READ ALL ABOUT IT: Hand-Picked Words + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to the Monday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...where you never really know what you're in store for, but you can count on it being bookish.

Today, we're adding a new post to the READ ALL ABOUT IT category but it's not about any book in particular; rather a whole assortment of ebooks right at your fingertips, specially selected for their connected themes month after month.  Sound good?  Curious to learn more?  I thought you might be...I mean even as a paper book preferred reader, I was interested in finding out more.  Thanks to Dani from this fabulous site, I had all the information at my fingertips...as you are about to as well.  Ready to READ ALL ABOUT IT?  Put your listening ears on....err, okay, maybe your reading eyes on...and get ready to learn all about the newest kid on the ebook block....

HAND-PICKED WORDS

The basics....

...you sign up for a monthly subscription for $15 a month.  Around the 30th of each month (or every Saturday if you choose the Weekly Mini-Cookbooks), you receive a "delivery" of your Book Lovers' Box...and from what I'm seeing there's also a Romance Lovers, Sci-fi Lovers, and Foodie Lovers' Box available for pre-order now too!).  Unzip the file and enjoy four shorter reads and two full-length novels each month!  They range anywhere from graphic novels to mysteries and star emerging authors you might be reading for the first time, but it probably won't be the last.  

Sound too good to be true?

Oh, but it's....NOT!

Nope...and that's coming from a paper preferred reader (which by the way, they're working on a possible PRINT box version in the near future so let them know your interest!).  I know what you're thinking...of course YOU think that, you got to try a box scott-free so it took all the risk out of it.  Oh don't be so contrary....though they may be partially true (how else could I tell you what I though of it  if I didn't try it?)....

....you too can not only immediately sample a FREE box (right now it's a SPOOKY assortment) but if you choose to subscribe, you get a FREE MONTH too!

Pretty cool, right?

So, what are you waiting for?

Never suffer from the "I-have-nothing-to-read" blues again, or at least for a few days after the 30th when you are happily devouring the surprise arrivals from your latest box.  Stop by the site and read all about it, then try it for yourself!

I highly doubt you'll be sorry you did.

In fact, I'd venture as far as saying, there's no way you could.

^_^

Special thanks to Dani from Hand-Picked Words for the chance to shine a spotlight on this innovative new site.  (THANKS!)  For more information, click on over to their official site, like them on Facebook, follow along on Twitter and catch up on the news via their blog.


Oh....and one more thing...thanks to Dani, I've got another surprise for you!
READERS OF THIS POST....you now have the chance to WIN a FREE 3 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION to try out this fab new site on your own!
How's that for cool?

To enter...simply submit your information below.
If you'd like a few bonus points, SPREAD THE WORD.
It's as simple as that.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Contest open worldwide or at least to those countries and readers that can accept the formats offered...just check their site for more details.  Entries accepted today through midnight CST on Saturday, September 21st, 2013.

Until next time...happy reading, no matter your format preference!

READ ALL ABOUT IT: HooplaHa dishes up the smiles!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....post numero dos for the day.

Okay, confession...it's not really book related but it is SMILE INDUCING and that HAS to count for something, right....right?  Right!  So I know it's "the most wonderful time of the year" but as much mistle-toeing and hearts glowing as you see, there is also that tendency to be over stressed (*raises hand*), over worked (*raises OTHER hand*), and just flat out pooped from trying to keep up with it all (*jumps up and down with both arms raised*).  I don't know about you, but it seems to have happened even more so this year in my household and frankly, it saddens my heart.  I want to enjoy the holiday season while it's here, not lament its passing days later.

So, in the spirit of Christmas present, I am ordering a PAUSE to be inserted into your day.  Don't think I can order you around?  THINK AGAIN!  It's for your own good you know (mine as well) and inserting that PAUSE won't be as hard as you think...because really, you're taking a moment RIGHT NOW to read this post, so you're halfway there already!  The PAUSE I wish for you to take though will leave you with a smile on your face, a skip in your step, and warmth in your heart.  It'll give you that extra BOOST of HAPPY and INSPIRATION to make it through the day.  The PAUSE of which I speak is called...

HooplaHa.  It's a newish site that my PR friend Erin (Hi Erin!) let me in on and I have to tell you, once I read about their mission...I was already hooked.  Their mission...

...to make people smile as much as possible.

Simple?  Perhaps.
Worthwhile?  You bet!
  It's a site built around sharing smiles and stories to spread a message of positivity far and wide...and who couldn't use a little more of that in their life?  I know I sure could...and that's exactly what I got when I starting checking out the videos.  The first one I encountered melted my heart and was the determining factor in whether I shared this site with you so you can thank BeeBee the Chihuahua for the recommendation.  Curious what spoke to my heart so greatly?  Check out BeeBee's story....

....see?  Touching wasn't it?

~tear~

That's only the beginning too because there are things to smile about, stories to be uplifted by and then some in a myriad of categories across the site.  From Love to Family, Cute to Charity....there's a little something to smile about for everyone...and of course with 2012 drawing to a close in a matter of days, their latest video is certainly appropriate:  TOP HEROES OF 2012.

While digging around the site, I discovered so many great things but also one unexpected...that they have a Celebrity Ambassador...Ms. Debbie Gibson herself!  (Remember her?  "Only in My Dreams", "Foolish Beat"..and other hits... ^_^)  Pretty cool, right...and another great voice to a site that's already got a promising future.  So, about that DEMANDED PAUSE in your day, think you can handle it with a little help from HooplaHa?  I thought so. ^_^

Special thanks to Erin at HooplaHa for the lead on the site.  (THANKS!)  To add a smile to your day, be sure to visit the official site.  Not exploring the world wide web at the moment?  Check them out on these social networks...Google+, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

Until next time...SMILE...and happy reading!

READ ALL ABOUT IT: Literally Dysfunctional

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the bookworm in us all….Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are taking a break from the tours (for a moment at least…but don’t forget to enter all the contests still running on the site!  Just check the right hand side bar for the links and details…) to reflect on something I watched just the other day.  What’s that?  Oh you caught that did you…yes, I said WATCHED.  Now you might be wondering how on Earth can this be a book post if you WATCHED it or perhaps you’ve jumped ahead and begun to ponder if this is another one of those posts that will wax on about the merits and follies of turning a book into a movie….I know you guys, you’re a crafty bunch.  Alas, this time around you would be wrong on BOTH counts; yep, it’s time for me to be crafty….but only for a moment because while keeping you in suspense IS fun (for me anyway), I know how it feels on the other side of the screen (well, not IN the web, but on your side of things, reading a post and saying tell me already, just spill it!).

The featured work today is in fact a WEB SERIES where a few of the literary characters you know and love take center stage.  When approached regarding a review of the site/episodes, Amber (a writer and co-producer of the show) had this to say about its origins….”It sprang from my own passion for the written word, and the desire to use a visual medium to create a show for people who love books."  How could I resist?  So without further ado, let’s draw the curtain back on today’s bookish show of choice…

LiterallyDysfunctional

Fictional characters.

Real Problems.

Pardon e moi for just a moment...I have to give one small critique before we delve into the awesome-ness that awaits you.  EVERY time I read the title of this show, this web series....my eyes and my brain want to change one small thing; the first word.  For some reason, I want to say LITERARILY not LITERALLY Dysfunctional...you know, a play on LITERARY.  Some how in my wee little brain it would make a bit more sense.  Grant it, I know it's not an "official" word, more like one adopted by those in the bookish community (see, ANOTHER made up yet definable word) but it IS accepted to as one in polite conversation and definitely makes an impact.  Anyone else?  *glances round*  Anywho...whew!  There....I feel much better now; moving on!

Thus far there are THREE episodes, all of which are about five minutes in length.  Each one provides just enough storyline to further acquaint you with the characters, move things along, and still keep you coming back for more…and more there will be.  Let’s take a closer (yet brief, don’t want to spoil all the fun) look at those “now playing”…

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Episode 101:  The Id, the Ego, and the Fictitious

Lynn Chaucer, therapist to the fictional, works with her newest group. Kate & Scarlett display their anger issues & Red takes a dark turn.

In their world, or rather our world as it is set in current times, there are Guardians of literary characters and their stories; when the stories change too much…*POOF*…the characters are gone as is the literary gem we adored.  The introduction here where a young Lynn is told by her father how sometimes people, even our favorite characters lose their way and need someone to guide them back to the stories we cherish is lovely; short and sweet, but heartwarming all the same.  The quick flash forward to Lynn’s current session in progress leaves no doubt in our minds that she took those words to heart, however the passion with which Red, excuse me, Tilde speaks is intimidating…scary even.  *-*  (Good acting!)

Episode 102:  Never Can Tell What Lies Ahead

Catherine dreams of the moors as a fight rages on.  A new member is introduced, and a legend attempts to destroy her story forever.

Picking up where episode one left off, we now turn our focus a bit towards Catherine as she peers at or through a poster on the wall….what IS behind that thing?  Very curious indeed….plus the revelation of Red’s activities since her grandmother saving days will definitely shock and surprise; at least it did ME anyway.  Word to the wise…watch out for Red!

Episode 103:  The Mouth of the Wolf, or the End of the World

Lynn and Red break the rules & brave the real world as serious lessons must be learned.  Red's softer side and her crush are revealed.

Three episodes in and it’s apparent our first “star” is Red…aka Tilde.  She’s on a journey much bigger than she realizes but with Lynn’s help, that’s seriously about to change.  I love Lynn’s approach to solving Red’s “issues”, getting her to realize how important she and her story are to so many…and the twist at the end was quite the surprise!  Also, adoring the location used.  A little research reveals it to be the LA Public Library 6th St./Hope Place entrance and the quote above the door that I paused the video to admire was this… “In the world of affairs, we live in our own age. In books we live in all ages.”  Quite right and yet filled with the promise of the magic that awaits you inside…

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So, avid readers AND watchers…would I recommend taking a gander at this series?  You bet your book reading selves I would!  It immerses you in a world where characters have sprung right off the pages in need of OUR help…can you imagine?  It’d be like getting that fictional “dinner with any five people” you've dreamed about once upon a time…only with more talk about “feelings”.  The casting and wardrobe is spot on for representing the characters they are portraying even if some of their actions are out of whack….hey, they’re not attending group therapy for kicks, you know?  It’s a lively way to bring books into another part of your day and a creative idea sure to attract A LOT of attention (or should I say MORE because it’s already sparking conversations in the great big out there).  So click on over for a spell and check out all there is to see while things are just getting started….playing catch up was never MY favorite sport and I doubt it to be yours either.

Special thanks to Amber from the Literally Dysfunctional team for reaching out to me so I can bring this spotlight/review to all of you.  (THANKS!)  Catch up on the episodes you’ve missed and stay tuned for those forthcoming via their official website.  Not enough interaction?  I don’t blame you.  They can also be liked on Facebook, followed on Twitter and displayed with pride via their Café Press store.  (I totally have my eye on one of the shirts…or magnetic bumper sticker…or…)

Until next time…happy reading…AND watching!