Brandy S's Blog

So, I'm really terrible at keeping a blog. I use Tumblr which is easy because it's mostly reblogging fandom stuff. Not a lot of effort (I've had the same theme and username the entire time I've had it), but when it comes to actually keeping a blog-blog, I'm terrible.

I don't know how many people have been paying attention, or trying to buy Light Years, but it's not going to be available for a while. I decided to do another rewrite, with expanded material and some alterations to the story line. If you bought Light Years and liked it as it is now, I'm very glad. If you didn't like it, well then I do apologize and hope that one day, if I'm able to get this published professionally rather than self, you'd give it another chance.

George Mason University (in Virginia) has a book/author festival every year called, Fall for the Book, and it’s been going on all week, extending through Sunday, and the university was present Neil Gaiman with an award. The entry to the ceremony was free, we just had to email someone and then once we got to the arts center, show them the email, get our names checked and get the tickets which was really awesome. I went with a friend, her friends, and her cousins (who I know from work). They told us if we had a question for Neil, we could write it on an index card. I couldn’t think of one, but Ariana (only 13yrs old) did.

We had pretty decent seats (and apparently there was a total of 1800 people there). He came out and was just wonderful. He read the prologue of his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane (coming out next year) and I was blown away. I don’t much care to be read to, but he as a very lovely reading voice. I don’t know if that’s just because he’s British, but it was great. And the story seems like it’s going to be a really good book.

Then he answered a bunch of questions, including Ariana’s which was, “What was your favorite book to write?” He said he couldn’t really decide. His favorite books to write are also his least favorite to write because of the extreme highs and lows of the plot. He really enjoyed writing his new novel because he wrote things that he’s never done before, but he also really enjoyed American Gods. There were questions about his writing and advice which he also answered, a few select Doctor Who questions (and his Doctor is Doctor number 2). Then he read a new short story that he’d written for a charity anthology and it was actually pretty creepy, and as I sat alone in the car after dropping off my coworker and her cousins, I thought about it and had a creepy feeling the reminder of the drive home.

Neil Gaiman was delightfully charming and funny and it was just a genuine joy to go see him speak, even though it was only about an hour and a half long. Apparently there was a VIP meet and greet, but we didn’t have the tickets to that. He didn’t do a signing either, which I completely understand because there were 1800 people, we would have been there all night. You could buy some signed copies of American Gods, which I ended up passing on because of the price. And I already have the book on my kindle.

it was a great experience, a real thrill. Maybe next year we (at least Sinead and I) will see if we can do more of the events, and hopefully do the National Book Day at the Library of Congress that John Green was at, but that’s an entirely different story.

Like I said, I don’t enjoy being read to, but I’m considering listening to the audio book of Coraline, because Neil Gaiman does the narration, and I really enjoyed his reading voice.

Sorry guys, I'm not good at writing reviews, for books or movies. Perhaps I should take a class on it, or read some blogs about it.

The Avengers
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon
Summary: Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johnasson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, and Cobie Smulders

5/5 stars

Now, I would like to preface the review that I’m a decade-long Joss Whedon fan

[review contains spoilers]

So, I'm really bad at actually sticking to my to-read list. A lot of the time I abandon a book that I'm reading for something shiny that catches my I.

I will get back to Pieces of You, but currently Paper Towns has taken over my life.

I always have a running to-read list. I usually start it in January with the books that I didn't read in the previous year that I wanted to. But I work in a library, so I end up grabbing stuff like a kid at the candy store and have an even longer list and more books sitting around. Sometimes books go unread.

After I finished reading Arcadia I decided to read a bunch of books that I have on my Kindle and haven't gotten around to, then move on to books I received on Christmas and my birthday, as well as some of the good stuff I've found at the goodwill recently.

But above all that, I realized some friends have leaned me some books, and I should probably get to that at some point because I'm sure they will want their book back.

Today, I started Pieces of You. My friend Dawn and her boyfriend both loved it, and couldn't wait for me to read it.

I plan on reporting back as the year goes on with my progress as well as book reviews.

I read The Fault in Our Starsearlier this year and still haven't reviewed it. I set it aside so I could meditate on that emotional roller coaster. But so much time has passed that I think I need to go back and read it again. Of course, part of my life goal is to read ALL THE JOHN GREEN.

My new reading goal in life? [well it's been my goal since January, but I'm finally starting] Read ALL the John Green books. I suggest you all do the same.

I am so happy to be up and running as an author on Goodreads!

For anyone interested in where they can purchase my book, it can be found as an ebook on amazon.com, or in print at createspace: Light Years