If you wanna blame someone, blame him...

Sorry I haven't been around this weekend. I've been a little distracted by this guy. His name is Smeagol (pronounced Smee-goal for those not familiar with Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy), and he is the latest addition to our ZooCrew.

I've been planning on getting a dog, but Smeagol is totally NOT what I had in mind! However is the greatest little dog, so there is no way I could ever regret getting him. He is thought to be about 4-5 months old chihuahua mix (actually he was sold to me as a "Chihuahua", but I knew that he looked like a mix and strongly doubted what the rescue was promoting.)

You can learn more about Smeagol and see a video of him on my other blog, but in the meantime if you want to blame someone for my temporary absence, you can blame him...

Good luck with that!

Guest Blog Post by Reviewer Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson of Historical Novels Review will be stopping over by literary publicist Stephanie Barko's blog on Monday, October 4 to do a guest blog post addressing how she selects titles for review. Stephanie says, "The post will be especially useful for writers who are trying to figure out what it takes to get reviewed and for historical fiction writers and readers."

Sarah will be inviting visitors to comment on what they look for in historical fiction, and a winning commenter will be randomly selected from those who respond to her question by midnight PDT, and will win a signed copy of John Pipkin's award-winning historical Woodsburner (Random House).

Set against the backdrop of a devastating forest fire that Henry David Thoreau accidentally set in 1844, John Pipkin's novel brilliantly illuminates the mind of the young philosopher at a formative moment in his life and in the life of the young nation.

The Thoreau of Woodsburner is a lost soul, resigned to a career designing pencils for his father's factory while dreaming of better things. On the day of the fire, his path crosses those of three very different people, each of whom also harbors a secret dream. Oddmund Hus, a shy Norwegian farmhand, pines for the wife of his brutal employer. Eliot Calvert, a prosperous bookseller, is also a hilariously inept aspiring playwright. Caleb Dowdy preaches fire and brimstone to his followers through an opium haze. Each of their lives, like Thoreau's, will be changed forever by the fire.

 I think I need to add that book to my Wish List! I hope to see you over at Stephanie's place on Monday!

One World One Heart 2010 Giveaway

It's time for the OWOH worldwide giveaway event, and I'm joining in with a "book related" giveaway over on my other blog Heather's Eden. Feel free to pop in over there and enter to win!

Friday Spotlight

I'd like to thank justpeachy36 over at Debbie's Book Bag for shining her Friday Spotlight on my blog! I certainly appreciate the recognition. I would have mentioned it sooner, but I've been tied up since just after Christmas with my first painting project. We just spent a week painting my bedroom walls, ceiling, trim and doors-- including an accent wall. What a project! Boy, am I glad that's over, and that I can sleep in my bed again!

Thanks again, justpeachy (Debbie?)! I'm glad that you enjoy the blog, and I'm just having fun getting back into reading again...

What to do with old books?

The Book Faery Reviews did a great article on your options for recycling old books that are being cleared off your bookshelves. Check it out! There are lots of great suggestions.