25GoC: Madison Scott + contest

What Christmas Is To Me:

By Madison C. Scott

1. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
   The Greatest Gift mankind has ever received, the Savior of the world.


2. Christmas is Santa Claus.
   I live with my parents and seven siblings ranging in age from eighteen to five. Christmas Eve finds the fireplace doors opened just a crack, cookies, hot chocolate, and a note on the Santa plate by the hearth, and kids determined to hear Santa’s reindeer on the roof.


3. Christmas is family.
   We seem to have a lot of family time throughout December. Someone’s always in the kitchen baking cookies or making fudge and in this house, that’s an ordeal that requires no less than two helpers. The Christmas movies are out, and on, and we’ll wander through, catching our favorite parts. Keeping secrets, hanging the garland just right, decorating the tree, baking for gifts, everything has to have the whole family’s participation for it to be right. My mother’s family has a Christmas party every year, tree, presents, dinner and all, along with grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, cousins that I know are cousins but I’m not sure how, we all show up. Christmas day means my grandparents, uncle, cousins, and the occasional odd boyfriend/fiancé of a cousin come up to the house for presents and sweet stuff.


4. Christmas is tradition.
   I love tradition. It’s a reminder that no matter how old you get, or how much things change, some things will always be the same. From decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving, to watching A Christmas Story a dozen times, to daddy reading “The Night Before Christmas” on Christmas Eve, to the fudge recipe, and punch, and chocolate-chip-pecan pie, everything about the Christmas Season is centered around tradition. That makes me very happy.


5. Christmas is giving.
   I prefer to make the gifts I give, I think it makes them more special, and I’m not a big fan of shopping. I don’t like crowds, I don’t like trying things on, and I can usually find a much better (in my opinion) way to spend a day. Once a year, though, my grandmother and I have a Christmas shopping day. We get lost in the mall, visit the toy store two or three times because we forgot something, have lunch, and get most of her shopping out of the way. I love doing that.


6. Christmas is music.
   My sister is playing carols on the piano, Christmas music is on the radio, Bing Crosby’s “Silver Bells” is stuck in my head on repeat, somewhere in the house someone is singing “Mele Kalikimaka” and won’t stop. Daddy’s singing Elvis: “I’ll have a bl-bl-bl-blue, blue, blue, bluuuueee Christmas.” It’s everywhere.


7. Christmas is on the television.
   It isn’t quite Christmas without the Christmas movies. A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, White Christmas, Polar Express, Ernest Saves Christmas, Tim Allen’s Santa Clause movies, Rudolph and all the classic stop-motion movies, and Elf, to name a few.


8. And last but not least, Christmas is that warm fuzzy feeling.
   The warm fuzzy feeling when your family is all together, when you hear the cold wind outside and are warm inside, the tired, content feeling, the indescribable happiness. Christmas is love.

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Madison Scott celebrates Christmas with her family in Tennessee, where the trees are occasionally still green, the grass occasionally still needs mown, and the temperature is occasionally 50 degrees on Christmas Eve. The closest she’s ever been to a white Christmas was the one year there were snow flurries, but a Tennessee Christmas is all she ever wants to experience, with or without the snow. Check out her website at www.madisonscott.webs.com and see what mischief she’s been getting into lately.

In addition to that wonderful guest post, Madison Scott has so kindly donated 2 copies of her book, Reba, for giveaway!

Comment on this post to enter

Basic Entry rules:

Open to U.S. only

Contest closes December 25th

+1 comment w/email

+1 follow me

Full entry rules can be found HERE

Also make sure to enter to win a signed bookmark by clicking on the contest link in the sidebar!

Thanks so much

Jill

25GoC: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

WHAT I OWE TO CHRISTMAS

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I'm Jewish, so I primarily celebrate The Other Holiday, but Christmas has always been a part of my life - my husband being a Christmas celebrator, some of my best friends being Christmas celebrators, not to mention my enduring love for How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And really, since my husband and I have a daughter, I like being a two-holiday household because it gives us an excuse to have double the fun with Jackie.

But ever since December 2006, I've had a reason to be grateful to Christmas. Jackie was six at the time. We were out visiting friends in Crested Butte, Colorado. Our friends have no kids, nor do they own a TV, and a blizzard struck, closing down Denver Airport and extending our visit to 10 days. 10 days! For those of you with kids, and those of you with close knowledge of kids, can you imagine being somewhere in this day and age with no TV and no other little people for your own little person to play with? In Jackie's defense, she did very well for the most part. But that blizzard meant that we would not get out of Colorado until Christmas Day and would therefore miss Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the rest of the family. [Note: I'm the only full Jew left in the family, with Jackie considering herself a half, so the celebrations with everyone else are still big and it was a lot for her to miss.]


Well, we had to do something to entertain ourselves on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas Day, most of which we spent in airports and on planes. So we began brainstorming ideas for a book that kids Jackie's age would enjoy. By the time we finally made it back to Danbury, we had the idea for a whole series of books for 6- to 10-year-olds called THE SISTERS 8, about octuplets whose parents go missing one New Year's Eve, leaving the Eights, as they are known, to solve the mystery of their parents' disappearance while keeping the rest of the world from realizing that eight little girls are living home alone.

We wound up selling the idea to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the first four books in the projected nine-book series have already been published, with the fifth, Marcia's Madness, due out May 3, 2010. All the books are written by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com/) with Greg Logsted (http://www.greglogsted.com/) and Jackie Logsted (Jackie doesn't have her own site yet, but the Eights do at http://www.sisterseight.com/).

So thank you, Blizzard of 2006! Thank you, Christmas Spent In Airports And On Planes! Without you, there'd be no Sisters 8, no series written with my daughter, which has been the greatest joy of my writing career.

May whichever holiday(s) you celebrate be joy-filled and creative.

Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night.

25GoC: Saundra Mitchell

10 Things that Ungrinch Me for the Holidays

By Saundra Mitchell

The end of the year is always crazy busy for me, and I tend to get overwhelmed with the crowds/details/errands/tasks/schedules that I have to struggle through. As a writer, I like a lot of quiet and solitude, and there's very little of that in December. But, there are ten things guaranteed to get me out of Grinch-mode and into the holiday spirit.

10. Making cranberry relish the way my grandmother used to- with her hand-grinder and everything.

9. Thick, perfect slices of challah and friends to share it with.

8. Fires in fireplaces- mine or other people's. I love the richness of woodsmoke on the night air.

7. Cards in the mail instead of junk.

6. The wide, winter sky, so black against snow, glittering with stars from horizon to horizon.

5. Juniper and holly and spruce in the house- my favorite color, some of my favorite scents.

4. Candles for Chanukah, for Christmas, for Kwanzaa, for Solstice. I love candles, and everyone's lighting them this time of year.

3. Mulling apple cider- I can't deal with nog. I just can't.

2. Listening to Dar Williams' THE CHRISTIANS AND THE PAGANS, which only makes me cry every single time I hear it.

1. When the snow falls so fast, it whispers.

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comment on this post to when 1 of 10 signed bookmark!

But please first read THIS for all contest details

Thanks

Jill

Final Details about 25 Guests of Christmas

Tomorrow begins the 25 Guests of Christmas @ Reading Is Bliss and before I kick it off tomorrow I'd like to get all the details clear here. Also, you'll probably be seeing me refer to the 25 Guests of Christmas as 25GoC so if you see that, now you know what I mean.

1. Each day one or two authors or bloggers will guest with a holiday related post. Maybe it's a favorite recipe, maybe a favorite song, or memory, etc.
2. Some authors (and one blogger) have generously joined in with the Christmas spirit and donated prizes just for you! *Look for contest details below*
3. Other things that will be included during 25 Guests of Christmas are some of my favorite recipes, songs, movies, and books.
4. There should be buttons available to grab soon and please do grab them as soon as their available so we can spread the holiday cheer
5. Reviews and other posts will continue as normal. Whenever I have one I will immediately post it without change.
6. Please Please Please comment! Even if you aren't entering the contest. Just so I know whether this was a success and whether or not to continue this next year. Thanks in advance for that

Contest Stuff:

1. To make it easier to keep track of, ALL CONTESTS WILL CLOSE ON DEC.25
2. Again to make this easier, there are only 2 ways to enter
   +1 comment W/ YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
   +1 follow me (same points rewarded for current or new followers)
3. I will not be shipping out prizes so you actually have a chance of getting them at a decent time. People giving them away will also send them
4. You can enter as many contests as you want
5. Winners should be announced and emails should be sent by the 30th. since I'm not sending the prizes out I can't guarantee when they will be shipped
6. All Contests are open only to the U.S. unless otherwise stated. Sorry.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for a wonderful Countdown to Christmas!

Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!

Jill

Secret Project Revealed

Hello,

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!

Now for those of you who don't already know this December I'll be hosting...

The 25 Guests of Christmas

Each day there will be one or more guests (either an author or blogger) who will be sharing some of their favorite things about the holidays. Some will even share their book or other goodies with you!

There will be more details later with all the little requirements for contests and such but for right now I just wanted to let y'all know what was going on and why I've been kind of MIA for a while as I organize all this and enjoy my own holiday traditions.

You should be seeing changes pop up here and there as we grow closer to December 1rst but they are all temporary. Everything should be back to normal on this blog after December but for now, enjoy the simple changes.

So be ready for lots of Christmas-y Fun starting December 1rst and ending the 25th.

Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!

Jill

A (Kinda) Secret Project

Hey Everybody!

Just thought I'd let you know that I'm working on a (kinda) secret project that's not really that big of a secret because I'm about to give you a huge hint and I've asked a lot of people that could possibly follow this blog to help me but still....

Those who don't know about it will find out very soon but in the meantime here's a hint...

What holiday is coming up soon?




......Okay okay I know Thanksgiving is coming up very soon and I'm very excited but that's not what I'm getting ready for and it's not what this project is about so keep thinking...



Give up yet? Here's another clue. During this happy time a big jolly guy (I'm not naming names here but he wears red and flies reindeer....but you know that could be anybody...) comes to visit and gives out PRESENTS FOR EVERYBODY...well if you're good (or at least lucky).




More on this later. but let me tell you-it's definitely worth getting excited about. Check back soon for more details.



thanks and happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

Jill

The Vinyl Princess Review

Title: The Vinyl Princess
Author: Yvonne Prinz
Release Date: December 2009

Summary from Amazon:
Summer is here, and 16-year-old Allie, a self-professed music geek, is exactly where she wants to be: working full-time at Berkeley’s ultra-cool Bob and Bob Records. There, Allie can spend her days bantering with the street people, talking the talk with the staff, shepherding the uncool bridge-and-tunnel shoppers, all the while blissfully surrounded by music, music, music. It’s the perfect setup for her to develop her secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, author of both a brand-new zine and blog. From the safety of her favourite place on earth, Allie is poised to have it all: love, music and blogging.
Her mother, though, is actually the one getting the dates, and business at Allie’s beloved record store is becoming dangerously slow—not to mention that there have been a string of robberies in the neighbourhood. At least her blog seems to be gaining interest, one vinyl junkie at a time….

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Hookability: 7/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 9/10
Recommendation: 8/10
Total Score: 52
Grade: A

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 3/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 2/10
Sexual Content: 1/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 3/10

Written Review:

I couldn’t help but love The Vinyl Princess. Though the whole novel was great, one of its strongest points were the characters. They each had such a definite personality whether they were major or not. Allie was very strong, witty, and passionate. Her clever voice narrated the whole book and the way she described a scene unfolding or a new unusual character that walked in to the store is what really pushed this novel over the top. You could tell that the author was a vinyl princess in her own way too and owning her own indie record store probably helped to develop those eccentric characters that shopped at the store.

Even though I am in no ways a music buff, I could really relate to Allie. Just like she has a passion for old records, I have a passion for books; just as she finds her “community” of other vinyl lovers through her fanzine and blog, in a sense I find my community of those who love YA novels through my blog. Her passion is what all of us can relate to in one way or another. Well that and the fact that she’s a teen girl facing most (if not much much more) of the same dilemmas we all face.

Like I said before, I am not a person who knows music at all. The mention of albums and artists went right over my head and I didn’t fully understand all the references until I shamelessly googled them. But none of that stopped me from enjoying this novel. Enough other stuff happened which kept the story moving at a very realistic pace. And even though it all happened over the course of one summer the whole book flowed flawlessly.

Romance was never the main theme of this novel but I wasn’t expecting it to be so that wasn’t a disappointment at all. The amounts of romance it did have were very well done though. The novel mainly toyed with the idea of finding the “perfect love” and all of the trouble that goes with it. Allie’s relationship with her mom was so cool because her mom was going through all of the dating stuff (again) at the same time as Allie and Kit making them relate a bit more to each other and even making Allie have the upper hand a few times because of her so called boy knowledge. It was funny to see their backwards roles that they played in a not-so-typical mother-daughter relationship.

The Vinyl Princess got me hooked from the very fist page with its sharp voice and intriguing characters. Though I really enjoyed it I know that people with a strong passion for music, especially for older classics, would enjoy this all the more because they would understand all the references to albums that I didn’t fully get. The ending had all the aspects you would want also. It tied up any loose strings and gave a great conclusion to Allie’s story while also making the reader want to spend more time with her and the rest of the characters.

Overall this is a realistic and humorous novel with true heart and great passion for music. The witty tone, incredible characters, and strong prose get you hooked from the beginning and keep you wanting more. Though those in love with music as much if not more than Allie would enjoy this the most, I recommend it to anyone wanting to get into the mind of a passionate teen with a fresh voice and plenty of adventures to share.

O and check out her blog and even sign up to recieve a fanzine and a button (I have one, It's awesome) at http://www.thevinylprincess.com/

Thanks so much

Jill

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: 6 Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure

Title: I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets
Author: edited by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser at Smith Magazine
Release Date: September 1, 2009

Summary from Amazon:
One life. Six words. What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Met online; love before first sight.

Hair's pink to piss you off.

I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant.

My mom had my boyfriend deported.

Late for school every single day.

According to Facebook, we broke up.

Written Review:

This review is a little harder to write then some of my past reviews because this isn’t a book to sit down and read from cover to cover (though you most definitely could do that without getting tired of it a bit). There are no stable characters, plot line, or voice like a typical novel would have. But that’s all because this isn’t a typical novel.

SMITH Magazine has captured so many unique stories in just a few short words in just one short book. There are those that make you laugh, those that make you think, those that make you happy, those that make you sad, and those few memoirs that are so relatable that you read them again and again, wondering how some teen from somewhere you don’t know has put your whole life into six words with as much depth and honesty as they did.

I recommend every teen to have a copy of this book to read and remind yourself that you aren’t alone in all of your struggles and emotions. I applaud these teens for having the ability to share so much of their life when their restricted to only six little words.

Overall, I CAN’T KEEP MY OWN SECRETS is a quick read that is entertaining and heartbreaking and then entertaining again. With such a vast array of teen writers (and there truly are some talented ones in there) there is easily something for everyone to relate to and everyone to enjoy.

This is a book you can read over and over, each time discovering something new and refreshing. It’s another great addition to the 6 word memoirs collection and I definitely recommend buying a copy if you don’t already have one.

__________________________________________________

Thanks.

Jill

P.S. Did you know that another fellow blogger (The Compulsive Reader) has her very own entry that made it into the book!?! I think the whole book’s worth checking out just for that...

P.P.S. Check out the trailer. It's really well done and definitely gives you a taste of what this book is like.

Guest Post

A Guest Post by LM Preston, author of the upcoming YA novel, EXPLORER X-ALPHA
____________________________________________________

TRUSTING IN YOURSELF

Trusting your own gut feelings is one of the best gifts we possess. We all get that little ‘twinge’ when something just isn’t right. When that happens…LISTEN TO IT! Trust yourself or your ‘gut’ some call it. Trust it at all times, it will never steer you wrong.

When I was young I lived in the inner-city. The neighborhood I called home, had gangs, drugs, muggers, killers, and lots of kids and family nearby. However, with all of these things present, I didn’t realize that my gut instincts were strengthening with each day I played outside, walked to school, to the bus, or traveled the city alone.

I never understood why my grandmother, affectionately named NaNa, didn’t want me to leave my block to go to the store alone. Or why, I wasn’t allowed to cut through the alleys to get to my cousin’s house, and the numerous lists of things I was told to watch out for.

My main character in EXPLORER X – Alpha realizes that something isn’t quite right with the immunization he is given. Aadi takes the initiative as asks the Doctor why it is being given to him. In addition to this finding, Aadi confirms his concerns with others.

Here are some steps to take in trusting yourself in all things;

LISTEN TO THAT ‘TWINGE’ IN YOUR GUT

When you are in a situation with a friend or an adult, and you get that feeling that something isn’t quite right, then you are most likely correct. Learn yourself, and test this ability.

Take this example for instance. Your friend tells you that you should sneak out to go to that great party that so-and-so is going to, but you feel this tickle in your tummy before you hesitate. This is your gut talking to you. It’s telling you … hold on … don’t jump into this.

Listen to it. Find out how your gut talks to you. Think of all those times you got into major trouble, and ponder over what you felt just before you did the deed that got you into that mess. That’s how you learn how your psyche talks to you.

TAKE A STEP BACK, AND ASK QUESTIONS

Never, ever, feel like you don’t have the right to ask a question. Asking a question only gets you in trouble when it hasn’t been asked, or the person of whom you are asking the question doesn’t want to give you an answer.

Don’t think I’m right on this? Test it, and think back to times when the person of whom you asked a question reacted negatively. In most cases, it is because they don’t want to give you an answer.

Asking the question is never, ever wrong. You have the right. So use it when you are in those situations where your gut is telling you that something is just not adding up.

IF IT DOESN’T ADD UP THEN IT DOESN’T ADD UP

When something doesn’t make sense, or the story just sounds down right disjointed, and your gut is telling you that something is off. Then trust your gut, something is off.

This is a saying my Nana used to tell me when I would give her a scenario of what a friend told me, or did to me.

“Honey, if it doesn’t add up, it won’t add up. Something is definitely not right with that story.”

Do you know in each instance she said this, she was absolutely correct.

TAKE ACTION

If you get that feeling something isn’t right take action.

In EXPLORER X – Alpha Aadi and Eirena, his co-pilot investigated their gut feeling that something is off about their camp with their team. They find that terrible things have been done to them.

There are several ways to take action. Here are some;
- Just tuck the knowledge away, and wait for the truth to reveal itself. Believe it or not this happens a lot in life. The truth has a way of coming out. Sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes it takes a long, long time.
- Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in order to get the answers you want. You can ask anyone questions, and that may solve the mystery.
- Run away or stay away. If you are in a situation where an adult or a peer appears to be leading you in a direction that you feel is not safe. Run. There is no harm in running away from or staying away from someone.

TAKE ACTION

Realize that you have control of your destiny. No matter what happens to you in your life, you can learn from it all and become a better person. Making the same mistakes will become harder the more you learn to trust your gut instincts, and yourself.

by: LM Preston,
www.lmpreston.com
author of EXPLORER X - Alpha


Audi0 Prologue

Chapter One


Book Trailer:



Comments are appreciated. Thanks so much.

Jill

The Naughty List

Title: Naughty List
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: Feb. 4, 2009

Summary from Amazon:
As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Outlined Review:
Character Development: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Hookability: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Voice: 10/10
Recommendation: 10/10
Total Score: 57
Grade: A+

Age Appropriate Rating:
Cussing: 1/10
Drugs, alcohol, etc.: 2/10
Sexual Content: 5/10
Violence/Disturbing Images: 0/10

Written Review:

The Naughty List overflowed with cuteness and I could not get enough of it. Tessa’s always sweet, always perky voice and polite ways made you forget all previous cheerleader stereotypes. I loved her cute phrases and the way she looked at the others if they swore. Because kittens do not swear. It’s bad form.

And though The Naughty List was so strawberry smoothie, it did have a few frustrating moments where I just wanted to bang my head against the wall and yell “mash potatoes and gravy!” Especially anything involving Christian. I just had a hard time seeing Christian as this amazingly handsome guy. To me he seemed just a little too forward with his feelings. Especially with someone so clearly not interested. But Tessa being the Smitten Kitten she is, was always polite and o so kind even when he tried to hit on her for the thousandth time! And though Christian got on my nerves, Aiden most definitely did not! He was the most perfect guy that makes you believe that there are caring, non jerkish guys out there.

There was a great balance between the missions and every day cheering life. I liked how the mission reports, equipment order forms, and any other SOS related announcements were intermingled throughout the book. Plus, the wording of the mission reports was so professional and clever and perfectly summed up the case in just one page.

O and I haven’t even mentioned the originality of this book! Have you ever read a story about amazingly kind cheerleaders whose job is not only to be “spirit saviors” but to catch all the cheating boyfriends in the school while maintaining good grades and character at all times! Goodbye cheerleader stereotypes! Hello Smitten Kittens!

The ending was so sweet. It left you satisfied with a conclusion but at the same time eagerly waiting for more time with these characters and SOS. It truly was the best unhappily ever after ending ever!

Overall, The Naughty List is a wonderful start to the series. It’s a completely purrfect novel that is way too cute for words. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel—summer seems so far away when you have something you are looking forward to, doesn’t it? Packed with drama, jealousy, and totally cute phrases, I strongly encourage anyone looking for an absolutely adorable book with tons of kitten power to check this one out in February.

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comments are appreciated. thanks so much.

Jill