Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 45
June 26, 2015
The Cephalopod Coffehouse: Best Books of June
It's the last Friday of the month, which means it's time to reveal the best books of the month. It's part of the Cephalopod Coffeehouse:
My schedule is finally back to normal after our move, but I still find myself reading a lot of audiobooks. This month I have Natalie Lloyd and Stephen King to thank for keeping me entertained on audio while I did boring household chores. But first--three books I read the old-fashioned way!
The first book is from a Twitter friend of mine who is an amazing woman. She sold a four-book deal to Simon & Schuster when she was only 20 years old. In the eight years that have followed, she has sold more than 20 books, including Wild Hearts.
This was the first book of Jessica's I've read, but it won't be the last! She has a talent for describing a setting so vividly, you feel as if you're standing in the middle of it. She perfectly captures the mind of a teenage girl, complete with a love for makeup and a desire to fit in. Added to that is a mega-conflict that forces the main character to choose between family loyalty and her own convictions. I can't wait to read more of Jessica's books!
I was so excited to finally get to read this book from my blogging friend Megan Whitson Lee.
Song from the Ashes tells the story of a man who is torn between the woman he feels obligated to marry and the woman who has captured his heart. It has a Christian undertone to it, which makes the main character's struggle all the more compelling. The characters and their stories are so realistic, you'll feel like you know them.
After reading two romances, I was ready for a scary read! J.H. Moncrieff didn't let me down. I love J.H.'s spooky blog, which usually includes riveting stories about unsolved mysteries, so I knew I'd love her book, too. The Bear Who Wouldn't Leave does what some of the best horror stories ever have done--it turns an innocent childhood toy into something scary. Can anything be spookier than an evil teddy bear?
I have to say, this book is about so much more than an evil teddy bear. It's dark and complex and it pulls you right in and won't let you go. You can't help but root for Josh and the surprise ending will have you thinking about this book long after you put it down.
My first audiobook this month comes from the lovely Natalie Lloyd. I sat with her and Kristin Tubb at a booksigning in early May and vowed to read both their books. When I got home, Natalie's book, A Snicker of Magic, was already on my Audible.com wish list. I downloaded it and started reading right away. How can you resist this cover?
I have to say, this is one of those awesome books that may be better on audio. The narrator has the perfect voice with just enough of a Southern accent to be extra charming. A 12-year-old girl named Felicity Pickle moves to Midnight Gulch with her mom. She soon finds that the entire town was once magic. To stay, she must find a way to bring the magic back...but in the meantime, she'll meet a cast of memorable characters and hear a series of interesting stories. This is the type of book that helps you escape from the stress of everyday life, transporting you to a magical place as only a book can.
And here's my second audiobook. It had been a while since I'd read a Stephen King novel, but the cover to Joyland had long fascinated me.
This book is one of Stephen King's shorter books, which is a good thing for those of us who can't quite commit to one of his 1,000-page tomes at this point in our lives. Joyland is the story of a teenage boy who takes a job at a carnival for the summer. Of course, all is not as it seems at this particular carnival. I enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a great Stephen King read from recent years, I'd recommend 11/22/63.
What's the best book you read in June? Tell us in comments or add your name to the list and tell all of your readers!
My schedule is finally back to normal after our move, but I still find myself reading a lot of audiobooks. This month I have Natalie Lloyd and Stephen King to thank for keeping me entertained on audio while I did boring household chores. But first--three books I read the old-fashioned way!
The first book is from a Twitter friend of mine who is an amazing woman. She sold a four-book deal to Simon & Schuster when she was only 20 years old. In the eight years that have followed, she has sold more than 20 books, including Wild Hearts.
This was the first book of Jessica's I've read, but it won't be the last! She has a talent for describing a setting so vividly, you feel as if you're standing in the middle of it. She perfectly captures the mind of a teenage girl, complete with a love for makeup and a desire to fit in. Added to that is a mega-conflict that forces the main character to choose between family loyalty and her own convictions. I can't wait to read more of Jessica's books!
I was so excited to finally get to read this book from my blogging friend Megan Whitson Lee.
Song from the Ashes tells the story of a man who is torn between the woman he feels obligated to marry and the woman who has captured his heart. It has a Christian undertone to it, which makes the main character's struggle all the more compelling. The characters and their stories are so realistic, you'll feel like you know them.
After reading two romances, I was ready for a scary read! J.H. Moncrieff didn't let me down. I love J.H.'s spooky blog, which usually includes riveting stories about unsolved mysteries, so I knew I'd love her book, too. The Bear Who Wouldn't Leave does what some of the best horror stories ever have done--it turns an innocent childhood toy into something scary. Can anything be spookier than an evil teddy bear?
I have to say, this book is about so much more than an evil teddy bear. It's dark and complex and it pulls you right in and won't let you go. You can't help but root for Josh and the surprise ending will have you thinking about this book long after you put it down.
My first audiobook this month comes from the lovely Natalie Lloyd. I sat with her and Kristin Tubb at a booksigning in early May and vowed to read both their books. When I got home, Natalie's book, A Snicker of Magic, was already on my Audible.com wish list. I downloaded it and started reading right away. How can you resist this cover?
I have to say, this is one of those awesome books that may be better on audio. The narrator has the perfect voice with just enough of a Southern accent to be extra charming. A 12-year-old girl named Felicity Pickle moves to Midnight Gulch with her mom. She soon finds that the entire town was once magic. To stay, she must find a way to bring the magic back...but in the meantime, she'll meet a cast of memorable characters and hear a series of interesting stories. This is the type of book that helps you escape from the stress of everyday life, transporting you to a magical place as only a book can.
And here's my second audiobook. It had been a while since I'd read a Stephen King novel, but the cover to Joyland had long fascinated me.
This book is one of Stephen King's shorter books, which is a good thing for those of us who can't quite commit to one of his 1,000-page tomes at this point in our lives. Joyland is the story of a teenage boy who takes a job at a carnival for the summer. Of course, all is not as it seems at this particular carnival. I enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a great Stephen King read from recent years, I'd recommend 11/22/63.
What's the best book you read in June? Tell us in comments or add your name to the list and tell all of your readers!
June 24, 2015
What if Two Teen Reality Stars Wrote a Novel?
Celebrities write books. Not just biographies, either. In fact, quite a few Hollywood actors and actresses have published novels. Jamie Lee Curtis is a prolific children's author.
So is The Fonz.
After a brief career as an actress in the 80s and 90s, Harley Jane Kozak formed a very serious career as a novelist. In fact, of all of them, she seems to be the only one who considers herself more author than actor.
The three mentioned above deserve all their successes. They take being writers seriously. But when I read that two young reality stars had written a young adult dystopian novel, I cringed. I'm sure I missed it when the book launch was announced. I think we all did. These are the authors:
They are the youngest stars of this TV series:
They are the (proud?) authors of this colon-happy novel:
Rebels: City of Indra: The Story of Lex and Livia has 160 customer reviews on Amazon. The vast majority of those reviewers give it one star. Yet one of the K-girl authors (can't keep any of the Kardashians straight) said, "The fans seem to love it. That’s why we did it, [the characters]' names are Lex and Livia. I think we wanted to make Lex more like me and Livia more like Kendall, and they kind of evolved into their own characters."
I would never discourage a young person from writing unless the only reason is because you're so great, you know your fans will want to read about fictional characters just like you. Oh, and if you do release a novel, try to look a little less like you're being forced to promote it.
But I'd say the reviews speak for themselves. Especially this jewel from Amazon reviewer Transgrade:
Gotta love a funny bad review (unless it's about your book).
So is The Fonz.
After a brief career as an actress in the 80s and 90s, Harley Jane Kozak formed a very serious career as a novelist. In fact, of all of them, she seems to be the only one who considers herself more author than actor.
The three mentioned above deserve all their successes. They take being writers seriously. But when I read that two young reality stars had written a young adult dystopian novel, I cringed. I'm sure I missed it when the book launch was announced. I think we all did. These are the authors:
They are the youngest stars of this TV series:
They are the (proud?) authors of this colon-happy novel:
Rebels: City of Indra: The Story of Lex and Livia has 160 customer reviews on Amazon. The vast majority of those reviewers give it one star. Yet one of the K-girl authors (can't keep any of the Kardashians straight) said, "The fans seem to love it. That’s why we did it, [the characters]' names are Lex and Livia. I think we wanted to make Lex more like me and Livia more like Kendall, and they kind of evolved into their own characters."
I would never discourage a young person from writing unless the only reason is because you're so great, you know your fans will want to read about fictional characters just like you. Oh, and if you do release a novel, try to look a little less like you're being forced to promote it.
But I'd say the reviews speak for themselves. Especially this jewel from Amazon reviewer Transgrade:
Gotta love a funny bad review (unless it's about your book).
June 22, 2015
Guest Post: A Love for Horror Began with “The Green Ribbon”
Today, I'm excited to welcome blogger Cherie Reich as part of her blog tour for Once upon a Nightmare. Be sure to stick around after the blog to read all about Cherie and her book, which is a collection of short stories.
---------------------------------------------------------
A Love for Horror Began with “The Green Ribbon”
by Cherie Reich
“If you’re finished early, then you can go into the reading loft and read.” Mrs. Holt, my third grade teacher, said the magic words.
I turned in my test, shuffled through my desk, and clutched a library book to my chest. My prized possession. I climbed the ladder into the reading loft and sat in the corner. The well-loved library book had seen better days. I carefully found my page and prepared to read my favorite horror story again, “The Green Ribbon” from Alvin Schwartz’s In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories.
Although I don’t remember the other stories from that collection, I still remember “The Green Ribbon” and what happened to the girl-turned-woman once the ribbon was removed from her neck. The twist at the very end had me hooked on horror stories. So much beauty and tension as she found her love and withheld her secret of why she wore the ribbon around her neck until her deathbed. When the secret was revealed, I’m sure I gasped and touched my own neck. A perfect horror ending.
Until “The Green Ribbon,” I read a lot of mysteries, particularly Nancy Drew. Horror had elements of mystery within it, so perhaps it was a natural progression. Instead of discovering who committed the crime, I was delving into the depths of unnatural creatures and twists that could send any kid to the light switch at night.
I devoured what R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books I could find. My favorites involved the mummy ones, A Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb and Return of the Mummy. I remember watching the Goosebumps show on Saturday mornings as well as Tales from the Crypt.
By high school, I had graduated to Stephen King and eventually wrote horror stories of my own, including my collection Once upon a Nightmare, but I will never forget the woman with the green ribbon around her neck and how that story started my spiral into the dark realms of what goes bump in the night.
Do you have a favorite childhood horror book/story?
Blurb:
A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.
Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. From June 22-28, the collection is a Countdown Deal for only $0.99!
Bio:
Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction author and library assistant living in Virginia. Visit her website and blog for more information.
Contact info:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook
---------------------------------------------------------
A Love for Horror Began with “The Green Ribbon”
by Cherie Reich
“If you’re finished early, then you can go into the reading loft and read.” Mrs. Holt, my third grade teacher, said the magic words.
I turned in my test, shuffled through my desk, and clutched a library book to my chest. My prized possession. I climbed the ladder into the reading loft and sat in the corner. The well-loved library book had seen better days. I carefully found my page and prepared to read my favorite horror story again, “The Green Ribbon” from Alvin Schwartz’s In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories.
Although I don’t remember the other stories from that collection, I still remember “The Green Ribbon” and what happened to the girl-turned-woman once the ribbon was removed from her neck. The twist at the very end had me hooked on horror stories. So much beauty and tension as she found her love and withheld her secret of why she wore the ribbon around her neck until her deathbed. When the secret was revealed, I’m sure I gasped and touched my own neck. A perfect horror ending.Until “The Green Ribbon,” I read a lot of mysteries, particularly Nancy Drew. Horror had elements of mystery within it, so perhaps it was a natural progression. Instead of discovering who committed the crime, I was delving into the depths of unnatural creatures and twists that could send any kid to the light switch at night.
I devoured what R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books I could find. My favorites involved the mummy ones, A Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb and Return of the Mummy. I remember watching the Goosebumps show on Saturday mornings as well as Tales from the Crypt.
By high school, I had graduated to Stephen King and eventually wrote horror stories of my own, including my collection Once upon a Nightmare, but I will never forget the woman with the green ribbon around her neck and how that story started my spiral into the dark realms of what goes bump in the night.
Do you have a favorite childhood horror book/story?
Blurb:
A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.Purchase Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich at Amazon. From June 22-28, the collection is a Countdown Deal for only $0.99!
Bio:
Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction author and library assistant living in Virginia. Visit her website and blog for more information.
Contact info:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook
June 19, 2015
The Best-Kept Nail Polish Secret You’ll Ever Hear
For years, I avoided wearing nail polish. Why? Apparently I spend so much time typing, I knock the polish right off my nails. I'd paint them and within a day I'd see a chip.
Gel nail polish resists chipping, so I tried that for a few weeks last summer. I learned about the latest trend in nail polish: accent nails.
With an accent nail, one finger is different than the rest. But you don't have to stop there. I told the manicurist to get creative...this was the result:
After dealing with gel nail removal twice, I decided it wasn't worth the 15 minutes of soaking and scraping it required. I decided to go with normal (non-gel) nail polish. I chose a color that matched my car.
"How long will this last?" I asked. She answered, "Just put top coat on every day or two and it can last a week or longer." So I invested in the same kind of top coat she used...
...and guess what? She was right. If I start every day by brushing top coat over the tips of my nails and then putting a layer across each nail, my polish can last ten days without chipping. So, combining OPI and Incoco nail polish strips, I've been getting creative. There's this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
One layer of topcoat and it lasts 7-10 days. The nail polish strips last longer than nail polish, by the way. The moral?
Don't give away your trade secrets!
Gel nail polish resists chipping, so I tried that for a few weeks last summer. I learned about the latest trend in nail polish: accent nails.
With an accent nail, one finger is different than the rest. But you don't have to stop there. I told the manicurist to get creative...this was the result:
After dealing with gel nail removal twice, I decided it wasn't worth the 15 minutes of soaking and scraping it required. I decided to go with normal (non-gel) nail polish. I chose a color that matched my car.
"How long will this last?" I asked. She answered, "Just put top coat on every day or two and it can last a week or longer." So I invested in the same kind of top coat she used...
...and guess what? She was right. If I start every day by brushing top coat over the tips of my nails and then putting a layer across each nail, my polish can last ten days without chipping. So, combining OPI and Incoco nail polish strips, I've been getting creative. There's this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
One layer of topcoat and it lasts 7-10 days. The nail polish strips last longer than nail polish, by the way. The moral?
Don't give away your trade secrets!
June 17, 2015
A New Kind of Podcast
I never really grasped the concept of podcasts. I tried for a while, but in the early days of the iPhone, getting content to your device wasn't easy. It involved a multi-step process that was just too much work. Then came the iCloud.
I couldn't find any podcasts I liked anyway. Most of them were how-to tips and talk shows. Blech. I like a good story. So I forgot about podcasts and returned to reading fiction and celebrity biographies.
But then a couple of months ago, I wrote about a podcast that had the entire world talking. The podcast, called Serial, chronicles one reporter's journey as she attempts to learn more about the murder of a high school student in 1999.
Serial is the first podcast to win a Peabody Award, and has been called "an audio game-changer." The free podcast series has been downloaded more than 68 million times as of February of this year and season two will begin later in 2015.
So when I used up my Audible download for the month, I decided to see how many steps it would take to get this Serial podcast to my phone. I was surprised to learn there's a podcast app on my phone and all I had to do was search, then download all 12 episodes. Took me about two minutes.
For the first few episodes, I wasn't sure what to think. I'm a huge Dateline and 20/20 fan. I love watching a mystery unfold. But it seemed to me we were following the story of a guy who was rightly convicted of a crime he committed. Not very riveting entertainment. As I kept listening, though, the story drew me in. Maybe it wasn't such a cut-and-dried case, after all...
As I near the end of this series, though, I get it. It isn't that this particular story is all that riveting. It's the fact that the producers allowed us to follow along on the journey as it unfolded. The story was originally aired in real-time, as Sarah Koenig investigated it. How often does that happen?
But most of all, what sets Serial apart is that it's a unique kind of podcast. It tells a story in a unique way. We need many, many, many more podcasts like that! Plus...as a result of the series' success, the Maryland Court of Appeals is taking another look at the case.
Have you ever listened to a podcast?
I couldn't find any podcasts I liked anyway. Most of them were how-to tips and talk shows. Blech. I like a good story. So I forgot about podcasts and returned to reading fiction and celebrity biographies.
But then a couple of months ago, I wrote about a podcast that had the entire world talking. The podcast, called Serial, chronicles one reporter's journey as she attempts to learn more about the murder of a high school student in 1999.
Serial is the first podcast to win a Peabody Award, and has been called "an audio game-changer." The free podcast series has been downloaded more than 68 million times as of February of this year and season two will begin later in 2015.
So when I used up my Audible download for the month, I decided to see how many steps it would take to get this Serial podcast to my phone. I was surprised to learn there's a podcast app on my phone and all I had to do was search, then download all 12 episodes. Took me about two minutes.
For the first few episodes, I wasn't sure what to think. I'm a huge Dateline and 20/20 fan. I love watching a mystery unfold. But it seemed to me we were following the story of a guy who was rightly convicted of a crime he committed. Not very riveting entertainment. As I kept listening, though, the story drew me in. Maybe it wasn't such a cut-and-dried case, after all...
As I near the end of this series, though, I get it. It isn't that this particular story is all that riveting. It's the fact that the producers allowed us to follow along on the journey as it unfolded. The story was originally aired in real-time, as Sarah Koenig investigated it. How often does that happen?
But most of all, what sets Serial apart is that it's a unique kind of podcast. It tells a story in a unique way. We need many, many, many more podcasts like that! Plus...as a result of the series' success, the Maryland Court of Appeals is taking another look at the case.
Have you ever listened to a podcast?
June 15, 2015
The Recycling Nuts Always Attack
It seems like only yesterday that I was chided by a co-worker for not washing my water bottle out before tossing it in the recycle bin. I checked out the rules on the top of the bin.
Somewhere in all those rules it indeed said you're supposed to thoroughly wash your trash before you send it off to recycle.
Yes, recycle-aholics can be super annoying. We're proud of them that they refuse to use #3 plastics because the local recycling people won't accept them. We love that they drive a Smart Car because it's better for the environment. We don't, however, appreciate their disapproving stares as we toss our water bottles in the regular trash.
Recycling is, after all, a lot of work. Ridiculous work. Most workplaces don't provide recycle bins at your desk and you may not even have curbside recycling at your home, requiring you collect your trash and drive it somewhere to do the right thing.
Then there's the occasional Facebook post,reminding you that something you're doing is bad for the environment. Most recently for me was an attack on Keurig coffee makers. They're supposedly bad for the environment.
Perhaps those K-Cups would wrap around the earth 10.5 times. However, there are recyclable K-Cups, including the ones I buy (mostly because I love their crazy flavors!):
In addition, you can buy reusable K-Cup filters, toss the coffee out, and refill them. I told the recycle nuts that on Facebook, but they just wanted to keep shouting at everyone that Keurigs are evil. EVIL, I tell you!
All that shouting just makes me want to brew a cup of peanut butter and jelly coffee, kick back, and scroll to the next comment on my Facebook newsfeed!
Do you recycle? Do you follow all the rules?
Somewhere in all those rules it indeed said you're supposed to thoroughly wash your trash before you send it off to recycle.
Yes, recycle-aholics can be super annoying. We're proud of them that they refuse to use #3 plastics because the local recycling people won't accept them. We love that they drive a Smart Car because it's better for the environment. We don't, however, appreciate their disapproving stares as we toss our water bottles in the regular trash.
Recycling is, after all, a lot of work. Ridiculous work. Most workplaces don't provide recycle bins at your desk and you may not even have curbside recycling at your home, requiring you collect your trash and drive it somewhere to do the right thing.
Then there's the occasional Facebook post,reminding you that something you're doing is bad for the environment. Most recently for me was an attack on Keurig coffee makers. They're supposedly bad for the environment.
Perhaps those K-Cups would wrap around the earth 10.5 times. However, there are recyclable K-Cups, including the ones I buy (mostly because I love their crazy flavors!):
In addition, you can buy reusable K-Cup filters, toss the coffee out, and refill them. I told the recycle nuts that on Facebook, but they just wanted to keep shouting at everyone that Keurigs are evil. EVIL, I tell you!
All that shouting just makes me want to brew a cup of peanut butter and jelly coffee, kick back, and scroll to the next comment on my Facebook newsfeed!
Do you recycle? Do you follow all the rules?
June 12, 2015
Introducing An Absence of Light By Meradeth Houston
Today I'm part of an exciting blog tour for our blogging friend, Meradeth Houston.
Meradeth's book, An Absence of Light, is now available in eBook and paperback.
From the first page, Meradeth grabs you with her powerful, intense storytelling. When Leah's entire family is killed, she has to go on the run, but there's no escaping the shadows. They've haunted her throughout her life, but while on the road, she meets two people who also see the creatures. Working with them, she works hard to find a way to get rid of the creatures before they can kill anyone else. The story draws you in and doesn't let you go but what really resonated with me was Leah. Meradeth created a character with depth, giving us a kick-butt character with just enough vulnerability to make us fall in love with her.
Scroll down to read more about Meradeth's book, which you can buy here.
Blurb:
Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.
She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.
When Leah stumbles across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.
Bio:
I've never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:
I'm a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use "like" a lot. I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people's DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love. I've been writing since I was 11 years old. It's my hobby, my passion, and I'm so happy to get to share my work! My other passion is teaching. There's nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology! If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I'm terrified of heights.Contact info:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook
Meradeth's book, An Absence of Light, is now available in eBook and paperback.
From the first page, Meradeth grabs you with her powerful, intense storytelling. When Leah's entire family is killed, she has to go on the run, but there's no escaping the shadows. They've haunted her throughout her life, but while on the road, she meets two people who also see the creatures. Working with them, she works hard to find a way to get rid of the creatures before they can kill anyone else. The story draws you in and doesn't let you go but what really resonated with me was Leah. Meradeth created a character with depth, giving us a kick-butt character with just enough vulnerability to make us fall in love with her.
Scroll down to read more about Meradeth's book, which you can buy here.
Blurb:
Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.
She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.
When Leah stumbles across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.
Bio:
I've never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:
I'm a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use "like" a lot. I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people's DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love. I've been writing since I was 11 years old. It's my hobby, my passion, and I'm so happy to get to share my work! My other passion is teaching. There's nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology! If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I'm terrified of heights.Contact info:Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook
June 10, 2015
There's an Odor in the Air
Monday I shared my first story about my life in the country. "In the country" means ten minutes from all the amenities you'd need and about two minutes from the lake, but life sure feels country-like out here.
Last Tuesday night, we learned just how country this peninsula is. Our dog was enjoying her last bathroom break of the night when she saw something in the bushes.
I, meanwhile, was getting ready for bed. Suddenly, the dog came running in, bringing the strangest odor I've ever smelled in my life with her.
What was that...?
She'd encountered a skunk, my husband said after one whiff.
It sure didn't smell like any skunk I'd ever smelled. It smelled like tear gas or bomb smoke. It was a horrible scent that immediately invaded the air.
So we locked her in the bathroom and did what anyone does when facing...well, anything these days. We Googled.
According to Mythbusters, the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap concoction long recommended by experts was the best way.
We tried it. It was somewhat successful.
However, getting it out of the house was another matter. The next morning, I opened windows, put bowls of vinegar around the house, and sprayed Lysol. I also ordered some shampoo and spray, since I could still smell a small hint of skunk on our dog.
It arrived Friday afternoon. Friday around midnight, it happened again. I was asleep when my dog came running in, drying herself off on the comforter. That smell!
So we shampooed her. We sprayed the comforter down. Not a trace of scent. The next morning, she smelled fruity. The house still had traces of skunk, though. So I opened the windows, turned on all the fans, and set vinegar around again. Once the windows were closed, I sprayed the professional stuff.
The house smells normal once again. I know MythBusters takes a scientific approach, but my sniffer says the professional sprays and shampoos work best!
Last Tuesday night, we learned just how country this peninsula is. Our dog was enjoying her last bathroom break of the night when she saw something in the bushes.
I, meanwhile, was getting ready for bed. Suddenly, the dog came running in, bringing the strangest odor I've ever smelled in my life with her.
What was that...?
She'd encountered a skunk, my husband said after one whiff.
It sure didn't smell like any skunk I'd ever smelled. It smelled like tear gas or bomb smoke. It was a horrible scent that immediately invaded the air.
So we locked her in the bathroom and did what anyone does when facing...well, anything these days. We Googled.
According to Mythbusters, the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap concoction long recommended by experts was the best way.
We tried it. It was somewhat successful.
However, getting it out of the house was another matter. The next morning, I opened windows, put bowls of vinegar around the house, and sprayed Lysol. I also ordered some shampoo and spray, since I could still smell a small hint of skunk on our dog.
It arrived Friday afternoon. Friday around midnight, it happened again. I was asleep when my dog came running in, drying herself off on the comforter. That smell!
So we shampooed her. We sprayed the comforter down. Not a trace of scent. The next morning, she smelled fruity. The house still had traces of skunk, though. So I opened the windows, turned on all the fans, and set vinegar around again. Once the windows were closed, I sprayed the professional stuff.
The house smells normal once again. I know MythBusters takes a scientific approach, but my sniffer says the professional sprays and shampoos work best!
June 8, 2015
I Moved...Now Where Am I?
One of the last tasks of my move was registering our home alarm with the city. I went online, filled out the application, and submitted it.
Five minutes later, an email came in. It was from the City of Gallatin.
"Are you in the city?" she asked.
Two months ago, that question would have confused me. Having lived here for a month, though, I'm familiar with the "city" thing. We're on a peninsula...
Which means we aren't "in the city."
Four miles up the road is a grocery store the size of a megamall. A couple of miles from that is a Starbucks. Yet we aren't within city limits because we're on a peninsula.
Does that mean I'm in the country now?
I moved here from Nashville...30 minutes away. We had Nashville electric and Nashville water. It took me two days to straighten out where our utilities were here. We're on Nashville electric, Gallatin gas, and White House water. White House is a random city about 25 minutes away.
We had to pay someone to pick up our trash. A private trash picker-upper. Because we're "not in Gallatin." Yet our mailing address is Gallatin, Tennessee.
It's all very foreign to me! But I do know one thing...Gallatin Gas and White House Water are the nicest people you'll ever call. And the postal workers act like they actually like their lives. In Nashville, every employee we encountered seemed suicidal.
So maybe "country living" isn't so bad after all. Especially if there's a Starbucks and about a billion restaurants within a ten-minute drive!
Five minutes later, an email came in. It was from the City of Gallatin.
"Are you in the city?" she asked.
Two months ago, that question would have confused me. Having lived here for a month, though, I'm familiar with the "city" thing. We're on a peninsula...
Which means we aren't "in the city."
Four miles up the road is a grocery store the size of a megamall. A couple of miles from that is a Starbucks. Yet we aren't within city limits because we're on a peninsula.
Does that mean I'm in the country now?
I moved here from Nashville...30 minutes away. We had Nashville electric and Nashville water. It took me two days to straighten out where our utilities were here. We're on Nashville electric, Gallatin gas, and White House water. White House is a random city about 25 minutes away.
We had to pay someone to pick up our trash. A private trash picker-upper. Because we're "not in Gallatin." Yet our mailing address is Gallatin, Tennessee.
It's all very foreign to me! But I do know one thing...Gallatin Gas and White House Water are the nicest people you'll ever call. And the postal workers act like they actually like their lives. In Nashville, every employee we encountered seemed suicidal.
So maybe "country living" isn't so bad after all. Especially if there's a Starbucks and about a billion restaurants within a ten-minute drive!
June 5, 2015
The Trouble with Ensemble Casts
When I discovered this show was on YouTube, I was so excited, I watched the first few seasons straight through.
I also watched the first five seasons of this show on Netflix.
Both shows' storylines tanked after the first few years. That happens about 90 percent of the time with serial TV series, I've found. They usually linger on for years before someone finally puts them out of their misery.
I started wondering, though... Why can I watch old shows about teens and 20-somethings, but not new ones? So I decided to try out the newer version of the above two shows. I started with this one:
I barely made it through the first half of one episode. They introduced us to no less than eight people in the first ten minutes. I couldn't figure out who any of them were. There was nothing to grab onto.
I decided to try out 90210 before I gave up forever. From scene one, I was hooked. We were introduced to a family. We got to know the two teens in that family before we started meeting all the other generically beautiful people.
Because we were introduced to a central character (the female in front of that picture^) first, we cared. We could get to know the others through her. That was exactly what Melrose Place did in 1992 (Allison) and Beverly Hills 90210 did in 1990 (Brandon and Brenda).
Wiewers need a hero. We need someone to root for. I've personally found the same goes for literary fiction. When a book throws too many characters at me in the first chapter, I tend to get lost.
I don't think I'm the only one. After all, the new Melrose Place lasted one season, while 90210 stuck around for five seasons and had high ratings and good reviews for first couple of those.
What TV shows do you watch?
I also watched the first five seasons of this show on Netflix.
Both shows' storylines tanked after the first few years. That happens about 90 percent of the time with serial TV series, I've found. They usually linger on for years before someone finally puts them out of their misery.
I started wondering, though... Why can I watch old shows about teens and 20-somethings, but not new ones? So I decided to try out the newer version of the above two shows. I started with this one:
I barely made it through the first half of one episode. They introduced us to no less than eight people in the first ten minutes. I couldn't figure out who any of them were. There was nothing to grab onto.
I decided to try out 90210 before I gave up forever. From scene one, I was hooked. We were introduced to a family. We got to know the two teens in that family before we started meeting all the other generically beautiful people.
Because we were introduced to a central character (the female in front of that picture^) first, we cared. We could get to know the others through her. That was exactly what Melrose Place did in 1992 (Allison) and Beverly Hills 90210 did in 1990 (Brandon and Brenda).
Wiewers need a hero. We need someone to root for. I've personally found the same goes for literary fiction. When a book throws too many characters at me in the first chapter, I tend to get lost.
I don't think I'm the only one. After all, the new Melrose Place lasted one season, while 90210 stuck around for five seasons and had high ratings and good reviews for first couple of those.
What TV shows do you watch?
