Ok, we took the family out to the movies and I have to say that Transformers is totally awesome! Oh man, they did an awesome job on everything. The acting was good, the graphics were sweet, and the story.... just loved it. It made me remember all those days my brother and I watched Transformers.

I did pick up Judas Strain. I also picked up the new one by Christine Feehan, Safe Harbor. I also picked up a new hardback by an author I wasn't familiar with. The review on the front described it as "funny, dark, and sexy. One of my favorite books." Then the inside cover gave an interesting blurb... calling it exotic, etc. It wasn't until I got it in the car and looked at the UPC sticker on the back that I saw this book was coded as young adult. Hmmmmmm. The way they've described it doesn't strike me as YA. I'm going to have to read it and see what I think. Here's the cover of it if you are interested, it's City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Participate in an interview of Leslie Bennetts The Feminine Mistake

Edited for a bit of Clarification. This message is from Felicia C. Sullivan. She is a great contact and is always sending me great information on new books and she often has offers for folks to pick up a new book for a review.

I wanted to share this message from her with all of you:

As you may know, there has been a firestorm debate over Leslie Bennetts' new book The Feminine Mistake.

About the book
Author's Blog

I (Felicia, not me!) plan on interviewing the author on an uncoming podcast radio show that I'm producing (which will garner a great deal of attention) and I want to put you guys in the driver's seat. I want to use your questions/comments/praise/criticism when I chat with the author.

If you have a question/questions for the author, leave them here, in the comments space (along with your blog URL). (Even if you don't have a question, be sure to check out Felicia's little corner of the blogosphere)

And if you are one of the ten questions/comments, etc that I use on my show, not only will you be credited, but you'll receive a free copy of the book!

Do feel free to pass this on to other parenting bloggers/friends. I will drop you a line when the show will air.

Spring Reading Challenge

Susan let me know about the Spring Reading Thing hosted over on Callapidder Days. It's a fun event where you can put together your reading list and try to get some of those books you've been putting off!

Check out her site for all the details, but here is a little snippet for you:

When: Not surprisingly, the challenge takes place during the spring. :) Specifically, it will run from March 21st through June 21st, 2007.

Where: Here, and on blogs all over the bloggy universe. I'll put up a Mr. Linky on March 21st where you can submit a link to your own Spring Reading Thing blog post. All I ask is that you share your goals and list of books in your post, and that you include a link back to the post here that contains the Mr. Linky. We want to spread our love of books and reading far and wide, and make sure people have easy access to everyone's lists!

Debut Contest Reviews List

*Stickied! This post is staying up top till the 17th! Scroll down for recent blog posts!*

The Debut a Debut contest has two primary goals. 1. Encourage readers to read something by a new author (and hopefully find a new favorite) 2. Help promote debut books and debut authors!

We have a long list of prizes. On the 19th, Susan and I will randomly pull out participants and they will get a prize. We'll continue to randomly select participants until we are out of prizes!!! Prizes include gift certificates, books, goodies and more!

Here are the current participants:
Karen Morsie reviews The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
Writing The Winnower reviews The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier
Confessions of a Literary Persuasion reviews The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Eclectic Closet reviews The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Eclectic Closet reviews Was She Pretty? by Leanne Shapton
Littlebird Blue reviews Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage
Cherie Pie reviews The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
The World in the Satin Bag reviews The Tower of Shadows by Drew Bowling
Eclectic Closet reviews Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Karen Morsie reviews Kabbalah: A Love Story by Lawrence Kushner
SahBu reviews Nightmare in Laos: The True Story of a Woman Imprisoned... by Kay Danes
Breeni reviews Speak Right On: Dred Scott A Novel by Mary Neighbour
Eclectic Closet reviews And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Mark Baker reviews Death on the Flop
Mark Baker reviews A Killer Collection by Jennifer Stanley
Scooper reviews The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
Karen Morsie reviews Torch by Cheryl Strayed
Prester John reviews Rumble on the Bayou by Jana DeLeon
She reviews Don't Be Afraid by Rebecca Drake
La Lady Lisa Westerfield reviews And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
Eclectic Closet reviews The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
Megan reviews Disobedience by Naomi Alderman

Rashenbo's Debut Reviews
Hell's Belles
Passion Draconic
The Skewed Throne

Debuts that HIT best seller status

Yesterday I finished Hannibal Rising. This week I'll be starting Hell's Belles - check back for my review and interview with Jackie Kessler. The next book on my pile to read is Atlantisby David Gibbins. It looks down right exciting and right up my alley. I love action/adventure titles and I'm always on the look out for a new author that I tuck in my favorites box.

This was first published overseas in 2005 so unfortunately, it doesn't quite count for our debut contest... but this little book hit Best Seller right out of the gates and his next title is already getting some great press.

Isn't it every new writer's dream to have their first published book hit a best seller list?

Shane Gericke has offered to add a copy of Blown Away (Pinnacle Books Fiction) to the "Debut a Debut" prize goody bag - AND, it definitely qualifies as a book to be read and reviewed for goodies!

From Shane's site:
Shane Gericke's debut crime thriller Blown Away became a national bestseller three weeks after its launch in May, 2006. Detective Emily Thompson and her hard-charging crew at the Naperville Police Department battle a Special Forces-trained serial killer that's shooting, stabbing and blasting his way through the heretofore-quiet Chicago suburb. If Emily doesn't stop him in 72 hours, the last thing she'll witness is her own bloody death . . .

Book Spotlight

As you know, we are offering the Debut a Debut contest. We have two goals for this contest. 1. Encourage readers to find a new author to add to their "favorite author" list. 2. Help promote debut authors and get their name out!

The other day I listed a couple of book blurbs to highlight a couple of the authors on the debut author list. I thought it would be helpful to randomly list blurbs and book descriptions to help make it easier to see the types of books that are out there that you may never have heard of! You can also find news and information on the contest at my co-host's site West of Mars.

Michael Fitzgerald's novel Radiant Days
A recent review:
“In his keenly accomplished first novel, FitzGerald’s enigmatic tale of a feckless and dissolute American caught up in world events beyond his comprehension brings a disquieting new interpretation to the old adage that truth is the first casualty of war. At the height of San Francisco’s dot-com revolution, Anthony unhesitatingly abandons his unfulfilling job to follow Gisela, a beautiful young woman he has only just met, back to her native Hungary, ostensibly on a mission to locate her missing son. Arriving during the perilous waning days of the Balkan War, the pair attach themselves to British journalist Marsh, who, at 24, already has attained a cynical disregard for humanity that endangers his two new friends. As Anthony falls more deeply in love with Gisela, Gisela’s precise reasons for being in country dissolve into drug- and lust-induced escapades. Through Anthony’s self-indulgent and alienated voice, FitzGerald flawlessly and astutely mirrors the ennui and confusion of a generation and world enervated by ceaseless and senseless images of war. “
— Carol Haggas of BOOKLIST

Robert Gregory Browne has hardcover Kiss Her Goodbye releasing in February.
From Publishers Weekly:
Provocative violence, a colorful Chicago background and a dollop of the supernatural lift Browne's debut thriller. ATF agent Jack Donovan almost captures his nemesis, ruthless gangster Alex Gunderson, during a bank robbery. Gunderson's amoral pregnant wife, Sara, is shot in the ensuing chase, leaving her in a coma. Gunderson seeks revenge by kidnapping Donovan's teenage daughter, Jessica, and burying her in a coffin with enough air for three days. As the tension builds, a vainglorious Chicago cop shoots the kidnapper, who dies without revealing Jessica's whereabouts. Browne's experience as a screenwriter shows as he shorthands the parallels between the anarchic Gunderson and straight-arrow Donovan, both of whom are single-minded and personally loyal. Elements of the supernatural, including out-of-body experiences, provide humorous relief from the breathtaking pace.

Thirteen Memorable Books

Last week I shared 13 ways that music impacts my life. Writers are passionate readers - we have to be, so here are 13 books that are the most memorable to me.

The Catcher in the Rye
This item is first on my list because I read this book in the sixth grade. I'll let you in on a little secret, some folks think I'm a little wierd or "unique" as they like to say. I've always been who I am and being "unique" as an adolescent is no easy stroll through the park. A teacher recommended that I read it. I did and I had my first epiphany. I've not read this book since then. I am sure it wouldn't have the same meaning for me now that it did when I was 12 or 13. It sits in my memory as one of the first books that had an impact on my life.


Fast forward to high school. Yes, another easy going period in your life when your peers are understanding and supportive. My mom pulled this book out of an old box in the garage and told me I'd probably like it. I read it and I loved it. This is the second book that had an impact on my life. I read it several times during my high school years. I've not read it since then and I probably won't ever read it again. But, it also sits on a tidy shelf in my mind and will always be remembered as something that helped me get through high school.

Now then, I am afraid that is going to be the end of the "literature" section of my list. I don't like chick lit and I don't much care for "the greats", please don't get me started on Hemingway.


This book was originally released in 1983; I read it probably in 84 or 85. I loved this book! I remember coming home from school and sitting down to just enjoy it. Really, how many books can you remember reading when you were 8? I think I should get a copy for my daughter.


In high school we were going on our annual long drive to see family. My mom borrowed a bunch of library books that we could read in the car. She started by reading Phantoms outloud. I immediately got hooked and at the first opportunity snatched it away and read it - really, she was reading far too slowly. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors. Phantoms is one of my favorites because it was my first introduction to him.

Watchers
Phantoms may have been my first... but, Watchers is my love. I have had my copy of Watchers for soooo long. I probably read it at least 3 or 4 times each year. My copy has pages that are stained with chocolate, water spots and my back cover is torn. My husband keeps trying to throw it away. He says I can buy a new copy. I just can't bear the thought of parting with it. I will buy a new copy soon because the pages are starting to turn odd shades of yellow and brown - but, I don't know if I'll be able to just *throw* it away.


I can't tell you how excited I was when I first saw this book. I was in an airport and it was a new book, by new authors and it TOTALLY sounded like it was just my kind of novel. I immediately called my mom - yes, I was standing in the middle of the airport on the phone to call my mother and tell her about the new book I had just found. She immediately knew what I was talking about because she had seen it that same day and bought it! I devoured it and hungered for more. I love every single book by Preston and Child and in fact, they are the ones who ultimately gave me that final bit of inspiration to begin writing seriously. The first moment I read of Pendergast I knew I would see him again and I have not been disappointed.


I love this one too! It's one I read over and over again. This book only reinforced my desire to write my own novel.


By now, you can probably tell there is something in common with these books. Well, Rollins was another example where I was in the bookstore and found a paperback by an author I hadn't heard of before and his first book just sounded fantastic. Subterranean is one of my favorites.


I love historical romance. I freely admit it. I have just as many romance novels on my shelf as I have action, adventure, and mystery. There is something about this book that just makes me feel happy. When I'm down or when I'm feeling a little sad, I can pull this book out, sit back and read. When I'm done - I feel better. The plot. The characters. It's all good.


This is the first Christine Feehan novel that I purchased. I read it and the next day went back to the bookstore and purchased every book they had in stock with the author's name. My mother came to visit shortly after and I told her that I had a new author that she hadn't heard of but she had to read. I had my mom hooked that night and the stinker took all my books to finish reading at home. I await each new release with anticipation.

Harry Potter
Any memorable book list wouldn't be complete without Harry Potter. I remember when I first picked up my copy. I was at the bookstore and saw this children's book on a shelf. I hadn't heard of it before and I read the inside cover. I picked it up thinking I'd send it to my husband's godchild. When I got home I figured I should read it first to make sure it was appropriate for her age. Needless to say, I was hooked and it never left my hands. Yes, I am one of those people at the bookstore at midnight to get my copy.

Dragon Lance
My dad actually had these books when I was younger and I "borrowed" them from him. I will always remember Tasselhoff more than the others! My first real obsession with DnD began with the Dragon Lance series with Weis and Hickman.

Belgariad
I love this series and the Malloreon. I've read these two series so many times that I couldn't even count.

Well, this is long enough and these are the top books that are the most memorable to me.

Don't forget to check out the contest I'm co-hosting with West of Mars.

Contest Time: Debut A Debut

Begins today!

The book industry faces many challenges. People seem to have less time to read and it's tough to compete with the television and Internet. Any new or aspiring author knows how hard it is to make his or her voice heard amongst the chorus of "publish me!" "Notice me!" "Buy my books!"

In many cultures around the world, Valentine's Day has converted the month of February into the month of love. This February, two aspiring authors are taking their love of reading and their admiration for debut authors and combining them into the "Debut a debut!" contest.

Take a first-time author for a spin on your "To Read in 2007" list and give yourself the chance to win great prizes! Gift certificates to Borders and more!

During the week of 12 Feb through 17 Feb, read a book written by a debut author and post your review by 17 February. Send Susan or Erica the permalink to your review and you will be entered in a drawing for some great prizes.



Some Rules
A debut author is an author who has had their first novel published between 01/2006 and 02/2007.

Accepted publication types are ebook and in-print novels from established royalty-paying publishers or e-publishers; if you're not sure, e-mail us the name of the publisher. POD, vanity presses, or Publish America books are not considered for this contest.

The contest has officially begun!!!!! Send your links to us either in a comment or in an email!

Reviews can not be previously printed online or in print. The review of a debut author's novel must be posted between the dates of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007. Prize drawing will occur 02/19/2007 and winners will be notified via email.

Multiple entries are allowed.

The Prizes
2 randomly drawn participants will receive a $20.00 Borders gift certificate, books, autographed books and more!.

How to Enter
1. Buy, find, or borrow a novel that is an author's debut. (see list of some debut novels at WestofMars.com, West of Mars -- the Meet and Greet, or Writing Aspirations)
Update: Here is a list of some authors and the update to prize list!
2. Read the novel.
3. Write a review. It does not have to be a professional review. Provide a brief plot synopsis and then mention your likes or dislikes or other thoughts you had while reading.
4. Post the review online - either on a website or blog.
5. Send the permalink of the post to West of Mars or Writing Aspirations in an email message or post a comment to the main contest post with a link to your review.

Remember, the review is to be completed and posted during the week of 02/12/2007 - 02/17/2007.

A post will be created on West of Mars and Writing Aspirations with links to all book reviews submitted.



Authors
Don't miss your chance to get some press! West of Mars and Writing Aspirations are in the process of gathering your names and titles to help our contest entrants find great books to read. Please send us links to your website, or just your name and the title of your debut novel that was published between 1 January 2006 and 1 February 2007. If you have any promotional items -- especially copies of your book -- that you'd like to donate, we'd love to offer them as prizes.