Meet Me Mondays

Meet Me Mondays
Meet My Author Friends...Make Them Yours

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Techno Tuesdays- Get Your Geek On

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a Nook.  No wait, a Kindle.  Oops, the iPad.  Yes, definately, an iPad.  Well, what about these other readers? The Sony Reader looks cool, and the Literati? There's so many to choose from. Yikes, what's a girl to do? 

That's how I started my list in November.  While relaxing in the family room one day, my husband, who is the voice of reason when I salivate over new gadgets, asks, "Why do you need an iPad when you already have a laptop, an iPod, and a smartphone? Don't you you just want to read?" Then, he asks, pointing at an ad in the Sunday paper, "what about the Kindle?"  Well, yes, the Kindle has everything I could ask for. But, I wasn't ready to admit that just yet.  My gray matter was swimming with fantasies of watching movies on my new iPad. Downloading super-cool apps, staying connecting on my social sites, and of course, rockin' out to some serious tunes.  Oh, and reading a book or two. 

Back on earth, I reasoned with myself that with two contracts for e-books, I simply must have an e-reader for Christmas.  I had e-reader fever. I checked the price tag on an iPad and convinced myself there were better things we could spend our hard earned money on.  And alas, I discovered the Nook Color.

I'm a visual gal. I draw pictures in the air when I talk.  Numbers scare me, but break out the crayons, draw me a picture and I can usually step right into any conversation.  Sooo, when I discovered the Nook Color one day while browsing the aisles at B&N, it was any geeky girls dream come true.

My husband ordered the Nook Color for me and it arrived on our front steps on release day.  I quickly realized I needed a cover, so I found the coolest cover ever -  a sleek black with famous artists autographs in silver.  It's got everything I could ask for, and then some.  I can status update on FB, tweet if I feel the urge, surf the web on my fav retail shops, and check out my friends blogs.  Oh, and I can read, highlight, and share quotes from text I may find extra-inspiring.  The multiple formats allow me to load manuscripts from critique partners for easy reading, purchase from sites other than B&N, and load my own WIPs for my own personal pleasure, or torture, depends on how well I may have written that day.

I recently read John Birmingham's article, E-books rewrite the rules of engagement, in which he provides a thorough and thought-provoking assessment of how e-books are changing the literary world.   I particularly liked Mr. Birmingham's quote regarding Amazon's mission, for consumers to "get lost in your reading, not the technology".

As a fancy gadget owner myself, avid writer and published author, the geeky gadget gal in me won out for several weeks.  I found that I logged more time online, reading, posting, and (gulp) shopping, than actually reading.  Which is why I wanted the gadget in the first place. 

I think those folks at Amazon got it right.  Me? I've shut off the wifi option on my Nook and am celebrating five nights straight of actually reading on my precious e-reader. Don't get me wrong, I love my Nook, wouldn't trade it for anything, but a line needed to be drawn.

So, did you get an e-reader for Christmas, if so, which one, and what do you think about it???

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Welcome 12 Days of Christmas Authors (available from Cobblestone Press)

Available via http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Each day between 12/13 and 12/24 marks the release of a new title in the series.  I've invited each of the thirteen very talented writers to stop by and share the news about their title.  Happy Holidays and thanks for stopping by. 


All lucky commentators to this post will be entered into a drawing to win an ebook copy of my title, Up on the Rooftop, available December 23, 2010.

Monday, December 20, 2010

All I want for Christmas Is...For you to win a free copy of Up On the Rooftop!

In my first novella to be released on December 23, 2010 by Cobblestone Press, high school sweethearts, Caleb and Sailor, get their lives altered forever when Sailor’s father dies in military combat.

Caleb does the one thing Sailor can’t forgive, he joins the military. Now, all she wants is a good and honorable man.  Sailor wonders, was it too much to ask of Santa?
  Here's a sneak peak at Sailor's letter to Santa.  What's in your letter (clean please)? Post your comments here by midnight on December 22 to enter the drawing for ebook.  I would love for you to win!!!

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is a good and honorable man. Someone I can snuggle up to, go to bed with, and know he’ll still be there in the morning. Strong arms, a broad back, and dashing good looks are a bonus, but I’m willing to consider whomever you send my way.
If you can't fit him down the chimney—I've never quite figured out how you do that anyway—leave him on the roof, and we'll figure it out.
I admit I've been a little naughty—especially where my ex is concerned, but hey, he dropped the charges—but I think you'll still find my name on the nice list ;)
xoxo,
Sailor


 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

My husband is a worldly man.  He's always aware of social issues and concerns and actively looks for ways to help others.  So the other day while I was in the kitchen making dinner,  my husband was watching ABC News in the other room.   I kept hearing the word "Plumpy Doz" wafting from the television speakers.  Huh? Intrigued, I abandoned the dishes and nestled in on the couch to view the ABC series, "Be the Change, Save a Life" with the family.  So what are Plumpy Doz, you ask?


Plumpy Doz is a product used by the World Food Programme to fight malnurishment in developing countries. A mixture of peanuts paste, vegetable fat, skimmed milk powder, whey and other vital ingredients, a small tub packs a one-two punch toward world hunger.


Parents of children ages 6-59 months provide them with a small spoonful of Plumby Doz a few times a day to ward off malnutrition and combat their susceptibility to disease, infection and impaired cognitive function.


Just $15 supplies a child with a month supply of life-saving nutrients. One less present under the tree can literally change a life. For more information please visit http://saveone.net/. Find out how you can make a difference this holiday season.