Top 10 Dragon Movies...and a Book...with Cheese

Are you a fantasy fan?

I grew up on dragons, unicorns, and elves. They lived in my head and danced across the pages I read or drew. They fed my imagination and kept me from dwelling on the sour, depressing, or down moments of life. Ten of the best dragons movies ever in no particular order (most of which you've probably not heard about):

And because we need a little cheese...

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Now how about a DRAGON giveaway?

Last week Anna Simpson shared with us WHITE LIGHT, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win signed bookmarks and a charm bracelet.

The Game:

1. I had over 50,000 movies on videotape in my basement. Due to mold and obsolete equipment, my wife and I recently rented a huge dumpster just to haul the tapes away.
2. Fifteen years ago I was in an alternative/rock/country-funk/performance art/comedy band. I wore pajamas and slippers for every show. My character was a sort of demented hillbilly who toted around a saxophone, but rarely played it.
3. I have webbed toes. But it's a bonus, because in high school gym, I was a championship swimmer. Shoes are hard to fit, though. I have to have them special ordered from WebsRUs.

The lie: #3.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

S.P. Bowers!

Congrats!

And now for this week's feature... 

Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon's fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers. 

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he's been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Living as a muggle has brought Rena some levels of success, such as procuring a master’s degree from a well vetted university, but always the stories returned, calling her to the keyboard in the dark of night. Now, having built armies from words, Rena has set her sights on world domination, one book at a time.

From her secret base in the wine country, Rena has enlisted the help of her cats, her loyal dogs, and her family―who can be relied upon to hide the launch codes at a moment’s notice. You can find Rena at her blog, follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook. Her debut novel, Acne, Asthma, And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon just released with Curiosity Quills. You can find it here on Goodreads, or buy it here!

Rena gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to an eBook! (Open Internationally.)

You have until Monday, February 1 at 1 a.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on February 1, 8 a.m EDT.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I once wore the Hope Diamond. I was working at the Smithsonian for my master's degree, and the Hope Diamond was just being put back into its setting after being scanned for a documentary to see if it was possible to get the Hope and another diamond from the Cul de Mar. They were about to shine up the diamond and they were letting the resident scientists wear the diamond. It was surreal.
2. One time, a person fell out of the sky into the middle of a field trip I was leading. Then, he flew away.
3. I once pulled a matched pair of black pearls from an oyster at a pick'a'pearl. But first, I told the guy running the kiosk that I couldn't buy one because I would pull a pair of matched, black pearls, and that would blow his mind. He said he didn't believe me, and the rest is history.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Do you love dragons? What's your favorite dragon movie? Book? Have you seen any of these?

What is Value?

How do you place value on things?

When my husband and I were first married, he informed me that when buying things, he was a quality vs quantity type person. I scratched my head and responded, "As long as it's cheap." (In true poor college student fashion.)

Over the years, I've come to value his initial stand. Value for me means something holds its worth over time and through whatever difficulty or abuse may come. If it's a great waffle iron, it can take a licking and keep on producing crispy deliciousness. If it's a written work, it can stand the test of years and criticism (even the negative kind) and still remain a shining beacon of thought.

More importantly, I think that applies to how people live. The values we hold will prove themselves over time to be faulty, or pillars of truth. If you look at how people are living--their level of happiness, their mental state, their relationships--you can assess how true their value system is. Apply the scientific method by observing the experiments that are already in progress. What they/we believe is either a true principal, or it's not. So then the challenge becomes to find the examples of success in the areas that matter most and emulate their way of living.

Speaking of change... This year I'll be in a couple AMAZING anthologies and I wanted to introduce the first one:

Awesome, right?

Lastly, I'm giving away books!!!! Check it out and enter to win.

ENTER HERE

 

Now how about ANOTHER giveaway?

Last week Anna Simpson shared with us WHITE LIGHT, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win signed bookmarks and an awesome charm bracelet.

The Game:

1. I have stood exactly where I was born and it is in the middle of the produce section of our local grocery store.
2. I was given a tarot deck from a complete stranger.
3. I overcame my fear of spiders when my son mimicked my jumping around like a lunatic when he was two years old.

The lie: #3. Alas, Anna has never overcome her fear of spiders. Beware the eight-leggers!

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Shannon Lawrence!

Congrats, Shannon! 

And now for this week's feature... 

Leon Garber has his reasons for ridding the world of abusive people, call it justifiable homicide.

Opportunity comes knocking from Like-Minded Individuals, Inc., a global company fulfilling the needs of clients: new identities, security, and even lists of potential “projects.” But let’s not call it “serial killing” (such a nasty term). For Leon, it’s a dream come true. However, LMI’s put a target on Leon’s back, with no indication of why. 

LMI, the police, sanctioned hit men, and a vicious psychopath are after Leon. He collides with other Like-Minded Individuals: The Good Samaritan Killer, The Mad Doctor, Donnie and Marie (don’t ask). Heads are chopped, dropped, and swapped as Leon fights for his life. But nothing will keep him from finishing his current project. Not even the chance to fall in love.

Sometimes a killer business idea is just that. Killer.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Stuart R. West is a lifelong resident of Kansas, which he considers both a curse and a blessing. It's a curse because...well, it's Kansas. But it's great because…well, it’s Kansas. Lots of cool, strange and creepy things happen in the Midwest, and Stuart takes advantage of them in his work. Call it “Kansas Noir”. Stuart writes thrillers tinged with horror and horror tinged with humor, both for adult and young adult audiences. Secret Society is the second of his novels to be published by Books We Love Ltd. He's also the author of the acclaimed Tex, the Witch Boy series published by MuseItUp Publishing. His first novel from Samhain Publishing, Demon with a Comb-Over, comes out March 1st. He’s married to a professor of pharmacy and has a 22 year old daughter who’s still deciding what to do with her life.

You might find him enjoying Jalapeno Havarti cheese (A little fire with your cheese, what could be nicer?) while watching Hitchcock films with his wife.

Stuart gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of SECRET SOCIETY! (Open Internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, January 26 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on January 27.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I had over 50,000 movies on videotape in my basement. Due to mold and obsolete equipment, my wife and I recently rented a huge dumpster just to haul the tapes away.

2. Fifteen years ago I was in an alternative/rock/country-funk/performance art/comedy band. I wore pajamas and slippers for every show. My character was a sort of demented hillbilly who toted around a saxophone, but rarely played it.

3. I have webbed toes. But it's a bonus, because in high school gym, I was a championship swimmer. Shoes are hard to fit, though. I have to have them special ordered from WebsRUs.

So sleuths, which is the lie? What's something you value? Do you read anthologies? Do you like thrillers? Have you met Stuart before?

Top 10 Books of 2015

How about a reading year in review? What did you read that was epic?

It wasn't as big a reading year for me as normal. With the sleep deprivation and baby, I set my sights low thinking 30 books was a reasonable goal. And doubled that. Not too shabby, eh? So, of those 60 books, I proudly present my top 10 of the year:



#10 THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL: While I had reservations about this one as far as content, appropriateness, and plot for MG, the characters are so solid that I can still hear their voices in my head.



#9 POLAR NIGHTS: I never read murder mysteries. Never. But when you've got a vampire involved? This isn't your sparkly crush variety, but a nasty, age-warped creature. What I adored most about this book was being transported to the arctic tundra of Alaska. I tell you, even while living in Florida, I felt cold while reading this one. (Adult novel.)




#8 SCHISM: This was a fun concept with character arcs that really stretch. (YA to NA.)




#7 QUEST OF THE HART: A sweet fantasy featuring a Disney-like princess who has to get her "hero on" or say goodbye to the kingdom. A fun YA.



#6 ILLUSIONS OF FATE: I ADORED Kiersten White's debut novel, Paranormalcy, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I wasn't disappointed to be sure. It felt almost like Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass type world, but definitely with a softer tone. (No crazy assassin business.) A fun read.


#5 BEING HUMAN: This book may not appeal to everyone, but it won me over by its uniqueness and true-to-reality (alternate reality) voice. The underlying themes grabbed my heart and I adore the characters and the struggles they face. This is contemporary meets vampires in a world that's been through a vampire apocalypse. Probably the best thinking book of the year.




#4 THE EIGHTH DAY: Epicness wrapped in bacon. This MG book series is rapidly becoming a favorite in my household. The concept is epic, the characters are loveable, and the plot? We're fans.




#3 PEACHVILLE HIGH: This is an entire series. I read the first book in 2009 and have been itching to get back to it ever since. (Doesn't that speak volumes?) I binge read 4 books in the series over Christmas break (and I usually abhor witches).




#2 THE INQUISITOR'S MARK: Love. Love. LOVE! MG at its finest. Break out your imagination and follow characters who are the embodiment of epic sauce. (Second book in the series.)




#1 CHIMERA: OH. MY. GOODNESS. This was my absolute my #1 read. Absolute. One of the authors contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to review the book. I tolerate Sci-fi (and occasionally like it), so I shrugged and decided to go for it. Best. YA. All. Year. The characters are so rich, so real, and their struggles keep you pinned to the pages. Please, go read this. Now!

 

Now how about a giveaway?

Last week Eric Price shared with us UNVEILING THE WIZARDS' SHROUD and THE SQUIRE AND THE SLAVE MASTER, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a print book and eBook.

The Game:

1. I know some guys in a local St. Louis band called Earl. Back stage at one of their shows at the Pageant, they asked me to go out after the break and play bass, which I did.

2. I've met Rob Zombie. In a strange sort of creepy, quazi-ironic way, I met him on Easter Sunday.
3. I have a tendency to win front row seats to concerts. I've seen Billy Joel, Elton John, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all from the front row.

The lie: #1. Eric met the guys in Earl through a friend who's a DJ for an independent radio station in St. Louis. He had been back stage at the Pageant with them, but the event he's talking about took place at a small club located above a restaurant. During a break, they had people go on stage and play. They tried to get him to take the bass, but he refused as he has negative musical talent.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Susan Flett Swiderski!

Congrats, Susan! 

And now for this week's feature... 

Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car.

What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.

Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it’s haunted with guilt?

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she’s lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn’t able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.

She is easy to find though, if you know the magic word — emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you’ll see what I mean. :-)

You might find her with brie and a nice merlot when friends drop by. (It seems to set the perfect mood.)

Anna gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win signed bookmarks and a charm bracelet! (Open Internationally.)

You have until Tuesday, January 19 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on January 20.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I have stood exactly where I was born and it is in the middle of the produce section of our local grocery store.
2. I was given a tarot deck from a complete stranger.
3. I overcame my fear of spiders when my son mimicked my jumping around like a lunatic when he was two years old.

So sleuths, which is the lie? What are your favorite books from 2015? Have you read any of these? Do you like mystery novels?