lit*chick

The Prettiest Quilt that I Ever Did See

is at Old Red Barn Co. and is being GIVEN AWAY. Unbelievable, really. So go enter here.

The End.

Breaking Dawn at Midnight

I'm going to a party.

The early release party for Breaking Dawn at my local B&N.

It is meant for teenagers.

Or nerdy adults like me.

Some would say, ahem, that I act like a teenager.

I am bringing my niece.

She is a teenager.

She is my cover.

So now I'm a cool aunt.

Instead of an aging book nerd.

Works for me.

The End.

*check your local stores for a similar party, er event. but you didn't hear it from me. maybe you know a teenager you can borrow.

EDITED:   Parties are scheduled for August 1st....so don't panic.

Words to Mouth

Carrie found me via goodreads, and I immediately checked out her blog - Words to Mouth. It is filled with author interviews and giveaways.

Recently, Grammar Girl's new book was highlighted in my Coming Soon section. Carrie interviewed GG and is giving away a copy of the book here. So go check that out. Afterwards, we can debate the supposably/supposedly thing. Ooh that supposably really bugs me. And to find out it's a real word goes against everything I believe what proper grammar should be. But that's okay - I'm no grammar girl.

The End.

book bimbo

There, I've said it. It is official - I have no shame. If you have an advance reading copy (arc) or any other copy for that matter that you'd like me to read I will do it. If you offer me a book outside my preferences -contemporary fiction, children's lit, or memoirs - I probably won't.

My experience with ARCs so far, while limited, has been very good.

Keeper and Kid by Edward Hardy was fantastic and everyone i know has liked it too.

Bulls Island by Dorothea Benton Frank was outside my normal genre, but thoroughly enjoyable and now my neighbors like it too. Even though I liked it, I learned from this not to accept books I wouldn't ordinarily choose - it's not fair to the author or my peeps.

And I just received this:

In the Land of Invisible Women by Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed

to read and review from Sourcebooks. And you know how I love Middle Eastern memoirs. Of course, you'll be the first to know what I think.

I also need to update the feed with at least 5 reviews...so look for those to slowly roll out this week.

The End.

Flattery Will Get you Everywhere

The response to the giveaway and request for feedback was a tremendous surprise. First, because so many lit*chick readers came out from between the bookcases to say hello. And second, the affirmation (in a non-Stuart Smalley, Sally Field type way) that you like the blog. So while I tinker and tweak with minor design things...I will keep on keepin' on. Thank you.

Because of your kindness, I am giving away 2 copies of Breaking Dawn along with the other 2 prizes. Indeed, flattery is your friend...:

The winners of Breaking Dawn are:  Jan C & Brandy McQ

Winner of Love Walked In:   Bridget

Winner of Starbucks gift card:  Trish from Hey Lady Whatcha Readin?

Congratulations! Email me your addys, please :)

The End.

36 hours

Spent Friday night in DC with Miji & D  - lots of walking, eating, talking, laughing, and some shopping. We were downtown for the Women of Faith conference. None of us had ever been before but had heard good things.  The highlight, by far, was Natalie Grant's performance. She is lovely and her voice is fierce. If you have specific questions about the event, go ahead and email me. :)

We definitely packed a lot into our 36 hours. We ate at Poste inside the Hotel Monaco for a late lunch and it was super yummy.  Can you say truffle frites? On the way back to the hotel, did a little shopping. Then headed out for the evening part of the conference.  We didn't get out until 10pm, but the good thing about the city is everything is still open. Miji remembered a restaurant in Chinatown she visited 15 years ago and it was still there. And the food was crazy good. If you are down there, skip the big flashy places and head to Full Kee. Seriously. The salt and pepper calamari is worth it.

On Saturday morning after a coffee pit stop we headed back to the Verizon Center for a full morning of lectures. And some awesome music. We grabbed our lunch during breaktime so we could steal away to the National Portrait Gallery across the street during the official lunch hour. When the conference ended we walked over to dinner at Zaytinya. If you happened to watch Top Chef this season, one of the guest judges was Jose Andres. This is one of his many restaurants in the DC area. Three words: fresh pita bread.

Clearly food played an important role in our weekend, but how often do we get to eat a meal without interruption, while remaining seated, and with no sticky fingers eating off our plate?   I encourage you when planning a girlfriend lunch or dinner or weekend, to treat yourself to a good meal at an atypical (not chipotle or outback) restaurant. I think our tapas dinner ended up costing only $30 per person and we had plenty of food that was perfectly prepared. And unlike anything we will find in our local suburban strip mall. It only took a quick online search to find a few different choices.

I did get this - c'mon you knew I'd buy a book...

Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern Day Slave, An International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Another powerful thing happened at the conference, a young man who was helped by World Vision as a child is now a student at Georgetown University majoring in music.  He performed a duet on Friday evening with Sandi Patty that had everyone in tears. And afterward Miji & I each signed up to sponsor a child  - I think it will be good for the boys to pray for someone in a troubled country and be able to correspond with them.  

So that's what I brought home for souvenirs - a book and a boy. :)

The End

PS - The drawing for the Breaking Dawn giveaway is tonight around 9pm. You still have time to enter...

book break

let's take a short break from book talk and browse for things beautiful and/or useful:

  I got my summer necklace at nora drew's shop.  She has excellent customer service and I have a long wish list here.

these paper sculptures are beautiful. from cottonbirddesigns

  adorable hand carved stamps at corabelle's shop

i've always been a fan of cathy nichols, esp her seasonal prints

 

i saw this in dwell mag and thought how cool:

the notebook grill. just google it.

and for the boys:

not like they need another excuse to eat...from cb2.

and for me:

 voila. from williams sonoma.

cool tees at indiebound

they also have eat,sleep,read. :)

back to etsy - just discovered junecraft's shop :

if i traveled, i'd get some stitching postcards to frame - at uncommmon goods.

and finally,

decorative tape that makes a frame :) i found it here.

i think that should do it. enjoy :)

the end.

 

Indie Bound

one of my favorite resources - booksense.com - the site for independent bookstores has a new look and a new name:

Indie Bound

check out the indie next list (formerly the booksense monthly pick, otherwise known as lit chick's favorite book list). :)

The End.

PS - Love Walked In questions are up on Friday. We'll be using the blog page format instead of the message board. AND send all your peeps to the giveaway.

Coming Soon - Ann Patchett

Since the last wildly successful go-round of book signing/readings I have been on the lookout for the next one...and have found it.

Ann Patchett is coming to Politics and Prose in DC on Tuesday, July 29. Her latest novel, a type="amzn">Run, is coming out in paperback. I know it's a work night for some of you...but if you are local and want to come along or meet me there it can be arranged. Let's grab a bite while were out.

this is taken from their website:

What Writers Read
Authors reveal the books that inspire them--and the stories they love to share

With a few rare exceptions—signed hardbacks written by friends and favorite childhood novels that say “Merry Christmas, Ann, with love from Grandma” on the front page—I am not possessive about my books. The way I look at it, easy come, easy go. Loads of books show up at my door. I buy too many, people send me too many. If I was conscientious about holding onto them I wouldn’t be able to have those other things I enjoy, like bedrooms. So when people ask to borrow an old favorite I’m never really sorry when it doesn’t come back to me. The problem is I often find my bookshelves loaded down with things I either haven’t read or don’t particularly like, then there’s nothing to recommend to house guests who need something for the plane ride home. That’s why I started buying certain favorites a dozen at a time. These are the books I call the Universal Donors. I deeply love Henry James, but there are only about three people I know who would read The Ambassadors. On the other hand, I can give James McBride’s The Color of Water to literature professors and people who haven’t touched a book in five years knowing everyone will love it. I keep a healthy stock of Shot in the Heart, by Mikal Gilmore for people who want riveting nonfiction, because I assume they’ve already read In Cold Blood. For a good thick novel, I’ve never met anyone who could put down Scott Spencer’s Endless Love. I’ve bought more copies of it in my life than anything else. If someone wants a short perfect novel, maybe for a book club read, I pass out handfuls of William Maxwell’s classic, So Long, See You Tomorrow. For a pure, crystalline pleasure that wipes away that terrible taste that chick-lit leaves in your mouth, I keep stacks of Nancy Mitford’s novels, Love in a Cold Climate and In Pursuit of Love, at the ready. I find that where books are concerned it’s always best to be generous. I make sure the people I love will have the books I love close at hand.

Ann Patchett is the author of several novels, including Bel Canto, The Magician’s Assistant and Run, and the memoir Truth & Beauty.

...and that is why I'm planning to go. Anyone else?

The End.

PS Don't forget to enter the Breaking Dawn blog birthday giveaway. If you've already entered, link me up for an extra chance to win.

A Year in the Life

Somehow in all the excitement (or stress- take your pick) of the last week, I managed to overlook my blogiversary.  One year, 284 posts, over 100 books, lots of lists, and one potty trained Owen later here I am. 

Let's celebrate with a giveaway. Or three.

1st winner - a copy of Breaking Dawn preordered just for you. And receive the benefit of my pre ordering prowess whereby it will be delivered to your house on or before the published availability.

2nd winner - a copy of Love Walked In - online bookclub questions will be posted on July 11th.

3rd winner - $5 Starbucks gift card.

Edited to add: Link me up for an extra chance at winning. I'm also adding more prizes to be revealed on Friday.

Leave a comment to enter...and if you don't mind answering  - what would you like to see on ye olde blog this year?

The boys will choose winners on Monday, July 14th. 

I am truly amazed by you all - my lovely blog reading friends. And my hope is that one day I will have a chance to meet you in person, if I haven't already. Until then.

The End.