BOOK CHAT: June 2017 in Review

I'm back with another monthly wrap-up and I'm so glad to say that the month is not completely over this time!  It's only about half over!!  I call that improvement!

The TOP POST for the month was actually two different ones.  WEEKLY WANDERINGS: Love & Loss had the most comments, but AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sara Dobie Bauer & Bite Somebody Else received the most hits.  I was not able to share much last month with all that was going on, so I really didn't have much to choose from.  I'm hoping to get back into the groove this month.

The TOP PIC for the month was from a book that I originally started as an audio, but then it was automatically returned to the library before I could finish the last pages and I had to rush out to get myself the print copy in order to know what happened.  I'm glad I was able to get this copy from my trusty library!!

My list of BOOKS READ was shorter this month than in May.  The chaos of June just proved to not have a lot of time for reading.

1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
2. Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstilskin by Liesl Shurtlift
3. The Brothers Grimm:  101 Fairy Tales
4. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

One book stood out this week.  In fact, it kind of swept me off my feet.  It is definitely going to go down as a FAVORITE READ of 2017!  Which one?  Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.  So good!

What's on tap for JULY?  Or, maybe I should say what is on tap for the rest of the month.  Lots actually.  I am hosting a readalong over at Book Bloggers International for The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  I will be participating in a couple of readathons:  the High Summer Readathon and the #24in48 Readathon.  Outside of the books, I have been in the middle of organizing a local Out of the Darkness Walk in my community during the month of September.  For those not aware of what these are, it is a walk to help promote suicide prevention and awareness.  I am getting super excited about how open my community has been in opening their arms to embrace this event, and I can't wait to see it come to fruition.  September is actually Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and I have a couple of different activities up my sleeve that I have in the works.  It's going to be a busy month!  Oh, and I can't forget to mention that I will be having a little surgery next week.  No worries and no need to stress.  I'm hoping it will just get me to feeling better and it has been a long time coming!  I look forward to having some downtime, laying on my couch reading and writing as I heal and care for myself for a while.  

What's on tap for you the rest of this month?  How was your June in the books?

BOOK CHAT: May 2017 in Review

Well, June is almost done so why not wrap up May!  I am behind this month because my life has been a bit crazy.  I'm not really going to rehash that here.  If you want the lowdown, I encourage you to read my latest Weekly Wanderings post on Love & Loss.  With that out of the way, let's wrap up what life was like for me in reading and blogging during the month of May.

The TOP POST for the month was no surprise ... ARMCHAIR BOOK EXPO:  Allow Me to Introduce Myself!  It was the only post I was able to get up for the event because of all my time spent on behind-the-scenes tasks, but I'm okay with it.  Since it is the final year of the event, I kind of have to be.

The TOP PIC of May was a picture of these cuties.  They really need no other explanation.  They speak for themselves!

The BOOKS READ for May was much better than they have been in previous months.  Much better.

1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
2. Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian
3. The Grown-Up by Gillian Flynn
4. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
5. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
6. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
7. Soulless by Gail Carriger

Of all these books, it was hard to determine a FAVORITE READ, but there is one that definitely stands out more than all the others ... The Absolutely True Dairy of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  I am still trying to wrap my head around the power behind this story, but I'm hoping I can find the right words at some point to share with you in more detail.

I typically share more details here regarding life in general, but I'm going to skip it this time.  I will be back shortly to chat about June, so I will leave those thoughts for that post.

How was your reading in May?  Do you have big plans for these last couple days in June?

WEEKLY WANDERINGS: Love & Loss

It's been a while since I have written here.  If you follow me on social media, you have probably seen what has been keeping me away.  If not, let me tell what my life has been like since the last time I checked in.

The last day of school was Thursday, June 8.  Those last couple of weeks of school get a little crazy.  Add to the chaos that my son graduated from his elementary school, so there were extra added events this year than there usually is.

Also on that day, my dear sweet grandmother was connected to Hospice.  It was time.  It was probably past time.  Over the last few months, she has really been struggling and declining in health.  She had more frequent visits to the emergency room.  And though she was living in a memory care facility, I was frequently by her side.  Over the last couple of years, I have spent anywhere from 3-6 days a week with her in some way, shape, or form.  It was heart-breaking to see her decline and her pain increase.  Once Hospice came in, my time with her only increased.  I wanted to spend as much time with her as I possibly could before I no longer was able.

On the morning of Monday, June 12, she passed peacefully into heaven.  I was not there at the time of her passing, but I arrived only minutes after.  I wish I could have been there.  The moments following her passing, I was there for my mom and aunt to cope and prepare for the days to come.

I had to travel to my home town to meet with the funeral home along with my family.  Then, my own little family decided to hit the road to get away for a little while, to spend some good time together because of the difficulties of these last few months on all of us.  As soon as we returned home, we got back in the car to head to my home town once again for my grandmother's funeral and to say our final good-byes.

I thought that was it.  I was wrong.  The day of the funeral was hard, but the day after the funeral, I was hit hard.  My body was ridiculously exhausted.  I wanted to sleep as much as I could.  I did not feel good in so many ways.  I felt that my body finally knew it was time to let go.  All of that caring, giving, and grieving finally took its toll.  And, it lasted for days.

As I write this tonight, I am still tired and not feeling 100%.  But, I do feel that I am getting better and I see the light.  I've been spending some great time with my family and the extra time with my kids has been so good.  I greatly miss my grandmother.  Every day.  I am learning every day how to live without her physically in my life.  I still think about her though and I always will.  She was an amazing woman with an amazingly kind heart, and I am so thankful to have called her my own Grams.  May she now rest in peace.

I feel like in my absence, I have missed so much.  Catch me up!  In the meantime, I will be working to catch up here on the blog with how my reading was last month and what some of my favorite reads have been so far this year.  I've got plans, and I now have time to do them.

What have you been up to these last few weeks?  What are you reading?  What are you blogging? 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sara Dobie Bauer & Bite Somebody Else

My dear friends, I am so excited to share a little interview with you today with Sara Dobie Bauer.  Sara wrote one of my favorite reads of 2016, Bite Somebody.  In case you missed it, be sure to check out my review of the book and an interview with her last year.  As of yesterday, her sequel to this fun book, Bite Somebody Else was released and for that reason, she is back today with a different kind of interview ... an interview of her favorites!!

Before we get to that interview though, I have to share how excited I am about this book.  As soon as it was available for pre-order, I got my order in.  I am away traveling for a few days, but I cannot wait to receive my own copy of this book as soon as I return home ... because that ending has had me thinking all year long!!

Now, let's welcome Sara Dobie Bauer, author of Bite Somebody Else!!

Favorite character in Bite Somebody.
Ian, because I have a huge crush on him.

Favorite character in Bite Somebody Else.
Imogene, because she’s all grown up.

Favorite quote from Bite Somebody Else.
“I’m an historian for the Stadium Lamia.” “Sounds like a piece of female anatomy.”

Favorite vampire book.
An ever-changing response. Today? Merrick by Claire Cray.

Favorite vampire movie.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Gary Oldman.

Favorite on-screen vampire (actor/actress who played a vampire).
Colin Farrell in Fright Night. He can bite me anytime.

Favorite shot from your latest vampire photo shoot.

(Photo credit: Bill Thornhill.)

Favorite beverage and/or snack to consume while writing Bite Somebody Else.
Dandy Blend. (Look it up. It’s delicious.)

Favorite place to write (vampires or otherwise).
The front window on the second story of my house. When I need a break, I play Rear Window and stalk my neighbors.

Favorite time of day to write.
Early morning.

Favorite pastime when you are not writing.
Reading.

Favorite book(s) you have read so far this year.
Gun to My Head by Dira Lewis.

Favorite place you share news with your fans.
Twitter. Follow me for fun: http://twitter.com/SaraDobie.

------------------------

About Bite Somebody Else:
Imogene helped her newbie vampire friend Celia hook up with an adorable human, but now Celia has dropped an atomic bomb of surprise: she has a possibly blood-sucking baby on the way. Imogene is not pleased, especially when a mysterious, ancient, and annoyingly gorgeous vampire historian shows up to monitor Celia's unprecedented pregnancy.

Lord Nicholas Christopher Cuthbert III is everything Imogene hates: posh, mannerly, and totally uninterested in her. Plus, she thinks he's hiding something. So what if he smells like a fresh garden and looks like a rich boarding school kid just begging to be debauched? Imogene has self-control. Or something.

As Celia's pregnancy progresses at a freakishly fast pace, Imogene and Nicholas play an ever-escalating game of will they or won't they, until his sexy maker shows up on Admiral Key, forcing Nicholas to reveal his true intentions toward Celia's soon-to-arrive infant.

Author bio:
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, “Don’t Ball the Boss,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.

Links: 
Website: http://SaraDobieBauer.com 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Somebody-Else-Dobie-Bauer-ebook/dp/B06XS6Y4F2/ 
World Weaver Press: http://www.worldweaverpress.com/store/p125/Bite_Somebody_Else.html 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraDobieBauer 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraDobie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saradobiebauer/

ARMCHAIR BOOK EXPO: Allow Me to Introduce Myself!

Today kicks off the big Armchair Book Expo event!!  Since I am a bit biased for this event because I am one of the original co-founders and still organize the event, I figured I had better participate in this daily topic.  I hope to participate in at least one more this week, but no guarantees.  Running this event from behind-the-scenes is a LOT of work, so we will see how much time I get to finish prepping more posts for the week!

Without further ado, let's get to the questions . . . or rather, prompts this year!

1. I am . . . a blogger of 10 years here at Tif Talks Books, one of the original co-founders of Armchair Book Expo (what used to be Armchair BEA), and co-creator of Book Bloggers International.  I am also a mother, wife, freelance writer, advocate, and during the academic year, elementary school counselor.
2. Currently . . . I am staying up way too late at the time that I am writing this, to ensure that all of the posts are set and ready to go for the big Armchair Book Expo event.  A lot of planning goes into an event like this, and I've been working for months alongside my amazing team this year to bring you another great event.
3. I love . . . my family, lemonade, and chocolate.
4. My favorite . . . reads include, but are not limited to, WICKED by Gregory Maguire, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE by Diana Wynne Jones, BLINDNESS by Jose Saramago, THE HOBBIT by JRR Tolkien, DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson, and of course, all things HARRY POTTER.
5. My least favorite . . . read of 2017 so far is THE VEGETARIAN by Han Kang.  I just could not get into that book.
6. My current read . . . is actually one of many!  I am currently in the midst of reading lots of books at the time of this writing:  RUMP by Liesl Shurtliff, SOULLESS by Gail Carriger, FOSTERING RESILIENT LEARNERS by Kristen Souers, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX by J.K. Rowling, DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver, THE BOY WHO WAS RAISED AS A DOG by Bruce D. Perry, 101 FAIRY TALES by The Brothers Grimm, and THE COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES, VOLUME 1 by Arthur Conan Doyle.
7. My summer plans . . . are to read, relax, work on some advocacy projects, read, relax, work on some household projects, and then read and relax some more.
8. My buddy . . . for reading is typically my little dog, Lily or my amazing little daughter.  If I can have both cuddled up to me at the same time, I would be in heaven.
9. My blog/channel/social media . . . can all be found under Tif Talks Books (tiftalksbooks).  Here's a few links of where you can find me online:  Twitter, Facebook Page, Instagram, and Tumblr.
10. The best . . . reads of 2017 so far are BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Colson Whitehead, and THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie.

Now it's your turn!  Feel free to leave a link to your own post if you are participating and I will stop by to say hello!

Who are you, and how would you answer any or all of these questions?

WEEKLY WANDERINGS: #ArmchairBookExpo is Coming!

It's been a while since I checked in.  I can't believe the month has passed so quickly, but the good thing is that we are just that much closer to summer break!  Things do not necessarily slow down when summer hits, but it does change and I'm really in need of a change right now.

The end of May also signifies a HUGE event coming our way, and one of the reasons I have been so busy behind the scenes these days.  Armchair Book Expo (what used to be Armchair BEA) kicks off this Wednesday!!  We have some really fun stuff planned this year, including some pretty amazing giveaways (some of which are a surprise)!!

Armchair Book Expo originally began way back in 2010, and I somehow managed to get in on the creation of this event.  I have only taken one year away from the project, but have been going strong every other year.  We have grown and evolved, but this year I am pretty excited about what we have coming your way.  So, if you haven't clicked on over and checked it out, click here now!  Go check it out, register for the event, and plan to join in on the action in whatever format best suits you.

The other thing that I have had going on this month is a readalong that I'm hosting over at Book Bloggers International for THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie.  Let me tell you ... that book was amazing.  It was sad.  It was hilarious.  It pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I plan to write a detailed account of my thoughts here in the next couple of weeks, but in the meantime, you can check out all the discussion questions over at BBI.

What else has been going on in my neck of the woods?  Projects, projects, projects.  Beginning to wrap up the school year.  End of year activities for my own kids.  And, for the kids at the school where I work.  Tending to a sick family member.  Reading some good books.  Yes, I have had time to read this month, and I'm really not sure how I am doing it.  All I have to say is that I am thankful for audio books these days.  The month of May has truly been a bit of a beast, but I am trucking along and somehow getting things done and still taking a little time for myself.

With that, it is time for me to take a little Tif time.  I'm going to kick up my feet, grab one of the many books on my nightstand, and read a bit before heading to bed.  Good night!!

How have you been doing lately?  Do you intend to participate in Armchair Book Expo this year?  

BOOK CHAT: April 2017 in Review

Whoa!  Wait a minute!

It's almost the end of May, and I am just now getting my monthly wrap-up post done.  What is going on here?!  Let me tell you ... this month has been crazy busy.  I have been back to the hospital with a loved one.  I attended a funeral back in my hometown for a family friend.  I've launched my new business (more information to come on that one!).  I've been working a LOT behind the scenes on two additional blogging projects.  And, the end of the school year is quickly approaching and I am swamped with stuff with my own kids and school stuff.  So, I've been here.  I haven't forgotten this little blog.  And, surprisingly, I'm still finding time to read!!  Okay, let's get to the details from April, and then we can talk some more about what's been happening in May.

I have two TOP POSTS from April . . . Weekly Wanderings:  Spring Into Horror Readathon had the most hits and comments, but Weekly Wanderings:  Spring Break is Coming did tie that one in the comments.

The TOP PIC for the month was this beauty from reading outside.  What book was I reading?  Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, of course.

My list of BOOKS READ in April was a bit short.  Thankfully, I can say that May will have more than this!

1. The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
3. Superheroes! by Laurence Maslon

Which of these three was my FAVORITE READ for the month?  I think I would have to say Superheroes! by Laurence Maslon.  I listened to this one on audiobook, and it was fun to hear real-life interviews with such artists as Stan Lee, and the number of random facts in this book proved to be intriguing.

So now let's talk MAY!  In case you missed it, I am hosting a readalong again this month over at Book Bloggers International.  We are currently chatting about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  Well, I'm chatting about it.  Not a lot of people have joined in (yet), and this is a fun one to talk about.  Seriously, this may be one of my favorite books of the year!  Also, I am working on preparing for the big Armchair Book Expo (formerly Armchair BEA) event that happens next week.  For those that are not familiar with this event, it is one that runs parallel to and in partnership with Book Expo in New York City.  It features tons of interaction, giveaways, guest articles, and reporting from the event in NYC!  I am the only remaining founder of the event that remains active in the planning, and it takes a LOT of planning.  Last, but not least, I have launched my new business as an Independent Consultant for Usborne Books!  Probably not the best time of year to add something to my plate, but I am officially up and running and going for it.  Feel free to follow me over at my new Facebook page, Tif Hearts Usborne Books.  I will likely keep blogging and business life separate unless I am sharing general news during one of my Weekly Wanderings posts.

Phew!  What a month!  At the time that I write this, I officially have 12 days left of school + 3 days of trainings before I am officially on summer break.  And, I cannot wait for a little break!  I'm looking forward to extra sleep, extra reading, and extra relaxation.  Speaking of which, I'm going to go get in a bit of two of those things ... sleeping and reading ... right now!  

How was your month of April?  How is your May treating you so far?

READALONG: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

It's time for another readalong alert!  I am hosting another readalong this month over at Book Bloggers International.  If you have the opportunity, grab a copy of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  It's a quick read, and I would love to chat with you all about the book as we read it together.

You can view the month-long schedule here, but we start discussion TODAY!

Have you read this book, or is it currently sitting on your shelf to be read?  What other books by Alexie have you read?

WEEKLY WANDERINGS: #SpringHorror & #Readathon Results

How is it already Thursday?!?  I cannot believe that this week has flown by so fast, and I am just now getting up my results from the latest two readathons.  To be honest, this week is always hard for me because it is the anniversary of my father's death.  No matter how hard I try, it always throws me for a loop and this year has been no exception.  I feel like my days get a little darker, then the really dark day hits, and then the light slowly begins to appear again.  Thankfully, I am now on the lighter side.  So, what better time to finally sit down and share my readathon results!

For those who missed it, I actually participated in the Spring Into Horror Readathon as well as Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.  I am going to share my full results from the former first, and then will include my notes from the latter afterwards.  With that said, let's get to it!

WEEK 1

I already shared my breakdown here, so I leave you with just my totals.

222 pages 

524 minutes (8 hours, 44 minutes)

WEEK 2

Monday, April 24

15 pages

61 minutes

Tuesday, April 25

0 pages

29 minutes

Wednesday, April 26

9 pages

25 minutes

Thursday, April 27

4 pages

59 minutes

Friday, April 28

0 pages

0 minutes

Saturday, April 29 (READATHON!!)

106 pages

137 minutes

Sunday, April 30

0 pages

25 minutes

TOTALS

356 PAGES

860 MINUTES (14 HOURS, 20 MINUTES)

I didn't quite double the numbers during the second week as I had hoped, but I am completely pleased with these numbers.  Now, let's take a quick look at the breakdown for the day of the 24 Hour Readathon.

Hour 1:  Sleeping

Hour 2:  Waking up, showering, and eating a bit of breakfast.

Hour 3:  Online check-ins.

Hour 4:  I forgot that I had a scheduled call at this time, so I only got in 20 minutes of audiobook.

Hour 5:  20 minutes of audio, 14 pages read.  I really enjoyed reading a bit more of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with my kids during this hour before the chaos hit!

Hour 6:  11 minutes of audio, 6 pages read.

Hour 7:  26 minutes of audio.  I may have fallen asleep for a bit.

Hour 8:  Went to visit briefly with my grandmother when I got a message from an unexpected visitor.  It was my uncle and I hadn't seen him in almost a year, so I met him for a bit to catch up.

Hour 9:  Continued visiting with my uncle when I received a notification that I needed to check on my grandmother again because of a fall.

Hour 10 & 11:  Checked in on my grandmother, got her cleaned up and tended to, and set for the rest of the night.  All was fine!

Hour 12:  Finally back home and listened to 22 minutes of audio.

Hour 13:  35 pages read.

Hour 14:  20 minutes of audio.

Hour 15:  18 minutes of audio.  Husband made a phenomenal dinner and then went to get us all some ice cream!!

Hour 16:  15 pages read.

Hour 17:  24 pages read.

Hour 18:  12 pages read.  Everyone else finally goes to bed and I am the lone reader still awake.

Hour 19:  Fell sound asleep with my book resting on me!  My day took a heavier toll on me than I realized, so I just went to bed.

Hour 20-24:  Sleeping!

As you can see, I had a couple of unexpected visits and I just didn't get the reading time I had hoped.  Oh well.  I still had a great time and I count both readathons a success.

Did you participate in either of these readathons?  How did you do?

BOOK CHAT: It's #Readathon Time!

IT'S READATHON TIME!

Okay, okay, I've been participating in the Spring Into Horror Readathon for almost two weeks now, but the readathon I'm talking about today is the BIG one!  It's the one that has probably been around the longest and it runs for only 24 hours.  It's known as Dewey's Readathon or the 24 Hour Readathon, and it is filled with tons of fun, especially considering the numbers that participate.

What will be my plans and goals for the day?

To read and relax as much as possible.  If I end up working on something, it will hopefully be something I can do while listening to an audiobook.  If not, then I'm going to try to save it for Sunday instead.  During the last big readathon, I read for at least a portion of 16 hours throughout the day.  I'm not sure I will get in quite that much reading, so my goal is to get to 12 hours.  What the numbers look like within those hours we will just have to wait and see.

What will I be reading?

Anything I feel like it at the time!  I'm hoping to spend a good portion of my time catching up on some comics and graphic novel collections.  I will also have all my current reads, some short story collections, and my audiobook to choose from.  Here's a couple of quick pictures of books that I will be dabbling in throughout the day . . .

At the time that this goes live, I will likely still be in bed.  But, I will be awake shortly, ready to get the books read.  I will be posting sporadically throughout the day on social media (Twitter and Instagram) to share my updates.  I will post a full update on Monday, so I have a little time to recuperate and catch up on things around the house that I will be ignoring tomorrow while I read.  Until then, happy reading!!

Are you participating in the readathon?  What's your plan for the day?