Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Week-long Blog Friend Celebration, Spotlight, and Giveaway #3


Hey everyone! This week I will be spotlighting 1 blogger friend each day and giving away 2 favorite picks of theirs. I really wish I could highlight everyone, but I could only do 5 this time and will choose different ones the next time I do this giveaway. Be sure and come back every day to read the new interviews and see which books I'm giving away that they have chosen. Here was the Giveaway from Tuesday with a GREAT read.

Today's Celebrated Blogger is:


A bookkeeper by day and fantasy reader by night (and when can slip into books on lunch hour) with a family who shakes their heads at me, as I always have my nose buried in a book, and two German Shepard's that relax with me (most of the time).  I enjoy visiting my own version of the world, no matter how weird and distorted it may be -- there is always magic there to explore -- hence the blog name My World...in words and pages.  http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/

At My World...in words and pages is a little blog I started at the end of July 2009 to document my reads, and it became much more than I ever expected.  I found many great new friends who share the same love in books and the genres I read.  Hard for me to believe I'll celebrate four years of blogging this summer.  I review Fantasy - Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and even touch on Science Fiction and Steampunk as well.  I love sharing the books and pieces to give people different views on them.




What character from a book is your absolute favorite? Please tell us about them without being spoilery.


Oooh, you ask hard questions!

Absolute favorite...Well, I have to talk of a fantasy character.  I fell in love with the whole cast actually.  But Jimmy the Hand is one I loved.  He's a thief who is much more and really top of the thieving kids.  But he becomes much more with things that happen in his life and a royal he meets.

Then the children and their children...just a great legacy created with him.

He's a special talented man I can't seem to forget.  Well written, along with all in the cast of characters with him in Magician.


If you could have one superpower, which one would you pick?


Hmm, this is hard.  They all have their benefits and downfalls.  Today, I think I would go with time control.  I would love to have spare time to read all the books I have here!  And the ones I want!  Along with everything else in life I want to do.


What is your favorite mythological creature?


Growing up I was all about the horses - unicorns and Pegasus.  But now, I have to say Dragons.


What book did you love that everyone else hated or hate that everyone else loved?


I have to say I've been fortunate to enjoy pretty much all the books I read.  I try to keep a variety of different genre so I don't get bored with one.  I hate to touch on the negative side of things but that's what's jumping in my head.  I've started the Dresden Files and I seem to not see the strong attraction yet.  Now, I'm only three books in and everyone says the fourth is the one that it should grab me, so I'll give the fourth a try and see what happens.  Believe me, it's not a bad world or story.  Very good.  I just don't see the strong attraction yet.  It could be me being the oddball, but...*shrug shoulders*

What are some of your quirks?


I have to have a schedule, and I don't like getting mixed up.  Like in the evening, I come home, eat, maybe read or talk with kiddo, (or on workout nights - rush in change, rush out) then by a specific time I'm on the computer respond to comments on my blog and visit others.  I get off the computer at a designated time too.  This is now my down time, to read and relax - readying for bed.

I, um... I use colored sticky notes in my books.  I'm a note-taker.  I love noting everything so I can go back later.  People laugh at my books as they have a rainbow sticking out.


What is your favorite website to visit?


Hmmm, that is REALLY! hard.  I have several I visit, and all for different reasons.  I'll go with my favorite and the one that got me into the online book community, Barnes & Nobles forums. They have chat forums for Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Science Fiction/Fantasy.  Of course for many other genre as well, but those are the genres I read.  The people are amazingly kind, and so many new books I found talking with them.

What tips or tricks would you pass on to fellow bloggers?


Hmm, tips and tricks...well, I would say talk, or comment.  Talking is part of why I started, and many others, blogging.  We want to interact with others who enjoy reading and share books with each other.  We all find something different and want to show others.

As for blogging, do what *you* want.  Share what you want, not always what others want.  It will keep you enjoying what you do.  Also, take breaks from blogging.  It's needed.  Really.  You start to think you aren't reading enough, take a week and just read.  Or go on vacation with your family, don't blog!  You need that time away.  Blogging can start to feel like a job after a while, that's when many get burned out from it and quit.  Don't let it become all you do.  You do want to read and watch tv and have fun with friends and family.

And keep a variety in your reading stack.  You don't have to try something way out there, but after a while you get bored with the same idea books and can see what's coming.  Try to mix up your reads some, but don't go way out of your favorite genre either.  Like me I can't read straight fiction, I like my fantasy blended in.


What 2 favorite books do you choose for me to give away?


Two books... Hmm, All the books from Ilona Andrews are amazing, starting with Magic Burns.  I'd say Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews is my favorite.  Then I loved meeting Zara, a rough snarky vampire in Bloodlines by Skyla Dawn Cameron.  I think many who enjoy Jaye Wells Sabina Kane series and Sabina will enjoy Zara in Bloodlines.



OK, your choice of what I list from The Book Depository (please make sure they deliver to your country first) or an e-book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

Magic Strikes - e-book from Amazon/Barnes & Noble, paperback from The Book Depository

Bloodlines - e-book from Amazon/Barnes & Noble, paperback from The Book Depository

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I would really like to thank you, Melissa, for taking your time out and answering my questions! I enjoy chatting with you about our shared book interests on our blogs and following your passion for books on Twitter :)

40 comments:

  1. I love Dragons too. I don't read many books with them though. Magic Strikes is my favorite book in the Kate Daniels series too. I am the biggest Ilona Andrews fan. It makes me sad when I find people who have not read her books yet.

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  2. ^^ Ah dragons, i was so fan at a time^^


    i didn't know about bloodlines but you ade me curious now ^^;; thank you ( ilona andrews being one of favorite author i've magic strikes and i love it^^)

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  3. Fabulous interview...and I gotta say I love Melissa's site. Though our reading tastes differ on the whole, it actually helps me explore other reading worlds that I might have dismissed otherwise. Ooh..and unicorns, that was totally my "creature" as a kid. ^_^ Good luck all and thanks for the interview guys!

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  4. MEL!!!!


    You know you mentioned the girls and my boy perked up as soon as I read that part. *waggles tail*


    Oh and I love getting to know a bit more about you. Love the advice. So spot on!


    Don't we need a pet dragon? I don't think the pups would mind... :D

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  5. *waves to Melissa*
    I did not know you liked Jimmy the best :) i love PUG :D

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  6. Oh, Pug! He is amazing too. And he makes the tie between so many of the books. I cried when Jimmy didn't make it. Really, I did! LOL! Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. Haha, give the little man a scratch behind the ear from the girls. ;) And yes, I think the pups would love running and playing with a dragon. ;D LOL! Thank you dear!

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  8. Hi Petty Witter! Thank you greatly for stopping by. And love having you visit the blog all the time. :) Take care!

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  9. Miki, Hi!! Thank you for stopping by! And glad to bring a new book to your eyes. :) And Magic Strikes is awesome. :D Thank you!

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  10. Jaclyn, Thank you greatly for having me by and doing this amazing giveaway. :) I look forward to chatting with you for a long time to come. :) *hugs*

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  11. Stopping by to support my friend, Mel! Great interview! She is a gem among book bloggers...and friends. =O)

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  12. Nice to meet you too! Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate it :)

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  13. ooh I think everyone could use a pet dragon! Reminds me of Hagrid...Thank you so much for stopping by :)

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  14. She certainly is! Thank you so much for stopping by and showing your support :)

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  15. I love BOTH AUTHORS and if we had to pick just one, I couldn't.

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  16. I'm so glad you don't have to then ;) I really appreciate you stopping by!!

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  17. I enjoyed Melissa's interview and I'm glad she was featured because she brought me to this blog. :D

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  18. Hey Melissa! Great interview Jaclyn

    She does ask some hard questions!

    Happy reading,

    Brandi
    @ Blkosiner’s
    Book Blog

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  19. Hi Brandi! I know! She's one tough interviewer. lol. Thank you for stopping!

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  20. Oh Mary Preston! Both are wonderful, amazing! LOL! Good luck to you. :)

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  21. Yeah Barbara E! So glad to share new blogs. :) And thank you. Glad you enjoyed the interview. :)

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  22. Awww, thank you Michelle Miller! You are great. :) And to kind to me.

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  23. But you guys did such a great job answering the questions ;) hehehe

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  24. Loved learning more about you Melissa! And what great answers! Especially love your idea of time control in order to read all of the books in our TBR piles!

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  25. Thank you Alexia!! :D And yes, if only I could control that time now....I'd use it to help you too. ;) Thank you for stopping!

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  26. Mel if only we could control time, man that would be spectacular so those hundreds of books that I have to read plus the couple thousand that I wish to read would be gotten to in my lifetime!


    Jaclyn thanks for featuring Melissa as I have been a long time follower of Mel's blog, she and I share a taste for fantasy and as I have already read all of the Kate Daniels book except the release not yet out have to pick the choice of Skyla Dawn's Bloodlines , paperback copy from The Book Depository.

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  27. Thank you Jackie Burris! It's been wonderful chatting with you all these years. :) And so glad you stopped by to visit and enter. :) Thank you!

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  28. Oh I'm so glad that you follow Melissa as well! Thank you very much for stopping by and good luck :)

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  29. Thank you so much for stopping by the giveaway, Alexia :)

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  30. Oh Nora-Adrienne Deret, great that you don't have to pick. lol. They are both amazing reads. :) Thank you!

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  31. I haven't read either book yet!!

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  32. Oh I'm glad too :) Thank you so much, Barbara!

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  33. I love both authors, so I'm happy we don't have to pick only one book.

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  34. *hugs* to you too and I look forward to all of our future chats as well :) You're awesome. Thank you so much!!

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  35. Jennifer Bielman! Hey!! Thank you for stopping. And I have to admit until last year I was one of those people who had not read on of Ilona Andrews books. But so glad I got started with Kate. :D Thank yoU!

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  36. A long time fan of Melissa's site I thought I'd join her here and say hello. Nice to have met you Jaclyn, I've really enjoyed my visit.

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  37. Time control is a pretty wonderful idea. I know I could use it now to get through some books. Thank you so much for stopping by, Susan!

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  38. Time Control..Time Travel..So Good to Read so much I didn't know about you..But Always Interesting and Honest..One Day we Should Invite Everyone too The BN Board Guilty Pleasures..Its been a While.....Our Weres Would Like That...Susan..Friend From VT..

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