Books, Book Signing, and a Charity

Can things get any better than that? I mean really - a Really Good excuse to buy a book! Actually good excuse to buy Two!

Even Better!

Add to that the charity is asking you to go shopping and bring some things to give kids with cancer, and gives you an excuse to get to look at things writers like to look at anyway - cards, notepaper, journals, sketchbooks [you Don't use a sketchbook? tsk, tsk.]

Am I right?

You bring them the stuff they will give you things in return. Seems good to me.

And you get to hear and talk with two great authors! --- those that got to hear one of them the other night at the James River Writers Writing Show won't want to miss this!!!

Here's the scoop:

http://www.connorsheroes.org/event/ladies_night_at_gibsons_grill

Meet the Authors at Gibson’s Grill

March 3, 2011

On Thursday, March 3 from 7-9 pm, bring your book club, your neighbors, your colleagues and friends and spend a fun evening with local authors, Ellen Firsching Brown and Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt at Gibson's Grill.

Ellen's book, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey, will be released on February 18 at Fountain Bookstore and is sure to be a hit!

Elizabeth's book, Finding Thalhimers, was released at the end of 2010 to rave reviews.

Both women are incredibly charming and will offer interesting stories of their journeys into authorship.

Of course, they will also have copies of their book available and will be happy to include a personalized autograph.

Both authors are graciously donating a portion of the books sold that night to Connor's Heroes!

We're asking everyone who attends to bring at least $25 worth of items from our Heroes Bags and Backpacks wishlist (click here to view our wishlist).

In exchange, you'll receive a free drink ticket, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and invigorating conversation with our authors and invited guests.

Gibson's Grill is located at the corner of 7th and Broad Streets, adjacent to The National. We'll be meeting in the underground lounge, a chic and comfortable area to mix and mingle. Many thanks to Gibson's for being wonderful supporters of Connor's Heroes!

http://www.connorsheroes.org/images/events/CHF_-_backpack_wishlist.pdf

Connor’s Heroes Foundation Conquering Childhood Cancer

Wish List for Heroes Bags and Backpacks

• Hand Lotion • Hand Sanitizer (like Purel) • Antibacterial wipes

• Tissues (large boxes and travel size) • Mints

• Notecards/writing paper*

• Stamps*

• Journals (adult and child)*

• Suduko or Crossword puzzles

• Slipper socks*

• Disposable cameras*

• Bubbles • Lego kits or small model kit • Nail polish/lip gloss kits

• Jewelry making kits • Craft kits

• Card games (Uno, Phase 10, playing cards)*

• Black velvet coloring page/markers • Brain teaser games/puzzles

• Small dolls • Sticker books

• Sketch books*

• Dry Erase Boards*

• Crayons and markers

• Infant learning toys*

• T oddler toys (Cars/trucks, Dinosaurs, Princess/Dora, etc)

• Hand-held Leapster game with cartridges*

• Portable DVD Player*

• DVDs (child appropriate, G, PG, PG-13, no violence)*

• Personal CD players with headphones*

• CDs (children’s, teens, and relaxation sounds)*

*Although all items listed are needed, starred items (*) are most needed at this time. We ask that all donated items be new as children with cancer must avoid germs.

Looks like it's all good!

Contest over at Book Lady's Blog

There's a great contest going on over on Book Lady's Blog -

http://www.thebookladysblog.com/2011/01/26/win-it-before-you-can-buy-it-margaret-mitchells-gone-with-the-wind-a-bestsellers-odyssey-from-atlanta-to-hollywood/

Win It Before You Can Buy It: Margaret Mitchell’s GONE WITH THE WIND: A Bestseller’s Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

2011 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

And yes one of these days I will learn how to do this linking stuff correctly.

Especially since the Book Lady herself also has a business of teaching people how to use such things as social media. Which for those that don't have a clue -- hey, I do so have a general idea.

Okay let's forget the fact that we just bought simple cell phones not too awfully long ago. And that we are considered rather stone age by our hip with-it nieces and nephew....

But from what I understand it means doing blogging -- from the looks of Book Lady's blog, it means snazzy blogging. Yeah, this ain't it either. Know what it is from looking at it, I mean, I've referenced Maggie Stiefvater's blog enough.

It also means Tweeting - no, not anything to do with Tweety Bird, or that cat either, I'm pretty sure.

And Facebook, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I'm just not ready for yet. Time. Time!

Yeah, it is a changin' but it sure isn't multiplying itself to get more done in the same amount of time.

Maybe I need to get a price list from Rebecca. Oh, and if you are interested in that too - here's her business site - http://www.socialmediu.com/

well, her One business site, since she's Very Well Known as The Book Lady. [there are worse things to be noted for believe me]

But on her Book Lady blog site she is running a contest for Ellen Brown's new book -

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller’s Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

that hasn't even hit stores quite yet!

I got a peek at the book tonight at the James River Writers Writing Show, and it's Very classy looking!

Not to mention I've heard Ellen talk about it -- at last year's JRW Conference. And it sounds like a very interesting and amazing book.

See what you miss by not coming to these JRW things? Not to mention it was a great panel and very interesting Writing Show as well.

Here's the link to the contest at the Book Lady's blog -

http://www.thebookladysblog.com/2011/01/26/win-it-before-you-can-buy-it-margaret-mitchells-gone-with-the-wind-a-bestsellers-odyssey-from-atlanta-to-hollywood/

Yeah yeah, so it's not pretty. Complain to Rebecca and maybe she'll take pity on you all and help me fix such travesties.

Complain to me and maybe I will.

You gotta complain first.

And if you don't enter the contest more chances for me?

But at least I told ya about it so you can't complain about that!

Dreaming Time

Where do we go

Where do we travel

When sleep overtakes us

and sets our thinking free

-sgchris©2011

Fascinating Writers Stuff

Or maybe I should have said 'Writers and their funny things'

Such interesting things you find when you start researching writers, agents, and, well, such things.

Such as Maggie Stiefvater's recent Italian book title battle...with herself.

On her blog - not the current entry which has all kinds of fascinating facts to put in your research on her, but the entry right before that.

Yeah, yeah, I could post it, but if you Really want to see it you'll do a little research on your own. Not like you even have to google it and dig thro' google entries - just click on my friends links and it's there.

See how nice I am to you.

I'll even share this funny with you that I found digging around in my research on something else.

Sir, I'm afraid you've gone mad with power!

Of course I have. Have you ever tried going mad without power? It's boring and nobody listens to you.

--the simpsons movie

So I'm really good to you. ;)

Oh, and no, I've never seen the Simpsons movie, so don't think I really want to know more than this either.

Great Quotes

Saw a quote today attributed to Nelson Mandela - having trouble remembering it exactly.... yes, I know, I should have written it down - but for all the reasons we were there anyway didn't take the time / didn't have the time.

It went something like this - Live your life with no regrets, and love with no reserve.

I googled it of course, couldn't find it - but I have come across a lot of great ones - not sure who said them but the wisdom is terrific.

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret...

I would rather regret the things I have done than the things I have not....

.....all Nelson Mandela maybe?

not some bad thoughts to start a new week huh.

Shiny new year thoughts

A shiny new year stretched before us

more lasting, more intimidating than just a new day.

Yet each year is started with just such a new day.

May this year bring us all shiny new bright and happy days.

[sgchris ©2011]

How many shiny new things are already broken

How much has cold snow covered besides just the ground

Yet we still have before us such a stretch of hopeful new days

May they be filled with ever new and shiny hopes

to light our way thro' this winter and all the days to come

[sgchris ©2011]