Monday, December 29, 2008

Behold: Books!


My mom got me Stephen King's On Writing for Christmas, and I can't tell you how much I'm loving this book. I'm halfway through, and the paperback already has pen marks and a dog ear or two. (I do plan to share some amazing nuggets from King, most likely in tomorrow's post.) My mom also gave me (Mom, you rawk!) a gift card to Amazon... with which I pre-ordered my very own copy of Kimmi's The Unbreakable Child. Though I know its content may be difficult to read (check the link for details), I can't wait to hold her story in my hands - all while supporting a writing buddy. The bad news is, I have to wait until April for shipment...

My sister gave me Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel. I haven't cracked the cover on that one yet but, given his success as a literary agent, I expect it to be great. High hopes, my friends! My sister also gave me (Jill, you rawk!) a gift card to Starbucks, where I can go sit with any one of these books, and lose myself amongst fine coffee smells and that coffeehouse vibe. You know the one I mean. It's like creativity oozes out of those places.
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Then of course there's the one *ahem* I got myself for Christmas, Writer's Workshop in a Book. And see, I'm pretty good at this, I also bought myself two new journals (remember my fetish?) during after-Christmas sales. The larger drew me in with its colors, even though the binding was torn. But I gladly paid the super-clearance price, slapped some scrapbooking paper over the spine, and embellished the front cover with five simple letters: w.r.i.t.e. The other is gorgeous brown leather, with roses embossed on a portion of it. This is one of those I may never actually write in, because its beauty would be marred by my sloppy handwriting...


What about you? Did you get amazing goodies for Christmas? Something that encourages your pasttime or passion?


[My apologies... there was an issue with the formatting of this post, and when I tried to fix it I encountered a publishing snafu. I think it's fixed now; sorry for the errors.]

13 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

Nope.
But yours sound amazing! I've heard so much about Stephen King's book.
Hope you enjoy!

I did get really comfy pjs. :-)

Jewel Allen said...

Wow, that is a great haul :-)!

I got lots of fun things, like pink fuzzy slippers, CDS, etc., but my fave is "The Novel and Short Story Writer's Market".

I've read it cover to cover and now trying to ignore it while finishing this ms revision...

Joanne said...

I'm liking the combo of books/journals/Starbucks you've got going on here. A little bit of heaven! I did receive a pretty floral journal too, but a small one to fit in my purse to jot writing notes on the go!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Girlie, we could be in the same book club! Loved loved the Stephen King book, got a new writer's journal from my SIL, and am reading Writing the Breakout Novel right now that I won in Amy Sue Nathan's contest. Also, like you, I'm itching to get my copy of Kimmi's book in.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

I can't wait for you to finish On Writing, then I can't wait for you to read Writing the Breakout Novel. That's the best one I've read so far and it inspired me in so many ways.

Very creative fix for the journal. I understand not wanting to write in the leather one. Before I got to your comment about it, I wondered what you'd use it for since it so PRETTY!

Anonymous said...

Aw, again, many thanks my friend!

The writing books look great and I would most certainly write in that journal. ...Will make it even more beautiful!! Sometimes I hate burning beautiful candles, but if a candle is never lit, the light can't shine. : D

Melissa Amateis said...

OOOH! Books! I actually didn't get any books for Christmas - amazing! :-)

I think my favorite gift was a handmade gift my mother made and gave to me. It was a chest she decoupaged (sp?) with pictures of my interests. I plan to post a pic of it soon. It was just gorgeous.

Barb Davis said...

My oldest daughter gave me a copy of "A Writer's Coach" by Jack Hart.
I gave myself "Book by Book.. Notes On Reading And Life" by Michael Dirda. I also received a beautiful Mini-schnauzer tree ornament, a laptop lap table with cordless mouse, a sweather, candles, a scratch-off ticket on which I won $20.00, a nice bottle of wine and of course the Barbie pink beach cruiser bike!

The Stephen King book sounds wonderful...I'll have to buy it.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Jessica - One can't go wrong with really comfy pjs! :)

Jewel - You got some great stuff!

Joanne - I know, right?!

Angie - That's awesome.

Melanie - It looks okay fixed, but now I'm kinda wishin' I'd left the spine alone. It had more character the other way...

Kimmi - I so love the way you think.

Melissa - I can't wait to see the picture!

Barbara - Wow, you made out like a bandit!

Anonymous said...

Great gifts! Those books sound wonderful. Can't wait till you share some golden nuggets of info.

FringeMan made me something...can't wait to show...maybe tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Very cool gifts Janna! I've heard that 'Breakout Novel' book is really good. None of my gifts were writing related. Oh well. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow looks good, the books that you got to read and those lush journals you have to write in. I love these things too. I'm afraid I've not been reading anything much for the last couple of months, though I still keep treating myself to a couple of books a month. I've bought about 8 books in December, and nearly ended up buying delicious looking journals too for the new writing experience, but didn't as I thought I have too much writing material as it is, which is true. Have a super time engaging yourself in those books. :)

Janna Leadbetter said...

Oh, Ana, I know all too well what you mean. I've banned myself from book stores and book aisles for a good while... I've bought entirely too many paperbacks the last few months, and I really need to put a dent in reading them before I get anything else. :)