It begins.

                I got my package from Harper Voyager publishing last night. And I waited until this morning to open it. 

                Now, as the people reading this should know, as they’re more than likely my friends, I have a cat. And he likes to get into trouble and chew and do other cat like things. So when I woke up out of my Sirlesque, karaoke, and League of Legends 'til 3:30 AM stupor to the sound of ripping and cat chirruping, I found this:

Photographic evidence of possible theft attempt.

                           

                

   Mugshot of perpetrator after apprehension.

Despite my delinquent feline contaminating my loot, I was still hyped about the box and laid out my haul.

Sort of pictured, a black tote bag with assorted book titles screened on it. To carry my books around. Because I’m twelve and like people to know that I’m so cool I need a bag specifically to carry books.

I’m going to power through the rest of Peter V. Brett’s The Daylight War, because I can’t read two books at once. My brain can barely take writing four of my own plus reading another.

Onto my plan of attack!

DISCLAIMER: I was given promotional copies of these books by Harper Voyager US, for the purpose of review. This disclaimer will be on every post that relates to these books or anything else from the publishing company. We both have to cover our asses from the prying eyes of The Law.

1) DEAD SET; Richard Kadrey

             They sent me a signed(!) copy, which I’ll keep, and I’ll probably give away/loan out the print edition I bought on release day. Because sorry, (not sorry,) I’ll read anything that man releases until forever. Despite some of his earlier work being less than fantastic, Sandman Slim has me so hooked I can’t even words. (Told you you’d figure out my favorite author if you stuck around.  He’ll get his own blog entry of epic and borderline embarrassing fangirl proportions later on.)

I guess I can review Dead Set, though I’m three months removed from reading it. I can re-read it in four hours, though. See if I can beat my time from the first go ‘round.

2) DREAMS AND SHADOWS; C. Robert Cargill

This one was pretty high up on my million book To Read list. I was meaning to pick it up, so yay, definite score getting a free copy. I’m a huge fan of twists on classic fairy tales ever since I picked up The Child Thief by Brom, and went from thinking Peter Pan was lame to being a super creepy older woman in love with him. I’ve got a thing for arrogant little goth boys that bite off more than they can chew with authority figures. I can’t want to crack into this and see what Cargill came up with.

3) THE WASTELAND SAGA; Nick Cole
                Since all three books are conveniently packaged together, I have no excuse to not read the whole series. I’ll probably do a post for each part, to keep things easy. Also to not kill my brain trying to remember everything for a full three book review.

4) THE TAKEN; Vicki Patterson

                The Taken, by Vicki Patterson. Which, let’s be honest, I’m the least excited about. Obvious “LOOK, I’M A STRONG BUT STILL SEXY/VULNERABLE WOMAN BEING STALKED BY A MYSTERIOUS DOUCHEY STRANGER-TOOL” vibe, and therefore, zero fcks are given. I’ll try a couple chapters to see how I feel, but I doubt I’ll be super into it. Doesn’t look like it’d be my kind of book. But, it was sent, and I will read it. Or try. I’m going in fairly neutral, taking it as I used to take required reading for school; doesn't mean I refuse to enjoy it, but we shall see.

5) RIDES A DEAD LEGION; Raymond E. Feist

               Usually this one would be much higher on the list, but being part of a saga, I’m putting it at the end in hopes that I can get my hands on the rest of it because I’m slightly OCD about starting a series. I prefer to read them in succession; it helps to keep me in the world. And everyone’s hating on the demons, lately! It’s not their fault people are tasty…

So that’s it! And I’ll finish off The Daylight War, maybe write a blog for that, and Dead Set, then get started on Dreams and Shadows.

This is real. It’s official. Let's Voyage! :D

                                                                                                                                                                             
- RaRa out.

E-Readersaurus Rexes.

Post time. Aaaaannnnnd GO.

Every time a book store closes, part of my soul dies. Whenever I went out shopping with my mother, or friends, I would always beg to be allowed to browse the bookstore, usually while they went girl and spent hours looking at shoes or clothes. There's something magical about when you walk in and see the new releases set up symmetrically in a pyramid, or in their own cardboard stand up, the familiar walls lined with spines, the occasional stand out feature, advertisement of a book signing or midnight release, the smell of books. You know what I mean. That fresh cut wood, crispy smell that only new books have. Glossed oak tag with foil, or smooth raised lettering, sharp edges, pages so fresh that they make a satisfying purr as you speed flip through them. Even the musty smell of worn leather and dust, is like being surrounded by years of people and their wisdom. Because books are people. Their thoughts, their beliefs, their hopes and dreams, their discoveries about the world and themselves, painstakingly written down with equal parts love and frustration. There’s something so satisfying about holding a book, turning each page as you progress through a story, the feel of the thin pages grazing your thumb, the spine cradled in your palm, cracking as the book is opened and closed. Dog eared pages, unraveling tassel bookmarks, even notes in margins. There’s so many things about books that are so wonderful that it’s truly hard to express. Unless someone really knows.

So... This is a thing. I guess people DO get it... Can I get it? For my birthday, maybe?

Pick up a book. Any book. It’s reassuring to see and feel that it’s there. That the author, in one way or another, will always live on, always have something to say to anyone willing to crack open their work and read. Holding a book is, in a way, shaking the hand of the author and chatting over drinks. Part of them is always in whatever edition you decide to peruse, and it’s a gateway to their worlds, their thoughts, their souls. And it'd be a shame to lose that, either to people becoming less and less likely to read, or the simple extinction of paper. Maybe kids are just happier with their lives these days (NOT.) Or they have other means to escape. Maybe their parents pressured or forced them to read, like using it as a punishment, or not reading to them as children and instilling the sense of wonder I had. And that kind of makes me a little sad.

Book stores are an endangered species. And I suppose that’s a sign of the times. Nothing I can do about it, really. Environmentally and progressively, bookstores are becoming obsolete. E-Readers and tablets are becoming fairly commonplace; nearly everyone has something that they can read books on. Either they buy them through their device’s respective online stores, or torrent them as PDFs, books are a lot more accessible and a lot more portable as digital files. But will the classic weight, scent, and feel of a tangible book be lost to future generations? Will libraries close down? Will children of the future never know the refuge and joy I experienced dragging my mother into a Borders? Even a used book store? Never befriend the friendly but still slightly shy people who, like you, live in the world of other’s imaginations they meld into their own? People who understand your need to escape and become someone else for a little while? We’re solitary enough as it is. Closing down book stores is just one less venue for like-minded potential interaction for book worms.

Oh, don't worry Mr. Tennant. You're one of the few lucky awkwards that people want to talk to/fck.

The one time I ran away from home I went to a bookstore. And I stayed until closing, fingers tracing over spines tucked neatly in alphabetical order on shelves, picking out a few with interesting titles or familiar authors, even attractive covers. My world was falling apart, so I retreated into others where things weren't so bad, or where I knew the hero(ine) would win out and overcome. Feeling weak, I would find one of those sword and sorcery books, or something gritty and B-Movie types. Feeling ugly and unloved, I'd find a not overly cheesy romance novel with a stronger female character. Because I'm never going to be a damsel in distress, and bad ass chicks need and deserve love too! Wanting to remember my childhood, I'd grab a reprinting of an old favorite. And something I legitimately planned on buying once I left. I had a pile of at least four or five books, opening to a random page in the middle, reading a little, curling up in the chair the staff had designated as mine. And I often left what I was reading under the chair or tucked under the cushion when I went to grab something at the food court. It was always just where I left it, the staff knowing I’d be back to continue reading, usually with a coffee or a burger for whoever was on shift and soon to be on break. It's good to have friends at your escape. 

I received an E-Reader for Christmas this past year. As much as I adore the sensory overload of a new book, having something solid to hang on to, I decided that I’ve accumulated too many, and it was time to downsize. Not all of us have staircase bookshelves, or our own book nook closets, or even entire rooms for libraries. Oh how I wish I did. So, much to my dismay, I collected all my books and noted the ones I would reread, or simply could NOT part with, and bought/downloaded the e-versions. And then, I offered first dibs on the tangibles to my younger cousins, and donated the rest to children’s literacy foundations. Because Kids Need to Read. I didn't have the heart to throw them out or give them to a thrift store. I’d rather children who ADORE books, have no opportunity to get them, want them, NEED them, get them for free, because I hope my love for reading and the magic I found in them will pass to another generation of young readers.

NOT me. Because you know. I have a hair. And am female. But pretty much this.

Then there’s the problem of sustainability and environmental protection; the main factor in my conversion to primarily digital. I’ve always been an environmentalist, collecting pennies to save the rainforest, planting trees on Arbor Day and recycling, picking up litter and all that stuff. I’ve even donated money to save polar bears, wild horses, and tigers. So it occurred to me that books are made out of paper… SURPRISE! Paper comes from trees. And since physical books are being phased out, it’ll inevitably be better for the environment when the demand for physical books dwindles and eventually no longer exists. And technological devices are recyclable too, and there’s more incentive as people get money for that. Because who gives a fck about not slowly annihilating the planet by destroying the environment unless you get money?

Because environmental responsibility is for losers in leotards and bad hair jobs.

Now don’t get me wrong. I still, occasionally, buy tangible books. Mostly just from my favorite authors, or if it’s a continuing series and I already have the first few. A little OCD like that. Any new series I may start or new books that come out, from this day forth, will more than likely be e-books. Unless they’re so amazingly fantastic and inspiring that I want to buy it and keep it forever (read; cuddle with it at night in hopes their power transfers into me while I sleep.) To have it on my shelf above my writing desk and think whenever I see it: “One day, my book will be up there with the greats.” 

One day, I hope to write well enough to have someone want to tangibly hold one of my books. ... Well, let's be real for a minute. I just hope to actually finish the damn thing. Ha.

- RaRa out.

Right, so. Clearly; I'm awful at this blogging thing.

Wow, it's been eight months since I did this blog thing. Well, let's get straight to the point, eh?

While I'll legitimately try to keep up with regular posting about whatever, this is going to be turning into mainly a book blog. Because apparently my snarky application to be an advance reader for a publishing company (that will eventually be getting a copy of my project every week for eternity until they accept it) was clever (or smartassy) enough to catch their attention.

I'll be getting advance copies of books from this specific publisher and they asked, (read: intended) me to review them on retail sites, Goodreads, Facebook, even here on my own blog. This inaugural run of marketing and free sht lasts for six months, and I'll have to keep applying to stay in this club of geekery and awesome. And dammit, I like books. And they'll be free. I see nothing wrong with any of that.

 

Unless they send me things like this.

Which, let's be real, they might. These slop troughs meant purely to sell to mass markets of preteens and cat ladies, who for some reason think being stalked, controlled, manipulated, and not murdered because someone "loves" (owns) you is romantic, are somehow ridiculously more popular than they ever should have been. My feelings on this is on reserve for a future entry...

Now I know, I know. Not everything's going to be from my favorite author, or in the same vein as my favorite series, not even my preferred genres. And just because I don't like it doesn't mean that other people can't or shouldn't. And I understand that. But reading, reviewing, and studying other writers' work, regardless of whether or not I like or respect it can only help me. Especially since they have book deals and I don't. So I'm taking it for what it is, and am very grateful for the opportunity.

I think I'll not pull a typical Steph and actually take this sht seriously. I mean, I'm certainly no real critic. I haven't even finished a first draft on anything I'd remotely consider publishing, so I'm not sure from which part of my ass I'd pull any intelligent, credible remarks or commentary. Plus I've always heard; "Those that can't write, critique/edit." And I certainly don't want to be thrown in with that lot.But I'll do my best in the reviewing department. I'll be honest, and fair, and constructive, trying to keep too much of my personal biases out of things. Because no one likes to be pitched judgmental critical bullsht, no matter how well established they are in their field. Especially not from some brown-nosing noob willing to do anything to play ball.

Neg is pretty much my spirit animal.

So, the good news is, I'm peeking through the proverbial cracked door to my career of choice. Albeit not necessarily the route I'd have chosen. I'd much more prefer to strike literary gold and get a NY Times best seller straight out the gate, but that's less likely than I'd hope. Sad, since I've always wanted to kick in the door to some ritzy building riding a white tiger on rocket skates drinking orange cream soda out of a chalice and be like "WHAT'S UP, LOSERS."

But... They at least know who I am. They apparently think I'm interesting. And garsh dangit, they picked me. I'm hoping that studying what they like to publish/hope to promote will help me finish, market, and sell my own project(s). Not too much progress on that front either, I'm afraid. Mostly outlining and juicing up of what I already have. I did manage to outline a different project, though, and that's looking quite promising as well. Now if my friends would actually read what I send them so I could get some feedback and ambition to continue, that would be fan-freaking-tastic. -_-;

Fair warning, unnamed-until-I-get-the-legal-details-of-this-deal publishing company. I'm not good with gentle. And I've been itching to use this battering ram I've got under my bed.

Opportunity comes once in a lifetime.

/Crosses fingers.

- RaRa out.