Friday, December 18, 2009

Our Annual Holiday Book List Compiled... and Can You Believe James Dashner asked me to "Fetch"?

OUR BLOG BOOK LIST
So, I put all of our suggested books and authors together in a nifty list. I was going to link to them and stuff, but just thinking about trying to accomplish such a task makes my lips itch, and I figured we live in a Google world.

Books:
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
Archangel by Sharon Shinn
Fairies of Dreamdark books by Laini Taylor's
Attolia series by Megan Whalen Turner
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Brigg
Alpha and Omega series
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede
Edgar Eager books
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Immortal: Love Stories with Bite by P.C. Cast
Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Wake, and Fade by Lisa McMann
The Mortal Instruments Trilogy
Invasive Procedures by Orson Scott Card
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
Savvy by Ingrid Law
Ida B. by Katherine Law
Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore
When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Lips Touch by Laini Taylor
Impossible and Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
The Princess Bride
My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
Jungle Crossing by Sydney Salter
Austenland by Shannon Hale
Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

Authors to Read:
Lisa Shearin
Tasha Alexander
Deanna Raybourn
Susan Wittig Albert/Robin Paige


Other shenanigans at the Author Palooza:

As my last post mentioned, I went to the Barnes and Noble Author Palooza a couple days ago and here's a rundown:

-My "Essence of Jacob" hand lotion was overpowering. I think it's to do with the musky, earthy, steel-abs scent.

-Bree Despain, not believing it was so strong, decided to snort some. Seriously, Valynne held out the tiny bottle of "Essence of Jacob" for all to smell, and Bree jerked her head forward and impaled her nose on the bottle.

-Bree learned the hard way that upon contact with nasal passages, "Essence of Jacob" burns. (As it should. You've seen those abs, right?)


-I like typing "Essence of Jacob" in every sentence.

-Moving on... Stevie Wonder took our picture:


-James Dashner asked me to "fetch" him some more copies of Maze Runner. Apparently he doesn't know me very well.

-Valynne told James to "Fetch Off."

(Me and Valynne. Valynne is Secretary of Defense - aka "Bouncer" - of our Writing Group)

-James offered me his Sharpie pen he'd used to sign all night to make up for the offense. I took it and used it to sign our peace treaty.

-One of Mette Ivie Harrison's books has the word "Princess" in the title, but no actual princess in the book. So she signs it with "There is no princess in this book. Mette Ivie Harrison." I bought one of them, and when she told me how she was going to sign it, I said she might as well include, "There is no Santa Claus either."


Apparently Mette can't tell when I'm being sarcastic:


Which would be fine if I hadn't told her I was giving the book away on my blog. So apparently, only those 12 years old and older will be eligble to win, because by the time you're 12, you should know the truth, right?

-James Dashner showed off the paperback version of The 13th Reality, featuring a new artistic rendering of the main character.



When I saw it, I meant to say, "I would totally root for that boy." But it came out as, "I could totally go for that boy."

Creepy. I guess the "Essence of Jacob" went all the way to my brain.

Blogging may be sporadic for the next week or two, but I'll try to be on time.  What's everyone doing for the Holidays?

19 comments:

  1. Great post! Please put me down for the free book drawing. I learned last year that there is no Santa, so I'm good.

    What will I be doing for Christmas? I will NOT be checking my email every five minutes to see if I've heard back from an agent who is now reading my manuscript. (Four agents and not ONE of them could have given me an early Christmas present? *Sigh*) Instead, I will be working on my new WIP in the event that they all really do hate my latest and greatest.

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  2. I don't really have a comment on your post today--but it would be fabulous if you could fetch me my slippers and be ready to put them on my feet when I get home. Thanks in advance!

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  3. Nicole- One is reading your manuscript? That is so great! I will say the entire industry shuts down until well into January, if that makes the wait easier...

    Sam- in the words of Valynne: Fetch you!

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  4. Mette wrote about this experience on her blog but it didn't occur to me that you would be the sarcastic recipient of the "No Santa" book. I should have known. :)

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  5. Melanie- Oh no. She blogged about it too? Hopefully she didn't paint me as the dork I am. I'll have to check it out...

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  6. I thought it was funny to read both points of view.

    Where can I get "Essence of Jacob" and overwhelm my brain?

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  7. I'll have to keep you away from my 11yo. She has an unhealthy fascination with Jacob. In fact, I don't want her anywhere near anything with his essence.

    I informed her last night in front of witnesses that I had one major rule when she began dating in five years: The boy must wear a shirt at all times. There were daggers in the eyes. I needed "Essence of Bella" to salve the pain.

    Count me in for the drawing for the book. I'll be OK. My dad told me Santa, the Easter Bunny, AND the Tooth Fairy didn't exist all in the same sitting. Although I still bear the scars, it made me a better man.

    Excuse me, I'm late for therapy…

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  8. Brodi, FOUR AGENTS are reading my manuscript!! (It's gonna suck if all four hate it.)

    I forgot to comment on the 'Essence of Jacob'. After seeing the movie, I'm thinking Paul isn't so bad. One of the lesser known characters, but yowsa!

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  9. How dare James Dashner ask you to fetch! See if I read any of his books ever ... treating you like that. *grumble grumble*

    Great list! I need to add some of those to my 800+ to read list.

    What book is this that has no princes or Santa Claus in it? That's just sad!

    I'm going to my in-laws for Christmas. I'm most excited about the time off work. And then, only one week until I'm back in school, baby!

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  10. Jenilyn- Funny that she seems embarassed in her post, and I was embarrassed in mine.

    Douglas- ha ha!

    Nicole- four? That is mad crazy. Good for u!

    Jenni- One of these days, I'm so gonna ask him to fetch something back. Enjoy your vacation!

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  11. The essence of Jacob killed me. Ha ha ha! And you're totally right to keep the pen. Fetch. I'm totally going to tease James about that. ;)

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  12. L.T. I think it would be so fun if random people around the valley just ask James to "Fetch" things. Like, wherever he goes, someone's saying that. That would be so cool!

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  13. What?! There is no Santa Claus???!!! Great! Way to ruin my Christmas...you might as well tell me that vampires and werewolves don't exist either! What's this world coming to? You need to post a 'spoiler alert' next time you want to ruin my day:) BTW, are you going to the Ashton party on Sunday? I'm only going if you go.

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  14. Erin- I'm so at that Ashton party. We have the number 31 to celebrate.

    p.s. None of the creatures you mentioned are real. Except the tooth fairy. She's totally real.

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  15. Brodi you make me laugh. Thanks once again. I found out the other day that you and I are even more related. My old college roommate linked to your blog from mine and saw you mention your BFF James Dashner who it turns out is her cousin. Wowsers.

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  16. Heids- It's actually hard to find someone who isn't related to James Dashner. Everyone's within six degrees of him.

    This is funny to me now, but I might just be really really tired.

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  17. Ah. I always have such good times with you, my totally not-a-pedophile friend.

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  18. *I got ALL FOUR of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles from my cousin for Christmas!*

    Sorry, had to brag.

    Re: the princess thing... Anyone else ever noticed how many of the Disney "Princesses" really just aren't? Don't get me wrong, I love Meg and Mulan and company, but they ain't princesses, folks.

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  19. Valynne- I should change my blog to say, "Not a Pedophile since 2009".

    Britt- I am so jealous! And that's totally true about the princess thing. They should have a disclaimer at the beginning of all of their movies.

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