If We were Having Tea

 Jamie over at The Perpetual Page Turner featured this on her blog last week. I loved the idea of sharing a little bit more about myself. I don't write too many personal pieces on the blog and maybe it's time I change that. You can see the previous posts too. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I changed it to tea. Hot chocolate works too!

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that this is first summer in 11 years that I'm not running a YA Summer Reading Program at the library. This is both relaxing and sad for me. Relaxing because clearly I don't have to worry about prizes and hosting 3 programs a week, but sad because I won't see my favorite teens this summer. I won't be talking about books with them, I won't be recommending books to them, and I won't be hearing their thoughts on the books they read. It also means that my summer is wide open for plans. What are you doing this summer?

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that this summer, I'm planning a few family vacations. This also hasn't happened in 11 years. I can't wait to sit by the water and READ. What are you planning to read this summer?

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that Romance Writers of America is hosting their annual conference in NYC this year. I've always wanted to go, but never could because of Summer Reading. Since it's super close this year and no plans, I'm going to be there!!

If We Were Having Tea....I'd tell you that I'm writing something very different and very fun, although it's harder than what I've written before. It's also inspired by Taylor Swift. Do you have a favorite Taylor Swift song?

D-Day: A poem

Today marks the 71st anniversary of D-Day, where Americans landed on the shores of Normandy. 

Library of Congress

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard

Here's a poem I wrote in college about an imaginary conversation with my grandfather who survived D-Day. He died when I was five or so and I have no recollections of him. 

He was Welsh and the word for grandfather is Taid, which I what I called him.

Overload on the Shores of Omaha

"I don't want to talk about it

and that's final."

I had heard these words

time and time again.

Taid never wanted to talk about his vacation in France

I would ask questions

from stories that I heard at school.

He could complain that I was bothering him

and my mother took me away

so he could rest in peace.

Then one day, he called me

to his side.

Finally he shared his story.

Only once he started,

I wanted to beg him to stop.

I didn't want to hear how afraid he was

or how the sea surged crimson

at the crack of dawn

when they landed on the shores of France.

I didn't want to hear about the bodies lying on the beach

or the ones floating

who would never swim back to shore.

He told me about the recurring nightmare,

his friends would call out for help

but there was no where to turn

and no where to run.

The next day, Taid took his last breath.

I stood proudly by his gave

but I did not cry

not even when they folded the flag

or when the shots rang out.

I played the role of his brave soldier.

BEA Recap: 2015

I went to BEA this year with a library BFF. We took the train in SUPER early to be there on time. 

It was worth it of course. 

I started with the Harlequin Teen breakfast with this fantastic authors pictured above. Both authors and Harlequin people stopped by each table and chatted for a few minutes. We learned about several upcoming books (including a horror book crossed with the Little House series).  I'm super excited for Legacy of Kings but the others look fantastic too!

Sightings from the day include:

Raj from the Big Bang Theory

The actor from the Social Network (who played Zuckerberg) 

The adult Harlequin authors hard at work signing for the masses. 

That's Susan Mallery in the middle, of Fool's Gold fame. Love this series.

A fun book, similar to one from my childhood.

We headed for the hotel. Here's our sunset view. 

We ate dinner at a diner in the hotel - with this cute tea lights. 

I had hot chocolate French toast.

After a short rest, we ventured out into the city again.

Our Drinks:

Our Bedtime view

Day 2:

We got early for tickets. The shuttles from the hotel to the conference center were amazingly great and very helpful. It was another day of chatting with people in lines.

 There were some amazing books on Friday - and lots of amazing authors. I seriously wanted to clone myself because there was no way to see them all. 

The ones I didn't take home with me, I will stalk my public library for them. Also I was happy to learn about some new books.

Cool sign at the Sourcebooks booth

I was first in line for Brad Meltzer. 

This NEVER happens. And it was pretty cool. I saw him last year too, which is great.

Finally after a fantastic meeting with Meg Cabot, we left for the day.

The train ride back was uneventful until we finally stopped for diner.

Where I had this delicious meal. 

All in all, a fantastic two days. 

Other posts for BEA 15 will include, Books, Bags, and Author Moments. So be sure to check those out. 

Powerless Spotlight Tour

Title: Powerless

Authors: Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal)

Series: The Hero Agenda, Book #1

Summary

Kenna is tired of being "normal."

The only thing special about her is that she isn't special at all. Which is frustrating when you're constantly surrounded by superheroes. Her best friend, her ex-boyfriend, practically everyone she knows has some talent or power. Sure, Kenna's smart and independent, but as an ordinary girl in an extraordinary world, it's hard not to feel inferior.

So when three villains break into the lab where she interns, Kenna refuses to be a victim. She's not about to let criminals steal the research that will make her extraordinary too.

But in the heat of battle, secrets are spilled and one of the villains saves her life. Twice. Suddenly, everything Kenna thought she knew about good and evil, heroes and villains is upended. And to protect her life and those she loves, she must team up with her sworn enemies on a mission that will redefine what it means to be powerful and powerless...

Excerpt
“You never answered my question. What are you doing down here so late?”
Those bright blue eyes sear into me as he takes a step back. “I have to go.”
His sudden evasiveness makes me suspicious, so when he starts to move past me, I sidestep into his path. “Excuse me,” I say, “but this is a secure level. Are you even authorized to be down here?”
“My dad,” he says, scowling at me. “He’s a security guard.”
A security guard? The facility might be so big that I can’t keep track of everyone who works in every lab, but I know all the guards by name. Especially the night guards, since I’m usually the last one here.
Travis and Luther are on duty tonight. Travis and his wife just had their first baby, a girl named Tia. Luther is old enough to be my great-grandfather and he never married.
I take half a step back as my suspicions turn to concern. “Who’s your dad?” I demand.
This guy definitely has the look of a villain.
What if he really is one?
He glances nervously over his shoulder. “He’s—”
I shake my head and start to walk away before he can finish the lie.
He reaches for me, but I shrug him off. My heart is beating way too fast. This could go way bad, way quick.
“Please, just listen.” He waits until I’m looking him in the eye before he continues. “You know me,” he says, his voice taking on this weird, hypnotic tone. “We’ve met before.”
His eyes start to burn brighter and brighter. Oh crap. He must be a villain, and one with a psy power. The vilest kind. Fear and anger collide inside me as I wonder what to do about him trying to mess with my head. How to play this? I can’t exactly tell him I’m—
Suddenly, the floor beneath my feet shudders violently, knocking me off balance. I lurch forward into Dark-and-Scowly’s arms. He catches me, grabs my upper arms, just as a concussion wave of air and sound hits us.
That sounded—and felt—like a bomb went off in the lab. If we weren’t a hundred feet underground and shielded by every protection science and superheroes can create, I’d think the supervillain Quake had struck. But that’s impossible.
Then again, impossible doesn’t always apply in the superhero world. After all, impossible didn’t keep Dark-and-Scowly from being where he doesn’t belong.
Suddenly, every alarm in the facility blares. I freak. The lab! All that research—Mom’s and mine—is priceless. The superhero blood samples alone are more valuable than anything else in the building.
Panic overrides judgment and I push away, but his grip only tightens. The jerk. A little super strength would be really useful right now.
“You can’t go in there.”
“Who are you?” I demand, struggling to get out of his grasp. If he really is a villain, I don’t want him near me or this lab. Not with what villains are capable of. “What have you done?”
He doesn’t answer. More pissed than ever, I fake left and pull right. He follows my fake-out, and as his hair swings with the momentum, I see the mark I’d been looking for earlier. Not under his right ear like the superheroes. Under his left.
Shit.
“You’re a villain.”

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23314948-powerless

Buy Links

Amazon: http://bit.ly/PowerlessAmazon

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/PowerlessBN

iBooks: http://bit.ly/PowerlessiBooks

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/PowerlessIndieBound

          

About the Authors:

One fateful summer, Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs embarked on a nine hour (each way!) road trip to Santa Fe that ended with a flaming samurai, an enduring friendship, and the kernel of an idea that would eventually become Powerless. On their own, they have written YA tales about mermaids (Forgive My Fins, Tempest Rising), mythology (Doomed, Oh. My Gods., Sweet Venom), smooching (International Kissing Club), and fae princes (When Magic Sleeps). Between them, they have three boys (all Tracy), three dogs (mostly TLC), and almost fifty published books. Find TLC and the #TeamHillain headquarters at teralynnchilds.com. Check out Tracy and the #TeamVero lair at tracydeebs.com. Hang out with all the heroes, villains, ordinaries, and none-of-the-aboves at heroagenda.com. 

Social Networking Links

Website: http://heroagenda.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heroagenda

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heroagenda

Sounds great right? It really is. I've read it. And I want more NOW. 

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Mini Review: Royal Wedding

 * Book 11 in the Princess Diaries series *

Five years after her college graduation, Mia's still living in New York City. She's helping to run a teen homework center. Of course she still together with Michael.

Things between them are fantastic - so fantastic since he popped the question. Unfortunately, Grandmere leaked the information to the press to cover up a royal scandal. Neither Mia nor Michael were able to tell their friends and family the good news.

Now Mia's about to meet a sister she never knew existed. Mia's thrilled at the idea of having a sister. She agrees to keep her father's secret. But then she decides to take matters into her own hands. 

The Good:
* I loved seeing all of the old characters and what they're up to these past few years (even JP)
* I love seeing more of Olivia and the story from Mia's perspective
* I loved Mia and Michael together
* I loved Grandmere and her wild ideas - they always make me laugh
* I loved getting to know Mia's dad more
* I enjoyed reading about the details of wedding and how it all came together
* It was funny and sweet and heartfelt


The Bad:
None - except I hope this isn't the last we see of Mia

Final Thoughts: I had a book hangover after reading this - utter perfection!

* book sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Movies

This week's topic is I'd Love To See As Movies/Tv Shows. We did this post a while back, so check out my past answers too.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

YA:

Adult:

Monday Matinee: Love, Rosie

Alex and Rosie have been best friends for ages -and at one time or another, both of them have thought of something more. But at the time something happened - everything goes wrong. Their relationship goes down a spiral.

Half truths and miscommunication make their relationship always one step out of reach. Could they really be made for each other or just best friends for life?

Based off a book by Cecelia Ahern (same title) that  I read years ago and Loved. Since it was years ago, I don't remember all the details except for the main story - but the movie seemed to follow along pretty well.

Lily Collins as Rosie was fantastic - I really liked her in this role.

It look me ages to figure out Sam Claflin (I confess I had to resort to IMDB) because he looked so familiar. He did a great job too.

I love how they were friends for so long. This movie made me smile, laugh, and shed a few tears. Well worth watching.