Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #24

For the last book I thought I'd go traditional and to make it from my favorite paper engineer.

The Night Before Christmas by Robert Sabuda
This is a treasure with the white mice, detailed pop ups, and delightful story line.


It is been a joy to share some of my favorite books, although I'll admit I didn't know I had so many for Christmas.  No, I didn't share them all, there's about half as many again, both pop up and picture.  I have a problem collecting books, specifically by favorite authors and illustrators, but what a problem to have!

Yes, by the time this last book has been shared, I have bought the one that started it all ... The Night Before Christmas by Holly Hobbie!

Have a wonderful Christmas and dream happy thoughts about BOOKS!

Monday, December 23, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #23

Having enjoyed the first pop up [sort of] by this paper engineer, I jumped at his next two holiday books.  They're hard to share so I'm only showing one, but they are a wealth of information in the small side pamphlets.

Christmas Around the World by Chuck Fischer

Sunday, December 22, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #22

Taking the paper-cut idea a step further is the next book and one I gave to a few different hostesses as a thank you for the party kind of gift.

The First Noel: A Christmas Carousel by Jan Pienkowski
Each page is a beautiful image with a few words, but it's a marvelous book when tied open and hanging from the loop attached to the top spine.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #21

Silhouette art is an old style and it's gorgeous, done today and it's stunning!

Recently a cut paper Christmas book was released and I bought it and a few copies for friends with kids.  It wasn't quite pop up, although there is one at the end, but the cut paper, silhouette images and color blocking was a pure joy to read.

I haven't said this so directly during this sharing of my collection, but I am now ... if you can find this book, check it OUT!

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat

Friday, December 20, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #20

This series has to be the most recent additions to my collection and I still give the first one as a gift to newborns.  They are the cutest pigs who are polar opposites which makes for interesting and entertaining stories that are relevant!

I'll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie
One little pig goes traveling and the other stays home, decorating and preparing for Christmas, will the other make it back in time to celebrate the day?  I so love these piggies!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #19

Another series I've collected since I was a kid is about a mouse who wants to be a ballerina.  It's cute and fun, and then her cousin joins in for even more fun.

Angelina's Christmas by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig
Cookies are baked and halls are decorated, but cousin Henry wants to see Santa, badly!  It all is well, but there are mouse tears along the way and COOKIES!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #18

Different author, but a relative, and same illustrator ... how unique is that?!?

Okay, I'm a cat lover, have always been and so its no surprise I bought this treasure when I was a kid.  The story always makes me cry, a kitty left alone in the woods, but there's a happy ending with a saucer of milk to come.

The Christmas Cat by Efner Tudor Holmes and illustrated by Tasha Tudor

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #17

Same illustrator, different book ... I've mentioned earlier that I was a huge fan of Tasha Tudor and this kind of shows my devotion.

The Dolls' Christmas by Tasha Tudor
This tale is about two sisters and their dolls at Christmas.

Monday, December 16, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #16

The second book has different images and is also setup differently ... they have elaborately framed medallions.  Each page is unique and looks nothing like the first.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Tasha Tudor

Sunday, December 15, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #15

Can an illustrator approach the same story in two different way?  Yes, actually, Tasha Tudor does this with the next book and I'll share both ... yes, I have both in my collection, acquired nine years apart.

The first one I got was...

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore Tasha Tudor
This is a hardcover picture book without a jacket and each page was a painting.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #14

The female character, the star of this series, is so very spectacular I have a stuffed version of her on my desk to remind me it's all possible ... yes, that's only one of the many lessons she teaches in her fun books.

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer
The antics of Olivia and her family are hilarious and fun, making this a must read .... then again I'm biased, I think this is a must read series for every girly!

Friday, December 13, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #13

How about another pop up, another pop up by my favorite paper engineer and let's make it one that depicts an old beloved song!

The 12 Days of Christmas by Robert Sabuda
This is one of the last book of his that the white mice appear ... love those critters1

Thursday, December 12, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #12

Another series, this one with a bear on a farm is adorable ... drawings and story!

Willow at Christmas by Camilla Ashforth
There are other Willow books, but sadly I only have two others.



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #11

A series from the 40's was republished and I was able to collect all but three, yes, those three haunt me and I still look for them.  While this is one of two books of mine that aren't first edition, it is a first edition of the republished set.  Told you I'm a big book collector!

Miss Flora McFlimsey's Christmas Eve by Mariana
This series is about a doll, Miss Flora McFlimsey, who has some fabulous adventures and her personality reflects the times.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #10

Tasha Tudor is a long time favorite author and illustrator of mine.  She and a relative will make more appearance before Christmas.  In later years her drawings became a little less precise but remain treasured.

Corgiville Christmas by Tasha Tudor

Monday, December 09, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #9

I remember when I was young going to a Christmas Festival with my mom.  She was all up for seeking a jam, chutney or something like that, I was after books.  I came back with one and it's signed by the author and illustrator ... cool!

Sophie's Surprise by Shirley Holt and Lee Richardson
This is a tale about a found cat who becomes the mouser for a local toy store and then she gifts the owner with a fabulous surprise ... a bevvy of little mousers!  A great read and I wish it was around today.


Saturday, December 07, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #8

Gift books bought at the counter are a part of my collection an, again, so are illustrator from the past.

Christmas is a Time of Giving by Joan Walsh Anglund
This little gem offers brief statements on why it is such a joy to give something to another ... great reminder for every age.

Friday, December 06, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #7

 Illustrators from years gone by have not passed me by.  At some point I've collected them, but many didn't make the move to England and back again, the next two did.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

A Treasured Christmas Book #6

Everyone knows I'm a huge pop up fan and a few are on this list but not all, we'd go into the New Year if I did ... yes, my love for pop up's is that big.

Anyway, I chose this one because it's the first holiday book by this paper engineer that I put into my collection and it's a good advent calendar book.

The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda

Thursday, December 05, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #5

New York City is where this story takes place and is full of magic!  Oh, and a animation movie has recently been optioned ... yah.

Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera
There are two books that come after this one and are called Auntie Clause and the Key to Christmas and Auntie Claus, Home for the Holidays

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #4

His mother is famous and so is he ... love his Girls Night Out poster for Fall!

Silent Night by Will Moses
Moses takes the song and breaks it down into a short story sure to entertain the family and make you think when the song is played.

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #3

This book is by an illustrator who had a series on Disney Channel and is a recent Oscar winner (animation) and I can say I bought him well before he was famous.

Santa Calls by William Joyce
An adventure in a world kids would love to visit is where this book takes place.

Monday, December 02, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book #2

A book that always makes me cry then smile while I enjoy the beautiful illustrations while being timely ... currently working on my Branded series ... is:

A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Line Pine Ridge by Audrey Wood and Robert Florczak
Wonderful book for everyone and particularly a young boy, not many of those around.

Cyber Monday Only!

Everything just turned spectacular in my book purchasing world!  All Romance has a 50% rebate for today only ... buy an ebook and get 50% back, so cool!

Visit my author page and see all the fantastic deals to be had ... make a cuppa tea, get a couple of cookies, and get shopping :-)

Giveaway Time!


I am over on Lex Valentine's 30 Days of Christmas Giveaway today only ... go comment and be entered to win a copy of Mythological Messes Redux!

Mythological Messes Redux by Tilly Greene
6 ebooks in 1
Sex, Love and Immortality

Mythology is full of fascinating details of Ancient Greek society, unique scenarios, interesting characters and their lives which culminate in powerful moral lessons on life, love and war. Unfortunately, the stories don’t always end on a good note for those involved. It’s time to shake things up and give a few of the heroes and heroines a chance at a happy ending.

Myths with Hephaestus, Castor and Pollux, the Cyclopes, Marsyas and Zeus are extended and the men find themselves face to face with love.

Their days and nights are full of glorious sex, some with multiple partners and some with bondage, but there’s one question left unspoken. Will their quests for happiness be long lasting or will someone leave once a problem arises?

Sunday, December 01, 2013

A Treasured Christmas Book

In the shops I saw a Christmas book by a favorite children's illustrator I wanted and checked my collection to see if I already owned it.  Well, I didn't but boy did I own quite a few ... a pile plus!

To expose my shame and share the love I have for them, I thought I'd post one a day until Christmas.  Some are out of print, some we're limited release and some by smaller press ... yah, I went to them even as a child.

The first is a favorite, one I got in our advent calendar as a kid:

Take Joy! by Tasha Tudor
There are short stories, songs, poems and more in this book and punctuated with delightful Tudor illustrations.




Thursday, November 07, 2013

Throwing it wayback and it's ME for Throwback Thursday

At the end of October when I was 17, yup, young and a recent high school graduate, I was lucky enough to be given a trip to the UK.  I saw loads in England, Scotland and Ireland, but I knew I'd be back. Too many doors of wonder had been opened.

Me at 17 overlooking the Lakes of Killarney
 
The cutie and I are going to spend some time in Ireland and celebrate our 20 year anniversary.  We going to back to a few towns I visited, but I remember nothing about them other than the people were really nice, the weather dampish and it was stunning.  I imagine not much has changed..

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Breaking down walls and answering a longstanding question for writers!

How much of our, an authors, real life is in a book?

Some.

For example, in my book Double Punch there's a scene where Ani walks into Castor and Pollux's kitchen and finds a naked man making coffee ... that really happened to me!

Well, happened with a few changes. The man wasn't nude, he was shirtless and wearing boxers, but why I remembered this incident so strongly was his hairy back ... it was like a rug and all I could think of was how unhygienic it was in the kitchen. Before I could say anything, my cutie quickly ushered me out of the house  with a promise that he'd make it up to me.

I haven't seen the hairy coffee maker in almost 10 years, but he's picking us up at the airport and taking us for "a great Irish fry up breakfast."

Should be interesting.

Double Punch, part of the Mythological Messes Redux series is a erotic mythological romance + ménage a trois, can be ordered through:

All Romance | Amazon | BN | iTunes | Kobo | Sony


Tuesday, November 05, 2013

A lovely tug the heartstrings photo book

Much Loved by Mark Nixon is a book filled with photos of much loved stuffed animals ... told you it was a tug on the heartstrings.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Happy Friday Hint!

Art!  ART!  Yes, art is very easy to view and it may make you happy as well.

You can sit at home and search out a favorite painting or artist of yours, look at the pic and absorb every little nuance.  Also on the computer that I've done is search eBay by style and voila, you might find a piece you love ... the canvas below is a great example ... I've done this a few times and just need to get it, okay, them framed.

End of a Perfect Day by Dan Brown

Another way you can get an art fix is by visiting a gallery or museum.  I was reading a fashion magazine the other night and it noted Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring was going to visit a museum out this way starting in October.  I know my sister is a huge fan of Vermeer and so let her know she needed to add a visit to her November trip.

Watercolor, Venice by Walter Berton
Something else you can do is actually take a walk through that town or along that scenic route and if you see someone painting the sites, talk to them, look at what they've done and you might end up purchasing a piece.  We did this quite often during our trip to Italy and I brought back many memories in a different format ... like the one to the right.

And if you don't have a favorite period or artist, pick up a book and read about it, them, and tell your friend you learned something new.

Art is a snapshot of one person's view of something and how they see it may open your eyes to so much more than what is there.

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Show a Cowboy some Love!


Today I have Montana and the Wilson brothers in mind, well them along with Court and Jon.  I've donned the cowboy hat and boots and moseyed over to GraveTells where I'm talking about how It's Easy to Love a Cowboy and it definitely is!

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

The glory of shopping is HERE!

Taste for Blood
by Tilly Greene
If you have or haven't ever shopped at All Romance, now is the time to because Monster Max is giving away thousands, yes, THOUSANDS of prizes just for shopping.  Already they've given out 600+ prizes and one of them is my contemporary vampire + blood lust and piercing Taste for Blood!

So very cool!

Start by finding ebooks by Tilly Greene and then go wild, Max would love that :-)

Friday, October 04, 2013

Happy Friday Hint!

My hint is to carve time out of your busy weekend, an hour will do but more would be even better, and spend it doing what you want to do, not what you HAVE to do.

Sleep in, read, go out for lunch and eat it in a park, see a movie ... whatever, just do something for you and be happy doing it.

I have a couple of hours, at least, because the cutie is working his homebrew and then getting ready for another trip.  I plan to finish, hopefully, In Cold Blood.  Banned Books Week is done but the book I chose to read isn't.  It's been good, interesting, but devoid of emotion.  Capote took cold hard facts, molded them into a pseudo-conversational tone and then took a step back.

Despite the remote approach, I feel for the family and, yes, even the killers ... well, one of them at least.  I know how this book ends, but, like those who went to see the Titanic movie, I want to read to the end.

Thursday, October 03, 2013

It's Throwback Thursday and so I'm sharing ...



... a pic of  our home in England.

We lived in Knaresborough, an old village in North Yorkshire that existed before the Domesday Book. There's a renovated barn on the road in front which meant it was a quiet sanctuary. The row home was built from the stones taken from piles created when Oliver Cromwell tore the local castle down.

For the first 300 years the house was actually a foundry and then it was eventually made into a home. Besides the wild fuscia tree [yes, a TREE that bloomed beautifully even though it was the north of England] in the front yard, there was another gem down the right side. You can see a hint of it in the picture, a pathway, well, it holds the outhouses for the 3 homes in the row ... we stored our garden stuff and trash can in it.  Behind the cottage is a dry moat owned by the Queen and the remains of the castle.

Yes, it was three levels and tiny! In the cellar was the kitchen with a stunning Rayburn, first floor housed the living room and study [in extension] and upstairs in the attic was 1 1/2 bedrooms and a bathroom [in the extension ... that's how they moved the facilities inside]. It suited us just fine ... just had to walk up the road about 2 blocks as the crow flies to our favorite pub :-)

We loved this house, easy to see why and the Virginia Creeper on the front was beautiful but in actually it was a menace as it ate the pointing [cement] between the lime stones.

Fun to live in an old treasure, but we love our baby now ... she's only 100 years old.

FYI

My Angel from Good, Bad and Kinky, a paranormal erotic romance + bondage, was set in Knaresborough!

Order from All Romance|Amazon|Whiskey Creek Press Torrid


Tuesday, October 01, 2013

In the October Frame of Mind!

Taste for Blood
by Tilly Greene
Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc.
Taste for Blood by Tilly Greene
Contemporary Vampire Erotica + Blood Lust and Piercing

Order from All Romance|Amazon|BN|iBooks|Sony

People visit Whitby to enjoy an old English seaside town, eat fish and chips and possibly see a vampire or two. Ella lives there and is hunting a fake vamp that uses a famous young adult book series to ruin many young girls’ lives. One night a man she’s been watching shows his true colors and she puts her plan for revenge into action. Everything was in place for an anonymous act until an unpredicted twist flips things on their head. With only seconds to decide, she’s forced to make changes and ends up getting something she hadn’t bargained for—a sexy man who wants nothing except her body.

Revenge is sweet, but is a night of wild sex too high a price to pay for murder?

WARNING: Slightly gruesome erotica with sex during and after killing, plus a bit of blood lust, self-pleasure and a sexy piercing.



All Romance has a special treat going on this month.  Shop and you may find a treat greeting you in your library and Taste for Blood is one such treat!  Make a purchase and everything from a free ebook to a mini iPad are being given away ... my suggestion is to GET SHOPPING!

Monday, September 30, 2013

The Bookies are HERE!

Mythological Messes Redux
by Tilly Greene
The Bookies are the awards handed out during the readers convention, Authors After Dark.  They're unique because only attendees of one year can nominate and vote for those who are up for an award the next year ... so very cool!

So, the fabulous news ... drum roll please ... I was nominated for Single Author Anthology with Mythological Messes Redux!

Yes, I'm doing the happy uncoordinated dance and it's working!

The other two authors nominated with me, Heather Long and Jayne Rylon, are great and wither one will win, but I am happy to be nominated.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 7


Let's talk numbers on this last day of Banned Books Week.  According to the American Library Association, there were 464 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2012, and many more go unreported.

Out of 464 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom
  1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
    Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
  2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
    Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
  3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.
    Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
  4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
    Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
  5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
    Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
  6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
    Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
  7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
    Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
  8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
    Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
  9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
    Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
  10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence
Over this recent past decade, 5,099* challenges were reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom.
  • 1,577 challenges due to "sexually explicit" material;
  • 1,291 challenges due to "offensive language";
  • 989 challenges due to materials deemed "unsuited to age group";
  • 619 challenged due to "violence"' and
  • 361 challenges due to "homosexuality."
Further, 274 materials were challenged due to "occult" or "Satanic" themes, an additional 291 were challenged due to their "religious viewpoint," and 119 because they were "anti-family."

1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries; 1,811 were in classrooms; 1,217 took place in public libraries. There were 114 challenges to materials used in college classes; and 30 to academic libraries. There are isolated cases of challenges to library materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and students. The vast majority of challenges were initiated by parents (2,535), with patrons and administrators to follow (516 and 489 respectively).

Too, too many, but the light is brightly shined on what's happening during Banned Books Week.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 6

There is only one law that you need to know in regards to Banned Books Week.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The First Amendment Center goes into the history of censorship and highlights a few cases to explain where the law stands now in regards to banning books in libraries ... yes, it is still happening.

Be aware of what's going on in your libraries!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 5

Beloved by Toni Morrison
Children's books are subjective in how the reader views them.  A reader brings their life experience to the endeavor and children don't have that much to bring.  On the other hand, books for adults can be about anything and everything ... they've lived longer, know more and can imagine beyond what they know.  Also, adults can decide for themselves if a book offends them or not, and can walk away if need be.

Apparently not to challengers.  This year four of the top ten challenged books were for adults and I find that mind twisting.

The books are:

"Fifty Shades of Grey" by E. L. James
BESTSELLER
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 
"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
BESTSELLER
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
 
"The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls
BESTSELLER
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
 
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison
BESTSELLER
NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 4

Women on Top by Nancy Friday
por•nog•ra•phy n. 1. Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.

It is also one of the many reasons used for banning a book from a library and yet it's someone’s personal definition of what is pornographic, nothing more.  A few examples are:

Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday.  Pocket Bks. The book was removed from the Chestatee Regional Library System in Gainesville, Ga. [1994] because the book on women’s sexual fantasies is “pornographic and obscene” and lacks “literary merit”. After months of protest and maneuvering, the library’s only copy was destroyed when the child of a patron accidentally dropped it into a dishpan of water. The book is out of print and the library does not plan to replace it.

As a woman and author of erotic romances, I found this challenge particularly offensive. Sexual fantasies, be it a woman’s or a man’s, are healthy and should be embraced, not denigrated with ignorance.

Trailsman Series by Jon Sharpe.  NAL; Penguin. Challenged, but retained at the Springdale, Ark. Public Library [2001] along with other “western” novels because the writing include “pornographic, sexual encounters.”

Okay, confession time, I laughed when I read this challenge. Obviously someone has an issue with cowboys and sex, of which I definitely don't.

The Joy of Gay Sex. by Charles Silverstein and Edmund White.  Crown; Simon & Schuster/Fireside. Challenged, but retained at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library [2006] along with seven other books, including The Joy of Sex with a complaint that said: “they are very pornographic in nature and they have very explicit and detailed illustrations and photographs which we feel doesn’t belong in a library.”

This was interesting because the challenge included a similar book for heterosexuals so the challenge can’t be viewed as being entirely anti-gay. As these books are often viewed as instructional, I think in this case details are a necessity.

It seems as if one person's pornography is not another's.  Banned Books Week is all about celebrating the First Amendment. No one should have their opinions, good or bad, silenced.  What we need to do is respect the right for everyone to have their own views while the books remain available for whoever wants to read them.

These examples, and many others, were pulled from Robert P. Doyle’s Banned Books.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 3

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Every year for many years I've read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ... a banned book, but this year I've shaken things up and bought a new banned book, one by Lee's friend Truman Capote called In Cold Blog.

In Cold Blood is about a real murder that took place in 1959.  It was gruesome and the murderer of four people stunned the local community.  Truman Capote read an article about the murders in the newspaper and decided to go to Kansas to investigate. Harper Lee, a childhood friend, joined him on the trip.  Capote did not finish the book until after the two men convicted were executed in 1965.  Because he got close to the two men while interviewing them, there is supposedly a feeling of humanity that is not expected when it comes to dealing with murderers.

We'll see.

The book was banned in Savannah, GA after a parent complained about sex, violence and offensive language, but was eventually overturned.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 2

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
The book to receive the most challenges in 2012 was the entire Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey for "offensive language and unsuited for age group".

Okay, back when I worked in a small town independent book shop, the kid's section was always a hot bed of activity.  Parents came in to look on their own as did kids with parents in tow ... always a good sight to see.  We always noted what books the kids asked about and there was a group of a certain age [6-8] who came in to ask for the latest Captain Underpants.

Personally, I loved it when a kid had the guts to come up to me and talk to me about books, those moments made my day.  Anyway, we always knew when it was a first time request because parents would open the book to check it out, laugh and get a couple for the son to read.  Yes, it was generally a boys book, but not totally.

Scholastic Publishing is a major publishing house that puts out mostly children's books en masse.  Humor is difficult for some people to get, that is no reason to challenge a book.

Go ahead and pick up the first five books in the series for your child, grandchild or friend's child.  Read them and then sit with the child while they read them to you ... laugh and have fun!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Banned Books Week - Day 1

Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence
I hate that we even have a Banned Books Week [September 22-28, 2013], but since we do have such a week, we shouldn't hide from it ... let's talk about it and do something.

Today I read an article on NPR Books about Romance as a genre in this week and it reminded me of something I heard from my mother-in-law.

While the book had been partially released in 1928, it was in 1960 the full unexpurgated Lady Chatterley's Lover was published and the publisher sued for obscenity.  During the trial, a local newspaper obtained a bunch of copies and sent them to the North of England to a group of ladies who worked everyday.  They were told to read it and offer their opinions of whether it was obscene or not.

My mother-in-law lived her entire life in the North, but wasn't one of the select few to get the book.  She read it though because the book made the rounds.  As soon as one woman finished, she passed it on to a friend to read.  The outcome of the unscientific experiment was that the book was entertaining, not in the least bit obscene.  Thankfully a jury also found it not obscene and the book was once again published.

Back in 1930, the US wrote a law to help keep banned books from being imported.  It wasn't until 1959 that the Supreme Court considered the practice to withhold books a violation of the First Amendment and it's protection of free speech.

I'm still surprised that a book can be considered obscene because of adultery.

So, in response to those who prefer to ban, might I suggest you go out and get a copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence at Amazon, BN or OmniLit, read it, and enjoy being able to read the book!


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Great Day for a Surprise and a Contest with Prizes!

Let me share a something about me.

I am a fashion hound, love it, but don't necessarily need to wear it.  However, in recent years I have found an affection for purses.  Who knows why this has started, but it has and I am enjoying the bags I have acquired.


The brown one to the far right you can hardly see, its a small bag on a long strap and one I've had for 20+ years.  Told you I wasn't that into purses.  Next came the red bucket ... love it because it is color and the perfect size.  The blue was a total random "love the color, love the bag, love it and I want it now" purchase.  I've used it the most and it has an ink stain on the bottom :-(.  Then there's the pretty shiny pink little bucket that just makes me smile when I carry it.  The big backpack I use to travel when I need to carry my laptop and the smaller one on top is for the serious travel and plan to do the tourist thing.

Now there's a new bag in town!


It's my birthday and the cutie has given me what I'm calling a trophy purse ... it is absolutely stunning, sophisticated and unlike any of my other purses.  There is a shoulder strap but I'll never use it and I promise to take care of it ... it's LOVELY!

Because I'm feeling so giddy, I thought I'd share the fun with bags by I'm giving away the two bags I brought back from this summer's AAD in Savannah.  They are stuffed to the brim with goodies and books.

So, get working the Rafflecopter form!  There are two ways to gain extra entries:  Like my Facebook page and Tweet about the contest ... easy stuff ... now GO!.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sorry, no international entries ... these bags are too BIG!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Fashion Week in NYC

Marcus Tondo/Indigitalimages.com
Last week was Fashion Week in NYC and for the first time ever I relied on Pinterest for pics.

It was good, but not great.  The magazines I follow offered the best coverage, although I had to rely on what they think it the best garments, which aren't always the ones I like.  I think that was the problem.

In frustration, I found other pinners not related to the industry and they offered better views.  I was surprised by the lack of designer posts.

Right now London's Fashion Week is going on and it is only marginally better.

I had such expectations, never mind. The kinks are still being worked out.

My favorite garment of the week was by Oscar de la Renta: the print, color, design ... all were fabulous!