It's Giveaway Day!

Yep, I've reached 200 followers!!! So it's Giveaway Day!!!

So, if you want to win one of these shiny, new, never-been-read books, all you have to do is be a follower and comment on this post! Let me know which book you'd prefer as well. On Friday I'll randomly draw two names and then announce the winner on my blog, as well as hopping to the winner's blog to give them a heads up!

Oh, keep in mind- in case you've been living under a rock or something- these books are in the middle of their series, just in case you haven't read the first one(s).

Good luck! And happy Monday!

Just Keep Reading, Just Keep Reading

Today I've got a question for you:

If you're not loving a first, even second, chapter of a book, do you give up on it?

I'm thinking about this because yesterday I started Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier. Now, I'm NOT the kind of person who gives up on books. I can think of maybe five instances IN MY LIFE when I've done this, three recently. Four out of the five of those times I decided not to read the book because I didn't care for the subject matter. The fifth, I took a chance, bought a book, and just couldn't get into it.

Most of the time though, even if I'm not gung-ho about a book, or even if I'm like, ah, I should read because I gotta finish this book already so I can get to something really great, I still finish. There's a book I read recently that, well actually it started great but I fast grew sick of the author's style. I seriously wanted to chuck that book across the room. But I didn't, I finished it, because I was interested enough to know how the story ended. Another read took me almost halfway in to really understand what was going on and get into it. It turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read.

So yesterday I started Ruby Red and wasn't blown away by the first chapter. I set it down and did other things. During the day when I thought, I could read right now, I just didn't. I wasn't anxious or eager to pick up the book again. When I finally picked it up last night for my usual before-bed reading time, I read. And I read. And I read. By the end of the second chapter I was into it. I didn't want to put it down.

It just got me thinking that if I was the kind of person who gives up on books because the first chapter isn't automatically enticing, look what I would have missed out on! Just the thought of starting and not finishing a book is almost foreign to me. It's VERY difficult for me to do.

So I'm really wondering if I'm a minority, or if people really do axe a book if it hasn't won them over almost right away.

Do you?

GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm one follower away from 200!!! I've got two shiny and awesome new books just waiting to be given away so this is just a heads up- as soon as I hit 200, there will be a giveaway!!!

Okay, I'm kinda excited about this for some reason! Maybe because it's the first giveaway I've ever done. I wish I had some great ARCs or a fab contest with an agent or two but alas... Unfortunately I'm not THAT cool.

Anyway, keep your eyes open because you could win one of two books that I don't even own myself- I borrowed them from the library to read. Except, of course I own them now, temporarily, but I haven't even cracked them open because soon they'll be YOURS!!!

That's it. I'm done with all the exclamation points.

Writing Retreat

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question, hosted by YA Highway is:

If you could go on a writing retreat anywhere, where would you go & who would you bring? If time and money were no object, where would you shut yourself away to write the great American novel? And what friends, crit partners, or inspiring authors (living or dead!) would you bring along?
Oh this question is so so easy (and I think I've answered it before...)

While there are many places in the world I wish to travel, there is only one place that would be my dream writing retreat. In fact, it would be my dream living spot. It's not actually a specific place but there are certain things I want there:

1. Hot weather. Lots of sun. A light breeze (not major wind).

2. A beach.

3. Soft sand.

4. Warm ocean (or lake) for writing breaks.

And that's it. That's all I ask. Who would I bring? Um, no one? (Ha, sorry family.) If I was living there, obviously I'd want my family there. But if I'm just going to write, if I'm "shutting myself away to write the great American Canadian novel," then I'd rather be alone. No interruptions. No distractions. No worrying that one of my kids is gonna drown in said ocean. Even other authors, or crit partners, or anyone really would be distracting. Because then you'd get to chatting... and laughing... and not writing. I'd want perfect and complete PEACE. (Probably because I never get it.)

A few other things I'd need there:

1. Phone, iPad, iPod. For music and research. Not to go on twitter or play games or anything like that, I swear.

2. Someone to feed me and bring me drinks. Like a hot cabana boy. Just kidding. Or not.

3. Books to read, for other writing breaks and inspiration.

Where would you go? Would you bring someone with you?

Teaser Tuesday

It's Teaser Tuesday time, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I finished Hallowed by Cynthia Hand last night (amidst lots of tears and snot) which is a sequel to her first novel Unearthly. So today I just randomly opened the book and picked a bit. Which actually is what you're supposed to do for the teaser but usually I pick a bit I've read recently that I really liked. Anyway, here's my teaser for this week:

There are a lot of words I'd use to describe Christian Prescott: mystery, enigma, conundrum, destiny, terrifying, and, well, just plain hot, if I'm being honest, but the word idiot has never crossed my mind. Except maybe that one time at prom. (page 114)

What are you reading right now?

The Booker Award

I was all prepared to blog about something "serious" today. Something "meaningful." Something "smart."

Well, I got saved by the blog award! Ha!

My newest CP Dahlia (you can find her here) has awarded me the Booker award. Thanks Dahlia! And by the way, you should check her out because I just read her MS and it was HAWESOME! (No I didn't misspell, that is hot and awesome all mashed into one super-word.)

The Booker Award is an award given to book bloggers provided they blog at least 50% about books, including reading or writing. The rules, because there's always rules with blog awards for some reason... Anyway, the rules are that I have to name my top five favorite books.

TOP FIVE FAVE BOOKS OF ALL TIME:

You know I can't pick, right? It's IMPOSSIBLE. Okay, I'll try.

1. Harry Potter books 1-7 by JK Rowling. I know, I know, that's seven books right there. But these are books I could reread and reread and reread (and I have). We all know why these are the BEST BOOKS EVER, so I don't think I have to explain myself.

2. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Again, this is... I don't even know how many books are out there now. I'm refusing to read any more of them until they are ALL out and the series is over. Then I will read them all from start to finish. I used to restart the series every time a new book had come out but I've stopped doing that since there's A LOT and they are VERY long.

There have been lots of complaints about these books and I often agree with them. However, I love and have always loved the fantasy world Jordan created and the oh-so-awesome characters. These books were really my first book LOVES and we never forget our first love, do we?

3. A recent love is another obvious one: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I could read this book over and over and over. In fact, I've been dying to reread it but there's just too many books on my TBR pile.

4. The complete works of Jane Austen. Yep, I'm an Austen fan. Her books rock! Pride and Prejudice has always been a fave, and Persuasion comes a close second.

5. Everything by Meg Cabot and Ally Carter. Their books are so much fun. Light, funny, and entertaining. Exactly what I love and look for in a book.

Okay, so I kinda listed fave authors more than books so I completely broke the rules. Oh well.

WIP Songs

Guess what? I'm thisclose to finishing my sequel to Daze and Knights. And let me tell you, I'll breathe a massive sigh of relief when it's done because I've been working (on and off) on this thing for TWO YEARS. I haven't given it priority because I know that writing a sequel to a book that isn't published (or may never be published) is kinda a waste of time. But then I say it isn't, because hey- I'm WRITING. No writing is a waste of time.

There's been this one song that has really helped me push through the troubles I've been having. Every time I listen to it I suddenly get new scenes in my head. It has been a life-saver book-saver for me. I just had to share:



There are a few other songs that I either mention in my sequel, or have also inspired it. This one has felt like the soundtrack for the entire novel:

There's one scene with dancing... cuz you know I love dancing and I can't help putting it in somewhere... Anyway, it's in a forest but Jess hears these two songs in her head. The first one she's dancing alone and celebrating something, and the second, she's dancing with a certain gentleman.



(This is the only clip I could find that would play)

(LOVE Michael Buble)

What songs inspire your WIP? I always love hearing new music...

Teaser Tuesday

Ah, welcome back Teaser Tuesday. I kinda missed you.

No really, I like doing Teaser Tuesday. I especially like reading other people's teasers, see what they're reading, see what the books are like. It's fun. If you want to check them out, go to Should Be Reading.

My teaser today is from Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter- her 5th Gallagher Girl book. I LOVE these books by the way. They are so much fun to read. I wish Ally Carter was my BFF. Seriously.

"You don't get it, do you?" Macey threw her covers off and stepped barefoot across the floor."We're not mad because you left." She practically spat the words. I wondered if Liz or Bex might wake up, but neither stirred. "We're mad because you didn't take us with you." (page 68)

Anyone else got any teasers?

Random Monday Thoughts

Usually I save my random thoughts for Thursdays, but I couldn't help myself today. My brain can't seem to focus on just one thing.

1. It's going to be a busy week.

2. I'm sad that Blog Me Maybe is over. What am I gonna blog about?

3. Right now I'm critiquing a great contemp read from a girl I met during The Writer's Voice. So far it's been excellent.

4. I'm itching and trying and dying to get the sequel to Daze finished. I'm thisclose. It hurts. Why? Because I've been working on it for a looooong time. I started it the second after I wrote "the end" on my first draft of Daze. Since then, I've worked on it in between Daze edits, and writing Sway, and anytime I had time. I JUST WANT TO GET THE THING FINISHED!

Okay, I'll stop yelling.

5. I've had this idea floating around in my head for MONTHS for a new WIP and I can't wait to start it. Must. Finish. Sequel. First.

6. L.G. Keltner at Writing Off the Edge awarded me the Stylish Blogger award. Haha, have you seen my blog? It's not what I would call stylish. I used to change the background all the time but I've since decided that simplicity is best. If that makes me stylish... well great! (Actually, simplicity has always been my thing when it comes to clothes/decorating, etc.)

7. I've said it a zillion times, but now that the trailer is out I can say it again. LES MISERABLES! It'll be hard to survive until December. Here's the trailer, in case you haven't seen it. I saw it in the theater over the weekend and it was even better all huge and loud and stuff!

8. I'm only 5 followers away from 200! So I'm thinking...  GIVEAWAY! More on that to come...

Shout Outs

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Someone Else?

It's the last day of Blog Me Maybe. I can't believe June is starting tomorrow. We better have some good summer weather here in Alberta or I'm leaving. Just sayin'.

Anyway, today I wanted to give shout-outs to some of my beta readers/CPs. These girls are amazing.

Here, have some love from me

First off, my sister-in-law Emily blogs (occasionally) over at Write About Nothing. She's my first and foremost reader (poor girl) and also an extremely valuable Brainstorming Buddy. If I've got the barest of ideas, I can message her and say, what do you think about this? And she zaps back with answers that always help move me along. So check her out cuz she's awesome.

Secondly, check out Michelle Merrill over at Perfecting the Craft. The name of her blog perfectly describes her because she is a genius at the craft of writing. She gave me such helpful line and structure edits when she read Daze I will be forever grateful.

My other reader and major cheerleader of Daze and Knights is Amanda Hannah, who blogs occasionally here but is also one of YA Highway's contributors. If you're not a YA Highway reader, I'm telling you, you should be. Her general gushing over Daze made me obviously very happy (and blushtastic) and she gave me excellent edits on the MS as well as pointed out some of the things I do that I shouldn't (like all the words I overuse- that, just, so, etc). Remembering her enthusiasm for Daze has buoyed me up on those days where I think the book will never see the light of a bookstore window.

Lastly, go see Prerna Pickett over at The Sands of Writing. I had a great time reading one of her MS's and then she returned the favor and read Sway. Although I haven't gone through her edits yet, I was psyched to have her read it because I love her blog and I loved her story.

These girls are AMAZING. They have made me a better writer. I suggest you go check them out, like NOW. Okay? Okay.

About Conferences and Books

Blog Me Maybe: May I Ask You Something?

I've got two questions for you today.

YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday asks this:

What book and/or writing conference would you love to go to?

My answer is simple. ANY. I've never really been to a conference. I say 'really' because I participated in WriteOnCon last year which was AWESOME but it happens in the comfort of your own home so it's not like I had to go anywhere. And then there was this writer's day that the Calgary library hosted and I went to that and it was sort of a mini-conference I guess. It was good but there weren't any authors or agents there. :( There isn't just one I dream of going to. Really, I'd love to be a part of ANY conference. Hopefully one day...

My other question, since YA Highway isn't doing this one like usual, is:

What was the best book you read in May?

My book count for this month is a little low- for me at least. Here's what I read:

I've got to say, I don't think I can pick a favorite this month. These books were all so different. Entwined was a twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale- a very beautiful story. Chain Reaction was a contemp romance- hot and funny and tense and excellent. I haven't read fantasy in awhile and Finnikin of the Rock didn't disappoint. The world was well imagined, the characters interesting and the plot of the story not what I thought it would be. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was also not what I thought it would be. I loved reading about Prague and artsy characters and a world of angels and demons that was new and unexpected. And then there's Insurgent. An awesome sequel. It didn't disappoint. Even though I could hardly remember what happened in Divergent, it was easy to jump right back into the world and it didn't take long for me to remember the characters. It ended on a "wha???" and made me want the next one right away.

Five excellent books. I'd recommend all of them. Now I want your answers...

My Super-Strange Obsession

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Myself

Here's a random fact about me: I have this weird obsession with War.

No, that does not mean I like to fight or kill or maim or want to BE in a war of any kind. But I am fascinated with history and wars in particular.

Why? Who the heck knows.

The USS Arizona memorial (the brown circle sticking up is part of the actual Arizona)



When I was in Hawaii, I told my parents that the number one thing I wanted to do there was go to Pearl Harbor. My Dad asked why and I couldn't even answer him. I loved that I got the chance to go there. I wish we could have spent more time and done more. As it was, we spent all morning doing everything free- the museums, all the monuments and stuff outside, and of course the USS Arizona.

The Punchbowl



Another place we visited was the Punchbowl. This is a war memorial in a giant crater (or was it a volcano? I have no idea) right in the middle of Honolulu. There are thousands of plaques on the ground naming American soldiers who have fought in different wars. There are also walls and walls of names. My parents ended up waiting for me because I was taking so long there.

I also love war movies. Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Braveheart, Enemy at the Gates, The Patriot, U-571, We Were Soldiers, Memphis Belle. Pearl Harbor is probably one of my all-time favorite movies. (And it has a great soundtrack BTW.)

This obsession also shapes my writing. If I get the chance to write more Jessica books in the future, I can tell you my obsession with war throughout history will decide where Jessica will Travel.

The reason behind my weird obsession with war remains a mystery to me. It might have started with my early love of swing music and old movie-musicals. Maybe. As a teen, I loved to go to Army surplus stores. I have a vintage Navy shirt and a "We Want You" poster. And this is hanging on the wall in my TV room:

Whatever the reason, I'm fascinated with war. I like to learn about it, read about it, watch anything about it. Yep, that's my super-strange obsession.What's yours?

May I Attempt to Talk About Writing

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Writing

I don't know, may I? I know I may... I guess the question is, can I?

For the past month or two, I've been in a kind of funk. It started out with blogging, then it spread to my writing, and in May it's even spread to reading (I've only read four books so far this month!). The blogging-funk has been sort of fixed with Blog Me Maybe but I worry for next week, what the heck I'm going to blog about.

And then there's my writing. This past week, every day I've sat down to finish up my Jessica sequel. My daily word count was in the hundreds. Pathetic.

What is my problem? No clue.

Do I feel qualified to give other people advice about writing? DEFINITELY NOT.

So here's what I've got to say about that: Sometimes writing is hard. Sometimes it's so much fun and it makes me feel on top of the world. But sometimes it's hard. Like now.

But the answer is not to give up. I'm gonna give it another shot during my daily writing time. This Jessica sequel is refusing to be easy and maybe I'll put it aside again to start work on my SNI. Or maybe I'll force it out.

Whatever I end up doing, I'm going to WRITE. Because if there's one thing I know FOR SURE about writing, is that I can NEVER stop. Even if my daily productivity has been low. Even if I feel like a writing-loser. I'm going to write anyway.

So there.

And in case I need some inspiration...

Funny Ha Ha

Blog Me Maybe: May I Share Something Funny?

Confession: I think Amanda Bynes is hilariously funny.

You might disagree. But I don't care! Her movies are fun, cute, sweet, and nastiness-free which is always a bonus. Here's my faves and some other reasons why I like them besides Amanda Bynes.

Where I first fell in love with Channing Tatum

A great Snow White retelling

I never say no to Colin Firth

I miss this show...

Pick A Faction, Any Faction

Blog Me Maybe: May I Ask Something About You

goes along with YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday Question:

What Faction Would You Be?

First of all, here are the five factions with brief descriptions, in case you don't know what they are. And if you don't, you better stop reading this blog and go get Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I really had no clue which of these I am. So what did I do? I took the quiz. Yeah baby, I love quizzes. You can find the quiz here just in case, like me, you have no clue which Faction you'd belong to.

And I am... duh, duh, da, daaaaa!!!

Dauntless.

Whaaa???

No way. If I chose which I thought was most like me, I'd have gone with Amity. Almost the exact OPPOSITE of Dauntless. I don't like confrontation, I rarely get into fights of any kind, and honestly, if someone threatened me, I'd probably run away screaming.

Okay, I don't really know what I'd do if someone threatened me because it's never happened. And NO, this is not an invitation. Just so you know.

But apparently, based on the test results, I am Dauntless. Um yeah. I don't even know what to say about that. At least I get to wear black.

***Okay, I redid the test. I was really wondering if it would come out differently based on the first question. The first time, I picked the knife mostly because I don't like eating plain cheese. But really if it had been a food I liked, I would've picked the food. So this time I picked the cheese and got... Erudite! Still not Amity. So I guess I know myself NOT AT ALL.***

Advice Welcome

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Me?

So here's a random fact about me: I like advice.

I should rephrase that. I like WELCOME advice. Haha.

Here's another random fact: I used to hate asking questions. When I was a teen and someone would talk about something I had no clue about, I would keep my mouth shut because I didn't want to admit I had no clue what they were talking about. I hated to feel stupid.

I don't exactly love feeling stupid now, of course, but I've learned to ASK QUESTIONS. I've realized that if I don't ask, I'll never learn. All I have to do is endure a few moments of surprised/strange looks, or perhaps an exclamation of, "you didn't know that?!?!" and then I will get my answer, then I'll KNOW.

So on that note, I'm breaking some rules today. I'm gonna ask a question. I know, I know, that's tomorrow's Blog Me Maybe. But too bad. Cuz I need help!

This question is more along the lines of advice...

I have this Shiny New Idea. I've been brainstorming it for awhile and there are a few different ways I can spin it. The way that seems most natural, and came to me first, involves gangs, drugs, alcohol, and a lot of darker kinds of stuff than I usually write.

I don't have a problem delving into darker themes or writing about something I don't know much about. My problem is this: I don't swear. And I don't swear in my writing. BUT- I worry that writing about gangs, drugs, etc, without the swearing, won't be AUTHENTIC.

***Please note, this is NOT a post on swearing in YA. I don't need opinions on whether swear words should be used or not. My own short opinion is, you're the author- you choose.***

I worry that without the swear words, I won't be able to do the book justice. For example, I've already had a scene in my head where a gang member threatens my female MC. Swear words seem to be the logical thing this gang member would use. But I'm not gonna. Is there a more clever way to express something, to insult, without using words like pooper? Or should I just NOT GO THERE.

I do have a few other ways I could spin this SNI. It's just that this way seemed the most natural- it just FIT. But if I can't do it...

So. Here's where the advice comes in. I would love to hear your opinions on this matter.

All About Backstory

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Writing

(or better yet, it's not)

The dreaded backstory. We writers love writing it, but we don't love reading it. And we KNOW that agents/publishers don't want ANYTHING to do with it.

But why do we have such a problem with it? I think I, in all my genius (haha), have figured it out.

If you're a pantser like me, you get an idea for a book. Something like this: I'm gonna write a book about this girl who becomes a witch and she's really popular but she loses all her popularity because the witch thing is taking over her life and then she meets this guy who ends up being a warlock but he likes to use his powers for evil and somehow the girl has to convince him to be good or the world will end.

Haha. Seriously, this is one the ideas stewing in my head but I've left it alone because others have done witch stories waaaaay better than I could do. Obviously.

Anyway, so you've got this idea, but that's it. So you sit down and start to write it. And you write and you write and you write. And maybe about halfway through, or maybe even when you're done and rereading do you realize, gah- too much backstory!

Why? Because you're learning the backstory as you go. You are getting to know your character as you write him/her. You're discovering as you go along that maybe said MC has daddy issues, or maybe her best friend died a few years ago, or maybe she's got the need to please everyone because her mom is a successful CEO, or maybe all three. And you're writing obsessive details about these things because it's helping you to shape the character and get to know him/her and why they do the things they do.

(I'm wondering if this happens to plotters? Probably not as much.)

Backstory is just for us, the writer. And I think it's just fine to write it. It's recognizing as you reread, what can be cut out. We the writer need to know every in and out of our characters and what makes them tick- which is why we need to know their backstory. Once we know it, it's up to us to get rid of it from our MS's. It's up to us to use our writing powers to then sprinkle it in lightly, hinting to the reader tidbits of the backstory and then letting them figure out the rest. Not always easy, but certainly do-able.

Anyone NOT struggle with backstory? What's your secret?

"I'm Sorry I'm Laughing..."

Blog Me Maybe: May I Share Something Funny...

So I LOVED LOVED LOVED this movie and I'm super psyched it comes out on DVD this Tuesday. I really wanted to show the clip about FDR's teeny hands and the whole Mike 'n Ike bit but I couldn't find it. If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen the movie... DO. It's hilarious. And Tom Hardy is sexylicious. An added bonus. 

 

And... if you have a free moment this weekend, head over to Cupid's blog to check out my teams Writer's Voice entries and cheer us on (no critiques though, they're very adamant about that). And from there you can visit the other three blogs and check out our fierce competition.

Have a great weekend!

Introducing Lord Alric

Blog Me Maybe: May I Tell You Something About Someone Else

For today's Blog Me Maybe, I managed to get an interview with a very special person. Let me tell you, it was hard to get in touch with this guy. He's not just in a different time zone, he's in a different TIME. So here it is, the interview I got with Lord Alric (from my MS Daze and Knights).

Me: I'm so glad I get a chance to talk to you today. You don't mind answering some questions?

Lord Alric: Not at all.

Me: Great, let's get started. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself. General things.

Lord Alric: But we are already acquainted.

Me: Well, yes, but it's not for me, it's for readers of my blog.

LA: What is a blog?

Me: Never mind. Tell me about your family.

LA: I am the third of four sons. My father is the Baron of Newbern, my mother the Lady Annabel.

Me: And what do you do?

LA: Do?

Me: Yeah, like, for an occupation.

LA: I command Count Frederick's army.

Me: You're pretty young to command an army.

LA: Perhaps. From a young age, I have learned all manner of weaponry and tactics. Count Frederick could not find another to equal my ability.

Me: I can tell you're good at all that, you know, because you're really fit and... *blushes furiously* Anyway, is there anything else you like to do, besides swords and stuff?

LA: Sadly, I have time for little else. However, if I have a spare moment, I like to play the gittern. I sing as well.

Me: Will you sing something for me?

LA: At this very moment?
Me: Yeah, now.

LA: *begins singing*

Me: *dies*

So there you have it. I hate to admit that once Lord Alric started to sing, I forgot about all the other questions I had for him. Ah well.

(pictures are of actor Alex Pettyfer)

Memory... All Alone in the Moonlight...

You've got that song in your head now don'tcha?

So for Road Trip Wednesday's topic for today:

What book brings back memories?

I can't think of just one book that brings any kind of major memory. A lot of books bring up at least glimmers of past moments, past reads, past parts of my life...

I remember reading New Moon in my bed while sobbing and feeling grateful that no one was around to see me.

Picking up any of Robert Jordan's books bring back thoughts of my sister who recommended them to me and then later discussions of whether the books had become a bit too much.

Reading Lord of the Rings brings back the memory of tricking my friends in Grade 6 that Chapter Two started halfway through the book making Chapter One VERY long. (It was Chapter Two of Part Two. Man, was I clever.)

Dragonlance books and anything by Piers Anthony bring back memories of me as a kid, learning to love dragons and magic and all things fantasy, and the desire to be like my older brothers and sisters.

Other books bring back memories of school: Romeo and Juliet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Beloved, Far From the Madding Crowd... I could go on.

And there's books that remind me of my childhood. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Pippi Longstocking, Clifford the Big Red Dog.

I remember finally reading Pride and Prejudice and loving it and realizing that my mom was right.

I remember finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and then immediately flipping back to page one to start it all over again.

I remember when my dad gave me Oh The Places You'll Go and I realized that Dr. Seuss books were more than just funny rhymes.

I remember reading David Eddings as a teen and wishing I could write a book with characters who all had such different personalities. Wishing I could create a character as awesome as Silk.

Okay, I swear I'll stop this trip down memory lane. But not before I say one more thing:

BOOKS ARE AWESOME

So for Blog Me Maybe- May I Ask Something About You- What books bring memories for you?