#middlegrademay: A Fond Farewell

Posted on 2013/05/31 by Tonette dela Luna

Thought it would be nice to show the covers of all the highs and lows of my May reading. 🙂

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It’s was a cornucopia of interesting characters. If I had to pick a favorite from the bunch, I’d have to go with THE FALSE PRINCE. I was really taken from the first line. That’s not to say that it was all downhill from there. As you know from my previous posts, there were UPs as well as DOWNs. haha

Overall, it was a good experience and I can’t wait to do it again. I’m so eager, in fact, that I’m jumping right into another reading challenge this June. THE 48 HOUR BOOK CHALLENGE will keep me occupied. Of course, I’ll keep reading regardless of when and have so many titles on my TBR pile to choose from.

Thanks again to Deb for hosting #middlegrademay. It was great. I’m looking forward to the dynamic duo of you and Akoss for next year. My only regret is that we have to wait eleven more months for another dose.

Happy reading, MG Lovers!

#middlegrademay Check-In Week 2

Posted on 2013/05/13 by Tonette dela Luna

I loved THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen, the first in the Ascendance Trilogy. I would dive right into Book 2, THE RUNAWAY KING, but I need to spread the love to the other neglected members of my TBR pile, so this week, I’ll mix it up with some THEODORE BOONE by John Grisham and THE PECULIAR by Stefan Bachmann.

Some brief thoughts on THE FALSE PRINCE (a more detailed review to follow on Goodreads when I get a bigger pocket of time). I posted this for the #middlegrademay check-in on Deb Marshall’s site:

I finished Jennifer A. Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE this weekend and really enjoyed it. I connected with the protag, Sage, right away and only put down the book when I was forced to by other obligations. If I had an absolutely free day, I’m sure I would have finished it in one sitting. Nielsen’s worldbuilding wasn’t forced. It was as though I knew of the places mentioned. A good adventure of intrigue and adventure.

It’s always good to immerse yourself in a good yarn. Who doesn’t love to be taken away to another world from time to time, eh?

Week in Review – 2013/05/06 – 2013/05/12

Posted on 2013/05/12 by Tonette dela Luna

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there.

This weekend, my sister and I took Mother Superior to Seattle to honor her for all that she does for us. After such a busy April with writing, May has taken a different turn. I’ve had a lovely reminder that taking time away from the organized chaos is an essential way to recharge and refuel the muse.

WRITING:

My work for HAMELIN continues. Worldbuilding and character development have kept me on my toes in between writing new scenes for this first in a series of twisted fairytales. I haven’t written as much as I’d like, but switching gears is helping rest my frenzied brain rather than burn out my creativity.

I need to catch up in my workshops, as well. I’ve decided to forego any future enrolments until I’m all caught up or at least reviewed the downloaded lessons of workshops wherein I wasn’t able to participate.

READING:

I loved THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen. I’ll get into more detail in tomorrow’s #middlegrademay check-in post. I have a couple new books I’ve started but want to read a few more chapters each before bringing them into the check-ins. I’d forgotten how much I relished the immersion into a new world. I’m grateful that this reading challenge allows me to keep with my goals and enjoy the love of books.

BLOGGING:

Because I was out of town, I only had time to post my nominations for the Liebster Award and the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Now that I’m back-ish, I’ll inform the awesome people of their awards this coming week.

How’s everyone else doing as we reach the halfway point in May?

#ROW80 Mid-Week Check-In

Posted on 2013/05/08 by Tonette dela Luna

~ WRITING, BLOGGING, READING & TECHNICAL GLITCHES ~

For a writer in this technological age, not having access to a computer makes the day incomplete. Not having access for three days is a travesty.

100 Pages in 7 Days Challenge – I managed 67 out of 100 for the first seven days this month. Respectable and it all went towards gussying up my pretty fairytale mashup from Camp NaNo, so I don’t consider it a loss by any means. 🙂

The Blog – Sunday I’m greeted with a Liebster Award from Julia Stevenson. Monday morning, A Very Inspring Blog Award from Tommia’s Tablet. I’m doubly honored. I need to pre-write my Friday blog post and spend what little time left before then to do the research on fellow bloggers I’d meant to do with the computer I lacked. Made sense, right?

MIDDLE GRADE MAY – Ugh. The twisted relationship I have with the interwebs this week is akin to a lovelorn character on a telenovela. Nonetheless, despite my hectic offline schedule, I’m on Chapter 22 of 54 on Jennifer A. Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE. I quite like it and will get it to it more in my #middlegrademay thread. I’ll fix this week’s post and prep for next week’s line up. I love that I get to increase my reading time with check-ins at Deb Marshall’s blog. She’s also hosting May’s #wipmadness check-ins. So I’m guaranteed triple accountability this month!

Catching up in a major way with my workshops, writing, and all things computerly… yep, that’s a word in my personal dictionary. And with a busy weekend ahead, I hope I can stay afloat. Of course, I’ll give a play-by-play in my weekly review, fingers and toes crossed.

How’s everyone else doing? 🙂