UP!—Burned by the GOBLET OF FIRE

Cover-Goblet(NOTE: while this post is current, scroll on the sidebar —in a separate tab or window—to click to listen to Hedwig’s Theme while reading 😀)

One would expect a wooden goblet to burn to ashes had it been filled with fire. But when the fire is that of enchanted flames, it is no ordinary goblet—it is the legendary Goblet of Fire! Its blue-white flames flicker with the glow of wonder and anticipation, holding within itself the power to judge which three worthy opponents from the three largest European wizarding schools will compete in none other than The Triwizard Tournament.

In Harry’s 4th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school played host to this exciting and dangerous event, along with the visiting students from the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang schools who would participate. One representative from each school would be chosen to compete, with only students of age (17 years old and above) allowed to submit their names, having written them on paper then dropped into the famed goblet. Harry was relieved that, as a 14-year-old, he couldn’t qualify; he wouldn’t be expected to enter his name. He had no desire to risk life and limb in a contest, so on the night the winners were announced, the goblet having just chosen the three competitors, when its flame flashed red unexpectedly spewing forth a 4th scorched parchment, no one was more shocked than he when Dumbledore uttered, “Harry Potter.” Continue reading

UP!–Today My Post’s a “Guest” on a SUPER Blog!

BOOK JOURNEY - Sheila with coffeeFaster than a speed reader! More powerful than a librarian! (Well, maybe a bookseller. Librarians are pretty darn powerful!) Able to leap tall book piles in a single bound! “Look! Out on the web!” “It’s a beekeeper!” “It’s a marathoner!” “It’s Superblogger!” Yes, it’s Superblogger…spunky meanderer from Minnesota, who came to the Blogosphere with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men (like fitting 48 hours into 24)! Superblogger…who can change the course of Continue reading

UP!–When a Book is a “THRILL RIDE”!

Cover-Azkaban(NOTE: while this post is current, scroll on the sidebar —in a separate tab or window—to click to listen to Hedwig’s Theme while reading 😀)

Don’t you just love when, as a book’s “passenger,” you never want the ride to end? I and thousands of readers agree that J. K. Rowling’s writing style grabs your imagination and emotions by the collar, straps you in its seat and won’t let go! Thanks to Sheila at Book Journey, I’m on that ride again 🙂

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is the third leg of this thrilling “roller coaster” ride. We’re filled with expectation as our author ushers us in with another packed carful of characters. She flips the switch, the cars lurch and we start off slowly, with Vernon Dursley’s sister, Marge, who’s every bit as horrible as he is. Her opinion of Harry is that of a dog, and a mangy one at that, ultimately pushing Harry over the edge. As a reader, we feel as satisfied as Harry in justice having been served when so well-deserved! Continue reading

UP!–First GIVEAWAY WINNERS of 2015!

GiveawaysSo, gang, another giveaway has come and gone! And it’s amazing to me, but the same two people won the 6 prizes offered (3 per blog)! Their odds of winning were very strong due to the smaller-than-expected turnout, so they won’t just be getting little envelopes…they’ll be getting big ones! 😀 And it turns out that Cool Mom doesn’t use mousepads (she won BOTH lol), so she said to throw them back into the pot—so I did! Thanks, Cool Mom!

Being relatively new at this blogging thing and having only done two giveaways so far, the first being for the blog launches, I’m not sure my timing was right on this one since it was the holiday season. With that in mind I let it run for 11 days, but I don’t think that made a difference! What I didn’t do, as you may remember, was to be specific about clicking on the links to enter. What I’ve decided is that, for future giveaways, I will number commenters in order of comment succession, then will use Random.org. I think that will work out much better and will be less complicated for everyone overall. Live and learn, right? 😀

So, with all that said, the lucky Writer Side UP! winners ARE:

Continue reading

UP!–My First Book of 2015

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not one to participate in meme’s and challenges, but Sheila at Book Journey (she’s a veteran at this kind of stuff!) hosts a few that are simple and fun and don’t add stress to my life (this is a KEY factor! lol). Last year was her first time hosting a “First Book of the Year” meme and though my blog wasn’t launched yet, I couldn’t resist participating 🙂 So here we are and it’s that time of year again!

2aaaaaaa2015Seeing as she already hooked me into her Harry Potter ReRead-a-long, fitting in yet Continue reading