Tuesday, July 31, 2018

August Reading Challenge: Summer Camp

The Camping TBR Pile

I know, I know! I'll never get through all these books in a month, but I couldn't stop at my usual list of five. Every back blurb about summer camp I read, I fell in love with; it's one of my favorite tropes. So, while my own kids are off enjoying themselves, weaving beads onto necklaces, swimming, tromping through the woods, and making new summer friends, I'll be picking through my towering book pile and delving into some fun of my own.

I consider myself an avid romance reader, and even I can't comprehend how I've never picked up a Debbie Macomber book. Here goes with:

1.) Almost Paradise by Debbie Macomber - Romance

I bought the next two books at Costco and am going to buddy read, then swap with one of my kids. She reads fast; I read slow. Should be interesting.

2.) Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley - Middle Grade

3.) Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder - Middle Grade

A while ago, I picked up a book called Camp Dorks, only to realize it was the second in a series. So now, I have to read this so I can read the other. Oh, what a complicated book world this is!

4.) Pack of Dorks (Pack of Dorks #1) by Beth Vrabel - Middle Grade

Okay, so I did a search on "summer camp" and discovered there are not five, not ten, not even twenty...but twenty-five books in this series! Prolific much?

5.) Natalie's Secret (Camp Confidential #1) by Melissa J. Morgan - Middle Grade

I'm done staring at this awesome cover from afar. Went in for the kill, library-style.

6.) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Young Adult

I love camping! I love summer! I love this cover!

7.) The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland by Rebekah Crane - Young Adult

Cute cover and over a hundred five-star reviews on Amazon. Okay, I'll bite.

8.) Sleepaway Girls (Whispering Pines #1) by Jen Calonita - Young Adult

Summer camp for adults? Yes, please. Now try saying "Firefly Falls" three times fast. Not sure how the alliteration came to pass, but I found these ebooks free on Amazon and thought they rounded out the pile nicely.

9.) Once Upon a Camp Fire (Camp Firefly Falls "Meet Cute") by Kait Nolan - Romance







Firefly Falls...flier fry falls...friar fly falls...help.
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Thursday, July 19, 2018

Camping Creatively

The Creative Pile

Whenever I'm out and about, I always carry something from my creative stash shown above, wether it's my computer, a journal and a pen, or my blackout poetry bag. When the creative mood strikes, I want to be ready, and it keeps me being one happy camper. Sometimes I look forward to the oil change taking a little longer than expected, or a friend who's consistently late to coffee. My time isn't being wasted, it's still my own because I've got my stuff.

Currently, we're gearing up for a week of lakeside camping and part of my packing routine is to cobble the pile shown above into a nice, neat little package to stow in the trailer. Stuff meet the Tetris Queen.

PACKING LIST

1.) Writing - computer and journal
2.) Story time - audio books for the road trip, paperbacks, and my Kindle in case of insomnia 
3.) Blackout poetry - old book pages, colored pencils, sharpener, and an eraser
4.) Rock painting - acrylic paints, Mod Podge, and paint brushes
5.) Heart book marks - paper, glue, and scissors
6.) Editing - critiques from writing partners 

Portable Magic

Too bad the sewing machine doesn't fit! Lol. Regardless...if there is a burst of creative energy, I'm ready.
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"You can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will." ~ Stephen King

Sunday, July 08, 2018

Montana: Sharing Books with Little Free Libraries

Road Trip!
Montana Bound

I took my kids on an adventure to the Flathead Valley last week, which was my first trip driving The Narwhal and pulling our little Jayco trailer. I packed several copies of Dealing with Blue and Riding with the Hides of Hell--now titled Burnout--to tuck onto free shelves as I found them, in a sort of quiet marketing kind of way. The first shelf I came across was in the office at the campground where we stayed. I asked if I could donate my books to their reading nook and they were all for it, so I was off to a good start.

LaSalle RV Park
Columbia Falls, MT

Free Library 
West Kalispell

When I came across this little house full of books, free standing on the street corner (above), I remembered reading about Little Free Libraries and decided to look up the Kalispell zip code 59901 to see where others might be located.

East Kalispell


East Kalispell

East Kalispell

I had so much fun searching for these little houses, tucking a book inside, and taking pictures that I wish I had a lot more books and a lot more time! It was like leaving Easter eggs filled with good vibes around town. 

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"Take a book. Share a book."~ Free Little Library

Sunday, July 01, 2018

July Reading Challenge: Independence

July Reading Challenge: Independence
Indie Authors, Indie Books

I don't have too many physical indie books on my shelf to take pictures of since most of them are on my Kindle. So for a good five-book photo layout, I shamelessly included my own books:

1.) Dealing with Blue* by Stacia Leigh

and...

2.) Burnout* by Stacia Leigh

The next book in the photo is a gift from my mom, a romance by a local indie-author from Oregon. Westerns aren't one of my go-to genres, but I'm willing to give it a chance:

3.) South of Wisdom by Edith Webster

Apparently, my mom is a big proponent of independently published books, because she also bought her grandkids a detective series for the young set. I read the first one and liked it...so onto number two:

4.) Blondie McGhee: Hidden in Plain Sight by Ashley Eneriz

And then there's the book with a man's chest on the cover and the word "naked" in all caps...color me interested:

5.) The NAKED Truth About Self-Publishing* by The Indie Voice

Now, onto the digital world where I have a ton of books that I bought early on and have never read. The first two that popped up on my Kindle made it onto this month's TBR pile:


6.) Angelfall by Susan Ee


7.) My Heart for Yours by Steph Campbell

* A recommended read!

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"I didn't get here by dreaming or thinking about it. I got here by doing it." ~ Estée Lauder
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