Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thursday Ramblings - February 24, 2011



Wow! I cannot believe it is already Thursday, and guess what it is doing outside. It is snowing again! I am getting tired of winter. Come on spring, hurry up and get here already!

I barely made it out of bed this morning. I have been doing Tae Bo Amped since Monday and every muscle in my body ached. Despite the soreness, I still got in a 45-minute workout. I am trying to lose my winter weight. Well, actually, the last three years of winter weight.

Writing News - My short story, The Halloween Dilemma, will be published in the Literature for Kids October 2011 issue.

I am working on a new children's story. I hope to have my first draft finished by this weekend. It is a sequel to my short story, Full Moon.

Does anyone watch the new version of V? Considering it's been over twenty-some years since the original, you think ABC could make a decent show instead of the this boring cliché character version. I like that they brought back Jane Balder this season, and Marc Singer is returning for a few shows. Here is idea for the series writers, have the Fifth Columns learned that the Visitors had visited Earth in the 80s. After the Visitors were defeated they released a dust, similar to the one released upon Earth in the Season One finale that erases the human's memories about the Visitors. So in other words, make it cannon to the original miniseries/series. Bring back some of the original characters, and start showing a handful of the Fifth Column. From my understanding, there are only five to ten Fifth Columns in each city against an army of aliens, at least, which is what I took from the current series. The 80s version showed more people who were fighting against the aliens.

I bought Family Storms by V.C. Andrews (A.K.A. Andrew Neiderman) yesterday at Wal-Mart. I still have not read the last six books that have came out. Some people may think that V.C. Andrew's books are trash, but the original novels written by the 'real' V.C. Andrews were truly freaky. I found the Flower and the Attic series at a thrift store several years ago. I read them quickly, liking the dark gothic tone of the novels. My late grandma loved V.C. Andrews, until she learned that a male ghostwriter was now writing them. She had given the books away to my second cousin, who left them in a box collecting dust. My aunt found out I was reading Flowers in the Attic, and gave me the collection of books. There were a few books missing in the De Beers Family Series, and the two books in the Broken Wing series. Since then, I have been buying each book that comes out. My grandma past away in December of 2009, and since then, I have not read a V.C. Andrews book.

Today, I received the book Miss Hildreth Wore Brown: Anecdotes of a Southern Belle. I'll read the book in the next few days and write up a review that will be part of the April blog tour. I'll post the review on April 17!

Other books in the mail this week: All About Daisy by O'Dell Hutchison (One of my next reads.); Monkey Made Dream by Tom Listful and Heather Listful Hewitt (My review will be post on the 1st as part of the book blog tour); 13 Days: The Dark Circle (I’m currently reading this one.); The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Fruits and Berries by Karen Szklany Gault (Read! I will post a review either on the weekend or early next week.); What the Heart Sees by Katherine Fuller (Read! I posted the review today.); No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko (I bought this book for myself. I do not know when I will get a chance to read it.).

Book Review - What the Heart Sees

What the Heart Sees: A Collection of Amish RomancesWhat the Heart Sees
BY: Kathleen Fuller
PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Nelson
PUBLISHED IN: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59554-919-8
Pages: 422
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Here are three previously published Amish short stories from Kathleen Fuller. In A Miracle for Miriam, Seth is recovering from an injury that occurred when he was spending time with his English friends. As a teen he didn’t stay around his Amish Community, instead he drank, smoked and learned how to drive a car. After his accident, his priorities changed and he now wants to live the Amish life. He runs into Miriam, a girl he made of fun years ago. She is Amish, wears glasses and works part-time at a quilt store. Seth is determined to win her affections.

In A Place of His Own, Josiah had left the Amish life when he was young, and later returned to the community. His childhood best friend, Amanda, is excited that he has returned, but Josiah gives her the cold shoulder. He is hiding a painful past.

In the final story, What the Heart Sees, Ellie Chupp lost her sight in a terrible accident. Since then, she has adjusted to being blind and has convinced herself that she will never marry. Christopher Miller returns to the Amish Community after five long years. Sparks fly between Ellie and Christopher, but can they both heal their own wounds so they can be together.

What a delight, three great Amish stories in one book! I had already read What the Heart Sees in the anthology Amish Love, but reading it the second time was just as good as the first. Each story has a similar theme of a young Amish man returning home and finding love. All three are cute and clean-cut. I recommend What the Heart Sees to any romance reader.

*I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for sending me a copy to review.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Review - Garfield and the Teacher Creature

Garfield and the Teacher Creature
BY: Jim Kraft
PUBLISHED BY: Troll
PUBLISHED IN: 1998
ISBN: 0-8167-4928-0
Pages: 78
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Garfield and Odie decide to runaway after Jon announces that he is taking them to the vet. The pets pack their bags and leave. They stumble upon an abandon school. They sneak in through a broken window.

Inside, Garfield and Odie find a ten-year-old boy named Andy. He is not alone, he has brought along his wisecracking hamster, Sherman. Soon, they start to hear footsteps and strange sounds. They realize that they are not alone - there is a creature in the school!

I found this book at my local thrift shop last weekend. I’m a big Garfield fan, so this was a real treat for me. A few years ago, I read Garfield and the Mysterious Mummy, in which I found at a thrift shop too. Garfield and the Teacher Creature is a great book for children and for Garfield fans.


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Review - Writing Great Books For Young Adults

Writing Great Books for Young Adults: Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Landing a Publishing DealWriting Great Books For Young Adults
BY: Regina L. Brooks
PUBLISHED BY: Sourcebooks Inc.
PUBLISHED IN: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-61664-198-6
Pages: 191
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Have you ever wanted to write a YA novel? Or do you have a YA manuscript sitting around collecting dust and you need help planning your next step? Writing Great Books for Young Adults is a great guide to help plan your next step.

You’ll learn about the five rules for writing for young adults. Get a brush up on the basics of writing - creating characters, developing a plot, and writing believable dialogue. Once you have your novel written, chapter 12 will give you steps on finding the right agent for your work.

I’m a writer, so I was eager to get my hands on this book. I love that there are several writing exercises through out the book to help you come up with a new plot ideas. Throughout the book, there are tips from writers, agents and editors. I recommend Writing Great Books for Young Adults to anyone who is interested in writing for young adults.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Book Review - Jane Goes Batty

Jane Goes Batty
BY: Michael Thomas Ford
PUBLISHED BY: Ballantine Books Trade Paperback
PUBLISHED IN: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-345-51366-3
Pages: 295
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

In this sequel to Jane Bites Back, the vampire Jane Austen continues to live her life under the name Jane Fairfax. She is running a book store and her new novel Constance is a bestseller. The book is being made into a movie.

Jane’s life sounds great, but she does have her problems. Her boyfriend’s, Walter, mother is in town and thinks Jane is Jewish. Her new editor is a handful, and a Hollywood camera crew follow her around to film extras the upcoming Constance DVD. And there is a little situation with a bloodsucking Bronte sister.

I have never read the first book, but found it easy to jump into Jane Goes Batty. If you are a vampire fan, you will enjoy reading about the undead Jane Austen. The novel is fast paced and fun to read.

*I would like to thank the author/publisher for sending me a copy to review.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday Book Blogger Hop

Jennifer from Crazy for Books has created this meme.

If you'd like to participate, here's Jennifer's instructions:


Every day I seem to find another book blog that I start following. In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blog Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!


So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky and check out other blogs in MckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!

Question of the week: "What book(s) would you like to see turned into a movie?"
 

My Answer: Ghost Story by Peter Straub (There was a movie made in the 80s, but most of the book was missing.); Six-Horse Hitch by Janice Holt Giles; Fear Street books by R.L. Stine; Maximum Ride books by James Patterson; Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews (There was a really bad movie in the 80s that dropped most of the plot.)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Writing News, Phil of the Future, and the Iron Queen


Writing news: My short story, The Gift Exchange, will be published in the Stories For Children Magazine Holiday 2011 Issue.

I kicked myself into gear this week and finished a new short story called A Robot on Deck.

Phil of the Future - Gadgets & GizmosI watched a great move called Winter's Bone starring Jennifer Lawrence. I also bought a dvd called Phil of the Future: Gadgets & Gizmos. It was a short-lived Disney Channel series that aired a few years back. Despite having Vol. 1 written on the DVD covers this is the only DVD ever released of the series. There are four epsiodes on the DVD. Yes, this is a kids show, but the humor is aimed for all ages. Too bad the show didn't last long. 

The Iron Queen (Harlequin Teen)I'm currently reading Jane Goes Batty By Michael Thomas Ford. I'll post a review sometime next week. I bought the Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa last Saturday. I can't wait to start reading the series, but I don't know when I will get a chance to. I have several books to review right now.                                                                                                          
That Mama is a GrouchIn the mail this week:That Mama is a Grouch by Sherry Ellis. I'll post a review for it in March as part of the World of Ink Book Tour.