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The Bedtime Book Tag

Time for another tag! This one, the Bedtime Book Tag, is from my good friend Sarah @ Ink and Paper Tall Ship. She’s a university student by day and an epic writer/blogger by night . . . a.k.a. she’s a superhero. Go check out her bookish blog!

1. What book kept you up all night reading?
I don’t actually stay up all night reading, but some books do keep me up later than I should be on occasion. The Solitary Tales series by Travis Thrasher was definitely one of those page-turners that kept the lights on. They’re just such fast, intense reads!

2. What books make you scared to fall asleep?
Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker. While I wasn’t fully afraid or anything, it did give me the creeps. This one is NOT a bedtime story, people. I mean, there’s a creepy whacko who kidnaps flawless girls and breaks their bones one at a time . . .


3. What book almost put you to sleep?
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I know it’s a classic, and I know it shaped the modern American novel and all that–but I found it boring. And depressing. Granted, it was forced upon me as a high school assignment, but still. Couldn’t the curriculum writers pick more interesting books?

4. What book has you tossing and turning in anticipation for its release?
Good question! I am eagerly awaiting the release of Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Poison Crown, but that won’t be until 2017 or possibly later, for reasons detailed here. In the meantime, I am of course looking forward to her Ridiculously Huge Project–a 12 book series she plans to draft in ONE YEAR. (She is a fairy with magical powers, I’m convinced.)
I’m also waiting to get my hands on Beyond the Gateway by Bryan Davis! (Although I have yet to snatch up Reapers, the first book in the series.)
I’m holding my breath over Mirror of Souls by Wayne Thomas Batson (in both a good way and a “I sure hope this is good” way).
And I feel like there are lots more I’m looking forward to, but they’re just not coming to me at the moment.

5. What book has your dream boyfriend/girlfriend?
I don’t usually think of characters in terms like that, but I suppose there are a number of them that exhibit worthy qualities. Many of Bryan Davis’s male characters are noble and kind and chivalrous: Billy Bannister, Elam, Nathan Shepherd, Adrian and Jason Masters, etc.
Paul Falcon of Full Disclosure (by Dee Henderson), though much too old for me, is super thoughtful and mature in the way he pursues his gal. I don’t know! This is a hard question. And apparently I can’t give just one answer to these questions.

6. What book would be your worst nightmare to live in?
I would die in The Hunger Games. Probably within the first sixty seconds.
Depression and vitamin D deficiency would do me in if I was forced to stay in City of Ember. I need my sunlight!
And to tell you the truth, as epic as it would be to live in a high fantasy book world, those places are perilous! I think I’d freak out. Especially if I was one of those chosen, special types, tasked with saving the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. (Where’s a Gandalf when you need one?!)

7. What book has a nightmarish cliffhanger?
Timescape by Robert Liparulo (the fourth book in the Dreamhouse Kings series). I almost threw the book across the room, that’s how cliffhanger-y the cliffhanger was.

8. What book cover reminds you of nighttime?
Emissary by Thomas Locke, the book I’ve currently got my nose in, has a stunning cover that fits the bill.

9. What book have you actually dreamed about?
Sadly, I haven’t directly dreamed about any books before. I wish I did, because I love immersing myself in story worlds. The closest thing I’ve come to experiencing a bookish place in my dreams is this. Prepare yourself for a longwinded description.

A large green dragon was at my house to have supper with my family. This was an entirely acceptable occurrence during the dream, you see, because dreams are funny that way.

Anyway, sometime after dinner I headed downstairs for bed. The dragon was lounging by the stairs–I’ve no idea how he fit in the hallway, but as I said, dream-logic is often rather illogical–with his long neck draped over the bannister. I paused on the stairs to converse with him. You see, during supper he’d alluded to something about me having dragon wings. “How am I supposed to get wings?” I asked him.

He regarded me solemnly and said, “You just need to believe.” (Yes. He really did say that. When I woke up later, I had to laugh at the cheesiness, but during the dream this statement carried grave weight.)

I went to sleep pondering his words.

The following morning, I awoke before the rest of my family. The dragon was gone. I went outside and stood on the front porch and inhaled the cool air of a summertime morning. With the dragon’s admonition ringing in my mind, I closed my eyes and believed. Simply and effortlessly, just like that.

And I felt a pair of dragon wings unfurl from my back.

The next part of the dream is probably the most vivid. I can clearly recall the exultation as I tried out my new wings. The first tentative flaps. Rising the first few feet into the air, then higher and higher over the street. Feeling my heart lurch as I nearly fell, only to regain altitude. Flying over the town as it stirred for a new day. I finally landed half a block from home, and discovered that the wings vanished when I didn’t need them. Somehow I knew they’d return when I needed them again.

And then I woke up.

So in case you haven’t realized, that dream was drawn from elements of Bryan Davis’s Dragons in Our Midst series. It remains one of my favoritest, epic-est dreams of ever.

10. What book monster would you not want to find under your bed?
Shelob, or any of those Mirkwood spiders, really. I don’t have an affinity for normal little Canadian spiders, so an eight-legged beastie big enough to probably haul my bed away? GET THEE AWAY FROM ME.

 
There you have it! Thanks for the fun tag, Sarah! I’m always up for an excuse to talk about books.
And now I tag:

Christine @ Musings of an Elf
 
Candice Willimas @ O Ye Scribes
 
Plus anyone who wants to pilfer this tag for themselves!

The Infinity Dreams Blog Award

Hello again, questers! It’s been a long week work-wise (which is great for the paycheck and good exercise for my stamina) . . . so I honestly don’t have the brainpower to do justice to any of the in-depth posts I have planned. Maybe next week?

But today is a good day for a tag. Specifically the Infinity Dreams Blog Award, given to me by Victoria @ Stori Tori’s Blog. If you haven’t yet checked out her corner of the internet, wander over to find her assortment of tea reviews, soundtracks, vocabulary expansions, and general geekiness.

(By the way, I haven’t a clue what inspired this tag/award’s name. Maybe it started out having some relation to dreams or infinite somethings?)

Rules
1. Thank and follow the blog that nominated you.
2. Tell us eleven facts about yourself.
3. Answer the questions that were set for you to answer.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and set questions for them.
Eleven Facts About Myself
 
1. I love dark chocolate. The darker the better. (Up to a point. Those 90% cocoa bars taste like straight up cocoa powder.) If you wish to buy me chocolate, Lindt is very welcome. *smiles innocently*
2. I have jumped off a fifty-foot structure. Since it was the only way down at the end of a high-ropes course, and I was harnessed in, it’s not as impressive as it first sounds . . . But it was scary.
3. Because my hair can’t decide if it’s blonde or brown, and is instead a ‘dirty blonde,’ and because I dislike that description, I have taken to describing it as honey brown.
4. Stacks of paper are the bane of whatever sense of tidiness I have. One of the many stacks on my desks currently consists of: a voter info card, my incomplete submission form for Rooglewood Press’s contest, old envelopes that haven’t made their way to the recycling bin, a devotional sheet from church, a Legend of Zelda coloring page, scrap paper, a wedding invitation, a college booklet, a humorous note from my aunt, a list of what I packed for holidays this summer, more scrap, training material from work, a graph of my Sleeping Beauty word count progress, a Tangled coloring picture, an old blog post of Mirriam’s that I printed (with the intention of hanging it on my wall), and yet more scrap. It’s way past time I clean my desk!
5. Some facts about myself are apparently very long-winded . . .
6. I spent an afternoon this week getting tomato juice all over myself and the kitchen counter. It’s canning season!
7. I like to put cucumbers or pickles in my tuna sandwiches.
8. I have a little scar above my left eyebrow. I pretend I got it in some epic battle, but in truth, I had a birthmark surgically removed as a young child. (Not nearly as interesting.)
9. August Booth is one of my favorite Once Upon a Time characters. SO FAR. I retain the right to amend that statement should he ever turn bad, something which happens a whole awful lot to characters in this show! But he’s a writer. Enough said. And though he’s not been a very good boy lately (as of Season 1’s conclusion), something about him is special.
10. I love keys . . . old-fashioned skeleton keys with twining strands of metal. So beautiful and mysterious.
11. As a child, I combed my house in search of secret passageways, knocking on walls and floors, poking in corners. Alas, there were none to be found. If I get a chance to design my own house one day, I am definitely adding some secret tunnels.
Questions from Tori (as if I haven’t rambled on long enough already!):
1.) Shorts, jeans, or skirts? Shorts or jeans. I do like skirts, but they’re not practical for everyday wear, and I don’t own very many to begin with.
2.) Hot weather or cold weather? In between weather! Spring and fall are my favorite seasons.
3.) What’s your favorite flavor? Depends what sort of food group we’re talking about here. To start off, I love berry flavors, chocolate, Italian food (so . . . garlic? in not-too-overpowering amounts?), mint, etc.
4.) Coffee, cocoa, or tea? Depends on the day. I’d say coffee or tea sooner than cocoa, simply because hot chocolate is so sweet and filling. Though I do enjoy it on a cold, wintry afternoon.
5.) What’s the first book you remember reading? A Little Bear book that I thought I could read, but had actually only memorized.
6.) Favorite song artist? I have a number of those, but one is Anthem Lights. They’re a four-guy Christian group, producing both their own original music and covers of secular songs. Their harmony is AMAZING, their sense of humor is hilarious, and their heart for God shines through (especially in their original music). Some of my favorite originals are . . .
 
 
And one of my favorite covers . . .
7.) Do you play an instrument? Sadly, no, but I’d love to learn piano or violin or cello. If it didn’t require so much time and effort, that is. Just download the skills into my brain, please!

8.) Favorite fandom? Though I’m a fan of many things, I’m not sure how many I can actually call a fandom of mine. To me that implies a thorough knowledge to go along with one’s deep, abiding love; and I hesitate to claim I know all the ins and outs of these things. But I’m proud to be an Imp of Goldstone Wood, a fan of Marvel, a fan of Dragons in Our Midst (and the following series), and a casual Ring nut. (I say casual because I’ve yet to watch the movies or read the books more than once. *hangs head in shame*)

9.) Favorite actor? Let’s just follow my trend of slacking off and answering these questions with multiple answers, shall we? I loved Martin Freeman as Bilbo, Will Poulter as Eustace, Shailene Woodley as Tris, Chris Evans as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky . . . The list goes on, despite the fact that I don’t actually follow celebrities.
10.) Do you have a favorite scent? Cinnamon. Rain-soaked air. Fresh bread. Coffee. Cucumber melon lotion.
11.) Are you introverted or extroverted? Introverted. Somewhat extroverted around people nearest me.
I nominate these 11 illustrious questers:
Annie Hawthorne @ Curious Wren
Emily @ Emily Etc.
Skye @ Ink Castles
Wynonah @ Life is an Adventure
Rebekah Hendrian @ Wordsmithing and Worldbuilding
 Katie Grace @ A Writer’s Faith
wisdomcreates @ The Pen of a Ready Writer
Andrea Adams @ Andrea’s Scribbles
Eleven Questions for Said Nominees:
Let’s put some dreams and infiniteness into this . . .
1. Describe the most recent dream you can remember having.
2. “To infinity and beyond!” Who’s your favorite Toy Story character?
3. If Iron Man and Captain America were pitted against each other (not that hard to imagine), who would you root for?
4. What are your top three favorite things about autumn?
5. When’s your prime time: morning, midday, or late at night?
6. You’ve been handed the leash of an emperor’s pet tiger–quick, what do you do with it?
7. Do you have any pre-writing ‘rituals’ or habits? (If you’re not a writer, feel free to describe any other preparatory habits of yours, whether it’s your morning routine, or what you do to get ready for studying, or anything else.)
8. Favorite song artist?
9. Name a real-life hero of yours.
10. What’s your goal(s) in blogging?
11. Name a literary/film couple you shipped that ended up sinking.


Have fun! As always, it’s up to you whether or not you accept this tag.
And if you’ve made it this far . . . congratulations! You are either very patient, very bored, or actually interested in my silly ramblings. Have some pie.

The Bookshelf Tag

Back in June, my blogging buddy Deborah O’Carroll did this Bookshelf Tag, and left it open to anyone who wanted to snag it. Being immensely fond of my growing collection, I filed it away in my memory with a mental post-it note reading DO THISSSSS. Besides, what booklover doesn’t swell with pride when given the chance to show off his or her precious bookish possessions?

(Pictures are not a requirement for this tag, but I really couldn’t resist.)
(Also, I apologize for the camera quality. My trusty digital has served me well for seven years, but it doesn’t work as nicely as those expensive ones with uber long lenses . . .)

Describe your bookshelf (or wherever it is you keep your books-it doesn’t actually have to be a shelf!) and where you got it from:
I have a set of two bookcases in my room, each with a spot dedicated to books (and the rest of the shelves are full of CDs, craft supplies, notebooks, and general junk).

My desk’s hutch holds close to forty volumes. All three come from Ashley’s Furniture, if you really must know. But my older, less-read books have a spot in a family bookshelf in the basement. Oh, and some of my childhood reads are upstairs. So they’re really all over the place. (If I had room, I’d love to put all my babies in one massive bookshelf.)

Do you have any special or different way of organizing your books?
Not . . . specifically. I don’t organize alphabetically or by color or anything quite like that. I do of course keep series together, and generally keep each author’s books together as well. My hutch holds a lot of my favorites, but that’s overflowed into one of the shelves. The other shelf holds mostly used books purchased at book fairs.

What’s the thickest (most amount of pages) book on your shelf?
Not counting The Chronicles of Narnia (because that’s technically seven books), it would be Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s a whopping 763 pages.

What’s the thinnest (least amount of pages) book on your shelf?
The Talking Snowman by Lois Gladys Leppard: 103 pages. I lived and breathed Mandie Shaw for a good portion of elementary school.

Is there a book you received as a birthday gift?
A number of them, but the one that springs to mind first is Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis. I received it from my parents on my 13th birthday, and have spent my teenage years growing up alongside Billy, Bonnie, Walter, Ashley, and the gang! These books also inspired my love of dragons. So that’s a big thing.

What’s the smallest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?
Pocket Quips by Robert C. Savage. It’s one of the books I was allowed to take from my grandpa’s study when he passed away over a year and a half ago. The book’s puns and life reflections, so very like his own sense of humor, remind me of him. Such as this excerpt: A hug is a roundabout way of expressing affection.

What’s the biggest (height and width wise) book on your shelf?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. Gifted to me by my aunt on my graduation!

Is there a book from a friend on your shelf?
Probably a few, but most of my books (that I haven’t bought myself) come from my parents or grandparents. So I’ll feature this one, On the Shoulders of Hobbits by Louis Markos–a thoughtful gift from my grandma and grandpa (same one who passed way) a few years ago.

Most expensive book?
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, for $25.99. At least I think that’s the most expensive . . .

The last book you read on your shelf?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Of all the books on your shelf, which was the first you read?
Oh goodness, that’s too far back to remember. An early one, though, was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery. I remember reading it in first grade, as a wee child of six. A good number of those big words were way over my head, but I loved it anyway.

Do you have more than one copy of a book?
Only The Chronicles of Narnia! I have my big single volume, and then I have a lovely illustrated boxed set from my grandpa’s study.

Do you have the complete series of any book series?
When I find a series I love, I set out to collect the entire thing. I simply must own it. So I’m in the process of gathering a number of series, but among the completed collections are . . .
Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire by Bryan Davis, as well as Dragons of Starlight and Echoes from the Edge.

 

The Cantral Chronicles by Amanda Davis.

The Berinfell Prophecies by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper.

(Some series I’m partway through collecting are The Solitary Tales by Travis Thrasher, Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan.)

What’s the newest addition to your shelf?
Books purchased on holidays: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker, Illusionarium by Heather Dixon, and The Sorceror of the North by John Flanagan.

What book has been on your shelf FOREVER?
Again, too many to properly recall, but a classic from my childhood is Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John. Ah, fond memories . . .

What’s the most recently published book on your shelf?
I think it’s The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker, published May 19, 2015.

The oldest book on your shelf (as in, the actual copy is old)?
Another treasure from my grandpa’s study. The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott, published 1895. One of these days I will sit down, cradle this amazing thing in my hands, and begin reading it. There seem to be a lot of long, epic ballad-type poems in it. Potential story inspiration?

 

A book you won?
Umm. I don’t think I’ve won any. Shocker, I know! There’s probably something or other won during my childhood, but I can’t recall what it is.

A book you’d hate to let out of your sight (aka a book you never let someone borrow)?
Any of my precious paperbacks! They’re much more prone to mishaps than hardcovers, and it’s painful to see any of those beautiful covers bend. But in truth, I have let people borrow them, even a couple of my favorites, but I always hint that I’d like them to treat the book very well. (Or maybe I tell them outright. Either way–they know I value the condition of my books!)

Most beat up book?
It’s no surprise that my most beat up book was not beat up by me. It’s another book fair find, Eldest by Christopher Paolini. And it’s not even that bad.

Most pristine book?
As I’ve already explained, I try to keep all my favorites looking nice, and most of them are in identical condition. So I just pulled a random one from the shelf, one with an epic cover I felt like photographing: The Errant King by Wayne Thomas Batson.

A book from your childhood?
Two Jigsaw Jones mysteries. As with the Mandie books, I adored these as a kid . . . even to the point that I begged my mom for a mystery of my own to solve.

A book that’s not actually your book?
Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own by Emily Brightwell. It belongs to my grandmother, but being the thirtieth in the series (while I’m perhaps eight books in), I haven’t yet gotten around to reading and returning it. Also The Princess Bride by William Goldman, which belongs to my aunt. And I’m not quite sure if she intended me to give it back once I read it, or keep it. HEY, AUNTIE ROXANE, IF YOU’RE READING THIS, WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH IT?

A book with a special/different cover (e.g. leather bound, soft fuzzy cover etc.)?
Alas, I have no special covers, leather or otherwise, unless you count the Scott poetry book, but I don’t know what that’s made of. The best I could come up with are these shiny gold letters on the cover of Isle of Fire by Wayne Thomas Batson.

A book that is your favorite color?
If We Survive by Andrew Klavan is slathered in the most beautiful greens and blues, which look even prettier in real life.

Book that’s been on your shelf the longest that you STILL haven’t read?
Heh, a whole bunch of those second-hand books you saw at the beginning of the post. There’s about a dozen I haven’t read yet, and some have sat patiently waiting for a few years already.

Any signed books?
Glad you asked! I had the privilege of meeting Bryan Davis a few years ago, and he signed ALL MY DAVIS BOOKS (well, all that I owned at the time). He even jokingly offered to sign books that weren’t his.

I also have Asylum, written by a friend of mine who goes by Chantelle J.Z. Storm, and she signed my copy too! Isn’t it sweet?

~*~

I hope you’ve enjoyed perusing my library as much as I’ve enjoyed showing it off! Seeing as I’m not entirely sure who’s all been tagged for this and who hasn’t, I won’t tag anyone. Instead, if you want to purloin this fun thingamajig for yourself, please do! I would love to get a peek at your bookshelf! (And remember, pictures aren’t a requirement.) Share all the book-love!

Sisterhood Award

Deborah O’Carroll at The Road of a Writer recently did a week of tag catch-ups, and she nominated me for one of them: The Sisterhood Award! If you’ve never experienced Deb’s wry humor or amazing writing, go check out her blog. Plus, she has ridiculously amazing dreams involving Marvel characters.
(By the way, to any male readers, I give you fair warning. This is a slightly girly post, if the title hadn’t already alerted you.)

Rules

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site.
  • Put the award logo on your blog.
  • Answer the ten questions sent to you.
  • Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.
  • Nominate ten blogs.

Questions

1. Introvert or extrovert?
Extrovert!

Bahaha, did I fool you?
No?
Didn’t think so. I’m much more of an introvert.

2. Do you like coffee?
Yes! I’ll have two creams, no sugar, please. Or a mocha. Or an Iced Cappuccino from Tim Hortons, mixed with chocolate milk.

3. What are you reading right now?
Deb, you almost caught me at one of those rare times when I’m in between books and not reading anything. But this morning I started Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, so we’re okay. (I don’t know why, but I’m always surprised to find humor in those old classics.)

4. Favorite fairytale?
When I was little, it was always Cinderella. Later, Beauty and the Beast edged up beside it. Those are still two of my top favorites, but Sleeping Beauty is currently proving to be quite interesting too. *cough*

5. Favorite color?
Blue–anything in a turquoise/aqua shade makes me happy. And also green, especially a fresh spring green or olive green.

6. Favorite animal?
Do I have to settle on just one? Horses, big cats (as in lions, tigers, leopards, lynxes, cougars, etc.), hawks, DRAGONS (oh wait, did you mean real animals?), ferrets (just to look at, not to pet . . . they reek something awful), and basically any large, furry creature that looks either majestic or adorable.

7. Favorite food?
Deb. Honestly. You know how difficult such an open question is? Couldn’t you have been more specific? Like favorite dessert or favorite meat or . . .  you know. Gah. Okay. I have always loved my mom’s cashew chicken. It’s basically a stir-fry dish made of veggies, cashews, and chicken with homemade hoisin sauce.

8. Favorite TV show?
Um, I don’t really watch TV. Because we don’t really have cable. And quite frankly, I don’t feel I’m missing out on a whole lot. But I have seen parts of some shows. If I’d watched more than two episodes, I’d shout “Once Upon a Time!” But I haven’t fully formed my opinion on that yet. Let’s go with Gilligan’s Island, because I’ve seen both seasons, and despite the cheese and leaps in logic (WHO in the world brings suitcases full of stuff on a three-hour tour?!), it’s quite funny.


9. Favorite historical time period?
Ooh, I love this question. I’d say the Renaissance, because it’s somewhat cleaner than the Middle Ages, yet still has that lovely medieval quality. But I also like the 1800’s. And I enjoyed learning about the two World Wars and the Civil War in American history. (Happy Independence Day to all my American friends, by the way!) Goodness, I can’t even answer these questions properly. I don’t have a single answer for any of them.

10. Favorite book character you met recently?
Hmm. Maybe the Outlaw, from Ted Dekker’s Outlaw and Eyes Wide Open. Everything he said kind of shook up truths I’d taken for granted or gotten used to, and presented a whole new facet. Pieces of his dialogue have lodged themselves in my brain and started to work their way into my thinking. So the Outlaw is definitely a thought-provoking, heart-piercing character.

New Questions

I’m throwing a couple of Deborah’s in here because they were so fun.

  1. What book world would you like to live in?
  2. Favorite flower?
  3. Name a friend who’s like a sister to you, and if you like, share a memory.
  4. Dream ride? (Could have wheels, wings, or legs.)
  5. Favorite book character you’ve met recently?
  6. What song is playing in your head right now?
  7. Favorite historical time period?
  8. Would you prefer to live in a hobbit hole or Rivendell?
  9. Describe your everyday makeup, if you wear any.
  10. Favorite ice cream flavor?

I tag . . .

Sarah at Ink and Paper Tall Ship
Elphie at Dream Dancer
Christine at Musings of an Elf
Andrea at Andrea’s Scribbles
Skye at Ink Castles
Wynonah at Life is an Adventure