2020 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

Okay, so I’m a little late to the party on this Tag, but in all fairness what even IS time in 2020?? I sure as hell don’t know! 😛 I saw this wonderful post from Lair of Books and decided that I, too, wished to join in on the fun. Better stylishly late than never, right? 😉

1.) Best book you’ve read so far this year?

Probably the same book I’m about to give as the answer for the following question, too. 😛

2.) Best sequel you’ve read so far this year?

Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo. Loved this book. Great characters, great twists and turns, and great worldbuilding.

3.) New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?

Even though I’m still not finished reading Dread Nation (not the book’s fault, but mine) I went ahead and bought the book’s sequel Deathless Divide, by Justina Ireland that was released earlier this year.  Definitely looking forward to reading more of Dread Nation and then diving into this one.

4.) Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I didn’t have anything that instantly sprang to mind (mostly due to my own lack of research of new releases) but upon a little digging I discovered that we can, in fact, have SOME nice things in 2020. As it turns out, the fifth (and apparently final) volume of Monstress is coming out in October! 😀

5.) Biggest disappointment?

Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest, and I will explain why in the next question because it really does apply to both.

6.) Biggest surprise?

Probably how much I was disappointed by Boneshaker (pictured above). Zombie Steampunk shenanigans should have been my jam, but I just could not get into the characters, especially the main 2 characters. I was so sick of reading how “smart” the son was when he pretty much gave me zero evidence of that himself. And the mom just felt so flat. Like, we knew who she was married to, we know she wants to find her son, but other than that, there isn’t much I can say about her, unfortunately. And as much as I adore worldbuilding, I think they went a bit too heavy with setting the atmosphere compared to the actual plot and character development. I really had high hopes for this one but it just was not my cup of tea, sadly. 😥

7.) Favorite new author (Debut or new to you)?

Ilona Andrews. New to me, and such a treat. 🙂 Looking forward to checking out more of her books, especially in the Innkeeper Chronicles series.

8.) Newest fictional crush?

Ya know, I hate to be boring on this answer, but I don’t have one from the books I read. Unless you want to count Henry Cavill’s portayal of Geralt in The Witcher. I mean, it started as a book series (that I have yet to read) but who can deny how pretty this dude is wielding a sword, kicking all sorts of monster ass and brooding all over the place??

Though, by that logic, I could make a similar argument for Charlize Theron in The Old Guard, based off a graphic novel series I *also* have yet to read. Fierce. Badass. Warrior. QUEEN. ❤

9.) Newest favorite character?

Zoya Nazyalensky. She may not be a new character to me since I read the original Grisha Trilogy back in the day, but it was new to me just how much I enjoyed her character in Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars. Really good character development.

10.) Book that made you cry?

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness. SO. MANY. FEELINGS. This book is so dark and beautifully done. Grief is such an ugly and complicated emotion and this book captures it perfectly.

11.) Book that made you happy?

Giant Days is always such a feel-good and fun slice-of-life style comic. Sometimes there are sad parts, but overall it’s a comfort read for sure. ❤

12.) Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)?

I don’t know . . . I really couldn’t pick one right now, sorry! D:

13.) What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Definitely sooner than before the end of the year, but I need to finish my buddy read with Cupcakes & Machetes for Gideon the Ninth! Enjoying it so far, just have a lot going on right now and an attention span in tatters.

How has your year in reading been so far? 🙂 Let’s talk books! ❤

 

30 Day Video Game Challenge: Post 2

I had a lot of fun last week, answering the first seven questions from Luna’s 30 Day Video Game Challenge over @ Gamers United GG. She came up with so many great prompts, so here we are for another batch of answers from yours truly. 😉

Day 8: What’s your favorite video game pet?

Lamarr from Half-Life. Lamarr may be a headcrab, but ya know, I always found her adorable. Maybe because she was rendered harmless and is so obnoxious and troublesome all the time, I don’t know, but I’m giving this one up to Lamarr. ❤

Day 9: What is your favorite childhood video game title?

I would probably have to say the original Sonic the Hedgehog games I played on the Sega Genesis. I have several games I absolutely LOVED as a kid, though, so it’s hard to pick just one. Another game I was all about but haven’t really gotten to talk about yet would be Banjo Kazooie for the N64. SUCH a fun game, and with so many cool and different levels. I had a ton of fun with that one.

Day 10: What childhood video game would you recommend and why?

I’m going to try to suggest one of the ones I haven’t babbled on about yet in either of these posts. When I was a kid, I really enjoyed playing *SOME* of the Disney games that I played on the Sega Genesis. Specifically The Lion King and Aladdin. They were just so much fun, and I loved the Disney movies that inspired them, aaaand that animation in the game was SO. DAMN. SMOOTH. Look at this shit!

Day 11: Which video game has the best memories?

Mario Kart 64, without a doubt. From childhood to adulthood, I have so many fond memories of this game. From racing against my family and friends like Cupcakes & Machetes, to playing it tournament-style at parties with friends and strangers alike. This game is my jam. One of my favorite memories of it was destroying this one guy a few years back in one of the party tournaments who insisted girls couldn’t play video games. The same guy also got destroyed by Cupcakes & Machetes and I in doubles air hockey after making more sexist boasts.

Day 12: What is the hardest game you have played? Why was it hard?

Hmm . . . probably Super Meat Boy? Although . . . The Binding of Isaac comes to mind as well. Both games involve a whole lot of dying, sooo . . .

Day 13: Do you have a favorite video game villain?

Because I am eternally twelve and thus poop is funny to me, I’m gonna have to say The Great Mighty Poo from Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Because it’s a villain made of poop. Yes, they went there. They even gave him corn kernels for teeth. This guy sticks out to me because of the utter ridiculousness of it, and what a complete WTF moment it was when I first encountered him.

Day 14: You jump down Mario’s Warp Pipe, where do you end up?

Peach’s Castle, just like how you start the game in Super Mario 64. I’d love to visit that place. I didn’t think of it at the time when I answered Luna’s Day 2 question about what video game world you would live in if you could, but it’s definitely a place I’d love to visit. The castle itself is awesome, but then with all the worlds you can visit from there by hopping through paintings. There would never be a dull moment, that’s for sure.

 

30 Day Video Game Challenge: Post 1

Hey, guys! 😀 Luna over at Gamers United GG is hosting a 30 day video game blogging challenge, so I figured I’d join in on the fun! Since I don’t have the time to post each day for 30 days, I’m going to answer several of the questions in a few posts spread out through the month. This post will include my first 7 answers to Luna’s questions.

1.) Who is your childhood video game hero?

Probably Sonic the Hedgehog. I was a Sega girl, and I put a lot of hours into the Sonic the Hedgehog games as a kid (and who am I kidding, as an adult, too.) 😛 Plus, you save a bunch of cute and fuzzy little animals, so that was also a plus for me. Tails was my favorite to play as though when you eventually got the option, but we’ll get to Tails in a later question. 😀

2.) Which video game world would you like to live in? Why?

Planet Pop Star from the Kirby games would be a top pick. Everything is just so cute and fun.

3.) Who is your favorite video game sidekick?

Miles “Tails” Prower from the Sonic the Hedgehog games. I’ve been a fan since Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I even had a stuffed animal that was a fox (essentially the Hobbes to my Calvin) that I named Tails, despite the stuffed animal only having one singular tail. 😛 I know Tails can sometimes be a hindrance (especially in the special stages) but I still love the little guy.

4.) What was the toughest boss that you had to face?

Haha this is going to sound so lame, but when I beat Diddy Kong Racing for the N64 it was on a pretty junky television, and racing Wizpig was a damn nightmare because the picture was wayyyy too dark to see at times on that TV. So, because I was being stubborn as hell, I did the race over and over again to memorize my way through the race even though I was basically driving blind at times. It was a giant pain in the ass and I was soooo mad, but  eventually I got it!

5.) If you can have a video game weapon, which would you choose?

I don’t like getting injured, so I’d want something I could use to destroy the baddies and keep myself from harm, so I’m gonna have to go with the Super Stars that give you invincibility in the Mario/Super Smash Bros/Mario Kart games. I’ve always liked mowing people down with the Super Star in Mario Kart. *Evil Laugh!*

6.) What’s your favorite game?

Ooh, this is tough. I’ve got several games that I love and could play over and over again, but I’m going to have to give this one up to Super Mario 64. Just because it’s so much fun, and I still remember the way I felt blown away by it when I first played it. That game will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤

7.) You’re in a Western video game and need to rob the bank, which video game character will be your partner?

Hmm . . . maybe Glacius from the Killer Instinct games? He can turn into liquid and slide into places that would be hard to get into otherwise, like vaults and locked doors. The dude can fight, and he has his own built-in weapons, so I could easily see him being the quickest draw in the West with that friggin’ sword-arm uppercut of his. Not to mention being able to freeze people. Yeah, I think we could get away with a bank robbery if I had Glacius as my partner in crime. 🙂

That’s it for my first 7 questions from Luna’s awesome challenge. Be sure to check out her blog to see her answers, the rest of the questions, and maybe even join in on the fun! Big thanks to her for coming up with the challenge and making such fun questions. Looking forward to doing the next 7 next week! 😀

 

“How I Choose My Books” Tag!

Oops! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted anything. I’ve been pretty busy, but I was lucky enough to be tagged by the awesome conqueror of books, Birdie Bookworm, so here we are! 😀 Thank you again so much for tagging me! This looked too fun to pass up. I’m normally really bad about getting back around to doing tags and awards, so this time I’m getting right on it!

Also, be sure to check out the Birdie Bookworm blog. It’s a great one, and deserves to get lots of love! 🙂

Since my bookshelves contain books AND comics/graphic novels, my answers will be sort of a mixed bag. I love comics, so there’s no way I’m leaving them out. 😛

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1. Find a book on your shelves or e-reader with a blue cover.
What made you want to pick up this book?

Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland. I actually didn’t pick this one up myself. It was a gift from a friend since we’d read the first book in the series together in our book club. I’m looking forward to reading it though since I enjoyed the first one called My Life as a White Trash Zombie.

2. Think of a book you didn’t expect to enjoy, but did.
Why did you read it in the first place? 

I really enjoyed reading The Girl with All the Gifts, but I had no idea of what to expect from it when I first picked it up. A friend of mine had been strongly recommending it and singing its praises up and down without actually telling me ANYTHING about it. Which I’m glad she didn’t, because this one definitely benefited from going into it blind. I was hopeful I would like it when I read it, but I literally had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, it was a good read! 🙂

3. Stand in front of your bookshelf with your eyes closed and pick up a book at random.
How did you discover this book? 

One of my few books of poems. 🙂 I’d read and enjoyed Anne Sexton’s Transformations years ago, so I got this one so I could read more of her work.

4. Pick a book that someone personally recommended to you.
What did you think of it?

 

Cupcakes and Machetes quite literally shoved this book at me and demanded I read it a while back. I’m so glad she did. It introduced me to not only one of my favorite authors, but my favorite series as well. Kudos to you, C&M. You have yet to lead me astray with any book suggestions. 😀

5. Pick a book that you discovered through YouTube / book blogs.
Did it live up to the hype? 

I first heard about Giant Days in a nifty post from The Brunette Bookworm Blog a while back and heeded her advice, picking up a copy of volume 1. It did not disappoint! 🙂 In fact, I really liked it! I’m currently reading volume 2 at the moment as well.

6. Find a book on your shelves or e-reader with a one-word title.
What drew you to this book?

Volume 1 of Monstress. Hands down what drew me to this was the gorgeous artwork. Each and every panel is a work of art.

7. What book did you discover through a film / TV adaptation?

 

I read Let the Right One In a while back, after seeing (and absolutely loving) the film. I’ve never watched the American remake, so I can’t say anything about that one, but I was instantly drawn in when I watched the original Swedish horror film. Usually I prefer to read the books before watching any movie/TV adaptations, but I’m glad I was able to see the film first in this case since it introduced me to the novel.

8. Think of your all-time favorite book/s.
When did you read these and why did you pick them up in the first place?

As if there were any doubt: A Song of Ice and Fire!!! My favorite books (and show) to geek out about. No doubt about it. I wanna say I began reading these in 2011 if memory serves right. There was no option of going back after that. 😛 As I mentioned in a previous answer, Cupcakes is totally to blame for this obsession. lol

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Tags:

I’m no pressure about these book tags, so if you think it sounds fun, have at it. If I tag you and you don’t want to do it, no worries. 😉 I’m just tagging some people I think might find this one fun since it’s a bookish tag.

Cupcakes and Machetes

The Shameful Narcissist Speaks

By Hook Or By Book

My Bookish Dream

The Book Raven

Books And Hot Tea

The Happiest Pixel

Bionic Book Worm

Books, Vertigo and Tea

Let me know if any of you decide to do the tag yourself. I’d love to read your answers, too! ❤ ❤ ❤ Hope everyone’s having a great week so far. We’re soooo close to the weekend!!

I Dare You Book Tag

Big thanks to the lovely Raven & Beez who tagged me to do the I Dare You Book Tag. 🙂 These bibliophiles run a snazzy blog together, so if you’re a book-lover as well be sure to check them out! 😉

I’m shaking it up a wee bit and doing books AND comics for this because I love to read both. Basically, if it has pages, it counts in my eyes! 😛 So, without further adieu, let’s start this tag! 😀

1.) What book has been on your shelves the longest?

Ooh, interesting question. I’ve still got a few books floating around from when I was but a wee moth. Pretty sure I have a couple of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques floating around. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein is another I’ve hung onto for as long as I can remember. (It was actually my mom’s book that she gave to me when I was little.)

2.) What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?

Let’s see . . .  for novels: Last read was Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, my current read is Soulless by Gail Carriger, and my next read is gonna have to be The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer. Planning on plucking it up from my boyfriend’s library this weekend.

And for comics/graphic novels: Last read was DC Bombshells, vol. 2. Current read is Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt, vol. 1. Not sure yet what one I’ll read after that.

3.) What book did everyone like, but you hated?

Oh, jeez. This is a tricky one. I can’t think of any I’ve read and loathed that everyone else was really into off the top of my head. Lame answer, I know, but it’s all I got for now.

4.) What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?

I have a mountain of a TBR list and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger thanks to all you wonderful book bloggers. I’m sure there’s plenty I’ll never get to unfortunately.

5.) Which book are you saving for retirement?

I’m assuming they’re getting at which book has the heftiest word count and thus will take up a lot of free time. Hmm . . . I doubt I’ll wait til retirement to read this one in its entirety, but I have this old encyclopedia of witchcraft and demonology that had belonged to my grandma and I’ve picked at it here and there because it’s so interesting, but that thing is a tome, and the font is very small so it will definitely take me a while to get through it once I finally set out to read it from start to finish.

6.) Last Page: Do you read it first or wait til the end?

Last page is called LAST PAGE for a reason. lol Why would I want to ruin the ending? It would take all the fun out of guessing what was going to happen.

7.) Acknowledgements: Are they a waste of paper and ink or interesting?

I think they’re great. They’re often pretty interesting to read.

8.) Which book character would you switch places with?

lol Bad things tend to happen to the characters in books I like, so I’m a little hesitant with answering this question.

9.) Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life?

Sort of. It’s kind of like how you might associate a certain time with the point in your life when it came out. I mostly remember what stage of my life I was in when I read a certain book. I feel like that is such an utterly boring answer. lol

10.) Name a book that you acquired in an interesting way.

When I went through a really difficult time emotionally just over 2 years ago, a friend secretly purchased a couple books I had been wanting to read and mailed them to me with a sweet little note. She intended for it to be so secretive but it had her name on one of the papers in there so I figured it out. lol It still makes me smile to think about it because it was such a thoughtful and kind thing to do. The books were Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues and The Lies of Locke Lamora.

11.) Have you ever given away a certain book for a special reason to a special person?

I try to pick books I think people will enjoy (or that I know they’ve been wanting to read). I’ll never just go buy a book I hear is popular in the *hopes* that they might like it. Sometimes I do themes for gifts too, so you might get a couple books with some hidden theme around them because I’m a dork like that. lol

12.) Which book has been with you the most places?

Hmmm . . . I guess any of the books I have on my kindle. I’ve taken that thing with me so many places.

13.) Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?

Nope! Chances are if I hated it then, I wouldn’t be too keen on picking it back up again. 😉

14.) Used or brand new?

Either way! I’m just happy to get the book. Especially if it’s a great deal.

15.) Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

Nope.

16.) Have you ever seen a movie that you liked better than the book?

I don’t know if I actually have. I feel like there was one time I told my boyfriend about before, but now it’s not ringing any bells.

17.) A book that’s made you hungry?

None, really. But Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland comes to mind when I think of scrumptious food in books. The Queen of Heart’s tarts and all the tea time goodies and whatnot. 😛

18.) Who is the person whose book advise you’ll always take?

Cupcakes and Machetes. She has yet to lead me astray! 🙂

19.) Most read authors?

Well, I’ve read several trilogies by various authors over the years, so authors I’ve read more than just three books by would be: George RR Martin, Leigh Bardugo, and J.K. Rowling.

20.) Ship from two different books?

Ah, I don’t really have one as far as novels go, but if we’re talking comics I’m gonna do a Marvel/DC mashup here and say Deadpool and Harley Quinn. 😛

Harleypool anyone?

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As for tagging people, you guys know the drill: If it sounds like fun to you, have at it! 😀 If not, no worries. Anyone is more than welcome to join in on the fun!

* Happy Mother’s Day! *

Woo! It’s Mother’s Day and I figured it would be fun to have the spotlight be on my own mom today. I consider myself very lucky to have the mom I do. Both of my parents are pretty damn amazing, but today’s Mother’s Day so it’s all about Mama Moth! 😛

I went ahead and did an interview with the lovely lady I call Mom so you guys could get to know a bit more about one of the people who shaped me into who I am today.

Q: Are you more of a Science Fiction or Fantasy fan? Or both?

A: Fantasy! Your dad’s more into science fiction than I am.

Q: Favorite Mythological Creature?

A: Pegasus.

Q: Favorite Visual Artists?

A: Ooh, I have so many. I love Brom. There’s Dali. Michael Parkes, Amy Brown and Brian Froud. I feel like I could keep going but I’ll stop with those.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a mom?

A: My kids. Watching you grow up into individuals. Spending time with you guys.

Q: What does your ideal “Girl’s Day Out” consist of?

A: Three things. Bookstore, Chinese restaurant, and then top it all off with iced cappuccinos.

Q: Favorite Family vacation?

A: Florida. All the winter breaks we spent in Florida were always nice.

Q: What is one interest you had growing up that you’re surprised neither of your kids ever got into like you did?

A: Well, you like books like I do, you like art like I do, you like animation. You’re like a mini me, except a better version. So, probably sports. I think that’s about it, because you like baking and cooking and everything else I like. So yeah, sports.

Q: Do you think your kids look more like you or their Dad?

A: Your brother looks like my side of the family, but you definitely look like your dad’s side. So it’s a 50/50.

Q: Why were books so important to bring your kid up on and make sure they had in their life?

A: Because books are the best. They just rule. You could escape into another world and be who ever you want to be.

Q: What are some of your favorite movies?

A: Hmmm . . . well, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, all of the Studio Ghibli Movies . . . oh, and Overboard!

Q: Favorite Candy?

Black licorice

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your husband?

A: (Smiles.) He always makes me laugh and he’s got a good heart.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your children?

(About my brother) He’s my gentle giant. He has an old soul. He’s just such a sweet and loving person.

(About me) You, my dear, always make me laugh, you have such a great heart and you always care about others. Just an all around great person to be around. And you make bad ass cupcakes.

Q: How would you describe your family?

A: We’re a nerd family who is fabulous. I wouldn’t trade any of you guys for anything. Except maybe a Choco Taco (evil mom laugh). No, seriously, I think our family’s a good family. Each of us is willing to help others and that makes it even better.

Please note that at the end of interview my mom declared “DONE!” and pretended to drop a mic. lol

Last Time I . . .

Decided to do a post about recent “Lasts” because why the heck not? 🙂

Last Thing I baked: Last night I had the chocolate craving to end all chocolate cravings so I baked fudge brownies with chopped up Milky Way candy bar in it. I’d never tried making brownies with chopped candy bar in them, but I will definitely do it again. The bits of Milky Way were so melty and delicious!

Truer words have never been spoken.

Last Book I finished Reading: I recently got around to finally finishing Golden Son by Pierce Brown (second book of his Red Rising Trilogy). It was so good! I liked it even better than the first one. 5/5 stars!

Last Photo I Took: Caught Bailey after she had crawled into my travel bag and made a bed out of it. It’s a poor quality pic because I took it with my crap-tastic phone, but it was too cute not to snap a picture of. 🙂

Last Song Listened to: The Birthday Massacre- In the Dark.

Last Movie I Saw In Theaters: Power Rangers! lol Yeah, I went and paid adult dollars to go see it. (Actually my boyfriend did, but still, don’t you judge me.) 😛

Last Food I Ate: Nachos! Had them for dinner earlier. 🙂

Last Outfit I Wore: I’m in my pajamas because whenever you get home for the day and don’t have to go anywhere it is considered “Fuck Pants O’clock”. My pajamas make no sense today, I’ll admit it. I have on an old Cannibal Corpse band T-shirt with light blue Pajama bottoms that have cute little penguins all over them. Murder on the top, Cuteness on the bottom!

If you want to answer the same questions in the comment area, feel free to have at it! Perhaps we have the same tragically mismatched taste in bedtime attire, or both enjoyed a bounty of nachos for dinner? Only one way to find out! 😛

QUESTIONS:

Last Thing You Baked?

Last Book You Finished Reading?

Last Photo You took?

Last Song You Listened To?

Last Movie You Saw In Theaters?

Last Food You Ate?

Last Outfit You Wore?

Mystery Blogger Award

Lately I’ve been fortunate enough to be nominated for multiple blogging awards, and I am sincerely thankful for each and every one of them. ❤

 

“F-for ME? Really??” It’s soooo shiny! :O

I still have the others to fill out yet but I thought I’d get started with the latest nomination from Kate, the lovely blogger behind All The Trinkets. If you haven’t yet ventured over to her blog I do highly recommend it. She’s always so nice and her blog focuses on creativity, passion and inspiration.

THE RULES:

 

• Display the award logo on your blog.
• List the rules. Copy.
• Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well. Wait, who created this?
• Tell your readers three things about yourself.
• Answer five questions from the nominator. Okie.
• Nominate from 10 to 20 bloggers.
• Notify the bloggers by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Ask your nominees any five questions of your choice, including one weird or funny question.
• Share the link to your best post.

 

Three Things About Little Ol’ Me:

Hmmm . . . I’m going to try to think of three things about myself I have yet to talk about in this blog. This might be a bit tricky though since I think I’m pretty open about things here.

Thing #1: I like to do volunteer work. I’ve volunteered as a side walker at an equine therapy place for people with mental and/or physical disabilities, and at a farm animal sanctuary with Cupcakes and Machetes, and also for part of a tutoring group a few years back when I was taking classes toward getting certified as a PCT. I’d love to do more volunteering in the near future as well. My family was also really involved in foster care for rescue dogs when I was younger. I think it’s important to help out in the community. Never underestimate the difference it can make.

Thing #2: Most people have birthday cake to celebrate their birthday, but my mom always makes me banana cream pie with a shortbread crust. It’s sooo good.

Thing #3: I am, and always have been, a TERRIBLE liar. Which is kind of a good thing because I don’t like to lie anyway, but I mean my poker face is virtually nonexistent. In fact, I usually start smiling or laughing because it’s so uncomfortable for me. In the past year and a half I’ve started playing tabletop games and there are some that are just impossible for me to play, like Sheriff of Nottingham. This game involves the players having to bluff and lie and trick the player who happens to be the sheriff at that given time. Let’s just say, they always figure me out. lol

Kate’s Questions / My Answers:

Question 1: What or who inspired you to blog?

I think I’d say fellow blogger Cupcakes and Machetes really got me into blogging. We’re BFFs in real life and we tend to enjoy a lot of the same things and do them together. We’ve even co-written a few different older blogs together in the past. So you can blame her for my long-winded ramblings here. 😛

Question 2: What was the biggest obstacle you overcame last year? Or recently, really?

Well, this is a pretty heavy question for me, but I’m going to say depression. Just about two years ago now I went through something that emotionally gutted me. It seriously broke me. It’s difficult even thinking back on the low point I hit mentally after that. My mental health was dangerously low and it took some serious time and support to get through it. It really affected my confidence, my entire way of thinking about not only myself, but life in general. It definitely changed me as a person but I survived and got through it.

Question 3: What’s your every day mantra?

Take things one day at a time. Accomplish small goals that will add up to the bigger ones you desire. All accomplishments, no matter how small, are still moving you in the right direction. The best things in life don’t come easily so keep at it. Each and every day.

Question 4: If you’re allowed one impossible thing only you can do, what would that be?

Teleport! 😀 I think it would be amazing to be able to just see the world. Visit anyone or any place at any time you wanted. Think of all the amazing things you’d be able to see and learn and experience.

Question 5: What’s your spiritual mythical creature?

As of right now I’d have to say a phoenix. As cliche as it sounds I got burnt. Bad. And now I’m working toward rising from the ashes. It isn’t an instant rise, but most aren’t. I hope to keep at it and get there soon though! I’m on a path of self improvement and very determined.

My Best Post?

Um . . . I don’t know! lol I think the ones I do about writing in general tend to do the best as far as likes and new visitors if you’re speaking from a technical standpoint.

All The Fine, Classy Folks I Nominate:

Cupcakes and Machetes

The Shameful Narcissist Speaks

Gamers United GG

Precinct 1313

Pink For Days

By Hook or By Book

Forged From Reverie

Imperial Rebel Ork

The Necro Nom-Nom-Nomicon

The Brunette Bookworm Blog

Darth Toothpick

Unbolt

The Happiest Pixel

The Maniacal Book Unicorn

Little May Fly

Books and Hot Tea

The Book Corps

YA and Wine

Book Bum

The Comic Vault

There are so many wonderful bloggers I love here. It was actually really difficult picking just 20 to nominate!! I want to just nominate you all. 😀

My Questions For YOU!

1. Do you believe in any superstitions? Or practice any even though you think it’s silly?
2. What type of food did you hate as a kid but love now?
3. Can you name a person that you’ve never met but that has inspired you in some way?
4. What was the last movie you watched?
5. What is your favorite work(s) of fiction to geek out over? (We’re talking books, TV & film, comics, etc.)

Rapid Fire Book Tag

I came across this tag done by none other than The Shameful Narcissist Speaks and just had to give it a go! Yay, books! Anyone is welcome to join in on the fun and do this themselves as well. 🙂

EBOOKS OR PHYSICAL BOOKS?

That’s right, I like both. I love going into book stores and libraries. I love how a collection of books looks displayed with pride on one’s bookshelves. I just love books! That said, I’ve been on the kindle bandwagon since the first kindle came out. I love the convenience of being able to take a bunch of books with me wherever I go without having to worry about damaging them. I love being able to download sample chapters for free to see if I like the writing style of a new author before I purchase it. And I love having access to countless stories at any given time without even having to leave the house. Plus, there are a lot of money-saving perks to getting books on the kindle.

PAPERBACK OR HARDBACK?

Paperback. Don’t get me wrong, hardback books can be gorgeous and all, but this one simply comes down to cost in the long run. Paperback is cheaper.

ONLINE OR IN-STORE BOOK SHOPPING?

In-store. I know I said I dig the convenience of being able to buy books on the kindle without having to leave the house, but that is just for the convenience. I absolutely love book stores. Used book stores, thrift shops, big chains and independent book stores. (This pertains to comic book shopping as well.) I have my mother to blame for this. We always went book shopping together when I was growing up. It was like an unspoken oath that if we went out for a girls’ day out, there were going to be book shopping adventures. This is a love I share with my best friend, and our ideal BFF dates always include books AND coffee or ice cream. Point being, amazing adventures and memories are to be had in book stores, so get out there and revel in your bibliophile ways!

TRILOGIES OR SERIES?

Doesn’t matter to me. Take as many books as you need to tell your story so long as you tell it well and keep me invested in it as a reader.

HEROES OR VILLAINS?

Villains, duh. Though I love me a good antihero, too. 😉

A BOOK YOU WANT EVERYONE TO READ?

I’m one of those sadists that always tells people they should read A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. Like the little devil on their shoulder, I urge them into it and when they finally give in and read it I sit back and wait with a smile on my face for them to thank me while simultaneously hating me for the emotional turmoil they go through while reading it. Same thing applies to the show, Game of Thrones. But, hey, I’m only paying it forward though, since Cupcakes and Machetes did it to me first. 😛

RECOMMEND AN UNDERRATED BOOK.

Dweller, by Jeff Strand. A book that stirred such a range of emotion in me while I was reading it. This tale of a bullied boy who befriends a literal monster he encounters in the woods is definitely more than meets the eye. It manages to disturb you at times and then touch your heart at others. I actually cried a couple times while reading this book. This novel was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel in 2010, so it has received recognition, but I feel like it’s still one that not a lot of people I have encountered have read or heard of so I included it here as an “underrated” book.

THE LAST BOOK YOU FINISHED?

Well, the last novel I finished was Clovenhoof by Heide Goody and Iain Grant. The last comic book I finished was volume 2 of Saga.

WEIRDEST THING YOU USED AS A BOOKMARK?

Oh, jeez. lol What haven’t I used as a bookmark at this point? Hmmm . . . I’m going to say the floppy disc coasters at my boyfriend’s place. He got a set of them on his coffee table and I’m always using them in lieu of an actual bookmark when I’m over there.

kind of like these ones from ThinkGeek.

 

USED BOOKS, YES OR NO?

Sure, why not? I have plenty of great used books. 🙂

TOP THREE FAVORITE GENRES?

Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, and any blend of the three and their sub-genres. I also like science fiction, I just haven’t read all that much of it (yet).

BORROW OR BUY?

Either or. I would love to be able to buy every single book I read to support the authors writing them, but it just isn’t practical for me at this point in my life. But I regularly borrow and lend out books with my friends, check them out from the library, and purchase them when I can.

CHARACTERS OR PLOT?

Ooooh, tough question. I love a great plot but I’m going to say characters if only for the fact that I can deal with a book that is sort of lacking in the plot department as long as the characters are done very well, but I can’t stand flat, boring characters that I don’t find myself caring about as a reader. If the reader don’t care about the characters it doesn’t really matter what peril the writer puts them in, does it? That said, I love a brilliant plot, too. Give me a great plot AND great characters and you’ll have a fan for life. 🙂

LONG OR SHORT BOOK?

I’d probably say a long book if I’m really drawn into the story. There’s nothing worse than being so into a book and then noticing that there just aren’t enough pages left for all the things that you know still need to happen in the story. But if they can leave you with a satisfying ending, a short book is fine too.

NAME THE FIRST THREE BOOKS YOU THINK OF.

Well, the first books I think of are the ones I’ve just discussed in this post so far, so for the sake of not being redundant I’ll ignore those and pick the first book to come to mind from each of my top genres I previously listed. So, a book that springs to mind in the fantasy genre: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor. For historical fiction, of course the one I am currently reading comes to mind: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. And for horror, House of Corruption, by Erik Tavares.

BOOKS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH OR CRY?

Well, I already mentioned that Dweller made me cry several times. I think it also made me laugh too if I remember properly (it’s been a while since I read it). There’s a particular scene in George RR Martin’s A Dance with Dragons that made me tear up a bit. Other than that, none particularly come to mind.

OUR WORLD OR FICTIONAL WORLDS?

Depends on the world. lol There are a LOT of problems in the real world today, but I wouldn’t want to add zombies or demonic beings to the mix. Some fictional worlds are awesome though, so yeah, depends on the book.

AUDIOBOOKS: YES OR NO?

I’ve listened to a few, but I usually read books rather than listen to them. I appreciate the fact that I can multitask while listening to an audiobook, though. That’s pretty awesome. It also really depends on the narrator of the audiobook though. If they just drag the story along at a slug’s pace in a monotone drone or just can’t keep my attention then I quickly lose interest and zone out.

DO YOU EVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER?

Yup! lol I know we shouldn’t, but I think that’s just how it goes sometimes. We see something that draws our attention or we find attractive and it causes us to pick it up off the shelf and look into it. That doesn’t mean I won’t read a book with a plain, or even ugly, cover though. I’m just more likely to notice a flashy cover.

BOOK TO MOVIE OR BOOK TO TV ADAPTATION?

I’ve really been digging book-to-TV adaptations. They tend to be less rushed and more detail oriented when done properly. But films can be done really well too, so it just depends on the series and the creators/cast/budget/etc.

SERIES OR STANDALONE?

There’s something special about reading a series. You get to fall in love with the characters, the world, and the story and not have to say goodbye once you finish the last page. You get to revisit these things in the sequels and build on them. Standalone books can be great too, but I’m going to say series for this.

Real Neat Blog Award

Woo! With so many outstanding blogs on this site, it’s always a pleasant surprise to receive a nomination for an award. 🙂

Many thanks to The Comic Vault for the nomination! If you love comics I can pretty much guarantee you will love his blog. I know I do! 🙂 With the excellent reviews, informative character spotlights, and creator spotlights featuring artists and writers in the business, what isn’t to enjoy? He even throws in other fun stuff like pop culture playlists centered around specific characters (I’ve seen playlists for the Joker, Thor, and Gambit so far since following).

THE RULES:

Thank and link the person who nominated you.

Answer the seven questions your nominator has provided.

Nominate 7 other bloggers and create 7 questions for them.

THE COMIC VAULT’S QUESTIONS:

Q: If you could be any kind of animal what would it be?

A: Hmmm . . . probably a dog or a cat. lol That might sound lame, but I know my cat’s got it pretty good, and that sounds like a way better existence than having to worry about predators, hunters, parasites, etc.

Q: Where is one of the best places you’ve traveled to?

A: I haven’t gotten to travel anywhere near as much as I’d like to. I’ve only been out of the US once, to Canada, and it was so long ago that I honestly don’t remember a whole lot about the trip. I’ve been to Chicago several times and have always had a blast there, so I’m going to say Chicago. It’s a fun city with countless things to do, wonderful museums, a fantastic aquarium, conventions, and I went to the Fangoria weekend of horrors there where I got to see Voltaire play and even meet him and get his autograph. I also got to meet the lovely Lori Petty in that city, so it definitely is a place full of fond memories for me.

Lori Petty (aka- Tank Girl) (aka- my childhood hero) AND Aurelio Voltaire (artist, filmmaker, musician, author, and other such things.)

Q: Who is your favorite superhero?

A: Sorry, Batman, you’re gonna have to sit this one out on the bench since you lack the superpowers and whatnot.

This question is just cruel! Cruel, I say! There are so many good ones out there and you expect me to pick just one?? (Not to mention the fact that I’m more of a villain/antihero kind of girl anyway.) 😛 Hmmm . . . I guess if I had to pick a single superhero, it would be Spider-Man. Or Rogue. Or . . . ah, hell. That isn’t keeping the number to one at all, is it? Well, two is about as good as it’s gonna get I’m afraid!

Q: What would your ideal home be like?

A: I love Victorian style houses, but as long as the place has a massive library and a jacuzzi bathtub for epic bubble baths I’m pretty easy to please! 😉

Minus the odd wording this is so accurate it isn’t even funny.

Q: What is one of your favorite books?

A: A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin. I don’t think I have ever simultaneously loved a book and wanted to throw it off the roof as much as I did this one. Oh, the feels.

What George giveth, George taketh away.

Q: Do you think there is such a thing as fate?

A: Honestly, I have no clue. I think life is for living in the moment and doing the best you can with the time you’ve got. It’s far too short for trying to figure out all the answers to things we have no definite way of knowing. Spend it loving people worth loving and doing the things that bring joy to you as well as those around you.

Q: What kind of music do you like?

A: I enjoy a lot of different types of music, but here’s a few of my favorite artists/bands: The Birthday Massacre, Falconer, Lindsey Stirling, Motorhead, King Diamond, The Misfits, Horrorpops, The Distillers, Emilie Autumn, Amanda Palmer/The Dresden Dolls, Voltaire, Creature Feature, Arkona, Slough Feg, Grand Magus. I also really like instrumental music like video game soundtracks and whatnot, Danny Baranowsky being a top name that comes to mind for that sort of thing.

NOMINEES:

Cupcakes and Machetes: a blog that juggles all kinds of fun topics like delicious recipes, entertaining book reviews (most frequently fantasy/science fiction-related), adorable critter pictures, and other miscellaneous goodies. If you think your TBR list is long now, wait until this book demon gets her clutches on you. 😛

The Shameful Narcissist Speaks: A bountiful cornucopia of reviews, fan fiction, fan theories, essays, and a mad amount of love for things like video games (she is the reigning queen of Final Fantasy related posts), ASOIAF/GOT, writing, and books galore.

Gamers United GG Blog: A new and highly entertaining blog with frequent posts on video games, Netflix shows worthy of binge-watching, reviews on hidden gem movies, games, or shows that you may have missed, collectables, and more!

Precinct1313: A blog brimming with exciting news, comic cover spotlights, recommendations, and reviews related to the fantastic world of DC comics and more! Very informative and fun posts, featuring fresh news as well as tributes to the older days of comics.

Unbolt Me: A collaboration of creativity between writers Tony Single and Tetiana Aleksina, this blog is full of their poems, spun tales, six word stories, and other creative endeavors. Like a surrealist painting spun into words.

Cheap Boss Attack: A friendly and informative social hub for gamers to enjoy reviews, chat about their weekend gaming plans, check out recommendations for current games on sale, catch up on related news, and more!

Forged From Reverie: A journey across several categories of content including: the beautifully written stories and lore from the Realms of Ayl’gard, adorable and hilarious posts of a man and his pug, and the current ongoing apprentice guide to Skyrim.

The Necro Nom-Nom-Nomicon: Horror fans won’t be able to help but marvel at the deviously delicious/deranged recipes on this blog. These morbid morsels  are so creative and creepy-looking that one has to wonder what nightmares they sprang out of.

(I know the rules say pick seven bloggers, but I picked eight cuz I’m a rebel like that!) 😉

MY 7 QUESTIONS:

1.) What is your favorite memory of 2016?

2.) If you could make a living in any profession (your absolute dream job) what would it be?

3.) Have you ever met anyone famous?

4.) If you could travel to any one place in the world right now where would it be?

5.) Who is your favorite author?

6.) What is your favorite mythical creature?

7.) What do you look most forward to in 2017?