Rambles | Lost in a Good Book

News!

24 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in News, Rambles Tags: kerry letheby, news

Oh this has been a super crazy week, we’ve had author birthdays and reviews and uni work and no sleep and house sitting and chaos, it’s all a bit too much really. I am hoping it starts calming down soon. I remembered the other night as I realised I was on a review day (where does the time go? They blur all into one these days) that I used to do this once a day, back when there was time – ah time, we had so much fun. But we are powering through. I know if I start slacking off this may get abandoned for that education thing and I don’t want that to happen, this is a lot of fun, despite the fact it is somewhat neglected in the time and love aspects. But enough complaining we have some newsish things.

The super secret only Amy can know is coming in May, I am going to put up on May 4th, Star Wars day. It seems fitting in my mind, though it is probably not a strong connection exactly but I don’t care. So that is going to be amazing! So excited. I am also working on getting up my second Liebster Nomination up so you’ll have another list of facts about me and a bunch more blogs you should check out. Also I have been trying to get a Top 10 or Theme Thursday up and going, I have had my little Theme picture made for months it just is not finding a spot in the schedule but I am trying so keep watching!

More importantly I have just realised something! Gee whiz, we are not good at these important milestones! I blame Shakespeare, I really do. So somehow it has already been another month, how does that even happen! But on the 23rd, which I am realising is the most under appreciated and remembered day (except for Shakespeare, see all his fault), but on the 23rd we hit out three month anniversary! Yay! It is speeding up the more months we accumulate, it is rather terrifying. In that three month period I have gotten a lot of visitors so thank you guys a lot. I do enjoy popping over to my stats and seeing the numbers go up and see the spread of colour on my visitor location map as my world domination comes to fruition. Did I say world domination? I meant a simple collection of visitors from every country and continent *innocent smile*. But thank you guys a lot. Read, share and repeat and all that jazz.

So as I say it is hectic right now, I cannot wait for June when all the crazy stops for a while and I can focus on reading full time instead of just minutes here and there. It is taking a lot longer to get through books this way, it is rather frustrating, especially when they are so enthralling! I am hoping to have a review up soon of Kerry Letheby’s book Mine to Avenge, if you haven’t checked out her guest post or tour you should do that. There is also a giveaway (ends May 3rd) of her book over with Jess at The Never Ending Bookshelf.

But enough on me, ok one more, usual reminder for the Twitter/Facebook extra content and fun times option and all the buttons to click to get those and I hope to see you all for month four. Stay tuned for super exciting (to me and maybe to you) things in May, more birthday posts, more reviews, and I hope you all have a wonderful day and read something spectacular.

News!

15 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in News, Rambles Tags: john marsden, kerry letheby, news, writers festival

So it’s come to news, not that we don’t have news, we have a lot of news, and an update on my failure to deliver isn’t required but it is still sad. Server issues all week, a very hectic life, a wandering notebook and little sleep (like super little sleep), have put a damper on my plans of excitement sharing about the super awesome fun times I have been having, but rest assured I will be boasting! Not only do I have the continuing adventures of my Newcastle Writers Festival to get up where I was inspired and enthralled by the likes of Courtney Collins, Ryan O’Neill, Patrick Cullen, and so many more I could list them forever but I won’t, but I also got to meet one of my authorial heroes.

On Friday I was lucky enough to go to a talk by Australian author and personal idol, John Marsden and it was absolutely wonderful. I would like to think I behaved in a terribly adult manner when I got to meet him but I feel that would be a lie. As I stood in line with my pile of books ready to be signed I could feel my heart pounding and the realisation that the man who wrote Checkers, So Much To Tell You, Winter, and The Tomorrow Series was mere metres away was almost too much. I did have enough control to have a proper conversation with him, but I have witnesses that the before and after I was ‘fangirling’ (Googled it, seems to fit). I do not mind for one simple reason: for me John Marsden was, and is, the author who made me realise books have a lot of power over a reader, he can engage you with his words and with his stories, and in doing so he has the ability to twist everything you every thought about writing, about books, and even about the story you just read. I started reading his books at 13 and I haven’t stopped. I will talk more when I get the post up in a few days (*fingers crossed*), but it was truly one of the best moments I have had.

Then on Saturday the Sydney Writers Festival program was released after an excellent launch on Thursday night. I have already made my schedule and booked what needs to be booked. It is going to wonderful. Dates are 20-26 May, but there are events on before as well, all details are on their site.

Other news that is more pressing than news that is going to be gushed about later is the fact that Kerry Letheby’s blog tour began today over on Time 2 Blog. She will be providing Lost in a Good Book with a post on Friday and you can follow where the tour will be next and the find the other blogs here. Kerry might even drop by to answer any questions you may have as well. Her book is very good, it is suspenseful, mysterious, and very touching, a great read.

Reminder with the shameless self promotion, Lost in a Good Book has a Facebook page and a Twitter where you can get loads (maybe not loads), but a lot of book, reading, and other related things that don’t get put on the blog. So head on over there and click all the appropriate buttons to start finding all the goodies. I’m also on Goodreads if you wanted to check out other reviews that are not on here, always forget about my poor Goodreads despite the fact I live on it.

Also I was nominated for a second Liebster Award by the delightful Jess at The Never Ending Bookshelf! So that post will also be going up soon as well. So much time and so little to ~~see~~ post! Strike that, reverse it. (Woo, Willy Wonka for the funnies!)

Despite still being very much in April I do have secret news that I can reveal in May but that is all I am saying. Super secret news is for my ecstatic squeals and joy only for now, but your turn will come.

Ok! Well I think that is finally all the news, check out all the links and get excited about all the upcoming things, enjoy your remaining Monday night, and read something spectacular.

Liebster Blog Award Nomination

14 Apr 2013 1 Comment

by Amy in Rambles Tags: liebster blog award

The other night I was browsing the web as one does on a Thursday night, and discovered I had been nominated for a Liebster Award by the lovely Kerry Letheby. I will admit I was ecstatic, I didn’t even know what it was but I was thrilled. I headed straight to Google and managed to find a post by Sopphey Vance who had created a post last year trying to uncover the same answers I was. Having read Sopphey’s post I realised it is a popular but still very mysterious blogging award. According to Sophey’s extensive research this award has changed criteria in a short time. I think Kerry describes it well in her post when she says it is like Chinese whispers, and as people omit details or have slight variations it gets changed each time it is passed around. I did love from my research that so many people begin their posts on this as “From what I understand…”, and I have also seen many variations. Though I am not sure we need a solid idea, I like that it evolves and changes; keeps the mystery origins alive.

People who are nominated are not required to respond or keep this cycle going, it is just a bit of fun where you can branch out and find some other wonderful people in this little interweb world. From its mysterious origins to today any Google search will tell you it is widespread thing and is a sweet recognition and award for bloggers to let another blogger know they are being pretty amazing with what they’re doing. Alas, there is no physical award, it is essentially a figurative internet delight, but still worthy of brag rights. Following this game of whispers, I will repeat what information I have been given. Who knows, in another year they may have changed again.

Key criteria of the Liebster Blog Award

1. The nominated blogger must post 10 facts about themselves.

2. They must then answer 10 questions from the blogger who nominated them.

3. Then nominate 10 bloggers and give them 10 questions to answer.

4. Link to your ten bloggers in your blog post.

5. Let the bloggers know you have nominated them.

6. Don’t nominate the blogger who nominated you.

Ten facts about me

1. In high school I was the only one of my friends who was the youngest sibling, yet between my friends I was the oldest

2. I play music very loudly when I am home alone

3. I am slowly collecting one of each of the bad driving experiences

4. I tend not to wear shoes if I can get away with it

5. I do and will always love Disney films

6. If I had a better memory I’d be an astronomer (still a writer too, of course)

7. I am afraid of the dark, and my imagination when I am in that dark

8. I sing when no one is around

9. I get as excited over an author as people do over movie stars

10. Having a Scottish accent pretty much bypasses my filtering system of whether I am going to like you or not.

Kerry Letheby’s Questions

What is your favourite city in the world and why?
I’m tempted to say Edinburgh for no other reason than it is in Scotland, but it also has the comedy festival which I dream of going to one day, and yes, because it is in Scotland.

What was your first job after you left school?
I was working with a maintenance branch of the Department of Housing following up with customers about any work that had been done in their homes. It was…interesting if nothing else.

What was your favourite toy?
I was given a stuffed toy rabbit when I was one and I loved it from that moment pretty much, I played with him so much over the years I have replaced the majority of his original stitching with my own to patch up seam tears.

If you could choose any animal as a pet what would it be and why?
I would have a lion because not only are they adorable as cubs, they are so majestic and powerful as adults, and being able to touch and cuddle in their mane would be amazing.

Which season is your favourite and why?
Summer, because you can feel it; not just being hot, but in part there is a Christmas feel, it brings out your awareness of nature, and the smell of rain on burning road is one of the greatest smells in the world.

Which fictional character would you like to invite to dinner and why?
Just because Billy Connolly is in a book I don’t think that classes him as a fictional character, so I will have to pick Granny Next from the Thursday Next series. She is always so wise and knowledgeable in the books and she has her own secrets that would be wonderful to hear about, plus just learning more about the alternate world she lives in would be great.

Who is your favourite film star?
I am a sucker for Jude Law, but Johnny Depp is also high on the list. But he isn’t Jude Law.

Do you ever lend books to your friends?
Of course, I practically throw books at them demanding they read them because they are remarkable and had an impact on my life and I want to share that with them.

What is your favourite place to have a picnic?
A park would probably be the best place, just some grass, some trees, some cloud watching.

Describe your ideal day in twenty words or less.
Home alone, reading books all day back to back with no chance of being interrupted.

Keeping the mystery going! These are my ten nominated blogs if they choose to accept

Out of This World Book Reviews

Adventures of Life and Literature

Epic Reads

The Creative Forum

Their ten questions

1. What is something you have learnt recently?

2. Have you started reading different books since you started blogging?

3. What was the one book you hated that everyone raved about?

4. What is one of your reading pet peeves?

5. What did you want to be when you were younger?

6. What is the best and worst thing about blogging?

7. Who inspires you and why?

8. What makes you excited?

9. Do you collect anything?

10. Do you have any autograph of any one you admire?

Have fun with your answers if you choose to accept this challenge, keep up the wonderfulness, and read something spectacular!

News and Reminders

05 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in News, Rambles Tags: news

Not exactly new news of any real importance but exciting all the same. I have so much to remember at this end it helps if I keep reminding someone else beside myself. So this weekend I am going to a writer’s festival which is going to be amazing! Two days of listening to speeches and talks about all things reading and writing. I will try and keep you updated on the wonderful things I am hearing about but if that doesn’t happen you will be sure to hear of my adventures after the fact in a far more structured and professional manner no doubt.

Next week, possibly Wednesday, I am doing another cover reveal so be on the look out for that, all terribly exciting there. Also do not forget in a couple more weeks Kerry Letheby is doing a guest post for her tour. You can keep track of where she will be here, and check out her other appearances and share the love around.

Speaking of sharing the love, a reminder I have now got Facebook and Twitter, so if you haven’t already started following either of them pop on over so you can see some different and interesting book related goodies that don’t make it onto the blog.

That may be all for now, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend (I know I will!) and read something spectacular.