Blog Blast w. Giveaway! Archivos

Tour Page

With ARCHIVOS, storytellers are empowered to be the architects of their stories. Through an interactive visual representation of an entire story world, storytellers and fans can examine the interconnections between characters, places, and events. Produced by Wonderthing Studios, ARCHIVOS provides - at a glance - a deep appreciation and comprehension of the interaction between story elements composition, superior to any wiki or blog.   

 

About

ARCHIVOS is story mapping and presentation application developed by Wonderthing Studios, designed to support storytellers in the creation and promotion of their story worlds.

History
Wonderthing Studios LLC was founded in January 2015 by David Robison to celebrate and foster the storytelling community in all its forms and facets. The studio develops multiple channels of engagement – from podcasts to board games to software – in order to support storytellers and provide tangible opportunities for the creative community to interact and share wisdom and experience.

ARCHIVOS has been in development for over a decade, built upon the idea of a visual representation of the network of interaction between story elements. It’s creator, David Robison, conceived a framework of documentation and relationship that would articulate the dynamics of a story setting more effectively than any wiki or blog. The application serves as both a development tool for narratives as well as a presentation framework for sharing those narratives.

The Story Web
Explore the associations and connections between story elements with The Story Web. This interactive display allows you to analyze the networks of association in your story setting and navigate its length and breadth with a few clicks of the mouse! 

The Living Map
Highlight the significant events and locations of your story world in the Living Map. Geography, city maps, floor plans can be showcased in this interactive and searchable display.

The Timeline
Chronicle the significant events of your story world – from deep history to current events – and then explore the entire continuum on the Timeline! Zoom in to see days or zoom out encompass decades, ensuring continuity and consistency across your story setting.

Early Reader Review: Hellicious Vol 1 by Mina Elwell

Source: From Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

 

Hellicious by Mina Elwell

Series: Hellicious Volume 1
Publisher: Starburns Industry Press
Publication Date:  October 23, 2018

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


 




Goodreads Synopsis: 

Cherry, the Devil's prankster granddaughter and the cutest grim reaper in Hell, is honestly just trying to have fun and make new friends. She loves everything about Hell - its burning landscapes, its horrific inhabitants, and especially her demonic mother and grandfather - but she's lonely. There's nobody to play with, and anyone who tries ends up being defenestrated or digested or otherwise destroyed.

There's only one mortal who Cherry thinks might be a good playmate: rock star and goth icon Briggy Bundy. The bad news is, he isn't dead...Yet.

Review: 
I didn't know that this series even existed - but thanks to Netgalley and Starburns Industry Press, now I do and I am excited about it. If you have been here on the blog for a bit, you might know that I like the weird violent and often female led comics and graphic novels and this definitely falls into those categories.

Hellicious Volume 1 collect issues 1-3 of the comics and we meet Cherry, the devil's daughter. All she wants is a friend to play with and in hell, there aren't many options, so she takes it upon herself to play with the souls of those she has been tasked with reaping but that makes her mother angry and she ruins them before they are put into their eternal damnation. Cherry is sarcastic and just wants to be a little girl and have a good time. She can be a little violent, but she is the devil's daughter so it comes with the territory.

I really enjoyed this volume, it reminded me a lot of I Hate Fairyland with this cute little girl who is pretty much crazy, but also just trying to get to her goal. Cherry is looking for a friend and Gert was just looking to leave, but the colors and images look a lot alike and if you are a fan of one, the other is a good read for you.

However, this book looks cutesy, but is not for younger readers. Adults only. 

Buliding the Book Pile #276

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Another crazy busy week but on the bright side the doggie is doing a little bit better, we are mostly out of the cone of shame but still have a bunch of eye drops to help prevent infections and swelling and all that fun... so he is very unhappy with me. He is healing though so that is great!

Work this week was pretty crazy, I had to take 2 days off - one to bring Rolo to his eye appointment and then another because we were supposed to go get something up north - sadly it wasn't ready so we didn't do that but I got a nice relaxing day off of laundry and dished (hahahahahaha). I did get to go to a Diversity Office Summit at work on Thursday though and it was enlightening and very interesting. The focus was on poverty so I learned a lot about my area as well as different issues and impacts that people face.

I am still doing pretty great in my class - my first Quiz is done and that was a hurdle. I am not as far ahead as before but I am still on track :), aside from school and work I have had some fun too - On Monday I went to a book building workshop at the college (they are free!) and learned to make a sewn pamphlet and a bunch of different folded booklets - so cool. On Saturday night, I went to a paint and sip with my friend, it was fun but the instructor only seemed to show the directions to one side of the room and we weren't it, we managed!

And lastly but not least - the blog! It has still been running for the most part which is very nice. This week there will be loads of Blasts and content/ giveaways!

I hope everyone is having a great month so far!

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (IT IS PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON NOW!!! om nomnom) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!
  

   

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Hellicious Volume 1 by Mina Elwell (GN)
Blog Blast w/ Giveaway! Archivos by Dan Robison (Writing Program)
Blog Tour w/ Review: Finchosaurus by Gail Donovan (MG)
Trailer Reveal w/ Giveaway! The Journal of Angela Ashby by Liana Gardner (YA)
Blog Blast w/ Giveaway!  The Oracle of Doom by D.J. MacHale (MG)

Books Received this Week

 

For Review:
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan from Netgalley and Little Brown and Co for review.

   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of October 14 - October 20
Blog Blast - Excerpt & Giveaway! The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck (YA)
Waiting on Wednesday: The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher (MG)
Recent Reads: Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Keirnan (MG)- 3 stars
Early Reader Review: Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson (MG, NG)- 5 stars

 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Early Reader Review: Phoebe and her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson

Source: From Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Phoebe and her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson

Series: Heavenly Nostrils #8
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date:  October 23, 2018

 

Format:  Ebook

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Summer is here, and Phoebe and Marigold are headed to drama camp. Phoebe’s expecting some quality time with her best friend, but in a surprise twist, Marigold has invited her sister, Florence Unfortunate Nostrils! While the unicorn sisters head to camp in a magical rainbow pod, Phoebe is stuck riding with her parents in their boring car, wondering where it all went wrong. But at Camp Thespis, there are more daunting tasks at hand: writing, producing, and acting in an entirely original play! The second Phoebe and Her Unicorn graphic novel is a sparkling tale of sisterhood and summer fun, as well as a reminder that sometimes it takes a bit of drama to recognize true friendship.

Review: 
I squealed when I saw another Phoebe and her Unicorn book coming out! I really love these so much. They always put me in a good mood and I love the way that Phoebe and Marigold interact so much! They are fun and funny, and the stories are always great. 

In this installment we get a full graphic novel about friendship. Phoebe and Marigold are planing to go to drama camp but things get a bit weird when Marigold's sister turns up and Marigold starts leaving Phoebe to do her own thing. This was an emotional turn for the Heavenly Nostrils series, Phoebe felt left out and Marigold was just trying to be a good sister. I think that this episode did a good job explaining the important parts of friendship and showing such a strong friendship having problems - it happens and there are ways to talk it out.

While this installment was not as funny as others in the series it still had some great parts and I think that the overall story was a wonderful one and it was nice to see another side of Phoebe and Marigold. It still put a smile on my face and I am still super excited about all the book in this series!

If you are looking to get a middle grader into reading or graphic novels these are some fun options.

Other Book In the Series

(Images link to reviews)

      

  

And for even younger readers!

Recent Reads: Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Kiernan

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

 

Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Kiernan
Series: The Wild Magic trilogy #1 
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date:  September 11, 2018

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis:

When witches kidnap her dad, Mup is swept up in a wild tide of magic that carries her to another world. Can she reunite her family and find her way back?

On the night that Aunty dies, the raggedy witches come for Mup's family. Pale, cold, and relentless, the witches will do anything for the tyrannical queen who has outlawed most magic and enforces her laws with terror and cruelty -- and who happens to be Mup's grandmother. When witches carry off her dad, Mup and her mam leave the mundane world to rescue him. But everything is odd in the strange, glittering Witches Borough, even Mam. Even Mup herself. In a world of rhyming crows, talking cats, and golden forests, it's all Mup can do to keep her wits about her. And even if she can save her dad, Mup's not sure if anything will ever be the same again. First in a new trilogy by Irish author Celine Kiernan, this tale of family and forbidden magic charts a fresh path through the landscape of beloved fantasy tradition -- and promises to bewitch any reader in search of stories to love.

Review: 
I always get excited for books about magic and witches and I was excited to receive this one. It is the start of a trilogy for Middle Grade readers about a girl named Mup whose father is taken by witches in order to lure her mother back into the magical realm she was born in. 

This was a fun read and it was fairly short. Mup is a wonderful main character for younger readers and her support of others and overall attitude in a time of crisis was encouraging. The story follows her as she goes after her father with her mother who has recently learned she is from this magical place and was taken to live life normally by her aunt. There was drama and magic, and an overall sense of urgency throughout the story so the pacing worked well.

I liked how the world was built and how the readers are able to fall right into it. An added bonus was also that the ending was not a complete cliffhanger so you can read it as a standalone if you so choose to. 

Overall I think this will be a fun read for younger readers and since this is the first in a trilogy, there are more stories to come if you enjoy this one.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Christmassaurus by Tom Fletcher

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 23, 2018

Synopsis:  

The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle, and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It's about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible . . .

Why I Am Waiting:
Christmas and a dinosaur... I'm down for that! It is different and seems like it will be fun.

Blog Blast w/ Excerpt & Giveaway! The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

Tour Info

About the Book

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare.

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.  

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

 

CHAPTER 1
CROSSROADS

          Jack sat on top of the covered bridge in his favorite spot, his arm draped over his carved pumpkin. The gourd wasn’t his first choice to house the ember of his immortality, but then again, he’d never really been given a choice.
          It wasn’t the first time he’d heard of foolish men who’d made deals with the devil. During every scary story he’d been told as a child on long winter nights, he’d clutched his covers to his throat imagining frightening specters, red demons, or wicked- clawed ghouls looming out of swaying shadows, ready to snatch up unmindful children and trick them with beguiling words. His imagination never came close to the truth. And he’d certainly never envisioned those devils walking earth as mere men, dressed as pirates, storing stolen souls in harvest vegetables.

Building the Book Pile #275

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

So this week was lots of ups and downs. School is going great and I have loads of posts prepared for the coming weeks to keep the blog going - I even have a few reviews too! It was the hubs b-day on Wednesday but I also had to bring Rolo (my Frenchie) to an eye specialist. He had an ulcer for a week and it worsened... so eye doctor was the next step. We are still trying to heal him up and go back for a re-check on Wednesday.  I had friends over on Friday for Pumpkin Carving and it was a great time though.

The weather is getting colder which is nice but the sun is going down at 6:30 already :( it make me a little sad.

I hope everyone is having a great month so far!

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (IT IS PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON NOW!!! om nomnom) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!
    

 

Coming up on the Blog

Blog Blast - Excerpt & Giveaway! The Lanter's Ember by Colleen Houck (YA)

Waiting on Wednesday

Recent Reads: Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Keirnan (MG)

Early Reader Review: Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson (MG, NG)

 

Books Received this Week

 

For Review:
That Night by Amy Giles from the Publicist for review.

   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of  October 7 - October 13

Another (#3) $100 Giveaway
Early Reader Review: Brave Thumbelina by An Leysen (Youth) - 4 stars
Waiting on Wednesday: Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig (MG)
Early Reader Review: This is a Whoopsie! by Andrew Cangelose (Youth) - 4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Early Reader Review: This is a Whoopsie! by Andrew Cangelose

Source: From Netgalley and Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

 This is a Whoopsie! by Andrew Cangelose
Publisher: Diamond Book Distributors
Publication Date:  October 16, 2018

 

Format: Ebook 

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

This is supposed to be a book about all the different things moose can do, like leaping and jumping and being really tall. But maybe Whoopsie isn't the right moose for the job. You might want to pick a different moose for this book. Maybe instead we can do a book about falling down a lot? Yeah! Whoopsie would be great at that.This hilarious book about a clumsy moose shows that sometimes being a little different can make one great story.

Review: 
I really like books by Andrew Cangelose, they are silly and very cute. In this book you are supposed to learn all about moose, but the moose in the book is a bit clumsy and tends to ruin things - so when he accidentally falls into the text he has to put it back together. 

This was a great book about being different and telling readers that it is ok to be a bit different. Whoopsie the moose is funny and you and your kids will have a great time reading about him and reading his story revisions. I really liked this clumsy moose and think he will make kids laugh while learning an important lesson - it is ok to be yourself and create a new narrative.

Waiting on Wednesday: Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig

Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig
Series: Christmas #3
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd.
Publication Date: October 16, 2018

Synopsis:  

It isn't always easy, growing up as a human in Elfhelm, even if your adoptive parents are the newly married Father Christmas and Mary Christmas.

For one thing, Elf School can be annoying when you have to sing Christmas songs everyday - even in July - and when you fail all your toy-making tests. Also it can get very, very cold.

But when the jealous Easter Bunny and his rabbit army launch an attack to stop Christmas, it's up to Amelia, her new family and the elves to keep Christmas alive. Before it's too late . . .

Why I Am Waiting:
OMG!!! Book 3!!! Yesssssss, I love Christmas books and these ones have started off my season for the last two years, hopefully my Netgalley request gets approved!