Trailer - Perchance to Dream (with pop ups)

This is the first time I've seen a book used to sell a book in a book trailer. What beautiful artwork! It had me sighing...especially 2D Nate (and I'm an Ariel girl). Who knew I could be swayed by a drawing?

Have you got your hands on Lisa Mantchev's Perchance to Dream yet?


Here's my super long reaction vlog to reading Perchance to Dream from the lovely and talented, Lisa Mantchev.

To Buy or Not to Buy...

I am being lazy. I am in a reading funk...haven't read a book in nearly two weeks. So I have run out of content for the blog. So I am going to do something ridiculous...post a picture of something pretty.

Two Alice of Wonderland fob watches that are GORGEOUS. A colleague took me to this totally bananas store in the city and there was crazy stuff but cool stuff too.

So...which one should I buy? If at all?

Kate Fuller - Your Way (plus some Twilight hand-candy)

As a university student I attended a residential hall called St Mark's College in Adelaide. In my fourth year there I was a resident advisor and the female equity officer. Part of those jobs (and my own personality) was getting to know the freshman and making sure they knew I was there should they need me. It was great, challenging at times, but I got to know the entire freshman class exceedingly well and met many wonderful people because of it.

One of the people I got to know was a lovely chickie by the name of Kate Fuller. I haven't spoken to her in years but I remember her fondly as being as gorgeous on the inside as she was on the outside. She also had a truly beautiful voice.

Kate's been chosen as a finalist for the 2010 Musicpalooza (San Diego) contest for the second year in a row and I think she has the goods. In my only act of pimpage this year I am going to ask you to hit this site and vote for Kate.

She's got a beautiful jazz voice and it washes over you in a wonderful way. You can check her out in the youtube video below which features her original song Your Way plus Xavier Samuel (should you be a Twilight movie fan, you might know who he is). It's Norah Jones-esque and you can buy her stuff on iTunes too. Her website is www.katefuller.com.au.

WIP - Why, why have I attempted this?

For all of May I have been taking part in Jennifer Echols Endless Writing Challenge. Today it finishes.

I was victorious.

My goal of 20,000 words has been met. I suppose it was a rather conservative goal (especially as I successfully completed NaNo last year) but it is a success regardless.

I have surpassed my goal but only typed to the 20k mark with many handwritten pages (of which you can see a little in the top left corner of this post) of story left to transcribe. It has driven me nuts taking in my swapsies with tense, unfinished thoughts and drastic changes in tone. I would rather charge ahead.

Turns out the only times I am struck with the inspiration branch is when I am surrounded by a mass of four year olds who like to expose me to their bodily fluids...regularly (and no, I am not kidding.) At these times I am never near a laptop so my notebook is all I have. Hence having an entire notebook of story in incredibly horrid handwriting that mocks me over and over again.

Can you tell I am going bonkers yet?

If I wasn't crazy yet then seeing the Wordle of my 20k might just have sent me there. Clearly my vocab is simplistic at best...
One interesting thing I've learned...I apparently don't write 'ass' as much as I though I did. I must think it a lot instead! I've also managed to squeeze in references to trannies, Darth Vader, Salt 'n' Pepa, pornos and The Beatles. WTF?

Lastly, Jennifer Echols is running a June long WIP challenge that you might like to sign up for. It's all about your own goals and making it achievable and not beating yourself up. It has worked for me :)

Adele's heading for NYC

Amidst all the BEA excitement I have been getting quite pumped.

No, I didn't attend.

And no, I didn't work myself into such a pit of despair for not attending that I caused a psychotic break thereby imaging that I was there.

You see, I am heading to New York City in two months time myself. I have two weeks off for the rest of the year and I have decided that NYC is the place I most want to be. Hearing about people's adventures there and seeing pictures has really whetted my appetite.

This trip has been on the back burner for months now. I earn very little here in Japan which is okay I don't need much. But I have been tucking away money for a ticket in August and now I have it in my hot little hands. Going will be a really precious adventure. From July 31st to August 11th I be in the US for the first time in my life. It is a mite surreal. I have grown up with American television, music, fashion and spelling but this will be my first time directly in contact with any of these things.

I have no real plans at the moment. I have a number of people I want to meet. I have a few ideas of places I would like to go and things I would like to see. But I thought I would open it up to people that have been there themselves and those that like to dream...what would you do?

At the moment I am thinking of a Yankees game, a Broadway show (suggestions?), FAO Schwartz (this was a given since I was a kid seeing Big for the first time), the MoMA, Statue of Liberty and a handful of other things.

So I am putting it out there BEA-ers and New Yorkers...what should make Adele's hit list? Are you on that list? I have only ever met two bloggers - the lovely Rhiannon and Steph Bowe. We are only a few in Australia so I would definitely like to meet more of you in the flesh.

What kind of booky things should I be doing? I have already arranged to meet some authors (which means there will be interviews) but what else should I be on the look out for in terms of bookstores etc? Who should I try and catch up with? What foods should I experience? Anything. Hit me with your knowledge people.

This Aussie requires help.