is not about them!) and were WOWed (yes absolutely WOWed) by one of the opening bands: SPEAK.



I actually used my new video camera to record them, but as I didn't know what to expect (I had really planned only to video Tally Hall) I missed the beginning of their songs each time. Plus my hand was shaky and there was a really tall dude in front of me that I kept having to avoid. Anyway, if I ever get my video edited adequately (I'm still learning) and if they give me permission, I'll post some from that concert. But I really want to help spread the word about these guys, especially as they have their first full album finished. I love their sound, their performance was great, and they're just friggan adorable. The album is available September 27 (2011) and is called I Believe In Everything.



Enjoy!

September already?!

Where did August go? I moved and my (real) work kicked into full gear. It was a very busy month for me, to be sure, but . . . wow. I hope to have new Glister news to post soon, and there is some random nonsense waiting in the wings as well. Anyway . . .

Congratulations to Mitchell for winning a book in the August giveaway. A couple of errors are being corrected (and the text rechecked) then the book will be on its way. We have one more month – September. Two books are available to win.

The rules of the book giveaway for September are the same:



I am giving away two copies of Bronze. All you have to do is sign up here on my WordPress blog (or on my blog on Blogspot) or "like" The Glister Journals Facebook page, LEAVE A COMMENT stating that you'd like to be entered in the giveaway, and you will be! As simple as that! This is the last month planned for this giveaway, so get your name in now! Good luck!



If you have questions (or comments) about the book or series, I would love to respond, so ask away!

Book cover

Summer Book Giveaway



More Glister info and chapters at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com



Glister Journals chapters on WordPress . . . (Chapters Three and Four will be added soon – no, really this time!)

August Book Giveaway

More Glister info and chapters at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com



Congratulations to Elizabeth C. and Sang S. for winning copies of Bronze for the July Book Giveaway. I hope you enjoy them!



The rules of the book giveaway for August are the same:



I am giving away two copies of Bronze. All you have to do is sign up here on my WordPress blog (or on my blog on Blogspot) or "like" The Glister Journals Facebook page, LEAVE A COMMENT stating that you'd like to be entered in the giveaway, and you will be! As simple as that! If you don't win, your name will be added into the drawing for the next month. Good luck!



If you have questions (or comments) about the book or series, I would love to respond, so ask away!

Book cover

Summer Book Giveaway



Glister Journals chapters on WordPress . . . (Chapters Three and Four will be added soon – really!)

Garlic Watermelon?

Really?



I just saw a lady on the 10 o'clock news eating garlic sprinkled on watermelon. How is it the Garlic Festival always passes me by? I always miss it! I have occasion to drive through Gilroy from time to time – usually on my way from Point A to Point B – but have pit-stopped there frequently too; it's one of those places where everything is right off the freeway (oh, wait – except Starbucks and Peets!).



Don't get me wrong – I actually like Gilroy. It's a lovely area and has good shopping. When I lived on the Central Coast it seemed to be "The Place" to shop – unless you could afford to go to Hong Kong. I've never been able to go to Hong Kong for shopping or anything else, but I wouldn't mind going. Oh wait . . . I was talking about Gilroy . . .



I'm sure you get used to the aroma (is that why there's a town not too far away called Aromas?) I guess the smell loses its potency once you've been there an hour or two shopping, or looking for a coffee shop, but if you're just driving through it sure does a number on you. Especially if you're hungry.



So apparently it's the Garlic Festival all weekend, and I know about it. Now I have to consciously make a decision whether to go or not. Will the lure of garlic watermelon prove irresistible?



I'll let you know . . . .



*Edit*



My friend and I thought we'd go check it out, just for a few hours, but the closer we got to where we assumed 'the action' was, the slower the traffic actually moved. Then I remembered I hadn't bothered to find out if there would be an entrance fee. Everything has an entrance fee. I can't even go for a walk in the park anymore without paying a fee. (The fee was $17.00 for the Garlic Festival, apparently)



Then I also remembered there would no doubt be a parking fee too. Last weekend I'd been happy to pay for the Salinas Rodeo, but hadn't thought about parking. It had cost $10.00 to park on a baseball field and it was worth it. But that was for rodeo. This was for garlic! I wasn't so sure $10.00 was reasonable for parking for garlic. I'm not exactly made out of money.



It turns out that parking was free with a shuttle service, which is good to know . . . for next year. Next year – if I go – I will leave much earlier and probably on a Saturday. Judging from the website, it looks like it would be fun, not to mention the food of course. Yes, next year sounds good.



Summer Book Giveaway



More Glister info and chapters here: theglisterjournals.com



Glister Journals chapters on WordPress . . . (Chapters Three and Four will be added soon.)

July giveaway coming to a close . . .

As July winds down into August, I'd just like to remind everyone interested in winning a copy of The Glister Journals: Bronze that you NEED TO LEAVE A COMMENT letting me know that you want to be entered! Quite a few people have begun following, either the blog or on Facebook, but only one has actually LEFT A COMMENT saying that they want to be entered in the giveaway (Sorry – I don't mean to shout, but without that comment, I don't know whether you want a book or are just curious/supportive!)



It doesn't hurt to enter . . . just LEAVE A COMMENT letting me know! At this point there is still a book available, and anyone not winning this month will be added to the drawing for the following months. Good luck everyone!



Summer Book Giveaway



More Glister info and chapters here: theglisterjournals.com



Glister Journals chapters on WordPress . . . (Chapters Three and Four will be added soon.)

California Rodeo

It's been quite a while since I've been to pro rodeo. For the past few years I've attended high school rodeos, which I have to say, I really enjoy more. But this was fun – if expensive. It was a beautiful day; actually a little on the cool side which is just fine with me.



I got some good video too, which I hope I can capture some nice stills from. I'll try to post some at a later date. I'm also hoping that some of the video might be useful in coming up with some animation for a book trailer I want to make. Yes, I know that trailers are supposed to come out before the event, but if you think about it, they really should come out after. Trailers go behind, right? Anyway, it's just a project, and at this point I don't have a clue how to do animation properly, so it's certainly going to take a while.



Here's a link for a story about a couple of brothers who competed there . . . reminded me a little of the Glister boys: Prorodeo article



Back to the rodeo . . .



One of the things I prefer about high school rodeos I've been to – apart from the amazing riding skills displayed – is being able to watch one event at a time. I like to really watch. I soak it all up. So if it's bull riding, I want to just watch bull riding. I don't mind waiting between bulls. At this rodeo they kept everything moving so that there was always something going on: reining at the same time as roping (NOT in the same space, obviously); barrels at the same time as broncs. That was very distracting. I have attention issues as it is. I want to be able to watch one thing and really see what's going on. Maybe I'm weird, but I'm just not into the whole 'three-ring circus' thing.



Saw some things I hadn't seen before. Mini wagon racing. That was kind of cool, except that there were only two wagons. And a relay race where riders drag a rug that individuals jump on and get pulled – 'drag racing'? The bullfighters were pretty good, but I got a bigger kick out of watching the bulls after they were released into the big arena. Every time a bull was released it would saunter over to the rest of them, they'd turn and walk off together as if to 'powwow' about their experience and the oddities of the human race, then they'd come back to watch the next bull and wait for him to be released and join them. It was very interesting. Yeah, I'm weird like that.




It was over way too soon, but it was a good day. I love rodeo.



More Glister info and chapters here: theglisterjournals.com



Glister Journals chapters on WordPress . . .



Summer Book Giveaway

Bronze Chapters

It has come to my attention that this site is attracting more traffic and attention than the book's website. I'm especially thrilled with the international interest and want to make the book's first chapters more easily available for everyone to read, so I am creating attached pages for them here.



At the top of my blog's main page, right next to where it says "home," you'll find "Bronze" tabs, the prologue through chapter four. This will probably take me several days to update completely so please check back. I will also eventually add a "Reviews" page when I receive enough of them!



I'd love to hear from you and welcome feedback and comments of any kind. I hope you enjoy!



The first few chapters of Bronze can also be read at theglisterjournals.com

Summer Giveaway (update)

We're still giving away two books each month in July and August, and now September too! No one took advantage of June, so I'm extending it to September. Just 'like' us at our Facebook page, or follow here, leave a comment saying you'd like to be entered in the book giveaway, and you are!



Have a fun and SAFE 4th of July!



Comments and questions will be exuberantly responded to.



The first few chapters of Bronze can be read at theglisterjournals.com

June Giveaway

There are still two days left to sign up for June! Two copies of The Glister Journals: Bronze will be given away this month, and also in July, and August. Just follow me here on my blog or on The Glister Journals: Bronze page on Facebook, leave a comment that you'd like to be entered in the giveaway, and you will be!

Summer Giveaway

I know summer is when a lot of people get some serious reading time in (like me), so let me help you fill in that time! For the months of June, July, and August I will be giving away 2 copies of Bronze for each month.

Book cover

Just sign in, follow me, and leave a comment here, and/or "like" my book page on Face Book The Glister Journals: Bronze, leave a comment, and you'll be entered in the drawing for them. If you don't win, your name will be carried over into the next month's drawing. The first winners will be drawn and announced on Thursday, June 30.



The Glister Journals website will be getting a facelift soon, and provision made to get update notifications and be able to comment directly there. In the meantime, I hope you'll read the book and, if you like it, that you will leave a comment telling others. Better yet, if you have an Amazon and/or B&N account, please leave a review! The first four chapters are available to read on the site. Word of mouth and internet reviews are Bronze's main exposure and marketing. Thanks for your help!



There will be future giveaways and contests too. The contests will require that you've read the book, however, so until enough people have, the contests are on hold.