Tag: Commentary

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Laini Taylor Book Signing for Strange the Dreamer #Sundayblogshare

Laini Taylor
Authors Sharon Cameron (left) and Laini Taylor (right)

Laini Taylor, author of the the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, had a book signing at my local bookstore, Parnassus Books. For an hour before she signed her newest book, Strange the Dreamer, she and fellow author Sharon Cameron asked and answered questions.  I was excited to see Sharon Cameron, who I’d forgotten would be at this signing. She is the author of one of my favorite young adult books from last year, The Forgetting. If you haven’t read that book, I highly recommend it!  You can read my review of The Forgetting, here.  I think she was supposed to be the moderator for Laini’s book signing, but she ended up answering some questions, as well as asking a few. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Laini Taylor Book Signing for Strange the Dreamer #Sundayblogshare” →

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Exploring my local Library #Sundayblogshare

Last weekend I went to the Nashville Public Library in downtown Nashville to listen to the author Greg Iles speak, and to get his most recent book Mississippi Blood signed for my husband, who is a big fan. This was our first visit, and I have to say that I was really surprised at how gorgeous the library was! This is my second time living in Nashville, combined for a total of seven years so far and I’m somewhat ashamed that I’ve never been. I do have a library card though, so I’m not a complete heathen! (I just get ebooks online…)

We walked into this gorgeous lobby. If you look at the picture below, you’ll see a mezzanine on the second level. There was a fabulous photography exhibit about the hidden treasures in Nashville. Normal houses, churches, etc. where great history has been lived. A small red brick church which was the home of the Civil Rights Movement. A trailer park that Dolly Parton lived in with her uncle when she came to town to sing at the age of thirteen. Some serious and also charming stories went along with these photos, and I recognized a few places in my own neighborhood. It was fascinating!


As you walked up the stairway you see at the bottom of the first photo, these beautiful murals were painted on the wall showing Nashville’s history, from the Civil War until now. We peaked at the mural from our era and tried to find our own neighborhood.


Peaking out through one of the windows was a beautiful little courtyard, still bare from the cold weather, but I’m sure will be gorgeous when the tree’s leaf out and the flowers bloom.


This would be a wonderful spot to sit and read a book in the sun, wouldn’t it?  On the second floor opposite the gallery is the Civil Rights Room and a Study Hall, both absolutely beautiful with dark would and a warm atmosphere. You can see the state capital peeking through the window of the Civil Rights Room, which seems totally appropriate!


We spent a wonderful two hours exploring, including listening to Greg Iles speak in a beautiful auditorium. When we left, my husband and I looked at each other and agreed that we had found a hidden gem. 

Sometimes the best explorations are in your own backyard, aren’t they? Do you have a hidden gem in your own hometown? How did you find it? I’d love to hear about your adventure!

Deb

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Salon@615- Mississippi Blood book signing with Greg Iles #Sundayblogshare

I was trolling through Twitter and noticed a post by my favorite book store Parnassus Books, stating that Greg Iles, author of the best selling Natchez Burning Trilogy and multiple other novels, would be signing his book Mississippi Blood at Salon@615 at the Nashville Public Library downtown. I looked over at my husband who was sipping his morning coffee and asked him if he’d like to go. He’s a big fan, having read a few of Greg Iles books, including Natchez Burning. We looked up the time and purchased our tickets. We have lived in Nashville for a total of 7 years (combined over two moves) and have never been to the Library downtown. I do have my much used Library card though and use it through the Overdrive app to check out ebooks and audio books all the time I’ve just never been in the physical location. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Salon@615- Mississippi Blood book signing with Greg Iles #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Do Publishers Factor into your Book Choice? #Sundayblogshare

A couple weeks ago my fellow blogger Donna at Chocolate n’ Waffles asked and answered some interesting questions about how, or really IF, a certain Publisher factors into your book choice. I was intrigued by these questions and Donna was nice enough to let me use these in my own Sunday Blog Share. So, thanks Donna!

While thinking about these questions I realized that before I started my book review blog I used to be blind to who published a book. As long as my favorite authors had their books bound, or in ebook form, I didn’t think one way or the other about the whole process. However, once I started blogging and requesting books on NetGalley I noticed how I looked at certain publishers first before scanning the list in general. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Do Publishers Factor into your Book Choice? #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Do book signings influence reviews? #Sundayblogshare


I look back to when I posted my first review and think about how much more books are a part of my life now.  Up until last year I had never been to a single book signing! Last year my sister and I decided on a whim to go to the RT Convention in Las Vegas. We had a blast!  I met some authors that I liked, some I’d heard of and some I’d never heard of but got a free book and decided what the hell, this looks pretty good so I’ll try it! I came away with over 100 books and did not make much of a dent in that pile this year. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Do book signings influence reviews? #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: It’s Not Just a Change in the Weather… #sundayblogshare

It’s 67 degrees in Nashville, TN. The crocus and daffodils are blooming, people are outside excercising and walking their dogs. My husband and I spent a couple of hours in the convertible driving around the city, seeing the sites and watching the people mill around downtown having lunch outside and listening to live music. A gorgeous day! My doodlebuddy Nash, loves his rides in the convertible too!

My Goldendoodle Nash and my hubby!

Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: It’s Not Just a Change in the Weather… #sundayblogshare” →

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Big Ripoff #Sundayblogshare #editorial

As most of you know, I finished my first novel, Midnight Metamorphosis. It was hard work, but totally rewarding when I think to myself that I actually completed writing a novel. Wow! It would be wonderful to get it published traditionally, but I know that takes a lot of time and effort. I have sent out some query letters, synopsis, chapters, etc., and have gotten a bunch of rejection notices. Frustrating, but also not unexpected. I had a friend tell me that she got 300 rejections before she got a yes. Well, that could take years just to get that many sent out!  Lol.  I do have a full time job, husband, and other responsibilities. I have my blog too!  Which I totally enjoy and will not give up. Other than posting a Chapter a week on my blog, and also on Wattpad, I have been busy with life doing other things, and trying to kick start myself into sitting down and getting started on the second book in my series. This week, I got an unexpected call at work that gave me a jolt.

A publishing house named Dorrance Publishing called and said their researchers found my title while searching the newly copyrighted books on some website. Not sure how that happens, but I guess nothing is private anymore. ( My husband tells me they found it on The Libary of Congress website.) Anyways, after an exciting phone call, I have lunch with my husband and we decide to look into this publishing house. Apparently, it’s a big scam. They actually try to get up to $11k out of people by doing what a normal publisher would do for free ( or at least a % of book sales)!  Of course, I felt really let down, but in my experience when things happen that easily, it’s too good to be true!

SCAM ALERT!!!

The good thing about this scam happening to me is that it lit a fire under my ass. I may not get published the traditional route, but I may self publish on either Kindle, Smashwords, or even both if that’s possible! 
My question to all of you is this – Have any of you self published? Who did you go with? Is it working? What are the challenges? What are the great things about it? Anything you all could tell me would be a great help!

Have a great week!

Deb


P.S. Also, if you have a moment, read the chapters I’m posting weekly. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Wish Granter book signing with CJ Redwine #Sundayblogshare

Another week and another book signing at Parnassus Books in Nashville! This time, CJ Redwine is signing the second book in her Ravenspire series, The Wish Granter. The Wish Granter is a fairytale retelling, this time from the classic Rumplestiltskin. Even though this book is the second in a series, it can be read as a stand alone, set in the same world as The Shadow Queen, but the stories aren’t connected. CJ, in person, was so charming and funny! She should truly have a stand up routine because I could’ve listened to her for a lot longer. Continue reading “This Chicks Sunday Commentary: The Wish Granter book signing with CJ Redwine #Sundayblogshare” →

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This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: All Hail the Queens Book Tour


I live in Nashville, TN, and there is this fab-u-lous book store called Parnassus Books.  They have an amazing amount of authors who come in to do book signings, I think because the owner is a published author herself, Ann Patchett, and co-owner publishing veteran Karen Hayes. The book signing often includes a brief speech, or in this case interview with the authors. Last Wednesday I went with my mom and sister to Parnassus to see Victoria Aveyard and Sophie Jordan’s book signing. Victoria Aveyard has a very successful series called the Red Queen and she was signing the third book, which was just released, called Kings Cage. She is touring with Sophie Jordan who is releasing the second book, Rise of Fire,  in her series Reign of Fire.  Both of these books are young adult fantasy novels, a genre which I love and I thought it interesting that the audience was not just filled with teenage fans. I am not young myself, and my mother has read both series and she’s in her mid seventies.
Continue reading “This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: All Hail the Queens Book Tour” →

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This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: Authors could solve the worlds problems…

I love reading fiction for many different reasons; I can escape from reality, I can explore different lands, I can fall in love over and over again, I can learn new languages, I can have great sex, I can can fight oppression, and I can be a hero. The list goes on and on! If you follow my book reviews you know I like books where the underdog wins, women find the power within to beat bad odds, where “race issues” are played out between humans and elves-vampires and werewolves, where basically the world becomes a better place because people WANT to make it better in these books. Of course, there is always a happy ending, or at least a sequel where the characters I love will get to take that battle to the next level.

I love that these life themes are played out in Young Adult books, so girls can learn empowerment and boys can learn how to work with others to change the world for the better (Snow Like Ashes).

I love that romantic fantasy can be between two different races. One race who lives in the day and one in the night, and even though the darker race has large teeth and the lighter race is considered horrifyingly ugly because of the lightness of her skin, they still open people’s eyes to the love in their union. They set a good example for acceptance and unity (Eidolon).

I love that those in power can learn from the humanity in one individual, even if they are an alien,that makes them change their behavior towards an entire race (Star Nomad).

I also love that I can escape into a fantasy world where a small group of individuals battle against an egomaniacal President who is infected with a deadly virus and win that battle (Justice Ascending).

All of these themes, although played out in fiction, give me hope that the light of humanity exists. After all, these authors are writing about things that exist in our every day life- hatred, bigotry, love, war, friendship, honor, and ultimately the power of good people doing great things. These themes must have resonated because these authors are successful and fans buy their books in bundles!

I would like to make a suggestion on the next book our leader should read. Nicola Yoon could teach you about how deportation feels from a teenagers viewpoint in The Sun is Also a Star, or maybe you could learn compassion from a nice interracial love story set during the Civil Rights Movement in Alissa Cole’s Let it Shine. Really, I’d love it if he would read the moment in Rebecca Zanetti’s Mercury Striking when the virus takes hold of the President and he becomes a psychopath, there are some frightening similarities.

I guess what I’m trying to convey is that writers have been fighting and solving these real life themes for generations. The books I mention above are all books I’ve read recently, but you can find great ideas in the classics as well. Maybe what we need from our worlds leaders, besides the obvious things like compassion, intelligence, thoughtfulness, a good world view, etc. is also to be well read. Well read in Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Young Adult novels, Mysteries-all of these genres, and others, have some great solutions to the problems our world is dealing with right now. You may have to look past the fangs to find them, but the solutions are in our fiction novels.

It’s something to think on-

Please click each book below to read my reviews on each, and to link to buy.

Deborah

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