Kim Baccellia's Blog, page 13

Friday Five

1. So as I write this it seems all of San Diego and parts of South Orange County, Ca are having a massive brown out that they say won't be taken care of until Friday. It's a mess out here right now. Positive vibes to everyone affected.

2. Today we're supposed to go to the Discovery Center for a science field trip. This should be fun.



3. Had to get this comic which is the start of new arc in the Buffy Vampire universe:



Premise is that after Angel alias Twilight kills Giles he now goes back and tries to help those Giles had helped. Buffy and the slayers have turned their back on him except Faith. I really like Faith and so far I'm liking this series.

4. Read this one in one day on my Nook. Thanks Netgalley!



Intriguing premise of a girl writing in a journal to a boy who moved away during an epidemic that kills just about everyone on the island. Coming out on my birthday 1-24-12

5. A blogger on Twitter suggested I read this one:



Romeo ended up killing Juliet and they continue to come back in other bodies with Romeo an agent of darkness and Juliet with light. I was hooked on the very beginning and couldn't put this down!

**Also still waiting for my BN copy of DEAR BULLY. BN.com says I'm scheduled to get my copy of TUESDAY. I want it now!!!!






Guilty pleasure:

Going out to lunch after field trip. Oh, and reading!

Muse It Up Blog a Thon

Today I'm hosting Lawna Mackie





Here's her bio:

I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

I devoured my first romance novel when I was a teenager. I couldn't read them fast enough. Years later I stumbled across my first paranormal romance…an injustice would be done if I tried to explain my joy when I found this genre of romance. My passion was finally in print.

Now, with the help of my bizarre dreams and crazy imagination, I have started to write and intend to share my stories with you. I hope you'll love them as much as I do.

I am truly blessed. My husband is my inspiration and soul mate. We live on a small acreage in Didsbury, Alberta, with our most beloved companions, Dozer, Daisy and Mandarin.

Happy reading everyone and please stop by to visit me.

IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD – December 19, 2011 released through Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com
ENCHANTMENT – January 13, 2012 released through Muse It Up Publishing http://museituppublishing.com


For today's post, Lawna interviews her character:


We have a new character for you to meet today…and a very interesting character at that.
Welcome, why don't you tell us a little about yourself, and where do you come from?
Hello everyone. My name is Threeo and I'm a Hippo-Dog-Burrowing Owl from the world of Enchantment.

Well Threeo, that's quite a mouthful. Exactly what is a Hippo-Dog-Burrowing Owl?
I resemble all three earthly creatures. I have a small hippopotamus body, and fluffy dog tail, and my head is the burrowing owl. I was created by magic.

I see. Can you tell us a little about your world of Enchantment?
Enchantment is a great world, or at least it was until she arrived. I have visions, so I knew she would come. Enchantment doesn't allow foreigners of any sort. My master is the Enforcer for the world and he was supposed to get rid of her.

Oh my! That sounds harsh. How was he to "get ride of her"? And who exactly is she?
Meeka came to Enchantment from earth. She fell in the water and some how managed to cross the dimension and into Enchantment. Most creatures die. Kerrigan, my master should have sent her back, but he was scared she'd perish. What he didn't know at that time was that she is a very powerful sorceress.

Tell us more about your life Threeo.
Okay, well, like I said Kerrigan is my master, I've been with him for a very long time. Oh…I also have babies. Baby Threeo's! They are born in glass tubes and I raise them. When they are old enough they go to live with others like Kerrigan. The babies really like Meeka. Kerrigan's parents Todd and Paddy Beaver are my favorites to visit. Paddy always has treats for Threeo.

"Beaver" you almost make that sound like they are Beavers?
Yes, they are beavers, but not like your human beavers. They adopted Kerrigan as a baby. Kerrigan is actually a dragon.

So what is happening in Enchantment these days?
{He shakes his head} It's very scary in Enchantment. I've had a dream that Meeka kills Kerrigan, and she destroys the world.

Really? Is Meeka that type of person?
No, she's not that type of person, but an evil Enchantment Counselor is going to try to capture her. If my vision is correct she will become a weapon of destruction. Kerrigan will try to protect her. They have feelings for one another.

It sounds scary Threeo. I hope your visions don't come true. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about Enchantment?
I think everyone would like our world. It's beautiful. We have seven moons, which are actually like your sun, but the seven moons are a different color each day, making our world change color daily. We have pixies in Pixie Field, and we also spend time at Funny Fish Lake. We have Itchits and Fur Balls…everything is magical. Thanks for talking to me I do have a tendency to talk a lot. I really hope you'll enjoy Enchantment. I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

Muse It Up Blog-A-Thon

Today my guest is Barbara Bockman:



Hi Kim,
Thanks for hosting me and Wounds on your blog today. I want your readers to know that you are also the guest today on my blog, Stories a la Mode, http://barbarabockman.wordpress.com
This blog exchange of young adult and middle grade Muse authors is lots of fun and very informative.

Here's a little something about my background. I grew up in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina. Throughout my elementary school years I lived in the county and later moved into the city. And no, one of my legs is not shorter than the other for walking around mountains. But I will say, there is no more beautiful sight to my eyes than the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. I have seen more majestic ones—The Rockies, The Alps, and Denali, but still my heart belongs to the rounded Ridges.

One of the most delightful things I could do as a child was go to the public library in Asheville. Then when I was in high school, I worked as a page there. I knew every nook and cranny in the building; at that time there was a special room, not much bigger than a closet, that held some of the work of Thomas Wolf, Asheville's favorite son. (That's not to disparage the other favorite son, Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, the football player). But my interests tend more toward books than to football. The library moved from the location on the town square to accommodate a growing collection, but I remember the old library fondly.

I attended Western Carolina College (now University) and majored in English. Later I received a second Bachelor's Degree in Library Science and a Master's in English. As much as I love to read a good book, I wanted to write one of my own. And now I have done that.

Writers enjoy creating worlds, and I have done that with my book. Even so, I used places I am familiar with as a basis for my imaginary world.

Wounds is set in north Florida, near where I lived for a while. The tree that inspired the story is actually in Alabama. The Grand Hotel in southern Alabama is mentioned in the book. The setting is a few miles from the beach which could have been on Santa Rosa Island, Florida, or even Orange Beach, Alabama. That is another area I hold dear to my heart, and I'm very saddened about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The devastation there is going to take many years to clear up and right itself.

I have other environmental concerns. When I lived in the Panhandle, I belonged to The Native Plant Club. Another member of the group saw her dream come true. She and her husband build the Biophilia Nature Center in Elberta, Alabama. Carol was inspired by the Pulitzer Prize winner, E. O. Wilson, who is recognized as a great naturalist and environmentalist. The Center is another locale I refer to in Wounds. These are some of the ways in which actual places show up in the novel.

Thanks again, Kim, for having me on your blog today.
Here is where Wounds, an ebook, will be available on September 16:
My wonderful publisher, Lea Schizas and MuseItUp Publishing: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/

And this is my buy page: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=206&category_id=10&keyword=wounds&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
Amazon.com, for download to computer or Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=283155
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/about
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/books-bestselling-books/379003057/?r=1

Barbara will give away a PDF copy of Wounds at the end of the tour.

MG-YA Blog-A-Thon

Today I'm hosting Barbara Ehrentreu, who has an awesome YA book coming out with Muse It Up publishing.



Barbara, a retired teacher with a Masters degree in Reading and Writing K-12 and seventeen years of teaching experience lives with her family in Stamford, Connecticut. When she received her Masters degree she began writing seriously. If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor, Barbara's first YA novel, was inspired by Paula Danziger. Barbara is a NY Literature Examiner for Examiner.com with several articles for them. Her blog, Barbara's Meanderings, http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/, is networked on both Facebook and Blog Catalog. She hosts Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages on Blog Talk Radio every 4th Thursday. In addition, her children's story, "The Trouble with Follow the Leader" and an adult story, "Out on a Ledge" are published online She writes book reviews for Authorlink.com. and several of her reviews have been on Acewriters and Celebrity Café. She is a member of SCBWI. Writing is her life!
If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor - Coming September, 2011 from MuseItUp Publishing


Barbara's Meanderings
http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/




Here's an excerpt from IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR:

Chapter One
I spot him walking toward my locker with a small box in one hand and a plastic fork in the other. My Crush! He hands me the box, and I open it. Inside is a piece of luscious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I look up into his blue eyes and give him the box so I can touch his cheek as I smooth his dark hair. "You always know just what I like." He smiles and feeds me a forkful of cake. I don't have to worry about eating it because I can eat anything I want and not gain weight. He places the cake box in my locker so he can put his arms around me. The first bell rings in my ears. I ignore it because I'm thin and blonde and floating in the arms of my dark-haired crush. The other cheerleaders run up to us laughing and kidding around, and I'm about to speak. The ringing gets louder.
The dream evaporates, and I realize it's the darn alarm piercing my sleep. Slamming my fist onto the snooze button, I get this nagging feeling. Then I remember. I have something to do. Worse luck, I have to do it, not as the slender blonde beauty in my dream, but as the real Carolyn Samuels with my brown curly hair hanging like shriveled spaghetti, mud brown eyes, and a body too large for fashion.
I see my new book bag is packed and ready by the door with the initials C. S. in blue, my favorite color. Suddenly it hits me, and I get this dizzy let-me-plop-on-the-pillow feeling. Freshman year of high school—first day. My brain is ready, but my body isn't. Jennifer will be there. Math class and Jennifer; gym class with Jennifer. My body curls into a fetal position, and I throw the covers over my head. Don't faint Carolyn, I tell myself, panting.
Dangling over the chair are those size twelve jeans, clown pants—hardly a fashion statement. I groan. Paired with the red long-sleeved T-shirt, they looked so good on the mannequin; I'll look like a stop light. What was I thinking? How could I possibly go to school looking like such a freak?
Actually, the real reason I can't go is Jennifer, with her long straight blonde hair, perfect body, and clothes from magazines like Teen and Seventeen. Yuck. I feel sick, sick with Jenniferitis. I hear Mom's footsteps on the stairs. "Why are you still in bed?" She comes upstairs and peeks into my room with a puzzled look on her face. Moving the blanket up to my nose, I say, "Mom, I can't stop shivering, and my stomach and head hurt." She feels my head and looks at me with mother vision. "Carolyn, did you think I'd fall for your tricks?"
I cringe. Now my stomach and head ache for real. Defeated, I climb out of bed and get washed. I slip the hated outfit onto my body and glance at my bloated reflection in the mirror. It's too late to change. I'm stuck with this. If only I could be like Jennifer Taylor.

Friday Five

1. Been rewriting beginning of sequel to CROSSED OUT based on very helpful plotting feedback from the fab Joyce Sweeney. I had a conference call with her this Monday and we went over how to strengthen my plotting. Did I mention how fab she is?

2. Finished reading SMALL TOWN SINNERS

1.

Really enjoyed this tale of a girl questioning her faith after a former childhood friend comes back to her small town.


3. Right now reading SOUL THIEF



I loved Jana Oliver's first book DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER and had to read the sequel. So far it's not disappointing.

4. I'm also reading some of this:



Yes, this is the upcoming Ellen Hopkin's novel! Yes, it's also more intense than her YA books but I'm a huge fan of Hopkin and I'm really enjoying this book of some middle age women and their challenges in life.

5. Have to take Sunni in to vet as I think he has an infection. Hope it's nothing and that it can be taken care of. I've had Sunni since he was a baby and he's 20 years old this month.


So send any positive vibes his way, ok?

**Guilty pleasure:

Has to be for Saturday. I plan on having a pedicure:



Just wondering what color this time? Hmmm...

Also getting a white mocha/mocha/raspberry iced drink:



***Plus, another guilty pleasure:

I ended up streamlining on Netflix season one of SWITCHED AT BIRTH. I really loved this series and can't wait for season two!

Muse It Up MG/YA Blog-A-Thon

Hi, my name is Sue Perkins and I'd like to thank Kim for hosting me on her blog today.





I write mainly fantasy, for adults, young adults and middle grade readers. My imagination runs wild when I create worlds outside of reality. It is lovely to cast off the restraints of day to day life and dive into my imagination. Through my books I hope I share my worlds with my readers.

My first Middle Grade book Spirit Stealer will be released by MuseItUp Publishing in October. I began writing this book in the late 1990s but other projects took over pushing this manuscript to one side. When I found MuseItUp Publishing I knew immediately my novel had found a home. Luckily MuseItUp agreed with me.





Spirit Stealer is a fantasy book set in the nighttime world of a library. The library is officially opened in 1908 and the story begins here and continues through to the 21st Century. Fader, an orphan who lives on the streets, believes the nice warm library building is exactly what he needs for the cold winter nights. At first all is well, but then the noises start. Some years later Amelia is trapped in the library and Fader tries to help with disastrous consequences. The book continues with Amelia's story but also introduces Tyler, a boy of the present time who gets locked in the library by accident. All three know that no children will be safe until they banish the Spirit Stealer who haunts the nighttime world of books.

I will be giving away an ebook of Spirit Stealer when it is released. To be in to win please visit my blog and leave a comment on one (or all) of the authors on the MuseItUp Middle Grade and Young Adult blog tour.

MuseItUp Publishing will also be releasing another of my Middle Grade books in January 2012. This one is called Reva's Quest. Look out for details soon.

Thank you once again Kim for inviting me to visit you.

http:sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com
http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/p/muse-bookstore.html

September tour

I'm happy to be a part of a blog tour with my fellow Muse It Up authors. My urban fantasy EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA will be re-released with them in March 2012. I met Lea back when I first pitched Earrings and loved her spunk and persistence. So I'm excited to be a part of this group.

Check back for more info on where I'll be and who I'll be hosting!

Great news!

I was able to finally post the exciting news:

http://dearteenme.com/2011/08/30/announcing-the-dear-teen-me-anthology/

What's exciting is how much I really believe in this project! This is very great news and I want to shout out a congrats to both

Yesterday

And to agent Sara Megibow of Nelson Literary Agency and of course Zest books which I've loved since I reviewed their first non-fiction book back when they started. What a great match!

I do believe this deserves the Snoppy dance!

Friday Five

1. The MIL drama continues. **Hey, would you be surprised if it didn't? Seems the new loan requirements show that having an annuity isn't considered 'income' per say. Yeah, this puts another cramp in the whole getting a condo thing. What the realtor 'suggested' we do made me so furious, well, I won't tell you what I did. Needless to say, MIL agreed with how I felt. So hopefully this will get taken care of. If not, I might be blogging from Sacramento...

2. Did I mention what is helping my sanity? Yes, writing at Starbucks while I drop son off at his classes. This week it was two days of art. Next week it's a cooking camp.



3. Finished reading THE NAME OF THE STAR by Maureen Johnson



Enjoyed this story of Rory who goes to a English boarding school her senior year of high school. Problem is there's a wannabe Jack the Ripper out there who's been killing people. Later you find out how Rory gets involved in this. Review coming soon!

4. The fab Mandy at YA Books Central also sent me a copy of RAGE by Jackie Kessler to review. I've heard some great things about the first book HUNGER so I had to read it.

I'm hooked. This is a great twist on the whole paranormal premise. Take a teen with a serious issue like cutting and make him/her into one of the riders of the apocalyptic. The cutter is war and someone with an eating disorder is famine. Really loving this series.


5. Saw Spy Kids 4



My verdict? Cute but not worth the extra $8 to see in 3D. And the so-called smell cards? Like the kids behind us said, "What a big rip!" Yeah, all the smells smelt the same. Still a fun show to watch with the kids. I thought Jessica Alba was cute and funny as a pregnant spy. **Check out how she kicks some serious Ninja butt while 9 months pregnant!

**Guilty pleasure:

Ok, I admit it. I'm hooked. I'm loving the cherry chocolate Coke thing. And Sonic has a great one too:



This morning we plan on going out to IHop for breakfast:

Friday Five

1.First off, Mother in law left to go back to Utah. We 'think' she found another place in this retirement community. She still is complaining about a couple things like the association dues which cover tons of things to do. But I've come to the conclusion this is just her. Send positive vibes that she doesn't change her mind...again. Or it's back to square one...again.

2. Went to my specialist on Monday to hear results on sonogram and blood work. Good news! Blood work was excellent so lower dosage of meds has helped. The one nodule did grow a little but not enough to biopsy. Have to do the whole thing again in six months but for now relieved that's over.



3. I love how natural YA author Jackson Pearce is with doing vlogs. Just recently she made a mistake, one that I'm sure any of us could have done. Instead of being mega down, she does what she does best:




**If you haven't yet, read SWEETLY, her companion novel to SISTERS RED. Love her twist on fairy tales!

4. And I can't forget books! The other day I got a box filled with some fun books. Love being a reviewer for YA Books Central. MG is fab and rocks big time!

One book in my box:


Really enjoying this tale of Rory who goes to a London boarding school right when some copy cat Jack the Ripper murders show up.

WOLF MARK

I was able to get an e-book copy of this from Netgalley



Really enjoyed this story too! Review coming soon!

CHAIN REACTION



Yes, the cover hints at how sizzling hot this book is! I love this series about the Fuertes brothers. I'm sad it's the last one though the author did kind of leave an ending that could go either way!

**Guilty pleasure:

Tomorrow getting a pumpkin enzyme peel, plus a facial. This peel is great for super sensitive/rosacea skin(which I have). I so deserve after yet another two weeks of mother in law and the whole thyroid stress. Oh, plus son's asthma blew up big time. So all the stress equals relaxation time away for me!