This book is one I would recommend to absolutely anyone, regardless of age.  It is a great book to keep on the coffee table and even better if you have kids in your family.

This book introduces the reader to 50 women that did significant work in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  It does this in a very cool way, with a short text that hits the basics of the biography, along with some amazing artwork and little facts spread through that art.  The women introduced are not women that I've heard much of and I was fascinated by what I learned.

I am excited to share this book with my goddaughter and I know that when she has a research paper to write in the future about someone influential, I've got her covered and she can write about someone that not everyone has heard about.  I remember when I had to write papers on people that I'd always been taught about, I found it incredibly boring because it was just regurgitating facts over and over again.  I love that this book highlights many women that I haven't really heard much of.  There are a few more well-known women in the book, but I found that the things they focused on were things that not everyone talks about.

It is a very easy read and is set up so you can flip to any page and find a cool biography to read.  Each biography spans two pages with the artwork and several little facts on one page and then the bulk of the text on the second page with some artwork and little facts creating a border around the text.  It is both visually and intellectually appealing.

There is a movie coming out soon called Hidden Figures that tells the story of these amazing African American women working (and kicking butt) at NASA.  One of these women being Katherine Johnson.  I read so many posts saying things like "how did I not know about this woman.." and such.  Katherine Johnson is one of the women highlighted in Women In Science.

This book needs to be in the hands of everyone, and if not everyone...at the very least every young lady.  These are the women I want my goddaughter looking up to.  I love this book, completely.  I love that the biography is short enough that it will keep the attention of a young kid and it is visually stunning.  In addition to the amazing information in the book, there is a section on where to find more information about each of the subjects, which is perfect for school age children when faced with that inevitable research paper.

The author, Rachel Ignotofsky needs a HUGE pat on the back for writing this book and making it so beautiful. If you would like to know more about Rachel, or if you'd like to tell her how fabulous her book is, go to http://www.readwomeninscience.com/author/ and check it out.  In her biography on www.rachelignotofskydesign.com it says "Her work is inspired by history and science. She believes that illustration is a powerful tool that can make learning exciting. She has a passion for taking dense information and making it fun and accessible. Rachel hopes to use her work to spread her message about scientific literacy."  I can say that from where I am sitting, she has fulfilled that dream successfully.

I've found a new favorite in Rachel Ignotofsky.  She has some very interesting art on her site as well.  You absolutely need to go check her out and support her by purchasing some of her sweet merchandise.

I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

I am going to switch gears a tiny bit on this post..but not too very much.  I believe that everything in life can feed our creativity and this vacation I just took with my best friend and her daughter, my goddaughter, definitely stoked the fire for me.  It is easy to get bogged down in "being creative" when it is your job...in any field.  So it is important to let yourself have time where you aren't thinking so hard about making these photos be "professional" quality, or "is this something that will sell?"  I took time to appreciate the people I was with and to take photos JUST for memories and focus on having fun and not on taking that perfect photo.  True, I could have worked harder and gotten some way better photos of the big cats but my memory of the trip will be way more vivid and precious that the "perfect" shot.  I would love to go back to Tiger Creek someday to do a photo shoot, but..this time I was a godmother and friend and not a photographer/artist/writer, etc.  So, without further blah blah on my part, I present you...

Vacation...awesome style!

9 years ago, I went to Tyler with my friend and her daughter and we loved Tiger Creek so much that we couldn't wait to get back..well..I suppose we did wait..but really, 9 years kinda flew by..as is wont to do when watching a child grow up when you REALLY just want them to be little forever.  I digress..we decided to take a trip back to Tiger Creek last week and I wanted to share our experience with you beautiful friendorinos! 

Lily and Sarge - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

If you aren't aware of what Tiger Creek is, it is a wildlife refuge that was started in Tyler and houses some really amazing big cats.  They got two cubs a long time ago, Lily and Sarge, and they were the focus of the Animal Planet show, Growing Up Tiger.  It showed not only them as the cutest lil' cubs in the world, but actually "growing up"..hence the name.  Today, Lily and Sarge are still a huge attraction for Tiger Creek and as our tour guide Kira said..don't let Sarge's size fool you...Lily is definitely the boss!  

Juda - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek 

Padma loves her Skanda - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Tiger Creek is home to not only some amazing animals, but some awesome caregivers too.  Our tour guide, Kira, was an intern and was wonderful.  She gave us not only the facts about each animal; she also gave us some super cute and sweet stories about each cat.  I only wish I could count on her being there next time we go...but alas, she is only an intern and if I remember correctly, her internship will be finished in about a month.  Of course, everyone that works there is just as wonderful and will, I'm sure, give you just as good a tour as we got.  They can be found online at www.tigercreek.org or on Facebook as Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge.  Go visit their site, follow their Facebook and give them as much support as you are able, they are doing great things for these animals and it takes support from everyone to keep it up.  If you can make a monetary donation, please do, if not..share until you can share no more!  I mean..who can resist these guys!!!!

Arule - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Bosco - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Amir - Photo Courtey of Tiger Creek

Nishchala - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Sakima - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Scrunches - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

Skanda - Photo Courtesy of Tiger Creek

So, as you can see...Tiger Creek is well worth the trip and the measly price to see these beauties.  There are lots more gorgeous animals at this refuge and it is best to plan to meander along after the tour (and you definitely want to do the tour, these guys have great stories and it is worth it to hear the guides tell them) so you can get a glimpse of the cats who might be napping while you are taking your tour.  We were lucky while hearing about Katie and Tin Cup, the two Pumas up front, they graced us with a small visit.  Katie had to have one leg amputated and Tin Cup got his name because when the vet was explaining how big he was, they said he could fit inside of a tin cup..so the name stuck.  So cute.  Anyway..see for yourself, it was a blast.  I also just found out they have a resort as well and it looks so cool, check it out at www.tigercreek.com. 














On a side note, if you are looking for a place to stay in Tyler, you can't beat the Sleep Inn on Donnybrook.  Click HERE to check it out or book a room 

  The room was super comfy, they had free soup and salad in the evening, and free huge breakfast in the morning, and the pool was perfect.  The staff was really great, making sure the room met our needs, even going as far as to call us in the room after we put our stuff away to make sure we had everything  They even supplied this ill prepared girl with the extra big, super adhesive, fabric band-aids for my blistered feet.  The whole experience is what you would expect from a high price, 5 star joint, but it was really decent pricing.  It hit every single mark of a good hotel for me and I will certainly be a repeat customer.  


Ok..on to the next...

While chilling in Tyler, we went to this restaurant called The Potpourri House and, oh my goodness, it was super delicious.  They have excellent chicken fried steak AND amazing smoked Italian meatballs with penne pasta.  The picky 10 year old loved it as well, said it was "amazing" and that it was one of her favorite places! (huge props from this gal) We were stuffed but got some dutch apple pie and some chocolate ganach, rum soaked goodness that we completely devoured back in the hotel.  I rarely have perfect apple pie, but this..this was PERFECT dutch apple pie.  After you stuff yourself there, you can shop at the cool store surrounding the restaurant and get some delectable lotions and salt scrubs, some cool carved figures, jewelry, clothes, and then some pretty awesome chocolate truffles.  If you live around Tyler, or are there for a little while, it is worth it to put this place on your "to do" list. Click Here to go to the Potpourri House website

Another really fun thing we found was at the Tyler Junior College.  The Center for Earth and Space Science Education was incredibly cool.  They had this cool exhibit downstairs that has some hands on experiments with sound...including a scream chamber!  You step in and it measures the decibels of your scream and shows you the comparison with other sounds.  Yes, I tried it..and the first time I got somewhere between a Peacock Mating Call and Elephant...lame!!! So I tried again, let loose, and proudly got the "loudest human scream" rating (thank you...thank you very much...) The coolest thing there was the planetarium.  In 1963, Tyler Junior College (TJC) opened the first planetarium located in East Texas. Originally known as the Hudnall Planetarium, it was reopened in 2011 after a major expansion and renovation of its facilities and renamed The Center for Earth and Space Science Education.  Home to the first 40’ Spitz nano-seam domed theatre in East Texas, the state-of-the-art Planetarium features an immersive, full-dome video experience.  The new theater is equipped with Digistar 5, the latest in digital projection technology...and it was definitely a superior experience.  It blows away every other planetarium I've ever been to.  We saw Journey to Space and learned a lot of cool things about the space program, AND got to hear it from Patrick Stewart HAH!

Little Detour Pic. - Historic Courthouse in Marshall, TX
look up Marshall, TX..it has some pretty cool history

Jeremy from Vexcon

Super Happy Gal at Vexcon!

From Tyler, we headed east to Louisiana and took a little detour to take the lil' gal to see Vexcon, Billy the Exterminator's roost..(well..he roosts a little farther north these days for..well..reasons..but we are told he might be headed back  sometime in the near future.) She was so surprised and got to take pictures with the truck and we got to talk to one of THE coolest pest control folks, Jeremy.  We got some "insider info" and were treated so very nicely, even though we interrupted the extremely hot, super busy work day.



From that little jaunt, we headed to West Monroe to soak up a little Duck Dynasty goodness.  We saw the warehouse where they film, did a little perusing at the gift shop and then headed to Willie's Duck Diner for some grub.  It was some tasty grub too.  I would actually not recommend the place for true cajun goodness because they tend to err on the side of "not spicy" because they get people from all over the country and not everyone has the tongue for cajun

spices, but the food is great, especially Miss Kay's Meatloaf, her mac and cheese, and the mashed potatoes with brown gravy..I'm telling you..that lady knows how to layer her flavors and cook up a mean meal. 





This trip allowed for some much needed bonding with my best friend and goddaughter and recharged my batteries.  Also, no, I'm not being paid for these reviews..lol..I just like to share good experiences for others to take note of if they are ever in these areas...because when you are traveling it is nice to know where the worth while places are..especially hotels..nothing like a perfect hotel when you've been out in the heat of July in Texas!  So, I hope someone, somewhere gets some use from this "review" of our trip.  Leave me a comment if you have anything to add to this, or, if you got any use from it! 

Lots O' Love,
Kari

I AM NO ONE  

by Patrick Flanery

______________________

I was introduced to this lovely book last week and now, I feel I must introduce it to you lovely creatures.  Here are the specifics of I am No One.  

Jeremy O'Keefe, a middle-aged Professor of History, returns to his native New York after a decade teaching at Oxford, hoping to reconnect with his daughter and rebuild the life he left behind. He settles into a rhythm of long evenings spent alone after a day teaching students he barely knows. Then a strange encounter with a young man who presumes an acquaintance he cannot remember and a series of disconcerting events leave him with a growing conviction that he is being watched. The pale young man keeps appearing, a haunting figure lingers outside his apartment at night, and mysterious packages begin to arrive. As his grip on reality seems to shift and turn, Jeremy struggles to know whether he can believe what he is experiencing, or whether his mind is in the grip of an irrational obsession. I Am No One explores the tenuous link between fear and paranoia in our post-Snowden lives: a world of surveillance and self-censorship, where privacy no longer exists and our freedoms are inexorably eroded.

 love Patrick Flanery's use of the English language, not producing "word soup" but expertly placing some beautiful words in at just the right time makes his writing style flow quite smoothly and makes his observations and ideas something that sticks in your mind even after the book is over.  I love that the mystery began only a few pages into the story.  There wasn't a long description of the character's life, the writer didn't get lost in the descriptions like so many people do.  Mr. Flanery knows when to draw the line on describing something in beautiful detail without going overboard on them leaving his readers rolling their eyes and putting the book down.  The only thing that kept me thinking it would be better was if some of the tangents weren't so precise, especially in the beginning when he is talking about the films.  This will only capture a small audience, as not everyone has seen, and even less analyzed, those films.  If the comparisons were more vague, it might have been a smoother transition back into the thought, but as it is, it seems a bit of a harsh transition...of course, it seems I should have expected some analytical comments about film as he earned his B.F.A in film and worked in the film industry before moving to the U.K.

Overall I thought it was a great read and I am interested in reading more of his books.  I am a huge lover of words ( yes, I know how that sounds..) and he uses beautiful words, but uses them sparingly and perfectly.  I would LOVE for you beauties read this book and leave your own comments on this post and let me know what YOU thought of this book.  But of course, you have to go out and buy it first..or stay in and buy it..however you choose to order and read it..so..go forth and purchase!

_________________________________________________________________________________


So, you may be wondering...who is this Flanery dude..well, my blogglings, I give you the brilliant Patrick Flanery:

Patrick Flanery is an American writer based in London. His first novel, Absolution, was published in 2012; it won the Spear's/Laurent Perrier Best First Book Award and was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, the Author's Club Best First Novel Award, and the Prix du Premier Roman Étranger in France; it was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and the Desmond Elliott Prize. It has been translated into eleven languages. His second novel, Fallen Land, was published in 2013. His third novel,I Am No One, is published in 2016.

Patrick has written for the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, the Guardian, the Spectator, the Times Literary Supplement, and the Daily Telegraph. He has held writing fellowships at the Santa Maddalena Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center. He is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Reading.

I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest opinion.  Thank you Blogging for Books and Thank you Random House and Patrick Flanery for getting it out here for us to read.

Jim Brickman Interview

Even if most of you don't know the name Jim Brickman, you've most certainly heard his masterfully crafted songs.  He has a long list of honors and without question deserves every single one.  He has a way with writing and playing that slams straight into your heart.  He adroitly lures his music from the

rigid strings of his piano and you can't help but be moved.

At the age of 4 little Jim Brickman begged his parents for a piano, but, as most 4 year old children are a bit fickle with interests, they waited on the big purchase and sent him to piano lessons instead.  He practiced on a green piece of felt with the keys drawn on.

When he was 8, he was taking private lessons and when he didn't conform to the basic rules of piano playing, his teacher told his mother that he "didn't have the knack for this."  As we all know now, he was dead wrong.

By age 12 Brickman's mother found him a teacher, a graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and that teacher became his mentor.  From that moment on, he became a force to be reckoned with.  In college Brickman started a commercial jingle company and produced many tunes you probably get stuck in your head to this day.  He did this by "pounding the pavement" and not waiting for the work to come him.  He used the same approach to get his music heard and, as a fan, I am extremely glad he did.  I recently did an interview with Jim Brickman, while on his Holiday Tour.  Here is what he had to say:

How is your tour going so far? Hopefully not any hiccups or chaos. 

I don’t want to jinx anything, but the tour is going really well. No weather… no falling lights or stings popping out of the piano...  We’ve even alluded  coughs and colds.. 

How do you travel?  Do you have a crew that travels with you?  How are you all doing being away from your families during the holiday season?   

We travel in tight quarters on a tour bus.  Me, the cast, the staff and the crew!  Being away from family isn’t as hard as it seems.  We become a road family, and celebrate each night with the wonderful people who come to see the concert.  We also do a big holiday dinner together along with Secret Santa gifts. 

You say the best flattery a fan can give you is to tell you how you were a part of their most precious memories, how your music brings them back to a moment in life that was joyous, or a tender moment that taught them a lesson.  How does it feel to know that you (by way of your music of course) are a part of thousands of people's lives at a very deep, intimate level? 

It’s very humbling to know my music has touched them in such a private and personal way.  It still amazes me every time I hear another story. 

You have been making music for a very long time, and doing it amazingly I might add, are there days, this far into your career, that you just don't feel the music?  When you are depressed or feeling a bit uninspired and don't feel like working on a love song, or just have to take a break?  If so, how do you deal with those days in order to keep going?  How do you find the inspiration again? 

When I’m feeling sad or down, I do turn to music.  No matter what, it always has a soothing effect on my mood.  If I get writers block, I eat!  I often look for inspiration in the refrigerator! 

It is difficult for every artist to put a piece of themselves into every piece they do and then turn it over for someone else to interpret as they will.  Do you find it difficult to hand over a song to someone, for them to put their mark on it?  Does it make you anxious? 

I love hearing what other people do with my music.  Songs with vocals are generally written with a certain voice and interpretation in mind, so hearing that is fun.  On YouTube, there are hundreds of interpretations of my music.  Some, I do wonder about, but mostly I’m very flattered by the performance. 

When others sing the songs you write, they bring their emotions, their experiences, etc.  Have you ever had an artist just "not hit the mark" you intended, or been disappointed by their translation of your song? 

Music is not a fixed creation.   It’s meant to be interpreted.  I don’t always love what is done with my songs, but that’s the beauty of expression. 

I read quite a bit about you while working on this blog, during your childhood you had to work pretty hard to get into and stay with making music.  Were there days when you were younger that the whole thing felt like to much on your shoulders, like it was too hard to keep at it?  What pushed you to pursue the piano, not matter what? 

Playing piano was all I ever wanted to do. Finding the right teacher was the greatest challenge I faced.  I was fortunate that my Mom was my biggest cheerleader. She heard about an incredible teacher at Cleveland Institute of Music.  We were a perfect match.  Marshall Griffith encouraged my creativity, which most teachers did not. 

What drove you to pursue your career in music, no matter the hardships? 

As I mentioned, music is all I ever wanted to do.  I didn’t sit around waiting to be discovered.  I pounded the pavement and pretty much made  people listen to my music. 

What advice would you give to young people wanting to pursue a career in music or art? 

Don’t try to be someone other than who you are.  Imitation is the highest form of flattery but it won’t get you anywhere.   Be unique!  Be heard. Be seen. If you really and truly believe in yourself, don’t take no for an answer. 

What about those adults that have put off pursuing their art and are just now starting?  Do you have any advice to those trying to pursue their passion in the art/music/writing world, any words of encouragement for staying inspired, staying true to yourself and your work when the world starts pushing in on us? 

I say the same thing.  Believe in yourself.   

There is one final question I would like to ask.  You have been honored quite a bit and met and played with and for amazing people.  I know you list one of your inspirations as Jim Henson, so, though both performances are truly admirable, which was more memorable for you, performing for President Clinton or with Kermit the Frog?  I know I would love to spend an evening with either. 

I have to say that as much as I admire President and Mrs. Clinton, hanging out with Kermit far surpassed my expectations.  We became good friends!  His message is universal, and it’s pretty hard for anyone, anywhere to take offense with a worldwide ambassador of good will.

Yes, I would agree that it is pretty difficult to ignore the message of the nicest, coolest frog that has ever been.  Jim Brickman has many honors and credits to his name.  He is the most commercially successful instrumental pop pianist of the last three decades.  Four of his albums have gone Gold, he
has 27 top 40 singles, 14 being in the top 10.  He has worked with many other amazing artists and has been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards.  He has a couple of SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" awards, a Canadian Country Music Award and a Dove award.  On top of that, he has also written 2 best-selling books, filmed 4 television specials for PBS and hosts a 4 hour syndicated radio show called "Your Weekend With Jim Brickman".  This man is absolutely on fire!

You can find more about this amazing man on www.jimbrickman.com and I encourage you to go visit the site soon to learn more about him and his music.  You will absolutely be glad you did.  I leave you with this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Li2QBHf8jI&feature=youtu.be

 *All photos are credited to Jason M. Rodgers

Swarovski Love

This is just a quick break between book reviews, as I have a few new ones coming your way very soon. The next one is for a new book called Rite of Rejection.. So come back soon for that.. You really should come back for that one!


Anyway, this short blog is about Swarovski. I have a lot of love for this company and love using their products in my jewelry making. First thing I love is that they have levels of crystals for jewelry makers to buy that are less expensive but all still look brilliant. Second, they shine like diamonds, look beautiful and eye-catching, but you never have to worry about whether they come from a conflict free company. They have recently come out with a new campaign/line called Advanced Crystals. They have changed the DNA of the crystal to include almost no lead at all. Take a look at this new video and blurb from them.


http://m.crystals.swarovski.com/crystals/advanced-crystal/


have a great weekend guys, come back for more amazing books and artists.. Including some interviews.


K

Tell Me My Name, by Mary Fan

I just finished a short piece of work by author Mary Fan.  Tell Me My Name is a novella that is a prequel to her upcoming young adult series, "Fated Stars" that will be coming out in late 2015/early 2016 (per the author's website).  I received this copy of Tell Me My Name from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

This review was, and I suppose still is, a bit of a roller coaster for me.  I thought I had a pretty set opinion of this novella after the first chapter, but I try to keep my mind opened until I read the last page of the book, so I pressed on.  After reading the last page I found that I had to wait to write the review because I needed to actually think about this one a bit more than usual.  Instead of having a definite feeling about this book, I am still a bit on the fence.

Before I give you my thoughts, let me give you a bit of a glimpse of the story.  The following is taken directly from Mary Fan's blog/website.

In Mary Fan's second novella for Glass House Press, a girl wakes up in an icy cell, alone and frightened. She has no memory of who she is or how she came to be there.

She does know that she must get out, at all costs. And that escape must start with remembering the simple things – her own name. Her place of origin. Her possible powers. 

When a group of dark magicians reveal themselves to be her captors, she finds herself in the clutches of those who will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets locked within her lost memories. With her life fading under their merciless spells, the need to escape becomes dire. 

But can she get out when she doesn’t even know who she is? Can she count on one unlikely ally for help? Or is it already too late for her, a girl without a name?

Look at that cover art..isn't it gorgeous?  That cover really pulls you in and the colors and feel of it really do justice to the actual story.  When I look at this cover I see ice, and confusion.  Perfect companion art for the book.

I had great hopes for this book and I was halfway (perhaps a bit more than halfway) satisfied in the end.  The only thing I had an issue with was the overuse of descriptions.  The writer went a bit heavy on the adjectives and explained so much that it left me no reason really think much about what I read.  It was a bit like that person who constantly explains the jokes they tell.  Now, I understand completely the anxiety that goes along with writing a book, or really putting any piece of art out for others to enjoy.  You are putting yourself into your art and sending it out for others to love or hate..it seems apparent in this author's writing that she is very anxious about what her reader thinks.  Perhaps she put in things that weren't necessary because she second guessed her work..I'm not sure, but it is clear, at least to me, that this author, Mary Fan, has quite a bit of imagination and talent.  I believe that if she had more confidence in her work, and confidence that she is getting her message across exactly as she wants, quite a bit of the fluff, the overuse of the Thesaurus would be left out.  The story is quite good.  I really wanted to know what was going to happen next and I am left, at the end of the novella, eager to get into the first book to see what happens next.  The story is unique, well thought out and very easy to get into.  If the writer were to strip this novella down a bit, write to get more content in with less words, this would no doubt be a best seller.  It felt, especially in the beginning of the story, like I was trying to run through a bog to get to the actual story, like I had to work too hard to get into the greatness of the story.  With all of that said, this is still a wonderful book, because as important as the writing is, it is a technical part that can be tweaked.  The content of the story, the imagination of the author and quality of the characters are something that either hits or it doesn't.  Mary Fan has the most important part of writing completely figured out, I do think that her technique could use some work, but I fully intend on reading more of her work.

I do hope to do a follow up with the author in another blog post, as I have learned quite a few things on her blog and website that I find intriguing and I would love to share it with you guys.  I made the decision to read the rest of her work long before I saw her website, and now that I have, I am glad I got the chance to read her work and a chance to read about her.  She seems like an incredible person who gives a lot back in a number of ways.

I urge you to read this novella for yourselves and tell me what you think.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

The Paper Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg

A little while ago I downloaded a book called The Paper Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg.  I know the age-old saying tells us to never judge a book by its cover, but I must admit, I sometimes find a cover so pleasing to the eye that I will try it simply because the art made me happy.  In this
instance, I was absolutely rewarded.

I love the cover art!  It is simple but caught my eye immediately.  I would love have this book cover as a poster framed and on my wall.  Maybe if I can score one I'll beg the lovely Mrs. Holmberg to sign it for me ;o)

I was drawn into the story within the first paragraph and didn't stop until I had finished the book.  I liked the fact that, in the beginning, neither character was initially easy to like..at least not completely.  As the story progressed and I learned more about them, I loved them.  They are complex, and the way they respond to each other is perfect.  I am not a big romance fan.  This relationship though, is one that even I can get behind.  It isn't overly emotional, or showy.  It isn't mushy love.  To me, it is more like real world love...well..a real world that includes magic (which...would be way better!) It is a super sweet relationship, but the story isn't reliant upon it being a "love story."  Much like the cover, the writing isn't flowery and showy.  It is written very well, and the writing style matches the style of its characters.  The grace and sophistication of this author makes it more than enjoyable read.

All in all, this is a brilliant beginning to this trilogy and I can't wait to read the next two.  Book two, The Glass Magician, comes out in November and, of course, I have it pre-ordered.

I wrote to Charlie Holmberg and told her how much I loved her book, and also asked her about what inspires her to write, where she does her writing, any tips for budding writers, and what her favorite part of writing this trilogy.  Here is what she had to say:

As for what inspires me to write . . . that’s a tricky question. Really, I write so I can experience things that don’t occur in our world. So far I’ve written strictly fantasy because I adore the fantastical. There’s so much to do and explore beyond the boundaries of real life.

 My writing environment isn’t anything special. It’s usually just at my desk (without even a window nearby) or, occasionally, on my mattress when I’m tired of sitting on my desk.

 For people starting their first book, the greatest advice I ever received was this: finish it. I had an author at CONduit in Salt Lake City once tell me that, if you finish a book, you’re already ahead of 95% of aspiring authors. (I think I started about twelve books before I finally finished one.) As for The Paper Magician, that series is my most real-world-grounded of any I’ve written. For the first book, my favorite part was the whimsy I got to put into it, the world within a world within a world I could create. I felt like I had no borders, like I was in a play land where I could do anything I want. My favorite part of The Glass Magician is, honestly, the romantic tension. Romance isn’t the main plot of the book, but it was fun to write.

I’ll hopefully have announcements about the third book soon. :) Thanks again Kari!-Charlie

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of The Paper Magician and give it a read.  Then come back and let us know what you thought.  I am so excited to read the next two books in the trilogy and also to anything else she writes. 

Thank you Charlie, for giving us well thought out, well written books to feed our bibliophilic addictions!

The following is the synopsis for The Paper Magician:

Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic … forever.

Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined—animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.

An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.

You can find more information about Mrs. Holmberg, as well as her books at http://charlienholmberg.com 

the beautiful Charlie N. Holmberg

The covert art for the second book in the trilogy, coming
out on November 4, 2014. To pre-order, go to amazon.com