Monday, February 28, 2011

Love Potions: End credits

Dr Viiiii's
Love Potions

February 2011

~*~

shuffle step-shuffle step-shtuffle
pushes laboratory door which creaks open

eh-heh, doc-tor
doc-tor Viiiii

it's...

it's time

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache *

wahhh, igor
time?

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache *

well, look at the time.

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache and looks at his timepiece*

i hope the love potions were of satisfaction to our guests this month.

i used only the oldest of ingredients. many well over their expire dates for maximum effectiveness.

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache *

until next time then...

i bid adieu...

~*~

Please note all giveaways end February 27, 2011 unless specified otherwise.

THANKS TO: Authors, Publicists and Publishers for Book Giveaways & Guest posts

After Isaactown by Ward Jones

Boyfriend from Hell by E. Van Lowe

Demon High by Lori Devoti

False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

Heart's Sentinel by PJ Schnyder

Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster

In The Storm by Karen Metcalf

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Random Magic by Sasha Soren

Richer by Jean Blasiar

Special thanks to sponsor:

CSN Stores

Special thanks to fellow bloggers:

Freda of Freda's Voice

~*~

shuffle step-shuffle step-shtuffle
and lifts up heart-shaped bottle

eh-heh, doc-tor
doc-tor Viiiii

what about this last potion?

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache *

yes, igor
the last potion
offer it now...

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway --=\=\=--

Richer
by Jean Blasiar

Prize: my gently used copy

Open to all.

Offer ends: March 13 --> extended to March 20, 2011

TO DO:

Visit Jean's site and tell me something you learned there.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

-o0o- love potion schedule -o0o-


Sunday, February 27, 2011

Heart's Sentinel by PJ Schnyder

Heart's Sentinel
by PJ Schnyder

Published: January 2011
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Paperback: 200 pages
Rating: 4

Description from the amazon:
Born human, Mackenzie never wanted to be a shapeshifter. After a shifter stalks and brutally Changes her, she runs to the jaguars of River Gap pride for protection from the stalker still searching for her, to come to terms with the attack and learn to control her new, powerful cougar body.

Adam, a River Gap Sentinel, is assigned as her guard and mentor. Well aware of his strength and how new she is the shapeshifter world, he holds himself back from the flames of primal desire she ignites. But, to survive the stalker, they both need to first battle their pasts and learn what it truly means to be the sentinels of each other’s hearts.

Read the excerpt.

Amusing quote:
He paused and gave her an insufferable grin. He even had the nerve to take in a huge breath of air, expanding his chest until she could see the cords of muscle ripple under the stretched fabric of his shirt.
- page 28, chapter 2


Series: Terra's Guardians series
Red's Wolf
Heart's Sentinel

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): claim

This romance story introduces you to a shifter-cat (jaguar, cougar, panther) world which has its distinct features compared to a werewolf world.

I like how martial arts figures into the story and using it as a way to gain self control as well as self defense for the main character.

Wanna read this...

--/=/=-- eBook Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=-

signup for giveaway


Extra! Extra!:
Head over to Bitten by Paranormal to read a Valentine's special interview with PJ which includes a recipe for White Chocolate Matcha (Green Tea) Desserts and Dark Chocolate Truffles.

Excerpt:
What I love to do comes from the Japanese way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. In Japan, the women give men chocolates. - read the rest

~*~

* ebook review copy courtesy of author

* also part of my guest post Beefcake Bites at Book Rat's Love Bites event

-o0o- love potion schedule -o0o-


In My Mailbox - 2.27.11



Bought:

for The Women of Science Fiction Book Club...

The Dispossessed
by Ursula K. Le Guin


Free downloads:

Love Songs Say So Much Anthology
by Madison Layle and Anna Leigh Keaton
courtesy of author Deb Schneider
get your free copy
* first spotted this at Steamed!


for my upcoming Steampink event in June (yep, switched from July)...

The Sevenfold Spell
by Tia Nevitt
got this as a free Wednesday ebook
thanks to Carina Press
btw: if you subscribe to their newsletter
you can get a free ebook - only on Wednesdays


For Review and Giveaway:

Demon High
by Lori Devoti
courtesy of author
Thanks Lori!
signup to win this ebook



Won from contest:

The Pirate Queen
by Patricia Hickman
Thanks to What's the Buzz!
you will probably see this review and giveaway
during my Pirates event in May


~*~

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service and you can get a letter kit at Chronicle Books

* In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Zombie Cupcakes: From First Bite to Delicious End?


~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Shannon Pilarski
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

When Zilly Rosen first told us at Zillycakes about the idea pitched to her of a zombie themed cupcake book, I was more than enthusiastic about the concept!

How can the combination of two of my favorite things go wrong? She asked if I could help, since she hadn’t seen a single zombie movie. I’ve seen them all, so I immediately started jotting down ideas.

Our first challenge was to figure out how to make the book flow from beginning to end. I revisited all my favorite zombie movies for inspiration—14!—which may seem excessive, but hey, I do love a good excuse to watch zombie movies. That’s when it hit me: we should have the book layout like a zombie movie would unfold! Once we had that structure in place, I did a little zombie 101 with Zilly and Hannah, and the three of us had no trouble brainstorming some truly Zombietastic cupcakes!

A zombie movie can start a few different ways: some fool gets bit, or some crazed scientist gets sloppy with an experiment, or a government agency carelessly disposes of their biohazardous materials. All these acts produce the first of the walking dead. From these ideas the designs for Toxic Bite, Biohazard, T-virus, and The Crows were born.

In the middle of the movie, once the flesh craving infection has begun, it’s only a matter of time before the living dead are clawing at your door for your BRAINS! This brings us to the next set of zombie inspired cupcakes: Zombie moon, Zombie Rising, and On the Loose.

Next, zombies feast! You know, this is the really good part of the movie, where zombies are everywhere eating everyone! We figured it was only fair to have some of our delectable treats designed for the zombies themselves. This inspired such cupcakes as Zombie Delight, Eye Poppers and Brain Food.

Now comes the real problem: the zombies are here, we know they want to eat us, so how do we kill them? This crucial question brought us to our next series of cupcakes in the book titled: Decapitated Zombie, Skeletal Zombie and Bludgeon to Survive.

Finally, at the end of any great zombie movie, just when you think you’re rid of the flesh craving nuisance there is always a teaser scene leading you to believe that another aombie up rising is certain. This is why we ended our book Zombie Cupcakes with a cupcake grave yard scene. Are you sure you finished the job before you buried them?

They’re coming for you, Barbara…

I had a blast helping to create this zombie crazed cupcake book, and I am grateful to Zilly for letting me be a part of it.

~end

Zombie Cupcakes: From First Bite to Delicious End? created for Zombie Cute event by Shannon Pilarski assistant to Zilly Rosen, author of Zombie Cupcakes
© 2011. All rights reserved.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Shannon Pilarski
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

signup for giveaway


=== zombie cute schedule ===


Extra Extra: Zombies


Extra! Extra!:
The author has given the word to increase the prize pot from 3 to 5!

Yup, 5 books up for grabs!


It's Okay to be a Zombie: An Unchildren's Book
by Nathaniel Lambert
illustrated by Danny Evarts

Signup here now as the offer ends Feb 27.


=== zombie cute schedule ===


Lord Akeldama speaks

Remember when you asked Lord Akeldama questions during the Dandies & Delectables event in December?

His column at Gail Carriger's site has started up again and he has been gracious to answer fan questions here:

Dear Lord Akeldama: The 2011 Edition, Part One

Dear Lord Akeldama: The 2011 Edition, Part Two

Dear Lord Akeldama: The 2011 Edition, Part Three
in which questions are answered for Antonia, Freda, Llehn, and Nina!
original questions from the Dandies & Delectables post are here

Excerpt:
Fredamans asks: Of all the books and trinkets you have appeared on, which is your favorite and why?

Lord Akeldama: I would refrain from pointing this out, under most ordinary circumstances, but you did ask. My creator has been most remiss in not insisting that I be on the cover of any of her books. Until that time, I do not have a favorite. read more

more from Lord Akeldama still to come...

~*~

* image source my version of Lord Akeldama

~~*!~~ Dandies & Delectables schedule ~~!*~~


Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight
by Sophie Jordan

Published: 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Dragon, Fantasy, Romance, YA
Hardback: 336 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Romantic quote:
He squeezes me so hard air gusts from my lips. "I don't want you hurt. Ever."
- page 273, chapter 27


Series:
Firelight
Vanished - coming September 6, 2011

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): beautiful

A very YA romance story with a main character who happens to manifest into a dragon. In fact, the parts I liked were the shape shifting parts. The descriptions and feelings related were so vivid and beautiful. The visuals would be spectacular on screen.

Exciting news:
As of January 2011, a movie adaptation of Firelight is in the making.
- per THR

The YA couple in this story, Jacinda and Will, just made it onto my Fave YA couples list.

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

signup for giveaway

Leave a comment to earn an extra entry point towards this giveaway.


Watch out: book 2 is coming...

Vanish
Author: Sophie Jordan
Release Date: Sept 6, 2011


~*~

* part of Fantasy Reading challenge

//\\//\\ dragons (and some fantasy) schedule //\\//\\


Friday, February 25, 2011

Cover pre-Love Giveaway: Boyfriend From Hell by E. Van Lowe

Cover #1


Cover #2


Cover #3


Boyfriend From Hell
by E. Van Lowe

Release date: September 2011

Author E. Van Lowe needs your help in choosing the cover for his new novel Boyfriend From Hell. To entice you into entering, he's giving away some awesome swag. The contest is easy. All you need to do to qualify is choose which of the three covers below you like best.

Blurb from author:

Have you ever had a boyfriend from hell?

You know the kind: guy who messes with your life so much he turns it into Swiss cheese. Or maybe he was the guy who followed you home like a lost puppy, then turned into the pit bull you couldn't get rid of, no matter how hard you tried. Or maybe he was abusive.

I'm sure we've all had a bad boyfriend or two (or girlfriend in my case). My new novel, Boyfriend From Hell, is about a boyfriend from hell--literally. It's a YA paranormal like Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, but I've cut back on the comedy a bit in this one. It's the story of Megan Barnett, the fifteen year-old daughter of a 39 year-old single mom, Suze. When Suze decides it's time she had a man in her life, Megan is not happy. With good reason:

"First off, if anyone in my family should be dating, it should be me. I'm primo dating age here. How's it going to look if my mother has a boyfriend and I don't?" So Megan and Suze both set out to meet boyfriends. That's when all hell breaks loose.

ARC Book Giveaway courtesy of author


Prizes: ARCs (when they are available in April) or a tee shirt. 2 prizes in all.

Open to all.

Offer ends: March 4, 2011

TO DO:

Of the three book covers above, which do you like best?

Tell me the answer and leave your email in comments.

On March 5th I will hold a random drawing of all who left a comment. There will be two winners who will receive their choice of an ARC or a tee shirt. I will email the winners and post the winning cover design on the blog.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

-o0o- love potion #16 schedule -o0o-


The Friday 56: Demon High


The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted at Freda's Voice.

If you want to play along, here are the rules:

Grab a book, any book.
Turn to page 56.
Find any sentence that grabs you.
Post it.
Add your (url) post in the Linky at Freda's Voice.

~*~

wheeeeeeeee! my first one! here goes...

Demon High
by Lori Devoti

PAGE 56: this is an ebook, so sentence is from location 56

There were no words on the book's cover, but I knew what was inside.

~*~

fyi: I'm currently giving the ebook version away courtesy of the author. You can signup here to win it.

The Starlighter by Bryan Davis

Starlighter
by Bryan Davis

Published: 2010
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Action, Dragon, Fantasy, YA
ebook: 400 pages
Rating: 4

Description from the amazon:
Dragons are enslaving humankind and a black egg signals the end of the world.

Jason Masters must journey to another realm and join forces with a slave girl named Koren to rescue the captives and save two worlds from destruction.

What if the Legends Are True?

Jason Masters doubted the myths: people taken through a portal to another realm and enslaved by dragons. But when his brother is taken, he must uncover the truth and find the portal before it's too late.

Once he's through the portal, he meets Koren, a slave in the dragons' realm, who struggles to destroy a black egg prophesied to doom all mankind. Jason and Koren must work together to save their two worlds before the dragons learn that their secrets have been discovered.

In Starlighter, bestselling author Bryan Davis masterfully weaves fantasy and inspiration into a captivating novel for young adults.

Amusing quote:
A dragon can't huggle.
A dragon can't snuggle.
A dragon's scales are hard and cold.
The dragons make us struggle.
- location 680, chapter 4


Zombie sighting:
Would she transform into a mindless zombie who believed love was hatched from bondage, that the Code was useless and impossible to obey, that her sacrifice for friends caused the hearts of ment to fail?
- location 361, chapter 20


Series: Dragons of Starlight
Starlighter
Warrior - just released Jan 2011


My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): litmus finger
The dragons in here are mostly baaaaad. Save for one who you met during the dragons event here.

You are in for some action (swords and photon guns) and adventure (journey to an otherworld) in this engrossing dragon tale (with a cliffhanger ending). But, the story still is good as a stand-alone.

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

signup for giveaway

Leave a comment here to earn an extra entry point towards this giveaway.


~*~

* check out the Trading Card of the dragon, Arxad

* part of Fantasy Reading challenge

//\\//\\ dragons (and some fantasy) schedule //\\//\\


Love Potion: elixir of love

The Elixir of Love

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sasha Soren
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

For today’s love potion, we’d like to share a lovely aria connected to the subject of – love potions.

In L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), the young hero, Nemorino, spends the last of his money to obtain a love potion from a traveling purveyor of potions, who sells it to him for ‘the price of whatever you have in your pocket.’

In the grand tradition of traveling quacks, the love philtre is, of course, a phony, being just a bottle of red wine.

But Nemorino is so convinced that the potion will work that he’s overly confident that he’ll win the love of the beautiful Adina. They meet and she playfully teases him without mercy, but he treats her with indifference.



Lyrics in Italian and English

Second version, with English subtitles

Secretly, Adina does indeed love the callow Nemorino, but out of injured pride, she instead accepts the marriage proposal of the pompous Sergeant Belcore.

To up the ante and wipe the gloating smile off Nemorino’s face, she proposes that she and Belcore marry that very same day, before his regiment ships off.

Belcore is overjoyed with his fine catch, Adina despairs that the imminent nuptials won’t spur Nemorino to act, and Nemorino rushes off in a panic, bewildered and looking for another love potion to make Adina love him.

A very fine mess of tangled hearts ensues.

All’s well that ends well, though, when the sulking Nemorino suddenly realizes something crucial; while recalling Adina’s face while he spoke to her, he remembers seeing one irrefutable proof of love in her eyes that no love potion could ever deliver - a single, furtive tear.

In the video above, Nemorino sings the lovely aria ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ (‘A furtive tear’), where he realizes that love is the secret cause of her unhappiness, and that – love potion or no love potion – he’s already captured her heart and true love might very well save the day.



❤ Book trailer for Random Magic by Sasha Soren

❤ Visit: Random Magic Tour: Vive L’Amour (Feb. 1-14)

❤ Browse: Random Magic

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sasha Soren
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~


-o0o- love potion #15 schedule -o0o-


Thursday, February 24, 2011

From Me to You award

From Me to You award
Thanks to Freda of Freda's Voice

Share 7 Things About Yourself:

fave game: scrabble (with cheat sheets)

coffee with half-n-half

fave pasta shape: the classic spaghetti

love my swaine adeney brigg umbrella

current fave movie: king's speech

fave hat: dt's crocheted berets

current fave ice cream: ube from mitchell's

I'm passing this award on to:

Aik of The Bookaholics

Alex of Electrifying Reviews

krysykat

Kai of Fiction State of Mind

Kulsuma of sunshine and stardust

Lisa of The Garden of Books

Marlene of Book Lover and Procrastinator

-o0o- love potion #14 (continued) schedule -o0o-


One Lovely Blog award

One Lovely Blog award

Thanks to Tuning into YA Books
AND
Thanks to Elizabeth of Swords for Fighting

This award is for 15 new blogs and new blogging friends newly-discovered bloggers by me:

Here are the rules:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I bestow this Lovely Award to:

Angelique of Vampires and Tofu

Blodeuedd of Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Giada of Dr. Stravagante’s Traveling Book Circus

Julie of Book Hooked Blog

Misha of My Love Affair With Books

Natasha of A Great Book is the Cheapest Vacation

Rabid Fox of Wag the Fox

Susan of Susan Dennard

Yiota of Splash of Four Worlds


-o0o- love potion #14 (continued) schedule -o0o-


Cherry on Top award


Cherry on Top award
Thanks to Freda of Freda's Voice!


Rules:
Answer the question and pass on to bloggers of your choosing.

If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

My Answer:
I would choose to take my senior year english class instead of swapping it for an elective.

Passing it on:

Amanda Leigh of Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick

Ladystorm of Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

Brooke of Brooke Reviews

-o0o- love potion #14 (continued) schedule -o0o-


Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Thanks to Freda of Freda's Voice


Rules:
1. List 4 Guilty Pleasures
2. Reward other bloggers


Guilty Pleasures:

drinking Starbucks Tall Hot Caramel Apple Cider

eating Reese's peanut butter cup - dark chocolate version

watching past episodes of Shaun the Sheep

and too catching up on IT's... Monty Python's Flying Circus

Reward other bloggers:

Marlene of Book Lover and Procrastinator

Nina of J'adorehappyendings

Onge of Onge's Book Nook

Rhianna of RhiReading

-o0o- love potion #14 schedule -o0o-


It's Okay to be a Zombie by Nathaniel Lambert

It's Okay to be a Zombie: An Unchildren's Book
by Nathaniel Lambert
illustrated by Danny Evarts

Published: 2010
Genre: Zombies
Paperback: 28 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:
Sure, zombies are pretty scary.
They stink.
They want to eat your brains.
They're terrible house guests.

Who says zombies can't be fun, too?

Don't they look kind of silly falling down and bumping into things?

Sometimes they can even be cute.

So, before you run away screaming for your lives, stop and appreciate the beauty of the undead.

And remember, It's Okay to be a Zombie.

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): eyes of x
Such a cute book filled with colorful zombies in a colorful world. An uber cool picture book for adults that presents the multiplication of zombies in a zombocalyptic world.

If you liked the book trailer, then you are sure to enjoy this gem of a book!

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

signup for giveaway


~*~

* my copy was won from a Cate Gardner contest

* part of Zombie Reading Challenge

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Book Soundtrack: The Karma Club


Excerpt from Jessica's blog post:
The Story of the Karma Club Book Soundtrack
by Jessica Brody

Have you ever been reading a book, stopped at a specific part and said, "I know the perfect song to go with this scene!"

Well, as authors, this happens to us very often. Except when we're actually writing the book. When writing The Karma Club, however, I wanted to take it a step further. I wanted to create an entire book soundtrack with songs that you could listen to while you read and that contributed perfectly to scene you were reading. I thought, if movies can have soundtracks, why not books?

So I teamed up with my very good friend and brilliant producer, Holly Karrol Clark, and we set off to produce one of the first Original Book Soundtracks, featuring songs that directly enhance your experience when reading the story. And we even produced FOUR original songs directly inspired by the book!

Here are some fun stories of how each song came to be included in the Karma Club Book Soundtrack and how/when it fits into the story of The Karma Club.


Read the complete post with stories behind the songs.

Complete track list.

Give a listen to The Karma Club Theme Song...

Remember When
performed by Nikki Boyer



available at amazon for 99 cents

~~*!~~ CD or Mp3 Giveaway ~~!*~~

Prize: you pick how you want your tunes - CD or Mp3

Open to all.

Offer ends: Feb 27 --> Extended to Febuary 28, 2011

TO DO:

Visit Jessica's site and read about the song backstories.

Tell me which song story caught your interest.

And leave your email if I don't already have it.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Also, if you need the book...

~~*!~~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~~!*~~

signup to win this book


-o0o- love potion #13 schedule -o0o-


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

LOVE IS by Freda

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Freda of Freda's Voice
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~


LOVE IS

Love is
Wasting time
Love is
Yours and Mine
Love Is
A Blissful time
Love Is
Drawing the line
Love Is
A fine summer day
Love Is
When you're gone away
Love Is
All I've got
Love Is
Forever sought.
- Freda

~end

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Freda of Freda's Voice
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~


-o0o- love potion #12 schedule -o0o-


Dr Stravagante's Debut


Presenting...

Dr. Stravagante’s Traveling Book Circus


My guest reviewer, Giada, has now started her very own book blog in which she will...

open her SeCrEt BookCases to Us!

Magic Books, Rare Books,

Mystery Books, Adventure Books,

Books of Wonder

and

Much More!


~*~

* twirls the tip of his handlebar mustache *

dr viiiii hopes you will join him in welcoming dr stravagante today. with a quick hello at the debut post here.

-o0o- love potion schedule -o0o-


dr viiiii returns

dr viiiii and his lady love

After an interlude of dragons and zombies, we return to dr viiiii's love potions event with lots more valentine specials to distribute to the end of the month.

Also, check out the sidebar for the current giveaways - most end on Sunday, February 27.

~*~

* image source from recent NPR story: The Life Of Edward Gorey, Told By An Old Friend

-o0o- love potion schedule -o0o-


Zombie Felties speak


A leftover zombie has wandered by from yesterday's event...

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sarah Skeate & Nicola Tedman
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

Thank you for featuring our gruesome Zombie Felties on your blog. We hope our creative collaboration of the soft and fuzzy, combined with macabre zombie designs, will tempt you to enter the world of dark crafts!

One of my personal favourites:

Zombie Undertaker - caretaker of the dead.

To get undead, you have to die first.

And who better to manage the interment than an undead mortician,
brain exposed and alive with pearly little maggots?

Grave in demeanor, grim in appearance, and perfect for the role,
he's even bought a suitable coffin to manage the occasion.

Happy crafting!

Sarah Skeate & Nicola Tedman

~end

Guest post created for Zombie Cute event by Sarah Skeate & Nicola Tedman
© 2011. All rights reserved.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Sarah Skeate & Nicola Tedman
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~


Make one here:


See Zombie Undertaker and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Or try to win the book here:

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher --=\=\=--


Open to all.

Offer ends: February 27, 2011

TO DO:

If you were to win this book, which zombie feltie would you make first from this list:

a) Zombie Puppy

b) Zombie Bunny

c) Dead Duckie

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~*~

* how-to feltie guide was found at Cut Out and Keep and you can go there to get three more guides - Dead Duckie, Thrilla Michael Jackson and Classic Zombie

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - no winner
sorry folks - cancelled contest as confirm not received by publisher

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Tour Takes: So Silver Bright

Reveal Tour
So Silver Bright
by Lisa Mantchev
cover illustration by Jason Chan

Release date: September 13, 2011


Summary:
Bertie thinks her quest is almost done. With the help of Ariel and the rest of her friends, she has managed to find her father and rescue the kidnapped pirate, Nate, from Sedna the sea goddess. Now all she has to do is reunite her father, The Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, and she will finally have a true family of her own. However, things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Her father has vanished, Sedna is out for revenge, her own actions have trapped the Theatre Illuminata, the only home she’s ever known, into a strange kind of limbo, and the stress of her in-between state is tearing apart the fragile threads of her mother’s sanity. Bertie’s best hope for salvaging the situation may lie in the summons by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen of the Distant Castle and hope of winning the magical boon given to the most pleasing performance. Bertie is caught between her growing responsibilities to home and family and the dream of flying free, just as her heart is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate. With so many forces pulling on her, how will Bertie be able to choose which wish to make come true?

The stops:

Let me start off by saying this tour started off with a very interesting concept.

Parts of the book cover were revealed at different blog locations over the span of 4 days, feb 14-17. And then, the entire picture was presented (see above) on feb 18 by all participants.

Such a cool way to tease!

Also, all giveaways are for book one: Eyes Like Stars

February 14: Fragment One
my take: hand with rose ring revealed here...

Princess Bookie
giveaway ends: feb 18

Page Turners
giveaway ends: feb 28

Laura's Review Bookshelf

Fantastic Book Review

On the Nightstand
giveaway ends: feb 18

February 15: Fragment 2
my take: two fairies holding up the dress are so cute

The Bibliophile's Journal
giveaway ends: feb 24

A Bookworm's Haven

Green Bean Teen Queen
giveaway ends: feb 21

The Cozy Reader
giveaway ends: feb 22

Write for a Reader
giveaway ends: feb 18

February 16: Fragment 3
my take: this piece looks mysterious, the bodice

Stories and Sweeties
giveaway ends: mar 1

Escape through the Pages
giveaway ends: feb 28

Super Reader Girl's Book Reviews
giveaway ends: feb 18

Karissa's Reading Review
giveaway ends: feb 18

My Pile of Books

Vamps, Weres and Cassay, OH My

February 17: Fragment 4
my take: the eyes, oooo

Shannon Whitney Messenger

YA Bliss
giveaway ends: feb 28

Forever Young (adult)
giveaway ends: feb 26

~*~

* first spotted this at Forever Young (adult)

* Tour Takes - a post where I check out and comment on current blog tour posts that catch my fancy.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Zombie Cute: End Credits

Zombie Cute
virtual book event
February 21-22, 2011


T H A N K S ! for visiting during this February zombies event.

Make sure to come by next month for Zombie Survival, March 28-30!

Please note all giveaways end February 27, 2011 unless specified otherwise.

THANKS TO: Authors, Publicists and Publishers for Book Giveaways & Guest posts

Pat the Zombie: A Cruel (Adult) Spoof by Aaron Ximm and Kaveh Soofi

It's Okay to be a Zombie: An Unchildren's Book by Nathaniel Lambert

Zombie Cupcakes: From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses by Zilly Rosen

Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead by Nicola Tedman and Sarah Skeate

Special thanks to sponsor:

Big Fish Games

Special thanks to fellow bloggers:

Freda of Freda's Voice

scrumptiousdelight

=== zombie cute schedule ===


PeekAbook: It's Okay to be a Zombie


It's Okay to be a Zombie: An Unchildren's Book
by Nathaniel Lambert
illustrated by Danny Evarts

PeekAbook:



--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

Prize: 3 copies autographed by author and illustrator
--as of Feb 24, author has increased the prize to 5 books! 5! suh-weeeeeet!

Open to all.

Offer ends: February 27, 2011

TO DO:

Tell me what was your favorite part of the video above?

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winners are here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Want it: My Little Brother Is A Zombie


Here's a cute zombie book series I'm planning to get...

My Little Brother Is A Zombie
Book One
by Alan Gandy

Description from the amazon:
A zombie children's book for adults.

Follow the adventures of Calamity, a young girl who will do anything for her walking-dead little brother.

fyi: kindle version is currently available for 99 cents


Sister of the Walking Dead
Book 2
by Alan Gandy

Description from the amazon:
In this follow up to Alan Gandy's highly successful "My Little Brother is a ZOMBIE, Book 1", we continue to follow the adventures of Calamity, a now not-so-young girl, who will still do anything for her walking-dead little brother.

But she must contend with one Maxwell Bishop, a zombie fighting "hero" that wants to put an end to Calamity and Kale!

fyi: kindle version is currently available for 99 cents

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Zombie Cute: nom nom


Try your hand at one of Zilly's cupcakes...

Excerpt: recipe found at Made for Mums

Zombies rising cupcake

Take a close look at the graveyard, and you might see a zombie rising from the dead – if you see a rotting hand reaching out from underground, you can be sure the rest of the zombie will soon follow.

They’re coming to get you…

This delectable mud cupcake gives you a taste of the grave from the zombie’s perspective – the earth is made from very finely crushed chocolate cookies.

Remember to warn your guests that the hand is secured using a cocktail stick.


Mud cupcakes
10 Oreo cookies
50 g/13/4 oz plain chocolate
150 g/51/2 oz white plain, cake or pastry flour
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp salt
70 g/21/2 oz unsalted butter, softened
150 g/51/2 oz granulated sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 tsp soured cream
6 tsp water
100 g/31/2 oz mini plain chocolate chips

Decorations
360 g/121/2 oz Half and Half, coloured green with 1 drop mint green paste food colouring
1 quantity Dark Chocolate Ganache
115 g/4 oz chocolate cookies, finely crushed
115 g/4 oz mini plain chocolate chips
a little clear piping gel
12 Flies

How to:
1) The day before, make the hands. Roll the green Half and Half into 12 balls and then roll and press one end of each ball to thin it out into a cylinder shape. Flatten the rounded end so that the piece of icing vaguely resembles a ping-pong bat.

2) Using a craft knife, make one cut on one side of the flattened area to make 
a thumb. Pull it out to the side. Make a second cut in the middle of the remaining rounded portion, and a third and fourth cut on either side to create 4 fingers.

3) Pull and mould the tips of the fingers to make them slightly pointed. Using a cocktail stick, score 3 lines into each finger to create joints. This will be the palm side of the hand. On the reverse side, use the cocktail stick to indent a fingernail shape at the end of each finger.

4) Bend the fingers up from the palm to resemble a claw. Prop the hand against 
a vertical surface so that it dries in the claw shape. Make another 11 hands in 
the same way and leave to dry overnight.

5) Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 12 large paper baking cases. Crush the Oreo cookies into 5-mm/1/4-inch pieces. Spoon 1 tablespoon into each paper case, reserving the remaining pieces.

6) Melt the chocolate in a microwave oven on Low or in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt together and set aside. Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and, using an electric whisk, beat together until pale and fluffy. Blend in the melted chocolate and then gradually beat in the eggs and mix well together. Mix in the vanilla extract and soured cream. Add half the flour mixture and blend in, then mix in the water and remaining flour mixture until incorporated.

7) Spoon half the mixture into the paper cases and spread over the cookies. Add 
1 heaped teaspoon of chocolate chips to each. Add the remaining mixture and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and cookie pieces over the tops. Bake for about 25 minutes, turning once halfway through baking, until well risen and firm 
to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

8) When the cupcakes are cold, spread or pipe the Dark Chocolate Ganache on top of each cupcake. Mix together most of the chocolate cookie crumbs and all of the chocolate chips in a dish and dip the top of each cupcake into the mixture to create graveyard earth.

9) Push a cocktail stick into the wrist end of each hand and press into the earth to anchor it. To enhance the effect of the hand rising from the grave, paint clear piping gel in different places on the hand and at the base, and sprinkle the remaining chocolate cookie crumbs on the gel so that it sticks. Finish by adding a Fly.

You can get 2 more Zilly recipes, Brain Food cupcake and Bludgeon to Survive cupcake at Made for Mums.

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

signup for giveaway


=== zombie cute schedule ===


Zombie Cute: Cupcakes

Zombie Cupcakes:
From the Grave to the Table with 16 Cupcake Corpses
by Zilly Rosen

Description from the amazon:
"Zombie Cupcakes" serves up an overdue backlash. Cooked up in the darkest of graveyards, it presents a ghoulish army of delicious creations that appear anything but sugar-coated.

Recipes range from Zombie Flesh to Zombie Brain, from Gravestones to Night of the Living Cupcake.

All the cooking and icing techniques are included, and every recipe features step-by-step instructions for the baking and icing, alongside devilish illustrations and photography.

As a finishing touch, zombie quiz panels will test your undead knowledge, making this the book that will raise the spirits at even the most lifeless of gatherings.

Wanna make your own cute tasty zombie treats?

--/=/=-- Book Giveaway courtesy of author --=\=\=--

Open to US only.

Offer ends: February 27, 2011

TO DO:
Take a look at Zilly's cupcake designs and tell me which would be the first for you to eat if you were present with these on a sampler tray.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Zombie Cute: Yum

zombie desserts group
created by scrumptiousdelight

mmmm, i'll take a zombie donut.

how about you?

=== zombie cute schedule ===


Zombie Cute: Game

Plants vs. Zombies

Now here's a super cute zombie game with a super cute theme song!

Description from Big Fish Games:
Zombies are invading your home and are after your brains!

Thankfully, you have your arsenal of plants to defend you in Plants vs. Zombies!

Armed with a garden full of peashooters, melon-paults, and cherry bombs, you`ll need to think fast, and plant faster, to stop the different types of zombies dead in their tracks.

Obstacles like a setting sun, creeping fog, and a swimming pool add to the challenge and make sure the fun never dies in this addicting Action/Arcade game!

-Hilarious characters
-Unlockable challenge modes
-Protect your brains!

Sampler: play it for free.

Sale: $6.99

PeekInside:



Wanna a win your own cute copy?

=/=-- Online Game Giveaway courtesy of Big Fish Games --=\=

Open to all.

Offer ends: February 27, 2011

TO DO:
Tell me which other game at Big Fish Games you would be interested in playing.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

=== zombie cute schedule ===


 
Imagination Designs
Images from: Lovelytocu