"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." ~Toni Morrison

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Authors who are my Go-To Beach Reads


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

When I am relaxing on the beach or by the pool, I like books that are easy to read and hard to put down.  That usually means horror, thrillers, and mysteries.  Here are some authors that fit the bill for me.

Stephen King
I love Stephen King's books.  The language is easy to read, and the story and characters pull me in.  Perfect for reading on the beach.

Joe Hill
Stephen King's son, Joe Hill, is another author I will read on the beach.  The apple did not fall far from the tree.  And he has a new book out, The Fireman

James Patterson
Another easy to read, hard to put down author.

Melissa de la Cruz
The Blue Bloods series is definitely on my list of summer reading.

Dean Koontz
The Odd Thomas series has caught me.  Another one on my summer reading list.

Michael Scott
His Immortal Nicholas Flamel series is on my reading list.  

What type of book do you like to read at the beach?

Monday, May 30, 2016

Weekly Wrap-Up (May 29, 2016)


Blog Posts
Teaser Tuesday

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Personal Stuff
I am back to blogging this week and posted all but one of my scheduled posts.  I went to see The Cure in concert this week and planned to post some video clips from the concert for my Stuck in my Head post.  Unfortunately I had some technical difficulties, so the post has been delayed.  I hope to get it posted this coming week.

What I read
I am reading The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman.


Interesting Stuff I Found on the Internet
I haven't really had time for the internet this week and am behind on all my blog-reading.  Will catch up soon.


ROW80 Goals
1.  Read 9 books (3/9)
I am still reading The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman.

2.  Complete the A to Z Challenge on my two blogs/Continue with my blogging schedule
I got all but one blog post this week and I missed that post because of technical difficulties.  I will get it posted next week.

3.  Edit 5 chapters of ZF
I have not started yet.

4.  Write daily
I have started writing again.  The book I am reading is really inspiring me.  I did not write every day though.


5.  Continue my Creative Every Day challenge
I am continuing the #100DayProject on Instagram which is helping me to be creative.



How did your week go?

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

What I'm Reading Wednesday #14 (May 25)

I am currently reading (and loving) The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman
A photo posted by Lisa (@lalocadesigns) on
Once again my monthly goal is to read 3 books.  So far during May I have only read one book.  It's a busy time of year at school and it gets harder and harder to find time to read.  

2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 14/32
Books from TBR list: 2
Series completed: 1
2016 Pinterest Board

January
1.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
2.  Foreign Gods, Inc by Okey Ndibe
3.  Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy by Dinty W. Moore
4.  Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg

February
1.  The Double Life of Fidel Castro
2.  Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Started a new series)
3.  Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult (TBR)
4.  The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (Completed a series!) 

March
1.  The Magician by Michael Scott (Book 2 of a series)
2.  The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
3.  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

April
1.  The Art of X-Ray Reading
1.  Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

May
1.  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (TBR)




What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Teaser Tuesday (May 24, 2016)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
" "Anytime you want to fall out of love with Mexico, take a bus to Coacalco, to Neza [across the border in México State] and just walk around," said Juanca, launching, over a glass of mezcal, into one of his John Belushi-like rants, embellished with his own thunderous cannonades of laughter.  Well, maybe I could do that, take a bus; to drive I'd need to rent a car, and that wasn't in my plans for this summer."
The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman, p. 181

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Weekly Wrap-up (May 22, 2016)


Blog Posts
No blog posts this week :(

Personal Stuff
I failed with the A to Z Challenge, and life goes on.  I took the week off from my blogs because my eyes have been hurting so much, but I will be back this week.  Back to my normal schedule.  Back to normal blogging.  Yay!  I don't think I will try the A to Z Challenge again.  I always have a problem with my allergies and fall behind.  And I know a lot of people schedule all their posts ahead of time, but part of the challenge for me is that I try to post every day.   Scheduling my posts would defeat the purpose of the challenge, right?  Yep, never doing the A to Z Challenge again.  I need to be successful at something for a while.

What I read
I finally got around to reading Fahrenheit 451.

Interesting Stuff I Found on the Internet
Links used for the A to Z Challenge:
A to Z of Easter Rising 1916

People and Places of the Easter Rising

Arthur Shields, the Quiet Man

Mise Eire

Irish Republican Brotherhood

History.com

Facts and misconceptions about the Rising


ROW80 Goals
1.  Read 9 books (3/9)
I just finished Fahrenheit 451 and now I am reading The Interior Circuit by Francisco Goldman.

2.  Complete the A to Z Challenge on my two blogs/Continue with my blogging schedule
The challenge is over.  I have failed.  I will not try to complete the challenge this year.  I took this week off from blogging.  I will start back up this week.

3.  Edit 5 chapters of ZF
I have not started yet.

4.  Write daily
My allergies made this difficult this week.  I did not write at all, although I am finally feeling inspired.


5.  Continue my Creative Every Day challenge
I am continuing the #100DayProject on Instagram which is helping me to be creative.



How did your week go?

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

R is for the Royal Hospital

A to Z Challenge 2016:  Easter Rising of 1916
2016 is the 100 year anniversary of this important moment in Irish history.  Join me throughout the month of April for an A to Z of the Easter Rising of 1916.

A is About the Easter Rising
B is for Boland's Mill
C is for Cumann na mBan
D is for Dublin Castle
E is for Enniscorthy
F is for The Foggy Dew
G is for General Post Office (GPO)
H is for Henry Street
I is for the Irish Republican Brotherhood
J is for Jacob's Biscuit Factory
K is for Kilmainham Gaol
L is for Liberty Hall
M is for Countess Markievicz
N is for National Anthem
O is for On Banna Strand
P is for Padraig Pearse
Q is for the Quiet Man

R is for the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham

At the time of the rising, the Royal Hospital was the headquarters for the British army.  
image source:  imma.ie

Nowadays the President of Ireland places a wreath here every year to remember all the Irish who were lost in wars.

Teaser Tuesday (May 10, 2016)


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:
"The bloodstream in this woman was new and it seemed to have done a new thing to her.  Her cheeks were very pink and her lips were very fresh and full of color and they looked soft and relaxed.  Someone else's blood there.  If only someone else's flesh and brain and memory.  If only they could have taken her mind along to the dry cleaner's and emptied the pockets and steamed and cleansed it and reblocked it and brought it  back in the morning.  If only..."
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Kindle edition, no page number)

Monday, May 9, 2016

Weekly Wrap-up (May 9, 2016)


Blog Posts
5/2/16:  April Monthly Check-in

5/3/16:  April Book Reviews

5/4/16:  What I'm Reading Wednesday

Personal Stuff
Allergies are still affecting my life recently.  My eyes hurt.  It makes it difficult to be on the computer, to draw or to read.  I have fallen behind in the A to Z challenge because of my allergies, but I am slowly catching back up.

What I read
I finished Ready Player One and now I am reading Fahrenheit 451.

Interesting Stuff I Found on the Internet
I've been researching my A to Z Challenge topic, The Easter Rising of 1916.  I will post all my sources once I have completed the challenge.


ROW80 Goals
1.  Read 9 books (2/9)
I am reading Fahrenheit 451.  Fascinating book so far.

2.  Complete the A to Z Challenge on my two blogs/Continue with my blogging schedule
I am getting back on schedule.

3.  Edit 5 chapters of ZF
I have not started yet but I did finally fix my printer, so this week I can print chapter one and begin :)

4.  Write daily
My allergies made this difficult this week.  I did not write every day.


5.  Continue my Creative Every Day challenge
The #100DayProject on Instagram is helping me to be creative.



How did your week go?

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

2016 What I'm Reading Wednesday #13 (May 4)

I am currently reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Once again my monthly goal is to read 3 books.  During April I read 2 and a half books, but I gave up on one of them.  It was interesting; I just wasn't in the right mood, I guess.

2016 Goal: 32 books
Books Read = 13/32
Books from TBR list: 1
Series completed: 1
2016 Pinterest Board

January
1.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
2.  Foreign Gods, Inc by Okey Ndibe
3.  Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy by Dinty W. Moore
4.  Thunder and Lightning by Natalie Goldberg

February
1.  The Double Life of Fidel Castro
2.  Peeps by Scott Westerfeld (Started a new series)
3.  Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult (TBR)
4.  The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld (Completed a series!) 

March
1.  The Magician by Michael Scott (Book 2 of a series)
2.  The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr
3.  Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

April
1.  The Art of X-Ray Reading
1.  Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline




What are you reading this week?  How are your reading goals going?

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

April Book Reviews

I read 2 books in April.  Here are my mini reviews.

Doodle Art Handbook:  The Non-Artist's Guide in Creative Drawing by Lana Karr

Amazon Description:  "Welcome to the wonderful world of DOODLE ART. 
The Doodle Art Handbook is a guide to inspire you and bring out your inner Doodle creativity. With the help of step by step lessons you will be able to create Doodle masterpieces with no experience necessary. 
The Handbook contains: 
  • 25 original tangle patterns with many variations divided into 5 sections from beginner to expert level.
  • Step by step lessons on how to draw, while having little or no experience.
  • Guidance on how to draw animals, flowers, trees and other objects in doodle art style.
  • Many original art works from Doodle Art collaborators./li>
  • Detailed instructions and advanced techniques for using shading, depth and drawing 3d objects.

  • Doodle art is an excellent source of stress relief and meditation, and can be used by artists of all levels.
    Please enjoy!"

My thoughts:  Overall I liked this book, but I was disappointed.  Unfortunately, the text parts of the book became very repetitive, and it didn't live up to my expectations.  I have been drawing a lot of Zentangle-Inspired Art recently and learning as many different tangles as I can.  I thought that this book would introduce me to some new doodle patterns that I could use in my art; however, most of the doodle patterns in the book were the same as the Zentangle patterns that I have already learned, although they had different names.  Also, some of the most interesting doodle patterns in the book did not have step-outs.


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Amazon Description:  "In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. 
   But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape."

My thoughts:  OMG!!  I loved this book!  Maybe it was all the 80's references?  But really, this book is like Willy Wonka, but in the future.  I really liked Wade: poor, socially awkward, raised by virtual reality, and trying to win the biggest prize ever offered.  Cline has created a reality that I would never want to live in and a virtual world that sounds amazing.  I was rooting for Wade from page one; Cline's voice really pulled me into the story.  I did not want to put this book down.  I felt like I was there in the OASIS with Wade, falling in love, fighting my way through challenges, trying to beat the evil Sixers to the Egg......  It was an epic video game book, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know ever since I put it down.  I can't wait to get Cline's next book, Armada.  It is already on my TBR list.

Have you read either of these books?  What did you think?

Monday, May 2, 2016

Monthly Check-in (April)

Time to check-in on my progress on my yearly goals.

Reading Goals

1.  Read 32 books (2-3 per month)
I read 2 books this month and gave up on the third.  My current total is 13.
Doodle Art Handbook by Lana Karr
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2.  Read books I have pinned on Pinterest
Not this month

3.  Complete some book series that I have started
Not this month

Writing Goals

1.  Write or edit every day
I wrote daily for a week this month, so that puts me at 14 writing days so far this year.

2.  Complete first draft of DOVH and Mordred
No progress.

3.  Edit first draft of ZF
No progress.  I am hoping to edit 5 chapters during this round of ROW80

4.  Complete at least one writing challenge
This month I participated in the A to Z Challenge, but did not finish due to allergies.  I will continue with the posts until I complete it.
A to Z Challenge - A thru Q
Month of Letters - 10/28 letters

5.  Continue with my blogging schedule
This month my blogging schedule changed a little because of the A to Z Challenge but I still posted pretty regularly.


How are your goals progressing?