Ever After, Flickr, and a Road Trip!

First, sorry everyone! I haven't written in a couple of days...I've just been so busy!

I recently learned that my Financial Aid won't be coming in for my classes for another few weeks, meaning I can't start them for a while...which really, really bums me out. -apparently it comes this late every year, and unless i want to use my own money or take out a loan and go into debt for a few classes i have to wait-

Watching The Ravens win the Superbowl (like everyone knew they would) and studying for my upcoming ACT retake took up my time yesterday. Though with the game going on, not much studying got done...the blackout was a nice touch this year.

Oh, and have I mentioned I'm traveling to Cincy, OH tomorrow with my sister to get our book "The Ever-After" (from the Hollows series) signed by Kim Harrison on her Ever After Tour?
Well, um, we are and I'm way-way excited!!! I can't wait to meet her.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Hollows Series; it actually takes place on the Ohio-Kentucky border around the river.It's been many years since The Turn, when a virus being carried in genetically-mutated tomatoes killed most of humanity on the planet.
Good thing not everyone was human.

"A witch, a pixy and a vampire walked into a bar..."
Well, lived happily, ever-after in a church.

The series centers around the three main characters:

Jenks (no last name): A pixy. A very sexy and charming loud and obnoxious pixy who, however he may not look it, has the ability to hack anything and everything that runs on electricity. Name it, he can do it.
Jenks in the only pixy to own his own land (pixies being seen as no more than bugs to the rest of the world) and keep all of his many, many children alive and well the way he has. His hero is Tinkerbell. He's a member of the business Vampiric Charms.

Ivy Tamwood: A vampire, who uses her sensuality to get what she wants. Coming from a rich and high noble vampire clan has its perks. She has more money in her trust-fund than you and I would ever see in a lifetime. Ivy takes on runs; work that they IS or Inderland Security (kinda the police force for the supernatural) cannot take on themselves. She is the most OCD woman you will ever meet. Co-owner of Vampiric Charms.

Rachel Morgan: A "witch" with the annoying need to do the right thing all the time. Rachel seems to attract trouble wherever she goes since she got rid of her death threat for quitting the IS. Loving all things leather and black boots, she takes on runs to pay the rent and buy the groceries. She has this little habit to keep nasty, little men in her back pocket. (Save for the sexy, blue-eyed 6'2 elf recently catching her eye) Co-owner of Vampiric Charms. You find out on in the series that Rachel is not just all witch...she's got a little bit more of something in her blood...

But don't let my horrible description of the series keep you away from it. Here you can see a video right off of Kim Harrison's page that explains series a lot better. Or just go to Kim Harrison's website yourself and take a look around.

The signing is taking place @ 7pm, February 5th at the new Joseph Beth store in Crestview Hills, KY. (Though I don't know why the address is that way, on the map it's clearly in Ohio...)
Maybe I'll see some of you there?

Also, check out my new Flickr Account! You can catch all of my photos and photography on there. I never even knew this site excited until Austin texted me yesterday (couldn't call because he was on duty) and enlightened me. Thoroughly enlightened, I'm using this site to it's full advantage.
 
So check me out and add me to your contacts! ;)
Username: slhallphotography
or email me: slhallphotography@gmail.com

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah

Book Review: The Hollow Kingdom

 This book is utterly amazing. I have never had anything touch my imagination so much as The Hollow Kingdom has. Please, if you haven't read this, I strongly suggest you do. The author is Clare B. Dunkle.

I first heard about The Hollow Kingdom when my sister picked it out at the library in my high school. She was instantly hooked and nagged me every day that I “just have to read this book!”. She was constantly throwing books my way to read, so when I consented, it was with a large hesitation. However, I found that I instantly fell in love with the book myself and I couldn’t put it down.

                Clare D. Bunkle writes an amazing story of adventure, family and fierce romance. She shows the thoughts and views of her characters through several different viewpoints that still keep you guessing on what each character is going on about. Though the information tends to sweep by fast and you have to keep your mind in what you’re reading to get it all.

                Kate and her younger sister, Emily, are orphaned and forced to move into their inherited home on a faraway estate called Hallow Hill. They are grudgingly invited to live with their distant relatives at the mansion and have no other choice than to accept or live on the streets. It is here that they discover that there is a hidden Goblin Kingdom under the lake and lands that make up their newly gained estate, and that young women for centuries have been known to just disappear without a trace. The current Goblin King has for long kidnapped a girl to be taken as his Queen and consort; the girls are ALWAYS taken against their will, and brought to the hollow kingdom below ground, never to see the light of day again. The reigning Goblin King, Marak, sets his strangely beautiful mismatched colored eyes on Kate and tried to kidnap her, only to be thwarted by her time and time again by her determination not to be taken underground, to live a life of misery without the sun, paired with a beast. But, as all things in these seem to go, something terrible happens and Kate is forced to bargain for Marak’s help to save her sister and become his Queen.

                I love how Kate always happens to keeps fighting and never quits. She has a determination and mind that is to be desired by all. However, the naivetés of her partner in crime, Emily, is the exact opposite, with a mind of a child that is still wishing on stars. She loves the idea of living in a Goblin’s world and marrying one of the strange creatures, as she has often told Kate “I haven’t anyone but you. Would you leave me alone in this world?” The Goblin King, Marak, lets you see that in every man, there is a beast. “Humans,” he says, “lie very often. They are just good about it. See, we goblins, we don’t lie. We’ll go ahead and tell you as is. So if you think about it, we’re better natured than humans!”.

                I would recommend this book to any “Beauty and the Beast” fan, because that’s what this book is all about. Fantasy/romance readers will love the harshness and cold truth that there can be love between anyone and anything, if given time. Though I’m sad that most of Kate’s marriage with Marak is skimmed through with a few sentences, I have to say that I love this book and it’s my favorite out of a many that I have read. If you happen to enjoy this read, I suggest the other two books in Clare’s trilogy.  

Like I said, the story is really very beautiful. If you don't have the money to buy it, or get it online, never fear. I did some digging and found a website that lets you read it online for free. All you need is an internet connection (and not a very fast one!)

You can read the book here for free, or paste this link in your bookmarks for later: http://www.scribd.com/doc/102325026/The-Hollow-Kingdom-Clare-B-Dunkle


Thanks for reading!