Showing posts with label Armchair BEA 2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armchair BEA 2014. Show all posts

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Armchair BEA 2014: Day 4 - Beyond the Borders

Armchair BEA Prompt: It’s time to step outside your comfort zone, outside your borders, or outside of your own country or culture. Tell us about the books that transported you to a different world, taught you about a different culture, and/or helped you step into the shoes of someone different from you.

To me, beyond borders encompasses a lot of areas.
 
I have spent the last year really trying to diversify the genres that I read. I tended to read mostly mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels. I started reading romance novels last fall and liked them so much that I started blogging about them in March.

I have been really excited about the recent posts on the web surrounding the #weneediversebooks movement. I have found so many new books to read by just following the discussions.
 
Most of the books that I read tend to be written by authors from the United States. I hope to start an around the world reading challenge in late summer to add more variety to my reading in terms of countries and cultures.
 
I think that 2014 is going to be my best reading year ever in terms of diversity. Here are two books I've read this year that are still on my mind:
 
 
The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif is a book that pushed me to go beyond multiple borders. Set in 1950's South Africa (when apartheid is just beginning), the novel's characters challenged many of South Africa's societal norms and boundaries for the time. The World Unseen touches on so many interesting issues - race, sexual orientation, the role of gender, and familial constraints. I featured its movie adaptation as part of my Sunday Cinema posts.


As you may have read in my ABEA introduction post and comments, I recently joined the Outlander series (time-travel historical romance) bandwagon. The series has encouraged me to reach past my modern ideas of acceptable social behavior and really try to understand the time and place presented by the author. [I sometimes struggle to find footing with historical fiction novels.] I especially like Dragonfly in Amber because of the historical elements. The main characters spend time in French court (which I am learning more about from the TV show Reign - lol) and try to work both sides of the Jacobite rebellion brewing in Scotland. I have added some non-fiction history books to my TBR list in order to learn more about some of the things that happened in Dragonfly in Amber.


Do you have any recommendations on books that might make me step outside of my comfort zone or outside of my borders?


Armchair BEA Prompt: Giveaways

I decided not to do the giveaway link-up. I have lots of giveaways open my blog right now. Please take a look and enter a few of them - or all of them if the mood strikes. ;-)

If you blog any about romance novels, please take a look at the Romance Reading Round-Up. It is a weekly link up for romance-related book posts and giveaways. You can add your links Tuesday through Saturday.

Good luck!

A is for Abstinence by Kelly Oram: $100 Book Blast
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash | Ends 6/16/14

Running Back to You by Suzanne Sweeney | Author Interview and Giveaway
$25 Visa Gift Card | Ends 6/13/14

London Bound by Nana Malone [Book Review + eBook Giveaway]
One (1) ebook copy of London Bound. | Ends 6/10/14

Becky Wade's  MEANT TO BE MINE "DREAM COME TRUE" $200 Giveaway!
$200 Visa Cash Card | Ends 6/10/14

COVER REVEAL! Lancaster House and The Middle Aisle (Giveaway)
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash | Ends 6/8/14

Robin Lee Hatcher's  THE HEART'S PURSUIT "Romantic Weekend Getaway" Giveaway!
$200 Visa Cash Card | Ends 6/8/14

A Girl Walks Into a Wedding: Your Fantasy, Your Rules by Helena S. Paige
Three paperback copies | Ends 6/3/14

Marriage Isn’t for You by Seth Adam Smith | $50 Book Blast
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash | Ends 5/31/14

May 2014 Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway
Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash | Ends 5/31/14

Guest Post + Giveaways: Rescued by the Buccaneer by Normandie
$50 Amazon/BN.com gift card | Ends 5/30/14

The Pendulum Files by pm terrell | Author Interview + Giveaway
Celtic cross necklace | Ends 5/30/14

Excerpt + Giveaway: The Navy SEAL's E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton
$50 Amazon Gift Card | Ends 5/30/14

Splintered Lies by Karen Lopp | Author Interview and Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card | Ends 5/30/14

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: The Vampire’s Passion by Monica Knightly
$25 Amazon Gift Card | Ends 5/30/14

Virtual Blurb Blitz: Brigand by Sabrina York + Regency Brigand Package Giveaway
REGENCY BRIGAND PACKAGE: An ecopy of Folly, Dark Fancy and Dark Duke and a sparkling tiara (US ONLY) | Ends 5/30/14



BLOG HOPS

May Book Festival Giveaway with Book Review Depot
A KINDLE FIRE PLUS - 2 featured eBooks from each author

Is it Summer Yet? Blog Hop | May 26 - June 1, 2014
29 stops | KVR Giveaway: Love (Sulfur Heights #1) by M.S. Brannon



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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Armchair BEA 2014: Day 2 - Author Interaction on Twittter - @BellaAndre @Louisabacio @pmterrell

Armchair BEA Prompt: Let’s talk interacting with authors IRL (in real life) or online. This is your opportunity to feature your favorite author fan moment (i.e., an author sent you a tweet or commented on your blog).

It's day two! I have one day of posts, cheerREADING, and Twitter partying in the bag.

This morning, I found the message below in my inbox. Swoon!



Bella Andre is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Sullivans series. Having sold more than 3 million books, Bella Andre’s novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world.


Twitter has changed my interactions with authors since I became a blogger. I never really felt comfortable sending an email to an author with a general question or just to say hello.

I can do that now with Twitter.

I find it easier to keep up with my favorite authors on Twitter. I can see what they are working on, laughing about, promoting, and sometimes what they had for dinner. It's hard to do that checking their websites every few months.


Yeah, you read that right. I am blog hopping with Louisa Bacio. Author of erotic contemporary and paranormal romance. OCC/RWA President - 2013. Editor with Entangled Publishing. That Louisa Bacio.
 

p.m. terrell is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of romantic suspense. She blogs on the training of psychic spies. Psychic spies.  She is also the founder of Book 'Em North Carolina (a super cool program). I interviewed p.m. terrell on KVR this month. Drop by the post and ask her a question about The Pendulum Files, Book 'Em North Carolina, or about the beautiful Celtic cross necklace that she is giving away. 
 

Don't even get me started on all of the cool bloggers that I have interacted with on Twitter!


Yes. Yes. I realize that I am one of millions of fans. I am also a blogger that gets really excited about smallest of author interactions. The 140 characters or less kind.


What authors have you interacted with on Twitter?

 

I'll be cheering for Armchair BEA participants throughout the week.
 
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to visit with you soon!



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Monday, May 26, 2014

HELLO Armchair BEA 2014! It's me, Skeeter Lee.

My Introduction for Armchair BEA 2014


Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Hello. My name is Skeeter Lee (a nickname). And I like big books and I cannot lie.


Who am I kidding? I like little books too.

I am a reformed romance snob - now devouring everything in sight. I have been blogging off and on for about four years. I launched this blog because I started reading books in the romance genre again. There was so much to choose from in the genre that I was not sure which way to turn.

I hope to connect with other romance readers specifically and book-lovers in general.


Describe your blog in just one sentence. Then, list your social details so we can connect more online.

Kinky Vanilla Romance is primarily a book blog dedicated to romance stories of all flavors.

Well, almost all. LOL! There are some things that I don't want to read. I am making a short list.

I also like to watch movies, so I talk a little about that as well.

You can find me in the following places:
Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook | Google+


What’s your favorite book so far this year? 

My favorite book so far this year is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It's one of those big books that I like so much. Outlander is a 600+-page time-travel historical romance. Sort of. At first glance, it wasn't a book that I thought I would like.

Time-travel, history, and romance. Oh my! 

No thank you. That's too much going on in one book. [I like all three genres.] And a big book at that. Reminded me of those restaurants that have too many menu options. Something has gotta give. Right?

I listened to the audiobook and was pleasantly surprised. Although it meanders quite a bit and is not without its issues, Outlander made me curious about Scottish history, laugh out loud, shake my head in disgust, wish for a television mini-series adaptation, and dream of being an outlaw in love. What more can you ask for in a book?

March 6, 2014 marked Outlander's 26th anniversary. Have you read it?


What is your favorite blogging resource?

My favorite blogging resource is Bloggiesta.


Share your favorite book or reading related quote. 

"Sometimes when I think how good my book can be, I can hardly breathe." - Truman Capote


What book would you love to see as a movie?

I would love to see Outlander as a television mini-series adaptation. And it is happening! Well, kinda. It is being made into a television series (not a movie, not a mini-series) through STARZ (in the United States). It will be a regular cable-TV show with a 16-episode first season.

Of course:

I don't get the STARZ network with my television service.

The actors cast don't look like my Claire and Jaime.

[Cry me a river...]

Here's hoping the TV series much success (and that SONY releases it on DVD)!



I'll be cheering for Armchair BEA participants throughout the week.
 
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to visit with you soon!



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