Carol's Notebook

I thought I’d let you know some of the giveaways I ran across this week. As always, my current giveaway is listed on my sidebar and make sure you check out West of Mars- Win a Book! where there's always a ton of links to great contests, interviews and guest posts. Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London, at Seductive Musings (ends tonight, August 22, US and Canada, no PO boxes) Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji, at Savvy Verse & Wit (ends August 24, International) The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King, at Stop, Drop & Read (ends August 31, International) School of Fear or The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari, at Stop, Drop & Read (ends August 31, North America and Europe) Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev, at Life After Jane (ends August 31, International) The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, at Wordsmithonia (ends August 31, International) The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, at Booking Mama (ends September...

Amber got a new book this week, Egyptology, and happened to notice that the picture on the book matched a picture on the box of a game we have on our shelves, Horus. So, I decided to spotlight that game today, although we've only played a couple of times. It's rated ages 10 and up, but I may give it a try with Amber, connecting it to her new book.     Horus Designer: Jean Vanaise Manufacturer: Mayfair Games Year: 2008 Players: 2 - 4 Time: 60 - 90 minutes Ages: 10 and up Seize your destiny and reign supreme over the land of Egypt! Discover your inner Pharaoh with Horus, as players journey to ancient Egypt's sacred Nile valley in a struggle to control the land of Kemet. Guide the course of the sacred river, cultivate the land surrounding it, build a holy necropolis to thwart your foes, and earn the blessings of the Horus temple as you seek to unite the valley into one great kingdom! My thoughts: This is...

I would like to thank JD Seamus for taking a page in my notebook today to share the one thing he doesn't want to hear at book signings.   “Book Madness – Why Everyone Feels They Have a Book in Them” One of the most frequent things I hear when I happen to confess to being a writer is generally, “I’ve always wanted to write. I have a great book in me.” No you don’t. If you did, it would be written. I hear the “book in me drivel” a lot at book signings. Don’t get me wrong. I love the people part of the business and book signings is the people part but please, ask about the book and tell me what you like or dislike-or hell, even about the pony you are buying your kid. Or best, “Can I buy you a beer?” But please don’t cheapen writers worth by saying you can do it as if it’s not one huge amount...

Congratulations to the winners of Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart. I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do, too. stacybuckeye sherry nickerson angela m Belinda McNabb from CoolCanucks.ca  Jennygirl of Jenny Loves to Read I will be sending e-mails to the winners shorty. I'll just need your addresses to pass on to Hachette Books....