A Trip to the Library

My house sits at the border between two counties.  One is country, open, spacious and low key.  The other is city, suburbian life at it's highest.  As you can guess, I'm in country  heaven.  Normally I don't mind becuase there are plus sides but I'm not here to sell you my house.

I'm here to tell you about my recent trip to the library.  The country, we only have 3 branches and neither of them are close to each other, library. 

Let me back up a bit and say that I read like it's going out of style.  And I used to, and still am, love buying new books.  I'm an authors dream.  I can spend way too much money at a bookstore that probably rivals many women's obsession with shoes.  As a matter of fact, when I went to Ireland, I was so excited to visit a locally owned bookstore, you'd think I discovered the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  When my hubs bought me a Nook for Christmas, I tore into that thing, charged it and purchased books.  Like 10 the first day.  The reason for the Nook was because I was running out of space.

So, feeling the economy crunch, I thought I'd at least try the library and get books that are older and not spend the money on them especially for books in a series.  What if I don't like the series after one book?  Plus a good friend of mine visits the book mobile like every week!  (Yeah, she gets good books.  She must be bribing them with coffee and sweets!)

I went online and searched the libraries' records and found my book and even reserved it.  I felt really good.  I even picked up the kids early to take them with me.  Yeah the on-line high carried me over to mom time. 

After sitting in traffic to drive out into the country to the library, my book wasn't even there!  NOT THERE!  I was like What?  It said it was there and that's why I reserved it.  Ms. Librarian was like I'm sorry. 

Feeling like a dumby who can't figure out the reservation system for country library, I went to the YA section to find something else to read.  I even had my Goodreads list pulled up on my phone.  When I passed under the archway, I was appalled by the section.  Sure they had their one copy of Twilight but nothing else, really.  Or at least nothing else I wanted.  And then I remembered my last trip to the library when I discovered they didn't keep many of the new releases I wanted. 

I know what you're thinking.  "But that's to be expected at the library, Jen."  I know but I could have sworn with older books I wouldn't have such a hard time. 

Oh, well.  Live and learn.  Right?

I'm not giving up.  I'm going to try this library thing again.  The good news.  I can check out 15 books at a time! *happy dance* 

Today's the Last Day!

You have until today at midnight to enter.  HURRY!  Jump over to http://www.editorcassandra.com/ now and get entered. 

Good Luck!

There's still time to enter.

So I might have mentioned a contest offered by Editor Cassandra (she doesn't mention her last name on the sight, so I won't either).  Winner gets a FREE edit of a full manuscript!  Yeah!  You need to enter everyday.  So hope over to her webiste and do it...TODAY.  http://www.editorcassandra.com/

Contest Time

Some of you may follow Cassandra Marshall on Twitter and if so, you're awesome sauce in my book!

She just announced FREE edit contest.  All you have to do is go to her NEW website (http://www.editorcassandra.com/), follow the directions in earning points and fill out the form....DAILY.  Yes!  Everyday!

Good Luck!

Red Riding Hood (cont.)

As I mentioned, the ending was missing from my audio version.  Well, the continuation was released today on the books website but here's the link if you don't want to hunt around for it. 

I warn you, this is a SPOILER.

Enjoy!  http://www.redridinghoodbook.com/RedRidingHood_extrachapter.pdf

Red Riding Hood

  (I prefer the other cover but couldn't find one that would copy.)

By: Sarah Blakley-Cartwright; David Leslie Johnson; Catherine Hardwicke

I’m training to run in a relay for a marathon next month and most of my running is done inside on a treadmill.  As you can imagine, it’s really boring!!!  So, I decided to down load an audio book and since I was interested in seeing the movie (which I am next week!) I thought what the heck.  I knew enough about the book to know it would keep my attention.

And boy was I right.  I didn’t run the entire 6 miles but listening to the book distracted me enough.

Let’s skip the running and get to the book. 

I wasn’t aware but the screenplay came before the book, although the topic of Little Red Riding Hood has been around forever.  I think 700 years!  The audio version is read by Erin Moon and she did a wonderful job!  I felt like she was Valerie speaking to me and telling me about her village.  Her voice was enchanting and sucked me in from the start.  I lived in Daggerhorn, where houses were on stilts and we were held captive by The Wolf. 

Red Riding Hood is about a village that offers sacrifices to The Wolf in order to keep peace.  Yet, The Wolf breaks his treaty (I guess you’d call it that) and attacks.  But The Wolf is someone in the village and throughout the course of the book you’re left wondering who it could be.

Caught in the middle is Valerie who not only thinks she knows who The Wolf is but might be in love with him or her.  She’s torn in her duty to her village, her family and to herself.  Can she be happy with The Wolf or should she give her heart to another in order to keep the peace.

I don’t want to give too much away since most know the basis behind the story.  I will say the imagery was fantastic and the words ran pictures before my eyes.  Loved it!  Not sure who Erin Moon is (and I did try to find her) but loved her voice!

As I’m writing this, I did see a review for the movie and it wasn’t very good.  I’m not deterred; I’m still going to see it and can’t wait!  Heck, most movies I like aren’t reviewed very well.  I also think that maybe the movie and book have different endings.  My reasoning?  The movie reviewer said he felt the big reveal was a letdown and in the book, they don’t really reveal anything.  I also read a customer review of the audio book and it said the ending was missing from their copy and I downloaded from the same place.  If so, then I don’t know either.  I can speculate who’s The Wolf.   After Tuesday, I’ll know for sure. 

If you get a chance to read and enjoy YA supernatural, then I think you’ll like Red Riding Hood.

What's with this Lent stuff?

Today is Ash Wednesday.  The start of Lent and the many promises of things we need to give up or do.  My kids attend catholic school and both of them have to do the same and post a promise for the entire school to see. 

My son who is 6, asked what I thought he should do and as a mom, I told him to be good and not throw fits for 40 days.  Well, his response was that's too hard.  Yeah, go figure.  He then told me he had one but it would be mean. 

So of course, I had to know.  He said he would stay away from this one kid who is a friend for 40 days!  Yeah, that's mean!  I'd probably love it since he gets in trouble with the other kid, but how the heck would he tell that kid?  "I can't play with you for 40 days.  See ya after Easter break!" 

He settled on giving up Wii for Lent.

My daughter, who's 9, took the responsible route and said she'd do the dishes and clean up and do her chores without asking.  Mentally, I was thinking "yeah right!"  But I admire her effort.

Me?  I told them I would not yell for 40 days (except on Sundays!).  Their response?  "WOW!" 

So this morning, the start of Lent, it was time to leave for school and I told them to come on and get their stuff.  Same routine every morning.  Hasn't changed.  Well, they both didn't come.  So then I told them again.  As you can imagine, nothing happened.  So I yelled to them to come on and we were late.  Then I told them they were making me break my Lenten promise on the first day.  My son then told me, "It's not our fault you broke it, but yours.  You yelled." 

Have a great Easter season everyone!