Posts By: Heather

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The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith

11 Feb, 2010 by in book review, the way he lived 3 comments


published November 1st 2008 by Flux

details Paperback, 240 pages

isbn 0738714046

Synopsis From Goodreads Six stories. Six voices. One reality.

Monday’s Child has just lost her brother, but that’s not why she’s crazy. Tuesday’s Child is a star and wishes she wasn’t. Wednesday’s Child is obsessed with getting revenge. Thursday’s Child is on a quest to find herself. Friday’s Child is in love with a dead guy, and Saturday’s Child is in love with a guy in gray sweats–who isn’t her boyfriend. And the child born on the Sabbath day is the one to set it all in m

When sixteen-year-old Joel Espen dies of thirst on a Boy Scout hiking trip, it shakes the small town of Haven, Utah to its socially conformist foundation. And the six teens who were closest to Joel start to view their community–and themselves–in a new light.

From Amazon
With his uncanny sensitivity and boundless heart, Joel made people love him. Now that he’s gone, the ones he left behind are coping with their immense loss. His older, “crazy” sister pours her grief into a blog, while his younger sister runs away to New York. One friend is consumed by anger and revenge, while another discovers who she really is. Two learn to be true to their hearts–and all question who they are and what they’ve become.

Told from six heartbreaking perspectives on love, loss, and faith, this is the poignant story of how the life–and death–of one teen can have a profound effect on the lives of many.

When sixteen-year-old Joel Espen dies of thirst on a Boy Scout hiking trip, it shakes the small town of Haven, Utah to its socially conformist foundation. And the six teens who were closest to Joel start to view their community–and themselves–in a new light.

I first met Emily at the Beautiful Creatures release party and what struck my how outgoing and welcoming she was. A couple of days later we ran into each other at the local craft store. Since then it seems we run into each other a lot! She is part of a group of local writers called “The Six” who support each other’s events and signings. After meeting Emily I really wanted to read her book. I bought a copy at last weekend’s Authorpalooza, then sat down to finish it in 24 hours.

What intrigued me about the story is that it is written from six different points of view. Emily leaves questions swirling in your head after reading bits and pieces of Joel’s life told from others’ perspectives. The book seeps into your veins. I lost a couple of very close friends to accidents in High School so I related to the hole that someone leaves when they die, and the empty ache as well as the wondering. I give it four stars for handling a tough subject in a captivating manner. I am excited to read her second book.

Visit Emily’s website: http://www.emilywingsmith.com/
Emily signing my book at Authorpalooza http://twitgoo.com/da2hh

Angels Among Us

11 Feb, 2010 by in mortal instruments 2 comments

I spent my Waiting on Wednesday looking at angel photos on Flickr that reminded me of Patch and Norah, the Mortal Instruments series and Fallen by Lauren Kate. There are some breathtaking photos out there…Enjoy the angel gallery!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/galleries/72157623279577627/

Waiting on Wednesday "Crescendo"

10 Feb, 2010 by in simon schuster 3 comments

CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick
Synopsis From Goodreads …to be released
September 30th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children’s (first published 2010)

details Hardcover, 416 pages

url http://beccafitzpatrick.com/index.html

description: Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora’s life isn’t normal – her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don’t add up. Now Nora’s own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?

Hush, Hush is one of my favorite reads of last year and really, who doesn’t love bad boy Patch? I can;t wait to hear what happens from here! In the meantime enjoy YouTube videos, the playlist, Becca’s website. The official Hush, Hush fan site, Fallen Archangel is having a Valentine’s Giveaway right now. Go on over and Enter to win some of our Patch inspired jewelry!

Photobucket

Playlist to Crescendo http://beccafitzpatrick.com/playlistwhitehot.html

Little Red Photo Giveaway

10 Feb, 2010 by in Uncategorized 23 comments

Check out his photostream here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahef/

Enter below to win a photographic print of your choice up to an 8×10.

Leave your name and email address below:
Additional entries
+2 go to his photostream and comment on your favorite photo
+2 go to our photostream and pick you favorite photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/
+3 tweet this contest-leave the link
+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link
+5 add our button to your blog
+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos

Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment Contest ends March 9th and is open to International Entries. Good Luck!

Teaser Tuesday-Book Birthdays Today!

09 Feb, 2010 by in robin palmer, speak 3 comments



published February 9th 2010 by Hyperion Book CH

details Hardcover, 304 pages

isbn 1423116399

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own–scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family’s (very crooked) history.



published February 9th 2010 by Speak

details Paperback, 288 pages

isbn 014241123X

Sophie Greene gets good grades, does the right thing, and has a boyfriend that her parents— and her younger brother—just love. (Too bad she doesn’t love him.) Sophie dreams of being more like Devon Deveraux, star of her favorite romance novels, but, in reality, Sophie isn’t even daring enough to change her nail polish. All of that changes when Sophie goes to Florida to visit her grandma Roz, and she finds herself seated next to a wolfishly goodlooking guy on the plane. The two hit it off, and before she knows it, Sophie’s living on the edge. But is the drama all it’s cracked up to be?





published March 1st 2010 by Harperteen

details Hardcover, 352 pages

isbn 0061686514

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there’s her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn’t mean you can’t be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS

Eleventh Grade Burns

published February 9th 2010 by Dutton Juvenile

details Hardcover, 208 pages

isbn 0525422439 (isbn13: 9780525422433)

The penultimate chapter in the thrilling vampire series!

Things have taken a darker turn for the half-human teenager with an appetite for blood. Joss, a vampire slayer and Vlad’s former friend, has moved back to Bathory. A mysterious and powerful new vampire, Dorian, appears with a shocking secret and an overwhelming desire to drink Vlad’s blood. And Vlad’s arch enemy, D’Ablo, has a sinister plan to eliminate Vlad once and for all. With death threatening from every angle, Vlad will have to use every ounce of his skill and training to survive, but nothing can prepare him for what awaits him in the end



published February 9th 2010 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

details Hardcover, 248 pages

isbn 0375956999

Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .)

Those who prefer their heroes to be not-so-usual and with a side of wiseguy will gobble up this witty, geeks-rule debut.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAYS!!

Alice in Wonderland Drink Me Giveaway

09 Feb, 2010 by in etsy, mootsie 44 comments

Our giveaway today is from Etsy seller Mootsie!

Hi, my name is Audrey, I attended art school way back in the 80’s…. I studied graphic design & textile design, I worked in the field for 18 years. I grew up in Illinois where my quest for an artful life started at age 10. I enjoy the simple things in life such as playing with my kids, gardening, & making stuff. I love my job as a substitute teacher and look forward to going back to school for teaching. I’m a beach kinda girl, not snow, I wear my flip-flops till Oct. Thanks for stopping in & visiting my shop.


She is gifting our winner this beautiful necklace…Alice Drink Me Pendant is made from vintage clip-art, A vintage antiqued brass finding 18 x 25 cab. Hangs from a 16″ Antiqued Brass Chain. Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland was originally released in 1865 and illustrated by Sir John Tenniel. This illustration by Tenniel of Alice finding the bottle.

To enter to win the Alice in Wonderland necklace

leave your name and email address below:

Additional entries

+2 go to her shop and comment on your favorite item by pasting the link

+2 go to Etsy and heart her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/mootsie

+3 tweet this contest-leave the link

+5 post it on your blog or facebook- leave the link

+5 add our button to your blog

+3 follow us on twitter @FireIcePhotos

+2 visit our Etsy shop and pick your favorite item http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeatherZahnGardner

Add your entries up and leave the total in your comment Contest ends March 8th and is open to International Entries. Good Luck!

Mom’s Monday "Purplicious"

08 Feb, 2010 by in purplicious, Victoria Kann 3 comments

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 16, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061244058
5 stars

Product Description
It’s purple Pinkalicious!

Pinkalicious loves the color pink, but all the girls at school like black. They tease her, saying that pink stinks and pink is for babies. But Pinkalicious doesn’t think so…that is, until her friends stop playing with her. Now Pinkalicious has a case of the blues. But could she ever turn her back on her favorite color?

In the follow-up to the bestselling Pinkalicious, a young girl remains true to herself and discovers that pink isn’t only a pretty color, but also a powerful one.

About the Author
Victoria Kann’s award-winning artwork has graced the covers and pages of many magazines, newspapers, and books. She is the illustrator and coauthor with Elizabeth Kann of Pinkalicious and Purplicious, which were both New York Times bestsellers. They also wrote Pinkalicious: The Musical, which premiered in New York City to sold-out audiences. Victoria teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Recently she built a tree house for her Princess Pinkerbelles. She often hears galloping in the house and wonders if it’s Goldilicious or just her Pinkerbelles.

The first book we read by Victoria Kann was the prequel, “Pinkaliacious.” When we saw a new Purple sister edition in the series, we scooped it right up at our school book fair. The cover has raised glitter lettering and the inside treats readers to a tale about true friendship and fitting in. It’s okay not to love black! Popularity and confroming to the crowd does not = happiness. Be who you are and explore new things. My girls LOVE this book and we gave it 5 stars!

Authorpalooza 2010 and TDD Giveaway

08 Feb, 2010 by in utah authors 15 comments

Barnes and Noble hosted Authorpalooza this weekend with 40 authors there to sign their books. I have added them all to my sidebar for you to check out! I took my daughter along with me and she was in awe! My husband claims I am turning her into a geek, but I say Hooray! I was a book worm and she can be too. We got a few books autographed and picked up a lot of bookmarks and trading cards. But really we just wish we were millionaires. There were so many books we wanted to buy, but didn’t have the money. Fellow Utah book bloggers @SueySays

@mawbooks and @meow_mix85 were there, as well as Brodi Ashton. We did also happen to snag a bottle of Bree Despain’s nail polish from The Dark Divine, which we are giving away to a lucky winner! Enter in the comments below…

Here are the Utah Authors Who Attended

James Dashner “The Maze Runner” Jessica Day George “The Dragon Fire” Frank Cole“Hashbrown Winters” GG Vandagriff “The Last Waltz” Bree Despain “The Dark Divine” Jillayne Clements Wendy Paul “101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 minutes” Nichole Giles Cindy Beck “Mormon Mischief and Mishaps” Terri Ferran “Life’s Alphabet Soup”Rhonda Gibbs Hinrichson “Missing” Heather Justesen “The Ball’s in Her Court”Linda Chadwick “Second Chances” Berins Stephens, Dan Willis, Cory Paulson, Lisa Mangum “The Hourglass Door” Mette Ivie Harrison “The Princess and the Bear” Emily Wing Smith “The Way He Lived” Sharlee Glenn “Just What Mama Needs”Alvina Kwong “My Imagination” Kristyna Crow “Swamp at Bedtime” Carol Lynch Williams, Ann Cannon, Ann Dee Ellis , Kevin Hall Larry Myler , Mike O’Reilly, Zane Taylor Jack Nelson “To Die in Kanab” , Rebecca Lerwill “Relocating MIA” Kim Williams Justesen, Bobbie Pyron “The Ring” Aubry Mace “My Fairy Godmother” , Sydney Salter Nathan Hale “Calamity Jack” , Bron Bahlmann , Alan Bellows, Paul Genesse , Larry Correia

To win the Dark Divine Nail Polish

leave your name and email address below…Additional entries
1) Tell us which book you would buy from Authorpalooza +1
2) Visit a Utah author’s website and leave a comment-leave link +2
3) follow us @FireIcePhotos on Twitter +3
4) Retweet this contest +2
5) Follow our blog +3
6) Add our button to your site +5

Contest ends March 8th 2010, Good Luck!