World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King

Blood of the Muse Book Giveaway!


"His evil is legend. Lord of the undead Scourge, wielder of the runeblade Frostmourne, and enemy of the free peoples of Azeroth. The Lich King is an entity of incalculable power and unparalleled malice--his icy soul utterly consumed by his plans to destroy all life on the...World of Warcraft.

But it was not always so. Long before his soul was fused with that of the orc shaman Ner'zhul, the Lich King was Arthas Menethil, crown prince of Lordaeron and faithful paladin of the Silver Hand.

When a plague of undeath threatened all that he loved, Arthas was driven to pursue an ill-fated quest for a runeblade powerful enough to save his homeland. Yet the object of his search would exact a heavy price from its new master, beginning a horrifying descent into damnation. Arthas's path would lead him through the arctic northern wastes toward the Frozen Throne, where he would face, at long last, the darkest of destinies."

"World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King" by Christie Golden ties in with the video games, WarCraft 3 and World of WarCraft.

Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She's an avid player of "World of Warcraft," and she's written two manga short stories and several novels in that world.

Blood of the Muse has ten copies to give away of World of Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden.

Blood of the Muse Book Giveaway!

Wolf Song Visions: The Earthwalk of Lêla and Káhla Remembered

There was a copy of "Wolf Song Visions: The Earthwalk of Lêla and Káhla Remembered" in the mail today. The authors are Scott Reade and Linda Reade.

Here's the blurb - "In 1991 Linda and Scott were brought together by a destiny even they could not understand. Their lives were changed forever in that moment, for a crack was made in the wall of time and they were compelled to pass through the opening. This is a true story about a life the Authors shared over 400 years ago. The things related here are memories, not myths or fairy tales. And though the story is a beautiful one, the real Purpose for the existence of this book is to help you to understand that the prophesies and revelations given in visions so long ago are affecting your life now."

Okay, I'm fascinated. I can't wait to start this one.

Update: 100 Articles in 100 Days Marathon Challenge!

I thought I'd post a quick update on my status in the 100 Articles in 100 Days Marathon Challenge. It all started Saturday morning March 21, 2009 when Felicia Slattery, Keith Goodrun and Jeff Herring were talking on Twitter. Keith Goodrum suggested the name and the whole thing took off. Although this isn’t really an official EzineArticles program, they have put up a prize.

All I have to do is write 100 articles and have them approved and published between March 20, 2009 and July 1, 2009. The prize is the coveted limited-edition #HAHD mug courtesy of EzineArticles.

Despite a late start I seem to be on track now, having 31 articles approved and published and 4 waiting for approval. I can't wait to post a picture of me and my new mug.

"Why EzineArticles.com? - Simple - it is the #1 Article Directory on the 'Net and receives over 15 million unique visitors a month!"

THE GRADUATES - Free Soundtrack Download!!!

Was it only Saturday I finally got a chance to sit on the beach and soak up some rays. I even got a little burn, not much, but enough to give me some hope that summer is finally on the way. It was also my last day at the beach - until next month, sigh...

But May is looking good - in more ways than one. While reading The Dispatch in OC I found out "The Graduates" are coming back - and I'm not talking about the "June-bugs" who come each year to celebrate graduation.

"The Graduates" is a movie, filmed in Ocean City, MD, in 2007 by Ryan and Matt Gielen. Their first feature film, it's about the seniors who flock to OC every year. Gielen tried to capture Ocean City's small town atmosphere and create a nostalgic movie about growing up and letting go of your youth. If you love OC or any beach for that matter watch for the release.

It will be officially released May 1 in New York. The brothers will return to Ocean City mid-May for about six weeks to promote the movie and sell the DVD.

In the meantime you can download the entire soundtrack for free. Just go to The Graduates click on "Buy Now" and put in the coupon code BOOKWORM. The music is great!!

See ya in OC!!!

What I'm reading - THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE

I'm reading THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE by Katherine Howe. This book won’t be out until June 9, 2009 but I was lucky enough to receive an advance reading copy as a participant in the Barnes and Noble First Look Book Club.

This is from the synopsis: "Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she can't refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest--to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge. As the pieces of Deliverance's harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past then she could have ever imagined."

This is a wonderfully written book. The author moves flawlessly between contemporary times and the Salem witch trials in the late 1690's. I hope to write a more detailed review when I finish the book.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me...

This morning I was going through email, one click led to another and I got involved in a discussion that started on Twitter and spread like wildfire. Evidently a blogger received a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for review along with a very condescending and unprofessional cover letter from the PR person.

Here's just one excerpt: "The book you’re receiving is copyrighted material. In no way, shape, or form do I want to see any text or images from the book up online. Trust me, I’ll find it…”

Print media is ceding ground to the internet and book bloggers get the word for old and new authors. We are people who love books and put a lot of time and effort into what we do. I review for RomanticTimes magazine. I also post on Ezine
and here on my blog. I've had great relationships and have always been treated with respect. In the end that's what it boils down to - respect. I have to say if I had received that letter I would not have reviewed the book.

Read more about it here

100 Articles in 100 Days Marathon Challenge

I signed up for Jeff Herring’s 100 Articles in 100 Days Marathon Challenge (HAHD) and I'm determined to win the limited-edition #HAHD mug courtesy of EzineArticles.

The idea for the challenge started on Twitter with Jeff Herring, Felicia Slattery and Keith Goodrum. It really took off fast. The official start date was March 20, 2009. You need to submit 100 articles to EzineArticles.com and have them published between March 20 and July 1, 2009.

I have 11 in so far. I'll keep you posted.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This week I decided to reread a science fiction thriller that's a true masterpiece. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, with its themes of censorship and knowledge versus ignorance, is a classic novel. It was written in 1953 and offered a prophetic look at a future where people become drones watching fake realities on their televisions.

In the not too distant future in a dystopian society books are forbidden. They're considered to be a source of discord and are burned by "firemen." Guy Montag, a fireman, meets a young girl who asks some insightful questions and starts him wondering if he's doing the right thing. Then he responds to an alarm and is shocked when an old woman chooses to be burned with her books. He manages to hide some books that he saves from destruction and so begins his revolt.

This is a book that never fails to remind me how lucky I am to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of reading.

Publisher: Ballantine (August 1987)
ISBN: 978-0345342966
Pages: 208
Price: $6.99

What I'm Reading - SIN & VENGEANCE and DIRTY LITTLE ANGELS

Sin and Vengeance by C.J. West has everything I like in a good thriller, sex, violence, mystery and a plot that moves along at a good pace. It's a white-knuckle ride and a delicious page-turner. Keep an eye out for my review coming up on Ezine.

Dirty Little Angels is Chris Tusa's first novel and it's a doozy. His gritty writing style is not for everyone but it suits Hailey Trosclair, the teenage protagonist, just fine. It's all told from her prospective.

The setting is the slums of New Orleans, almost a character in itself. Tusa is a good storyteller, he's got me hooked. I'll be posting a review on Ezine when I finish reading.

Blood and Bone by William Lashner

Blood and Bone by William Lashner is a quick, entertaining read that takes place in the City of Brotherly Love. This is a book that hooked me on page one and the suspenseful storyline kept me reading until the end. It's thoroughly enjoyable - even more so because I'm a Philly native.

William Lashner is the best selling author of a series of thrillers featuring lawyer Victor Carl. Blood and Bone is not part of that series. This is a stand-alone book and although it's not a legal thriller there are several characters in it who are lawyers.

The protagonist is Kyle Byrne, the illegitimate son of a prominent Philadelphia attorney. The angst ridden hero comes with plenty of baggage which makes him all the more interesting. Nobody's perfect and Kyle is a flawed character readers can readily empathize with. He's not someone who's had life handed to him on a silver platter. He's full of human frailties and weakness, but not so far gone he can't be redeemed.

Kyle's father died when he was twelve and he's been haunted by memories ever since. Now his father's partner has been murdered and Kyle is one of the suspects. Not only are the police looking for Kyle, the bad guys are after him as well. They believe Kyle is in possession of a very incriminating file. He knows it has something to do with his father so he sets out to find it before anyone else and winds up in a world of trouble.

Lashner has written an ingenious plot with plenty of twists and intricate turns. There's a good sense of place, readers can visualize the city. It's a great escape with a doozy of an ending you won't see coming.

Find it on Amazon.
Blood and Bone

Defenders of Wildlife

Last week I was one of the 61,000 people who voted for the cover of 2009-2010 Defenders of Wildlife calendar.

The winner, with more than 22,800 votes, is the gorgeous photograph above by Jim Brandenburg!

"These adorable wolf pups will be featured on our next calendar and seen in more than 1 million homes, offices, classrooms, break rooms and other public areas. The calendar will serve as a powerful reminder to people all across America of the importance of protecting wolves and other amazing animals. Thank you!"

Donations have enabled Defenders of Wildlife to:

Launch emergency legal efforts in state court to stop Governor Sarah Palin’s helicopter assault on wolves near the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, near the area made famous by the 1890s Alaska Gold Rush. In just five days her hired gunmen killed 84 wolves. Ironically, the state ended its helicopter attacks just one day after they went to court.

Mobilize wildlife supporters to stop a senseless slaughter of Yellowstone’s famous wild bison. Defenders activists in Montana helped stop a bill in the state legislature that would have consigned more than 100 wild bison to their deaths.

Fight reckless fishing practices that kill threatened and endangered sea turtles. Almost 50,000 comments were generated to the National Marine Fisheries Service against deadly bottom longline fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Support Defenders of Wildlife