Reading Roundup 2013, Week 8!

Woo-hoo!
How is everyone doin?
(I’m a little excited about this upcoming writing conference, can you tell?)

18 books this week!

Most of the picture books I read in a bookstore, waiting for a prescription.
I had horrible headaches for about a week, and finally went to the doctor.
She said it sounded like I was getting over one infection while getting another.
I headed to the bookstore while I waited for my sinus infection medicine.

I decided I wanted to do superlatives this week, so here we go:

Most likely to inspire some collage artwork of your own:

Best cyborg/fairytale mashup
Best “you better put your egos aside and get along or the egg won’t survive” story:

Most likely to make you want to go scuba diving;
Most ridiculous use of mustache in children’s literature;
Most likely to make you laugh, cry, and look at your life in a different way:

Best weaving together of puppets, magic, friendship and historical fiction;
Most likely to make you want to open your dictionary;
Most likely to make you want to pick up a paintbrush!

Best combo of non-fiction and illustrations;
Most fun you will have flipping a book;
Best way to talk to children about the power of telling the truth:

Most likely to make you say, “Awww” and look for little awesome moments in life;
Best counting/learn about gorillas and monkey books;
Most likely to make you want to be yourself, whatever that may be:
Best Dystopian YA I’ve read in a while;
Most likely to draw out a southern drawl;
Most likely to be opened again and again:

Here’s my total so far:

And some fun stats! (The big number next to 2013 is how many pages I’ve read!)

This week I also had fun working on some of my stories.
I FINALLY sent out an 8 pack of them to some people for them to read.
The cool thing was, the group of people was so different.

Only a few were critique partners;
the rest were teachers, friends, and people who liked to read.

It was so interesting to get such varied feedback;
especially about which ones everyone liked the best!

I’m bringing 6 officially (and by that, I mean I have to go run copies of those!)
for critiquing,
because I believe you can never be too prepared,
and a few more, one copy each, in case I get inspired to revise or want to show someone.

I’m going to do a post about what I’m bringing to the conference soon;
or maybe I’ll have Singe Singe do it, since he mostly packs pretty light 🙂

Also, I’ll be doing the March Madness Poetry Tournament again this year
Stay tuned for more info!

What is everyone reading this week?
I can’t wait to find out the next selection in my book club (meeting this Thursday),
go to the conference!
and start March.

I feel like good things are coming in March!

As always, we’re enthusiastically yours,
KE and Singe Singe