Days of Blood & Starlight

Normally when I read a sequel I am able to skim/skip a lot of the beginning because the author has to explain  things that the reader might have forgotten about book one. So I was shocked how Laini was able to make the information fresh and new. I did not skip one word of Days of Blood & Starlight I drank every single one in. At first I was sad I could not read it faster but then when I got close to being done I wanted to cry because I didn't want it to be over. I have really come to love these characters and I can not wait for the third book!

Friday Laini's tour brought her to Changing Hands in Tempe! Debbie and I were so excited to get to see her again. We met Laini at Project Book Babe and both started following her blog and soon started talking about her like we were really friends. So as you can guess we were super excited for her signing and Melissa and her husband James came along with Mimi & her crew as well making it an extra good time.  

When I was re-reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone I was inspired by one of my favorite parts of the book to make a t-shirt. I had even forgotten to show Laini, thankfully she noticed and her reaction was perfect!

I turn into such a fan girl at book signings guys, I'm always a little embarrassed after and yet I still don't change. I think in this picture I am telling Laini how I could not stop thinking about Akiva. 

 The guy taking pictures saw me get all comfortable and joked about how I was moving in. So part of me is embarrassed but if I was to do it all over again I would do it the same. And you know why because Laini told me how she wanted the third book to end! Have you seen the movie The Young Victoria? Oh I love it I hope you have. Well there is a scene where Albert is getting excited about his ideas for helping the working class, then apologizes. In response Victoria says "there's no need to apologize for being passionate." Which is how I feel as long as your passion isn't hurting you or those around you.

When I first read about Akiva's widow's peak it wasn't something I had really thought about. So I googled widow's peak and was surprised at how many of my boyfriends have widow's peaks. (Just to be clear not all below are my boyfriends, you know you have to be more than a pretty face.) But can you see who I traced for the model of Akiva?

(Top row Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Wentworth Miller, 2nd row Leonardo DeCaprio, Chris Hemsworth, David Beckham & Gavin Rossdale)

I love making t-shirts & bags (in case you have not noticed) my favorite way is using freezer paper I kind of explained how it works here when I made Harry Potter shirts.

Are You Ready For This?

It has been awhile since I have got sucked into a novel series and I have missed it. The sequel to Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight comes out November 6th! (Happy birthday Mimi!!!)

In preparation I have been listening to Daughter of Smoke & Bone and once I am done will read the first seven chapters of Days of Blood & Starlight online here. Did you know the author Laini Taylor is coming to Changing Hands November 9th? Have you read Daughter of Smoke of Bone yet? Well come on what are you waiting for read it and then come to the signing! My friend Melissa is listening to it in the car right now (if she can make time anyone can make time!) and we have been talking about it which is getting me even more super excited! 

Come on guys Batman is doing it, you should too!

Stars Moon & Snow

I have been following Diana Peterfreund's blog for years and one of the reasons is that Diana and I have something in common, Persuasion is both our favorite Jane Austen novel. I am not sure how long ago she announced that she was writing a modern adaption to Persuasion, but it seems like I have been waiting forever for this book. It is more than just a modern retelling it is a post apocalyptic retelling of Persuasion. Retellings can be tricky they need to follow the story enough but also be their own as well and I think Diana did a fantastic job of creating very similar feelings and yet making the characters new.  

I knew it was a bad idea to start reading it right before bed and I was right because suddenly it was 3 a.m. and I really did try and go to sleep but I couldn't my mind was racing and I was too awake. I finished the book with the sunrise that morning and managed to sneak a couple hours of sleep. It was totally worth it!  

When I stopped at the bookstore to pick up For Darkness Shows the Stars, I also saw they had new paperbacks for Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone which have a sneak preview of the sequel due this fall. Days of Blood & Starlight. I sat down right there in the store and read it, my heart could almost not handle it. Counting down the days till fall!

I also saw Moonrise Kingdom and laughed a lot. Wes Anderson's attention to detail is so amazing, I now have a new movie house I want to live in. I also wish I could read all of Suzy's books here is a little glimpse of the lovely books. 

Let's not forget that I have seen Snow White and the Huntsman twice and would gladly see it a third and fourth.

I noticed Chris Hemsworth in Star Trek and who didn't notice him in Thor? But having a crush on him just seemed too excessive (click on the link for Thor to understand). But after seeing him in Snow White with his brown hair (not a fan of blonde hair) and Scottish accent, I would now like to welcome him to my collection of fictional boyfriends. I would also like to mention that the studio is committed to writing a script for a second Snow White, if they can do it right I hope they will make it I loved the world. 

Also I want a fairy.

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Today is a great day to be a reader! Today Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone is released into the world (or at least the US). I am so excited for everyone, because I loved this book and I think all my book friends will love it too!

I did not always know I liked to read, it wasn't till I found "my books" around the age of 14 that I became a reader. Like a love sick bibliophile I wander online sites like Goodreads, visit my local library and bookshops looking for those books hoping that the next one is going to be "my book". While reading The Daughter of Smoke & Bone I kept thinking "this is the book I have been waiting for." I would read a passage that reminded me of other books that I really loved but were lacking in other areas. Reading Laini's book was such a relief, it never let me down or disappointed, it was reading Magic! (no not like reading magic it was reading magic) 

Make sure you go and check out the Daughter of Smoke & Bone site, you can meet the characters & even listen to the first chapter. 

What I Have Been...

My friend Jenny B (made my birthday cake) does this thing at the end of her blog where she lists what she has been; Listening to, Anticipating, Reading, Snacking on & Wearing. I have been liking some new jams so I decided I would steal Jenny's list and maybe tweak it, we will see what happens.

Listening to:

Generationals - Ten Twenty Ten

These guys are coming to Tucson, who goes to Tucson?

Slow Club - Two Cousins

I don't think I have listened to Slow Club before but I really liked the song & music video.

Theophilus London featuring Sara Quin - Why Even Try remix

I know what you are thinking I only listened to him only because his name is Theophilus London you may be right.

Anticipating:
Author Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone


For television shows to start up again. Project Runway started and has got me excited for my other shows. The two shows I never miss are Fringe & Community. I went to go see what movies are coming out in the next month or so & there wasn't much that caught my attention. It makes me really sad.

Reading:
I have been working on the books I got for my birthday (thanks again) and LOVED Divergent by Veronica Roth. It took me a good 50 pages to get into the story but once I got there I was hooked. The story was fresh and kept me on my toes, it is a series but the book did not leave you hanging like other trilogies.

FYI Scott Westerfeld (I really am loving the Leviathan series) & James Dashner (Maze Runner series) are both coming to Arizona next month if you are interested in going, I would go. Both are very entertaining & very nice, if you want to go with me just let me know.

Snacking:
I am so boring when it comes to food, um grapes, does that count?

Wearing:
I wear a cardigan almost everyday to work, year round.

Looks Like A Beautiful Day

Saturday Mimi & I were talking about how cute Debbie was and I said "I don't know how I got so lucky to have Debbie as my sister." And many times after Mimi does something awesome for me I think "everyone needs a Mimi". Without Mimi & Debbie this stuff you are about to read would not have happened.

Saturday was also the Project Book Babe benefit event that Mimi, Debbie & I volunteered at. We started off the day by having lunch with our friend Tamir and then heading over to the event. Where I sold raffle tickets, Mimi signed people in and Debbie got to hang out with Shannon Hale, as her helper. Once Mimi & I got everyone signed in and the raffle tickets sold we went backstage with Debbie to help out with passing out the raffle items. When backstage Debbie had Shannon's camera and was snapping shots for her. One of my favorite moments was when all the authors were off stage in a huddle Debbie was getting photos and got down trying to get a shot and Shannon said "Debbie just lay down and get the shot" so Debbie laid down in the middle of all these authors and took pictures of them. Edit here is the picture off Shannon Hales blog.I was sad I didn't have my camera at that time to take the picture of Debbie. During the raffle Mimi & I got to be out on stage with all the authors helping with checking the winning tickets and stuff. Then they had the live auction which was just insane!!! They had us stand in front and make sure we did not miss any of the bidders.
Items Auctioned:
Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse prom dress: $5500

Advanced Readers Copy of Twilight: $1500

Epilogue to Forever Dawn: $ 5100

Eclipse Draft: $2600

The Host Draft: $1100

Lunch with Stephenie Meyer: $6500 each - The actually had a draw so two winners each paid this.

The Host Skateboard: $ 1500 - The Host Skateboard was designed by Hobo Skate Company whose co-founder is my friends husband, they are both awesome...I am super excited for them!!!

After the auction they had a special reception for those who bought the 300 dollar tickets. Where they got books from all the authors and then went around and got to get them personally signed. We helped out by writing people's names down so they didn't have to keep spelling out their names. Edit See Debbie and I tearing paper to write down names on. Brandon Mull & Shannon Hale...picture from Project Book Babe flickrOnce things started dying down I went out to my car and got my camera & my Shannon Hale books. While getting my books signed I got to talk to Shannon and man she is so super nice and funny. I also got to talk to another of my favorite authors Janette Rallison, I had already got her to sign my books at one of her signings. Man I know how to pick authors because seriously both Janette & Shannon are SO NICE and funny. Debbie decided that we needed to get a picture with Shannon, Janette and Stephenie. Thankfully it is much easier to have Shannon ask Stephenie to take a picture with us. We helped clean up and load some boxes before leaving. While walking out to the car I saw one of the bands that performed Adam Watts Band and realized I never got one of the signed CD's they were giving away so I had Debbie go ask if they had anymore. He did but he wanted to know if I wanted it signed. When they asked I paused because I didn't want to make them sign it but then realized if I said no would be rude and my pause was rude, so with much as enthusiasm as I could muster I say something like yeah that would be great. But since I don't have much practice at being fake you could totally hear how fake my enthusiasm was. But Adam just laughed and said you can't say no you will hurt my feelings. Well we were all laughing but I did get them to sign it and they were all again very nice and had us all (all being Mimi, Debbie, Tamir & I) laughing. So I got to meet musicians, authors, and help raise money for breast cancer, it was my kind of day!
All the authors from the panel, Shannon making everyone laugh as usual.

Mimi took this picture with out saying one two three or anything...Is it just me or is Stephenie looking at Debbie and smiling.. I love this picture even if I am sticking my booty out so Shannon could put her arm around me.

Here is the one with the one two three and a little less booty.



Here are my books Shannon signed can you read what she wrote? I LOVE THEM!!!
For Austenland she wrote Mr. Darcy thinks you are Hot!!! (how did she know)

Oh and we came home and found out that Debbie had been on the news...Check it out here...In the video Debbie is sitting next to the book babe, in the front row taking pictures for Shannon.

And if you did not see Shannon Hales blog you need to go here and see. The first picture of Debbie and I am Debbie's cute sister Connie. - seriously so nice.