Thanks for the feedback on the poll! There were 34 votes, 18 of which were for the custom layout and 11 for the $5 Amazon giftcard. Since the votes were quite close for a while there, I've decided I'm going to let the winner chose the prize!

I'm still working on sorting out the details of the layout design prize and what it will include, but basically it will be a custom design with a header, background, and colour scheme of your choice. See an example made of my current layout here. It will probably take me a few weeks to get the whole thing done, but I would appreciate it if the winner can give me a general idea of what they want (ex. specific images/colours) right away.

Anyhow, here's a breakdown of the contest so far - it's my first contest, so gimme a nudge if anything seems confusing, I tried to be as (painfully) detailed as I can lol:




Again, thanks to all of my current followers for supporting this blog ♥

I'm working towards a book-prize for my next contest (150 followers?) but let's see how this one goes first =)

Each week I will post a list of the books I've borrowed, received, or bought. There will be a weekly tally in each post, as well as a yearly one (in brackets).
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
(hosted weekly by The Story Siren and The Printed Page)



Tally for 2010/02/07
Borrowed: 0
Received: 5
Bought: 0
Total Cost: $0.00

First of all, I hope you guys don't mind me flooding your readers/inbox with memes. Luckily(?) this new meme won't be weekly, despite its title...most likely bi-weekly or monthly, but always on Saturdays. Anyways, the point is, I'm averaging about 5 movies minimum per month at the moment and thought I might as well post up some mini-ratings/reviews. I've made a separate page to host all of my movie reviews here, the new reviews I post for this meme will be added to that page as I go =)

A bi-weekly meme where I post about movies I've recently watched and ones I'm dying to see. I'll do a mini ★ review for each movie I've seen, and express in ♥s how excited I am for trailers of movies soon to be released. See all of my movie reviews here.

Recent Screenings


Anticipated Screenings

Alice in Wonderland (March 2010) anticipation: ♥♥♥.5


The special effects look amazing yes, but I've never been a big fan of Alice in Wonderland...Through the Looking Glass was more my thing I think? I'm not sure what to make of Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter...and the Alice character seems rather boring...BUT, SPECIAL EFFECTS AND PSYCHEDELIC RANDOMNESS, YES.

Kick Ass (April 2010) anticipation: ♥♥♥.5


IT'S SO COLOURFUL!! I'm so fangirling Hit Girl right now, and Big Daddy, okay and Kick Ass + Red Mist to a degree; from the teaser vids they've released, I'm still not decided whether it'll be a disaster or not, but I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the rainbow action sequences lol

Iron Man 2 (May 2010) anticipation: ♥♥♥♥♥
actors of note: Robert Downey Jr.


Iron Man is my favourite superhero movie of all time at the moment, and RDJ is my favourite American actor, there is no way I will not enjoy this sequel 8D

Also, if you haven't voted on my 50 followers giveaway poll, please do (it's at the top of the page)! I need votes from at least half of my followers (25 in this case) to vote for either option 1 or 2 before I actually host the giveaway. Poll closes Monday at midnight EST!

A weekly feature on my blog where I post up cover images that fit a weekly theme - art styles, artists, colour schemes, etc. In essence, this is a meme that celebrates book covers as pieces of art. Covers link to larger images and titles to goodreads summaries.

This week's theme: Jason Chan (concept artist)
artist website | artist gallery
Another artist feature! This artist technically hasn't done a lot of book covers (that I know of), but feel free to leave in the comments any of his other works that you think would work well with a specific book =)

1) Theatre Illuminata (novels) #1 Eyes Like Stars #2 Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev extra: author's interview with the artist

3) selections from gallery (names are all my doing, sorry) women from chinese fantasy fantasy game sorceress+beast bloodthirsty elf woman noble dude w/ flower petals mr.romero+zombies dark mecha-angel big friendly giant mermaid x octopus-man kid+unicorn vs. kid+dragon warrior woman riding panther characters posed as skull vampire twins junkyard angel dramatic dystopia modern girl w/ mp3 girl(?) pissing while standing space opera ensemble

2) other covers X-men Exiles: Wolverine (graphic novel) by Jeff Parker The Hunger Games (novel, UK ed.) by Suzanne Collins

The artist's name was mentioned in a post last week about the cover image for The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter. I was thinking about what theme I should have for my next Cover Cravings at the time and decided to look the artist up. Turns out he is also the artist for the Eyes Like Stars cover, which I'm sure many people have seen and adored. Of course I checked out his gallery and immediately decided I need to feature his work here. It's not apparent from the cover samples on the left column, but if you peruse his gallery a little (or click on the selections I've linked to on the right column), you'll see his art is very flexible in theme and style. I'd love to see more of his art featured on book covers, especially since there's potential for fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary, steampunk, asian fantasy, paranormal romance, children's fantasy, and humour/comedy.

So, which are your favourites from his gallery? =)

update on 50 followers giveaway poll
If you haven't voted on my 50 followers giveaway poll, please do (it's at the top of the page)! I need votes from at least half of my followers (25 in this case) to vote for either option 1 or 2 before I actually host the giveaway. I'm at 19 votes at the moment (2 votes for option 3), so I'm thinking of extending the poll until Monday. If I still don't get 25 voters for options 1 or 2, I'll postpone the giveaway until I reach 75 followers.
It looks like there's a pretty close tie between the giftcard vs the layout, so I'm thinking maybe I'll host a contest where the winner gets to choose the final prize? Either way, I'm in the process of setting up a sample layout design catalogue that highlights all the extra accessories I am offering to include. I'll link to it here when I'm done =)

A weekly event on my blog where I post about books (not necessarily pre-release or new) that I've just added to my wishlist, along with a little blurb on why I want to read it.
(hosted by Book Chick City & Breaking the Spine)


Black Blade Blues
by J.A. Pitts
release date: 27 April 2010

Sarah Beauhall has more on her plate than most twentysomethings: day job as a blacksmith, night job as a props manager for low-budget movies, and her free time is spent fighting in a medieval reenactment group. After the lead actor breaks Sarah’s favorite, one-of-a-kind sword, one of the extras, who claims to be a dwarf, offers to help repair the blade. And that’s when things start to get weird.
Could the sword really be magic, as the "dwarf" claims? Are dragons really living among us as shapeshifters? As if things weren’t surreal enough, Sarah’s girlfriend Katie breaks out the dreaded phrase..."I love you."
Her life falls apart; Sarah hits rock bottom. At this moment, when she has lost everything she once prized, one of the dragons makes a move.
Sarah will have to decide if she can reject what is safe and become the heroine who is needed to save her world.

Why it's on my wishlist
Dude, lesbian urban fantasy. Plus, invested relationship rather than "hot new classmate/neighbour", AND she's a blacksmith!props master!roleplayer! (LOL) So yes, do want.

Also, if you haven't voted on my 50 followers giveaway poll, please do (it's at the top of the page)! I need votes from at least half of my followers (25 in this case) to vote for either option 1 or 2 before I actually host the giveaway. The poll closes February 6!