A writing adventure.....

I was wandering around on PINTEREST last week and clicked on an interesting pin regarding the annual National Novel Writing Month.
What????
I never heard of this. It has been around for at least a decade and I am just now discovering it!

For future reference I filed this info under "Ways in which Pinterest will change your life for the better." and also under" No, Pinterest is NOT a waste of time!!" (Just in case on some distant day, I am forced to uphold my claim that Pinterest is a worthwhile time vacuum.)

But back to my discovery, I hesitated only a millisecond before rushing over to the website and gathering more information.
It was amazing.
The challenge consists of simply signing up and committing yourself to writing 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days starting November 1.
Wow!

I have never considered myself to be a writer. I will admit to dreaming, aspiring, hoping, planning....but never have I called myself a writer. Yet, this. This would mean believing I could put my thoughts into words and create something that someone else might want to read.
Could I? Dare I try?

YES!
YES!
YES!!!

The idea is to spend October thinking, researching, planning, outlining and structuring. Then November 1st the bell dings and you're off!
To write. Simply to write. No worries about perfect wording, or spelling or even punctuation and proper grammar usage. Only to get thoughts and words, narration and dialogue.....a story...onto paper.

And this my friends, I can do.

Last week, I hesitantly explained the process to my husband and asked for his opinion. He, being Mr. Wonderful and my #1 fan, was super enthusiastic and positive that I could do it. We've talked about my writing dreams before and he always has very wise suggestions and feedback.
So. We brainstormed a bit, then out of his razor sharp mind  he pulls a synopsis, an idea, that I love. Mind you, I have no lack of my own ideas, but this needs to be something I can write with a minimum of research and a wide knowledge of the subject already established. And my hubby is apparently, quite magnificent at being able to pinpoint exactly what that would be.
Since then, I have been thinking and plotting and buzzing with thoughts. I have taken my husbands creative genius and  expanded the parameters so that a very solid base to work from has been laid out.

I am beyond excited. I am bursting with anticipation and positively giddy with the possibilities that have opened out for me.
And all this time, I have had it in me. I just needed a challenge. A reason to believe I could do it. Permission to explore and create.

Admittedly, I have a lot of preparation still to do, and where I will logistically find the time is still unclear, yet, I will do it. It is in my heart, and I will find a way.

Books I think you should check out and an exciting new ADVENTURE!!

Over the Labor Day weekend, I took the kiddos to Myrtle Beach for a little vacation and because they are so amazing, was able to read a lot while we were there. My oldest daughter brought along a good friend, so between my oldest daughter, her friend and my son - (all teenagers!) - I had plenty of help keeping Therese, the youngest at 6, entertained and watched over. I logged whole afternoons lounging by the pool, reading and sunning, while they floated endlessly around the Lazy River or splashed around in one of the 4 pools. It was fantastic! It could only have been better if my sweet hubby, who had to stay home to work, could have been with us. Even the weather was perfect for us, so fond memories of the trip were made by all.

And yes, I am aware that Labor Day was over a month ago. Is it my fault time passes so rapidly lately that I absolutely can not keep up?

Two of the books I enjoyed reading over those three idyllic days are now two of my new favorites. The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall, and Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Both are emotional, dramatic stories of love and life and strong women. They also both share a common theme; Russia during the World Wars. In the past year or so, I have nurtured a love affair with Russian related historical fiction. It started with my reading of The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons, one of my most favorite stories of all. I read all three books in that series and went through withdrawal after they were finished because I missed the characters so much.Months later I discovered Kate Furnivall who, in my humble opinion, is a pure genius at storytelling. Her Russian stories are incomparable to anything I have ever read because they are gritty and tender, thrilling and peaceful all at once.

After reading one of hers, I am slightly dazed and have a very difficult time choosing a new book to read next. It's like having the very best chocolate, then being offered a mediocre off-brand.
Anyway, imagine my surprise when I picked up Winter Garden to read and realized, it too, was about Russia in it's parallel story-line! It had been on my shelf for a while patiently waiting its turn. I can't really articulate why, it just never seemed like what I wanted to read next. Now, I think my subconsciousness knew it was a 5 star book.

I have this thing I am compelled to do with books I know will be great. I hoard them. I won't let myself read them. I wait, saving them....for what exactly, I can't say....but I know they are there. Waiting, ready for me whenever I need a guaranteed good book. Then when I'm moody, or need a fabulous story to escape into, it's there for me. A gift to myself. Corny, huh? But it works for me.

So there you have it. A few of my recent reads that are well worth the time and money. Well written, intelligent and satisfying.  As for the new adventure....seems that will have to wait for another day. I've managed to use up all my allotted blogging words for the day babbling about books. Imagine that!!

Actually it's just a ill-concealed ploy to lure you back....
Hope it works :-)

Dawn xo

Lots, lots, lots of stuff going on around my world in the past few weeks. I think things are finally settling down now. I have my fingers crossed for that, anyway. I am looking forward to some slower times, now that the weather is cooler and days are shorter. My husband is close to finishing up the busy season at the Club, which means he will be around most of the time....Yay!!

In other news, although the lack of posts may lead you to think otherwise, I have been reading. I was so excited to score a whole sack full of new books, most current bestsellers, at the Friends of The Library booksale in my local library. And wonders of wonders, Susanna Kearsley's  "The Winter Sea"among them! I can not wait to start on it. It has been getting rave reviews from my Goodreads friends who have read t, so I have some pretty high expectations. Sure hope it holds up.

I'll be back tomorrow with a couple of new book reviews, and an upcoming release I am telling everyone about. See you then!

Dawn xo

Break time is over!

It has been awhile since my last conversation here, and all I have to say in my defense is that it's been my break between school sessions as well, so though unintended, I have managed to have a nice bit of time without homework, blogging or late nights spent catching up on all the things I'm behind on.

Thank you, yes. It has been nice, but now I am ready to dive back in. I'll be posting that review of Kate Furnivall's book I promised, as well as starting on Night Road, by Kristen Hannah in the next day or two.

Although I have not been blogging I have been reading. I have read, Pictures Of You which turned out to be an underwhelming book for me, and The Help finally. I can not believe that it has sat on my shelf so long, unread. The book is awesome! I plan to go see the movie this weekend. Everyone is saying it is fabulous as well, so I am anticipating a good time.

Wishing a fantabulous rest of the week for all of us.....xo
Dawn

Going forward.....

My son, who is wise beyond his years, pointed out that I sound pretty desperate on my blog. That was not my intention. Truly.
In an attempt to inject some humor into the situation, I have managed to be whiny and desperate.
I am positively mortified. Absolutely.....beyond words.

I really am not concerned about my reader base.....I subscribe to Kevin Costner's theory....or rather his theory as Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams....."build it and they will come".

I am here to have fun.....and let's face it,  I also needed a really good excuse to buy books. Who can argue the validity of a purchase if I intend to recycle it and make someone's day better? Not to mention....(Well, actually I am mentioning it, aren't I?) accomplishing my good Samaritans deed quota for the week?

So there, no pressure....I am perfectly capable of giving my books away to complete strangers on the street, although I'd rather give them to you.

In a related update.....I am happy to report that I will post my first review later today for Kate Furnivall's The Jewel of St. Petersburg, 

 ( I will wait until I have a larger pool of folks to give a book away.)
This was such an awesome book, and my first by this author. Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Houston?.......We have a problem.

Okay, so it occurred to me sometime late last night as I was drifting off into the well-deserved sleep of the hard-working that I ...(gulp)..... actually do not have any readers to give away a book to.
Such a sad awakening.
Literally.
It took me a long time to get to sleep after this embarrassing realization.

But. never fear, I have a solution.

OK, that's not really true. I'm just trying to be brave and optimistic.
I will get readers, eventually.
Won't I?
Hello?

Oh, that's just the echo of my own voice reverberating back to me from the empty corners of my little blog.
Oh well, I suppose I can give myself a book
.....sort of as a consolation prize. For what, I'm not really certain.
I can surely come up with something, though.

Here is the three books I have to choose from. If by some chance there really is someone else out there, (besides me, of course).....feel free to vote and help me decide which one.

I'll read it, then review it here....then I'll do a giveaway. That is if I have any readers by then.
I will, I will, I will......I hope, I hope.......OK, this isn't working.

Here's my choices.....



Go here to find out what it's about.....http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8528485-night-road



Go here to read more about it..... http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11181350-rules-of-civility

Or this one.....



Go here to find out more about this one..... http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8495173-the-winter-sea

I want them all.....I just can't choose.

Help.
Please.

Anyone who leaves a comment or follows my blog, or really anyone who just notices I exist....I'll add your name to the hat. You could win....in fact, the odds are really good. Seriously.

~dawn

Who could resist? .....( not me!)

Well, I am not the first girl on the block to start her own blog, I'm just not that trendy.
I am smart enough to recognize fun-ness when I see it though. After all, I was born a blonde, even if time and kids have conspired to change that quicker than a reasonably intelligent person might think possible! But, I digress.
We are here today to discuss the grand beginning of my fantabulous new adventure....(I should have thought of a corresponding grand song, or a quote perhaps, but give me a break, I'm new at this. I'll improve, pinky swear).
But, back to my little blog. It's new, it's spectacular, it's.....well, not really sure what exactly it is. But here's what I'm thinking. I love books. I love reading. I love sharing good books. And I really like talking about books. Everyone with me so far?
OK, so I'll read books....DUH! And then I'll tell you about them. Pretty cool, huh?
What? You think that's a pretty puny reason to have a blog?
OK, I'm thinking...........
How about I give away free books? You like?

So it's a plan, I would absolutely love to make this happen.........
all you have to do is READ MY BLOG!
Please.....pretty please?
I won't be too chatty, or try to sell you stuff.
I just want to talk about books, cause they're like the most wonderful things in the world....besides my husband and kids, of course (yeah, they made me say that).

Come back tomorrow.....I'm giving away a book.

See? I catch on real quick........