orthodoxmom

Originally published at Kimberly Sabatini. You can comment here or there.

 

I fell in love with Katherine Longshore‘s writing with her debut novel GILT.

TARNISH by Viking Juvenile, is available on June 18th (Pre-order HERE) and it’s even better!

GOOD READS SUMMARY

Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court–and to convince the whole court they’re lovers–she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice–but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart’s desire and the chance to make history.

MY REVIEW

I LOVED Katherine Longshore’s debut novel, GILT, and you should get excited because TARNISH is even better! The one thing that kept running through my mind as I read TARNISH, was how hard it must have been to be a woman in a man’s world. To have very little, or no control of your own destiny. The thought is frightening. And yet, against the odds, Longshore gives us Anne Boleyn. She wants more. Anne has a spark and it makes me think of her as one part of a long, bright, string of lights. Anne is part of a chain of women through out history, that have helped to shape our role in the world today. But it’s not just Anne. Reading TARNISH made me realize that Longshore is another light–one that continues to guide our way.

Katherine Longshore takes history and mystery and weaves it into magic. Irresistible.

ABOUT KATHERINE LONGSHORE

(Taken Directly from Katherine Longshore’s Website)

I’ve always been a writer. I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to hold a pencil, asking my dad how to spell words while I worked under the bar stools at our kitchen counter.

In my teens, I fell in love with theater. I wanted to act. On the stage. I loved the hush of the crowd, the sticky odor of pancake makeup and the dusty resin of wax on the stage floor. I loved to be able to look out over the audience, the flash of glasses reflecting the stage lights. I loved to hear their laughter. But mostly, I loved losing myself in a character made of words. To make that character live and breathe. Now, that is magic.

I played bit parts (including that of a catatonic in a mental institution—my only line was a scream) and grew into bigger roles on the high school stage. I spent five summers spouting Shakespeare beneath stars and redwoods, hoping one day to play Rosalind in As You Like It.

I got an acting scholarship to a good university and went on to study acting and costume design for two years. But then I traveled on the Semester at Sea—a program on which students study on board a ship and travel around the world, visiting ten countries in one hundred days. It changed my life. I realized I didn’t want to spend my entire life in a windowless black box (a theater) but in the greater world.

So I created my own major, planning to use it to be a travel writer. I spent two months traveling Europe by train. I worked for nine months for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association on a research boat as a steward (making beds and washing dishes) in order to earn the money to backpack around the world. The ship went to Chile and the Antarctic, and even stopped at Easter Island—one of the most remote locations in the Pacific Ocean. After so long at sea, I needed time on land, so I packed up my sister and her puppy in a beaten-down station wagon and drove across North America.

And then I packed a single bag and flew to Africa. Alone. I spent five months in southern Africa—South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, but primarily Zimbabwe. I saw elephants and rhinos and kudu, was woken up from a dead sleep in a tent by the roar of lions and sat for hours on the banks of the Zambezi watching Victoria Falls. I spent the rest of that year in Southeast Asia—mostly eating coconut curry. After a few restless months at home, I traveled to Australia and New Zealand and completely depleted my travel fund.

And then I went to England, invited by an Englishman I’d met in Zimbabwe. I went for two weeks and stayed for six months—I left the day before my visa expired—and the next year I married him.

I lived in England for five years, in a little town in the county of Kent. I lived within spitting distance of Hever Castle—Anne Boleyn’s childhood home. Penshurst Place, once owned by the Duke of Buckingham and Knole House, once owned by King Henry VIII himself were also nearby. I grew to love the English countryside—so different from the forests and volcanic mountains of California. And I came to love English history—so much more violent and colorful and ancient than my own.

In the course of my life, I’ve worked as a dishwasher, lingerie seller, coffee barista, cake decorator, ship’s steward, video rental clerk, freelance journalist, travel agent, waitress, contracts manager, bookseller and Montessori preschool teacher.

But in writing for teens, I’ve finally found my calling.

And through writing, I am able to encompass all my loves. Becoming a character made of words. Exploring new worlds. And living history.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT MORE GREAT BOOKANISTAS REVIEWS HERE

 

Elana Johson is enthralled by CROWN OF EMBERS by Rae Carson

Stasia Ward Kehoe is mesmerized by GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers

Christine Fonseca  adores DEAD SILENCE by Kimberly Derting

Corrine Jackson revels in ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sara Dessen

Katy Upperman is charmed by QUINTANA OF CHARYN by Melina Marchetta

Kimberly Sabatini is touched by TARNISH by Katherine Longshore

Lenore Appelhans  loves The Originals by Cat Patrick

 

What amazing women do you think has/had the spark that’s helped to change the role of women in the world today?

And yesterday I told you that I had a BIG Anniversary coming up today. I’d like to wish my wonderful, amazing husband, John a Happy 20th Anniversary today.

I love you more today than yesterday. <3

I want to thank the author for letting me read his book for honest review. And that is where I am having my problem. I want to be honest. But here's the deal: I want to give this book one star. Not for the writing, it was well done, so add a star. Not for lack of suspense, there was plenty, add another star.

But the females, both gay and straight were unrealistically drawn. Bikini Bandits? Please! It felt more like a guy's wet dream. And I never felt drawn into any of the characters. At 59% finished I found myself doing anything but read. That is always a sign that a book isn't holding my attention. So what if a female can kick butt with her karate not kung fu? Where is her inner strength?

This was supposed to be in the 1970's? This feels like someone who did some research but placing of such colloquialisms as "My bad" even though used back then a bit, really didn't become excessively popular in the 1990's. I can forgive the adult themes, the cussing, it felt real, but I couldn't get past that term!

I wanted to like this. I really tried. Just couldn't. Sorry. (I refuse to say, my bad!)

I've always loved the "Author Insight" feature at the Wastepaper Prose blog. This week's question is "How do you make yourself write when you aren't in the mood?" The answers ranged from people who take a break and don't force it, to those who push on through, reasoning that this is a job and sometimes you just have days like that.

I've approached it both ways. Part of developing a writing process is knowing when to push through a "block" and when to step back and take a rest. Sometimes reluctance to write is a sign of burnout, but other times it's a sign that we're nearing a scene we need to write that will be emotionally or technically challenging, and sometimes it's a bit of laziness that dissipates once we start writing. Sometimes the subconscious needs more time to work on the story, and other times sitting down at the keyboard is the act that unlocks a new plotline.

I show up almost every day at the keyboard. I usually get at least a few words, often many more. Sometimes I can hear the wheels in my head creaking while the muse strains to come up with something, anything. It's kind of comforting to know that not all writers race to the keyboard and type as if they're taking dictation. I've been reading Sylvia Plath's journals, and she records day after day of struggling, doubting, wondering if she really has what it takes, feeling unmotivated. In other words, sounding like practically every writer I know.

Laundry day, today, which is kind of depressing because I don't like doing chores of any sort, but it is always nice to have clean clothes, so it is worth it. And getting a shower is good, too. I was about a day overdue for one.

The lady from the IT department is here working on our computers. I told her all about the problems the one computer has. She hadn't been told that it isn't resetting itself every night. Actually it is resetting itself, but it is doing it back to what it was the day I, on a whim, put a pysanky picture up as the desktop. I saved several pictures to pick from, and they are still there, too. I keep deleting them, but they keep coming back. I don't mind my choice of an egg picture being the wallpaper, but it is also remembering my email address as well, and I would rather not have it popping up on the library computer every time everyone gets on. It isn't like it is saving passwords or anything, so it isn't really a problem, I guess... but I thought she should know about it.

She does now.

I wonder if I should tell her that this keyboard isn't typing t's and r's and e's unless you really pound on the keys? She might just tell me to pound on them and leave her alone. She undoubtedly has other reasons for being here, and doesn't need me telling her about these trivial little things. So I will just pound on the keyboard for now. This is why I don't usually use this computer, but since she is working on the others, I will have to make do.

Pound, pound, pound.

She probably can't fix it anyway.

It's sunny again today and still no snow.

I took my free pansies out of the car to star hardening them off yesterday and today. My car has been my rolling greenhouse ever since flower day. I always get my mom flowers for Mother's Day, and I did again this year, but I didn't get very many. I did, however, notice as I was paying for my flowers that they had a bedraggled flat of pansies sitting in a cart with some dead herbs. I asked what they were doing with them, and the lady checking my purchases hemmed and hawed a bit but finally admitted that they would be thrown out. I asked her if I could have them, and though she acted like she thought she was doing something wrong, she did give them to me. I've had them riding around in my car ever since then (since it has been snowing off and on all month) and they are really starting to look good. A few new blossoms are even opening up. They are terribly root bound, so repotting them will set them back, I know, but pansies are flexible.

The geese hate the pansies, though. They see me getting a tray of something green out of the car, and they think it is their lucky day. Then when I just set them down somewhere, they are outraged. How dare I not give them those green things that are quite obviously meant to be goose treats! It's unforgiveable. I will be glad when their grass turns green. At this stage, they are forced to dig out grass roots if they want any fresh taste of spring, and they persist in doing that in spite of my explanations as to what their yard will look like later. They are not very good at delayed gratification, those geese.

Of course I am not, either, and so I won't be too hard on them. I have a dab of grass seed; maybe I'll just have to replant those little places where they are digging.

My arms are getting noticeably sore from pounding on the keyboard. I think I will go do something that involves pointing and clicking instead.

(Taken in early June -- a typical June -- 6 years ago...)

(Taken during a lovely May 4 years ago...)

(Taken during a very hot May 2 years ago...)

Originally published at Kimberly Sabatini. You can comment here or there.

Yesterday (5/21/13) was my 3rd Runniversary!!! Every year, whether you want to hear it or not, you’re subjected to my annual running stats. And if you’re really a glutton for punishment, the other posts are here…Runniversary and 2nd Runniversary.

But here are the stats:

In the last three years I have gone on 181 runs with and average of 4.5 miles.

I’ve covered 832.27 miles and I’ve spent 137.31 hours of the last three years running.

I’ve burnt 83,171 calories, which doesn’t even put a dent in my chocolate consumption LOL!

My average pace was 9.55 minutes a mile.

And this year (May 21st to May 21st) I ran 261.07 miles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is my favorite place to run. It makes me feel like a bird.

Do you have any anniversaries coming up? I also have another one. A really big one. Check it out on a special post on Thursday.

Yesterday, while I was talking about books and writing with an amazing group of 4th and 5th graders in Western New York, another group of elementary school students took shelter in their school, clinging to walls, huddling in the protective arms of their teachers as a tornado swept through their city. Later on, I saw the rescue crews on the news, and my heart ached for all of those families.

I spent time in the Oklahoma City area when I was researching my weather thriller, Eye of the Storm, and the people were so welcoming and wonderful. Those of us who weren’t in the storm’s path may be in a position to help now. So here’s a chance to do that.

Instead of pulling together an auction like we did to benefit the SuperStorm Sandy KidLitCares relief effort, I thought we’d try something faster, because Oklahoma needs help right now, given the magnitude of damage from this week’s EF5 tornado. Please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Effort now. If you donate at least $10, I’ll enter you in a drawing to win a signed book.

I’m donating some of my books, and some other authors are doing the same – not because a book giveaway is the real reason to make this donation but because it’s a way for the children’s literature community to promote the effort and say thanks to those who decide to donate. I’m hoping that we can also donate signed books to the library system that serves families affected by the tornado, either to add to their collections or to distribute to displaced families. More on that when things settle down some…but here’s the KidLitCares Donation Drive information.

To be entered in the KidLitCares for Oklahoma Book Giveaway:

Click here and make a donation of at least $10 for  American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Ideally, you’ll do this now. Like, right now. But if you want to be entered for the book drawing, be sure to do it before 12pm EST on June 7th.  I’ll enter your name in the drawing once for each $10 you donate. So a $50 donation equals five chances to win.

You’ll receive an email receipt from the Red Cross.  Forward that receipt to kidlitcares@gmail.com, and you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing for one of our donated signed books!  You can see an ever-updating list of donated signed books below!

On June 7th, I’ll draw names for as many books as we have donated. I’ll contact you via email if you win so that you can provide a mailing address for the author to mail your signed book. Because our authors are donating postage, books can be mailed to US addresses only. (Sorry!) Again – the deadline is 12pm EST on June 7th.

 

***NEWSFLASH 5/22 2pm : We’ve just had a MEGA-DONATION FOR A GRAND-PRIZE GIVEAWAY!!

One of my amazing publishers, Chronicle Books, has just donated TWO great big prize packages for KidLitCares for Oklahoma Red Cross donors. One is a collection of great Chronicle YA titles, and the other is a spectacular picture book package. So here’s what we’re going to do…

Whoever makes the LARGEST Red Cross donation via KidLitCares before noon EST on June 7th will get to choose one of these two packages as a thank you gift.  The other package will be given to one of our $10 or more donors, chosen in a random drawing. That way, there’s incentive to give BIG if you can – as well as incentive to give whatever you can, even if your heart is bigger than your wallet.   Check out these great titles…

Chronicle Books YA KidLit Cares Thank You Package

PRISONERS IN THE PALACE by Michaela MacColl

GIRL MEETS BOY by Kelly Milner Halls

THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES by Katie Williams

THE ORPHAN OF AWKWARD FALLS by Keith Graves

 

Chronicle Books PICTURE BOOKS KidLit Cares Thank You Package

HIS SHOES WERE FAR TOO TIGHT by Daniel Pinkwater and Calef Brown

WUMBERS by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

BEARS! BEARS! BEARS!  by Bob Barner

IT’S A TIGER by David LaRochelle and Jeremy Tankard

AN EGG IS QUIET by Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long

DUCK! RABBIT! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO by Molly Idle

CHLOE INSTEAD by Micah Player

 

Please donate – and  help us spread the word about KidLitCares for Oklahoma by sharing this link on Twitter, Facebook and wherever else you have friends!

http://www.katemessner.com/lets-help-kidlitcares-for-oklahoma/

 

Here’s the list of books that have already been donated and will be given away on June 7th…

(It will grow…and I will try my best to keep up with it…please be patient! New books will be added daily.)

HIDE AND SEEK by Kate Messner

WAKE UP MISSING by Kate Messner

THE REINVENTION OF EDISON THOMAS by Jacqueline Houtman

SIRENS by Janet Fox

BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX by Laurel Snyder

PASSING THE MUSIC DOWN by Sarah Sullivan

SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy

1 ZANY ZOO by Lori Degman

THE GENTLEMAN BUG by Julian Hector

TRADING FACES by Julie DeVillers and Jennifer Roy

BEDEVILED: DADDY’S LITTLE ANGEL by Shani Petroff

HOUNDS: LOYAL HUNTING COMPANIONS by Becky Levine

THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY by Nikki Loftin

SPLISH SPLASH! by Naomi Davis

COUNTING ON GRACE by Elizabeth Winthrop

THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES by Jody Feldman

PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS by Diane Zahler

FLUTTER by Gina Linko

WHERE DO DIGGERS SLEEP AT NIGHT by Brianna Caplan Sayres

THE WIG IN THE WINDOW by Kristen Kittscher

I DARE YOU NOT TO YAWN! by Helene Boudreau

THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING by Linda Urban

SEE YOU AT HARRY’S by Jo Knowles

CANARY IN THE COAL MINE by Madelyn Rosenberg

NO SAFETY IN NUMBERS by Dayna Lorentz

HOPE IN PATIENCE by Beth Fehlbaum

COWBOY CAMP by Tammi Sauer

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN OKLAHOMA by Tammi Sauer

NUGGET AND FANG by Tammi Sauer

THE WATER CASTLE by Megan Frazer Blakemore

ONE FOR THE MURPHYS by Linda Mullaly Hunt

WANT TO GO PRIVATE by Sarah Darer Littman

LIFE, AFTER by Sarah Darer Littman

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: THE POWER OF POSITIVE by Sarah Darer Littman

THE UNQUIET by Jeannine Garsee

SAY THE WORD by Jeannine Garsee

BEYOND LUCKY by Sarah Aronson

I’M BORED by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

THOUSAND WORDS by Jennifer Brown

MADHATTAN MYSTERY by John J. Bonk

THE FLINT HEART by Katherine Paterson (signed by Katherine Paterson & John Rocco, donated by Anne Moore)

TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS by Audrey Vernick

THE UNIVERSE OF FAIR by Leslie Bulion

BROTHERS AT BAT: THE TRUE STORY OF AN AMAZING ALL-BROTHER BASEBALL TEAM  by Audrey Vernick

SCARS by Cheryl Rainfield

STAINED (ARC) by Cheryl Rainfield

PHANTOM STALLION: THE WILD ONE by Terri Farley

THE CAMPING TRIP THAT CHANGED AMERICA by Barb Rosenstock

FEARLESS by Barb Rosenstock

THE SWEETEST THING by Christina Mandelski

BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman

THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST by Sarvenaz Tash

NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic

MELONHEAD AND THE BIG STINK by Katy Kelly

FOREST HAS A SONG by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater

COMPLETE set of CHARLIE JOE JACKSON book!! by Tommy Greenwald

THE SMALL ADVENTURES OF POPEYE AND ELVIS by Barbara O’Connor

ETERNAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith

CHRONAL ENGINE by Greg Leitich Smith

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA by Ellis Weiner

IF IT’S NO TROUBLE…A BIG POLAR BEAR by Lisa Dairymple

GLORY BE by Augusta Scattergood

WHY KIMBA SAVED THE WORLD by Meg Dendler

MY COLD PLUM LEMON PIE BLUESY MOOD by Tameka Fryer Brown

HOW MARTHA SAVED HER PARENTS FROM GREEN BEANS by David LaRochelle

ME AND MEOW by Adam Gudeon

NOBODY’S SECRET by Michaela MacColl

DOUBLE VISION by F.T. Bradley

BOOKS 1-3 in the JAGUAR STONES series by J and P Voelkel

THESE SEAS COUNT by Alison Formento

MERELY DEE by Marian Cheatham

AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION by Amy Fellner Dominy

BIG SLICK by Eric Luper

WILD THINGS by Clay Carmichael

BROTHER, BROTHER (ARC) by Clay Carmichael

GONE FISHING: A NOVEL IN VERSE by Tamera Will Wissinger

WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore

GOOD NEWS NELSON by Jodi Moore

ABSENT by Katie Williams

THE REVENANT by Sonia Gensler

OUT OF NOWHERE by Maria Padian

ISABELLA, STAR OF THE STORY by Jennifer Fosberry

WRITE A POEM STEP BY STEP by JoAnn Early Macken

WAITING OUT THE STORM by JoAnn Early Macken

KEEPER by Kathi Appelt

TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP by Kathi Appelt

MISS LADY BIRD’S WILDFLOWERS by Kathi Appelt

PICKLE by Kim Baker

THE 13TH SIGN by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

SELLING HOPE by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

AUTUMN WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

FREEDOM’S FIRE by Elizabeth Falk

.

I really shouldn't start reading that long, drawn out post on FB in Georgian (thanks to much help from translator, of course) because I will end up running out of time and neglecting LJ. That can't happen.

I'm at the library, as are all of the children from the school. I'm not sure what the holiday is, but for some reason all the children at the school came to the library for a story. It isn't even story hour day; it is just a special occasion. They got to play in the park next door for awhile, too.

One librarian just answered the phone and said, "No, she is with the children right now...". The Librarian they asked for, just about five minutes ago was at the front desk and answered the phone and said, "No, Nancy is reading to the children right now..." The timing of the whole cosmos if off by about five minutes today, it seems. I wonder if anyone else has noticed it?

They have switched librarins, so the kids must be doing an art project now.

They might have been given a special day at the library for celebrating spring. I think we're going to finally get spring now. (????) I hope. It is sunny today, and it is above freezing, and it isn't snowing. It breaks my heart that I still have to report that--it is nearly the end of May! But alas, we still have plenty of unmelted snow, and it was just last Friday and Saturday when we got another four to six inches... I think it is done now, though.

I had my phone appointment with the Social Security person yesterday. I got up early, got to town where I was sure my phone would work, and the phone did actually work (the day before I tried to use it and it wouldn't turn on, which didn't help my peace of mind any) and the interview was fine, and nothing has been changed. It sounds like the review isn't so much an attempt to eliminate me, but more of an attempt to find people who are on disability who might be eligible for other programs instead. I was greatly relieved to have it over and done.

I suppose I'll go peruse facebook for interesting Georgian videos and articles. I'm not obsessed or anything, but... well, okay, maybe I am.

I'm still reading a lot, and writing, and thinking.

For those in the Lehigh Valley area, or willing to travel there, I'll be on a panel this weekend to talk about writing for young adults:
Saturday, May 25, 11 AM - 1 PM: Panel on Young Adult Books. Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. PALMER LIBRARY, 3 Weller Place, Palmer Township, PA. Appearing with Alissa Grosso, Nicole Zoltack, and John Evans.

So I rarely cook with canned foods, but today, I made a BBQ pulled chicken in the crock pot and all i can taste is a can aftertaste of the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and the adobe. I made sure that nothing was expired. Am I the only one who tastes a can after taste? Like a metal after taste?