Saturday Spotlight and a Giveaway!

Shhhh.... I know! I know! It's "technically" Sunday.  But, I figured that since we turned back the clocks, maybe, just maybe, I could get away with it!  Sneaky... huh?

Well here we are again! Finally! A new Sunday...um, SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT!  And look who we have instore for you this week!

And what shall we call you?  Ya' know...what's your name? I like to surround myself with a glamour of mystery... ;)

*Nods head*  That's why you're here...right?  You're surrounding yourself with glamour! *giggles* Get it! Get it? Me.... Me... *ha ha ha*  Glam...o..ur...  Ok... Next!


Alias? Zombie Girrrl! I'd been known as "21," but adopted the new moniker from Taschima of Bloody Bookaholic after I left a rather lengthy and passionate rant on the many uses of zombies in literature. She kinda gave me my online identity.

Very chic! Spooky! I likey!

Your blog name? Crackin' Spines & Takin' Names. I changed it for Zombie Appreciation Week, though, to Crackin' Spines & Takin' Brains. Me so clever. =9

Oh... that YOU are!  *wink*
Crackin' Spines? *giggles*   Get it?  Crack...   *ahem*

And where can we find this FABU Blog? http://crackinspines.blogspot.com/

Well? Go take a peek...  Yeah! I'll Wait!

Alright. They're back! How about a "Quickie Bio"?  I’ve always felt that biographies were for successful people, but I’ll give it a shot anyway!

I’m a military brat, so I’ve moved around a lot, and have the bragging right of having lived on all three coasts. I didn’t get into reading until my early teens, mostly because I didn’t like sitting still (still don’t), but now I love “traveling” with books. That sounds lame, but that’s how it is! Books feed my imagination and fuel my daydreams. Also, they’re the only friends that never get left behind (bar some disastrous packing accident). They’ve always been the first things out of the box, and I never travel without four or five of them.

Why did you start your blog? I started my blog after seeing how many new books my friends were finding through fellow bloggers, I wanted in! I came for the books, but I stay for the people! I’ve met a ton of nice people, and there’s always something going on!

Amen to that!

What is your favorite genre and/or genres? It’d be quicker to tell you what I don’t like!

*Well by all means then...it is YOUR show, right?* SPILL IT!

 I like fiction and non-fiction (LOVE reading about the 1918 flu pandemic!), but I basically only read YA fiction because it’s easier to avoid smut (I hate smut!). I love supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy; although I do like the occasional contemporary fiction too, like An Abundance of Katherines.

Who is your favorite author? Ooh, hard! I have a favorite author for every genre, subgenre, and day of the week! Tamora Pierce is my fallback, though. Her Tortall books never disappoint, and I’ve been reading her stuff faithfully since I was thirteen. Her sheroes (Literally she-heroes, her word, not mine. “Heroine” is too druggy, even with the extra e.)  kick butt!

"Butt" Kicking is ALWAYS Good...  Did you say 13?

What is your favorite book of all time? That is probably the hardest question ever conceived by man.  *Note: I am a Woman * Fiction would be World War Z by Max Brooks. Non-fiction, Flu by Gina Kolata. YA fiction… that’s too hard to answer. There’s so much good stuff! Too much! No, wait, there’s no such thing as too many good books!

Describe your review system: My review system is highly scientific. I read a book, decide how much danger I’d risk to get at that book, then I assign it a rating from 1 to 5 zombies. I really admire people who can break a book down to its constituent parts and rate every individual aspect of a book, but I haven’t been able to come up with my own detailed system, so for now, zombies it is!

And Zombies...Rock!

How is your blog unique from other blogs? Well, it’s the only place in the known universe where you can read what I think about books. Haha. One thing that sets me apart from other bloggers is my footnotes. I include my deeper or unrelated thoughts on things in footnotes at the end of most posts. It works out for me because my mind tends to wander, which leads to rambling and a lack of clarity. Plus, they’re fun to do!

How do you market your blog? I haven't really marketed my blog, per se. I've posted a link to it on my Shelfari page and linked my IMM posts on The Story Siren, but this is the first actual promotion I’ve ever done. I’ve been a bit of a chicken-butt in that department.

tsk tsk... "chicken butt" (Note: Lots of  "butt" and "zombie" talk) ..

Can you give us three tips about content? Be honest. Be kind. Be yourself! You can give a poor review without tearing the book or writer down, and the most interesting blogs are the ones where you really get a feel for what the blogger is like through their writing.

Great Advice!

Can you give three tips about blog promotion? Look out for blogs that promote their fellows and inquire into being included, don’t snag people’s email addresses for the purpose of advertising (very poor internetiquette), and be patient.

Patience is a Virtue...

Thank you for being here Zombie Girl! Oh and Guess what "Chicken Butt"?  I love you and your blog!  *giggles*  (I crack myself up)!

OK! Now that you've got to know Zombie Girl, she's been kind enough to offer a really Awesome Giveaway!  Are you ready?!? 

I knew you were!

GIVEAWAY!

Top 5 Recommended Reads Contest!

The winner will choose one of ZG's Top 5 Recommended Reads for their prize (all paperback)!

The choices are:

World War Z by Max Brooks

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Den of Shadows Quartet (Yes, all 4 books [in one]!) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

ZG's RULES:

To enter just leave a comment telling me what which book you’d like to win and answer me this: What is your top reading recommendation? (This question is entirely self-serving as I’m always on the lookout for new reading material.)

Don’t forget your email address! US mailing addresses only, please (sorry, globies, I can’t afford the shipping right now!)

MY RULES!

Blogger Blogs, You MUST Be A Google Friend Connect Follower

For This Giveaway, That means on BOTH Blogs to be Entered!

How do you do this? You click the FOLLOW Button up in

The Top Corner and PLEASE Make Sure Your Settings Are Public!

If you are from another type of blog, please let me know HOW you are following!

How Do you Win? It's Simple!

All Entries MUST be in By Midnight November 21st! (EST)

Winner Drawn on or about the 22nd!

Extra Entries

You MUST be a FOLLOWER with GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT on Both Blogs

or the following will Not Count! Also, If you do not include an Email Address, I have

to pick another winner. I can't chase email addresses any longer.

I Recommend Following On Twitter -It's NOT Required But I do Contests,

and Giveaways there as well! Currently, I'm doing a giveaway for a

$50.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Card there! You can still get in on that!

I'll tell you how in another post! But, if you follow on Twitter, I bet

you'll find out MUCH sooner!

Plus, there are Major Announcements made on Twitter and not Here!

My NEXT post will be about how to win either a Kindle, Nook or Sony E-Reader!

That's YOUR Choice! Well...The Winner's Choice and That Will Be ONE of You!

The Choice Is Yours!

+2 If you Subscribe by Mail

+2 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+3 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see bottom of blog)

+5 If you TWEET About This Giveaway (Leave Link Please)

+10 If you Follow Me on TWITTER! (Leave @TwitterName)

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (Link)
+20 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

Separate your entries one per post! (either each or just +5 for example)

(+25 for each and every NEW follower you bring me)

They just have to mention it in their post!

You will BOTH Get the Points!

As Always, Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!

** If YOU Would LIKE To Be FEATURED Please Hitt "Contact Me" **

OR

** Send Me An Email At IAmHiMaintenance{at}aol{dot}com **

and Preach to the Princess!!

Kisses & Toodles!!