A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Tori

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

(Day 3) Guest Post: Jennifer Rardin

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Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.


Welcome to Day 3 of the Battle of the Sexies!  Today we've got the author of the wonderful Jaz Parks series, Jennifer Rardin stopping by!


"I’ve spent all my life in the Midwest, which has certainly shaped my perspective on all kinds of issues, from the question of whether or not we really have an accent, to the many and varied uses of corn.
 

I was born in Evansville, Indiana on April 28, 1965. Mom tells me almost every year what crappy weather it was that day. However I like to think of my birthday as the first frost-free date for my planting area. See what happens when you grow up around farmers? Scary, huh?
 
After a youth spent up to my eyeballs in fairy tales, nordic myths and supernatural legends I made the solid and practical decision to go to college and major in English. After which I never really held a well paying job until this gig came along! Which is why my kids love to sing that song to me from the musical “Avenue Q.” The one that begins with the line, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?”
 
Once I figured out the answer to that question, I wrote Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Now my laptop is my constant companion. We reside in an old farmhouse along with my husband and our two teenagers. No pets since the cat died last winter, but the birds seem to appreciate his absence. They come to feast at the feeders while I write on the back porch in the cool of the morning. Lovely."

Courtesy of Jennifer Rardin's website.

Connect with Jennifer:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads




Are heroines required to kick ass or be independent in order to be considered a strong lead?

Heroines come in all shapes and sizes, but I think they do need to share a specific sort of strength that appeals to all of us in order to be considered a strong lead. Yeah, they do need to kick ass. If not literally, then with their superior intelligence, sense of humor, and/or sheer ability to stick it out until the mission is successfully completed.

Independence is also a requirement, but again, not necessarily in the way we normally look at it. Heroines can be loyal wives, devoted mothers, adoring sisters and daughters—but they must possess a unique way of looking at the world and dealing with people that allows them to solve problems in a way that makes them extra special. That is a sort of independence that, I think, we all admire and aspire to as well.

Perseverance is the key, however. Heroines can never, ever, give up. Which is why they succeed despite the roadblocks that fall into their paths, and why we want to be just like them.



Books by Jennifer Rardin:
Click on the images to learn more about Jennifer’s books.

  




Jennifer is kindly offering three signed copies of any of her books to three different winners.

Giveaway Guidelines:
  1. Open to everyone!
  2. Fill out the form below.
  3. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.
Extra Entries:
  • [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!


16 comments:

  1. Thank you for this giveaway! :)

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  2. Intelligence, sense of humor, perserverance, independence...great qualities in real-life folks, as well as the heroines/heroes for the books we love. Thanks for your post.

    P.S. Even for Evansville, I have to believe April is a pretty advantageous month for a birthday! Mine's in Feb.--want to trade?

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  3. Thankies!! I haven't been able to read this series yet and the first one would be great to get me started!!

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  4. I agree that a heroine to be a heroine must have a characteristic to appeal to us as heroine. Like, I really hate stupid protagonists. Writers of those books I only read once and then avoid like the plague.

    Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/08/win-signed-jennifer-rardin-book-at-book.html

    Twitted: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/20654274485

    Cherry Mischievous

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  5. *Squee*!!! I love her! I've read the first three but I'm a bit behind. Thanks for the awesome giveaway :)

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  6. havent read these or heard of them till now but they look great!!
    thanks Book Faery:)

    ReplyDelete