Mechele Armstrong's Blog, page 6

Sam Cheever's Halloween Contest

Time is running out to enter Sam Cheever's Halloween contest! Only a few more days. http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/conte...

Sending safe vibes to all those in the path of Hurricane ...

Sending safe vibes to all those in the path of Hurricane Sandy! Be careful everyone. I'm hunkered down critiquing for Cheyenne Meadows!

Friday Five

1. The Frankenstorm approacheth! Not liking all the forecasts. We are making preparations for a power outage. Stay safe everyone!

2. Will be glad when the election is over.

3. Rereading the Stand. OMG I love this book. I'd almost forgotten how much I get into it when I'm reading it. The word usage. The characters. I bow to the brilliance of Stephen King.

4. The Walking Dead? Wow. Just wow. It's been an excellent start to the new season. I finished Rise of the Governor and was blown away by a plot twist. Not the best book I've ever read but that ending did catch me.

5. December 15th from 10-2, 20 authors are coming together at a mall in Richmond, VA for a book signing. You might recognize a name on the blog *whistles*. It should be fun so if you're in the area, make plans now! Lots of great authors and books.

May the muses have flashlights
Mechele

Friday Five

1. Work continues. I'm not as far as I would like but I'm still moving up in the word count.


2. I'm reading The Rise of the Governor, a Walking Dead novel. I've been reading the comics, which are amazing. I find it interesting in Rise of the Governor they are telling the story of a bad guy in the Walking Dead. And yes the season premiere had me glued to my seat. Love the first five minutes there is no dialogue.

3. Don't forget to enter Sam Cheever's Halloween Contest. The more authors you send to, the better your chance on winning the engraved I-pad!!

4. Hubster is doing a biking event on Saturday. Just a shout to him for doing it. Very proud of him. He's been doing biking for a while and really enjoys it.

5. Castle rocks. That is all.

May the muses have contests
Mechele

Sam Cheever's Halloween Contest

Here's the link to my page:




http://www.mechelearmstrong.com/conte...



Follow the directions to be entered in a drawing for a Halloween themed box! The winner of the box's name is passed along to Sam Cheever to be entered in a contest for an I-pad among other goodies.



The more author's you enter with, the greater your chances of winning the I-pad.



Good luck!!!!!



Mechele

Friday Five

1. Writing has slowly started up again. Wrote 3 K on another project. Hoping to get back in the swing of things.

2. Look for a contest announcement soon about Sam Cheever's Halloween Contest. It's always fun and I'm participating again this year.

3. Sadly my oldest's 7th grade Civics teacher passed away from cancer. Oldest is pretty upset. This teacher was a "good one" and a Dr. Who fan. Our thoughts and prayers are going out to their family. Very sad thing. If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it. ~Margaret Fuller. She was definitely a candle that others lit from, including oldest. I think some of oldest's love of history came from that class.
4. I'm reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. It's a young adult book that puts me in mind of Dexter and The Silence of the Lambs. It's engrossing, the characters pop, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm over half way through.

5. Finally watched the Dr. Who finale. *sniffle sniffle* Great send off and OMG the angels are always creepy. Still loving Castle. I wasn't sure how Beckett and Castle would be together but I'm enjoying the chemistry. Revolution? Still meh. Am still watching but I'm not being wowed.

May the muses have legions of Dr. Who fans
Mechele

Kate Hill's Halloween Contest

There are some great prizes. Check it out.

Banned Books Week: What can I do?

I'm a huge supporter of Banned Books Week. I wish I didn't have to be. I wish books weren't challenged/banned. With each post/tweet/update I hope to raise awareness that this does go on. I've attended events in my local area (a seminar with readings from banned books and read in the banned books room at our local library for the past two years (sadly they aren't having it this year but say it will be back)). I read Banned Books. I try to read a book that's been challenged during Banned Books Week every year. I reread Salem's Lot, and read Olive's Ocean, Sandpiper, and The Perks of being a Wallflower in years past. I'm trying Fahrenheit 451 this year.  I bought the red "I read banned books" buttons to help support the cause.

But I think the biggest things I do to support Banned Books Week? I talk to my children about the issues and the week throughout the year. I encourage them to read books that have been challenged. When they were younger, I did hold them off from books until they were a little older but now that they are a tween and a teen, I let them read whatever they want. I try to know what they are reading and if we need to discuss something about the book, we talk about it.

Read freely. Read banned books. Challenge censorship wherever it rears its ugly head. Don't declare because you don't want or don't want your child reading a particular book that no one should be able to.
Talk about these issues. It's the only way we will ever move past them.

Mechele

Banned Books Week: It's personal

I've shared the story a couple of times now so I won't again. You can read it here.

One parent removed a book from my high school library because it was "objectionable." Was the school library better off? I don't really think so. I'll never understand the logic behind it.

Mechele

Friday Five

1. I blogged at TRS Blue on Banned Books Week. Yeah, I know it's probably overkill but is a subject near and dear to my heart.

2. Ahhhh ahhhh ahhhhchooooooo! Silly kids don't share when I want them to and DO share things like colds. Hmpph.

3. Have had some family issues that have hampered my writing time. Hoping to get back on the keyboard, maybe this weekend.

4. Still reading Fahrenheit 451. Haven't had much reading time.

5. Still haven't watched Dr. Who season finale. Have seen spoilers and know I will need a tissue *sniffle*. Warehouse 13 season finale was good. Real cliffhanger in their usual style. Castle was excellent. I'm enjoying the banter. I'm watching Revolution. Still not wowed but I did love a character made two Stephen King references! And another character referenced Peanuts. Hmmm they are trying to bring me in...

May the muses have tissues
Mechele