This kinda makes me nervous. If I open up a general chat post–as I’m doing now–will anyone come? If I call for a lurker roll call, will anyone de-lurk?
[Bites nails.]
Why do this? Well, for a few weeks–ever since I tried to change my template–I have not had any counters on this blog. I put them back today and woah! There are about 50 more of you! Howdy! How the heck did that happen?
In many ways, running a blog is a crap shoot. I only know I’m doing well when you guys comment and get involved in discussions. Sometimes, I say something that gets you to delurk, but I don’t know if you are a one-time visitors or if you’ve been following me around since the Once Upon a Dreamer days (the name of one of my early writing blogs).
So if you’re a lurker, I’m asking you to de-lurk to answer one simple question:
What’s up?
Seen any good movies lately? Ready any good books? Got a new tech toy you’d love to rave about?
To make this easier, I’ve removed the requirement to fill out your name and email in order to comment. You can fill it out if you wish, or remain anonymous. Just throw down an initial and let’s dish!
For myself, I’ve been reading some of my mystery series–the latest #1 Ladies Detective Agency, and the latest Maisie Dobbs. I’ve also been reading the second Mistborn book. I’m having some incredulity problems with this one. My suspension of disbelief keeps getting unsuspended (thanks for that line, Raven!).
And on my iPod Touch, I’ve been taken in by Words with Friends. I’m still resisting Angry Birds, though.
Happy to see I came up with a memorable line! 🙂
I’ve been so busy moving I haven’t read or watched much of anything lately, although I do have to admit to a nascent addiction to the cooking reality show CHOPPED… But if the obnoxious contestants keep winning, I might overcome this addiction quickly.
I’m amusing myself reading The Last Hot Time by John M. Ford, which is arguably a very early front-runner in the urban fantasy genre! I found out about it thanks to Jo Walton’s series of reviews of older books on tor.com, and scarfed a copy from my local library since it’s an old enough book that it’s hard to find in bookstores.
Also have C.E. Murphy’s Spirit Dances on the currently reading queue, and will be swinging back to that as soon as I’m done with the library book.
And I’m breaking in my shiny new iPad 2. (heart) (heart) (heart) Putting a lot of games on it, including Angry Birds and Plants Vs. Zombies, both of which I’ve already played but they’ve got me hooked. 😉 AND several shiny games from my workplace as well, Big Fish Games!
Remember the Charles deLint urban fantasies? They weren’t called that, but that’s what they were. I have not read any of his novels in a long time.
I want an iPad! I don’t care which one. If you download Words With Friends, I’m there as tianevitt (no surprise, I bet).
Charles de Lint is awesome; I have fond memories of his work and need to go back and read his more recent stuff. He is very much a grand master of not only what’s called ‘urban fantasy’ today, but of truly mythic fantasy in general.
*looks up Words With Friends* Oh-HO, a Scrabble clone! This is Relevant to My Interests. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
It allows all kinds of abbreviations that scrabble doesn’t. Be sure to start a game with me!
Right on! I’ll see what I can do. 😀
Latest and greatest movie I just watched was WHIP IT. Wonderfully strong female cast but still not really a “chick flick” that most guys dread. My favorite part was the solid acting from such a large cast.
Currently re-reading NAME OF THE WIND. Can’t wait to dig into the sequel.
No new gadgets.
I’ll have to see if WHIP IT is on NetFlix. As for NAME, did you read the cartoon synopsis that Rothruss had on his site? I’d love to be so successful that I have my own cartoonist!
I’m reading Name of the Wind for the first time, and I’m loving it!
I’m also becoming acquainted with Words With Friends. It’s been fun so far!
Loved that book. Looking forward to the 2nd. And I’m way behind in Words with Friends. All my friends are better than me.
I’ve just begun VICIOUS GRACE, the third book in M.L.N. Hanover’s Black Sun’s Daughter series. I’m not much for urban fantasy, as a general rule, but I’m really enjoying these ones. They’re tightly plotted, with great characters and high stakes. Each one tells a self-contained story and hints at an overarching problem or two, too. I love that.
Those are the same reasons I liked MASTER OF NONE, which I mention in my previous post. Enjoy!
I’m reading a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book, NATURAL BORN CHARMER, and it is funny and yes, charming.
And yay for 50 new followers!
Yay! I saw you mention that book on Facebook. It must be good!
Just finished Blackveil and the follow up to Name of the Wind, something about fear. Both were good but Patrick Rothfuss is absolutely amazing!! Highly recommend. Tonight I begin Invincable 2nd book in the Chronicles of Nick – super fun series
The Wise Man’s Fear! Ok. Now I need to get that book. Wonder if it’s reasonably priced in e-book form.
De-lurking briefly here. I just got into the Amazon Vine program so for my first two books I got The Peach Keeper – Sarah Addison Allen’s latest and the latest #1 Ladies Detective Agency. I stopped reading those a couple of books ago, but I’ve just started this one and it’s reminding me of why I love this series so much. One of these days, I’d love to rent the TV series just to get some visuals of the characters.
Aside from that, my favorite UF last month was Crimson Wind by Diana Pharaoh Francis. I really like the characters and the world building in her Horngate Witches series.
Congrats on getting into Amazon Vine! I just finished that last #1 Detective and realized that I never read The Good Husband of Zebra Drive! So now I need to read it. Is that book where Mma Makutsi and Charlie chase Violet around the grocery store?
My husband and I just finished watching the whole series on NetFlix. His favorite character was Mma Makutsi. The actors did brilliantly.
Thanks for delurking! Nice to find another #1 Detective fan!
No, I think that’s the next one – The Miracle at Speedy Motors. That’s the last one that I read prior to the one that I just picked up. I think I missed two in between that one and the one that I just got. I don’t really tend to remember the plots very well, just the characters, and the general narrative.
Just de lurking to say that I follow your blog and think that it is great.
Thank you.
Thank you so much! That meas a lot because of late, I have had trouble keeping this blog going. But now I actually have a backlog of posts! Most are off-topic, but I really don’t know what’s on-topic anymore.
I don’t often comment on blogs, but I don’t like to think of myself as a lurker – it seems very sinister!
I think you should post whatever you feel like talking about. Passion and interest is better to read than duty posts on what someone thinks they should be posting.
I do miss the debut round-ups as I found some interesting books that way, but I fully understand how much work that had to be. (My own blog is on hiatus at the moment, I must start posting again.)