2015 New Year Resolutions + Discussion

So....it's been almost a year since I wrote on this blog.  I just needed a break I guess.  I dunno, one day I was blogging, and then I just stopped.  I think I needed to really think about what I wanted to achieve with my online presence, not just here but on youtube as well.  2014 was definitely a year of self reflection; of figuring out not only how I wanted to blog/vlog, but why.

I started my blog and youtube channel back in 2011 and this community was radically different.  The blog scene was well established and treated as a more professional setting but booktube was only just barely getting started.  Now everything has exploded and has really become more of the mainstream youtube celebrity culture.  For a long time that bothered me because I was seeing a close knit community that was about connections becoming more commercialized and less personal.  So I took a step back and sat with my feelings and thought about how I wanted to participate in this new arena.
Ultimately I've come to the conclusion that I want to make this blog and my youtube channel more personal.  This is my record of my opinions on books and media.  I'm done trying to sell a book or appeal to publishers.  I want this blog to be more of a life time capsule.  In 6 months I want to be able to see what I thought of the movies I watched, books I read, and my opinions on things happening in my life.  I want it to be a place where I can keep myself accountable for my goals that I'm setting and document my progress.

So with that said, let's take a look back at my 2014 goals and see how I did and what I want to achieve in 2015.

Bookish Goals

2014 No Reading Challenge - I really liked not having the pressure of reading a set number of books.  However this also made me a little too relaxed and sometimes I would go a whole month without finishing a book.  So while Goodreads says I read 85 books, over half were graphic novels or comic books.  Plus I only read 1 new 5 star book, how disappointing :(

2015 Reading Challenge - I want to read 52 books in 2015.  That's one book a week, and I intend for these to be actual, full length novels.  Any graphic novels/comics will be extras.  I think I can do this because my other 2015 reading goal is to read 25 pages a day.  I really want reading to be a daily practice, but I also know that I go through slumps throughout the year.  By making my goal only 25 pages I can stop reading if I'm not feeling it and it won't take up too much time.

2014 Book Buying Ban - In 2014 I initially said I wasn't going to buy any new books.  LOL.  That lasted about 2 months.  I definitely fell into the whole, when you completely ban yourself from something you end up binging on it trap.

2015 Book Buying Throttle - I learned that I'll break if I completely cut myself off from book buying, so instead I'm just throttling it back.  I'm allowing to buy myself 1 book a week, so 4 per month.  However they don't roll over (so if I only buy 2 in January I don't get to buy 6 in February).  This will let me still browse book stores and sales without too much guilt but will also help me cut back.

2014 Sell 100 Books - Oh yeah I totally crushed this goal!  I sold over 130 books!  HOLLA.

2015 Sell 100 Books - I want to do it again!  I still have too many books and I know I can't read them all in the next year, probably not even in the next ten.  Some have to go.

Other Goals

For 2014, I didn't really save any money on purpose, but I cut out some excess spending and I've increased my savings so YAY.  I did  my 10k and it was difficult but I got a sweet medal so it's totally worth it so HOLLA.  I did a lot of Life Book 2014, over 50% by the end of the year, but I still have plenty of lessons to complete, so semi WOO.

So now let's talk about 2015.  First things first, I got engaged last August YEAH!  So I'm planning a wedding for September 2015.  Lots of my time is going to be devoted to this because I really want my wedding to be special but I don't want to break my bank so I have to do a lot of the work myself (I so wish I could afford to just pay someone else to do everything for me but alas, I cannot).  I do want to blog about the process however, because there's been quite a lot I've learned already and I'm sure I'll learn a lot more before I say I do.

In addition to getting married I am also on the job hunt AND house hunt.  Yep, I'm going to be very busy with just basic growing up type stuff, but I do have a few other goals.

In terms of health I of course want to lose a little weight and tone up for the wedding, so working out at least 4 times a week is my goal.  This will include running and weights.  With running I'd like to get up to the 15k/10mile distance. 

Finally I've signed up for Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday class which is great biweekly art class that's a lot less intense than Lifebook.  I want to do 1 art journal page a week as a visual diary type of thing.  I also want to finish up all of my Lifebook 2014 lessons.

And that's it!  I have a very busy 2015 planned but I'm going into it with a lot more clarity and focus.  At least I hope so.

2014 Goals and Resolutions

Hey guys!  Happy 2014!  Long time no blog, I know.  I needed a break from social media.  I didn't make any youtube videos either, so don't feel too neglected.  But it's a new year and a fresh start!  In this post I wanted to outline my redirected focus for the blog and youtube channel and let you know my resolutions.  Don't worry, a 2013 wrap up will be next.

Also, I've been using This Planner to help me get organized for 2014.  I've been using Leonie Dawson's year planner since 2011 and I absolutely love it.  Now you can get a digital or a physical copy and I highly recommend checking it out.  There's still plenty of time to create an amazing 2014!

Bookish Goals

1.  No Reading Challenge - I'm doing something a little different this year.  I'm not setting a specific number of books to read this year.  I get too hung up on staying on schedule and then I don't enjoy what I'm reading because I'm rushing and I also stay away from longer or harder books because I'm afraid it will take too long to read.  I want to take my time and enjoy my reading process this year.

2.  Book Buying Ban - Full disclosure.  I am really embarrassed to admit that I currently have 867 unread physical copies of books.  That is so embarrassing to admit.  At my current reading rate this would take close to TEN YEARS to read all of these.  So I'm going on a book buying ban for all of 2014.  There are a few exceptions, but not many.

• If I am given a gift card I can spend it on books.
• If there is a book signing I'm really interested in I can buy the book for it.
• Cress by Marissa Meyer Feb. 4
• Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor April 8

Yep you read the right, I officially plan on only purchasing 2 books for the entire year.  As for book signings it has to been an author I've at least heard of and am really interested in the book they've written.  I'd guess around 5 or so for the year.  Any other books that I don't own in the collection will be borrowed from the library.

3.  Sell 100 Books - Not only am I looking to not add to the collection, I'm hoping to downsize it as well.  The way I will be accomplishing this by figuring out how many pages is roughly 20% of the book and then deciding if I want to keep reading.  If the answer is no it goes in the sell pile.  Also any books I rate 1 or 2 stars will also go in the sell pile.  3 and 4 stars will be evaluated based on how likely I will be to re-read it, and 5 star books earn automatic self space.

Those are all of my bookish goals.  Not too bad really.  I do have a few specific books I want to read, but I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. 

Other Goals

I do have a few other life goals.  I do have a financial goal where I want to save a specific amount of money and I also want to put some extra money toward my student loans (beyond my monthly payments).  To achieve this goal I figured out a monthly budget that I hope to live by, but damn it is tough! 

Another goal I have is to run in my first 10k.  I've already signed up for a race on September 20th, which means I've only got 257 days left to train (eek!).  Of course I've started off in fine fashion by catching a terrible cold, but I hope to get into training today.  I'm using Hal Higdon's training programs to build up my endurance.

My final big goal for 2014 is to participate in Life Book 2014, a year long art course hosted by Tamara Laporte at Willowing Arts.  Each week we are sent a lesson from Tam or one of her guest teachers.  I've already done the first lesson and I loved it, so I'm really excited to see what else will come from this course.

So those are my 2014 goals, I think I can live by them, but I'll definitely have to work!  What are your goals for 2014?  Let me know in the comments below!

Zombies, Run! 5k app Week 3

You all might remember that last week I really hurt my back.  I could barely stand, let alone train for a 5k.  So after a week and a half off (with lots of drugs, not gonna lie) I was ready to try Week 3 of the program.  Week 3 really just follows the natural progression so I wasn't too surprised by the schedule.

• 5 minutes walking warm up
• 5 minute free form run warm up
• 5 reps of 1 minute running, 1 minute walking, and 10 seconds of knee lifts (jogging while bringing your knees up to your waist)
• 8 minute free form run
• 2 minutes stretching
• 8 minute free form run

I waited until Wednesday to do day one and I have to admit I pretty much walked everything.  I only ran during the interval training and by the last one I was starting to feel pain in my back as well as my left calf.  I took it slow and went 2.6 miles in 44 minutes, which is pretty good for walking so much.

Because I was still experiencing pain (and because I had to work really late on Friday) I didn't do day 2 until Saturday.  This run though was AWESOME.  I had zero pain and did 3.2 miles in 47 minutes (and 2 of those minutes were spent stretching). 

I did the final day of the week on Sunday even though I don't like doing 2 days in a row because I really wanted to get back on schedule.  I was a little more tired and sore during this run so I only did 3 miles in 43 minutes (which is still really good).

I'm really starting to see some results and improvements thanks to this training.  I'm also starting to have more confidence in myself, which is really awesome.  Also the story is getting really great, I'm really getting attached to the characters.  This is great for me because I actually want to do the next mission.  I can't wait to see what happens in week 4!

Zombies, Run! 5k app Week 2

Week 2 started off with a bang and ended with a whimper :(  I managed to really injure myself last weekend so while I managed to complete week 2, I haven't been able to start week 3.  My back is absolutely killing me, I can't bend down, sit down, walk around, or lay flat.  I went to the doctor a few days ago and the medicine he gave me has been helping, but I'm still really hurting.  Hopefully I'll be ok by next Monday so I can get back to training.

Week 2 consists of:

• 10 minute warm up walk
• 5 reps of 30 seconds running, 5 heel lifts (basically going up on releve), 1 minute walking
• 10 minute free run

I did the first mission on Monday and felt great.  I didn't have too many problems other than I went out too late and it was super dark when I came home. 

Mission 2 on Tuesday had quite a few problems though.  I was running through my neighborhood and noticed a couple walking their HUGE dog and talking up the entire sidewalk. I was going to pass them so I hopped down on the street. As I approached them on the left the dog lunged at me barking really aggressively. He was on the right of his owner so as he ran at me his owner span around and fell to the ground. I stopped and wanted to help but the dog was still barking and lunging at me! They told me to just go on so I did because I was afraid of that dog. I feel really bad that this guy fell but seriously, if you're going to be walking your GIANT ASS DOG through a residential area you need to train it not to run at people! What if I had been a 10 year old kid? That guy would have a lot more to worry about than a busted ass.

So, I wonder if there is some sort of etiquette when you're running past someone walking their dog? I've never had this issue before, normally I just run on by and the dog doesn't care.

I took Wednesday off and decided to do a main app mission on Thursday.  However I decided to do this late in the day and it was too dark to run outside so I tried to do it on the treadmill.  Mistake.   I think I run differently when I'm on the treadmill because my left leg was just killing me.  I could hardly run for more than a few seconds before there would be shooting pain. I noticed that when I run outside I step more in the middle of my foot and have a lot less pain but when I run on the treadmill I lead with my heel more. I think it has to do with keeping my balance, I don't know. All I know is my left shin and hip would really hurt if I tried to run.

Saturday is when I finished week 2 of the 5k app and running wise I felt fine, but the weather was super cold and my left leg was still a tiny bit sore so I didn't do as well as I wanted to, but not a big deal.

My back pain started later that night.  I was sitting on the couch and simply stood up and WHAM.  Luckily the doctor said it is just a strained muscle not a spine or bone problem, so that's good.  I think I will be able to pick training back up next week so look forward to another summary soon!

Ally Carter Book Signing

Last week I was lucky enough to attend a book signing for Ally Carter's latest book, Perfect Scoundrels, at my local indie book store Joseph Beth.  Ally Carter is the New York Times best selling author of of The Gallagher Girls series, a middle grade series about a school for spies, and the Heist Society series, a YA series about a cat bugler gone good.

Ally Carter being awesome.

 We pretty much jumped right into the Q&A session, with lots of people asking for spoilers in Perfect Scoundrels and for the final book in the Gallagher Girls series.  Apparently Zach dies...(just kidding!  Carter loves to bait her readers, which is pretty hilarious if scary!)

Here are some of my favorite questions.

What is your favorite part of writing each series?

• Heist Society is wish fulfillment.  Carter could play the "what if" game
• Gallagher Girls was watching the characters grow up.

What inspired you to start writing?

• Carter read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton in middle school and discovered that not only did S.E. Hinton grow up near her hometown, but that she was only 16 when she wrote it
• Carter realized that writers weren't just rich old people, they could be anyone, even her

Do you know the end of the story when you start writing?

• Carter knows all of the major points she wants to hit, but doesn't know the exact paths she will take to get there
• The details are developed and changed (and changed and changed) during the writing and revision process

Signing my books!

What advice do you have for young writers?

• Read as much as you can
• Write as much as you can
• Don't worry about getting published!

How do you get over writers block?

• There are two types of writers block that Carter encounters
• The first is when she needs to write, but is getting distracted by TV, chores, friends, ect.
• To cure this version of writers block she makes a schedule and has writing incentives with her friends
• If she doesn't reach a certain word count by a certain date her friend is allowed to slap her in the face...I'd say that's pretty good incentive!
• The second type of writers block is when she is working but feels like she's pushing through a wall, every word is a struggle to get out
• In this instance she does take a break
• Going for a walk or getting a drink can help take your mind off the problem and allow new thoughts to pop up

The Heist Society Series, NYT best seller!

The discussion wrapped with the announcement that Heist Society would appear on the New York Times best sellers series list, alongside The Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments.  Congratulations Ally and thank you so much for coming to Joseph Beth for such a fun event!

My signed copy of Perfect Scoundrels, in stores now!

Zombies, Run! 5k app Week 1

So today I wanted to talk about something a little different, but still very "bookish" in my opinion.  A few months ago I discovered a fantastic app called Zombies, Run!  This app takes a standard workout running tracker and combines it with an audio book like story.  In between songs that you upload as a playlist you hear radio transmissions from people in a township called Abel, a community trying to survive during the zombie apocalypse. 

This app is absolutely perfect for someone like me, who enjoys books and video games far more than exercising.  I get so incredibly bored on the treadmill or just lifting weights over and over.  I love that Zombies, Run! gives me not only missions and goals, but a captivating story and intriguing characters.  I'm actually sad when I complete a mission and have to wait a day before I can do the next one!  I'm excited to go running....which is extremely weird!

I've had a goal for a few years now of running a 5k without stopping.  I participated in my first one ever last year (The Color Run!  Such a blast) but didn't run the entire thing.  I decided this year I would up the ante and I have signed up for Run for Your Lives, a zombie themed 5k obstacle course.  The race is June 22, so I have 130 days to train. 

I started my training last week by doing the first week of the spin off app, Zombies, Run! 5k.  This app is set in between missions 1 and 2 of the main app and lets runner 5 get to know some of the people in Abel while they train up to prepare for longer missions.  This is a great premise and so far  I've really enjoyed it.

My Zombies, Run! uniform, courtesy of my mom at Christmas.  I love my mom.

Week 1 consists of:

• 10 minute walk for a warm up
• 10 reps of walk 1 minute, run 15 seconds
• 10 minute free run, which means you can walk the whole thing, run the whole thing, or do a combination of the two based on your fitness level.

This first week wasn't that difficult. I can't quite run for the full 10 minute free run, but I would guess I ran about 8 minutes each time, so that's pretty good.  For the first day I tried to run on the treadmill and I learned very quickly that it's a lot more fun to face the cold then it is to slog it out inside. 

Running outside is a lot better; it makes the intervals easier, later on you have to stop and do some strength exercises that would be a lot easier off a treadmill, and the app works better with the GPS.  I did have some problems with the app not recording my workouts, misjudging the distances I ran (I know I didn't run 9.5 miles in 36 minutes!), and randomly stop playing music half way through.  The app hasn't synced any workout to the website since Friday.  However they did just change the entire layout of their site, so I'm not surprised there are still a few bugs.

Technical kinks aside I really love this app.  I love it for the atmosphere it brings and the story it tells.  I am really invested in these character and am excited every day to go on my run.  This is a big deal for me because I have never been a runner, ever. 

Where I've Been and Changing the Direction of my Blog

Hi guys!  Long time no see, huh?  You may have noticed that I haven't been very active on here in the past two months.  Some of you might be wondering, Amanda, what happened?  Did work send out out of the country?  Did you get sick?  Did you die!?  Ha, well, I can safely say that nothing traumatic happened to me.  I just got burned out.  In the two months I've been away I haven't read a single book.  I've started quite a few, but I couldn't get into any of them.  I think I just put too much pressure on myself to meet certain goals and just got overwhelmed. 

However, I am back now and with a new focus!  I really want to start some changes on this blog.  While I love books I am also very passionate about movies and video games as well.  I want to start some video game and movie reviews as well as expand my blog to different topics of discussion as well. 

I also want to kind of change my focus when it comes to how I do reviews, what I choose to read next, and how I run my blog and youtube channel.  I really admire people who chose a monthly theme for what they read/review/watch ect.  One person in particular is Priscilla from The Readables.  I absolutely adore how she organizes her channel and I think I might start emulating that. 

So, my goal for the rest of October is to get all caught up on reviews.  I have around fifteen or so that I'd like to finish and while I may not get to all of them, I absolutely want to do every book from 2011.   Then starting in November I want to choose a theme for the month.  I also would love to do a book to movie adaptation review every month, so we'll see how that goes.  There are quite a few movies coming out that I think would be great to read the book before seeing. 

But yeah, that's where I've been these past few months!  Just taking a break while I clear my head and re-focus.  Thanks to everyone for sticking with me and look forward to more posts soon!

Signed Book Haul and a Giveaway!

Hey everyone!  I know I haven't been posting here this week, but that's because I was busy going to author signings all week!  To celebrate my birthday next week, I'm doing 2 giveaways!  You can enter here or on my youtube channel and here's what you can win!


James Dashner prize pack:
1.  Signed paperback copy of The Maze Runner
2.  Signed paperback copy of The Scorch Trials

Mulit-Author prize Pack: 
1.  Signed paperback of Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
2.  Signed hardcover of Hold me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
3.  Signed hardcover of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

To enter the giveaway:

1.  Be 18 or have your parents permission!
2.  Follow my blog!
3.  Leave a comment saying which prize pack you would like to win and what book your currently reading.

Winners will be drawn September 28th!

How To Negative Reviews!

This topic has been stewing on the back burner for a while.  2012 has been the year of the negative review kerfuffles, but recent events have escalated from catty disagreements to flat out harassment. 

I'm going to start off with this disclaimer.  People are allowed to share their opinions on anything.  People are allowed to gush about stuff they love, shrug with indifference, and yes, even sneer with disdain.  What people are NOT allowed to do is post personal information and encourage others to stalk and harass someone for having a differing opinion.  That is harassment, not free speech. 

There are two groups of people that react to reviews, readers and writers.  I'll break it down for both groups. 

Readers:

Here's the thing about people who are passionate about reading; they love to talk about it.  When they read an amazing book that makes us laugh and cry and shout at the characters and stay up until 2am because they just have to read one more chapter.  They want to tell everyone about it.  I think that's why so many people book blog and/or vlog.  They love talking with people who are equally passionate about reading.  Also they straight up just love reading good books.  That's why they read, they are searching out our next amazing book.

So what about when they read a book that doesn't deliver, what are they to do?  Some reviewers have no qualms about tearing the book to pieces in reviews usually laden with snark and sarcasm (and colorful GIFs to help illustrate their point).  Some reviewers keep it as PC as possible and just flat out refuse to write anything less than glowing reviews.  But I would say the majority of reviewers attempt to outline what they didn't like about the novel, where they thought the novel didn't reach it's storytelling goal, and if there were any redeemable qualities about the book or what type of reader might have better luck. 

All three methods of negative reviews are valid, but all three come with different consequences.

If you refuse to write anything but positive reviews I think some of  your credibility is taken away.  When I read reviews by a person, and they only do really positive reviews (usually in conjunction with an author interview or giveaway) I feel a bit cheated.  I also feel like the reviewer is cheating themselves by not expressing how they really feel. 

However conversely if you write an extremely negative review I think you should expect some criticism.  People are going to want to defend the books that they really like and may see your review as overly harsh or unfounded.  And they are allowed to express that opinion.  When you write a reivew, much as when you write a book, you open yourself up to criticism of your writing. 

Ultimately I think the goal of any review should be to reflect your analytical reading process.  It should look at the themes represented in the book (aka the message or goal of the novel) and decide wether these themes were addressed in a sucessful way.  Did the romance novel make your heart flutter and your face flush?  Did the mystery have you trying to puzzle out who the killer was before it was revealed?  Did the book about the victim of a hate crime effectively convey the message of acceptance and tolerance?  Analyzing these types of questions is the goal of a reviewer.

Writers:

I get why so many authors are hurt by negative reviews.  This is a project they've worked hard on and spent a lot of time and effort to produce the final product and for someone to come along and rip it apart makes you feel devalued.  I get it, I really do.  BUT, even if a negative review has you fumeing, you should never, never respond in kind (even if you really want to).  Responding to negative reviews hurts your image and often it's the author's reaction to the negative review, more than the review itself, that discourages people from reading the book in question. 

So What Can Be Done?

It all comes down to four simple words:  Don't be a Dick.  It's ok to not like things, and it's ok to express that opinion, but do it in an intelligent (or at least not belligerant) way.  I think the most important way to review is not positively or negatively, but honestly.  We all need to remember that what we write and put out to the public, be it in book format or blog, is open for criticism.  And while criticism and disagreement should be expected, harassment and threats are never ok. 

I hope that we as a community will not lose sight of what drew us together in the first place; a love of storytelling.  Authors should strive to produce the very best story then can create, and reviews should continue to demand excellence in the product they choose to purchase.

I've discovered some excellent posts on the topic, so be sure to check out these links!

Stacia Kane:  I Don't Need You to Avenge Me, Thanks
Parajunkee:  Book Blogging 101
Foz Meadows blog post:  Bullying & Goodreads
Gossamer Obsessions:  In All Seriousness
Gossamer Obsessions:  Return to Neverland

Huffington Post original anonymous Op-Ed article:  Why It's Time to Stop the Goodreads Bullies
Huffington Post appology by Andrew Losowsky:  Stop the GR Bullies: An Explaination
Huffington Post response by Foz Meadows:  Stop the GR Bullies: A Response

Meg Cabot Book Signing

Last Friday I was lucky enough to go to a Meg Cabot book signing at Books & Co in Dayton, Ohio.  I was so excited and there was a huge crowd.  For those of you who may not know, Meg Cabot is the author of nearly fifty books that span from adult murder mysteries, young adult paranormal series, and probably most famously, The Princess Diaries series which has been made into two movies by Disney. 

This book signing was for her newest book, Size 12 and Ready to Rock, the fourth book in the Heather Wells series (although according to her you don't have to read the first three books to start this one).

Cabot started her career wanting to be an illustrator and couldn't find a job so in order to pay the bills she ended up getting a job in a dorm at NYU (just like her character Heather Wells, minus the murders).  It was while working at that job that Cabot started writing novels, including The Princess Diaries.  She got the courage to start submitting her novels to publishers and eventually, after many rejection letters, finally got picked up.

Currently Cabot is working on her young adult paranormal romance series.  The first two books, Abandoned and Underworld, are currently published and she is finishing the draft for the third book Awaken, set to be released in 2013.  There will also be a fifth book in the Heather Wells series, but Cabot says she needs to finish the draft of Awaken first (which is already overdue lol).

Taking about her new book, Size 12 and Ready to Rock

After her talk the floor was opened for a Q&A.

1.  You've written so many books with different story lines, how do you keep yourself organized?

Cabot admitted that she isn't the best at this (she had to have a friend re-read the first three Heather Wells books so she could know what happened), but she keeps what she calls "story bibles" that have the important facts about characters, such as physical appearance, interests, and friends and family.

2.  What other series are you planning on writing more books for?

There will be one more Heather Wells book, but she also has some possible ideas for her Insatiable series and the Mediator series.

3.  What was the most difficult book to write?

Cabot said that writing for young children was the most difficult because she likes to swear and had a hard time adjusting her writing voice for a younger audience.  She also said that she's gotten hate mail for putting certain words into books (which is cray in my opinion!). 

After the Q&A it was time to sign some books!  They had us go up by numbers and of course I didn't know that so I had to wait around for over an hour to get my book signed (I can be such a derp sometimes).  Meg was extremely nice and took pictures with everyone and signed every book each person brought, which was sometimes quite a lot!  

Getting my books signed.

The Heather Wells series

My signed copy of Size 12 and Ready to Rock

The Abandoned series

My signed copy of Underworld

I wanted to thank Meg Cabot for coming to the event and congratulate her on her latest release.  It was a great event and I can't wait to read the next installment in the Heather Wells series!

Book Shelf Tour 7/12/2012

Hey blog buddies!  I did a bookshelf tour, check it out!

I'm on Vacation!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I'm writing a quick post to let you all know that I will be on vacation until Sunday.  I'm in Florida visiting some friends and will be busy soaking up some sun and visiting some awesome theme parks, but I'll post a vacation summary when I get back!

Guess where I'm going...  :D

Show Your Support for Gay YA

Yesterday Amendment 1 in the North Carolina constitution passed, which defines marriage solely as a union between one man and one woman,  and thus joining the states that have an active ban on gay marriage (I'm sad to say my home state of Ohio along with 28 other states also have a similar amendments).  The exact wording of the amendment is "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognised in this state".  This amendment goes beyond gay marriage to invalidate all civil unions and domestic partnerships, regardless of orientation.   

This amendment weakens laws that protect unmarried domestic violence victims, unmarried parents, any private agreements between unmarried couples, any unmarried end of life arrangements, and also frees employers from providing health benefits to unmarried partners.  Again, this is regardless of the sexual orientation of the couple, just the fact that they are not married. 

This is extremely discouraging news.  As a strong supporter of the gay community and women's rights, seeing this blatant discrimination is infuriating and frustrating.  So what can we do? Why, we continue what we've been doing.  We support those who are victims of hate and discrimination and continue to spread our message of love and equality. 

One of the best ways to do this is by supporting authors and publishers who create books that deal with LGBT issues.  Share these books with your friends and family, and begin a discussion.  I honestly believe that through continual love, support, and understanding we will change the world and show that we all deserve the same rights, regardless of age, race, gender, orientation, or creed. 

List of LGBT Themed YA 

*This isn't a complete list, so please leave suggestions of other LGBT YA books in the comments!*

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
I am J by Cris Beam

Veronica Roth Book Signing!

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth

You guys, I had an amazing Wednesday.  I was so fortunate to be able to go to a Veronica Roth book signing at Joseph Beth book seller in Cincinnati, Ohio.  VERONICA ROTH, you guys.  New York Times best selling author of Divergent and just released Insurgent came to MY hometown.  *dies*

I had so much fun.  I got there SUPER early because I wanted to beat the traffic, so I ended up with about three hours to kill.  I got dinner and read some of Velveteen while I waited, so it wasn't a huge imposition or anything.  So many people showed up, the place was packed.  I was really pleased to see a lot of younger kids there, and some boys as well.  I love it when kids get excited enough about reading to want to go to an author event. 

At the start of the signing we were told that during release week Veronica was going to three places.  New York City for publishing reasons, Chicago her home town, and Cincinnati Ohio because the reading community is AWESOME and did a TON of publicity work for Divergent.  Pretty cool, right? 

Guys, can I be completely honest with you?  Veronica Roth is GORGEOUS.  Seriously, she so pretty I think I have a bit of a girl crush lol.  She's also funny and charming and intelligent, so no wonder she's created such fantastic books!

Veronica started the night off with a reading from Insurgent.  I actually blocked out a lot of it because I don't want anything to be spoiled, regardless of if it actually is a spoiler or not.  It's always fun to hear authors read their work, just not when I haven't read the book yet!

After the reading there was the typical Q&A session. 

How do you name your characters?

• The character names change a lot
• Roth tries to find names that walk that fine line between unique but not too weird
• In a move of pure awesome, Roth revealed that Tobias's name was in fact inspired from K.A. Applegate's Animorphs series (thus solidifying her extreme cool factor)

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into publishing?

•  Major in English
• Try and find an internship, even if it is unpaid
• Roth actually started her career wanting to be a copy editor because of her love of grammar

What is your favorite faction and what faction would you choose?  Who is your favorite character?

• Abignation is her favorite faction because they're the underdog and their virtue purveys their entire life
• Roth would choose to be in dauntless
• Tris and Tobias feel the most real
• Evelyn is her favorite new character

How many books will be in the series?  Any word on a movie?

• There will be three in the series, but the final one does not have a title yet (Insider Scoop:  it will not be "Detergent")
• Lionsgate bought the movie rights and a screenplay is being developed

How did you come up with the idea for Divergent?

• In her college psychology class, she was studying exposure theory for treating phobias which is where the inspiration for dauntless came from
• Roth then expanded on that idea and created a world where the dauntless could exist

What do you do when you have writers block?

• Roth admits that she's not the best at overcoming it
• Music is a big inspiration for Roth and she tries to find the right song for whatever scene she's working on
• She also walks away for a few days to get a fresh start

What do you wish you knew before you were published? 

• Don't read reviews!  It puts way too much pressure on you as a writer.

How long did it take you to write Insurgent?  What part of writing is the easiest, and what is the hardest?

• The rough draft took about three months with edits lasting around seven
• The hardest part of writing is knocking out the first draft, she admits to being a bit of a perfectionist.
• The easiest part is edits and re-writes.  Roth "cleanses by fire" and has no problem tearing a draft apart

After the Q&A session it was book singing time!  Even though there were so many people I didn't have to wait that long (yay pre-ordering!).  While in line I ran into some of my book blogger friends, including Lauren at Epilogue Review, Jenny at Supernatural Snark, and Dani at Refracted Light Reviews (hey girls!).

Signing my books!

Be Brave.  Be Strong.

I'd like to congratulate Veronica on her new book Insurget and thank her for coming to Cincinnati!  I had such a fun time, it was a really great event.  Oh and of course you all know what I'll be reading this weekend!

How To Book Review!

I've gotten some requests to do a few posts on reviewing, negative reviews, online etiquette, ect.  I thought I would start off with some general reviewing tips.  This is what I try and put in my review and what I like to see when reading others.

1. Include Cover Art - Seeing the cover art in the review helps create a visual clue for readers.  I may not remember the title or author, but in the book shop I'll see a cover and go "oh yeah!  I read about that on a blog, it sounded awesome!" 
   
   
2. Publishing Information - I like to include the publisher, the publishing date, if the book is part of a series, and if I got a copy for review.  This becomes important information as your blog starts to get more of a following.  It helps readers keep track of what different publishers have coming out and also let's them know the release date if you're reading it in advance. 
   
   
3. To Rate or Not to Rate - There is some debate over whether a rating system (five stars, A+, ect) is necessary.  I personally appreciate a rating system when I can sort the reviews by the various levels to see the trends.  I like to see what a blogger would rate 1 star vs 5 stars, an F vs an A.  Ultimately using a rating scale is up to you, and it never hurts to have a legend explaining your particular system.
   
   
4. Don't Just Summarize - Please don't just post a synopsis of the plot.  You should include one for sure (I just copy mine from goodreads or the back of the book, but you can put yours in your own words if you want), but also say what it is that you liked or didn't like about the book.  Take some time to express your own opinions about the story, not just what it is. 
   
   
5. Analyze - This goes along with #4, but I like to think about what the objective of the book was, and how effectively the author achieved that goal.  For example, say I'm reading a contemporary romance.  Do I find myself swooning over the main love interest and yelling at the protagonist when she's too shy to say how she feels?  I'd say that a successful romance.  Or am I rolling my eyes at their stupid decisions and feeling the need to throw the book across the room?  Then I'd say maybe not so much. 
   
   
6. Be a Fangirl, Unless You're Not - If you just LOVED THIS BOOK OMG YOU GUYS!!!! don't be afraid to post a review like that!  If a book made you squeal with delight and do happy dances and fist pump in victory, let your readers know!  I know I've totally fangirled over a couple of different books and I think those kinds of posts are super fun....if it's not EVERY book you've ever read.  If every review is just gushing about how awesome a book is, people may write you off as being a fluffy kiss-ass or someone who can't read critically.  If you didn't like a book so much, even if that books has a huge following, don't be afraid to say so.  It's totally ok to go against the flow, and if you're lukewarm about something, go ahead and say why.
   
   
7. You Don't Have to Review Everything - It's true you know.  If you read a book and just don't have much to say about it, feel free to not review it.  If you're given a book for review, especially unsolicited, you don't have to read and review it if you don't think you'll like it or just won't have time.  I would encourage you all to pass the review copy along to someone who would review it (just don't sell it, that's BAD).  Ultimately this is your blog and your reviews, so you get to decide what you want to post.
   
   
8. Don't be a Dick - You can write a negative review without being a jerk.  I love reading snarky reviews, especially on books that I didn't enjoy, but I don't like reviews that just bash the book needlessly.  Explain why you don't like a book, don't just say it's a POS and the author is an idiot for writing it.  Never attack the author!  You don't know them, and they may be a wonderful and lovely person, even if they wrote a book you hated.  Keep the review on the book, and feel free to tear the book apart if you want, just don't make it personal.
   
   
9. For the Love of God, Don't Plagiarize! - I wish this could go without saying, but plagiarism is a serious problem in the blogging world.  I recommend writing your review before reading other people's, that way your thoughts will be your own.  I cannot stress this enough, if you copy someone else's review or article (and just changing the formatting, some sentence structure, or a few adjectives is still plagiarism by the way) you WILL be found out.  Someone will recognize the copied content and the original blogger will be told.  I've been plagiarized myself, and trust me it is a pain in the ass for all parties involved, so save yourself some trouble and just don't do it. 
   
   Oh and you can plagiarize images too, so if you're looking for icons or whatever search for copyright free or stock images.  Don't just copy from a blog if you don't have permission because they may have purchased those images.
   
   
10. Be Honest, Be Yourself - Above all else, be yourself.  Don't try and emulate someone else, don't try and be what you think publishers/authors/fellow bloggers want you to be. Review because it's what you love doing and be the person you love being. 

Ultimately I think the best reviews are ones where honest opinions are shared.  Say what you liked, what you didn't like, and how the book made you feel.  Fangirl if you want, be a hater if you want, but above all else be real.

Dark Days Young Adult Tour!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to celebrate my 1 year blog anniversary by going to the Dark Days Young Adult tour with Kimberly Derting, The author of The Body Finder series and The Pledge series, Dan Wells, author of his YA debut Partials and his adult series I am not a Serial Killer, and Jill Hathaway, debut author of Slide.  It was such a fun event and I got some fantastic writing tips.  These people really know their stuff! 

Left: Kimberly Derting Center: Dan Wells Right: Jill Hathaway

The authors started the evening off with a brief summary of their writing careers and an introduction of their newest books. 

Dan

• Partials is his first official YA book.
• It is described as a medical mystery that is heavy on the science (YAY!).
• He said that he loves writing post apocalyptic fiction because he gets to take famous landmarks and blow them up.
• The main character is a girl, and Dan discussed how difficult it initially was to write as a girl.  He then had a bit of an epiphany and realized that with his other series he didn't think about writing as a boy, he just wrote a person.  Once he saw his female character as a person and stopped trying to define her by her gender his writing process really took off.

Kim

• The Last Echo is the third book in The Body Finder series.
• The Body Finder series is a murder mystery and some of Kim's favorite scenes to write were from the perspective of the killer.  She was worried her editor would think it wasn't appropriate for a YA book and was really excited when they said they wanted more.  She's glad that the industry is starting to realize that teens  want to read and can handle more dark stories.
• The Silence of the Lambs was one of Kim's favorite books growing up.  She really likes getting into the head of a serial killer and spent a lot of time researching serial killers for the series.

Jill

• Jill is a high school English teacher and she came up with the idea for Slide while doing NaNoWriMo with her students.
• Initially Jill began with the image of the main character standing over a dead body and having no idea how she got there.  The book then grew around trying to discover the coolest way to put the main chracter in that situation.
• Jill described Vee's ability as super empathy or literally walking in someone else's shoes (and I love that!).

Signing my books!

Following their introductions the author answered some questions from the audience.

Do you outline? 

• Jill is more of a pantser, meaning she likes to figure stuff out as she writes.  She'll have a vague idea of the ending, but lots of her creative process happens during the writing.
• Dan creates an outline, then promptly disregards it when he actually writes the book.  He also gave some great advice, saying there should be 2 or 3 "stand up and cheer" moments in the book.  Moments that would be so cool to read about.  The rest of the book should build up to that moment to make it as impactful as possible.
• Kim writes what she calls "plot points".  She'll have a basic understanding of each of the major events in the book, but she allows herself to deviate from that if inspiration strikes.  She also discussed linear vs. patchwork writing, where you write the book from start to finish or write a bunch of scenes then connect them together (Kim is a linear writer).

Do you characters talk to you or take on a mind of their own during the writing process?

• All three authors agreed that sometimes characters (usually side characters) will develop into something way more awesome then they initially thought and will start taking over scenes because they are so much fun to write.
• Kim talked about how when she is deep in the writing process the book will be constantly on her mind and she'll get great inspiration during the most inconvenient times, like while showering or driving.

Some of my signed books!



I asked, since their books are all medical or crime fiction, what do you do to research your books so the paranormal and fictional elements are realistic, supported, and believable? 

• Kim has a whole group of advisers from firemen to police officers to a medical response team that she emails with questions about different procedures.  She's also toured the county morgue because she believes that you need some hands on experience to write effectively.
• Jill also knows a police officer that answers questions and she also did a lot of research on narcolepsy when developing how her character's ability works.
• Dan suggested that for general world building to start with the totally awesome aspect of your idea and then branch out from that to try and figure out what would actually make that totally awesome thing happen.

What do you like to read when you're writing?  What do you look for in other books of the same genre?

• Dan has "eclectic" reading tastes, but he always looks for books that are completely unique and give the feeling of "I have never read this book before".
• Jill likes reading biographies, but when reading fiction she finds that she has become a much more critical reader since starting her writing career.
• Kim avoids all books of a similar genre because she doesn't want anything to creep into her own writing.

The final question was what are you working on now?

• Jill just finished the second book in the Slide series, Impostor, set to come out Spring 2013.  She is also brainstorming a Blair Witch type book (which sound awesome!)
• Dan is working on the second book in the Partials series, Fragments, expected to be released in 2013.  He is also writing an ebook novella for the Partials series called Isolation that will be released in the fall.  Dan has another book, The Hollow City, releasing July 3, 2012.  The Hollow City is about a man with schizophrenia whose imagined monsters might actually be real. 
• Kim recently finished the second book in the Pledge series, The Essence, coming January 1, 2013.  The fourth book in The Body Finder series is currently in revisions and has a tentative 2013 release date.

The Dark Days Young Adult Tour was so much fun!  I'd like to thank Kim, Dan, and Jill for coming to Ohio and for taking the time to talk about writing and publishing.  It was a fantastic event and now I'm so excited to read their books!



Kimberly Derting's The Body finder series, The Body Finder, Desires of the Dead, and The Last Echo (aren't those covers gorgeous!?).  Kim was kind enough to sign all of my books and also haded out bookmarks, stickers, a bracelet, and some Last Echo nail polish...

...which of course I used as soon as I got home :)

 

Kimberly Derting's The Pledge, Dan Well's Partials, and Jill Hathaway's Slide, all signed.  I also got some bookmarks and advertisements for their upcoming books!

Top Ten Tuesday 4/17/2012: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish.  We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new top ten list complete with one of our bloggers' answers.  Everyone is welcome to join.  All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating.  If you don't have a blog, just post your answers in the comments.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS

So, I have officially been book blogging for 1 year tomorrow (YAY ME!), but I'm no stranger to the blogging world.  I've had a blog in some form for over 7 years, so I think I've picked up a thing or two along the way.  I've also had a vlog channel for over 2 years, so some of these tips will also apply to youtube channels as well. 

1.  Have a clean layout!  I seriously cannot stress this enough.  If people cannot easily read and navigate your blog, they will give up and never come back.  Nothing deters me from following a blog more than a messy layout.  Make sure the font is easy to read and the font color and background color are easy on the eyes (no neon green on bright blue!).  Also keep all of your buttons and widgets up to date.  If the contest or countdown is over remove it from your sidebar! 

2.  For the love of God, NO MUSIC.  This applies to blogs and youtube.  Music will severely slow down your blogs load time, which is annoying as hell.  One of my greatest youtube pet peeves is people who are trying to do a book review but have music playing in the background so I can't hear what they're saying.  It is infuriating and often I'm really interested in hearing what they have to say, but because they just OMG LUV My Chemical Romance so much and HAVE to play it, I can't hear their opinions.  Nothing makes me click out of a video or blog faster than music in the background.

3.  Don't COPY!  I wish I could say this goes without saying, but sadly there is SO much copying in the blog world.  Even I've found places where my words have been copied.  If you feel the need to copy someone else's post, take a step back and really think about why you're blogging in the first place.  Let me just say now that blogging solely for ARCs will not work.  You will burn out long before your blog has enough of a following to catch the attention of any publishers.  If ARCs are the only reason you've started a blog, just stop now and save yourself some stress.

4.  Communicate with your readers/viewers.  When it comes to books, people love to talk about their opinions.  If someone comments on your blog, take the time to comment back.  You could get a great discussion going and you will also help form a relationship with a reader that will keep them coming back.  On the flip side, if you read a fantastic post or watch a great video, let the author know!  Comment telling them what you think or you could even make a response post.  Of course, if you are inspired by someone else's work link back to the original post.  By giving credit where credit is due, you not only help your readers find more good bloggers but you also show yourself to be an honest blogger.

5.  Don't get caught up with numbers, but try and be consistent.  I have spent way too much time stressing about how many followers/comments/visits my blog and youtube gets, and it can really wear you down.  Focus on your content and being an active participant in the community and people will come to you.  Just keep swimming. 

6.  Don't wait to write reviews.  This is advice I need to take myself.  I would write the review as soon as I finish the book, while it is fresh in my head.  You don't have to post it right away and building up a cushion of reviews will help you if you run into a busy time.  It is such a relief to have some reviews stored up ready to post during exam week or if you are sick. 

7.  Don't be an a-hole.  I don't really understand why, but the internet seems to have some magical powers that leads everyone to think they can be huge jerks.  Well, I'm here to tell you that being a jerk is one of the fastest ways to ruin your reputation.  Try and stay out of drama, resist the urge to post a nasty comment or tweet, and if you're planning on writing very negative reviews, expect some backlash.  I always try and approach everything I post as if I were doing this to a stranger on the street.  Would you tell a stranger they're an ugly fat bitch to their face?  No, so don't say it on the internet. 

8.  Have original content.  Be yourself and write with your own voice.  Don't try and force yourself to be snarky if you're not that way naturally.  Don't force yourself to write sophisticated and analytical reviews if you don't think that way.  You will burn yourself out and people will be able to tell you're faking it.  Try and figure out what the goal of your blog is and who your target audience is and write to that.  Also, memes are super fun, but if that's all your blog is people will get bored fast (and yes, I get the irony of say this in a meme post).  Try and balance your memes with reviews and other content.

9.  Have an easy to remember and unique name.  This is HUGE.  Spend some time thinking about your blog title because it is the first thing people see when they come to your blog and can create expectations of what content they will find on your blog.  If you call youself The YA Book Reviewer but then all you talk about is adult romance novels, people will be confused.  You also want your blog title to be catchy, something readers will easily remember.  My blog was originally called Amanda Pearl's Books which, while expressing the fact this is a book blog, isn't that memorable.  I love my title Pearl the Book Girl because it ties in my rather unique middle name with the intention of the blog in a catchy way. 

10.  Blog what you want, because you want.  This really should be number 1.  This blog is yours, and it's going to be you who spends time and energy creating it.  Why bother writing a blog if it's on a topic you're not extremely passionate about?  Don't read a book if you don't like it just because you want to review it, don't force yourself to write about topics you don't care about, and, to put it plainly, don't try and be someone your not.  Have fun with your blog, write what you want, and eff the rest. 

Pottermore Love!

Hello everyone!  I have officially joined Pottermore!  HOORAY!  I've been waiting forever for this, and yesterday was the day.  My username is SandSilver11229, feel free to friend me (but if you do, send me a message letting me know who you are so I know who is friend requesting me). 

I am reading my way through the books in conjunction with the site, and I have to say my initial impressions are extremely pleased.  I love the artwork and I LOVE how it walks through every chapter.  I highly recommend that you read your way through the website, it really adds to the reading experience.  Reading the inspirations for different places and characters and extra bits of information from J.K. Rowling are simply delightful.

Now, let's get on to what everyone really cares about, wands and houses.  The quizzes for both of these are super fun and not totally obvious.  I could argue where 2 or more houses could apply to most of the answers. 

Here are the questions for the wand.  Some of them don't have any kind of option (my eyes are green, can't change that) but others definitely took some more thought.

1.  Your height for you age
-Shorter
-Average
-Taller

2.  Eye Color
-Green

3.  Birthday Falls on an
-Odd day
-Even day

4.  Traveling alone down a deserted road, you reach a crossroads.
-left, toward the sea
-ahead, toward the Forest
-right, toward the castle

I chose the forest because I really dislike getting too much sun or being in too much water so the sea was out and I thought there would probably be a lot of annoying tourists at the castle.  The woods are beautiful and I'd probably be alone.

5.  You pride yourself most on your
-Resilience
-Intelligence
-Determination
-Kindness
-Originality
-Optimism
-Imagination

I was stuck between Intelligence and Imagination, but I decided that a good imagination is a sign of intelligence, so I went with that.

6.  Do you most fear
-Heights
-Fire
-Darkness
-Confined Spaces
-Isolation

This one wasn't really a challenge to pick.  I really don't like being somewhere and not being able to leave or get out.  Being trapped is very scary.

7.  In a chest of magical artifacts which would you choose
-Rolled up parchment
-Ornate mirror
-Silver dagger
-Old glove
-Glittering diamond
-Golden Key

I chose the key because I've always been a fan of secrets and hunting for treasures.  I wonder what this key will unlock?

So the wand I got is pretty cool, though I do admit I had no idea what Larch wood was (turns out it's a big tree with needles but still loses it's leaves in fall and is found in the cold northern regions of Canada and Russia).  I love that it has hidden abilities that will help the user bring out their full talents and give them more confidence.  I'm very pleased with the Phoenix Feather, because it is the most rare core type.  I am worried a bit about the hardness because that means we aren't very willing to change which can be a hindrance. 

Phoenix

This is the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike.

Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won.

Larch

Strong, durable and warm in colour, larch has long been valued as an attractive and powerful wand wood. Its reputation for instilling courage and confidence in the user has ensured that demand has always outstripped supply. This much sought-after wand is, however, hard to please in the matter of ideal owners, and trickier to handle than many imagine. I find that it always creates wands of hidden talents and unexpected effects, which likewise describes the master who deserves it. It is often the case that the witch or wizard who belongs to the larch wand may never realise the full extent of their considerable talents until paired with it, but that they will then make an exceptional match.

Ok now let's get to the most important quiz, the sorting.  I was extremely nervous to take this test!  My heart was just hammering.  I took it very seriously and tried to answer the questions as honestly as I could and to really think about my answers.  I didn't really have any house loyalties before the test, but I didn't want to be Hufflepuff.  They aren't independent enough for my taste. 

1.  Would you rather invent a potion that would bring you...
-Power
-Love
-Glory
-Wisdom

I didn't want power because without wisdom or love I wouldn't be able to wield that power well.  I didn't want glory because I didn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of kiss-asses.  I was stuck between love and wisdom, but ultimately went with wisdom because I would rather know the truth then live in ignorant bliss.

2.  What are you most looking forward to studying at hogwarts?
-Apparition
-Transfiguration
-Flying on a broomstick
-Hexes and jinxes
-All about magical creatures
-Secrets about the castle
-Every area of magic that I can

I was torn between every area and secrets about the castle because I love exploring and hidden passages.  I chose everything because as I explored the castle I would need to know what to do if I ran into something unpleasant.  Also magic is just cool so I'd want to learn everything anyway.

3.  Which do you find difficult to deal with?
-Boredom
-Cold
-Hunger
-Loneliness
-Being Ignored

These are all tough, but I chose being ignored because that isn't something you can easily fix.  You can take steps to get rid of boredom, coldness, and hunger and being lonely means you have someone to miss.  Being ignored is someone doing something to you and no matter what you do it doesn't mean they will notice you.

4.  A muggle confronts you and says they are sure you are a witch.  Do you...
-Ask them what makes them thing so?-Agree and ask whether they'd like a free sample of a jinx?
-Agree and walk away, leaving them to wonder whether you're bluffing.
-Tell them you are worried about their mental health and offer to call a doctor.

I would ask them why they think that because then I could talk them out of their idea or prove them wrong.  I am not very confrontational so I don't think I would threaten them with a jinx but I also don't think I could play it cool enough to just walk away.  Telling them they're crazy sounds like I would be trying to cover something up.

5.   You enter an enchanted garden. What would you be most curious to examine first?
-The silver leafed tree bearing golden apples
-The fat red toadstools that appear to be talking to each other
-The bubbling pool, in the depths of which something luminous is swirling-The statue of an old wizard with a strangely twinkling eye



I was torn between the tree and the pool, but in the end I thought about what I would do in real life.  If I was in a garden I would go to the water fixture first, so I went with the pool.

6.  Moon or Stars?
-Moon
-Stars

Another tough one, but I chose the stars because I took an astronomy course in college and I loved learning all of the constellations.

7.  Left or Right?
-Left
-Right

I chose right because I am right handed.  Didn't go any deeper into it than that.

And the sorting hat placed me in.....

Ravenclaw!  I was hoping for Ravenclaw or Slytherin, so I was very happy with this sorting.  After you're sorted you get a welcome letter from one of your house prefects, and I knew I was in the perfect house when I read:

"Another cool thing about Ravenclaw is that our people are the most individual – some might even call them eccentrics. But geniuses are often out of step with ordinary folk, and unlike some other houses we could mention, we think you’ve got the right to wear what you like, believe what you want, and say what you feel. We aren’t put off by people who march to a different tune; on the contrary, we value them!"

Yeah, ok, I was never a Slytherin lol.  My whole life people have been saying I would be in Ravenclaw, and now I am convinced.  I will wear my blue and bronze with pride, let's go earn some house points!