Read-A-Thon Challenge: Read in Pictures

This is a challenge for the Read-A-Thon. The challenge is to post pictures that describe something you've read in a book or books that you have read for the Read-A-Thon. I'll list three books, as I couldn't find good pictures for all the books I've read.



Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness! by Cornelia Funke
In book number 3 of the Ghosthunters series, the ghosthuners are called to rid a haunted castle of a ghost.




It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky
Although this is a poetry book, the poems and illustrations tell a story of children who dress up and go out trick or treating on Halloween.



Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting
The story of this book is about a mother cat and her kittens hiding on Halloween waitng for the monsters (children in costumes) to be done roaming for the night.

Read-A-Thon Update #1

So, this is what I've read so far:

Zen Ghost by Jon J. Muth - This is about three kids who are going trick or treating, but their friend Stillwater tells them afterwards to meet him at the stone wall because he is taking them to a storyteller.

This was a wonderful book. Not scary, but a good read with a story that leaves you wondering. The illustrations are also beautiful.

Ghosts of Hershey and Vinicity by Christopher E. Wolf - This is true ghost stories of Hershey Pennsylvania and nearby cities/towns. It was a good book and has some interesting stories. I enjoyed it.

Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting - This is a really fun book. I don't care if it's a picture book. I liked it a lot.

It's Halloween by Jack Prelutsky - A fun book of Halloween poems. This was great. Jack Prelutsky is a wonderful poet.

Halloween Program Sourcebook - this book has a chapter on the history of Halloween and many stories, poems, plays and more for Halloween. I liked it, but it wasn't as great as I had hoped. I did enjoy quite a few of the poems though.

Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness! by Cornelia Funke - Let me just say, I love this series. The first two books are great and so is this one. The books have to do with an odd group of ghosthunters. In this book they are called to Gloomsburg Castle to get rid of a terrible ghost. Once they get there, the ghosthunters find out just out terrible the ghost is. This one was so much fun like the others. I love it.

That's all I've read for now, but I'll have to figure out what else to read. Hopefully I'll have another update soon.

Wonderfully Wicked Read-A-Thon!!!!

The Read-A-Thon is about to start soon. I have some books ready to read and hopefully I can do some of the challenges. I'm looking forward to it.

While I'm on here, I might as well blog about a book I've read recently. Well, it is actually a series. Over the Summer I read the first few books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and loved them. Well, not too long ago I happend upon another series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It is called Dork Diaries. I suppose it can be considered a girl version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but there is, I think, a big difference between Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Nikki from Dork Diaries. Greg is can be very selfish and often only thinks of himself and what he wants. But this, of course, is one of the things that makes the books funny. Nikki can be selfish at times, but not as bad as Greg. She thinks about others a lot and the second book in the series proves that.

Dork Diaries so far has three books in the series, with another expected to be published in 2012. I've read the first two books so far and the third is on the top of my to-read list. I haven't been able to get it from the library yet; the third book always seem to be out or on hold for someone.
But I think if people like Diary of a Wimpy Kid they will also like Dork Diaries. Nikki is a great character and the book is just so funny. I recommend it to everyone.

Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon!

I'm doing a Read-a-Thon this month that starts the 21st and ends the 23rd. I'm excited. I've never done a Read-a-Thon before and I've already decided on some books I'm going to read. Since this is basically a Halloween Read-a-Thon, I've picked some some books that have to do with Halloween, or ghosts and other creepy things. I know I didn't have to, but this is October and I love Halloween so I'm going to be reading some Halloween type books this month.

Can't wait for the Read-a-Thon.

The World Lost One Of It's Brightest Stars

Yesterday I came online and found e-mails from the Diana Wynne Jones club I joined. I wondered why there were so many. There were at least five or more. I thought, perhaps another new book was announced. But, no . . . . It was not a new book.

I opened the first e-mail, scrolled down and laid my eyes on the first message. Maybe it shouldn't have come as a shock. Maybe I should have expected it. But, from the day she was diagnosed with lung cancer I prayed for her and only thought positive things, like that she would get better. I even sent her a letter, letting her know that I'm sending her positive thoughts and well wishes. Telling her also how much she has inspired me.
But, it did come as a shock to me. Diana passed away. She was 76 and yet, I believe she was still too young to die. I know she had probably lived a life of adventure, did many things and lived life the way she wanted to. Diana had a wonderful imagination, even after being diagnosed her imagination was still wonderful.
Diana was diagnosed in 2009 with lung cancer and in 2010 Enchanted Glass was released. The book was wonderful, the story, the characters and everything was what I had come to know and love about her writing. Even with lung cancer, Diana still had her imagination and gift for words.

Some might find it silly, but I felt her death on a personal level. It felt as if I had lost a best friend, someone who knew me inside and out. Of course, I never met her and didn't know her personally. It felt as if I did, though and I suppose in a way I did know Diana. It was through her writing I and many others knew her.
She is like a close friend that I never met, never even talked to, but I knew her and she knew me and it was all through her writing. That is what I also said on my Xanga blog, but I have been reading other fans blogs that are mourning Diana as well and I have found a better way to explain it. This blogger got it right with this quote:
“The best moments in reading are when you come across something, a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things, which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.”

The blogger had said that hand for her was Diana Wynne Jones and I feel exactly the same. However, I didn't grow up reading her books, which makes me sad now because I wish I did. I've been a fan for two years and in that two years Diana has taught and inspired me more than anyone else.

Diana was a beautiful person, inside and out. She loved her fans, even helped other writers and her books were one-of-a-kind.
I'm grateful to Diana because after reading her books I became to write again and now I'm very happy because again I am doing what I love. I thank her for that and I will continue to write and make it my career like I've always wanted. I will become an author.

Diana's passing was a great loss to her family, friends, fans and to writing. There will never be another writer like her. And I mourn her passing with great sadness.

Diana, may you rest in peace and thank you for inspiring me to write again. Thank you for writing, for sharing your words and stories with the world to read. I will miss you.

Book Signing

Today I will be going to my local library for a book signing.

Maria V. Snyder will be there. She is the author of Poison Study and many other books.
I've never read any of her books and don't have any, but I've been looking at her books for awhile and thinking about reading one of them. All her books will be for sale at the library so I'm going to buy Poison Study to get signed.

She will also be doing a talk before the book signing. I think it will be interesting to hear what she talks about. And I'm sure I will enjoy her book.

I'm excited about going. I've never been to a book signing before. I wanted to go to a book fest last year and get a book signed by Jeff Markowitz - I read his first book and it was so good - but that didn't work out because we had car problems. However, I do have books that are signed by the author, but some of them I've won from Goodreads and others are ghost books that I bought in Gettysburg that were already signed. One book I bought from a library book sale and came home and saw it was signed. I was excited about that and I'm excited to have other books that are signed by the author.
But, I think that actually going to a book signing and being there when the book you bought is being signed is probably an exciting experience. Being able to talk to the author and everything. So, I am very excited for this.

If I have time later, I will write a post about the book signing.

Well, better get to bed.

2011: A Year Of Coming Good

I haven't updated since October. I've actually been really busy. I was delivering phone books in November and plus a lot of other things. I was usually out almost all day and when I'd come home I'd be tired. It wasn't really bad though, I enjoyed being busy for once. And for now, things have slowed down a bit. Well, as far as being out almost every day. But, I have been busy at home. Cleaning and getting rid of things I don't need. It's been good. No. It's been great these past few months, or should I say, past year. I've really changed in a lot of ways and it was all for the good. I'm happier now, a lot happier. There is so many good things that happened in 2010 that I could probably write a book about it.
But, I am looking forward to the coming good that I know will happen this year. I'm excited about it and look forward to more good change.

And what have I been up to? Lots of things.
Like, writing (of course), reading and trying to find ways to make money.

I'm still writing my book and I'm writing the last chapter now. Once done I will begin the second book and start editing the first. I find it exciting that soon the first one will be finished and I see that it belongs me all the closer to being a famous author. I'm just all the more closer to having an agent and signing with Random House.
And I know I'm a dreamer. But, that's ok! I know my dreams will come true.

Also I changed my layout on here again. New year, new layout! And I really like it too.

Well, this year I will do my best to blog on here more. Hopefully in a few days I will have time to write something.

Wow . . . . . . Two Months!

It's been two months since my last post. I didn't mean for it to be that long. I've been busy and dealing with personal issues and with all that I just haven't had time to update this blog.

Well, I'll talk about my book a bit. I've currently written over 200 pages so I am more than half way done! I am proud of myself and I'm excited about being able to finish it soon. Once I finish I will starting on my next book. I just can't wait to get them finished and starting on the road to publishing.

My boyfriend is still searching for a job and is putting in more applications. Some of the places around here are hiring now and I'm hoping one of those places will hire him.

I've still been reading a lot, I'm close getting to having read 100 books this year. Currently I am reading Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Journey by Kathryn Lasky. I saw the movie and it was wonderful, definitely going to buy it on DVD when it comes out.
An author on Goodreads has asked me to review her book series and I accepted. She has sent the books already and I'm waiting for them to come in the mail. I was surprised she asked, but happy she did and after she asked me, I got an idea - What if I became a book reviewer? I'm exactly expecting to become a famous book reviewer, I want to be a famous author though. But, I've been thinking about trying to review books for money. I was doing some reading and saw that you can sell book reviews to magazine for money and I think that would be great for me. The money from selling book reviews would be great, but also I do like reviewing books and it would give me some experience in the writing world. I figured I will do some more research and find magazines that take reviews of young adult, or children's books since that is mostly what I read. I really hope I can do this.
But, of course, I'm going to still keep working on my writing and my books. My books are probably one of the most important things to me. I really can't wait to get them finished and get published. I know my books will sell very good.

And some good news I found out . . . . . Diana Wynne Jones wasn't feeling so well earlier this year, but now she is doing much better and that makes me very happy. I think I'm going to buy another card and send it to her. I hope she liked the first card I sent.

Anyway, I'm glad I had the time to update this and change my layout. It's now October, my favorite month and my favorite holiday is at the end of this month - Halloween! I love Halloween and decided to change my layout to a Halloween one. Well, I guess that is it for the update. I'll do my best to update more this month.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I know I haven't posted in about a month. Sorry for that. I've been sort of busy though. I'm mostly on my Xanga blog and post on there every day. Plus I have been doing this "A Picture A Day" thing, which has really been fun.
I also might be in a book about Diana Wynne Jones. I don't know if I posted about that yet, but I hope what I submitted gets picked for the book. I really do.

I've been writing my book, over 180 pages done now! And I've been writing short stories lately too. I'm working on one I'm calling The Mystic Castle, which I am loving how it is turning out. I might try to find a magazine that takes short stories and see if I can get one published! That'd be pretty cool.

Earlier this month I went to the Padre Pio Centre and Gettysburg, both were great. Anyway, I will update more later. I don't have much time right now. Just thought I would do a quick update. I'll try to update again soon.

Expecting Something Is Not Unrealistic

I wrote a post on my main blog about people telling others to be realistic about their dreams. Like I've always wanted to be a singer, and now an author. But, I've had many people tell me not to be unrealistic because there is a high chance I won't be able to do my dream job. Or the "you'll never make it!"

That is basically what my post was about and I was just wondering why people think that way. Because I think that you can do anything you set your mind to, anything, ANYTHING is possible and you can make your dreams come true.

I haven't gotten rude comments, or anything like that. But, I've gotten a few comments so far I haven't responded to because I'm not sure how to. See, I don't think if you sit and do nothing your dream will come true. I believe you have to work for it and know, truly and completely know in your heart that it will happen. And nor do I think it is wrong to have a day job until your dream can take off. What comments bothered me the most was this: "What's unrealistic is expecting to have the next textual blockbuster and expecting it to takecare of you financially. Sure, that can happen, but having things to fall back on is not a bad idea."
It was not a rude comment, but I don't know how to respond to this because....I don't think that way. I'm not mad at the person because I do understand that is how most people think and I really feel that is what holds people back: their thinking. From watching The Secret DVD I have learned that everything is about how you think. I know people say you shouldn't expect something to happen because you will only be disappointed. But, that is not true. If you truly want something whether it is money, or your dream job you have to expect it to happen. You have to know it will defintly happen for you. You have to truly and completely feel in your body and heart, you have to feel it with your whole being.

But, for most people a dream is just that...a dream. I do understand though that people don't think the way The Secret teaches you to. It's not their fault. It is the way our world is and the way we are brought up. I hope that one day that more people can begin thinking that way.

And I know this is my first update in probably three weeks. I've been busy writing either on my Xanga blog, or in my book. And tomorrow I'll be going to the Hershey library to sign up for the summer reading program. Can't wait for that. I'll try to update again tomorrow if I can.