All right, I need to tell you about me. I figure if you don’t know who I am, you won’t know that everything I say is worth reading.
I was born and raised in Michigan so I use a nasal ‘A’ and say “I know, right?” all too frequently. I pronounce hockey ‘hA-key’ and I’m proud of it. For school I studied in Southern Indiana and earned two degrees: BS in Global Business and BA in Spanish and International Studies.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 14 but never devoted the time to making it happen. Since graduating from school and moving back to Michigan, I’ve starting dedicating time to doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve completed a manuscript for a Young Adult novel and I’m working with some wonderful friends on editing it. I am a NaNoWriMo 2013 Winner (52,872 words in 19 days) and that manuscript is currently undergoing editing-surgery. It’s a long and painful process.
In my personal life, I’m married to a wonderful man who actually has the English degree I pine after. We have two cutie-pie little turtles,Jane and Marty. I work in automotive (see above about being from Michigan) as a recruiter.
That’s about it, I believe. Please leave a comment introducing yourself so we can start a great conversation about writing or life. I look forward to meeting everyone!
Review Ideology
I will try to write a review for every book I read. I’ve been successful in this since starting this blog and I hope to continue with this. After the review posts here, I will also post it to Goodreads. I use their same 5-star system with no partial stars (it’s 2 or 3, no 2.5).
While I try to read ARC or free copies soon after I get them, that is not always the case. I like to read for my book club and my own pleasure in addition to reading emerging authors. Please be kind if I’m slow to get to your book.
If you are looking for a review, please email me and we can talk about when I will have time. I prefer contemporary and historical fiction for adults and YA. I read very little Science Fiction or Romance so please do not contact me with these requests. I only accept physical copies, no eBooks please.
Follow Me in Other Places
Taking On a World of Words 
HI there! Thank you for following my blog, Adventures in Fantasy!
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Thanks for following me back!!
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I don’t really get hung up on how people sound when they talk, so we’ll let that go for now. However, I love your blog because I’ve been waiting since about the same age to be a writer and I’m now 67. Don’t wait as long as I have to do something about it!
BTW, I’m linking back to your post on meeting Mitch Albom in my post reviewing The First Phone Call From Heaven. I hope you can take a peek there and also check out my writing blog at Healing by Writing (http://healingbywriting.com).
So glad I found you, or at least glad Zemanta found you for me!
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Thank you for linking to my blog, I really appreciate it. I’m so glad you’re following your dream and writing your memoirs. I hope you’re as encouraged by blogging as I’ve been.
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Hi, Sam,
You just sent a comment to my latest blog post about “The Light Between Oceans”, and I thank you for that. I have absolutely no idea how I linked to you, but I am glad I did. I am now following your blog because it perfectly reflects my interests. I like your style!
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Thank you so much for following! I hope we can learn from each other as writers. I love the idea behind your blog. Combining food and books is a perfect idea!
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And thank you for following me! I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy yours!
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Hiya! Thanks so much for for following my blog and good luck with your writing. 🙂
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Thank you! I’m glad you’re following me back!
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Hello. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for liking my post.
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Thanks for coming by to check out my site!
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Hi Sam! I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I nominated you and your blog for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award! If you would like you participate, you can drop by my blog and find out what it’s all about! http://amandasnoseinabook.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
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Thank you, Amanda! I’m on vacation right now but I’ll be sure to write up this post when I get home. I’m so honored.
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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And Sam, here’s my very overdue link and congratulations…I love your blog so much, I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. https://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/honored-and-thankful-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
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Thank you, Alena!! It’s such an honor.
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Hey there Sam! Just stopped by your blog randomly and gave it a follow. Visit me if you’d like to see what’s up in my world: http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com. Thanks!
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I’m glad you like my blog, Jacob. I appreciate the feedback. Good luck with your blog as well.
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Hello. I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. You can find more details here: https://dailyjosh17.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/the-versatile-blogger-award/.
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Thank you for the nomination, but I’m going to decline to re-post at this time. I accept blog awards from those I’ve formed a relationship with and this is my first time seeing your blog. It looks like you’re just getting started and I wish you well. I hope we can bond over a shared love of books. Best of luck.
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Hi, Sam! Just dropping by to let you know I’ve nominated you for The Liebster Award! 🙂 Feel totally free to choose whether or not you want to participate! 🙂
Maggie @ thenovelorange.com
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Thank you, Maggie! I’m very honored. I’m going to decline participation only because I’ve received this honor before. Thanks so much for considering me!!
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You’re so very welcome, Sam! 🙂 I completely understand! 🙂
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Hi! I really enjoy your blog, so I nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award! Check out my post to find out more about it: https://caffeineandbooks42.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/
Happy reading! 🙂
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Thank you, Alicia! I’m very honored. I’ve already received this award but will be sure to answer the questions you pose to me. I’m so flattered!
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Hi. Nice to “meet you” here on WordPress. Found you via Caffeine and Books. I have a bookish blog too. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
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Thanks for following me. I look forward to talking books and writing with you.
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Hi Sam, thanks I look forward to that very much. 🙂
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Hi. I’ve nominated you to take part in a writing challenge. Writing without the letter E, if you’d like to participate here’s the link: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/writing-challenge-allergic-to-the-letter-e-grit-a-giant-quandary/
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This sounds awesome! I will by default fail because I’m heading out of town as I type this. But I fully plan to participate when I get home! Thank you!
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That’s okay, the most important thing is joining in, thanks for that. 🙂
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Hey! I nominated you for The Blogger Recognition Award because you’re great! You can check out my post here:
https://thedesertbibliophile.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/the-blogger-recognition-award/
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Nice to meet you! I’m also from Michigan and now live in Massachusetts (so I’m a crazy mixture of accents and other weird things). I did NaNoWriMo too but didn’t win because I’m just too slow with writing and revising. I’ll look forward to your book reviews!
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Thanks for visiting! I lived in Indiana for four years so I grabbed some strange pronunciations myself, haha. I hope the snow storm didn’t get you too bad. Good luck with writing!
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Thank you! The snowstorm wasn’t bad this time around. It’s already mostly melted – I miss the Michigan snow! 🙂
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Your name is Sam, my name is Sam. You have a BA in International Studies, I have a BA in International Studies. You have a BA in Spanish, I’m a Spanish speaker. Are you me? Am I you? Hello twin.
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Haha what great coincidences! Do you also have a pet turtle and work on HR?
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I have a pet cat and I graduated a month ago so no job yet but I’m starting an English to Spanish translation certificate in a week, so let’s say I’m a future translator haha
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Omg! Indiana born and raised here, so I definitely have that nasal A too! I laughed at ‘hAckey!’ So nice to read about you!! Also, turtles are so cute!!
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Thanks for connecting! Glad you think my shell babies are cute! I love them so much. Happy reading!
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Hi Sam! Stumbled onto your blog because of your WWW Wednesday tags. My name is Ryan and am currently in college but will be graduating soon (hopefully not online but who knows…). I won my first Nano during Camp this past April – it was my first time finishing a full-length book (high fantasy, too!), so I was stoked. It’s trash, as first drafts are, but I’m slowly making my way through editing it and working on the second draft. So nice to meet you!
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Great to meet you, Ryan! Good luck finishing college in this new environment. Congrats on your NaNo win. I’m hoping my garbage drafts can turn into something readable, too. Good luck with everything.
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