Guest Post: Rabid Reads

Thank you very much to the wonderful Carmel of Rabid Reads for today's guest post!




When Sniffly Kitty put out a call asking for guest posts to help keep her blog content flowing while in the midst of exams I jumped on the opportunity. So thanks for having me! My name’s Carmel and I’m the blogger behind Rabid Reads. I read/review books mostly in the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult genres but it wasn’t always so. The theme behind these guest posts is reading nostalgia and the first thing that came to my mind was the Anne of Green Gables series. It’s been a while since I’ve read them but I have nothing but fond memories. Back in the day, I devoured every book in the series and watched the movies until I knew every word by heart.


The main element that sets this series apart from the rest is Anne. She’s an amazing character with whom every girl/woman out there can identify with on some level. Anne is picked on because of her red hair. Every child gets bullied but it’s how we handle it that makes all the difference in the end. What originally seemed like a curse ends up making her beautiful and unique as an adult. Perhaps this explains my love of red hair, I’d never really thought about it until now! Anne has an adventurous spirit, loves reading and is always poking her nose around where it shouldn’t be. Her story is one of trials and tribulations but also of strength and perseverance. She’s a role model that every little girl should have and grows into a woman that every adult should strive to be like. This series is about so much more than just a great story. It’s about life, love and everything in between.

I can’t help but think about Gilbert and the childhood crush I had on him. Probably one of the first crushes I ever had! The perfect man for Anne but of course it wasn’t an easy road. It took time, distance and relentlessness for their love story to progress into an eventual happily ever after. Gilbert was blessed in the looks department. No doubt about that but he’s also practical, reliable, patient and incredibly devoted. It takes Anne forever to finally realize that he’s her perfect match but that’s a good thing because without her resistance this tale would have been much shorter and not nearly as enjoyable!

The Anne of Green Gables series reminds me a great deal of my childhood. I developed a love of reading at a young age thanks to my mom but it didn’t become an obsession until I met Anne. My mother bought me the entire series and later on the movies. It was one of the best gifts that I’ve ever received! I was immediately hooked. It made my awkward stages more bearable and taught me many valuable life lessons that are still with me today. This series has stood the test of time and is in no way diminished by the 21st century. If anything it reminds us that today’s world may be more technologically advanced but that our society as a whole hasn’t changed much. What was valued in the 1900’s is still just as important today. In my opinion, everyone will get something out of Anne of Green Gables and it should be a must-read for people from all walks of life.

Thanks again for having me and good luck on your exams! :)

Guest Post: Falling in Love with Your Novel - Maria Geraci (LRC)

Maria Geraci, author of Boyfriend of the Month Club, is here today so let's give her a warm welcome ^.^ She has a wonderful piece about falling in love (with your novel)!

Btw: You should read my review of Boyfriend of the Month Club.



Falling in love with your Novel
By Maria Geraci
Writing a novel is exhausting. Both emotionally and physically. The only thing I can compare it to is falling in love. As a matter of fact, it’s exactly like falling in love.

There’s the beginning stage which is always fresh and exciting. Two people see each other across a crowded room and there’s a spark. An instant attraction. Or maybe it starts out as friendship and then one day the friendship becomes something more. It’s the same way a writer begins a story. You imagine a character or a situation or a first line and you’re instantly intrigued. You want to know more so you sit down at your computer and start typing. The words flow like honey. You want to see each other every day. You can’t get enough of each other. You text till three in the morning. You get up and before you have your coffee you go to your computer and open up your word doc and write the one perfect line that you must have dreamed while you were sleeping because you woke up with it fresh in your mind. Ain’t love grand? If only things could stay this way.

Then you have your first fight. Maybe it’s just a spat or maybe it’s more serious, like a major blow out. This is the stage when you might just say the hell with it and walk away. Your friends tell you he’s a loser. You can do better than him. The story concept isn’t working. You send some pages to your critique group or to your agent or your editor and they don’t like. But… then he apologizes. And then you apologize. And then you kiss and make up. You take those pages you gave your critique partners/agent/editor and read them again. You can make this work. You know you can. So you rewrite. You’ve just gone through an important initiation rite and come out the other side with your relationship stronger

Next comes the most dangerous stage of a relationship. Boredom. You’ve hit a wall. The zing is gone. You ask yourself, is this really the person I want to end up with? The story becomes predictable. You have a hundred pages left to write and you don’t know which direction to take it. You edit. You rewrite again. You go away for the weekend and you rediscover why you fell in love in the first place.

You finally finish the story but you’re not sure if it’s really “done.” You love it one day. And hate it the next. You just know you can’t read it anymore. So you send it to your editor. She tells you that she loves it, but that you have to take out chapter 14 because she hates the character you’ve introduced there. But the character has to stay because without him the rest of the story won’t make sense! You go back to the computer (armed with lots of chocolate and coffee) and you take out chapter 14 and rewrite the ending completely differently. And it works! He tells you he hates your cat but you love your cat, so you compromise. You keep the cat but the cat doesn’t sleep on the bed anymore. Maybe things are going to work out after all.

~~~~~
A Big Thank You to Maria for this insight into novel writing! You can visit her website http://www.mariageraci.com/ and her Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/MariaGeraciBooks

Remember: if you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Guest Post: Serena from Pensive Bookeaters

Thank you very much to the lovely Serena of Pensive Bookeaters for today's guest post!


Hi Guys :) I want to say a quick thanks to Sniffly Kitty for letting me take over the blog for a day. I’m one half of the crew over at Pensive Bookeaters. We review mostly YA books and like to do author interviews and giveaways! :)

When I was in 5th and 6th grade, my family and I lived in a small town right on the beach (oh man, I miss it... now I’m in Kansas :( currently being snowed in). I was allowed to ride my bike as far as my elementary school on the north and the library on the suth. Now... thinking about it the library now it was probably the smallest, under funded library I’ve ever been to. However, when I was a kid, that library was magical. I remember spending hours there reading whatever book I could. Mostly Babysitters Club and Goosebumps, though. Oh, and I LOVED those Choose Your Own Adventure Books! (I might need to track one of those down to read one soon). I would check out the maximum amount of books that I could, fill up my backpack and take them home. I would read and re-read anything, I just absolutely loved the stories. At the same library, I actually met our local congresswoman. At the time, I had no clue who she was of course (I was like, 10) but she was a friendly older woman! I believe they had free cookies so she was totally awesome in my book :)

I have to admit my overzealous love for reading didn’t continue through my whole life and it’s only been in the past couple years that I’ve started reading again. However, I really do believe that my love for reading started very young and that little library fostered my love.

~~~~~~~
Thanks again to Sniffly for letting me take over :) Come visit me at Pensive Bookeaters!

Guest Review: Stork - Khadija of Black Fingernailed Reviews

Thank you very much to the lovely Khadija of Black Fingernailed Reviews for today's guest review!


Title: Stork
Author: Wendy Delsol
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2010
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 5/5

Teaser: Sixteen-year-old Katla LeBlanc has just moved from Los Angeles to Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, Katla soon finds out that she’s a Stork, a member of a mysterious order of women tasked with a very unique duty. But Katla’s biggest challenge may be finding her flock at a new school. Between being ignored by Wade, the arrogant jock she stupidly fooled around with, and constantly arguing with gorgeous farm boy and editor-in-chief Jack, Katla is relieved when her assignment as the school paper’s fashion columnist brings with it some much-needed friendship. But as Homecoming approaches, Katla uncovers a shocking secret about her past — a secret that binds her fate to Jack’s in a way neither could have ever anticipated. With a nod to Hans Christian Andersen and inspired by Norse lore, Wendy Delsol’s debut novel introduces a hip and witty heroine who finds herself tail-feathers deep in small-town life.

My Review: The first time I read the summery it sparked my interest but not in any 'if I don't read this book I'll die' kinda way. The first chapter in I was feeling like the book would be 'ok' but not anything special. But by the second and third chapters I was hooked and couldn't put the book down until I'd read every last word.

I read several debut novels in 2010, but out of them all, this one surprised me the most. Delsol follows the masses into fantasy but she breaks away from the pack with an idea completely unique and different from any other YA book I've read. It's subtle but Delsol took a risk with this book. Personally, I pretty much loved every minute of it.

The idea of using Norse Lore in a YA novel was a bit odd at first. When you start reading it you're kind of like 'Ok...this is just freaky' but somehow as the story goes along Delsol convinces you that it's just plain amazing. Katla is spunky, interesting and different. Her relationship with her mother and father is usual, her attitude toward moving to a freezing town in the middle of nowhere is understandable, the big red mark on her head? That took me a little time to get used to.


The story is well paced, yet when you finish reading it doesn't seem like you've just read one book because so much happens.

Katla and Jack are probably one of the sweetest and most interesting couples I've ever read about. I absolutely loved the characters, even Wade. Yes i know what you're thinking if you've read the book already: Wade? No I haven't lost my mind, I did love his character. He was an evil little moron that's for sure, but he was a well written evil moron whose plans you don't realize until the very end when they smack you in the face.

So what all of that in short means is that if you're looking for a well written story that is different from any other YA book you've read, you should definitely give this one a try.


~~Khadija~~

Guest Post: Nicole Sheldon of The Betrayed Writer

Thank you very much to the lovely Nicole Sheldon of The Betrayed Writer for today's guest post!

~~The Writing Process~~

Struggling writer will write for booze, food.

Yep, that’s me, The Betrayed Writer and that’s actually an ad I consider posting anywhere someone will see it and take pity on my poor soul. I originally started my blog to revolve around my currently-waiting-to-be-found-published-and-make-me-a-star novel but I so quickly became caught up in the joy of discussing books with other like minded brilliant people that shared my reading interests. Bit by bit, my writing’s showcase on the blog kind of fell to the wayside to make room for book reviews, rants, raves and gossips. I didn’t mind, but when my favorite Kitty asked me about the process in which I wrote my first novel I sat there going wait, but what about the recent Shadowfever release!!! I tend to forget I am a writer- the husband doesn’t however when I’m shouting, “Go away! I just have one scene left!”

“What’s your process in writing?” The little Kitty asked me one dreary Seattle January morning.
What did I say? Nothing at first, I actually sat back and had to ponder this question as if considering the cosmos! My favorite question asked to any writer and I could not think up an answer myself. I quickly consider and discard many honest-albeit cheeky answers and decide to settle on the most organic, for I am your typical brooding, sulking writer.

Three years ago I had a series of dreams about a Vampire who had fallen in love with a Slayer and when I woke I wondered, just what exactly would happen when they found out what the other was?
The question, you see, was easier than the answer I quickly discovered. And once I had figured out the basic plot of the story, I had to figure out how to not just write it in a way that does not show case my back woods South Carolina education in daily oral language, but in a way that could make my readers see and feel every single moment as if they were living it.
From this, my process was born. And beaten… and cursed and kicked and smothered.



First, I sit on it. The idea of course, not the Vampire; she bites and not in a fun way.
I was very fortunate with my first book to have a cast of my own schizophrenic voices to show me the story thus saving me half the work of needing to figure it out for myself.
One of my favorite authors of all time says that she can’t control what her characters do. She just writes them doing these things as they happen. I like that, because she’s riding in the same boat of crazy I am.

Second, I open up my favorite writing tool in the world. Wine. Microsoft One Note. I scribble down a rough time line, characters summaries, notes and play lists.
Did I say I’m very musically inspired?

Third, I must find another corkscrew for second bottle of wine. Music is a must for me, without it I am completely unable to write. You see, I’m crippled by a creature I call my Muse. She’s about 5 foot 11 with crazy red hair and gleaming green eyes. She doesn’t speak much, but she’s not exactly quiet either. She communicates her displeasures in my writing with a series of hisses, growls and screams. And when she’s too disgusted to continue, she leaves me. I secretly believe, she runs off with my best friend’s Muse where they share drinks together on some sunny tropical island, laughing, while we beat our heads into the desk trying to find enough ability to eloquate our total impotence to write without them.
Music, soothes my Muse and puts her into a some what malleable state. Once the music is flowing, and the wine, I begin to write.

I wish I had this grand creative process to lend to other inspiring writers such as my younger sister and readers of my blog. But writing for me is just something that is as natural as the beat of my heart and the breath of my chest. And like faulty hearts and poor respiratory systems, my writing is often less than desirable. But when I end up stuck somewhere, I just cross into their world and plop down on a sofa and watch. Writers are the best watchers and sometimes I just need to see it a little closer to get it across clearly.
Just not so close enough that a Vampire decides I smell like dinner.

Guest Post: What Cleopatra Can Teach Us About Love - Stephanie Dray (LRC)

Today we have the lovely Stephanie Dray here to give some insight from Cleopatra on Love! I hope you enjoy reading her post as much as I did ^.^ You should also check out my review of Lily of the Nile and my interview with Stephanie!

~~What Cleopatra Can Teach Us About Love~~
by Stephanie Dray

She was a ruler, a businesswoman, an author and religious icon. But Cleopatra VII of Egypt is primarily remembered for her dramatic love affairs with two of the most powerful men in the ancient world. She is said to have ensnared Julius Caesar in a May-December romance that scandalized Rome and may well have led to his assassination. Later, she set her sights on Mark Antony and during their tumultuous relationship, they quite nearly ruled the world.

In writing Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra’s daughter, I spent a great deal of time pondering what sorts of lessons on love Cleopatra may have imparted to her children. Given Cleopatra’s tragic end, I imagined that her daughter would be quite wary of love--that she would see love as a threat to her ambitions...a threat to her very life itself. But then, Selene was a royal hostage, held in a Roman court of intrigue, at the mercy of the very man who destroyed her family.

By contrast, we have the luxury of taking an altogether more lighthearted look at her mother’s legacy! So, here are five things the legendary Queen of the Nile may have advised when it came to love:

Men Like Girls With Moxie.


The most famous tale about Cleopatra is how she had herself smuggled into the palace in a carpet and rolled out at Julius Caesar’s feet. The specifics of this story have come into question. Was it really a carpet or bed linens or a laundry sack of some sort? No one seems to know. But does it really matter? The point is that a very young queen risked her life in a dangerous gambit. Even having survived the perilous journey to slip past enemy soldiers, she had to know that Julius Caesar could have her killed on the spot. After all, she’d chosen the wrong side in the recent civil war; Caesar had no reason to favor her. But she gambled that Caesar would admire her spunk. Her reward? He took her to bed--quite possibly that same night--and would later make her the most powerful woman in the world.


Treat Your Relationship As Something Sacred.


from Turn Back to God
Though she was the mother of Julius Caesar’s son, he couldn’t marry Cleopatra by law, both because she was a foreigner and because Romans were only allowed one wife--he was already married to Calpurnia. However, Caesar and Cleopatra intended to make their love known. To this end, Caesar took the remarkable step of commissioning a golden statue of Cleopatra and placing it in his family temple of Venus Genetrix. Here, Cleopatra was depicted both as a goddess and a member of the Julii. No stronger statement about the sacred nature of their bond could be made. After Caesar was assassinated, Cleopatra built a giant temple in the royal district of Alexandria and celebrated him as a god.


When it Comes to Love, Go Big or Go Home.


from Gifts for Grad Students
When Mark Antony summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus, it was to chastise her for having failed to provide him with ships in his recent battles. Though she was the Queen of Egypt, he was a Roman Triumvir. He demanded that she come to him and explain herself. Her response? A bit of over-the-top stagecraft. A known lover of wine, spectacle and debauchery, Antony was riveted by the sight of Cleopatra’s golden barge as it sailed into the harbor. Cleopatra presented herself as a goddess come to meet a god and all her attendants were costumed as mythological figures. Perfume and rose-petals were the order of the day and when she entertained Antony aboard her ship, lavishly gifting his men with silver plate and other priceless gifts, he was smitten. The lesson? Don’t settle for a subtle seduction. Big romantic gestures create a lasting memories!

Encourage The Ambitions of Those You Love.


from Suggest Soft
Julius Caesar certainly didn’t need Cleopatra to prod him to world domination, but he certainly seemed to welcome her as a cheerleader and financier. That she shared in his visions of a future of empire building probably made her a more compatible lover in every way. Antony, on the other hand, seems to have been ambivalent about his own ambitions. Though Cleopatra is often blamed for his downfall, it’s unclear that Mark Antony wouldn’t have simply faded into obscurity without her. When he lost direction, Cleopatra was always there to stroke his ego and help him find his way. Consider the story of the infamous fishing trip during which Cleopatra played a prank on Antony. When he was frustrated at catching nothing, Cleopatra had her divers attach salted fish to his hook. When Antony pulled up his line and found the dead fish, laughter ensued and she told him, “Leave behind your fishing rod, General; your game is cities, provinces and kingdoms.” The lesson for us? Have a great sense of humor. Also, be your beloved’s greatest fan and encourage him or her to excel at what they do best.

Dance With The One That Brung Ya.


from the movie TAKE THE LEAD from All Movie Photos
Though Cleopatra has a reputation as a great seductress and a manipulative schemer, she seems to have been remarkably loyal. She was first loyal to Pompey. Then Caesar. Then Antony. When her war with Rome was lost, Cleopatra was offered the opportunity to ingratiate herself with her conqueror, perhaps sparing her life and her throne, in exchange for Antony’s head. As Antony had taken refuge in Egypt, he was entirely at her mercy. But she could not kill her lover. In the end they both committed suicide and were buried together to rest eternally side by side.

~~~~~
Stephanie is also sponsoring a literary contest for aspiring young female writers!



~~~~~
A Big Thank You to Stephanie for these tips and tricks that we can learn from Cleopatra! Remember: if you review one of her books (this includes the ones she wrote under the pen name Stephanie Draven), you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Guest Post: Loving a Child - Krista D. Ball (LRC)

Welcome to our FIRST post for Loving the Reviews ^.^ Today's guest post comes from Krista D. Ball author of Harvest Moon. You should read my review of Harvest Moon and my interview with Krista! She's going to be talking about loving a child.


~~~Loving a Child~~~
By Krista D. Ball


From Seattle Municipal Archives
I have two step-children, both of whom I've known since they were in diapers. I've been told that I'm lucky because they've always known me. They're probably right. However, one thing that really, really gets under my skin is when people say (with great frequency, I might add), that I would discover that I'd love my own biological children more, if I had any.

Which, frankly, really upsets me. Why? Because I'm adopted.

I've come to see love and family as the people who support you and share memories with you, not the people who give you DNA. Apparently, we adopted kids are supposed to have abandonment issues. I never did. I had two parents. I've met both of my biological parents, all of my half-siblings, and I still see my Mom and Dad as the people who raised me.

Don't get me wrong. Meeting my entire biological sphere was quite interesting and I've added lots of great new relationships to my life. But, they aren't my Mom and Dad.

When people tell me that I would love my non-existent biological children more than my step-kids, what they are really telling me is that Mom and Dad loved their "real" children more than they loved me. And as I look at the boys and how I'd give my own life to protect them, how I would give anything for their safety and happiness...I call bullshit. There was not a caste system of love in my family growing up and there isn't one in my household.

I was loved, completely and without limits. How could I not give that love to another child, after having it so graciously given to me?

~~~~~
Thanks again to Krista for this very thoughtful post! Remember: if you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Guest Post: Lettie from Above Average Below Special

A big thank you to Lettie for writing up this guest post ^.^

Hi guys,
I’m Lettie from Above Average Below Special! A blog featuring books, beauty, baking and more!

Sniffly Kitty asked me to write about how I started reading and the truth is I don’t actually remember! I have always been the girl who reads. My mum started me off when I was 1 and I stormed my way through the reading stages to the point that I finished by the end of year 2 and had to go pick my books from the year 6 classroom! So I thought I would do a sort of through the years by author for you.

Primary School!

Reception- Year 2

Elmer and Six Dinner Sid
Favourite books of reception class by a long shot! I loved Sid and no matter how many times I read it or had it read to me I still laughed at his six dinners :P.

Enid Blyton
Hands down my favourite childhood author. She cultivated my love of reading. I was issued my own library card so I could borrow the secret seven and famous five books to my little heart’s content. My Uncle brought me the Magic Faraway Tree and the Naughtiest Girl Again and I think along with
the Wishing Chair I loved them the best!

Jacqueline Wilson
Close second to Enid Blyton is the amazing Jacqueline Wilson and her skill for writing about realistic but difficult childhood situations. Her books entertained me from 7 to at least 16 and even now, I reread them.

Year 3- Year 6

Dick King Smith
I loved his Sophie books so much I wanted to live on a farm too! I also loved Dodos are Forever and Tumbleweed. My library had a big selection of his books which I worked my way through!

Lucy Daniels
I loved the Animal Ark books with such passion I made them the cool thing to read of year 4/5 everyone brought me one for my Birthday! They kick started a very long love affair with animal books.

J K Rowling
I was relatively late at my school for reading Harry Potter but it was well worth the wait! I won’t go on about Harry Potter, I’m sure you’re fans too!

Diana Wynne Jones
What an absolute legendary author! My mum is responsible for this particular love affair as she picked up Charmed Life and Castle in the Sky. This was another trend starter for Year 6! I love her world building style and the absolutely brilliant characters she created. She has half a bookshelf devoted to her masterpieces and I still eagerly await her releases now!

Secondary School!

Year 7-9

Tamora Pierce
All I can say is thank you school library for accidentally introducing me to the greatness of Tamora Pierce! I picked up Wild Magic one day and was transported to the fascinating world of Tortall and I was hooked! I tracked down all 16 books (at the time) of hers through the school library, city libraries and this one dusty old bookshop within a month and haven’t looked back since! Read Sniffly Kitty’s review of Wild Magic here.

Louise Rennison
My best friend and I alternated buying these books after sneaking her sister’s Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging. Georgia is such a realistic yet over the top character and for awhile they made us feel so grown up. We’d use the ‘lingo’ from the books and discuss them on the phone. I actually checked the back page of the last one when it came out to make sure she ended up with the right guy despite the fact I’d ‘grown out of them’.

L.J. Smith
My friend and I completely bonded over these in year 8. Before Twilight was cool and The Vampire Diaries was an amazing TV show we argued over who was hotter Stefan or Damon or Nick or Adam in the Secret Circle. We devoured the Night World Series and eagerly awaited Strange Fate which still isn’t out!

Year 10- 11

Shannon Hale and Gail Carson Levine
There’s something so Comforting and brilliant about a fairy tale retold! These two are masters at
making the stories their own yet keeping the integrity of the originals as well as creating their own stories in the style of fairy tales. Ella Enchanted stole my breath away with its cast of characters and change of scenery and the Bayern books by Hale are so cleverly intertwined yet individual stories.

Lian Hearn
Tales of the Otori is a brilliant series set in feudal Japan type world. I loved the journey of Takeo and Kaede both together and separately such strong lead characters. The books are a brilliant mix of betrayal, love, religion clashes, war and fantasy.

Graphic Novels
I had a brief affair with Japanese culture aided by a boy who loved Japanese culture as much as I loved him! I did really enjoy Princess Ai books though and I definitely don’t regret falling in live with Studio Gibhli films.

And I will leave you there! I hope you enjoyed travelling trough my reading history with me. It’s made me want to reread so many of those great books!

Thanks for reading!

Much Love
Lettie
Xxxxx

Guest Posting to Come

This is why I don't usually design my own buttons
As I mentioned before, I am in the midst of tests, which means I don't have as much time as usual to write up reviews and other pieces of nonsense to keep you guys entertained.

So, starting tomorrow I have the good fortune (and so do you) of having some lovely people who are going to be guest posting. Some are going to be authors who are taking part in the Loving the Reviews Challenge, which you should sign up for. Others, are fellow bloggers who are going to be posting a little about their nostalgia for reading.

I thank them all here for their generosity and for their posts ^.^

<3
Sniffly Kitty

P.S. I may still sneak in a review here and there. Also, I will continue to do Teaser Tuesday and Third Sentence Thursday.