Armchair BEA: Wrapup 3.6.13

Time to wrap this week's Armchair Book Expo Blogging up for another year.

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads. 
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My thoughts? I loved that I could participate as much as I did. Daily posts and sometimes more than once! I loved exploring book memories for the genre discussions, meeting new bloggers via comments and their blog posts,  twitter connections via hashtag and new instagram challenges. That is one area I'd like to see move from exclusive to inclusive participation. Not everyone has an iphone to enable the instagram account. Participation should be open to everyone, not an exclusive group. I had raised the issue prior to Armchair BEA going live but without response, so it carried on as the exclusive challenge - sad to say. Hopefully next year will see that changed?... * Also disappointed that some daily giveaway winners were repeated when others didn't win at all.  Would like that to be fair for everyone as well. * Glad the linkups were separate for each event or discussion - made it easy to find specific posts. I have to say I actually was tired by the end of such a full week of blogging! Happy for all the interactions and new blog visitors, comments, and follows. Great participation in the FHC Giveaway [winners are Posted!] and the hard organizational work of the Armchair BEA team! Thanks for all your work ! * Welcome to all new followers of FHC - Look forward to getting to know you and happy to have your input here ...! ~~~ * ~~~

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First June Monday - What Am I Reading? 3.6.13

Our 1st June Monday! What Are You Reading? *

via the bbc Incredibly busy blogging week participating in the Armchair Book Expo  [at home version of the BEA in NY] Daily genre discussions, then writing up our own posts, a few photo challenges thrown in, visiting and chatting with 200 other book bloggers, plus a totally fun day of book giveaways - [I drew the winners early into this new day] A new blogging experience for me - both creating a google doc entry form then the random # generator to choose the winning entries. All in all a verrry full week! *  In the midst of it, I found myself craving some reading time =) managing to get one complete and another about 1/2 way. On a wee rabbit trail here - I just discovered an easy way to connect with a person's books at goodreads is to click on the cover in the widget!  Mine's on the R sidebar.  So anytime you're interested in what a particular book is about, click the cover and you'll arrive at its description on the goodreads site!  Cool. * Gone South {click title to link to goodreads review}

Leaving frosty Michigan for the Deep South was never a blip in the simple plans Tish McComb imagined for her life, dreams of marriage and family that were dashed five years earlier in a tragic accident. Now an opportunity to buy her great-great-great-grandparents’ Civil War era home beckons Tish to Noble, Alabama, a Southern town in every sense of the word. - Goodreads * I'm currently captivated by the intrigue of Ruth Axtell's Regency   Moonlight Masquerade

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Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte.  When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing? - Goodreads * My week in a nutshell - How about yours? Any books captured you at the moment? * Well no sooner said than done! An eBook newsletter just arrived from Tyndale Publishers listing their June Free eBooks and upcoming sales, so I just added one more to the list !
Fab writer CJ Darlington 's Bound By Guilt FREE today til June 8th ! Don't miss =)

* Find more at Sheila's weekly Book Journey Linkup  *

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What book has grabbed you lately or which one are you grabbing this week? *

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Armchair BEA Genre Discussion: YA + Children's Books 1.6.13

Saturday at Armchair Book Expo for Bloggers is all about - * “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” 
― C.S. Lewis ~~~~~~ * ~~~~~ So what 'children's' stories do you enjoy ? *

I have to say the stories written by

CS Lewis , the author of the quote ,

  are def some ! And include the movies as well.   Brought them to life.
~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~ How could we grow up and live well rounded lives without Anne of Green Gables?

 Forever Thanks to Lucy Maude Montgomery for writing these ! Don't miss this amazing current amazon offer for this Anne eBook set 124 five * ratings !!

The Anne Stories: 12 Books, 142 Short Stories, Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, 

Anne of the Island, Anne's... by Lucy Maud Montgomery and Timeless Reads (Feb 4, 2013) - 

Kindle eBook   $1.99 Kindle Edition

~~~~ * ~~~~ The usual fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, were all a part of my childhood. * Robert Munsch 

and * Dick Bruna's Miffy for my kiddos. *

~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~ I really look forward to that aspect of becoming a NaNa. The opportunity to spend time reading to them.  Total Joy.  At least it was with my kids =) I am anticipating good reading times and new book discoveries along the way! ~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~ So many directions available for YA, but I probably steer toward classics for teaching really good reading material by example. Good vocabulary, dialogue, word usage - all things that add the best to their own development. Obviously our reading influences us, so we need to choose when we know believing affects behaviour.   * One YA series I'll focus on because I totally enjoyed and participated in the online weekly discussions is Lisa T Bergren's River of Time.  Time travel from today back to medieval days. Really fabulous and recommended highly around the book blogging world. *

     

           

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A few fave book quotes from Goodreads -

 “It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one 

till you have read an old one in between.” 

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”  “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally  – and often far more –  worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” 

― all by C.S. Lewis  Seemed to apply to today's genre discussion !
Hoping you're having a great reading day - whatever your genre !

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book covers from goodreads

Armchair BEA Day 4 Discussion: Non Fiction Books

Today at  Armchair BEA our Genre topic is NonFiction Non-fiction books are a very broad category, ranging from autobiographies and biographies to historical figures or events to even travel books.  It is really hard to narrow down the possibilities for this  quick introduction to the genre!
* For me, nonfiction is my preferred reading and writing genre. Reading that feeds both mind and spirit .  I can definitely agree with the problem of narrowing down possibilities!  From cookbooks to photography there are a LOT of choices, so it's not likely any reader hasn't ventured into this genre. I've recently posted several nonfiction reviews of books I really enjoyed and would recommend.  You'll find their links under the book reviews page tab under the blog header above and many more on my Goodreads shelves. * Dr Elizabeth Canham's Finding Your Voice in the Psalms  is conversational and so practical in etting the most from reading                and enjoying the Psalms.  Many people turn to the Psalms as comfort  or companion and this book adds to that valuing in our daily life .                            * * *

 

*  Canadian author, Murray Pura, writes amazing fiction [Ashton Park series] and has just impacted readers with an outdoor, outback book that blew me away.  Majestic and Wild tells of spellbinding beauty and ravaging beasts - all part of life in the wilds.  Life the author has lived. * * * Author Lori Smith has written two nonfiction books on Jane Austen                 that I've particularly appreciated.  In her first, Lori spent time in England walking the places of Jane's life.  She shares the impact in A Walk With Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love and Faith.   As a reader I gained info about Jane's life and locations plus her own realizations on a personal note. "With humour and spirit, Lori leads readers through landscapes Jane knew and loved –from Bath and Lyme, London and the Hampshire countryside through emotional landscapes in which grace and hope take the place of stagnation and despair.  Along the way, Lori explores the small things, both meanness and goodness in relationships, to discover what Austen herself knew: the worth of an ordinary life." *     Lori's second book, The Jane Austen Guide to Life : Thoughtful                          Lessons for the Modern Woman offers advice gleaned from the pages of Jane's novels that readily applies to our lives today.  I have enjoyed discovering the insights and applications Lori has provided.  Definitely a practical nonfiction read. * Then there's always the fun of discovering new cookbooks, travel books,                  and for me, a new book on the contemplative lifestyle.  Christine Valters       Paintner's new release [amongst many] Eyes of the Heart:  Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice  I learnt so much.  How we frame our photos applied to framing life - where we choose to focus , what we leave in the frame , what we disregard, what we cut out... All excellent and beneficial in framing our own life.  * ~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~ Other non fiction books I've read and loved?  AJ Cronin's Adventures in Two Worlds

Based on this autobiographical book, the BBC ran an ongoing series, Dr. Finlay. 
Amazing man. Amazing human interest stories from Scotland, Wales, London, Europe. ...elegant and descriptive writing. From the male perspective which I tend to appreciate when relationships are part of the story...





John O'Donohue's Beauty : The Invisible Embrace

The Celtic Imagination had a profound sense of how a blessing could awaken and evoke the deepest potential of a situation. The Celts understood that all beginning risks the unknown; a blessing was intended to be a shelter of light around the pilgrim and the place. A blessing brightens the road; the heart is no longer completely vulnerable to the dark. The journey can lead anywhere ... * John O'Donohue




And then the one I picked up this very afternoon ... Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

by Rhoda Janzen Timing couldn't have been better - it seemed the perfect charity shop find for today's topic !  and a great addition to my memoir collection and a new read for a rainy weekend!












~~~~~ * ~~~~~ [I do apologize for the crazy jumping the post seems to do once I hit publish.  It's not lookiing like what I've carefully arranged pre-posting!] * So there are a few recent nonfiction reads here at FHC that I value for their positive impact.  A point that I find crucial to my reading choices.   Are they going to benefit or harm my thoughts?   My thoughts affect how I see life and how I live life.  And I want that to be a benefit all around... * Thanks for stopping in today!  Enjoy your weekend and don't forget your opps to enter the giveaway open til end of Sunday the 2nd.

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Armchair BEA GIVEAWAY DAY !! PO Dixon eBook Choice ends June 2nd midnite CST

GIVEAWAY DAY ! at Armchair BEA Today !
I'm sure you've been happily making the rounds of the blogs linked for today's Giveaways.
 FHC is hosting a fave author for our Giveaway!
I've had the pleasure of getting to know author PO Dixon through Jane Austen FB book groups to which we both belong  and it's my pleasure to introduce to you, Pamela Dixon! * Pamela has just created a beautiful new author/book site and newsletter that features updates on her writing, new releases, and special offers which you're welcome to browse and join for your own updates as released here

P. O. Dixon

Follow on Twitter ✽ Newsletter Updates!

Pamela has graciously provided a most generous offer for 2 winners here at FHC! Winners will have their choice from 2 of her ebooks ~ either 'Bewitched, Body and Soul' 


or her Newest June 1st Release,  ~ 'Lady Harriette' ~


Thank you, Pamela!
and  Thank you for your interest in this FHC Giveaway and PO Dixon's books!

Now CLOSED - THANK YOU for Participating !

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Armchair BEA Day 2 Discussion: Genre Fiction 29.5.13

Today’s genre focus is on genre fiction! 

Genre fiction is kind of wide category. Genre fiction can take us to places we never imagine, experience scenarios we’ve always dreamed of and open up new worlds to explore.

If you’re a reader of genre fiction, do you have a favourite author or series?
What keeps bringing you back for more? If you don’t read one (or more) of these genres,
what is it that deters you from those sections of the bookstore?
I’m also curious to hear why you think these genres often don’t get the recognition they deserve.

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A couple genres I'm particularly fond of are mystery -
fave author being Agatha Christie
 newest discovery - Julianna Deering,
Sibella Giorello, Tenya Sharp Ingalls,
{Lorena McCourtney for cozies}
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Jane Austen variations -
Shannon Winslow for one,
Karen Aminadra, PO Dixon {my Thursday Giveaway author!} Nancy Kelley,
Stephanie Barron, Carrie Bebris, Beth Patillo
and won't mention more as I don't want to miss anyone from my author 'Like' list !
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historical fiction is another huge like -
Laurie Alice Eakes , Julie Klassen, Murray Pura, Elizabeth Camden, Rosslyn Elliott,
Sarah Ladd, Nancy Herriman
to introduce a few you might like to check into!
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contemporary chic lit when I need lite reads to refresh fave author being Victoria Connelly for one Robin Jones Gunn and Rosamunde Pilcher * Why I don't read other genres of fiction? I have only so much time to invest in reading so I've learned to be selective. I want reading to remain a pleasure!  rather than a requirement  or an assignment ! * Possibly why they don't get recognition might be personal prejudices. But I really am not bothered by others' opinions. If I have a great book on hand or on ereader, I'm a happy woman! {no matter what someone else's opinion might say about that book} ! * Wishing you all HapPy Reading moments as often as possible !! *

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Armchair Book Expo Armchair Photo Challenge 29.5.13

In response to today's Show Us Your Armchair BEA Challenge
 here's 'My Armchair'

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{Posted and tweeted as I don't have iphone for instagram}

Looking forward to seeing your armchairs! Today's invitation ~ *

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Faith Hope Cherrytea

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Armchair BEA Discussion: Blogger Development 29.5.13

From Armchair BEA for today:

...to foster "blogger development" we're inviting you to talk about your approach. 
1- Have you branched out into your community? 
A lot of participation in Blog weekly linkups, annual Read-a-Thons  with full twitter participation ! attend book launch parties on blogs and FB, [don't forget to bring a treat or 2!] Blog  Birthday Parties, themed Blog events such as reading Jane Austen in August , Blog Tours and Giveaways, the Ultimate Blog Party,  * Liking , reviewing and connecting  personally with authors, on their blogs and FB, Joining blog and FB reading groups and specific Book Genre groups, Joining Goodreads Book Groups and Reading  Challenges, etc... * I talk about blogging when opportunities are presented -   and have had professionally printed blog business cards to hand out to friends who've want to know more of what I'm doing and especially  with public librarians to expand  the influence and availability of books. * Yes, I have branched out in being invited to write for a community newspaper, then even further, being invited to write articles for a West Coast magazine.

2- Do you partner with other bloggers? 
Yes, I do partner with other bloggers - Linda from W Virginia who guest posted at FHC  at the onset of health issues that would have kept me from blogging. Her followers followed her here, so we all met new bloggers as a result! * Another is with Natasha in Oz who  has a weekly Saturday meme [where I regularly link] had me guest post a new group Pinterest idea board,  "Bookd" which I have innovated for bloggers / pinners to exchange, sell, or giveaway books. **Email me  or comment your interest to be added to join the group  and begin adding your pins! {I've added the pin board link below} * I also partner with linky hosts by reposting their code which increases awareness of the linky and new posts are linked from bloggers discovering it at my blog. *
3- Have you gone "pro" or tried generating some income through your blog? 
I am in that process with some book affiliates even as I write this response.   Looking forward to it, but not wanting it to take over FHC's creative blog persona.
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4- If you're a long-term blogger, how has your online personality developed over the years?
I'm trying to relax more into blogging as I am 

and when I either have time or internet access, {which can be sporadic at times} 

rather than under obligation or expectation.  
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I don't want to leave life involvements undone

because I've elevated my online work beyond what's balanced.
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I am visually inspired, so I've increased that aspect in my posts for fellow creatives!

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5- Tell us about things you've done to expand your blogging horizons,
and the things you'd like to do but haven't managed (or figured out) yet. 
I've made requests and inquiries of businesses in directions I'd like to go  regarding my interests. Researching options for affiliations and reading up on sites with insight on those topics. *
I've innovated a new Scotland Reading Challenge for 2013  [see sidebar for link button] * and I'm still pursuing  whether or not to begin a new weekly meme.   Something time and health constraints have a definite impact in deciding. [plus that imminent grandbaby's arrival!!]
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If you're participating and have posted your responses , GO HERE to link up your post, then see what other participants have to say.
Let's foster our development as bloggers and learn from each other!

[And if you want to talk about books, today's genre discussion is...genre!
Genre fiction, that is. Armchair BEA blog will have a separate link tool for you  to add your posts on the topic to our lead discussion.]

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Armchair BEA Day 1 Discussion: Joys of Reading Jane Austen

What a great topic to begin our BEA Book BLogging Week ~ One of my fave [among many!] classic authors? Jane Austen
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I know, I've heard the negatives of those who 'can't get into her writing', but perhaps there are ways to overcome the issues? I would suggest starting your exploration with an audio version for, perhaps, an intermediate level. This way you'll have the pleasure of someone reading you a story that allows you to  relax and receive rather than giving yourself in a struggle to understand. Penguin Reader service has published a great series of abridged Jane's books complete with cd that make a great intro to her writing and storytelling. *

The next recommendation I would make is to choose an annotated version of the book of choice. Having the unknowns in the story explained via notes included alongside is a great option to overcome any reading hesitancy.  What does this mean? or I wonder what this is?  are now understood and you're the richer for the reading experience.   Jane's insights into and examples of human nature, both good and evil, are not to be missed. Then once you've grown to appreciate these introductions you'll be hunting down your own copies of the titles. All of the above are available via your public library making it a painless way to begin your exploration.   There are countless blogs furthering love of Jane Austen, another source of info and connection. And blog reading events like Austen in August and Jane Austen reading groups on Goodreads and at Indie Jane for examples you can check into. When you're ready to begin your own collection, you might want to visit your local charity or thrift store.  Beside saving yourself a lot of cash you'll be supporting a good work in your own neighbourhood. I'll look forward to hearing from you on your new reading adventure and sharing the Joys of  Reading Jane ! * 

A few other personal fave classics? CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia LM Montgomery's Rainbow Valley and Anne of Green Gables series George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind, The Marquis' Secret +++ Yours?

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