Read It Week

I am going to try and read 10+ books in one week. May 1st to 7th. Anyone who wants can join me. How about a twitter hashtag for book updates? #readitweek

Oh, and... Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd.You'll know why I say this when you see the books on my list, trust me. lol


Potential Read List (in no particular order):
On Writing by Stephen King
Lessons From a Writing Life/Sometimes the Magic Works by Terry Brooks
Particle Physics: a very short introduction by Frank Close
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Wake by Lisa McMann
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
and, FALLING, fly by Skyler White
Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Hero by Perry Moore
Wren to the Rescue by Sherwood Smith
The Drunkard's Walk: how randomness rules our lives by Leonard Mlodinow

Books and Buying

Another trip to the bookstore, so I'm going to talk about what I bought and what are obstacles to me buying books. Don't forget to post author/book suggestions in the post below this one. Still have a week left to give me your suggestions.

From Barnes and Noble I purchased:

1. empty book with black&white cover with tree and mist. Quote is "One instant is eternity; eternity is the now. - WU-MEN"  It's for my Sekrit novel since it'll take more than one notebook and most of what I already have is either unlined or a bit too femme even for a gay boy character.

2. Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez - If it isn't obvious, it's a book with gay characters. Woot. Boys in high school and homosexuality. At least it's a start.

3. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - This is one that I've heard a lot about but hadn't really considered at first. The cover isn't bad either, so I'm going to see how this first book reads.

4. Wake by Lisa McMann - I'd heard about this one over blogs. The premise interests me and the cover isn't too bad. It even links to the story a bit, which I prefer but don't always see.

There are a variety of reasons that I'll buy a book. Having people tell me about it is one and the cover another. The story has to have something that interests me but I'll give almost anything I try. However, there are a few things that can hinder a book's chances with me as the buyer.

Hardback: I don't like to purchase hardback books. I will on the rare occasion, but I just don't care for them. There are two main reasons. First, the sleeve that has the nice cover on it gets in the way so I end up throwing them away. Which means the pretty part of the cover gets thrown away because it gets in the way and is more annoying than anything else. The other reason is financial. Fact is, hardcover are more expensive than paperback. Sure, I would like to support the author more but why buy one hard cover when I can get 2 paperback books for the same price, or even 3.

First Person: While I am willing to read the occasional first person pov book, it's not my preference. I have a harder time getting into the main characters and such. Maybe it's from my preference of epic fantasy, but I'm not sure. I just prefer third person. So, if a book is in first it's going to be a harder sell for me.

Combining them is even worse. Still a slight chance but won't be easy to sell to me with both.

Make A Suggestion

That's right. I need ideas. So, Im letting you decide.

1. Authors
Who should I try and interview for this blog? Pick anyone and I will try to contact them for an interview. Oh my god and goddess, why am I saying any author? Should I change it? No, I won't. Any Author... (yes, I'm weird).

2. Books
What books should I read? I am slow so it may be awhile but I'm open for suggestions. And if you mention a gay book, I'll really try to find it. I read almost any genre, though am more fond of fantasy (elves, mages and witches in particular).  But I won't read Twilight. No. Twilight.
*note: I tried to read Twilight and just don't care for it.

So, now it is your turn. Oh, my wise 69+ followers. Make your suggestions. Will be closed at the end of April, so get those ideas in while you can.

Winners

The 50+ Follower Giveaway is over and I have the two winners. Yay!
14 people entered for a grand total of 30 numbers

I have learned a bit from this giveaway, but no need to rant about that here. I'm sure you all just want to know who wins. So, here you go.

Prize #1 Ray Bradbury Book
Winning Number = 27
Harley D. Palmer

Prize #2 Tree Book
Winning Number = 4
Melanie Golden


Will send out an email or twitter DM to the winners after getting some sleep so I can get mailing addresses. Congratulations to the winners. And thank you, everyone who entered and to those who follow my blogs.

Lead or Follow

This is a topic that came to mind while I was shopping in Cheyenne, where I bought a few books. But have a few points first.

I bought books, yay! Okay, I didn't really need more books to read but come on. I was in Barnes and Noble. How could I not buy some books? There were a few I wanted that I still am not buying, but that will be discussed at a later topic. So, what did I buy? On Writing by Stephen King (Yeah, a shelf full of books on writing and I'm just now buying King's *slap on wrist*), Changeless by Gail Carriger (I saw the youtube video of the cover being made for the next book and it caught my attention) and Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (picked at random from searching the YA section, liked the cover and it was paperback).  They will be part of a personal read-a-thon.

Read-a-thon! In order to get some reading done, I've decided to do a personal read-a-thon the first week of May. Anyone who wants to join me, can. My goal is to read 10 books, which might seem small for some but I haven't read 10 books in the last year, let alone in one week.

Remember, my book giveaway ends on the 18th. Don't forget to enter and maybe try to follow the rules, maybe. If you have entered but didn't follow the rules, don't worry. This time, since I'm new to all this, I'll let it slide. ;-)

Now the topic: Lead or Follow

Most of the time, the general rule is that it's better to be a follower but there are some times and people where that isn't the case. Maybe it's just me. I feel like there are times when I would like to follow and not be a leader. But it doesn't work out this way.

To use a non-writing example first. I read tarot cards. Not often, but I do know how to read them. When I was first starting out back in junior high and high school, I hoped that someone would come along (online or in person) who would teach me. Never happened. By high school, I was teaching other people online how to read tarot. I didn't have anyone to learn from, or "follow" in this instance.

Now for writing. I'm sure that many of the authors who are viewed as leaders in their genre never planned it that way. Bet they never really thought they would lead the way in trends, influencing people to read, or anything like that. Then there are the people who follow. I'm not saying they do it on purpose, it just so happens to work out in their favor because the book they loved to write fits. It's not an intentional follow, but it happens.


I wish I had something/someone to follow. Why don't I? Try this drill. Go into say, the YA section, or another fiction genre section in a regular bookstore. How many gay books can you find just by looking at the shelves? Yeah, umm I found 3 in YA. 2 Rainbow Boys ones and then one other right next to them. The chance of gay main characters becoming a trend or obvious is rather slim... okay, very slim. My sister (wants to work in publishing) actually told me that I should write straight characters because it stands more of a chance of being published. But that is one thing I won't ever change in my stories. My characters are gay and I'd rather never be published than change them.

Take Writing.Com for example. I write erotica on there and recently a set of classes were created to help people learn how to write erotica. Am I going to enter? No. Do I need help? Yes. But the people running the classes, same ones from contests I enter, have a preference for straight erotica. The one gay round the main contest had, I was the judge. If I want there to be a class that helps glbt writers along with the others, then I'll have to teach it.

Then there is the erotica newsletter on the site. There was a recent poll and one of the questions was whether or not we felt there needed to be more glbt topics in the newsletter. Guess who gets to write those newsletters? Yep, me. I just sent in my first one about publishing opportunities for glbtq stories.

Okay, I have officially rambled.

I guess my main point is. I wish I had something/someone to follow that are obvious. I'd love to not have to spend hours online just to find a couple of books. I don't know how capable I am in leading, or if the chance will even occur when it comes to this book stuff. And that worries me.

Giveaway Time!

That's right, I have more than 50 followers now. (60 to be exact.) Time to giveaway the two books I had picked out just for this occasion.  I found the banner online, at paintermommy.com, which is kinda perfect in that I'm actually a painter and even have brown hair. Though, I look nothing like that, I can guarantee. Not even close. But it's a fun image that works for this giveaway.

First: Thank you to every one of my followers (even the one who is accidently following me twice). I appreciate having all these followers, and the occasional blog comment makes it even better. Feels validating to have the knowledge that someone is reading what I post.

Now to the fun stuff. The prizes, and yes there are two prizes, to be given away.
1.) Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

2.) Blank, lined, hard covered book

I tried to find prizes, books, that were related to the topic of writing and that weren't overly feminine. Most the empty books to write in had pinks and purples, so this is the best I could do in the way of non-expensive empty books. It's a tiny bit more girly than boyish but it's really not bad. I like trees personally, so that's another nice aspect. I think the image on the cover is great. lol

*Should mention, I live in the U.S. so, not sure how far I may be able to ship the items.

Giveaway details, aka... How to Win:
1+ entry: comment on this post with email address added
1+ entry: tweet giveaway/blog link and have #dawnembers in the tweet
3+ entry: blog about the giveaway/blog and post a link in the comment to said post

Total chances available = 5
Days to enter = 5 days (ends the end of April 18th, 2010)

Both 5's are to go with the 50 follower concept, hehehe. The winners will be picked using an excel sheet and a dice system which basically picks random numbers based on a set parameter. Only one prize per person, so that two different people will win. 1st number wins Bradburry book and 2nd number from dice system will get the empty book.

Good luck and let the follower celebration begin!

Murder Scene

Another blogfest entry though it will be one of the last few in a while on this particular blog. This time, it's a murder scene thanks to an awesome blogger.
Blog for Murder Fest

I don't often show murders or much violence in my writing. Even in the mystery novel that I'm working on, the murder isn't seen. It happens off stage. When I first came upon the blogfest, I wasn't sure if I'd have anything to post. Then I remembered, at the very end of the novel I was working on at the time the antagonist dies. So, here I have something to post. It technically is a bit of a Spoiler but that's okay. Enjoy!

The Novel: Standing Ground

Background information: The antagonist had kidnapped Noah's boyfriend, father and brother. Noah tried to save them but failed the first time. Now, him and Bastian(boyfriend) manage to break out and  solve the dilemma that was keeping them from breaking out earlier. Noah electrocuted him once, Valk (the antagonist), but is reluctant to finish him off. Oh, and there is a gun on the table, mentioned before the section I'm posting.

*Warning* This is a first draft. Not edited or rewritten. So, bear that in mind. 

The scene:

Valk began to move. The shaking had subsided but he still groaned from the pain he'd experienced. He struggled, pulling himself to his knees. It took him a few minutes before he was able to settle on his knees and look up at Noah.

"Now you're done." Noah said, breaking the silence. He had another bolt of energy ready but his anger waned seeing the damage he'd already caused. Even though he hated Valk, he still couldn't find enough reason to kill him.

"Noah, finish him off. You can do it." Bastian spoke, yelling down from his position of clutching the railing.

He raised his hand towards Valk as the man started to pull his body across the floor towards a table near the panel of computers. Noah watched but wasn't able to go through with it. The memories of the few good things Valk had done for him were enough to make his death unwarranted.

Valk made it to the table and started to pull himself up.

Noah dimmed the energy, no longer resolved to act, but kept a little prepared just in case.

"What are you doing?" Bastian sounded concerned. "He has a weapon. Do something."

But he didn't do what Bastian wanted. Instead, Noah spoke in Valk's direction. "Don't even think about it, Valk. You're done, accept it and face the consequences for your actions."

Valk didn't speak as he stood up. His gaze settled on Noah as his hand rested on the table.

A cracking sound echoed through the room and Valk collapsed on the floor. Blood started to ooze from his lifeless body.

Noah stared, his mouth open as his stomach wrenched. The look on Valk's face remained etched in his mind as he stared down at the body before looking upward in Bastian's direction. Bastian stood, holding himself steady with one hand on the rail, the gun still aimed downward in his other hand.