Supermarket Saving Simplified

There is a lot of hype right now about extreme couponing. We have all heard the tales about the woman who got a cart of groceries for only $5. Yeah, in a perfect world we would all have that luck. Now living in an area where my supermarket choices are pretty limited, I will admit I more often than not end up at Walmart or Sam's club to do my grocery shopping. I also don't use coupons mainly because Sam's won't take them and Walmart usually has a cheaper generic.

Really it has been my experience that the store generic item can taste just as good as the brand name. Thanks to the wonderful late Mrs B who taught me 5th grade grocery store math, I am also able to determine looking at the labels on the supermarket shelf which is a better buy: 2 of the smaller items or the larger item (most of the time it is buying the 2 smaller items, bigger does not always mean you are getting the best price). When you look at the shelf label check out what the price per ounce is for the two items. Sometimes it is only a difference of about .02, but all those pennies add up.

So what do you do if there is a brand name item that you really want or need (like Chocolate Cheerios which is really a bit of both. Mmmm...chocolate)? This is where coupons come in handy. The Sunday paper is the best place to look for coupon inserts on brand-name items. Store or product web sites can also be a great place to find coupons since many stores are now accepting print at home coupons. Be sure to check out the stores policy.

You have to love Walmart because they are really competitive for your business. Competitiveness is good for the consumer. You may have seen those "Match It!" commercials, well, it's true.

Click here for the Walmart Matching Policy

Not only will they price match, but they will also accept coupons from other stores as long as they follow the following criteria:

Click here for the Walmart Coupon Policy

Perhaps you don't have time to scan all those ads and websites to find the deals. This is where wonderful sites like SavingsAngel come in very handy. This site costs about $20 a month or $7.99 for a day pass. I was able to get a free 10 day trial to test the site out and I am kicking myself that I had just finished my shopping for the next two weeks because the site it just that awesome. You can choose among major chains to check out their sales for that week and the site will match it up with available coupons for even more savings (in some cases you do need to have those Sunday circulars as the coupons are not always available for direct download). You just click to add items to your grocery list and it will divide that list up by store.

Remember when scouting out the best price you will sometimes have four different stores listed on your grocery list, but you don't always have to drive around town because Walmart has that price matching option available to you (though you will need the original store circular in most cases. It might be a good idea to subscribe to the Sunday edition of your paper). Maybe next time I go to the grocery store I will have joined the coupon game...then again knowing me...maybe not. But it is nice to know that even not living in a major consumer area like up north, I still have my options. ;)

Book Review: Taming of the Rake

Article first published as Book Review: The Taming of the Rake by Kasey Michaels on Blogcritics.


The Taming of the Rake
By Kasey Michaels
HQN Books
9780373775910
07/26/2011

I am not always a fan of Harlequin titles, but Kasey Michaels is one of my favorite historical romance writers, a New York Times Bestselling Author, she must be doing something right. Which is exactly what she has done with her latest offering from Harlequin. The Taming of the Rake is due to be released on July 26, 2011. It is the first book in a new trilogy about the Blackthorn Brothers.

Michaels begins her new novel with an introduction stating that while she has written a few rakes and bad boys, she has never written a bastard, well at least not according to the legal definition. She stays true to the time period by making her three bastard brothers outcasts to pristine ton society.

Oliver “Beau” Blackthorn is the oldest son of an English Marquess. He should have had it all, there is only one slight problem...he is the illegitimate result of the Marquess' love affair with an actress. Young Oliver is immune to the ramifications of what being a bastard means in society because despite the misfortune of his birth, he and his brothers are loved, educated, and rich. He is also a young man in love. Love can put such blinders on everything.

Lady Chelsea Mills-Beckman is witness to these blinders after Oliver proposes marriage to her sister Lady Madelyn, which doesn't go quite as expected. As if the heartbreak wasn't enough for poor Oliver, he is thrashed by her brother for even thinking a bastard could rise above his station in such a way. She was only a child at the time and could do nothing but watch Oliver proudly walk away, bloody and bruised.

Flash forward years later, Lady Chelsea's brother has found religion, at least the kind of religion where women should be subservient. What better way to show his support of his direct link to God then to give Lady Chelsea's hand in marriage to the wet-lipped Reverend Francis Flotley? Desperate to escape her bleak future, Lady Chelsea runs away to the one person who hates her brother more-- Oliver!

All three brothers are named after characters in Shakespeare's plays and the titles of the novels also pay tribute to the bard. Just as in Taming of the Shrew, Lady Chelsea watches as suitors come to pay court to her sister. In this role, however she is cast as the mischievous younger sister. The buildup of Lady Chelsea and Oliver's relationship was very well written and believable. When they first meet, she plays tricks on him like convincing him that Lady Madelyn would be upset to receive the beautiful bouquet of flowers as they make her sneeze. After throwing them out the door, Lady Madelyn is piqued that she did not receive a gift like flowers from her visitor. Lady Chelsea has a good heart, however, as can be seen in the tears she sheds for young Oliver and all the mischief she gets herself into while trying to help others.

It is Oliver who is cast as the bad tempered one, only he didn't start out that way. The prologue was the best part of this novel because Michaels does a wonderful job representing just how naive Oliver was to his own situation. It would take something heart-crushing to turn such a wide-eyed young man into a hardened survivor closed off to love. The proud man who walks through Mayfair with dignity after a beating is a very different man from the one who came to pay court. This set up was perfect for the story and sets the stage for how a good man could possibly turn to vengeance and revenge.

Hopefully, A Midsummer Night's Sin and Much Ado about Rogues will not be too far behind. It will be interesting to see what Shakespearean twists can be applied to the stories about the additional two brothers as they find their true places in society and their hearts.

Book Review: Queen of the Dead

Queen of the Dead (A Ghost and the Goth Novel) by Stacey Kade might possibly be one of those sequels that surpasses the first book. I don't want to spoil the first book for anyone who hasn't read it, but while I did think the book was awesome, I was a little uncomfortable with the stereotypical view that Alona had that everybody wanted her (including females), though that fit in a bit with her shallow personality. The whole point of Alona being sent back from the light is for her to change her ways, right?

Queen of the Dead picks up two months after the first book ends. Will and Alona are still doing their thing helping ghosts atone for their regrets so they can move on to the light. Things get complicated when they meet a fellow ghost-talker who doesn't quite share Will's benevolent attitude towards spirits (Did I mention said ghost-talker is female?). It doesn't help that Alona's mom and dad are both moving on with their lives. Alona feels like she is being left behind and forgotten. Will's doubts over helping her "remind" her family about her previous existence only makes her feel more alone.

When Alona's rash action to take matters literally into her own hands results in dangerous unexpected consequences, a difficult choice must be made that will change their lives and the course of their relationship. The cliffhanger literally had me shocked and surprised it ended the way it did (sorry, no spoilers!). This book isn't due out in bookstores until May 31st, 2011, but hopefully Kade is busy typing away at the next one. ;)

Ack! What Have I Done?!

Writer's Digest is sponsoring a critique contest with agent Kristen Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency.

Simple, just submit the first 1000 words of your manuscript and you have the chance of being featured in an issue of Writer's Digest with a corresponding critique from Kristen. This is a wonderful opportunity to see just what it is that you are doing right or wrong. Well, if you get selected, that is.

It is also a very scary prospect because if you are selected, then your work will be featured in an issue of Writer's Digest with a corresponding critique from Kristen.

Yeah.

Well, criticism is suppose to be good for you and very helpful, so I have thrown my lot into the ring. I just emailed the first 1000 words of Stranger Than Fiction to the contest (BTW that has been renamed to Hooking the Hollywood Hottie, will change name on WIP list when I get access to a real computer). The contest ends Sunday, May 22nd 11:59pm. If selected, I will hear from them by June 30th.

What have I just done?

Of zombies, ghosts, and death gods...

Tomorrow may be the Rapture, or then again maybe not...

I love the fact that right now #zombieApocalypse is now trending on Twitter. Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is jumping on the social media bandwagon and adopting the zombie trend to promote disaster preparedness. There is something just so cool about a government agency that is willing to be, well, weird. But, you know, weird in a good way...

BTW Is there any coincidence that the end of the world is coinciding with Zombie Awareness Month?

Well, I have a new app to try out, Comic Life, and I have to say I am in love with it. I found it very easy to use and once I figured out how to get it from the iPad to Flickr so I could upload it to Blogsy to upload to Blogger (did you follow all that?), I see some awesome future blogging potential.

In honor of the potential Zombie uprising I have a death inspired book review comic uploaded for your enjoyment. Enjoy!

Smallville and Other Randomness...

Sorry, Jennifer can't come out and play today. To paraphrase Spongebob, I have the ick. Seriously, I am kinda wanting to swallow glass because it has to be better than the way I am feeling right now and I was actually doing better this afternoon and all.

You know you are not doing good when a shot of the "so you can rest medicine" just ain't doing it for you. It could also have been my perseverance to make sure I stayed awake to watch the finale of Smallville. *sigh* What am I going to watch now?

I could have done without that first hour and if you haven't seen the episode then please avoid...

*spoilers*

I loved the opening with Chloe reading the comic book to a little Ollie Jr. Very cute, but I felt like the whole bringing Lex back was a bit of a let down and they could have done more. Not surprised with how they handled that whole knowing Clark's secret thing, but Lex actually seemed like he had moments of goodness there at the end. That whole Lex for President angle comes from the comic verse so I am wondering if that is foreshadowing future movieverse. Also where were all the superheroes? Martian Manhunter, Star Girl, Black Canary, Cyborg, Aquaman? Why weren't they at the wedding? Even Perry or Cat from the Daily Planet? The only recognizable face in the crowd was Martha's.

Ever notice that no one in a comic/movieverse can get married without some evilness occurring? Cyclops and Jean Grey get propelled into the future to raise Nathan aka Cable, Chloe's Smallville weddings, Clark & Lois's wedding, the opening of the Incredibles!? Makes one wonder what it must be like to be a witness at one of those things and think "not this again!".

Yeah, think I have another story idea. Which is not cool cause I kinda need to finish the one I am working on. Wednesday, in the car of all places, I had a major brainstorm for one of my stories that I put on the backburner that will completely negate the seven chapters I already have written. See this is why none of my stuff gets finished. I have plot line ADHD. It is very serious and I need to focus.

Okay, the "so I can rest meds" are finally kicking in now that the tv is off.

Goodnight!

Internet Civility

The Internet certainly connects the world more than we were twenty years ago. We get instant news, instant entertainment, and instant feedback. In many cases this instant gratification can be just as much a bad thing as it can be a good thing.

One of the problems with the Internet is the online disinhibition effect. The online disinhibition effect happens when the inhibitions one would normally demonstrate in the real world are loosened. This loss of inhibitions often causes people to say and do things on the Internet that may be embarrassing, hurtful, or just completely out of character; stuff that they wouldn't do or say in public.

There are many reason that this effect can happen and many degrees, but what is important is that you remember that at the other side of the screen is a real person with real feelings. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and their beliefs, but when you choose to voice yours in a public forum like Twitter, Facebook (Yes, Facebook. Even though you choose who sees your comments it is still a social network.), or blogs, be prepared for others to have a difference of opinion. If you are not up to someone challenging you, then simply don't post. The purpose of these types of social media is in fact to be social, to start a conversation.

I am a librarian which means I fully support freedom of speech and a person's right to information. However, I draw the line at talk that is discriminatory and hateful. Thankfully many social media outlets agree and have policies in place for just such a thing. So remember before you post have a little civility and think before you type or you just might find yourself booted from the network.

Book Review: Magic Under Glass

I am going to share an old review I wrote for the Florida Library Youth Program blog with you because I think both the book and the author are just awesome. The paperback edition of this book comes out on May 24, 2011 and Dolamore's second book Between the Sea and Sky comes out October 25, 2011. 

Magic Under Glass By Jaclyn Dolamore. Bloomsbury, 2010. 978-1-59990-430-6

Nimira is a “Trouser Girl”, which means she makes her living as a singer and dancer in a two-bit music hall. She is not a native to the land of Lorinar. When Hollin Parry, Sorcerer, offers her the chance to be his private singer, accompanying his newly acquired piano-playing automaton, she jumps at the chance to escape the music hall.

The automaton has already scared away many singers who believed his moans and groans proved the automaton to be haunted. Then, there are the rumors regarding the death of Parry’s wife. Soon Nimira learns the secret of the automaton and the war building between the humans and the fairies.

Why I picked it up: I was curious about the storyline. I love stories that take established tales and then twist them into new creations.

Why I finished it: Dolamore weaves a wonderful web of conspiracy, magic, romance, and mystery. Not surprising that the author’s favorite classic is Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Though this novel takes place in a fictional setting it has all the elements of a Victorian Gothic Novel. I loved the book and am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I’d give it to: Teens on up with an interest in fantasy novels, particularly to readers of Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.

Survived and Conquered!

Special thanks to Elizabeth Muller for the nifty badge!

The A-Z Blogger Challenge is now over! It was a great experience and love all the new friends. I will admit that I am more of a silent lurker than a commenter, but I do stop by to visit.

What this means for the blog is that there might not be daily updates, but it will be more constant. My husband has challenged me to see how many words I have posted in the last month to see if they equal anywhere near novel length. Um, yeah, that means I need to get my butt in gear and make a dent in my WIP.

Stranger than Fiction (BTW that title so needs to change, but that is down the line when I have a little bit more worked out) is currently sitting at 4k words and I have decided to work on that one for a while. Plus, I have a whole bunch of digital ARCs sitting in my NetGalley inbox waiting to be read and reviewed.

Maybe the next challenge I will take up is the Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel. They should be announcing last year's winner soon. Wonder if anyone made the cut; it's the type of contest where sometimes no one gets the prized contract.

;)

Z is for Zombie

Come on! You knew it was only a matter of time until I went there. After all, I am the zombie whacking ninja princess (sorry, inside joke. Yes, I know, extremely unfair).
*readers scratching heads in confusion*
Anyway...
I really do feel like one of the walking dead at the moment. I just finished up with a stellar storytelling program that went very smoothly except that we were cursed with an absolutely beautiful day. The kind of day where you want to go to the beach, a beach that is only about 15min away...
Yes, everyone went to the beach. :(
Well, it is over and I am very excited because I have a copy of The Dark and Hollow Places (Forest of Hands and Teeth, Book 3) by Carrie Ryan. Yes, it is a zombie apocalypse story. I am absolutely in love with it.
I was going to say I love zombie stories because they can remain the villain rather than the love interest, though I know some authors have done it. Frankly, that is just gross. But I remember reading a series where zombies were the secondary characters who were really just very misunderstood and had lives just as social as any vampire or werewolf. It actually worked in the book, but that was a special circumstance. I mean really, zombie romance? I prefer a romance with zombies.
Have you seen the new Ford commercials featuring zombies?

Something else zombie related that I absolutely love is the ghoulishly delightful cookbook Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses by Zilly Rosen. I am not a bit fan of fondant but I love these tasty treats. The graveyard brownies look absolutely yummy. This will be a definite purchase to add to my collection which boasts of titles like Ghoulish Goodies: Creature Feature Cupcakes, Monster Eyeballs, Bat Wings, Funny Bones, Witches Knuckles, and Much More! (Frightful Cookbook). If you work with teens then they are an absolute must for fall programming. I mean who doesn't know that the Walking Dead (aka zombies!) are HOT right now? Well, these are HOT out of the kitchen HOT (sorry, bad attempt at humor).

Hmm, getting kind of hungry...umm, brains...cupcake brains...

Y is for Yikes

...as in I almost forgot to write this blog post.

So I watched the Dr Who premiere last night and was very excited to see that it was taking place in Brevard County at what was once back in 1969 called Cape Kennedy. Now it is called Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.

Considering that today was suppose to be the launch of space shuttle Endeavor.I find their timing pretty ironic. president even visited today! Would have been great if he had stayed a bit see surrounding community. So many families depend in some way on industry and business program brings area.

According to the local news broadcast, the President promised the astronauts that he is committee to funding NASA research.

*sigh* If wishes were rocket boosters, astronauts would fly...

X is for X-Men

It was so hard to think of a topic for X, but then a blog post from Writing Rockstar Meg Cabot about her reading choices had me thinking about X-Men.

In case you couldn't tell from the blog title, I am a little obsessed with superheroes. I am, however, a bonafide Marvel lover. To me they can do no wrong. Don't get me wrong, I love Smallville and Batman (You did know Batgirl was a librarian, right?). Plus I am very excited for all the superhero films coming out this summer, but DC just doesn't hook me the way Marvel does.

My ultimate favorite are the X-Men and my favorite pairing is Jubilee and Wolverine (the whole movieverse thing had me disappointed for a while, at least my girl was in the director's cut). When I was in high school and college I used to read fanfiction based on the series. My favorite site was WolverineandJulbilee.com. The fanfiction is no longer up, but the site still sits there in honor of the best comic duo ever (yes, I wanted them to hook up. JeanGrey is just a skanky two-timer who can't make up her mind). The website creator, Marjorie M. Liu, went on to become a published author in her own right (New York Time Bestseller in fact!) and her books do have some x-factory goodness to them.

When I was student teaching, I had a student who wrote X-men fanfiction. It was pretty good, but the cooperating teacher thought she was wasting her time. I wish more teachers would recognize the value of comics in encouraging readers and writers who do move on to more challenging stuff (not to mention that there are some really deep topics covered in comics that can be just as challenging as anything to be found in a classic).

W is for Wedding

It doesn't matter where you look this week, everyone is talking weddings. Particularly the Royal Wedding this Friday (which I find very funny considering the USA was founded by people who wanted nothing to do British Royalty and yet today we are obsessed with them).

So today I share with you one of my favorite Brits and a song about weddings...Um, yeah...weddings...

You know, he kinda looks like Spike. Billy Idol would make a great vampire. ;)

V is for Vuvox

I love Vuvox. It is a free tool available on the internet for creating interactive collages. This is a great resources for educators, librarians, and writers. You can use it to market a program, teach a lesson, or even incorporate a digital booktalk into it. I love the idea of using it to promote books because it allows the user to explore a bit more than a digital book trailer does. The only downside to the application is that it does use Adobe Flash which means that it can't be seen on an iPad or an android device (Bad Adobe! Haven't you learned nothing from Beta? If you don't allow others to use your technology then something not quite as good will come along to take your place. i.e. VHS).

*If you are viewing this post in a blog reader, you might want to check out the actual post because there is a pretty cool Vuvox collage on Digital Booktalks at the top that doesn't seem to want to carry over. ;)

Update Your Home

So maybe it is the fact that this book comes out on my son's birthday (9/24) or maybe it is my Hungarian seamstress grandmother's influence, but I love Sew Up a Home Makeover: 50 Simple Sewing Projects by Lexi Barnes. I am a novice sewer at best, so as much as I may drool over the ideas presented in this book, I know that I am just not up to par on every project (to be honest, I just don't have the patience to do a big sewing project). However, there are really simple ideas that I could do in a day or less and that is what I love. I mean I spend about $1-$2 on one placemat; multiply that by 6 or 8 and that could have been almost a complete meal. Fabric remnants are cheap and it is even cheaper if you up-cycle from some other item purchased secondhand or rescued from the closet. Why did I never think of making my own?!

That is the great thing about this book, it is a way to turn a nothing into a something just by adding a bit of new fabric you can create anything from a new slipcover for the beat up sofa to a cushy headboard for the bed. BTW I sooo want to make a marshmallow cushion. It is a project towards the back of the book (saving best for last?). They are perfect for lounging around at home, make them from a vinyl material and they might even be pool-side friendly. I can already see several in my future when I finally get my home organized. Yes, you see I still have unpacked boxes from when we moved in last year. I can not start any new projects until my guest/craft room is finally empty. *slacker*

Up-Cycling is a great way to decorate your home using materials you either already have or ones you can get cheap secondhand. When my husband and I moved miles and miles from Jersey to Florida we only had what we could fit in the back of a 4dr sedan and that was with room for two American Eskimos in the backseat. We hit up the local thrift store and were able to furnish our home on the cheap in a style that we liked. We still hit up the thrift stores and eye the garage sales, but I have to admit that our style back then was no where near the gorgeousness of those at Vintage Revivals.

Vintage Revivals is so awesome that they even have a Epic Room Makeover Giveaway right now where they will come and makeover your home. You have until April 30th to link up your picture for the vote. Maybe I should put a picture of my box filled room up on the site. You would all vote for me right?

Twitter Twit

Follow me on Twitter! @woofer_kyyiv, a photo by Slava Baranskyi on Flickr.

Okay, so around this time last year I was very anti-twitter. I just couldn't see a need for it when Facebook did everything that Twitter did. That was until I seriously started blogging and writing and, well, you get the picture. 

It helped that I spent a lot of time on my smartphone and was seriously bored. Yes, there is an app for that. It made me realize how many of my favorite authors, agents, and publishers were using twitter. The great thing is that they will even reply back to your comments when you @mention them. There are even Q & A events using hashtags like #YALit and #AskAgent. Very helpful.

I even won a box of books from an @YALSA twitter #whyYALSA contest. Coolness!

Twitter is a great resource for me. I am connected to other writers and bloggers. I am able to keep up on new technology and other trending topics. I can even find out the latest Dr Who and Marvel news.

BTW last night because the wonderful @KierstenWhite and @WolfsonLiterary retweeted the link to my book review for White's Supernaturally, the blog has seen 100 hits in two hours. That is a record. Now how can you not love that?

Come follow me on Twitter @JHopwood80

Supernaturally Rocks

Being normal is so overrated.

As Evie, is beginning to learn, real high school is nothing like a high school tv drama. There are things like homework, PE, and oh, yeah, those lockers. Yes, those coveted lockers from the first book. Not to mention a long distance relationship with college-boy, Lend.

Confused? I am of course talking about Supernaturally by Kiersten White. This is the sequel to the oh so wonderful Paranormalcy. First thing I have to say is that I have some absolute cover love for these books. Fair hair and eyed Evie standing in her gorgeous dresses. I really hope that they don't change the cover when book two finally hits the bookstore shelves because it is absolutely gorgeous. Yeah, I know, don't judge a book by its cover, but I admit that and the title are what first caught my interest in Paranormalcy.

Book two continues Evie's story with her trying to adjust to a normal life outside of the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Well, maybe more like not adjusting. Her shapeshifting boyfriend is away at college and she isn't exactly fitting in with the whole normal high school girl scene except for missing said boyfriend and making plans to attend the same college on early admission. In the first book, it was a desire for prom and in this one the goal is Georgetown.

It is no surprise that Evie is seriously tempted by Raquel's request to help IPCA out again with a couple missions, but of course things don't always go so simply for her. However, hasn't she learned from all those episodes of Easton Heights that lying and boyfriends don't mix?

Mingled throughout the teenage drama, you have Jack the boy who just doesn't want to grow up, a paranormal hunting UberVampire, sneaky paranormal locals, and yes, ex-boyfriend faery drama once again. There is even NASCAR, but you will have to keep reading to find out how that fits in the mix (yeah, not exactly Evie's sparkly pink scene).

Did I mention that this book is all age teen appropriate? Yeah, those bleeping "bleeps" are so endearing. It kinda fits with a character that has a pink taser gun affectionately nickname Tasey.

Questions will be answered but even more will be asked so book three better not be too far away. So put on your hottest paranormal hunting heels with coordinating sparkly pink accessories and head to your closest bookstore to place your pre-order for the July 26, 2011 release.

Reader Roundup

Thought I would share some goodies with everyone today...
Once upon a time when I was an undergrad, I worked for Waldenbooks (you know, those almost extinct places known as bookstores, in fact I think that one may in fact be extinct). St the time, most of my paycheck went towards supporting my reading habit. As a librarian, this habit continues. In fact, I tend to bring home more than I could possibly read and end up sending it all back or adding my name back to the hold lists. This doesn't stop me from wanting more books. The cheaper the better.
How can it get any better than free?
NetGalley is a website that connects book reviewers and librarians with publishers in want of reviews for their books. They only provide digital copies of the books, but these range from already release to already on the market. We aren't talking no name companies either, these are big name authors and publishers. Some titles are available for immediate download and others have a more stringent approval system. It is worth checking out. In fact many of the books you have seen reviewed on this blog have come from NetGalley.
LibraryThing and Goodreads are both websites that offer free books to their members in the form of contests. Think of it as placing your name in a hat and crossing your fingers that you will be picked. Many of these titles have hundreds of people vying for only a handful of copies; so your chances of winning are close to that of winning the lottery. I have known people who have received copies, so it can happen.
Remember that if you request a copy of a book for review purposes that you should actually review it. Failure to do so may not only hurt your chances or working with that publisher again, but also for other reviews.
You also might want to try some author stalking. NO! Put down the binoculars! I don't mean that kind of stalking! Check out the author's website. If they have a blog, follow it. Hang on their every tweet, just don't become an annoying gnat (you know the bug that buzzes annoyingly non-stop in your ear, get the idea?). You never know when there might be an impromptu giveaway directly from the author or their publicist.
A lot of book blogs also give away their Advance Readers Copies (ARCs) to followers and those that comment on their posts. (Sorry, this blog, does not yet host giveaways. Digital ARCs,yeah, non-transferable. But keep posted cause you never know when that might change). I find a lot of ARCs to give to my teen reviewers at the library by keeping an eye on the list-serves and blog rolls. Here are some websites I know of that offer free book contests, both ARCs and published:
Free Book Friday
Writerspace
Dead Rules Giveaways to Support Teen Reading
If you know of any other interesting places to get free books or ARCs, post the, to the comments below. Happy Reading!

Q is for Quiet Time

(183/365) Shhh...., a photo by Sarah G... on Flickr.

Shhhh....

I said quiet time. Find a book and settle in for a good read.

See you tomorrow ;)

P Is For Promoting Happyness

Yes, it is spelled wrong. Kudos points to anyone who can tell me where that one is from...

Anyway, today I heard some good, some bad, and some ugly. It had me thinking about happiness. With the economy as troubled as it is right now, many people are trying to just hold on. Many have been holding tight for longer than they expected and for some are just getting started. It is especially tough for those with kids because we want to give them the world or at least give them better than we had it.

Today, I heard about a government funded program that was giving capes out to the unemployed who visited their office. Yeah, bad idea and a waste of money, but I understand where they were coming from. When you don't have a job, it is very easy to sink into depression and once that happens it is hard to climb back up. They were only trying to boost moral and send a message. Though that message could have been told in a more metaphorical manner rather than literally passing out red capes. Everyone is somebody's hero regardless of what they do or if they have a job or they make tons of money. A lot of these heroes go unnoticed.

It is situations like this cape thing which paint a target on what other agencies are trying to do to help. I would like to hear more stories not about how the government or other companies are mismanaging but rather how they are doing right. When was the last time you heard about the family who visited the library where dad used the free Internet to search for a job and mom took the kids to the story time workshop being conducted in the children's room, also free? What about the free tutoring offered to at risk learners through the school system? Free family movies in the park? Free lunch at the senior center? Volunteer run community groups that provide sports for youth? How about a company like Target that gives back 5% of profits to the communities they serve? Yeah, might not sound like a lot, but think of how much 5% profit for a company like that can go. Even individuals can do small things to spread a little good cheer.

Yes, times are tough, but we all have a responsibility to each other. We all need hope and something to get us through. What do you do to promote a little happiness?

O is for Olivia Parker 's Guarding A Notorious Lady

So far on the blog, we have seen reviews for picture books, Young Adult, graphic novels, and craft books. Now it is time for some guilty pleasure reading. I am not a big fan of contemporary literature, I prefer my reading to send me either to another realm or another time. That is why I love historical romances. I especially love the stories where the love interest is the best friend or the guy who is always getting the girl out of trouble.

Guarding a Notorious Lady by Olivia Parker due out May 31st is such book. In this case it is the conundrum of falling for the little sister of your childhood friend, a little sister who is not quite so little anymore, and whom the task fails to guard her reputation while said brother is out of town on his wedding trip.

Wonderfully this story opens in a bookstore (for all truly great stories begin in a bookstore or library) where Lady Rosalind is attempting to snoop on a promising couple in the stacks; she is a matchmaking meddler after all. Unfortunately, a certain gentleman keeps blocking her view.

Nicholas Kincaid, the Marquess of Winterbourne, has already started in his duties of guarding the younger sister of his childhood friend. This mischievous lady has always managed to get under his skin though to be truthful she can't really help it if suitors decide to serenade her in the middle of the night. He'll just have to be handy with a ready pot, book, or slipper to throw at them.

What is a good historical romance without some scandal and treading on society's unspoken rules? Readers of Parker's other novels will be sure to recognize previous characters and elements (which in my opinion are the signature of a truly great historical romance). This is a delightfully fun read!

Coolness, I got some awards

Thanks to Deirdra at A Storybook World for the Beautiful Mommy Writer Award. Coolness!

I've also been awarded the Stylin' Award by Giggle, Laugh, Cry. Total Awesomeness! Check out her blog!

To accept the Stylin' Award, you have to do the following:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself. *See below
3. Award 10-15 blogs who you think deserve this award.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award.

Seven wonderful, glorious things about me are:

1. Have a wonderful family.
2. I love paranormal/supernatural type stuff but think the big baddies should, well, stay big baddies, i.e.not the romantic interest (unless the name is Spike and has a Brit accent, also a bleach blond.)
3. Have a serious tech addiction.
4. Tend to be a workaholic overachiever.
5. Have a second addiction--chocolate.
6. Will do anything to get out of folding the laundry, which includes contacting stomach flu.
7. Can find the answer to anything, i.e. a librarian.

Deserving blogs for the Stylin' Award are:
The Daring Librarian
Vintage Revivals
Mouses Houses
BonBon Rose Girls
Kiersten Writes
Adventures in Bento Making
Cherry Tomatoes Productions
A Storybook World
Read & Riot
Craft Gossip
Please check out their blogs!

Now if I could just figure out how to post these awards on a permanent page...

      

Not Having a Very Good, Wonderful Day

So I caught little man's stomach bug which knocked me out for a good portion of the day. I can't remember ever being this sick. Thank goodness for my men who took care of me.


Whenever I am having a horrible day I am reminded of Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Alexander is a young boy who wakes up to just one of those days. From gum in his hair to no prize in his cereal, it all goes down hill from there. Throughout the story he mutters the refrain "I think I'll move to Australia". This is a phrase that sticks with me and if you ever hear me mutter I am moving to Australia, then you know what kind of day I am having.

I have used this book in my story times; it is a great story to get kids thinking about how a story relates to their own lives. Many of them can emphasize with Alexander. To make sure they are paying attention, I have even asked them to keep track of all the horrible things that happened in the story.

On the flip side, we don't just focus on the negative. After we have talked about the bad stuff, we have brainstormed on what little things we can do to make it into a good day.

When you are having a bad day, what do you do to make it better?

Made For Each Other

This review has been reposted at the No Flying No Tights graphic novel review website. Please click here to see the review. 

L Is For Lazy Days

Sick Day by Flickr user Shom Tore

Today is a lazy day, no sooner did I walk into work than the school was calling me to come pick up the little man who was losing his breakfast all over the playground. Looks like it is cartoons for him and laundry for me today. But that is okay, could use a lazy day home from work. I might even make some chocolate chip cookies (Unfortunately, not the million dollar kind, just regular tollhouse).

When you have to stay home with a sick child what do you spend your day doing when not dishing out the meds and answering to "Mom?!" ? Is it a lazy day? Do you spend your day watching cartoons too? Or do you bring your work home to do? Do you spend your day cleaning the house (which is really what I should be doing)?

J/K LOL

Yeah, I know we are suppose to have two separate blog entries for each letter, but a friend gave me this idea. So for the combined letters of J and K, I present some of my favorite spoof/parody YouTube videos.

This is a parody video of Aqua's Barbie Girl. I love it because, though I might not fit the descriptions in the video, I am a Jersey Girl.

I love Taylor Swift's music because it all tells a story. My current favorite book series is Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth. Pair the two themes and you get this awesome parody video from VenetianPrincess.

I love paranormal and supernatural themed books. However, I really do think that vampires, well, they just need to die. Make them the bad guys again and Van Helsing their butts! The whole vampire craze is a bit over done for my tastes and that is why I love this next parody video.

Hello, librarian, had to mix that in here somewhere. I think we need more ads like this...Ummm, yeah...

Dr Who...Star Wars...Need I Say More?

Okay, this is from one of the best Graham Norton episodes ever. If you want to find out what happened after the guy from the personal ad got the picture of "The Doctor" try to find part 4 of the video.

BTW the joke was on me tonight because this was the second time I have tried to post this. My Blogsy app froze right when I was updating. The guys at Blogsy were right there on Twitter after I vented a bit of my frustration. Great customer service. I may have had a hiccup tonight, but I still highly recommend the app.

I is for...Innovation

QR_Code_Comic_Tutorial, a photo by The Daring Librarian on Flickr.

...Bet you thought I was going to say iPad.

If you have been following for a while then you already know I am a big fan of innovation and imagination. I have used digital storytelling in my library programs and I am still trying to think of ways to excuse bringing the iPad to work. --Well, this one gives me an excuse for bringing the droid.

The first time I heard about QR codes, I think it was through Woman's Day or Entertainment Weekly. All I can really remember was that it was a magazine left on the staff table. I downloaded the app and tried to scan the codes in the magazine. Needless to say it didn't really work , but I think it might have been the start of the issues with the Blackberry.

The Daring Librarian had a great post last week about using QR codes in her library as a scavenger hunt and though I am eager to try it, I am not so eager to hand my phone over to the teens. (Let us just say that I know a former Teen Camp Counselor who did something similar and he still gets text messages to this day from former camp members who "added" him while they had access to his phone. Yeah, so not happening.) I do applaud the idea and if I thought that my library's socio-economic area meant that every teen had a smart phone let alone a cell phone, I might even try it. --Yes, it is a misnomer that every teen has a cell phone, though I admit it does seem that way.

BTW know what I am going to do tonight? Yup, I am going to download a QR code scanner app to my phone. Who knows maybe I will change my mind about doing a program. While hands on programs are the best, there are sometimes ways around it. Very much a thinking out of the box ideology.

I welcome innovative thinking and new ideas and suggestions. I especially love hearing from other librarians. If you have a suggestion for a program, new tech activity, etc; I would love to hear about it.

H Is For Hot Apps

It has already been established that I am in love with my iPad. There are some great apps out there that are free or relatively cheap. Here is a list of some of my favorites:

Grocery IQ-- Free. This app is also available for my droid which makes it even better. It keeps a running list of items I need from the grocery store; when I update on the iPad it will automatically update the droid and vice versa. The list can be divided by store which means I can have a list for Wal-Mart and one for Sam's. It let's me input the prices to keep a running total of how much I am spending and keeps those listed in my history. Very useful and such a time saver-- it even has coupons!

Blogsy-- $2.99. Now I have been having trouble updating my blog from the iPad. I use blogger and for some reason the two just don't like communicating. That is where the new app Blogsy comes in. The app is new on the market and I mean new as of this week. Right now it has an introductory price that will change with the next update. It is compatible with both Blogger and Wordpress. You don't even have to know HTML code! (though I have to say, I am getting better at embedding the codes for links). Blogsy allows you to grab links and images from the integrated browser, Google Images, YouTube, Picassa, and Flickr. Simple and easy just like it should be!

Twitter-- Free. I use to be very anti-Twitter, but I have since discovered that it is a great networking tool. I am connected to authors, librarians, bloggers, and tech news. It keeps me up to date on the things that I need to know about.

Angry Birds-- Free. I am not obsessive about this game, but I can understand how some might be. It reminds me of an old shareware DOS game where these huge monkeys held on the top of these buildings and the object was to throw bananas at other buildings and helicopters. The one thing I will say about it is that it is very useful to have when you are sitting waiting somewhere with a five-year old who doesn't want to sit still...it even works on husbands!

Do you have a favorite iPhone or iPad app? Any for the droid?

G is for Gender Bender

Be prepared, Shakespeare is about to show his ugly mug once again.

Anyway, back in Shakespeare's time there were little or no female actors. It just wasn't acceptable. This does not mean that there were no female parts, as we well know. Most of the female parts were played by young boys. Now Shakespeare was pretty worried about the psyches of these boys (or at least that is what my Shakepeare professor used to argue). So he created situations in his plays that would allow these boys to get back into pants, britches, leggins, or what have you. These have been some of my favorite plays, I love the drama of will the girl be discovered?

This tradition of putting girls into pants with their hair cut short and their chests bound flat continues, especially in manga. The reasons for it range from wanting to get an education denied because of their sex to just wanting to be close to the boy they like. Here or some of my favorites and a few extras thrown in.



Alanna: The First Adventure (The Song of the Lioness) The Lioness Rampant Books by Tamora Pierce are all about a girl who disguises herself as her brother so that she can train to be a knight. This series is awesome and created a whole world for Pierces books that have gone on to inspire girls everywhere.







Hana-Kimi, Vol. 1: For You In Full Blossom Mizuki Ashiya is American, but she has been in love with Izumi Sano ever since she saw him perform a high-jump on television. Determined to meet her idol, she convinces her parents to send her to the same high school in Japan, not telling them that it is actually an all boy's school. 








The Education of Bet Here is another one where the girl is denied an education and takes her brother's place at the all-boy English Boarding School he was to attend. In this case, it is her foster brother and there is an underlying mystery surrounding her true parentage. 










Leviathan Okay, bad, bad, bad, librarian! Don't booktalk a book you haven't read! But I want to read it; I really do. It is even sitting on my shelf right now. But I will let the guys over at Unshelved explain it better than I could. Click

here. 








If you know of any others, put them in the comments below. 

F is for Fireworks!

Katy Perry's Firework-A Capella Cover-Mike Tompkins- Beatbox by YouTube user pbpproductions

The human brain is the greatest tool we have at our disposal. One spark of creativity can ignight into something beyond our imaginations. Even small ideas can lead to huge results.

Two library blogs that I recommend you follow are Gwenyth Jones' The Daring Librarian and Buffy Hamilton's The Unquiet Librarian . These two librarians both work in schools, but they are an inspiration even to this public librarian. Both also happen to have been listed as two of Library Journal's 2011 Movers and Shakers. They are innovators, change makers, and yes, fireworks. They do these things because they love it. They are library superheroes!

Who are your heroes? Who do you admire? Who do you emulate to be? Challenge yourself to be an innovator and catalyst for change.

E is for Everybody Wins!

This post almost became "Eek! I hit an itty bitty baby boar!" At first I thought it was a small dog or cat running across the street. It was very cute and very young which makes me think Mama Boar isn't too far behind.

But I digress...

Soooo...ten kudos points to anyone who can tell me what sport the title refers to!

*pause for speculation*

That's right! It is baseball month. My son plays t-ball and is very excited, well sometimes. I mean he is only 5 and so is his attention span. Right now if you head over to AtYourLibrary.org you can play Step up to the Plate @your library and be entered for a chance to win tickets to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. All ages can play and if your library doesn't participate, just send me a note and I will let you know of one that does. ;)

April is also full of other great events that can be used to promote libraries. For example:

• Hop to Your Library- story time about bunnies.
• Earth Day Birthday- throw a birthday party for the earth with recycled crafts and earth friendly tales
• El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros (Children's Book Day!) April 30th
• National Library Week April 10th-16th

With libraries everybody wins! Great books, friendly people, community, fun, and yes, sometimes even cookies!

What are some of your favorite library events?

D is for Deadline

Well, that is the problem with my writing. I have no deadline. It just doesn't seem to carry enough weight when it is self imposed. Therefore none of my projects ever get finished. However, I have no problem meeting a deadline for work or even stuff that has already been committed to a publisher. Problem here is that agents usually want to see the finished product rather than a work in progress. So far my only completions besides my upcoming chapter in Marketing Methods for Libraries have been my picture books. Yeah, not so much luck with the whole picture book querying thing.

I have been toying with the idea of entering a pseudo-fan-fiction type of contest rewriting a scene from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. To be honest, as much as it should be one of my favorite Shakespeare plays based on the concepts, I hold very little interest in it and I am not sure if I could sit down and try. Give me Twelfth Night! Give me Taming of the Shrew!  Give me As You Like It! ----I am having flashbacks to Shakespeare I & II. Scary!

The iPad addiction is whittling down, so I should get my act together and get more motivated. This A-Z Blogger Challenge is a step in that direction. What gets you motivated to write?

**Check my Works In Progress Tab for a list and synopsis of what I am working on ---or procrastinating on. ;)

Christmas in April

Well looks like I have already failed the challenge. Why did I think Saturdays didn't count either? Does it count that I caught this fact early in the game?

Anyway, I got home from work today to find a nice little padded envelope from one of my favorite publishers, HarperCollins. Awesomeness often comes in small packages because an Advance Reader Copy of Kiersten White's Supernaturally was inside the envelope. I am very excited to read and review the title. You may remember that her first book Paranormalcy was the first ever #bktweetlet. Keep posted for the review, I am thinking it would make a great addition for S.

If you are a book blogger or librarian, you may also want to check out NetGalley for other great titles to read and review.

Blogger...there's an app for that

I made a decision over the weekend and ditched the Blackberry in favor of the LG Vortex. So far I have not been disappointed. It sychs with all my google stuff, I can even get blogger. Though I have to say that my all time favorite app is GroceryIQ which is a free app provided by coupon.com. This app is available for both android and apple which means I can make a list on my iPad and have the list at hand on the phone while cruising the aisles at Wal-Mart.

What makes this app better than any others that I have tried is that it will list the items according to grocery aisle and I can input the price of an item so that next time I add it to my list it will keep a running total of what my grocery trip is going to cost me. I can also specify more that one grocery or warehouse club store and either designate items specifically to a certain store or list it as available for any store.

Yes, I am of the school that technology makes life better. What apps are your favorites?

Android or iPhone: that is the question

Happy April Fools Everyone!

Well, I was going to post about the origins of April Fools, but to be honest, I just couldn't rouse the energy to research about it. Maybe, I just wasn't interested enough. So what to write about that could start with the letter A? Why A? Well, today marks the first day of the A-Z Blog Challenge. Let's see if I can keep up.

So what starts with letter A? Android does. Now I love my blackberry, but it doesn't love me and right now it is good for little more than a paperweight. It also seems that because my husband's phone died a horrible death recently, I am not eligible for my free upgrade! Tragedy!

If I wait until April of next year, I can get my coveted iPhone 4. However, I don't think my blackberry is going to make it another year. I do have the option of upgrading to a LG Vortex which seems to have all the neat little features that I wanted in the iPhone. I do still have my iPad (*insert voice over* "My Precious"). It may not have 3G, but both phones can act as a hotspot if I decide to pay extra to my carrier. Probably not, but cool that it is an option.

So the question throw out into the blogsphere...Do I upgrade to the LG Vortex now or get a cheap *basic* phone to get me through until the iPhone next April? Those of you who have the Vortex speak up, I want your opinions.

*sigh* I am too much of a gadget junkie.

Jan Ken Po 2.0

The first video game that I can remember playing was Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle for the Sega Genesis. I loved the game because of this one feature: the Janken Houses. In the game, Alex would enter these betting houses where items would be placed for collateral and a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors would commence. 

Rock-Paper-Scissors is a game commonly used for selection purposes. On the count of three, players throw their hands out in one of three positions:

jan ken po, a photo by dukejeffrie on Flickr.

• Rock-clenched fist
• Paper- open downward palm
• Scissors- two fingers extended, separated in V

The idea is that

• rock can beat scissors by blunting the sharp edges
• scissors cut paper
• paper can cover or capture rock.

The game has evolved somewhat and this is what I love; new weapons or characters can be added for a variation on play. The most common of these is Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock.  Think Geek has a great    t-shirt illustrating the idea as well as a little blurb explaining how zombies fall into the mix.

Creating your own variations on the game play can be a very creative process. How would you play? What characters would you add to the mix?

I could do that!

Have you ever walked by a display of those hand-carved toys at Target and done a double take at the price? Yeah, we have all been there, done that, and yet we still dish out the money for the kitschy homespun look of those simple wooden carved or embroidered pillows toys. Why do we do that?

Now I will admit that my family is not 100% green, but we do recycle and I always try to reuse/re-purpose for the crafts that I hold at my library. In fact, just yesterday, my son raided the cardboard recycling bin in our kitchen for the empty Big Box Store cereal boxes and disappeared in his room to promptly come out wearing a cereal box mask and proclaiming himself to be a robot. Is there anything more precious than the imagination of a five year old who would rather play with a box than the multitude of electronic devices his parents provide for him?

Game stations, computers, and such are great, but they can be mind-numbing which every child who has proclaimed "I am bored! There is nothing to do here!" can attest to--even while they are surrounded by high-tech or expensive name-brand toys. That is why I love Joel Henriques' book Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations. The ideas are so simple that you will be inspired to come up with your own homespun toys to keep the kids entertained. The directions are easy to follow and the crafts are really simple. Great project for a Sunday afternoon! Need more inspiration than those contained in the pages of the book?

Well, there is a blog for that! Joel Henriques is also the brain behind the website Made by Joel. Simple pictures and illustrations detail the steps for creating your own projects that are just as fun to play with as they are good to look at.

This book is due to be published in October 2011, make sure you pre-order your copy today. You won't be disappointed.

Update on Twitter book reviews

Okay, the first Twitter book review is up. Remember that first does not always mean best (in other words, my example might suck a bit). Feel free to try your hand at the mayhem. Rules? Well, of course there are rules!
1. Give book title
2. Include hashtag #bktweetlet
3. Include hashtag #awesomeness, #sucks, etc to express your feelings on the book.
4. Remember you only have 140 characters to express this all, be creative!
5. Have fun!

I will try to collect some of the reviews to post on this blog as they start coming in.

Short and Tweet

One of my favorite authors, the wonderful Meg Cabot, recently posted this on her twitter feed: twitter movie reviews. They were short and they were sweet and yes they did peak my interest. Some of them were pretty funny. This sparked an idea in my head.

Some years ago, I did a program based on the book I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure. The lesson learned, it is hard to be creative when you are stuck to a word count parameter. 

Of course, that doesn't stop me from trying. Hence, my new idea: twitter book reviews. Twitter already limits the characters for each post you make. Add a hash tag and you are limited even more. This means you have to be creative.

So crack open those pages and get to reading. Let those twitter book reviews come flying in (yes, pun intended).

The only problem is what hashtag to use. Hmmmm.....

Got any suggestions?

Procrastination is the Killer of All Creativity

Every year I have the same goal, to finish my novel. But I let other things get in the way and I find excuses. I move on to other projects, leaving others behind. So to spark my creativity once again, I am posting the prologue to my work in progress The Moon at Dusk. I hope you enjoy it.

Prologue
1879 Hungary  

 "Jozsef, you need me in your life, but to be honest I don't need you," she had told him after one of his friends had made a remark about her unknown father.     

His friends had chided him on marrying so far beneath him. He had tried to fight the attraction believing that they were right, that she was only interested in him for his money. But like a moth to the flame, he was drawn ever nearer.  

The petite blond had proved to be anything but a fortune hunter. She was a child born out of wedlock, but was openly unashamed of it. She had told him that she would live in a hovel with dirty bare feet as long as she had music and laughter in her life. 

Katrina had been the joy of his life. They had been married for ten years. It hadn't been easy, they learned who were true friends. The decision to retire to the country was only partly due to Katrina's pregnancy. It was her thirteenth. She had miscarried three times before this, the last being stillborn twins. None of the others had survived beyond mere days. Katrina had dreamed that this one was special; this one would be their little angel. Their miracle. She had been so excited. Her laughter even more musical. The dream had quickly turned into a nightmare. 

"It was too soon, Jozsef. Katarina lost too much blood," his mother-in-law chided as she rocked the newborn baby girl in her arms. Ilka was wise in many things, but even she had been unable to save the life of her daughter. "You must choose a name. It is bad luck for the child to go too long without a name."  

"I can not think." Jozsef cast an anguished look at his dead wife's body. He gently placed her hand on her chest and quickly stood up, knocking over the chair in which he had sat his vigil. The noise startled both he and Ilka. The child looked at him with her clear, ice blue eyes. Not crying, only staring.Not sure where he should go, Jozsef quickly left the room.

He ran past the servants who awaited news of their mistress. The maids held kerchiefs to their eyes. Katarina's maid, Lici, sat on the hall floor oblivious to all decorum as she muttered the Lord's Prayer under her breath.Straight out the door he ran, past the men who tended the stables. He could hear the uneasy knickers of the horses as the lads tried to calm the jittery beasts. They had been uneasy ever since the mistress had been found.

The coachmen shook their heads as they watched their young master go. One man looked toward the mistress's window and crossed himself.  

Jozsef ran till he came to the main road that led away from his estate and toward town. He paused to catch his breath. He looked around and realized he had come to a fork. One road would take him into town and the other would take him deep into the woods. Turning around he glanced back the way he had come.  

How could he go home? She would be waiting for him. The little nameless one that had taken the life of his beloved wife. At that moment he wished Death to come for him. To end the pain and let him rest with his beloved. 

He fell to his knees in anguish and cursed the God who would give one life at the cost of another. He raged and he ranted as he sat in the middle of the road. The skies, as if in answer to his pain, were rent apart as a bolt of lighting struck a withered tree just a few feet from where Jozsef grieved.    

Soon the rain came down in torrents of cold wetness that seeped through his jacket, yet still he did not move. Muddy water began to pool around his knees and into his boots.

Dimly he heard a coachman try to avoid the crazed man kneeling in the road. He vaguely heard the cursing and the horses as they came to a stop. Too absorbed in his grief, he allowed himself to be lead into the carriage that would have surely tilted if the ground had been just slightly more muddied.     

"Now is not your time," said a cultured voice from the confines of the carriage.  

Jozsef looked in the direction of the voice. Across from him sat a man of about thirty. He had long, glossy black hair. Though his dress would have been appropriate during another time, it seemed appropriate for him. That too was black. He was clearly a gentleman.  His lashes looked to be rimmed in soot. The eyes were completely dark. Jozsef found himself becoming lost in the inky depths. He came to himself with a jar as he was handed a flask that revealed a very fine brandy.    

"My time for what?" Jozsef asked as he took a swig from the flask. It burned as it hit the back of his throat. He took another and another as he waited for the man to answer.    

"You said you wished to die," answered a calm knowing voice. The flask halted midair. The hair on the back of Jozsef's neck stood up on end. He rubbed his arms to work off the sudden chill that had nothing to do with the rain. "Who are you?"  

“I don't think I need to tell you," a flash of lighting illuminated the interior once again, throwing ghoulish shadows across the chiseled features,"You already know."  

Jozsef tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat, "If I'm not going to die, then what do you want with me?" 

"Your wife was found collapsed in her garden, am I correct?" 

"Yes, she said she wanted to take a stroll in the moonlight." Katarina had been complaining about small pains in her back. Ilka said it was because the birth was drawing near. His poor wife had thought a short walk in the garden might help. Discovering the air chiller than she had first thought, she had sent Lici in for her wrap. When the maid returned, it was to find her mistress prostrate on the ground. "How did you know this?"    

"My dear Jozsef, I know everything. I also know that her neck was bleeding as if an animal had torn the skin."  

"Yes, but it was a minor wound," Jozsef defended. "If not for--"    

"If not for the babe," was interjected into the silence. "Isn't that what you were about to say? She may even have survived it, if not for the babe."    A cold hand was placed on Jozsef's knee as the gentleman leaned forward, "I am sorry, but she was already gone. Once one is bitten, even if one survives, one is never the same."    

"You lie!"

"Temper Jozsef, remember you don't want to anger me," a hint of a smile played at those plush lips.    Jozsef felt his skin grow cold and clammy.  

"I have a proposition for you," the silky voice purred. "Soon you will receive word that a position has opened for you as an emissary for the British Foreign Office. I advise you to take it."    

"What do you want me to do once I have secured the position?" 

"You? All I want from you is to move your household to London. Raise your daughter in the traditions of the old and the new."  

"What has my daughter to do with anything?" A fierce protectiveness came over Jozsef at that moment.  

"More than you know." 

The carriage pulled to a stop and Jozsef saw that they were in the familiar drive to his home. He could see Ilka watching from a window. She was still holding the baby in her arms. "My angel," he whispered.  

"I can make your life very easy or very hard. The choice is up to you which road you want to take. Remember, Jozsef, no one cheats me."    

Jozsef left the carriage and made haste into the house. He went straight to his mother-in-law and took his little girl in his arms.

He turned towards Ilka, "Angylika. We will name her after the angels, so they may watch over her."    

Ilka laid her hand on Jozsef's arm, "It is a good name."  

He could hear Death's carriage in the drive. There was no choice. He knew that. Death would find a way to get what he wanted in the end. He would take the position. What kind of place would this London be?, he wondered.