Fridays with Fred

Hey, everybody. I’m starting a new blog segment called Fridays with Fred.

What’s that? It’s kind of self explanatory, but just in case…I have a furry friend and his name is Fred. Thus, the segment's name, Fridays with Fred. Mary at Book Hounds gave me this idea with her killer segment called phoDOGraphy. Check her site out when you get a chance.

Anyway, Fred's my main man and has been for well over a decade. As you can see, he’s an avid reader too (haha). My husband had fun with creating this. I hope you enjoy.

About Fred
Fred is a Jack Russell Terrier and my best friend. His favorites are running, jumping, doing tricks for treats and tasting my wine. Yes, he likes wine. What can I say? He has a taste for the finer things. Fred’s an expert snuggler and loves to burrow himself under the covers. He hates firecrackers but loves our mailman.

My life wouldn’t be the same without Fred. Being a writer is a lonely existence and I’m thankful everyday that I have him. He’s patient when I’m frustrated. He’s supportive when I’m down. He’s literally the best friend a human could possibly ever have.

And did I mention Fred had friends? Well, he does and tons of them too. Every now and then I’ll feature a special friend along with Fred. Feel free to send me your pet pictures and brief statements so that I may blog about your precious pet.

Fred’s Friend and Mine – Wasabi the Great!

Wasabi was a male Beta fish and a beloved pet of one of my best friends, LB. Wasabi was a happy, loving fish who – no lie – had more spunk and dedication than most humans. His favorite things were doing flips and jumps, meeting new people, swimming circles through his bamboo roots, attending business meetings with LB and eating gourmet fish food. Unfortunately, he passed last month which is why we are forever immortalizing him with this post. Don’t be dismayed though, because Wasabi the Great still lives on in our hearts. RIP Wasabi. We will miss you.

Until next time...enjoy your pets and read while you're at it.

Mina B.

Free Book Contest: Kisses From Hell

Cool News! I have a Free Book Contest starting today for HarperTeen anthology, Kisses from Hell. Bestselling authors Richelle Mead, Kristin Cast, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, and Francesca Lia Block have attributed to this YA anthology. Sounds interesting huh? Well now’s your chance to win a free copy of the book. Starting now through Sept. 20th eod, enter to win this killer book (see details below.)  Also, check back soon as I plan on reviewing my giveaway, Kisses From Hell.

My FREE Book Contest for

Kisses From Hell ends Sept. 20th eod.

From the back cover:

Truly, Madly, Undeadly


This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors—Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy), Alyson Noël (Evermore), Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning), and Francesca Lia Block (Pretty Dead).


From a fugitive vampire forced to trust a boy who might work for the group bent on destroying her to the legendary romance of two immortals whose love compels them to risk everything, this heart-pounding collection brings new meaning to the words "love you forever." Whether you're into romances that are dark and moody or light and fun, these stories will quench that insatiable thirst for enchanting tales of the beautiful undead.


 
To Enter:
- Leave a comment on this post.
OR
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at Mina Burrows)


Extra Entries:
+5 If you’re Already or become a New Google Friend Connect Follower
+3 For all OLD/NEW Followers Follow me on Twitter(@minaburrows)
+1 For ReTweeting this contest (limited to one RT, unless you’re Conan O’Brien)
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads/Mina Burrows


This contest is limited to US & Canada only (sorry PP).

Good Luck!

Until next time…Enter today and tell your friends.


Mina B.

Zoe Winter's Killer iKindle Promotion

OK, so I have to say how uber impressed I am with Zoe Winter’s marketing blitz for her latest book, Blood Lust. This paranormal book is a compilation of her Preternatural Series and is selling right now via Amazon/iKindle for only $2.99. That’s just my price point and so I bought it…and so should you.



See the book cover below plus the book overview. You have until the end of the day TODAY (Sept. 4th) to get in on this killer promotion. Buy Blood Lust before the end of today and get your name thrown in the hat to win an iKindle. Ooohh, how I love this promotion! My hat’s off to Ms. Winters. From what I’ve read on the Amazon reviews, this book promises to be killer.  Stay tuned as I plan on reviewing this book this month.

It's all about the blood...

Comprised of three novellas (Available now individually at Amazon), Blood Lust gives readers a snapshot look at the world of the Preternaturals Series. (Future installments of the series will be novels.)


Sounds pretty cool, huh? Also, Zoe has Kept, a free read available on Amazon.

Until next time…read a book that doesn’t break your bank. Try Zoe Winter’s Blood Lust of just $2.99 on iKindle.

Mina B.

Richelle Mead’s New Book Cover: Iron Crowned

How about Richelle Mead’s new book cover art for her Dark Swan series: Iron Crowned. Take a look at her blog post for more information on book 3 in her Darn Swan series (Release date is scheduled for sometime in March 2011.) It’s pretty cool huh? I cannot wait to dip into this series. I have an endless list of books I’m dying to read. In fact I’ve just named my TBR list: “Dying to Read”.

See on the side of my blog here to see where they fall in queue. Also, should you see any book that you’ve read, then drop me an email (Mina) and tell me what you think or comment on this post (Send me a link to your review or blog post for another link back/shout out.


Until next time…read something dark, the creepier the better.


Mina B.

A Creepy Classic Review: Bram Stoker's Dracula

My Creepy Classic for this month is none other than Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Whew…what a read! I can honestly say with the upmost certainty that this was the best classic I’ve read so far.

The only puzzling notion I have is: Do I love it because it’s a thrilling read or Do I love it because it’s Dracula. Would I love a tale such as this if it were written present day? I’m certain I’d love it no matter what, but I can’t help but wonder. The truth is so much of what we know today in modern paranormal tales comes from Stoker original genius. I wonder what Stoker would say if he could see all the sensationalism today about creatures of the night? He’d probably get a kick out of it no doubt.

What’s so masterful about his book is how it’s written. With the journal writings, letters, phonograph recordings etc…, Stoker’s clever depiction of each character is sheer brilliance. He so ingeniously captured his characters like he was flawlessly fluent in their native tone, switching effortlessly from character to character all in sync with the novel. I was amazed. For me, this was the original tale that put the proverbial “Vampire” stake in the unholy ground. Stoker’s preternatural imagination delves far beyond the holy water, garlic and creature of the night aspect. He weaves in werewolves, bats, mist, fog, children among other things and…let’s not forget, Van Helsing.

I won't say what Dracula’s about because…unless you've been under a rock for the last 150+ years, you already know the gist of the story. However, don't let Hollywood fool you. Read the book. It's OH so much better.

The only downside was – and I can’t believe I’m revealing this – in many parts it comes off a bit long winded. But, I feel that is because lately I’ve been spoon fed the cookie-cutter books that are out there with quick and to the point plots. Trying to shove Stoker’s Dracula into that literary box would be a travesty and thus would dismiss the art of this timeless classic.


It’s been sometime since I’ve read this novel and it was an absolute pleasure to rediscover it. I so loved it and will forever be part of my Classic Collection. What’s that? It's my treasured book collection; one of the few I will always turn to for inspiration and read over and over again.


On the Mina Burrows KilloMeter, I give Bram Stoker’s Dracula a 5.

Until next time...for heaven's sake...read a Creepy Classic!

Mina B.

Paranormal Book Review: Sherrilyn Kenyon's The Dream Hunter

Today’s review is Sherrilyn Kennon’s The Dream Hunter.  It’s my understanding the novel is 10th in a series of Dark Hunter/Dream Hunter novels she writes.

Initially, I was searching for her Dark Hunter series when I came across this book. It looked interesting and so, I took a chance. There’s one thing for certain, Kenyon is a killer writer with a gift of transforming magical or godlike realms/situations credibly and intriguingly into present day. The first aspect that grabbed my attention was the setting in Santorini, Greece. I’m not a person that’s familiar or over enthusiastic about Greek mythology. But, after a few chapters of the tale, I was entertained to want to know more.

Arik was previously Oneroi – a protector of humans against the Skoti - somehow got demoted, imprisoned to a life of dreamed servitude as a Dream Hunter. He got caught experiencing off the chart emotions and was forced to become a sleep god, Skoti.  A Skoti travels in and out of an unsuspecting human’s subconscious while they’re dreaming and fulfills vivid, daring and often erotic fantasies. Skoti have lived for centuries without emotion, feeling nothing except when in a human’s dream. That all changes for Arik, of course, once he meets Dr. Megeara Kafieri (Geary).


Geary is a young, vivacious, Grecian scholar whose father’s (another Ph.D./archeologist) life obsession had been to find the city of Atlantis. Rumored to be hidden off the coast of Greece, Dr. Kafieri takes over her father’s plight, agreeing to do so at his deathbed.


Geary’s unbridled passion ignites a fury of want from Arik. Night after night he meets with her, infiltrating her mind and suspending her mind and body in sexual bliss. Each time they meet, Arik grows increasingly obsessed with the human and her appetite for love. He’s puzzled by her and decides he must meet her in real life and at any cost. His plan to cross over into the human world is all well and good but completely unrealistic. But this is a godly world that he lives in and when there is a will, there is often a way. Arik finds a way by using Hades, the god of the underworld, and makes a deadly pact.


Once Arik becomes human, he stumbles upon Geary and quickly discovers she’s the complete opposition to her subconscious self. Now Arik has little time to woo, earn the trust and enflame Geary – his human infatuation – and experience her live and in person before he’s summoned back to his pitiful existence as a Skoti.


The tale goes far deeper than this, delving into the worlds of Atlantis, other mythological gods and myths. That was actually one of my favorite parts of the book. Kenyon is a master at building characters. I wasn’t “in love” with the main characters but the other ones like Solin were exceptionally cool. The Dream Hunter wasn’t my favorite book, by far but I still liked it. If you like gods, Greek Mythology and romance, then you’ll enjoy this book too.


On the Mina Burrows KilloMeter, I give The Dream Hunter a 3 ¼.


Until next time…looking for something different, read a Sherrilyn Kenyon The Dream Hunter.


Mina B.

Want to win a FREE copy?
Sign up today!  Click here to this blog post

My FREE Book Contest for

Sherrilyn Kenyon's The Dream Hunter

ends August 30th eod

Is Today’s Fang Market "Vamp Overkill"? $7 Bil Says No

OK, so...I LOVE this article that The Hollywood Reporter recently reported on:   Vampires bring $7 bil to Hollywood economy by Jay A. Fernandez and Borys Kit. According to THR estimates, Vampires generated billions of dollars in revenues within the last two years. (Thank you Twilight.) The areas tallied were Film, Publishing, TV, DVDs and Other/Misc. WOW, that’s a whole lot of blood money.

Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
FYI:  "Nightmares" is one of favs in the series.  

I love this topic because frankly, I’m sick of all the “vampire bashing.” Sure, the movie Vampire Sucks is funny and all – who doesn’t love a good spoof - but these folks aren’t dumb. They’re cashing in on the hanging fruit (or dollars) of this monstrous vampire money tree. I understand for some people the entire notion of “immortal beings” is overdone. Yet for people like me, who thrive on cryptic creatures, you can never have enough.

Now that I’ve said that, I have to own up. I personally wrote a couple of vampire novels that I am attempting to get published.  And...true story...when I wrote my novels, I wrote them not because people liked or disliked vampires. I wrote them because I love the topic. They say to write what you love and so I did.

It looks like vampires might be around for a bit longer, thanks to a different kind of dead economy. And for me, as a writer, reader and everything in between…that’s a bloody good thing.

What do you think about this topic? Is today’s fang market “Vamp Overkill” or…Do you have an insatiable appetite for bloodsuckers?


Mina B.

(Note: I’m currently working on my website and will be posting a synopsis and sample chapters of my novels for review. Check back soon or if not…bite me.)