Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Updates, News, and Contest Extra Entries!

I'm in the process of making some changes around here. Nothing too major, just some good additions that I've needed for awhile, and a few things that are winning in the poll. Some new things will be popping up in the sidebars, and a rating system will be taking effect shortly. How do you all feel about coffins? :) Once I get my new system in place, you'll start seeing all the reviews that I've been needing to put up for a while now.

I'm also going to be updating my blogroll and buttons. If you want to be included in either, preferably an exchange, let me know.

Don't forget I have my Win on Wednesday post every week where I list the contests that I've heard about. If I've missed yours, I'm sorry. Feel free to leave a link in the comments or email me or tweet me the link so I can put it on next week's post.

Just to give you a heads up, I'm going to host an event in May that I hope you'll love, so keep your eyes open for that! I sure can't wait!! More details soon! *bounces up and down*

My 113 Follower Giveaway is still going on! Win books by Mari Mancusi, MaryJanice Davidson, Mark Henry & swag! Earn +2 entries for commenting on this post. At 175 followers I'll add another prize to choose from, and at 200 followers I'll another prize and winner. :D

Shop on Saturday (11)

Here are a few of the things I’ve seen around the past two weeks. Sorry I didn’t do a Shop on Saturday last week, but I just didn’t have time for it with the Read-a-Thon.

I first heard about Psynde’s jewelry because of her Vampire Academy designs, but I love this Beyond the Faerie Ring Necklace!

This print by Elvenstar Art is called Chaos. There were so many great prints it was hard for me to choose which one to put on here.

These Unisex Black Leather-Spandex Jeans by Lena Quist are what I can picture some of my favorite heroines squeezing themselves into.

Rubypearl has this awesome dress called the Black Widow. If you don’t fall in love with the dress on it’s own, check out it’s description:

“This dress was spun by black widow spiders in a darkened corner of a witches closet. The Lace was taken from the body of the most beautiful courtesan in Paris as she lay in her coffin waiting to be buried. Her body never decayed-it's waiting on her prince to come and revive her. He is late, still fixing his hair in the rearview mirror of his Lincoln Continental.”

Love it!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Friday Finds! (10)

Friday Finds are books I've heard about during the past week. Credit goes to MizB from Should Be Reading. What's with all my Friday Finds being Young Adult books lately? And the trend continues....

Found this @ Reading Extensively

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub, Date: September 7, 2010
Reading Level: Young Adult
336 pages

Blurb:
With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.(From Goodreads)

Found this @ Tales of a Ravenous Reader

Spells by Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pub, Date: May 4, 2010
Reading Level: Young Adult
368 pages

Blurb:
Six months have passed since Laurel saved the gateway to the faerie realm of Avalon. Now she must spend her summer there, honing her skills as a Fall faerie. But her human family and friends are still in mortal danger--and the gateway to Avalon is more compromised than ever.

When it comes time to protect those she loves, will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faerie with whom her connection is undeniable? (From author's website)

Found this @ Dark Faerie Tales

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pub, Date: July 8, 2010
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
336 pages

Blurb:
What if fairy tale magic really existed?

Lonely at her new school, Elizabeth takes a job at the New York Circulating Material Repository, hoping to make new friends as well as pocket money. The Repository is no ordinary library. It lends out objects rather than books—everything from tea sets and hockey sticks to Marie Antoinette’s everyday wig.

It’s also home to the Grimm Collection, a secret room in the basement. That’s where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White’s stepmother’s sinister mirror that talks in riddles and has a will of its own.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth and her new friends embark on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before they’re accused of the crime themselves—or the thief captures them. (Summary from author's website)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Review: The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Title: The Prince of Mist
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: May 4, 2010
Genre: Young Adult
224 pages

It’s wartime, and the Carver family decides to leave the capital where they live and move to a small coastal village where they’ve recently bought a home. But from the minute they cross the threshold, strange things begin to happen. In that mysterious house still lurks the spirit of Jacob, the previous owners’ son, who died by drowning.

With the help of their new friend Roland, Max and Alicia Carver begin to explore the strange circumstances of that death and discover the existence of a mysterious being called the Prince of Mist — a diabolical character who has returned from the shadows to collect on a debt from the past. Soon the three friends find themselves caught up in an adventure of sunken ships and an enchanted stone garden — an adventure that will change their lives forever. (Summary from publisher's website)

The Prince of Mist was originally written in Spanish, and it has now been translated in English. It takes place in the 1940's during the war, and Maximilian Carver moves his family out of the city to a beach town for their safety. As soon as they arrive, his son Max feels that things in this new town are a little strange, and once they arrive at their new home that feeling increases.

Next thing you know, there're weird sounds, strange occurrences, odd dreams, and a mysterious garden. Once accidents start to occur it's apparent that something is definitely going on. It's up to Max, his sister Alicia, and their friend Roland to figure out what, and if it could all possibly be tied to the mysterious Prince of Mist, whoever he is.

This story was a fast read for me. It's a pretty short book anyway, but I flew through it. It ended up being a bit scarier than I thought it would be. I caught myself looking over my shoulder a few times while I was reading, and kept thinking I should pick it back up when it wasn't the middle of the night, but then that's just no fun!

For the most part I loved the characters. Max, Alicia, and Roland are the only characters that we really get to know enough about, though at times I still felt a bit disconnected from them. The other characters were great, but they weren't really around long enough for me to establish any type of connection with them.

Overall, I had a good time reading this book, and enjoyed getting creeped out by it. With that said, the ending was a bit shocking and abrupt. Oh, and if clowns really creep you out...hehe. Let's just say that they don't creep me out, and I was creeped out. Just giving you a heads up!

*I received an ARC copy for review through Book It Forward Tours from Dark Faerie Tales*

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere (13)

From Abigail @ All Things Urban Fantasy

My Contest:

~Don’t forget, I’m having my 113 Follower Contest! Enter to win Boys That Bite, Stake That!, and Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi, Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson, Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry and swag! More prizes and winners could be added. International contest ends April 25th!

New Contests:

~Book Junkie is giving away an audiobook of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. Enter by April 14, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~I Heart Monster had giveaway all March long. This page will link you to all of them. Hurry the deadline for entry is April 15, 2010. (Most international)

~Book Junkie is giving away an e-copy of Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack. Enter by April 15, 2010. (International)

~Bite Club is giving away 3 copies of Her Vampire Husband by Michelle Hauf. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~Intense Whisper is giving away Tie Me Down by Tracy Wolff. Enter by April 15, 2010. (US only)

~Book Junkie is giving away 5 copies of The Imposter by Kip Kreiling. Enter by April 15, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Geeky Bookworm is giving away Eva’s Last Dance by Teal Ceagh. Enter by April 16,2010.

~Book Bound is giving away 5 copies of Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. Contest ends April 17, 2010. (Canada only)

~Book Lovers Inc. is giving away a signed copy of Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks. Enter by April 17, 2010. (International)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away A Certain Wolfish Charm? by Lydia Dare. Enter by April 17, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Vampire Wire is giving away Master of None by Sonya Bateman. Enter by April 18, 2010. (International maybe ?)

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away a book from Snubbr.com. Winner can pick from Whale Song by Kaye Tardif, Always and Forever by Lurlene McDaniel, Eastridge Academy: School for Adventures by Jennifer Young & Kara Loo, An Audience for Einstein by Mark Wakely, and Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 by Stephenie Meyer. Enter by April 18, 2010.

~Book Junkie is giving away 5 copies of Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis. Enter by April 18, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Number One Novels is giving away a signed copy of Mind Games by Carolyn Crane. Enter by April 18, 2010. (US only)

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is giving away Lucas by Eliza Gayle. Enter by April 19, 2010. (International)

~Tales of a Ravenous Reader is giving away a copy of Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Blog with Bite is giving away a digital copy of Dusk by Lana Griffin. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Paranormal Haven is giving away Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas. Contest ends April 20, 2010.

~Hanging with Bells! is giving away Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare. Contest ends April 20, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~SciFiGuy is giving away Eva’s Last Dance by Tracy Cooper-Posey. Enter by April 20, 2010. (International)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson. Enter by April 20, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Vampire Wire is giving away Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Erwin. Enter by April 21, 2010. (US only)

~Fiction Vixen Book Reviews is giving away 5 copies of Dark Deception by Dee Davis. Enter by April 23, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Wicked Little Pixie is giving away Ardeur edited by Laurell K. Hamilton. Enter by April 23, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Luxury Reading is giving away 3 copies of Laura Rider’s Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton. Contest ends April 23, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away The Highwayman by Michele Hauf. Enter by April 23, 2010.

~The Optimistic Pessimist is giving away 3 audiobooks of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. Contest ends April 24, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Luxury Reading is giving away 3 copies of The Crazy School by Cornelia Read. Contest ends April 25, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away an Envelope Purse from Crochet (Klutz). Enter by April 25, 2010. (US only)

~Book Junkie is giving away 5 copies of Sexaholics by Pink. Contest ends April 25, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Tynga’s Reviews is giving away 2 signed copies of Blue Aspen by Tenaya Jayne and handmade bookmarks. Enter by April 26, 2010. (International)

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away 2 $50 iTunes GC. Enter by April 26, 2010. (US only)

~Luxury Reading is giving away Get Lucky by Katherine Center. Contest ends April 27, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away all 7 Harry Potter books & a $50 Amazon GC. Enter by April 27, 2010. (US only)

~Steph Su Reads is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Contest ends April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Candace’s Book Blog is giving away a signed copy of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting & signed swag. Contest ends April 30, 2010. (US only)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 3 copies of Stay a Little Longer by Dorothy Garlock. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away The Cradle by Patrick Somerville. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 3 copies of A Touch of Scandal by Jennifer Haymore. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~vvb32 reads is giving away 10 copies of My Little Red Book anthology. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm is giving away Hand Me Down by Lee Nichols. Enter by April 30, 2010. (US only)

~The Library of a Distracted Musician is giving away 3 copies of Admission by Jean Hadff Korelitz. Enter by April 31, 2010.

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze. Enter by May 1, 2010. (US only)

~The Bookologist is giving away Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten. Contest ends May 2, 2010. (US only)

~Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings is having a 25 Follower Giveaway! Several winners get to pick from a great list of books! The more followers that join, the more winners there will be. Contest ends May 5, 2010. (US & Canada only)

~Wicked Little Pixie is giving away 2 hardcover copies and 2 paperbacks of Lover Mine by J.R. Ward. Enter by May 8, 2010. (Hardcover-Canada only) (Paperback-International)

~Cleverly Inked is giving away 53 books from 50 authors and tons of swag! It’s an awesome giveaway you don’t want to miss! Contest ends May 13, 2010.

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is having a 577 Follower Giveaway! Over 5 weeks there will be 7 themes and 7 winners. Contest ends May 16, 2010. (International)

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is having a Clear the Decks Giveaway! Fill out a survey and enter to win from a great list of books & swag that might still be added to. Contest ends May 30, 2010. (US & Canada only) (International entries for a GC)

Contests From Last Weeks Post:

~Fangtastic Books is having a 500 Follower giveaway! One lucky follower will win: A Fang-tastic Books tote bag and t-shirt, signed copies of Eternal Desire and Insatiable by Roxanne Rhoads, Blood Ties Season 2 DVD set, Blood Price by Tanya Huff, Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro, and Mr Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange, and Marked by Passion by Kate Perry. Contest ends whenever followers reach 500.

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of This One is Mine by Maria Semple. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away Demon Possessed by Stacia Kane. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away a signed copy of Rampant by Saskia Walker. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away signed copies of Lament, Ballad, and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~LA FEMME READERS and A Good Addiction are having a YA Book Giveaway. 6 winners get to choose from Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead, Shadows: A Dark Touch Novel by Amy Meredith, The Tension of Opposites by Kristine McBride, Sea by Heidi R. Kling, and Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles. Contest ends April 15, 2010.

~Book Rat is having a contest to for a birthday celebration! The winner will receive a $20 gift card to Better World Books. The deadline and prize to this contest have changed. Contest now ends April 15, 2010.

~Book Rat is giving away 2 Titus and Atreus swag packs. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~Book Junkie is giving away 5 copies of Iron Man 2 by Alexander Irvine. Enter by April 15, 2010.

~Cherry Mischievous is giving away a copy of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. Enter by April 16, 2010.

~Steph Su Reads is giving away Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien. Enter by April 16, 2010.

~Storywings is giving away an ebook of Alone by Marissa Farrar. Enter by April 16, 2010.

~Fiction Vixen is giving away Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis. Contest ends April 17, 2010.

~The Bookologist is giving away Darklight by Lesley Livingston. Enter by April 17, 2010.

~The Optimistic Pessimist is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Contest ends April 17, 2010.

~In Which a Girl Reads is giving away Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and Willow by Julie Hoban. Contest ends April 17, 2010.

~Shooting Stars Mag is giving away an In Plain Sight Prize Pack. Contest ends April 17, 2010.

~Shooting Stars Mag is giving away a Law and Order Prize Pack. Contest ends April 17, 2010.

~Tynga’s Reviews is giving away a signed copy of Branded by Keary Taylor. Enter by April 19, 2010.

~A Good Addiction is giving away Dark Divine Nail Polish. Enter by April 19, 2010.

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Jane Austen & Steve Hockensmith. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Series.Nu is giving away a Law & Order Prize Pack. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Reading with Tequila is having a 500 Follower Series Giveaway! Winners will get their choice from favorite series that are listed! Contest ends April 20, 2010.

~The Book Muncher is giving away Athena the Brain and Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. Contest ends April 20, 2010.

~Parajunkee’s View is having a 666 Giveaway! There is a fantastic list of books plus amazon gift cards as prizes! Contest ends April 20, 2010.

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~The Cajun Book Lady is giving away 2 copies of Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away The Circle of Friends by L. Diane Wolfe. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away Facebook Fairytales by Emily Liebert. Enter by April 20, 2010.

~Pop Culture Junkie is giving away Get Lucky by Katherine Center. Enter by April 21, 2010.

~The Bookologist is giving away a Kimberly Derting swag prize pack. Enter by April 21, 2010.

~Series.Nu is giving away an In Plain Sight Prize Pack. Contest ends April 21, 2010.

~The Undercover Book Lover is having a Pick Your Publisher Contest! Win books from Delacorte, Egmont, Harcourt/Graphia, Harperteen, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, and Scholastic. Contest ends April 22, 2010.

~Bitten by Paranormal Romance is giving away Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison. Enter by April 23, 2010.

~DemonLover’s Book Reviews and More is giving away Playing Easy to Get by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Kresley Cole, and Jaid Black and Hotter Than Hell by Jackie Kessler. Enter by April 23, 2010.

~The Story Siren is having a Spring Time ARC Contest! Prizes include She’s So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott, Hourglass by Claudia Gray, The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel, The Clearing by Heather Davis, Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr, The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy, and White Cat by Holly Black. Contest ends April 24, 2010.

~Tynga’s Reviews is giving away a book of choice from the Book Depository and a necklace. Contest ends April 24, 2010.

~The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving away Read, Remember, Recommend by Rachelle Rogers Knight. Enter by April 25, 2010.

~Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm is having a Can I Be Your Book Fairy Contest?! Right now the prizes include Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, For Keeps by Natasha Friend, Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson, Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw, Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald, Anastasia’s Secret by Susanne Dunlap, White Cat by Holly Black, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway, Mistwood by Leah Cypess, and Winter Longing by Tricia Mills. Enter by April 25, 2010.

~The Bookologist is having a Mega International and Fantastic YA Box Contest! The winner gets to choose one of 3 boxes containing four ARCs. Enter by April 26, 2010.

~Only Sexy Books Allowed is giving away The Carrie Diaries by Candace Brushnell. Enter by April 27, 2010.

~Angel’s Sea is having a 50 Follower Contest! Win a $25 gift card to Amazon and a signed Titus and Atreus poster. Enter by April 27, 2010.

~Bites is giving away I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You and Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter. Enter by April 27, 2010.

~Book Lovers Inc. is giving away Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. Please tell them that Amanda Leigh sent you. Contest ends April 28, 2010.

~Steph Bowe’s Hey! Teenager of the Year is having a Massive Book Giveaway! Prizes include Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty, Blue Plate Special by Michelle Kwansey, The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey, The Pact by Jodi Picoult, World Shaker by Richard Harland, Exposure by Mal Peet, Sprout by Dale Peck, Panama by Shelby Hiatt, lots of swag, and if you’re an aspiring YA author you get a query critic and 5 page manuscript critique. Contest ends April 30, 2010.

~Paper Cut Reviews is having a Birthday Giveaway! Prizes include Host by Stephenie Meyer, Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast, Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine, Lover Mine by J.R. Ward, Into the Dark by Gena Showalter, and The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells. Contest ends April 30, 2010.

~The Undercover Book Lover is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Enter by April 30, 2010.

~A Romantic Heart is giving away a New Moon dvd. Next prize added will be $15 iTunes gift card. More prizes may be added. Contest ends April 30, 2010.

~Personal Demons is having an April Debut Contest. Winner gets to choose from a signed ARC of Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers, Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey, The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy, Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis, or Mistwood by Leah Cypess. Contest ends April 30, 2010.

~vvb32 reads has extended a few of the giveaways! The new deadlines are April 30, 2010.

Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer

~LA FEMME READERS is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Contest ends April 30, 2010.

~Hanging with Bells! is giving away Midnight Reign by Chris Marie Green. Contest ends May 1, 2010.

~A Good Addiction is giving away Arson by Estevan Vega. Contest ends May 4, 2010.

~LA FEMME READERS is having a giveaway to celebrate passing 1000 followers! Enter to win And Then I Found Out the Truth by Jennifer Sturman and Blue Fire by Janice Hardy. Contest ends May 5, 2010.

~Fang-tastic Books is giving away a 16X20 Rolled Canvas Print from UPrinting.com. Enter by May 6, 2010.

~Tales of Whimsy… is giving away an ARC of My Double Life by Janette Rallison. Enter by May 6, 2010.

~Fire and Ice just hit 400 fans on Facebook so they’re having a great giveaway. Prizes include This Lullabye by Sara Dessen, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Prom Nights from Hell anthology, 2 Rustic Goth bookmarks, signed Eternal Conflict Twilight inspired CD, Fire and Ice Button, and a Princess Charm necklace. Contest ends May 7, 2010.

~Steph Su Reads is giving away an ARC of The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz, a red umbrella, and five signed bookmarks. Enter by May 11, 2010.

~Bloody Bookaholic is having a Ridiculously Awesome Contest. 7 winners choose from up to 28 books. Contest ends May 14, 2010.

~Cherry Mishievous is giving away The Blade Itself by Joe Abercombie. Contest ends May 16, 2010.

~SciFiGuy has details for PYR’s 5th Anniversary Essay Contest. Grand Prize winner gets a trip to Dragon Con! Other prizes as well. Contest open April 1, 2010-June 1, 2010.

~vvb32 reads is giving away Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters. Enter by June 27, 2010.

Weekly Contests:

~Community Bookstop has a new giveaway every week, starting most Wednesdays, with the winner drawn the following Wednesday.

~Fang-tastic Books has giveaways weekly, with winners announced on Wednesdays.

~Bitten by Books has new contests daily, ranging from interviews to daily book chats.

Heads Up:

Coming soon- Book Faery will be starting a contest listing. But for hers, YOU will need to go to her page and link your contest. Watch for more details! It will probably be a Sunday post. :D

Check out All Things Urban Fantasy for a HUGE list of urban fantasy contests going on!

Feel free to email me anytime at notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com with any contests you want me to put in my next Win on Wednesday post. Also, if I missed a contest of yours, leave a link in the comments if you want to get the word out about it. Or if I got something wrong in the list, please let me know. :)

Monday, April 12, 2010

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (12)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Persons Journey Through a World of Books!

Books Completed Last Week:

Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Books I am Currently Reading/Listening To:

Mania by Craig Larsen
For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
Embers by Laura Bickle

What’s Up Next:

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready
The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

Sunday, April 11, 2010

In My Mailbox (9)

I feel like I’m forgetting something on here, but here’s what I came up with for the past week. :)

For Review:

From Kristen Painter

All Fired Up by Kristen Painter (ebook)

Won By Me:

From Paranormal Haven

Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen (signed)- I don’t know where else this would be from… but I got one last week. What should I do?

From vvb32 reads

Mr. Knightley Paperdoll
Mr. Knightley’s Diary: A Novel by Amanda Grange- (That was a fabulous surprise!)

From Bibliophilic Book Blog

My new button designed by Parajunkee!

Sent to Me:

From Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger buttons- (Have you noticed I’m slowly collecting stuff? Do you remember me mentioning wanting to do something in May?)

Bought By Me:

I’ve bought a lot this week, but most of it was online, so I’ll tell you about it when I get it! :)

At Borders

Embers by Laura Bickle
In the Blood by Adrian Phoenix
J.R. Ward Lover Avenged

Given to Me:

From my mom (She gives me most of her books, unless she’s sure it’s a book she’ll read a few times. She doesn’t like having very many sitting around.)

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Borrowed from the Library:

From the County Library (No books, but I borrowed some movies just for the heck of it)

About a Boy
Garden State
Vanity Fair
Dracula 3000 (W/ as much as I laughed at 2000, I’m hoping 3000 will give me a good chuckle)

R.E.A.D.S. (Regional eBook & Audio Download System) – Online Library for TN

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison (ebook)
Bloodlist by P.N Elrod (audiobook)

Read-a-thon: The End

I fell asleep! Ha! It’s all good though, I feel so much better today!

I finished reading 2 2/3 books:

Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire (271 pages)
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block (195 pages)
Embers by Laura Bickle (228/359 pages)

Making my total pages read: 694 pages

Total time spent reading: approx. 19 hrs & 45 min

Mini-Challenges Entered: 1 (Yeah, could have done better with those)

Comments left: 5-10 (Not sure, my internet crashed a few times in the process of leaving some comments & I was too scared to go back & see if they made it through or not. I’m sorry if they didn’t.)

All in all I had a lot of fun reading all day! It’s not often, that I just lay around and read book after book. Turned out to be a decent day for it though because I kinda felt like crap, so it was a nice lazy day.

I’m hoping next year to be more involved & (on a better behaved computer) to be able to see more of what read-a-thon has to offer! I felt so disconnected yesterday. Stupid computer.

I hope you all had fantastic experiences w/ Read-a-Thon, and I’ll try to get caught up on everyone’s posts!

Much love to everyone who organized it, organized their own challenge/contest, hosted, cheerleaded, and read! Everyone was great!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Read-a-thon Hour 14

To bad I didn’t see this a little while ago, I would have posted it then. Here it is none the less. It gave me a chance to move around for a few minutes and stretch my back and legs. :)

Mini-challenge

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? Embers by Laura Bickle

2. How many books have you read so far? 2

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? The one I’m reading!

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? Not really, this came on a great day!

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Just a few with family, but they were pretty understanding.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I’m actually kind of wishing that I had planned ahead more to contribute & participate w/ everyone else. My computer is too slow to try to read and comment and do challenges, I was getting frustrated and just had to go back to reading.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I wish I had known more about how to contribute, but I think participating in it for the first time is the best way to really see how it all goes.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Next year I’ll probably read a lot less and cheerlead a lot instead. Maybe even try to host a challenge or something.

9. Are you getting tired yet? Yes, my migraine medicine, is putting me to sleep. That was not a good plan!

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Don’t use a slow computer. :)

Read-a-thon Hour 12: Half-way!

Two books down! Woot! Way too much coffee down. Ugh. Not enough commenting done. Sorry.

In case you’ve missed my updates so far, I’m now done reading

Beautiful Dead: Jonas ARC by Eden Maguire (271 pages)
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block (195 pages)

Hours read: approx. 11 1/2 hrs

Just had a quick dinner break & now I think I will start Embers by Laura Bickle!

YAY for all the cheerleaders!! Thanks you guys for the great comments so far! Loving the little poems & cheers & such!

Happy Reading!

Hour 9 of the Read-a-thon

Ok, my slow computer, does not work very well for trying to comment, enter contests, and reading. I’m having issues…LOL

Anyway. Stay up to date on all the latest goings on here at Dewey’s Read-a-Thon.

Also, Princess Bookie is still having her Contest Craze, with tons of amazing prizes! So check it out.

I’m on page 56 of Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block.

Over 1/4 way through the Read-a-Thon!

Taking a quick break to let you all know my progress. I finished Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire which is about 271 pages in the ARC form that I have. It took me about 5 or 5 & 1/2 hours to read that probably.

Now I’m having a coffee break, and checking in with things online. Hope everyone else is having fun! My next book is going to be Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block.

Thanks for all the comments so far! Loving the support from the cheerleaders and my wonderful followers! You all are awesome!!

Crap, already finished my cup of coffee. Another cup, then back to reading!

Happy Reading!!!

Way too early in the morning….

Alrighty! This is earlier than I want to be up on a Saturday, and I did not sleep long enough, but at least I am now caffeinated! COFFEEEE!!!! Anyhoo, I’m sometimes a bit silly first thing in the morning (ok all the time, I meant a bit sillier).

Ahem! *clears throat* It’s time to start reading! Woot! I’ve been thinking I’m going to start with Beautiful Dead: Jonas, but I’m not positive, and I added a few more books to the possibilities for today. They are:

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block
Shade Fright by Sean Cummings
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Break of Dawn by Chris Marie Green

So what am I going to read? I don’t know. I’ll see what I pick up when I sit down! O_O

Friday, April 9, 2010

The Read-A-Thon!

Well everyone! It’s almost time for the Read-a-Thon! Woo hoo. I can’t wait. This will be my first year participating. Hopefully some of you all are too! I hoped to be a bit more organized for tomorrow, but my errands today took longer than I thought and other such stuff, so what else is new. I do at least have a stack of books picked out. Now I in no way plan to read even half of these books, I just want a variety at hand tomorrow.

Beautiful Dead: Jonas by Eden Maguire
The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge
Love Fang by Susan Blexrud
Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry
Embers by Laura Bickle
Take Me If You Dare by Candace Havens
A Season of Eden by J.M Warwick
Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens

I wanted to have a wide variety of things to read at my fingertips. I think I’ve got that covered. If I need more, it’s not like I have to go far. I’ve already warned my family and friends who are used to me ignoring my phone when I have a migraine, so this won’t be anything too out of the ordinary.

I have some snacks handy. Cheezits, popcorn, fruit, and my ever present need for chocolate! :)

Some easy microwave meals are around too, so I’m set. Oh, and COFFEE!!!

If I didn’t plan for something, then I’ll know for next year. I’ll be around tomorrow every 4-6 hrs, not sure yet, for updates & to stop by a few blogs.

So, even though I’ll be updating a lot, I won’t be quite as accessible as I usually am, but I’ll catch up Sunday and Monday. If you really need something DM me on Twitter, that’s the fastest way, or email me, that’s the easiest way. :)

If you’re participating let me know so I can drop by your blog tomorrow on one of my breaks!

Happy Read-A-Thon-ing! :)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

New Button!

I have a new button! Thanks to the Bibliophilic Book Blog, I won this button designed by Parajunkee!

Feel free to take this one, or stick w/ the old one, which ever one you prefer. So, what do you all think? I think she fits in around here.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Win on Wednesday: Contests Around the Blogosphere (12)

From Abigail @ All Things Urban Fantasy

My Contest:

~Don’t forget, I’m having my 113 Follower Contest! Enter to win Boys That Bite, Stake That!, and Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi and Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson and swag! More prizes and winners could be added. International contest ends April 25th!

New Contests:

~Jennifer Laurens is having a new Penitence Kick-Off Contest every week! This weeks prizes include a copy of Heavenly, an ARC of Penitence, a black & white angel tee, and a Heavenly notebook. Head on over there and tell her I sent you. Contest ends ?

~Book Junkie is giving away an e-copy of Crimson Promise by Sapphire Phelan. Enter by April 9, 2010.

~Book Lovers Inc is giving away a signed copy of Dear Sir, I’m Yours by Joely Sue Burkhart. Enter by April 10, 2010.

~All Things Urban Fantasy is giving away Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. Enter by April 10, 2010.

~Princess Bookie’s Contest Craze is still going on. New contests that will be ending April 11, 2010 are:

~The Neverending Shelf is hosing the Clear Away the Clutter Read-A-Thon. Several blogs are participating and prizes are being given away. All contests end April 11, 2010.

~The First Novels Club is giving away a signed copy of Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder. Enter by April 12, 2010.

~Wicked Little Pixie is giving away Moon Kissed by Michele Hauf. Enter by April 12, 2010.

~Welcome to Larissa’s Life is giving away a signed copy of Ashes of the Red Heifer by Shannon Baker. Enter by April 12, 2010.

~Vampire Wire is giving away Embers by Laura Bickle and Master of None by Sonya Bateman. Enter by April 12, 2010.

~Reading with Tequila is giving away a hardcover copy and a softcover ARC of Laughed ‘Til He Died by Carolyn Hart. Enter by April 12, 2010.

~Fang-tastic Books is giving away The Highwayman and Moon Kissed by Michele Hauf. Enter by April 13, 2010.

~TinasBookReviews is giving away An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick. Enter by April 14, 2010.