Book Dress: Wordless Wednesday

I was surfing the internet and found these photos of a book dress made by Jorimoo. She modeled the dress for readers at a writers festival. The site doesn't give any additional details. I wish it did because this dress is amazing, the attention to detail is incredible.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Don't forget to add your Wordless Wednesday post to the linky list below!

In My Mailbox Monday

I'm starting back the old meme, In My Mailbox Monday. I stopped posting this meme because I cut back on buying hard copies of books and was utilizing my Kindle more frequently. But I'm going to post what books I've purchased via mail and Kindle to cover all purchases. So lets get started. Here's what I've purchased this week. I have already started reading Shadow of the Banyan Tree. It's is lyrically and literally a beautiful masterpiece. I said, I'm only going to read the first chapter and was on chapter five before I knew it. I'll let you know how the rest of the story goes.

If you want to add your In My Mailbox Monday post to the linky list below, please do and I'll come see what you have in your mailbox. :-)

In the Shadow of the Banyan

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Looking for Alaska

Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Tour 2013

As many of you know, I've been trying to see all the people I admire by the time I had turned forty years old. Well, I'm forty and my forty-first birthday is fast approaching. I had managed to see everyone on my list except Beyonce and Oprah. Well, HOT DAMN! Because I attended the Mrs. Carter Tour two weeks ago, July 13, 2013 in Nashville, TN.

I can't begin to describe how amazing the show was visually and vocally. I'd just had knee surgery a little over a week before the concert and my ticket was for general admission standing only. I was afraid I was not going to make it through the entire concert without giving into pain and going back to my hotel room. I had purchased an early entry ticket so I could get in earlier. However, there was over 200 people with early entry tickets as well, not to mention the other attendees at the sold out concert. I wore a brace on my knee to stabilize it because it was fairly weak. There was another young lady with a boot on her foot because she had just broke it recently. Thankfully, a woman named Ivy (what a sign right?), that worked for the promotion company agreed to let me and the young lady with the boot in early. She had friends with her that were allowed to come in as well. I was alone, so it was just lil ole me. We were allowed to go in ten minutes early as to not get trampled by the crowd. So glory to God, I was able to walk in unhurried and I got the best spot in the arena. Front row, dead center. I was so elated, if I could've danced, I would've. Everyone kept saying, you have the best spot in the whole place. It was divine, I tell you. Here it was, I thought I wasn't going to be able to make it through the concert and I had the best view out of thousands of fans.

Now, I did end up standing for nearly seven hours. My knee was shot by the next day. I was confined to bed for several days after that. Physical therapy has been kicking my butt and I've been chopping on Tylenol and Advil like Tic Tacs. My best friend said, "was it worth it?" I said, "yes. But ask me again in a couple of weeks and I may have a different answer if my knee doesn't get better." I can say without a doubt, that was the best concert I'd ever been to. Beyonce gave one hellava performance. I think we shared a few personal moments too, but that could be all in my head. Well, enjoy the photos. I think I got some really great shots. Whatcha think?

Now, if I can only find Oprah.....

Singer Luke James

Singer, Luke James

The fog machine was right in front of us. Don't I look happy anyway?

Sitting on the floor waiting for the concert to start. 

The concert is about to start and we're waiting on the opening act, Luke James. I think I look a little too excited.

This post is hardly wordless today, but 'eh... so what. These are special circumstances. 
:-) 

Don't forget to leave your wordless wednesday post on the linky list below. 

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

A Wicked Kind of Dark by Jonathan K. Benton

Author Jonathan K. Benton

Jonathan Benton always wanted to write books, having won first place in a short story competition when he was ten. Inspired by writes such as Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Jonathan first discovered the crossover genre of literary/fantasy while reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Jonathan grew up in New Zealand, dreaming of travelling to London and finally making the pilgrimage in his mid-twenties. Returning from England, he settled in Australia, the country he now calls home, and decided to take his writing seriously.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

A Wicked Kind of Dark

Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost.



As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic …



A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.

Giveaway Details

$10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Open Internationally

Ends 8/15/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

*An additional $10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash is available to anyone who shares this giveaway on their blog.  See link in the rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

It seems so many people are going to the beach for the summer. So I am inspired to post pictures of sand art. Maybe some of you that are headed to the beach can get inspired too and make some of your own sand art. Don't forget to take photos of your work!

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Don't forget to add your Wordless Wednesday post to the linky list below! 

Kindle Fire Giveaway Summer 2013

Thanks for stopping by to enter the Kindle Fire Giveaway. Enter by filling out the rafflecopter form below. You can fill out as many options as you like. 

Good luck!

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
2. Feed Your Reader
3. New Adult Addiction
4. Jessabella Reads
5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Somthing Year Old Girl
6. Books Unhinged by StacyHgg
7. S.A. Larsen - Writer's Ally
8. Author Inger Iverson
9. The Geeky Gamers
10. annakyss
11. Everyday Word Magic
12. Candance's Book Blog
13. Page Flipperz
14. SMI Book Club
15. Laurie Here
16. Feed Your Fiction Addiction
17. Phantasmic Reads
18. The Book Bellas
19. Please Don't Remove MarGreat's Glasses
20. Author Jennifer Laurens
21. J.C. Valentine
22. Holly Hood
23. Young Adult Novel Reader
24. Author Heather Bixler
25. Literary Meanderings
26. Suspense Author Kim Cresswell
27. Mother Daughter & Son Book Review
28. Meredith's Musings
29. Auggie Talk
30. Author Camelia Miron Skiba
31. Author Lena Sledge
32. LoriTheAuthor
33. Author Dianne Venetta
34. Curling Up with A Good Book
35. MyLadyWeb
36. Fae Books
37. Bea's Book Nook
38. Girls with Books
39. Ketch's Book Nook
40. Turning Pages
41. Bookhounds
42. Karey White
43. My Devotional Thoughts
44. Author Talia Jager
45. Author Helen Smith
46. Sher A Hart: Written Art
47. Author MK McClintock
48. Word to Dreams
49. Buku-Buku Didi
50. Tasty Book Tours
51. Readerlicious
52. Romance Bookworm's Reviews

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire.

Sponsor a future Kindle Fire Giveaway by signing up HERE.

Ends 8/15/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

Get inspired by underwater sculptures. These are great writing prompts.


















Happy Wordless Wednesday! Don't forget to add your Wordless Wednesday post to the Linky list below!

R.I.P. to Bestselling Author Francis Ray

My condolences and prayers to the family of Francis Ray who recently passed away. She was one of my favorite authors and a benevolent person. She gave books to me on several occasions to giveaway on my blog. She would also send my winners nice notes in the mail. I'll never forget her kindness and generosity. Thanks Ms. Ray for your contribution in my life. It means so much when successful authors reach back to help those trying to ascend on their own journey. I will always remember your kindness.


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Francis Ray is a native Texan and lives in Dallas. A graduate of Texas Woman’s University. In 1999 and 2000 she was nominated for Texas Woman’s University Distinguished Alumni Award. Ms. Ray’s titles consistently make bestseller’s lists such as Blackboard and Essence Magazine. INCOGNITO, her sixth title, was the first made-for-TV movie for BET. She has written over fifty titles to date. Awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, The Atlantic Choice, and Borders 2008 Romance Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance. IF YOU WERE MY MAN was selected as Written magazine Book of the Year.THE TURNING POINT, her first mainstream, was a finalist for the prestigious HOLT Medallion Award.


Ms. Ray will have five titles released in 2013. First up is her 50th book ALL I EVER WANTED, February 26, 2013, then $1.99 eBook ALL OF MY LOVE, May 14, 2013. Next is AFTER THE DAWN, June 18, 2013. ALL THAT I NEED, is slated to hit stores July 2, 2013. At the end the year, we will get a chance to catch up with the Graysons series, Rio Sanchez in ALL THAT I DESIRE, October 29, 2013.


Below is the announcement given to fans of Francis Ray on her Facebook page.


------------------------------------------


Dear Readers and Friends!

I am writing with great loss and sorrow in behalf of Francis Ray's family to inform you of Francis' passing and that an Official Announcement will soon be forthcoming from Francis' family and Publisher. Pertinent information will be provided at that time and the family appreciates the love and support you are showing.


This is a huge tragedy for everyone who has been a fan of Francis Ray and to all who knew her. Therefore, you can understand that the family would appreciate respecting their need and desire for privacy during this sad time.
Please do share that the family has made the decision to only communicate through this Francis Ray Fan Facebook Page.

The family would appreciate help in sharing this information and directing all to Francis' Facebook Fan Page where all expressions of support and love can be given to Francis' family.


Sincerely,
Shannon Aviles
More Than Publicity


For more info and updates visit: francisray.com or www.facebook.com/FrancisRayAuthor