A very interesting survey done by goodreads shows that a large number of readers find books through recommendations from friends. The last book I read was a sequel to another novel, but I found out about it through a blog, read the reviews, then stumbled upon it in a bookstore sale and scooped it up.

For me, all these things on the list play a part in the book-discovery process.

How do you find your books?

Happy Valentine's Day!

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love.

Today, VALENTINE'S DAY, is about the best first love of 2011. Since my best first love of 2011 was my daughter, I thought I'd introduce you all to Romeo and Valentine's First Love*:

Thanks for joining me on this blogfest of lurve!

If you haven't already, please check out all my 
pictorial representations of firsts in love:

First Break Up
First Kiss
First Dance
First Date
First Touch
First Sight

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love.

Please check out the other bloggers!

Valentine and Romeo in Entry #6: First Break Up

Today is the Origins Blogfest, hosted by DL Hammons (Cruising Altitude), Katie Mills (Creepy Query Girl)…along with Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish  (Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment)!

Please check out the other bloggers.

On Monday, February 13th, you should post your own origin story.  Tell us all where your writing dreams began.  It could be anything from how you started making up stories as a child, or writing for the school newspaper, or even what prompted you to start a blog.  How about stories about the first time somebody took an interest in your writing, or the teacher/mentor that helped nudge you along and mold your passion, or maybe the singular moment when you first started calling yourself a writer.  It all started somewhere and we want you to tell us your own, unique, beginnings. 

Here's my origins story:

Growing up, I always wanted to write in some form. I loved writing short stories, but back them music was my passion. I composed my first piano piece (which was perhaps a little simpler than "twinkle twinkle little star") at about seven and I wanted to be a lyriacist. I still have books of lyrics and music I wrote. 

Unfortunately, I'm no Mozart. I changed instruments a few times (piano to violin to guitar) before I realised that it wasn't the music - it was the writing.

I dabbled with short stories for years, but it wasn't until I became an adult that I starting writing with the aim of writing. I lost three close family members in three years, so I created my bucket list (Underlined items are ones I've completed):

Write a novel
Publish a novel
See the colosseum in Rome
See the acropolis in Greece
Visit Egypt and the pyramids
Visit my ancestor's homeland: Poland
Party in Cappedocia, Turkey
Visit Dracula's castle
Get a Master's Degree
Get a PHD
Swim with the dolphins
Go on an African Safari
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
Go Skydiving
Walk along the Great Wall of China
Visit Paris' catacombs
Sunbathe in Spain
See the Mona Lisa
Get a tattoo
See the Northern Lights
Ride a double decker bus in London
Walk the Inca Trail
Visit Auschwitz
Learn to play the Drums
Learn to speak Spanish
Learn a form of Martial Arts
Hold a large snake
Go hanggliding
Sunset horseride on the beach
Visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Sleep in hammocks by Angel Falls in Venezuela
Drink Tequila in Tequila, Mexico
Go bungy jumping
Watch the ball drop in Times Square on New Years Eve in New York
Have a white Christmas
Procreate

I take my bucket list very seriously and add to it all the time. Life is too short to just think about doing something, and since I'm a perfectionist, when it comes to writing a novel it has to be the best it can be. 

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love.

Please check out the other bloggers!

Valentine and Romeo in Entry #5: First Kiss... Photobomb Style

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love. 

Entry #4 into the blogfest is First Dance: Dance Like Nobody's Watching

I just figured out how to put the linky on so please check out the other blogs below!

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love.

Please check out the other bloggers!

Valentine and Romeo in Entry #3: First Date... Thai Me Up

This week, to celebrate Valentine's Day, Ravencraft is holding a 7-day blogfest as an ode to first love. 

Please check out the other bloggers!

Entry #2 in Valentine's photographic diary is First Touch.