Friday Five (6) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

This week’s topic is “FIVE excuses you’re ready to give up to be a better writer.”

1. “I don’t have time.” With school ending in just under a week, I no longer give myself this excuse.

2. “I have too much to read.” Reading is good, but shouldn’t be at the expense of getting in some quality writing time.

3. “I have to finish this blog post first.” Blogging is fun and I love it, but I’m not willing to let it become an obstacle to offline writing. There’s no reason I can’t do both.

4. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” Okay, first? Yes I do. Second? There are tons of materials in my house and online that are there to help me, if I’d just sit down and start.

5. “My revisions are too overwhelming.” Break it down, and take it piece-by-piece. Enough already. Just start hacking.

What are your bad habits that keep you from your dreams?

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Features
All Male Review Challenge Wrap Up
A quick summary about the end of May’s All Male Review Challenge. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Reviews
SAPPHIQUE by Catherine Fisher
3/5 stars
All Male Review Challenge

CASCADE by Lisa T. Bergren
5/5 stars
YA Series Challenge

Giveaways
SAPPHIQUE by Catherine Fisher
Today is the last day to enter to win SAPPHIQUE!

June Giveaway and Guest Post Announcements
I’m giving away a signed copy of DIVERGENT and a copy of CASCADE this month. I also did a guest post and am giving away a copy of WATCHERS by Dean Koontz as part of the My Favorite Things event at My Bookish Ways.

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.

Friday Five (5) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

This week’s topic is “What are FIVE of your most distracting (procrastination-worthy) things (habits, websites, etc.) on the internet?”

1. Ugliest Tattoos. I usually insist on reading this until I cry from laughter, which doesn’t take long.

2. MSN Wonderwall. It’s like an online gossip magazine that doesn’t make me feel like I’m reading trash.

3. Text Twist. I get a wee bit obsessed when playing this word puzzle game.

4. Wikipedia. If I need to know something, I’m wiki-ing it.

5. Yelp. I rarely try new things anymore without first scouring the reviews on Yelp.

What sites do you frequent? I need new ones!

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Features
Armchair BEA – Nurturing Relationships
See the debut of my new blog signature!

Armchair BEA – My Top 2011 Books
See which books I’m most regretting not getting at BEA this year.

The Man Behind the (Blog) Mask – Bryan Sabol
The Man Behind the (Blog) Mask – aobibliophileâ?¢

Reviews
AWAKEN by Katie Kacvinsky
4/5 stars
2011 Debut Author Challenge

LAST CHANCE!

It’s nearly the end of the All Male Review Challenge! If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here. Then be sure to link up your reviews to increase your chances of winning our prize packs!

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.

Friday Five (4) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

This week’s topic is “Five pieces of useful advice you have received as an aspiring writer, either in quotes, blog posts, websites or communities.”

1. Show, don’t tell. An oldie, but a goodie. This makes the whiner in me come out. But it’s so haaaaaard! Still, nothing has been more useful in improving my writing.

2. Practice, practice, practice. I can only get better if I just. keep. writing. That award-winning million dollar book isn’t going to write itself, no matter how many chimpanzees I put in a room filled with typewriters.

3. The plot will come. This is a gem from NaNoWriMo. If you force yourself to write an insane amount of words in a short time frame, the book actually kinda will write itself. It may not be any good, but ideas will come if you force them. You can always refine from there.

4. Take the time. If I don’t carve out time to write, it’ll never happen. If I can make the time to blog, I can make the time to write.

5. Get online. This blog was the best thing to happen to me in 2010. I’ve learned so much these past five months about writing mechanics, connecting with fellow readers and writers, querying projects, and marketing myself. I will never master any of them, but this is a good step toward trying.

What advice have you received and loved as a blogger or writer?

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Guest Post: Character Interview
Meet Myrna from ODESSA by Rebecca Ryals Russell
Author Rebecca Ryals Russell stopped by on Saturday to give us a glimpse into her main character, Myrna.

Reviews
THE CELLAR by A. J. Whitten
1/5 stars
YA Paranormal Challenge

NO PLACE LIKE HOLMES by Jason Lethcoe
3/5 stars
All Male Review Challenge

Giveaways
April Giveaway Winner
I announced the winner of last month’s giveaway
and made some blog announcements.

IT’S HERE!

It’s All Male Review Challenge month! If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here. Then be sure to link up your reviews to increase your chances of winning our prize packs!

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.

Friday Five (3) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This new meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

This week’s topic is “FIVE book covers you’re currently lusting over.”

I first saw this over at Ruby’s Reads and I think it is so amazing. I love the little shot of purple and the way the center image seems to float above the black background. GORGEOUS.

The squeeeeequel! Otherwise known as GIMMEGIMMEGIMMEGIMME.

I don’t know or even care what this book is about. I seriously love this image so much I want to frame it and hang it on my wall.

I have a soft spot for underwater photography. I love the weightlessness of it – it’s so haunting and feels like you’ve captured this slow motion moment in time. Love. It.

The simplicity here wins. I love the deathly pallor to the model’s skin and the huge sugar-crusted lips, perfectly complemented by the funky font. Full of win!

What covers are you lusting over?

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Features and Memes
Writing Wednesday – Scholar v. Natural
It’s so hard to leave the day behind and just loosen up!

Reviews
SILVER BORNE by Patricia Briggs
3/5 stars
Shifter Challenge

SKINWALKER by Faith Hunter
3/5 stars
Shifter Challenge

DON’T FORGET!

Our new button is here! Bask in all its glory! The heavens weep and the angels sing for topless male action. Come and get it!

Sunday marks the first day in the awesomely stupendous All Male Review Challenge! Check back here then for the opening day excitement, and I’ll also have a linky tool up for you to start posting your reviews.

LAST CHANCE!

It’s also the last few days of April, which means the end of this month’s giveaway. Click the covers to enter! The winner will be announced next week and I’ll have a new giveaway posted for May.

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.

Friday Five (2) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This new meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

This week’s topic is “What are five things you wish to see more of in fiction?”

1. Horror. I don’t think there’s enough truly scary fiction.

2. Honest friendships. My best friends and I have messy, complicated, full relationships, and I feel this is rarely portrayed well in fiction.

3. Boy-girl friendships. Why is it that every boy and girl who are friends have to fall in love? So not true. Can I get a little platonic up in here?

4. Sex in YA. There. I said it. I knew a lot of people who were having sex well before college. Why isn’t this represented in YA fiction?

5. College settings. This is the black hole of fiction. Everything is split between high school and younger or mid-twenties/first job age. Where’s the college love?

What do you wish you saw more in fiction?

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Features and Memes
Writing Wednesday – Making It (Too) Personal
I discuss how much of my inner psyche transfers into my fiction.

Reviews
A GAME OF THRONES by George R. R. Martin
Book and TV Show Review
3/5 stars
2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge

BUMPED by Megan McCafferty
3/5 stars
2011 Debut Author Challenge

THE GODDESS TEST by Aimee Carter
4/5 stars
2011 Debut Author Challenge

There won’t be a Silly Sunday post this week due to the holiday. Happy Easter to those who celebrate it!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.

Friday Five (1) and Weekly Recap

Welcome to Friday Five! This new meme is run by the writers at Paper Hangover. Each week they give us a blogging prompt where we make a list about five things related to books and/or writing.

I’m really excited to try something new on Fridays. So far, Paper Hangover has been good about posting their topics a day or two in advance, which really lowers my Friday post stress level! I got sick of constantly refreshing Reader from my phone, waiting for this week’s questions to post before I had to go to bed or leave for work. Is it up yet? Is it up now? Is it going to post ever?

This week’s stress-free topic is “FIVE (book) characters you would switch places with for a day.”

1. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games). Preferably NOT on a day she was in the Hunger Games fighting for her life. Though life in the Capitol wasn’t always easy, I think having people like Cinna, Peeta, Gale and Prim around made it a lot better.

2. Bella Swan (Twilight). Preferably pre-Renesmee, but post-Edward-moody-disappearing-act. If there is one thing my current life is missing, it’s a sparkly vampire and a Native American werewolf fighting for my affection.

3. Anna Oliphant (Anna and the French Kiss). Sure, getting sent to an American boarding school in Paris full of good friends and the love of your life would be rough, but…wait. No. No, that wouldn’t be rough at all. It would be awesome.

4. Dorothy Gale (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz). Do you think the next day I’d be able to convince myself it was all just a weird, trippy dream?

5. Amelia van den Broek (The Vespertine). Okay, I admit it. I just want her clothes and calling cards.

What character would you trade places with for a day?

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My weekly recap is inspired by the phenomenally talented, kind and generous Small Review. If you are not already following her, you are really missing out. Also, have I mentioned how much I love Cool Text? They’re the folks that allow me to make these cool (and simple) text buttons – for FREE!

If you’re a first time visitor, or just didn’t get the chance to stop by this week, here’s what you missed:

Features and Memes
Silly Sunday – Laser Cats
Nuclear war creates cats that shoot lasers out of their mouths. Andy Samberg and Bill Hader make movies about it. Lorne Michaels tells them to get out of his office. A lot.

In My Mailbox
A vlog of the books I received this week. I’m actually getting better at talking to the webcam! Plus I have a deer on my head.

Announcements
I signed up for the Book Bloggers & Publishers Online Conference, and you should too.

Reviews
Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
4/5 stars
Black Dagger Brotherhood Challenge

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
3/5 stars
YA Series Challenge
Don’t forget to sign up for my giveaway, running all month long!

This post is protected by copyright. All content © Logan E. Turner.