What's on my Hold's List

 

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books on hold at the library. I usually have 20-40 items checked out at the library and another 20 items on hold.

Here's a look at what I'm waiting to read:

 

I'm a HUGE Sophie Kinsella Fan - although I'm not a huge fan of this cover...

I read about this in PW and the title grabbed me! Plus doesn't the boy on the cover look a little bit like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory?

I Adore Maria V. Snyder. I've been waiting for ages to read this one! I think I'm next on the list

Who doesn't want to read more about Downton Abbey? I'm ADDICTED to the show. Can't wait to discover more about the filming locations and the time period.

I'm a HUGE fan of Lisa Kleypas. I was so happy when I heard she was revisiting Friday Harbor in a brand new series. Did you know that at the end of the month, Lisa will be chatting live on Goodreads? Check out the details here.

Author Night at RJ Julia's

Thursday Night, my friend Mary and I battled our way through a massive rain storm, complete with thunder and lightning to meet Sara Shepard, Sarah Mlynowski, and Maureen Johnson.

They were HILARIOUS - from the moment they were introduced to the moment we left. They perched upon stools and each read from their books.

The Last Little Blue Envelope
Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have
The Lying Game

I can't wait to read ALL of them. I bought copies there so I could have them signed.



After the readings, Maureen Johnson became the new Oprah and wandered through the aisles with a microphone allowing people to ask questions.

There was lots of laughter and a lot of truth telling:
Sara S used to create small fires with her friends and LOVES writing about other people's dirty little secrets.
Ten Things We Did... was based on Sarah M's experience in high school. She also got a speeding ticket during her book tour for HOW TO BE BAD. Fitting no?
Maureen Johnson color codes her sock drawer and dropped her phone in the toilet during BEA this year

Mary and I met up with fellow YA Librarian (and blogger) Jessica talked about books and TV series until the line dwindled down and then we had our books signed.

We met two of the women working for RJ Julia's - an EXCELLENT bookstore.

Jessica asked Maureen Johnson to write #YASaves in her book and I confess I copied her excellent idea (Copying a brilliant idea goes with the territory when you're a YA Librarian). We all had a few extra minutes talking with the authors - more like gushing over their works. We posed for pictures, thanked them profusely, and then left.


It was a GREAT night!

Meeting Marissa Doyle

Last week, I had the good fortune to attend the CT Librarian conference, where I sat in on a fabulous program with Melissa Doyle.

She's the author of two awesome books, Bewitching Season and Betraying Season.

And she has a new book in the works called MAGIC IN SEASON and it contains the story of the twins' mother from her previous two books. You can read the teaser here. (Look for the April

News post). I think it sounds amazing, but the bad news is that it's not available for another year.

She talked about her love for history, facts, and mixing fiction with history. You can read about that at my friend's site here.

She mentioned how the first novel started during a writing exercise with the words "Oh My God, you killed me." From there she imagined a brother saying these words to his sister in a world with a young girl soon to be Queen Victoria. As a young girl, her role was threatened by her own mother who wanted her to sign over her crown to a regent. What if this man had an control and an assassination plot to kill the girl in line for the throne. Would he be the next king? What would happened if magic was involved - would that change things.

The movie Young Victoria gives viewers a sense a of the political drama. I love these period movies because I do love the time period, but I also love seeing the clothes.

If you notice the above book covers, they also have the power to draw in readers by the clothes, but stay for the story. Overall, I loved hearing her speak (and getting her to sign a book for me too!)

Introducing Jessica Miller: I READ TO RELAX

A colleague and friend of mine started up a new blog called I READ TO RELAX, so I decided to ask her a few questions about her blog, her library work, and her reading habits as welcome to the blogging community. Jessica works as the YA Librarian in New Britain Public Library in CT. We both acknowledge that we cyber stalk our favorite authors and love chatting about books.

Hi Jessica!

What made you start up your own blog?

I was inspired by many of the other blogs that I follow by authors, librarians, and even just for fun (like Sea of Shoes – great fashion, shoes, travel, etc!!), including your own blog…yabooknerd! I wanted to be able to tell other librarians, especially, about books that I’ve read because not only does it help me keep track of what I’ve read, but I also know how much I’ve come to depend on other librarians’ opinions and discoveries of books to help me in my ordering for the library. I’m hoping to pass on the wealth of knowledge so to speak, because it is impossible for any of us to read everything that’s out there!!

That is so true, I have a list of books I'm dying to read and it's always nice to see what someone else has to say about it.

What makes your blog unique, besides being a librarian blog?

Hmm…I don’t really know! It’s still new, but it focuses mostly on fantasy, sci-fi, and “paranormal” books (because that’s what I’m compelled to read) and so it can really help someone become more familiar with books in these genres, if they are not what they typically read. I’m also going to try and intersperse those reviews with fun things, like book trailers, commentary, and connections to other entertainment formats like movies, etc.

Will you have set days or specific posts? Like Waiting on Wednesday or Tween Tuesday?

I hadn’t really thought about that yet. So far, no…but I do like the Tween idea…twice a month we do tween programs at our library, maybe I’ll post about those programs or books in the tween age group. I’m actually getting new ideas from answering your questions, which is great!

Did you make the book trailer Rampant?

I did. It was my first attempt. I hope it came out okay! I just really loved that book, killer unicorns, come on, how could you not be intrigued by that? So, I decided I had to blog about it and wanted to try out the onetruemedia.com software. It was actually easier than I thought it would be…and more fun!

I think it's cute. It's one definitely one book in my pile to read.

Books:

Do you have a favorite type/genre of books?

I seem to be hopelessly hooked on fantasy/science fiction. Now, if you are a true fantasy/sci-fi reader, you know there is a difference, and there are many subgenres! I basically love all fantasies…high, low, dark, funny, etc., but I’m pickier about my science-fiction. I still want the book to be really character based (like Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card) rather than mostly technological. The sub-genres that I’ve really gotten into lately are dystopia (post-apocalyptic) like Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, steampunk (historical/futuristic) like Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, or paranormal like Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne. I’ll read almost anything you throw at me, but those are the books that I HAVE to pick up!

Do you have books you always recommend?

Different books for different audiences…I like to recommend Tamora Pierce’s books for their strong female characters, especially to tween girls that like fantasies. I like to recommend the Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale to teen boys looking for adventure. For girls looking for romance, I constantly try to recommend Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. I recommend Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer and Feed by M.T. Anderson a lot too. With the current Twilight mania, I like to recommend the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill, and the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead to those looking for read-alikes.

Oh I adore the Rachel Caine series and the Chicagoland Vampires series and Vampire Academy. It seems like we have pretty similar tastes in reading!

How many books do you read in a week, month, year?

Between reading and listening to audiobooks (I have a 45min-1 hour commute each way to work) I average around 20 books a month. I love to read every day!

Nice! I get super grumpy when I don't have time to read.

Who’s your latest favorite author?

It’s funny…you actually recommended my newest favorite author. I am really into Maria Snyder’s books right now. With all of the teen fiction that is being pumped out right now, it’s easy to read some that have great plot ideas, but suffer in other ways. The characters aren’t developed or the writing itself isn’t that good, or the plot just peters off before the end. Snyder’s books are technically good, have interesting plots and twists, and have wonderful characters. I’m actually hoping to receive her Study trilogy for Christmas this year!

She's awesome. I'd love to meet her. According to her myspace blog, she just finished writing Spy Glass!

Where do you read best? Do you have a specific set up?

I love to listen to audiobooks whenever I’m alone in the car. I love the sensation of having a book read to me…especially children’s or teen books, because they are dramatized almost like plays. For actual reading, though, I like to read in my favorite corner of the couch on the weekends with a hot cup of tea or coffee and a blanket or I read every night for 30-90 minutes in bed. My husband is really forgiving of my constant use of the bedside lamp!

Library:

What do you like best about working with teens?

I like the energy that teens bring to any situation. You cannot be passive in your job if you work with teens…they make you move and engage constantly. I also really love that moment of true connection when you can have a full length conversation with a teen or when they come back to you because, “you recommend really good books!” It gives me the excuse to indulge that part of me that does not totally want to grow up.

I love that part too!

What’s your favorite type of program to host?

Hmmm…I love that I get paid to watch movies…no, I’m just kidding! Sort of. Anyway, I really love our “Tween Time” programs. We have a group of tweens that come every other Wednesday, so we mix it up with craft programs, book based programs, physical programs, and whatever we can think of to throw at them. My absolute favorites are ones where we can connect a book to cool activities and get the kids curious enough to check out the book!

Sounds really fun.

Generic:

What awesome authors have you met?

Susan Beth Pfeffer. Natasha Friend. There have been a few others, but they were not as wonderful in person as these two!

Listing of your favorites:

Candy skittles

Pizza topping mashed potatoes (I know it sounds gross, but it’s part of a specialty pizza with three cheeses and ham…tastes just like a twice baked potato)

Genre of books ultimately…fantasy, but only by a small margin

Singer and/or Song cheesy, but right now it’s Ashley Tisdale, I like to bop when I’m listening to music, second is Clutch.

Restaurant Olive Garden

TV show /Movie America’s Next Top Model, Torchwood, Gossip Girl, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Enchanted, Ella Enchanted, Casino Royale, and many, many more…I love to zone out in front of the tube when I’m not reading!!

Color Any shade of blue

Shoe Ahhh…I have these gorgeous flowered heels by Steve Madden…

Video Game Wii Bowling!

Favorite Food Cornish Pasty (found in England)

Favorite Country I’ve Visited: Wales

Thanks for chatting with me Jess and be sure to check out her new blog!