Tune In Tuesday {32}

Tune In Tuesday is a fun weekly post hosted by Ginger at GReads.  It's a great way to see what kind of music other people are loving. 


So I've been feeling a little nostalgic lately and listening to a bunch of stuff from my high school and college days. One of my favorite albums was...well, IS Can't Take Me Home by Pink. And while she has plenty of kick ass songs, I love her slower, more powerful songs. Here's my all time favorite. 

Stop Falling

TGIF {20}

TGIF is a fun post created by Ginger at GReads.  It’s to recap what you’ve posted about through the week and Ginger asks a fun book related question. 


Friday, Feb. 24th - Required Reading: Which book from your school days do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?


I honestly can't remember reading a required book that I liked. Only thing that comes to mind that I did like are poems by Edgar Allan Poe and Romeo & Juliet. I do remember being jealous of the regular English class (I was in honors and AP classes) because they got to read The Outsiders. I ended up borrowing it from my teacher and reading it on the side. I don't think I ever read a book from cover to cover for school. I'd read just enough to pass a test or write a paper. Sad for someone who loved reading. We just never read anything I liked. And though I didn't read much for school, I still read. I remember being required to read 300 pages per six weeks in middle school and would read well over 3000 instead. I'd breeze through Fear Street and Baby Sitter Club books. 


As far as books I'd like to see in today's curriculum...I think more modern books. Not every kid is born a reader and some need books that will keep them interested. I was shocked a few years ago when a co-worker told me her daughter was reading Twilight for English! I think, with parent permission, The Hunger Games wouldn't be bad. While it's not for everyone, it has a lot of good themes that could be discussed. Also I think more of a variety of books. Instead of saying "we are reading x book" why not have x, y and z books and let the kids pick. I know I hated being told what to read. I might have read more if given an option.


This weeks posts:
http://mandiebaxter.blogspot.com/2012/02/tune-in-tuesday-31-random.html

Tune In Tuesday {31} RANDOM

Tune In Tuesday is a fun weekly post hosted by Ginger at GReads.  It's a great way to see what kind of music other people are loving.  I’ve seen these around and just had to join in the fun.


I didn't post a song last weekend because I was out of town the entire weekend and had no time on Monday. I saw Katelyn post about how excited she was for her post tomorrow and told her I felt like a failure because I skipped last week AND had no idea of a NEW song this week (We Are Young, Smooth Criminal and It Will Rain are still running through my brain). Then Katelyn suggested that I pull up iTunes and click RANDOM! And...that's what I'm doing now! *crosses fingers for non embarrassing song choice*


And the winner is.............................WEEZER!!!!!!!!!!!! So not embarrassing! And it landed on "Buddy Holly" which is one of my all time favorite songs from them! Since their debut album, Weezer (also known as the Blue Album) is my favorite, I'm posting two of the songs because I just can't choose! 

Buddy Holly

Undone (The Sweater Song)

And because I can never post just one video, here's a cover of Buddy Holly and Undone by The Flying W's (went to HS with the drummer..who can almost be seen in undone). I think they're pretty great. If you live near Denver, CO, be sure to check out a show.

And a SUPER HUGE thanks to Katelyn for her help! 

Also, another reason I'm slacking on Tune In is because I'm ridiculously happy for the theme in March! BOOK SOUNDTRACKS! I'm going to incorporate a few songs that I use while writing my book (ya know, cause I like to "bend" the rules a little). :D

Blogger Love-A-Thon Wrap Up

Today has been so much fun! I don't think I've ever read so many blogs or posted so many comments in one day! I think I visited every blog and commented on 15-20 of them! Some more than others. I lost count at 40 comments...yeah. It's been a long day! I stayed up last night getting my posts scheduled and then woke up a bit early to start on the fun. Plus a full day of work (8-5 plus drive time). Then had to come home and clean house before work tomorrow and then going out of town. BUT, it was well worth it. Katelyn did such an awesome job putting this love-a-thon (which all day I've been typing thong and then deleting the g when I realized it EXCEPT on the 3rd mini challenge! AND NO ONE TOLD ME!!! Haha!) together. What a great way for so many bloggers to come together and share their posts, tips and thoughts on all thing book blogging. I hope to see this continued next year!

Blogger Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge #3

Grr! I had this post scheduled and then when I tried to get it to post my phone deleted it!

Anyway! So for the third mini challenge Katelyn wanted us to talk about our book blogging experience so far.

Well...mine has been very minimal. I've been lucky enough to participate in two different blog tours (for the same author but different books). The first was a guest post and the second an interview. Both were fun and a great learning experience. And while I talk about books on twitter and update my goodreads list like there's no tomorrow, I haven't really done a lot of reviews. Okay...I've done one. I reviewed Jellicoe Road (see review here) for Ashley's (Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing) Just Contemporary month back in November. And I tried to write a few more reviews for other contemporary books but I just can't seem to get them right on paper. But I haven't given up.

Another thing I've enjoyed is doing Ginger's (GReads Books) weekly Tune in Tuesday and TGIF posts. I think I want to do one more weekly posts. Something simple and easy, that's even more book related. What are some of your favorites?

Blogger Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge #2

For the second mini challenge, Katelyn has asked us to post a few of our newer favorite book bloggers. And to give an update as to how many blogs we've visited and comments we've left.

So here goes...In alphabetical order because I'm weird like that!





Katelyn "introduced" me to Alexa from Alexa Loves Books over twitter while talking about being in an awkward club.

Ashley from Ashley Loves Books blog caught my eye with her review of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowki. This is one of the more recent books I've read and I adored it.

Jilliam over at Glitter, Bliss, and Perfect Chaos caught my attention in two ways. She commented on my blog and had the most amazing MANday post! Go check her out.

Justin from Justin's Book Blog drew me in not only by it's content but by the color. The light tealish blue background color of the blog is so eye catching. I don't even remember how many moments I left on this one blog!!

Who are some of your newer favorite book bloggers?

Blogger Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge #1

For the first mini challenge, Katelyn wants us to do a sort of thank you letter to the bloggers that inspired us to start our own blog. So here goes...sort of. 


I started this blog long ago when I started really getting into writing. Since then it's taken a few twists and turns. While I'm not a full time book blogger, I have done a few posts here and there that are book related. There are a lot of blogs that inspire me to try, but three that always come to the top of my mind every time.

The first would be the amazing lady behind this Love-A-Thon!! Katelyn is one of the first bloggers I met on twitter and we because fast friends. And somehow she still seems to lure me to books that I never would have heard about or thought about reading with her amazing reviews. And the music..wow, this girl has great taste! Her Tune In Tuesday posts always have me running to Spotify.

 

Another lovely lady is Ginger over at GReads. We have such similar taste in books, shows and music that if she likes it, 99% of the time I will too! I've enjoyed getting to know her, and others better, through her fun Tune In Tuesday and TGIF posts. 

 

The third is a gentleman by the name of Jamie over at writers write, right? When I first thought of joining in on a fun weekly meme, he was one of the first I turned too. His Teaser Tuesdays and W.O.W. posts always have me longing for books I don't have or have yet released.

You three are talented and inspiring bloggers as well as super amazing friends! So thank you!!!!!!!!! <3

Make sure you check out these, and the other awesome bloggers participating in the Love-A-Ton!!

Blogger Love-A-Thon!!!

Katelyn over at Kate's Tales of Books and Bands is hosting her first ever Book Blogger Love-A-Thon!!!

Hop on over to her blog for more details!!!

Interview with Aubrie Dionne

Last fall I got the opportunity to be part of Aubrie’s blog tour for the release of Paradise 21, the first book in A New Dawn Series. With the release of Tundra 37 I quickly agreed to be part of the fun again! This time I got the chance to do an interview (my first ever). Hope you enjoy my questions and her answers.

I know you play and teach the flute (yay for flute players), so what made you want to be a writer?

Great question! I like to make up stories to go with the music, and my students started telling me my stories were so good I needed to write them down! So, here I am today. I'm glad I listened to them! 

Where does the inspiration for your books come from? 

I watched all three older Star Wars movies over and over as a kid. I used to act out scenes in the backyard with my sister. We'd fight over who got to be Princess Leia! (Although she looks more like Leia than I do!) And I loved Star Trek The Next Generation. My favorite character was Data. I loved how he wanted to become more human and I rooted for him in every episode. 

The details in the planets you've created are incredible, so vivid. How did you come up with the idea for these as well as Paradise 21 and Tundra 37? 

Thank you! You are so nice to me! Can I take you home? LOL. The sandworms in Paradise 21 are in homage to Dune. Although my sandworms are smaller. I wanted a big monster type creature for Tundra, and I thought about all the creatures that inhabited the Ice Age. Mammoths came to mind! But, they needed to be scarier...so I thought up a few changes that readers might like. 

*packs bags* Haha. J

Do you have any other projects, aside from A New Dawn series, that you are or will be working on? Anything other than science fiction?

Oh yes, I write young adult and fantasy as well. My agent is currently submitting my YA tie in to the New Dawn series. I've gotten some full requests, so we're waiting to see where it's home will be! I also have a new YA series planned that takes place in the height of the high rises before the downfall of old Earth! It's so secret right now, I can't tell you any more about it! 

That is so awesome!!! *waits patiently for news*

It's said writers should also be big readers, so who are your top five favorite authors?

Tad Williams: I grew up reading his fantasy trilogy Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. I also am a fan of his Otherland series.
Patricia Mckillip: I've read her book, Winter Rose, five hundred times and most of her other works.
Ursula Le Guin: Love Earthsea!
Sherri S. Tepper: Love the strong female characters.
Anne McCaffery: Gotta love those Dragons! 

What books, other than yours, that are being released this year, are you super excited about?

I just read Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and I loved it so much I want to read the second book right now!!! But, it doesn't come out until the fall.*pouts*

I'm also excited about my critique partner's ebook: Defying Gravity. It came out Feb 14th, and I helped edit it and made the cover myself. It's an awesome story and I hope it does well. 

Besides science fiction, what other movies do you enjoy watching?

Lord of the Rings! I could watch those movies over and over again all day.
Pirates of the Caribbean! Go Orlando!!! (Missed him in the last one)
Indiana Jones: I actually liked the newest edition with the alien skulls! 

We seem to share a love of Orlando!

Do you play any instruments besides the flute? And what instrument do you not play that you wish you could? 

I wish I could play piano because I stink at it! I play piccolo, alto flute, and native american flute. Do those count? 

Woo hoo for flutes! And yes, those count (at least in my book). I’ve never seen/heard an alto flute play!

And a few to be silly...

Breakfast foods for dinner....yay or nay?

Yay! I love going to Cracker Barrel and eating their french toast for dinner. Yummy. :) 

Yum! My favorite is their Wild Maine Blueberry Pancakes!

If you could buy any car in the world, what would it be?

I have it! A cyber green VW Beetle. I love my Beetle. 

What is one place you've always wanted to travel?

Tatooine- the cantina in Star Wars (although I'd need a bodyguard!)
Rivendale- Maybe I could meet Legolas?

Thanks for this wonderful interview!!! 

You are very welcome and thank you for letting me host you. And everyone else, be sure to check out Aubrie’s books.

Tundra 37

A New Dawn, #2

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Length: 288 pages

Release Date: February 2012

ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-49-7

Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-51-0

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/tundra-37/

Amazon               Barnes and Noble

Tundra 37 Book Trailer:

http://youtu.be/3XcwFtmeTcM

A New Dawn Novel, Book Two

Gemme is a hi-tech matchmaker who pairs the next generation of Lifers aboard the Expedition, a deep space transport vessel destined for Paradise 18. When the identity of her lifemate pops up on her screen, she’s shocked that he’s the achingly gorgeous and highly sought after Lieutenant Miles Brentwood—a man oblivious to her existence. Believing everyone will think she contrived the match, she erases it from the computer’s memory.

Just as comets pummel the ship and destroy the pairing system forever.

With the Expedition disabled, the colonists must crash land on the barren ice world of Tundra 37 where Gemme is reassigned to an exploratory mission, led by Lieutenant Brentwood. Only in the frozen tundra does she understand the shape of his heart and why the computer has entwined their destinies.

A Hero Rising

A New Dawn, #3

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Length: novella

Release Date: February 2012

ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-83-1

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/a-hero-rising/

Prequel to A New Dawn - Book Three

After watching his love leave on a colony ship, James Wilfred must save those left behind from a planetary apocalypse. Their salvation lies in an unfinished ship tucked away in a secret government base, and only James can break in and pilot him and his people to freedom on a nearby space station.

Skye O’Connor’s boyfriend never returns after his gang attempts an assassination of the Governor, and the State Building is destroyed. Worse, crazed moonshiners addicted to the chemical Morpheus have stormed the city, and she must find a safe place for her and her boyfriend’s daughter. When a heroic man saves her, Skye asks to accompany him on his quest to find the last colony ship left on Earth.

As the city falls around them, James and Skye must work together to build a new future, all the while rediscovering their ability to love, before the apocalypse claims them both.

Paradise 21

New Dawn #1
Author: Aubrie Dionne
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: August 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-02-2
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-03-9

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/paradise-21/

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8vCni_TZUA

Amazon Paperback  Amazon Kindle

A New Dawn Book One

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.

But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves.

About the Author:

Aubrie is an author and flutist in New England. Her stories have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, A Fly in Amber, and several print anthologies including Skulls and Crossbones by Minddancer Press, Rise of the Necromancers, by Pill Hill Press, Nightbird Singing in the Dead of Night by Nightbird Publishing, Dragontales and Mertales by Wyvern Publications, A Yuletide Wish by Nightwolf Publications, and Aurora Rising by Aurora Wolf Publications.  Her epic fantasy is published with Wyvern Publications, and several of her ebooks are published with Lyrical Press and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, she plays in orchestras and teaches flute at Plymouth State University and a community music school.

http://www.authoraubrie.com
http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Tune In Tuesday {30} - Smooth Criminal

Tune In Tuesday is a fun weekly post hosted by Ginger at GReads.  It's a great way to see what kind of music other people are loving.  I’ve seen these around and just had to join in the fun.


So there's this song that has been playing over and over and over, not only in my head, but on my iPhone, too. Last week, the Glee kids (I KNOW I KNOW.....) only performed songs by the King of Pop! The Michael Jackson cover that stuck out to me the most was Smooth Criminal. I've always liked this song (both by Michael and AAF), but the song turned battle duet powered by dueling cello's was fan-freakin-tastic! Don't believe, see for yourself.

Glee

So how freaking awesome are those cello players?! Need to hear more from these incredible players? Well here ya go! (for more videos by Sulic & Hauser, go here. I really like their version of Use Somebody)

And I can't complete this post without the original and another favorite cover of the song.

Michael Jackson

AAF

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon

My dear sweet friend Katelyn is hosting her first ever Book Blogger Love-A-Thon. For more information check out this post right here, but basically it's a day full of commenting and following and sending out love on the blogosphere. Hop on over to Katelyn's blog and join us in a fun filled day of blogger love!