Good Feels for Good Wood

One of the mom's in my daughter's Daisy troop (that's Girl Scouts for kindergartners) just fascinates me.  

Betty always wears her black hair in a style reminiscent of the 50's.  She has bright red lipstick and dresses to the nines.  And she's tatted out from neck to toe.  I'm sure she finds me terribly creepy because I find her incredibly beautiful and just want to stare at her!  (And yes, I recognize the awesome coincidence of my Betty having the same name as Betty Page, the most famous pin up model ever!)

When I picked up "Good Wood" by my latest Diamonds, L.G.Pace III and Michelle Pace, I got almost an identical description of the main character!  From a reader standpoint, it gave me the best visual image and really got me engaged immediately.

I know not everyone has a real Betty in their life.  But that won't take away from the enjoyment of this book.  It was everything a good book should be.  It made me laugh.  It made me cry.  It made me happy.  It made me mad.  I loved the characters and the story and the plot.  

Here's the official synopsis that I got from Amazon:

"It's the sign of a true artisan when he can create beauty from what others consider trash.  It takes heart to use a twisted bit of scrap and make something from it as if it were good wood."

Somehow Joe survived the unlivable, and now he's just going through the motions.  An endless string of one night stands does little to dull the ache from all he's lost.  Even though he distracts himself daily with back-breaking work, his violent rage still simmers just under the surface.

Then along comes Molly, the feisty baby sister of his two best friends.  Joe hasn't seen her in years, and he's unprepared for his reaction to her when she falls out of the food truck and into his arms.  Molly is still as mouthy as ever, and now she's as delicious as the food she's serving up.  It's totally against "The Bro Code", but he just can't seem to keep his hands off of her.

Molly has come back home to Austin to mend fences and feel a whole new crowd.  Dealing with Joe's demons doesn't figure into her business model.   Something is very different about him and she craves the "Old Joe" she used to have a crush on.  Still, the broody carpenter's swagger is damn near irresistible.  And all work and no play makes Molly a cranky girl.

Sounds great, right?  

It is.

While it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, you will still be anxiously waiting for the next installment, just like me.  So pick up "Good Wood" by clicking here.  

It gets a solidly crafted

The Winner of the Hot Russian and a New Contest is Coming!

The winner of the hot Russian as chosen by Random.org is...

Kristi Walker!!!!

Congratulations!  Send me a message a chelleauthorstalker@gmail.com letting me know what email address you'd like to receive the gifted copy.

If you didn't win, you can still get a copy of "Drive" by Brenda Rothert by clicking here.  You won't be disappointed.

And keep checking in for a chance to win in my "300 Likes Giveaway" later this week!

WIN A HOT RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER! Ok, Fine. Win an EBook About One. That's Almost As Good.

It's really interesting watching an author put a book together.  Everyone has a completely different process.

Some authors outline the entire story and keep getting more detailed until it's all filled in. Some sit down at the computer and have no idea where the book is going until it gets there.

Some authors write their books in pieces and them put it together like a jigsaw puzzle.  Some write it all in order.

Some authors take weeks, months, maybe even years to complete their work.  Others, like my Diamond Brenda Rothert, like to work under pressure.  When the deadline is just two weeks away, she'll sit down and finally start working.  

What does that have to do with "Drive"?  Well, I was one of the lucky few that got to beta read it.  That means in the last 10 days, I've read the rough draft, discussed it in detail, read revisions, discussed those in detail, and now I've read the final draft.  And you know what?

I still want more of this book!  

Niko is an amazing character from a small immigrant family.  Sadie is an amazing character who has no family.  Together, they are just amazing.  And fun.  And sexy.  And everything an enjoyable book should be. 

I liked it so much, it put me in a giving mood.  So I'm going to give away a copy to one lucky winner.  

Here's how to enter:

1)  Go download "Bound", the first book in the "Fire on Ice" series by clicking here.  It's a freebie so you don't have anything to lose.
2)  Copy the link for this blog post and pimp it on Facebook so others can have a chance to win.
3)  Then come back and comment that it's done.  

See?  Easy.

On a related note, since I know it's always a concern, rest assured the "Fire on Ice" series isn't full of cliffhangers leaving you cursing the author for making you wait to find out how everyone is going to get through.  

No.  

It's a series that makes you want more because you just like everyone so darn much!  And while you really should read them all, they can be read as stand alone books as well.  So to read "Drive', just click here.

With all that being said, any book that can keep me interested and engaged for 10 straight days, despite my ADD tendencies deserves

Playing with Words Has Never Been So Fun

Sometimes, it's fun to make fun of ourselves.  I draw the line at cutting remarks or really hurtful things. But finding humor in ourselves is just flat out fun.  

Like those caricature drawings we used to get at Six Flags.  Did you ever get one of those?  I know I have a big forehead.  But not that big!

That's why I like my next Diamond, Amalie Silver and her book "Word Play".  It is a story about the literary community....authors, bloggers, publishers, street teams, yes, even trolls.  You name it, there is a character for it!    And when you look at it all from Ms. Silver's perspective, it can be pretty funny.  

But the literary world can also charming and endearing. And that is also something Ms. Silver does a wonderful job portraying.  Her characters are book nerds in their most genuine form.

When I started reading this book, I was in a bad mood.  And I'll admit, I almost put it down. But by 10% I was really interested.  By 25%, I was completely engaged.  And by 41%, I was laughing out loud at how much it actually reminds me of several author events I have attended.  Ms. Silver nailed it and the crazy things that happen when you get a bunch of literary lovers together in a room.  Who knew?

So click here to take this book with you to the beach.  Make sure you take it all at face value. Don't look for angst and life changing meaning.  It is a satirical comedy after all.  Look for heart and fun and a little bit of romance.

If you look close enough, you might even be able to find a fun caricature of yourself!

I'm not joking or satirical when I give Amalie Silver's "Word Play"

Mad Dog's Got Nothing on These Guys...

Travis Maddox was my very first book boyfriend.  I loved his protective personality.  I love that he made a living by fighting.  I loved that he loved so intensely that it bordered on psychotic.  Ahhhhh.....Travis.  He will always have a special place in my heart.  

Enter my Diamond, JB Salsbury and her cast of MMA fighters, including:

Jonah "The Assassin" Slade

Blake Daniels

Rex Carter

Travis may have been my first love.  But these guys could kick his ass with their thumb.

Let me start at the beginning. 

I only had a certain amount of cash to buy books at Book Bash a couple weeks ago.  By the time I was down to my last $15, I had already purchased everything I absolutely had to have.  And I had found a couple Diamonds along the way.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with the rest of the money that was burning a hole in my pocket.

I ran into my friend Danielle and told her my plight.  She looked around, snapped her fingers, and led me directly over to meet this woman:

That is JB Salsbury, the Diamond I'm speaking of today.  And yes, she is as tiny and beautiful in person as she looks in pictures.

After talking to her for a few minutes and discussing her sales, I bought the first book in her "Fighting" series, called "Fighting For Flight".  

I am so glad I did.  These books are addicting.  

The entire series is about a group of MMA fighters who work together, train together, and start building families together.  As with any good MMA character, there is all kinds of drama.  So much so that each of the three books took me less than 24 hours to read because I just couldn't put them down!

Here is my one quick disclaimer:

Do not give up on "Fighting for Flight" until you are at least a third of the way through.  I will admit, I sent Danielle a Facebook message a few times saying, "I'm not sure what to think yet."  She kept responding with "Keep going.   You'll get there."  Then all of the sudden, BAM!  I was there!!  And it was so worth it.

One of the things I love about Ms. Salsbury's stories is that once the happily ever after happens, the story isn't over yet.  There are real issues to work through.  And we get to see it happen.  

You can also see growth in her writing, which is something I always love to see.  Authors whose writing keeps getting better, tell stories that keep getting better.

Which leads to my only heart ache in this whole series.  

I have to wait until October to get the next installment.  Why, JB?  WHY must you torture me so??  

(If you haven't read them yet, at least you don't have to be tortured.  You can get "Fighting For Flight" by clicking here.)

I give JB Salsbury and her "Fighting" series a soaring, and growing

To Kindle Unlimited or to Not Kindle Unlimited....That is the Question.

There's been a lot of chatter about Kindle Unlimited since it was revealed a couple of days ago.  For just $10 a month, you can read all you want for free!

Sounds like a great deal, right?

Well, it might be depending on your reading habits.

I know my own personal opinion on this new service.  But my point here is not to stand on a soap box one way or another.  My goal is to give you some facts about Kindle Unlimited so you can make an educated choice.  Because this really is having an impact on the world of Indie authors.  

Please keep in mind, there are two very different thing happening here.  One is on the reader side.  The other is on the author side.

So let's start with the reader side.

First off, Kindle Unlimited is a very new service.  From what I can see, there's not much available that I either haven't read already or isn't already offered for free.  From a financial perspective, I can see that I need to be very, very careful to make it worth my while.

For instance, I haven't read "Alpha" by Jasinda Wilder yet.  Nor have I read "Shame on Him" by Tara Sivec.  (Don't judge.  They're on my TBR)  "Alpha" retails as an ebook for $5.99.  "Shame on Him" for $3.99.  So if I purchase those on my own, I've spent my $10 already.  

However, you can't get "Wife Number Seven" by Melissa Brown through Kindle Unlimited.  So if you wanna read it, you still have to pay $3.99.

By my totals so far, I've purchased 3 books.  I'd say for the average reader, that's probably about accurate for the month.  Either way, I'm spending $14 for the month.  So far, it makes no difference if I enroll in Kindle Unlimited or not.  And I suspect, for the average reader, the number totals will vary by a few cents months to month.

Now, from the author perspective.  Here's where it gets interesting because Kindle Unlimited has changed all the rules.

In order for an author to post a book on Kindle Unlimited, they have to join KDP Select.  It stands for something that I can't remember.  But what it stands for isn't the important part.  The important part is, if an author enrolls a book in KDP Select, they are no longer authorizing that book to be sold anywhere else other than Amazon.  That's the contractual requirement.  No Nook, no iTunes, nothing.  It must be sold EXCLUSIVELY by Amazon.

Initially, that might sound shady, but it is business, after all.  It's common practice to try and drive the other guy out of business.  So I don't feel bad for Barnes & Noble.  I do, however, feel bad for the reader that still prefers their Nook and can no longer get some great books because of their choice of ereader.

The other interesting fact is that if a reader does not read past 10% of whatever book they have chosen, the author doesn't get paid.  

Why is this a huge deal?  

Think about it.  How many of us are serial one-clickers?  We see "free" and we click on it, only to have it sit on our device for months and months before we finally end up reading it?  I'm not an author.  But if I was, that would really suck.

It appears Kindle Unlimited is already making an impact on sales.  Several authors I have spoken to are freaking out because their sales have dropped significantly since KU launched.  Even new releases that have been highly anticipated and people have been waiting for aren't selling the way they should.

Case in point, "Sex Unlimited: Volume 1" by Kathryn Perez hit that coveted best seller category within the first couple of days.  There has been a ton of buzz about "SU: Volume 2" and people have been waiting for it to be published.

Well, here it is. Close to 24 hours after release, and "SU: Volume 2" has barely broken the top 1000 list.  

Same issue with "Wife Number Seven".  People have been pimping it for days and counting down.  It hasn't yet broken the Top 1000 by the time this blog published.

I'm not saying these numbers are being skewed by Kindle Unlimited.  And let me make my disclaimer here....I haven't spoken about the sales to either Kathryn Perez or Melissa Brown. These aren't bad sales numbers at all.  They are just surprising to me when taking into consideration their previous new releases and current pimping trends.  (Updated on  July 21, 2014....as of this afternoon, Ms. Brown's book is now ranked #292 in sales and steadily climbing.  Way to go!!)

(By the way, you can get "Sex Unlimited: Volume 2" by clicking here.  It definitely lives up to the kind of writing I expect from Ms. Perez.  And it's only $0.99.  You can get "Wife Number Seven" by clicking here.  I'm dying to read it after talking with several friends who say it is like nothing they've ever read.)

My point in all this?  Before signing up for Kindle Unlimited, you have to ask yourself 3 questions...

1)  Is this actually going to save me money?
2)  Who is actually going to make the money with this deal?
3)  Do I care who makes the most money with this deal?

The answers are going to be different for everyone and that's ok.  Some are going to really like Kindle Unlimited.  Some aren't.  But at least you can't say you didn't know.

Happy Reading!

A Beach Read That's Actually Safe for the Beach

If I had to describe the one thing most New Adult books focus on these days, I'd have to say it was sex.  Sex, sex and more SEX!  

Sex in a bed. 
Sex in a shower.
Sex on a motorcycle.
Sex in a limo.

Good lord!  Give my girly parts a break!

I think that's why I like Jamie Carie's "Rush to the Altar" as today's Beach Read.  There's just no sex.  Obviously, from the title, you know at some point they get married.  But even the honeymoon scene only eludes to the fact that the newlyweds get busy.  There's no actual descriptions.  

And I like that.  It was a refreshing change.

Now, "Rush to the Altar" does have a few ridiculous scenes that are enjoyable if you like that kind of humor.  But overall, the book just made me feel good.  And the fact that I don't need to read the synopsis to remember the story line, despite the fact that I read it months ago, means it left a nice happy face imprint on my book loving heart.

Extra bonus points for the fact that if your teenager grabs your kindle while sitting on the beach so she can see what it is you're reading, you won't have to freak out and pray she didn't read that part.  You know which part I'm talking about.  (insert bed/shower/motorcycle/limo here)

You can get this fun, easy, breath of fresh air by clicking here.  It gets a fun, easy

This Blissful Series Starts With a Freebie!

Several years ago I got married to a wonderful man that I just knew was going to make me happy.  He was adopting our two children with me.  We worked in the same industry so there was no shortage of conversation.  We committed to going on a trip together once a year just to strengthen our bond.  

Ok…so where did that go?  Shouldn’t we always get along?  Shouldn’t issues be resolved after just a couple of chapter breaks?  Isn’t he still supposed to desire me when my legs aren’t shaved and I have morning breath?  MY BOOK SAID HE’S SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUT WITH ME AND MY MORNING BREATH!!!

Ah yes, it’s the lies we all fall for.  That there really is such a thing as a drama free happily ever after.  Don’t misunderstand, I’m a firm believer that your attitude can make or break the happiness of any situation.  But there are relationship lies we willingly take in every time we read a book with a happily ever after.  And if we’re not careful, they can make us expect way too much out of the other imperfect human sleeping in our bed.

Enter my Diamond in the Rough, Nina Lane and her “A Spiral of Bliss” series.

Her stories are based on a couple who are not trying to fall in love.  No, they’re trying to stay in love after being married for a while.

Ok, fine.  So I don’t remember reading any farting in bed scenes or underwear being left all over the house in these books.  But what I do remember is the overwhelming feeling of, “Holy crap.  She TOTALLY gets it!”  And, “It’s like she climbed into my head!!”

Ms. Lane tackles problems that are relatively common in marriage;  kids, loss, job transfers and infidelity (don’t worry.  There are no major love triangles here.  Everything is pretty much on the up-and-up.).  Her writing made me appreciate the problems in my own marriage more;  And made me want to be a better wife to my husband.

To have me walk away from this series with my book loving soul satisfied and while still appreciating my own life drama…well, I’d say that’s a series worth reading.

The first one, "Arouse" is currently a freebie.  Which means, you have no reason not to give this series a chance.  You can get it by clicking here.

Nina Lane and her "A Spiral of Bliss" series get an arousing

Someone Will Be "Finding Cinderella" in Their Mailbox Soon!! Is It You?

Our winners of the signed copies of Colleen Hoover's "Finding Cinderella", as chosen by Random.org are:

Elisabeth Castro

and

Jordan Chambers!!!

Congratulations ladies!  Don't forget to email me at chelleauthorstalker@gmail.com with your mailing address so I can get it to you ASAP.  I hope you enjoy that bonus epilogue as much as I did!

Even if you didn't win the giveaway, we all still win because we can download a FREE copy of "Finding Cinderella" by clicking here.  Yes, I said FREE!  Just because Colleen Hoover likes us that much.  You can purchase a paperback or the Audible at that link as well.

Thanks again for all the entries!  Good luck next time!

"Fashionably Dead" is Fashionably Fun!

1Did you ever watch the show "Sabrina The Teenage Witch"?  I loved that show.  What's not to love about a fashion conscious teenager trying to navigate her way through the world with her magical powers, all while living with a couple of quirky aunts.  And she had a talking cat.  Who doesn't love a talking cat??

We all knew "Sabrina" would never win an Emmy or get stellar reviews.  But who cares?  It was fun and funny and enjoyable and it made me happy.

That's kind of how I felt while reading "Fashionably Dead" by Robyn Peterman.  Happy.

Yes, it was a little out there.  But what do you expect from story about a girl who decides to quit smoking and instead ends up undead?  It shouldn't be surprising that it's not going to win any awards.  But frankly, I don't care.  Because once you throw in the hot devil man and the guardian angel with the mouth of a sailor, it ends up being an enjoyable ride.

One of the best parts of this book is that the Kindle version is free.  Now it does end in a cliffhanger, but if you end up dying to know what happens next, you'll be happy to know book 2 is already out!  I, myself, am looking forward to it.

You can get "Fashionably Dead" by clicking here.

For a fun read on your next vacation, "Fashionably Dead" gets a fun and fashionable

Welcome!!! Thanks for Being Here!!

I woke up this morning and to my surprise, my tiny little blog's Facebook page has over 100 new likes.  Now I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but to me, that is HUGE!!!  So I wanted to thank you for being here and give you a quick rundown of what I'm about.

My overall goal of Diamonds in the Rough is to celebrate and promote the authors that haven't made the big time yet.  The ones that have brilliant stories and brilliant writing, but just haven't been discovered on a NY Times best selling scale yet.  Authors like 

Penny Reid 
Mara Jacobs
Kathryn Perez
Stacey Grice
Brenda Rothert 
And more!   

My one exception is Colleen Hoover.  She is obviously the queen of Indie, but I'll always review her stuff because I love it and her so much.  Considering most of you are fans of hers, I doubt you have any objections!

I try really hard not to over post.  Usually only twice a week.  I don't want you to get sick of me!  So make sure to "like" it when you see it on Facebook so you can continue seeing the posts.  Or just sign up for the updates via email.  Your choice.

On Mondays I review a book or author.  These are books that knocked my socks off for one reason or another.  Books I truly highly recommend.  

Right now on Thursdays I'm doing a segment called "Beach Reads".  These probably aren't 5 star books, but they are light and fun and may be the perfect book for your vacation.  It won't necessarily stick with you, but it will be a guilty pleasure.  

And I throw in contests and giveaways as they come up.

So that's the schedule.  I do have to apologize in advance for my lack of technological savviness.  I'm still learning how to navigate my own blog and it doesn't always do what I want it to do.  Now that there are so many of you, I probably should call my friend who set it up and get that remedied, huh?

Once again, welcome!  I'm humbled and honored you are here and hope I can help you find your newest favorite author.  So look around!  See what you think.  I will do my best to bring you the greatest authors you've never heard of!  

Giveaway!! And Yes, It's Open Internationally

While I was at Book Bash, I was given a couple of signed copies of the above book to giveaway on my blog.  And by signed copies, I mean Colleen Hoover write a little ditty about this blog.  Because who wants a book just signed by an author when it can have something random written in it?  It's good to keep life interesting!  So basically, they are the only two copies in existence.  

In honor of "Finding Cinderella" being released as an audio book today, I think it's a great day to give away one of these signed books!

Here's what you're gonna do....
~Download "Finding Cinderella" in print for free OR purchase the audio book by clicking here.
~"Like" this blog on Facebook by clicking here.
~Comment either here or under the Facebook post that you've completed the above

See?  Easy peasy!  

And yes, it is open internationally.  Mostly because I have never shipped internationally and have no idea what I'm getting myself into.  So take advantage of me now.

Winner will be chosen by Random.org on Friday, July 11, 2014.  Good luck!

Even if You Don't Like Paranormal, I "Promise" You Will Love This Book

In the world of paranormal romance, there is really only two ways a book can go.  Either really, really good. Or really, really bad.

Fortunately for us, my newest Diamond, Kristie Cook, falls in the really, really good category.

I accidentally discovered Ms. Cook's "Soul Savers Series" while driving back to Houston from Pensacola, Florida a couple years ago.  Now, I've never been able to read in the car because I have a tendency to get car sick.  But I was bored and "Promise" was free and I had never tried reading on my Kindle in the car before.  So what the heck, right?

By the end of the 12 hour trip, I had discovered that Kindle reading doesn't make me nauseous (Score!).  I had also discovered my newest favorite author.

In the span of that drive alone, I had devoured "Promise" and was already halfway done with "Purpose", the second book in the series.  They were that good.

The "Soul Savers Series" follows the story of Alexis, a girl with a seemingly normal life who finds out that she is actually anything but normal.  Add in the uber-sexy Tristan who has some secrets of his own, and the story quickly gets exciting.  Not only does Alexis have to come to terms with who she is and her role in life, she has to do it all while navigating her way through a brand new love.

Even if you aren't a fan of paranormal, this series is worth a try.  Ms. Cook's writing is interesting and fun and she never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat.  She has an amazing ability to intertwine all kinds of creatures without it becoming overwhelming or flat-out dumb. And maybe best of all, her explanation of God versus satan, heaven versus hell and good versus evil are some of the most brilliant statements I've ever read in a work of fiction.  She truly has a gift.

Don't believe me?  Ask my BFF Allison.  We rarely agree about a book that knocks our socks off. But both of us count down when a new "Soul Savers" book is about to be released!

I was really excited to purchase "Promise" on Audible today.  It's on sale for just $3.95 which is a fantastic price!  But if audio books aren't your thing, "Promise" in written form is a freebie. So why not take the chance?  You can get it by clicking here.

Kristie Cook and her "Soul Savers Series" gets a solid

I'll Pay Lots of Pennies For Her Thoughts!

I know I was supposed to introduce you to a Beach Read today.  But instead, I'm going to tell you a story.

This is Penny Reid.

Not the shrimp on the left.  Penny is the other one.

One day, Penny was working as a lowly biomedical researcher when a friend started complaining about books.  The following conversation is not at all accurate, but you'll get my point:

Penny:  What don't you like about books?
Friend:  I want a book about a smart girl.  Why doesn't anyone write about smart girls?
Penny:  I bet I could write a book about a smart girl.
Friend:  I bet you couldn't.
Penny:  I bet I could.
Friend:  I bet you couldn't.
Penny:  I bet I could.
Friend:  Well what would you bet?
Penny:  I'd bet dinner.
Friend:  You're on!

So Penny went off and wrote a book about a smart girl and then ordered the steak and lobster because she won the bet.  

And that was the last Penny thought about her book.

Fast forward a little while and Penny's now one-expensive-dinner-poorer friend asks Penny to put the bet-winning book up on Amazon so her book club can read it on their Kindles.

Being the good friend that she is, Penny created a quick cover, came up with a random pen name and BOOM!  Penny's book was on Amazon.  

And that was the last Penny thought about her book.

A week-ish later, Penny remembered the book was on Amazon.  So she logged on to make sure all five book club members had downloaded the book and it could now be removed from the world wide web.  All five members had downloaded the book...along with EIGHT THOUSAND OTHER PEOPLE!!

Penny's reaction?

"No, no, no!!  You're not supposed to be reading that!"

But they were and the reviews were coming in.  Readers appeared to be very happy with the book.  So Penny sucked it up and wrote another book.  And then another.  And so on and so forth.

True story.  She tells it so much better though.

Penny's bet-winning book is called "Neanderthal Seeks Human" and it is one of my top reads of the year.  It is quirky.  It is smart.  It is fun.  It's like reading Tara Sivec with a Ph.D. and not as much sex talk.  You never know what direction it will take and some ridiculous things seem to always happen.  But, just like Tara Sivec (who is one of my favs), Ms. Reid knows how to make it work in a non-stupid way.

The main character, Janie, reminds me of a combination of Amy Farrah Fowler and Zoey Dechannel.  Super smart, full of all kinds of weird trivia and quirky to a fault.  She is awkward and endearing and you just want her to get the guy the end.  

I cannot even tell you how much fun this book was to read.  I started with the paperback, but when my husband went to bed I immediately bought the Kindle version so I could read the dark.  And I HATE spending double money on books!  But I just couldn't stop reading.  In fact, I'm still reading.  I've already moved on to "Neanderthal Marries Human" and it is just as entertaining!

I'm so, so glad I ran into Penny Reid in Kristen Ashley's line .  It was the best chance encounter I had at Book Bash!

You can get your copy of "Neanderthal Seeks Human" by clicking here.  It gets a very smart and quirky

Book Bash Breakdown...In Pictures

If you have never heard of Book Bash, the only way to describe it is the ComicCon of book nerds.  I'm not even exaggerating.  

There were close to 100 authors in attendance and over 1500 fans.  To say it was crazy is an understatement.  But it was crazy in the best possible way.  So here you go...my recap.  In pictures.

Being that I have never attended Book Bash before, I met up with some very close on line friends.  Including this one...

And also this one...

To say we have a loving relationship would be a bit of an understatement, don't ya think?

One of the first people I ran into before all the molesting began also happens to be one of my Diamonds!  Yep, I very quickly found this chick and her ugly book cover...

Sure, the cover is ugly.  But that didn't change my excitement from actually getting to hold it, as you can see from the look on my face.  Holding HJ Harley was pretty cool, too.  I know.  Way too much hugging going on so far.  (You have no idea)

Book Bash had a really cool pre-registration event on Friday night where you could mingle with some of the authors and get your picture taken.  And mingle with some authors I did!  In fact, that's where I found another Diamond!  I give you Stacey Grice...

Let me just say, that girl is straight up cra-zy.  In the best possible way.  If you ever get a chance to party with her, DO IT!!  It will be the most fun nights of your life!  And as a bonus, you will learn some new and improved dance moves.  Just trust me on that.

One of the most exciting parts of Book Bash for me was getting to meet and chat with this precious chick.

That, my friends, is Emily.  She is Griffin Peterson's girlfriend.  If you don't know who Griffin Peterson is, we can't be friends anymore.  Or, I'll just tell you.  Griffin Peterson is this guy...

Yes, I know this is an old picture.  But it is still the best picture EVER, so I have to show it off at any and all appropriate moments.  I mean, the hottie in the front, the photo bomb in the back, and Griffin in the middle...perfection!  

Griffin wrote and recorded the songs for Colleen Hoover's "Maybe Someday", by the way.

Back to Emily.  Emily was just such a sweetheart and is taking all this new found fame stuff in stride.  It was one of the highlights of my weekend.  I'm pretty sure she was avoiding me like the plague at some point.  But seriously, would you expect anything less from the Author Stalker than to freak at least one person out???  Of course not!!!  Moving on...

The one consistent thing about attending Book Bash is waiting.  Lots and lots and lots of waiting in lines.  Which is why you have to be diligent in your line forming skills.

Ok fine.  We didn't actually spend the night on the lobby floor.  But we thought about it.  Because there is a lot of waiting.

Waiting in line to get in.  
Waiting in line to meet authors.  
Waiting in line at the most ill-equiped and poorly run Starbucks in the history of the world.  

But sometimes the wait was so worth it!  (Well, not the Starbucks wait.)

Because I got to hang with this Diamond during Book Bash...

And this weekend, she found out this book that she wrote.....

Made the Amazon best seller list!  And it's STILL UP THERE!!!  Congratulations Kathryn Perez!!!  Now THAT is a fun fact for Book Bash!  (You can still purchase it by clicking here)

I did get to help out at this lady's table a bit...

And let me just say, the woman is a machine.  A kind, friendly, everyone feels loved when they leave, machine.  Impressive.

I also ran into this chick...

If you didn't know, this is Vilma from Vilma's Book Blog.  She is amazeballs.  Truly.  If you don't already follow her blog, you need to.  Now.  She is the foremost authority on anything book related.  And she's a hoot.

I did have a huge fangirl moment over this lady...

That, my friends, is Ana from Ana's Attic Book Blog.  She's kind of my hero.  So yeah, I'm not ashamed to say I made a fool out of myself.  But she was really nice about it.  She's been pimping out our Diamond, Kathryn Perez, hard!  Just one more reason to love her!

After Book Bash was over, the after party began.  Did I already mention parts of Book Bash were straight up crazy?  Oh yes.  Yes, they were.  But, the best part was watching these guys perform.

They are fantastic performers.  Truly entertaining.  And I'm pretty sure I have an inappropriate crush on Adam now.  That man can shred!  If I could figure out how to get the video on here, I'd show you.  But you know me and technology.  So for now, I keep the video for myself!

The show was over way too soon.  But the partying went on until close to midnight.  And when I tell you these guys....

Know how to party, I'm not kidding!  They literally danced on stage with all the book nerds until the DJ shut down the party!  It was great!  (Side note...why is my arm not around Adam, too?  Am I stupid????  #bookbashfail)

Look...here's me being a groupie!

That's John.  He does all the percussion instruments for the band.  I have no idea why I took a picture with him and didn't take a picture with anyone else.  But who cares??  I look hot.

And of course, what Book Bash event would be complete without some punk pulling the fire alarm at 2:30 in the morning?  Nothing like being evacuated from your room in your jammies, only to find out that your floor wasn't actually evacuated and you ran down the stairs by yourself leaving all your friends behind to die for nothing.  Still.  It looks like some of us enjoyed the fire drill more than others..

(Just zoom in.  That girl could make a funeral fun.)

After 3 days of adrenaline rushes, maybe one meal a day and a total of 12 hours of sleep, I have learned a few things....

First, Book Bash is not for the faint of heart.  It is crazy intense.  

Second, you  never know who you are going to run into and where.  Authors and cover models are everywhere!  

Third, there are some amazing Diamonds out there just waiting to be discovered.  I can't WAIT to bring you some of the new people I met.  

So thank you Book Bash for an amazing, albeit strange weekend.  Until next time....hands off my stash.

I'm going to sleep now!