Chrystal Vaughan's Blog

Hello friends! It's been quite a while since I was able to post here. I've been busy writing (isn't that what you want to hear from an author?!). I'm also reviewing books still, for NetGalley. Check out my cool badge:




Who doesn't want to be labeled a professional reader, amiright?!

I encourage you to view my newest blog over at WordPress, called Love Letters From Chernobyl. That's where I'm writing my poems these days, complete with artwork and/or photographs taken by yours truly. These are a series of poems, some haiku, some free form, and some with traditional rhyme and meter patterns. Together, they tell a story of a woman, from birth to death and all of her experiences in between.

Check it out and let me know what you think! In the meantime, here's what I've been reading:

Anna, by Niccolo Ammaniti
My review: Five Stars!
There is nothing I enjoy quite as much as post-apocalyptic fiction. This book is a shining star of that genre. Two children, facing the end of the world, with no adults and nothing but their wits and instincts to help them survive? Highly recommended for anyone who loves this genre!




Grief Cottage, by Gail GodwinMy review: Five Stars!I absolutely loved this story! A young boy is sent to live with an aunt, who is all but a stranger, after the death of his parents. This could have been one of those stories where the aunt is a horrid woman who locks him in a closet and feeds him bugs BUT the aunt is very realistic. All of the characters in the story are well drawn, in fact. Marcus, the boy who lost his parents, befriends a ghost boy dwelling in a cottage near his new home. This is the most awesome kind of ghost story, one I highly recommend.


The Shadowland, by Elizabeth KostovaMy review: Three StarsI was excited to read the next installment from the author of The Historian. This tale is about a young woman who, quite by accident, ends up with ashes that don't belong to her, a handsome cab driver, and a story of intrigue in a land she's never been to. While the story ended up being quite good, and I loved the ending, it was somewhat slow in some spots, making it difficult to get to the main crux of each chapter. Overall, I would buy this book for a friend, but caution them to keep going! The ending is worth the wait.

What's on your e-readers or To Read piles? Drop a comment or hit me up on Facebook! 

I haven't posted for a while; I've had some things going on. I've kept on writing, though. Here's my latest poem:



Wishes

I wish
You remembered
I wish
You'd stop forgetting
I wish
I was still the grandchild and not the adult
I wish
You could tell me stories again
I wish
You were still here with me all the time
I wish
I wasn't bitter
I wish
Things were the way I remember
I wish
I wasn't afraid for what's next
I wish
I didn't fear for my mother
I wish
I wasn't afraid for myself
I wish
I wasn't worried for my daughters
I wish
You didn't remember what happened to your mother
I wish
Your granddaughters wouldn't have to see this
I wish
It didn't hurt so much
I wish
I wish I didn't miss you so badly
I wish
I wouldn't cry
I wish
You wouldn't either
I wish
You remembered
I wish
I wish.
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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. Here's my review!


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I always try to find something about a book that I absolutely love so I can give a review with pros and cons, but honestly, I found very little to love about this book. I really struggled to make it entirely through, but felt obligated since I did receive a free copy. I guess that was the best thing, for me, about it: the price was right.


It's a novel about a dystopian society where the letter J is taboo. That is an interesting premise, but the author gave very little character development. I felt absolutely no connection with these characters. The world they were placed in had very little color to it; I mean that in the sense that it was very poorly described. Even if the description were that it was a lifeless desert (dystopian after all), that would have been something.


The story was vague and disappointing. I'm not sure what the author was attempting to do here, but I didn't get it and perhaps that is my own failing. On the other hand, I cannot give this book more than a one out of five stars.


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I was given the opportunity to beta read for this book in exchange for an honest review. Here's the cover but let me warn you, this is for grown ups. Grown ups who like hot guys.


[image error]Holy sexy cover, batman!
This book is awesome. It touches on a couple of topics that are close to my heart: weight problems and sexy guys who like big girls.
Elsa has struggled with her weight all her life. But then she meets Joe and his adorable dog Spike at the beach. She has a hard time believing a guy like Joe---meaning SUPER HOT and a BODY BUILDER---could ever like a girl like her. That made me feel pissed off for chubby girls everywhere, including myself. There are hot guys that like bigger girls. I married one didn't I? Yes. Yes I did. So I kept reading.
Then the kinky stuff happened. Whoo boy. Fifty shades of who gives a damn, this is hot steamy sex with a STORY! I was a little shocked by how far the author took that kinky aspect of Joe and Elsa's life but I didn't stop reading, now did I? No. No I did not.
There's a lot of insecurity in this relationship. It's kind of dysfunctional, actually. I liked it because it seemed realistic. These two could be aspects of any one of us.
This is a steamy, rip-roaring, panty dropping good time...you won't want to miss this book! Emma Caruso is a new author, this being her debut novel, but I can't wait to read more of her work. Emma, won't you write faster, please?!
"Not My Type" is coming out December 15th, just in time for Christmas. I know a few of my girl friends who are getting a copy of THIS for their present. You're welcome ladies!

That day is upon us. The Curse of Grungy Gulley releases today, October 31, 2014 ~ Halloween! What does a demon do to stop a group of families slated to fight him for eternity when they don’t pay attention to him? Keep trying, of course!


Blurb: Faced with the loss of his immortality, Bewitcher Random A. Ransom has to defeat Mary Barron’s young assistants: Tuck Barrons, Earl Lee Farley, and Sue Anne Edwards. Confidant he can beat three kids, Random has no idea that the Johnson triplets have invaded the ranks of his brethren. These brothers have pledged their souls to Archangel Michael to rid the world of evil. What the Bewitcher thought would be easy isn’t so easy after all.
One demon, three teens, spread over a period of 144 years. Can Random A. Ransom defeat Sue Anne Edwards, Earl Lee Farley, and Tuck Barrons?


The Curse of Grungy Gulley







About the Author:
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in Northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond. She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Some of her short stories have appeared in anthologies, others in magazines. Three of her books (Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama’s Advice) are Amazon best sellers. Her other books are: Take Chances, Where U @, The Wrong One, Pony Dreams, Evil Eyes, Inits, Canoples Investigations Tackles Space Pirates, The Call Chronicles 1: The Griswold Gang, The Curse of Grungy Gulley, and Starlight. Additionally, she has shorts available on Amazon: Grace, Secret From the Flames, Family Curse … Times Two, Right Wrong Nothing In Between, and The Ghost Catcher.


A Chance To Win An Autographed Print Edition of The Curse of Grungy Gulley!


Right Wrong Nothing In Between
Pick up a copy of Right Wrong Nothing In Between by clicking on the link and answer these questions. Post your answers on K.C. Sprayberry’s Facebook fan page before November 5, 2014 and you might get your own autographed print edition of The Curse of Grungy Gulley!


What three children does Random A. Ransom want?


What is the name of the being who comes to Mary, to reassure her that she has made the right choice?


Social Media Links:

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I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I accidentally spilled coffee on the nice dust jacket, and so here is a stock image of the book's cover for you:


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I have very mixed emotions about this book. On the one hand, it was nice to read about a book that embraced different types of religions rather than running from anything not "mainstream" or that readers might possibly be offended by. I like that in a book, to be courageous about "taboo" subjects.
On the other hand, while the romance part of the book was nice, it was a little bit predictable.  The portrayal of Native American spirituality was way off, in my personal experience, considering that I grew up with a half Sioux/half Navajo grandmother who taught me a bit about our combined heritage on the subject of spirituality. It was as though the author had watched numerous movies like "Man Called Horse" and decided he was now an expert on the subject.
I think it might be just that I dislike books that try to tell me what to believe in; I sort of felt like the book was telling me in an oblique way that I was on the "wrong path" and that just doesn't sit well. One thing I did like was the dichotomy of the two characters: one was a free spirit and the other was a straight laced type. I sort of wish their roles had been reversed though; it would have made a much nicer romance element if the man had been the free spirit and the woman had been the straight laced person. I think that would have been a nice twist on played out stereotypes.
What I loved most about this book was the suggested reading. That may seem odd, since the book was something I was supposed to enjoy reading as well, but my favorite element was the references listed. I think this author had a great idea, it just needed a little more polish. As a writer, I can completely empathize with this author in wanting to get his story out there. I think it was a great first book, but not really my thing. I'd give it three out of five stars.
Do you like reading? Do you have a blog? Try Blogging for Books today!
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My friend and fellow author, Emma Caruso, has entered Harlequin's "So You Think You Can Write" contest. I have mixed emotions on contests for writing.


On the one hand, if you are chosen from the multitude of writers, that's a huge ego boost for a writer, a creature that is typically riddled with self-doubt. By the same coin, constant rejection wears on a writer. It makes us doubt our entire existence in the universe and our place within society. Are we just lazy? No one who has sweated through a grueling murder scene at three a.m., flinching with every sound and constantly swearing through their teeth, would describe themselves as lazy. And yet...does society have an image of writers as people who just sit around on their laptop playing internet games and socializing on Facebook all day? Probably. After all, it is a large part of the creative process.


I, for one, support fellow writers who enter contests. More power to them, I say! I've entered a few, and have been rejected far more times than I'd like to admit, so I don't enter them anymore. I do have a new collection of horror stories related to Christmas coming out from Solstice Publishing over the next few months, to be released on per month until completion in December, and no fragile self-esteems were harmed in the creating or publishing of said stories. As yet.


That being said, if you are a fan of steamy romance, sizzling sex scenes, and sassy, curvy women snaring body building hunks (think Joe Mangianello)...then head on over to So You Think You Can Write headquarters and read the first chapter of Emma's debut novel, Not My Type. Here's a link for you, even: http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/not-my-type/


Showing a new author support is always heart-warming and gratifying. Go ahead, give it a try!


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Emma Caruso's debut novel, Not My Type, is due for release in December, 2014...unless she wins the So You Think You Can Write contest, in which case the release date is to be determined!
More news on my short story collection coming up in another post...stay tuned...

I made a pair of color stranded mitts for me mum, using a process also known as fair-isle, where I made little blocks of color on a gray background. They look like this:


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One of the ladies on the Facebook Outlander Knitting Group (don't judge; we call ourselves the "Stitchenachs" and we are proud of our little clan...our clan motto and crest will be on a new post coming up shortly!) asked for the pattern. I sort of winged it; there was no pattern. I promised her I would whip one up real quick and so here it is!
CO 8 st and increase by eight so you have a total of 16 across two needles, 8 on each one (I used Magic Loop) using this method: http://vimeo.com/m/4551095.


Increase every other row until you have a total of 22 stitches. At this point, you will begin your stranded color work. I recommend viewing a video on YouTube about stranded knitting before you begin, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMPaHJYdv0


Knit 2 with MC (charcoal gray), K 3 with CC (gems yarn), K 2 with MC, K 3 with CC, K 2 with MC, K 3 with CC, K 2 with MC, K 3 with CC, and finish the row with K 2 in MC. Repeat on the other side/needle.


You will do this until your first set of squares equals three rows. Then knit three rows of charcoal gray/MC in between the next set of color strand work.


Your next three sets of squares will be four rows wide.


Always knit three rows of gray in between blocks.


Your next three sets of squares will be five rows wide. I will post a chart of the blocks (see below to find it).


After you have completed your last block of the five wide squares, knit one round in gray/MC and make your thumb gusset stitches using the last six stitches on your working needle and the first six stitches on the next working needle, using the method shown in the first part of this video (a total of 12 stitches to form the thumb hole gusset): http://akittenknits.blogspot.com/2006/12/thumb-trick.html...


Continue knitting your squares of color work, in blocks of four, reduced from five; knit three of these blocks as you did before.


Your last blocks will be three rows wide, just as your first blocks were. Knit 7-8 rows with gray/MC and cast off loosely in whatever method you prefer; I used this one: http://youtu.be/0ty-EtM-IM8


Once you have completed your bind off, turn your mitten inside out and pick up the thumb gusset stitches according to the instructions in the second part of the thumb gusset video (http://akittenknits.blogspot.com/2006/12/thumb-trick.html...); make the thumb as long as you need. I tried mine on several times to make sure the thumb was long enough before I closed it off, using the Kitchener stitch method (here’s a video if you need one: http://youtu.be/DbKjgiUMvT4).


If you have any questions, message me! I’m happy to share my experience knitting these mitts with anyone interested.




(Pssst....I've posting the chart under the Patterns and Prose section at the top left corner of my blog so you can download it if you want.)






     

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Blogging for Books.


After the last knitting book I got from Blogging for Books, I was craving a knitting book with patterns I would actually make in real life. This one did much better than the last one. Here's my copy:


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This book has several new techniques I haven't tried yet, such as adding beads to knit work, as well as some tried and true techniques I'm very familiar with, such as making ribbing or sock gussets. What I liked about this book is that the patterns are things I would make and use. Things like boot cuffs, scarfs, hats, socks, and shawls. Some of them were not to my liking in the photos, but the author included ways you could make the pieces your own.
For example, on page 107, the Cha-Ching Mitts pictured on the front cover can be made with or without the beads. The instructions tell you how to do both versions, which I appreciate, since I would rather make them without beads. There are several patterns written this way, and I believe the author does her readers and knitters a service with that inclusion in the pattern.
Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. While it was a huge improvement as far as knitting books I've read this year go, there wasn't anything in here that made me grab my needles and yarn and get cracking (don't let the picture fool you, I didn't make anything from the book...yet!). However, I will likely make a few of the items as Christmas presents later in the year and I'm very glad to have the book on my shelf. Definitely one any knitter would want in their collection...and as all knitters know, hoarding knitting books is nearly as addictive as hoarding yarn!
Have you tried Blogging for Books? Head on over there right now to get started!
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I have a beef with Outlander: it's shocking, I know, but bear with me. 
My beef isn't with the books (though at some point we must discuss the events of Echo in the Bone). 
My beef isn't with the show, per se: it's more with the fans of the show who haven't read the books. Here's an example: 
In the scene with Dougal and Claire in the hallway, during the Gathering when the men try to interfere with her and Dougal steps in, one watcher wrote that she has a problem with Claire's new perspective on Dougal after the boar hunt and the collection of donations for the Jacobite cause. This watcher indicated displeasure with the seemingly sudden flip flop after the man tried to rape her. 
Please note: I do not condone rape in any way, shape, or form.
However, had this person read the book, she would know that Dougal only steals a kiss, perhaps not entirely unwanted either, before sending Claire to her room for her own safety. 
Is the show partially responsible for altering this scene in such a manner as to cast Dougal in a terrible light? Yes and no. If the scene had been portrayed as it was in the book, there would be less inclination to look upon Dougal as a monster, and less condemnation of Claire for her change of heart concerning Dougal, his men, and his actions.
We who have read the books know that Dougal isn't a good guy. He's no rapist, but he's not pure as the driven snow either. So maybe that's the point the show is trying to make. 
Mostly, I just wish people would keep the book in mind while watching the show and try to enjoy the similarities and differences. It's an amazing world to be a part of!
In other Outlandish news...these weekly portions of an hour each are KILLING me. I just want to binge watch the whole thing from the beginning of the book/show to the end of the book/show. Who's with me?!

AND: I graduated from college. By the way. Finally!