Book Review: Gadget Girl [ by Suzanne Kamata ]

A Book Review by Aspen 
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review 

synopsis: Aiko Cassidy is fourteen and and lives with her sculptor mother in a small Midwestern Town.  For most of her young life Aiko, who has cerebral palsy, has been her mother's muse.  But now she no longer wants to pose for the sculptures that have made her mother famous and have put food on the table.  Aiko works hard on her own dream of becoming a great manga artist with a secret identity.  
When Aiko's mother invites her to Paris for a major exhibition of her work, Aiko at first resists.  She'd much rather go to Japan, Manga Capital of the World, where she might be able to finally meet her father, the indigo farmer.  When she gets to France, however, a hot waiter with a passion for manga and an interest in Aiko makes her wonder if being invisible is such a great thing after all.  And a side trip to Lourdes, as ridiculous as it seems to her, might just change her life.  
Gadget Girl began as a novella in Cicada.  The story won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award in Fiction and was included in an anthology of the best stories published in Cicada over the past ten years.  

Buy it Now: Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle 

review:  Recently I've been really interested in the growing culture of mixed race and the Hapa experience so it was refreshing to read a fiction novel from the perspective of a Hapa protagonist.  Aiko is a half-Japanese, half-Caucasian fourteen-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who is being raised in a single parent home.  And one of the greatest mysteries of her life is who her father is and the history between him and her mother.  Her mother is a well-known sculptor and like her mother, Aiko is also an artist.  She is the face behind a small circulating manga called Gadget Girl.  She is a character who is caught between wanting to be a famous manga artist and wanting to be shrouded in anonymity, letting her work speak for itself.  For years, she has been la muse for her mother's sculptures, however, Aiko is growing tired of being the subject of her mother's art.  But when one of those sculptures wins a grand prize, she and her mother get the chance to take a trip to France and Aiko is initially disappointed.  She would much rather travel to Japan to visit the manga capital and meet her father.  However it is in Paris where she ends up getting a larger dose of perspective than she imagined she would get.  Through the help of her friends, the attractive waiter at a cafe in Paris, her family, and her alter ego, Gadget Girl, Aiko learns the importance of having her voice be heard.

Aiko was written to be a very likable character.  I admired how self aware and how smart she was for a fourteen year old, and she had a sense of humor about her cerebral palsy which struck me as an uncommon characteristic for kids her age. There were certain moments when I would have liked to really feel the effects of Aiko's cerebral palsy on her, instead of just the occasional reminder of her limp or her crippled hand. It's understood that it makes things difficult for her, and causes her to hold a warped perception of herself, but aside from a couple of awkward interactions there weren't any struggles that translated to me in a way such that I could empathize.  Though I liked her character, I wish she would have had a bit more emotional depth.

My only other criticism was how abrupt the ending was.  Similar to stopping suddenly in a car, I reached the end and instead of a smooth transition, it just sort of stopped.  It was not a bad ending by any means, but I think personally, I was expecting a bit more; something that read more like a conclusion.  Instead it was just a compilation of all of the plot conflicts finding their resolution, one after the other and then it just ended.  

But the story was very cute.  I love seeing growth in characters, especially when it's brought on by self-induced epiphanies.  It was easy to read, it wasn't boring and there were cute romantic moments to it.  This book is for those readers who appreciate a plot that is more straightforward and doesn't have any convoluted plot twists.  It is well-written and clean.  I think that Gadget Girl could be popular with and relatable for a lot of young readers.

~ Aspen 

Book Review: Revelation: Book 1 of the Revelation Triology [ by M.J. Mancini ]

A Book Review by Aspen 
A copy of this book was provided to me by the author, in exchange for an honest review 

This is a novel that, thematically, follows in the wake of Dan Brown's novels dealing with religion history and intrigue.  Michael Raphael has a tendency to be in the right place at the right time when it comes to helping others in need, and an ability to heal rapidly from any fatal injury.  These qualities of his catch the attention of a learned scholar on the subject of religion conspiracy and the occult which gives Michael Raphael's seemingly normal life an unexpected turn.  The protagonist finds himself mixed up in a prophecy which states that the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael will manifest into one body in order to clear the world of evil before the Second Coming of Christ, and suddenly, he is trying to solve the mystery of his own roots.  And when there is evidence to support the existence of a secret satanic worship group which, up to this point has only been myth, and whose members have sold their souls to the devil, Michael Raphael's journey becomes a perilous one. 

Though nicely paced and containing interesting story elements, unfortunately, Revelation was no Da Vinci Code.  The disadvantage of having had this book be compared to the Da Vinci Code, was that it caused the novel to be predictable in some ways, which is not effective for a plot centered on intrigue, and it highlights any parallels that exist.  Both were mysteries which were pieced together using clues from religion through history, and involved secret elite sects.  For example, the idea of hidden messages in iconic works in history.  In Da Vinci Code it was the Mona Lisa, and other paintings, and in Revelation, though it was only mentioned offhandedly, it was Faust by Goethe.  Also, Mary Magdalene had a pivotal role in both stories, though slightly less significant in this novel. Another parallel was the use of murder to kick start the mystery.  Furthermore, both Robert Langdon and Michael Raphael, were called upon by the police at inconvenient hours during the day, to be questioned about a murder that neither of them were familiar with. As a fan of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, having the two be compared posed a little bit of an issue.  Not to mention that in the novel, the Michael Raphael mentions Dan Brown during a conversation with the scholar, Nicholas Nevsky, which is ironic given the subject matter and genre of both books. 

One other qualm about my copy of Revelation were issues in editing.  Usually, depending on the reader, errors in editing can be overlooked so long as they do not impede on the reading experience.  However, there were a couple of instances where certain plot reveals were mentioned twice, separated by a couple of chapters, as though the author forgot the plot point was already previously mentioned.  For instance, one of the antagonistic characters, Lilith, discovers that her guard, Rocco, is dead.  Then a few pages later, she tells her assistant to "take Rocco with [him]" if he needs help with his task.  Inconsistencies such as these can undermine some details, which may have otherwise been a big, climactic reveal. 

Revelation joins the ranks as an engaging religious intrigue novel.  It is a page-turner and this story will make readers want to know what happens next, however it is not without its shortcomings.  Yet, as it's action-packed, and fast moving, the novel's end is stronger than it's beginning.  It sets itself up nicely for it's sequel novel and where M.J Mancini takes his story next is sure to be interesting.  If there is one thing that Revelation had that Da Vinci Code did not, it is the makings of an exciting novel series for it's genre as opposed to being a stand-alone book. 

***

If you like Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons", you're going to love this, the sizzling first book is the sizzling new trilogy.  MJ Mancini's debut novel "Revelation" is sure to keep you turning pages long into the night.  

Murder, intrigue, betrayal, and the holy church are twisted together in this spiraling epic to save the most important person in modern history.  Michael Gabriel Raphael is a devoted family man enjoying a placid lifestyle until a freak accident thrusts him into the ranks of a quasi famous.  A religious theologian from the Rila Monestary in Bulgaria, Nicholas Nevsky, shares with Michael a hidden scroll written by Mary Magdalene prophesying that Michael's daughter is the Holy Vessel that Jesus Christ will use to walk the earth again.  Realizing his daughter is marked for death, their tranquil lifestyle is quickly transformed into a perilous quest.  The Cavalieri di Santana, a 2000 year old secret society of devil worshipers will stop at nothing to prevent the Second Coming from taking place, including sacrificing her in a gruesome ritual to Satan to ensure Christ never returns.  Follow them on their high-stakes chase throughout Europe as they discover centuries old secrets, ancient societies, and face certain peril in a world few dare to imagine.  

Buy it on Amazon:  Paperback / Kindle 

Feature and Follow Friday: May 2, 2013

This week's feature and follow friday wants us to :

" Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read."

I have a couple of reads going on simultaneously now, thanks to my acquisition of a Kindle as well as the many physical books I have on hand.  I am reading Gadget Girl by Suzanne Kamata and I am looking forward to starting Telex From Cuba by Rachel Kushner.  But for this question, I want to share a book I just finished reading ( a review will be up this weekend ) called Revelation by MJ Mancini.  I will be sharing a fail, and one that I found to be humorous.

There was a moment in the novel in which it seemed as though the author forgot about certain plot elements that he had mentioned earlier in the story.  One of the antagonists had just found out that something was stolen from her and her guard, Rocco,  had been killed in the process.  The exchange went the following way:

Andre: "Where is Rocco? Wasn't he watching?"
Lilith: "He's dead"

...a few Kindle pages later... 

Lilith: (regarding the theives) "Find them and bring them to me.  Make sure you take the girl alive.  If you need help, take Rocco."  

My thoughts went like this:
...But MJ Mancini, you JUST told me that Rocco was dead...

did anybody else catch that in my paraphrased reading of this scene? Anyway, a bit of a funny fail in regard to consistency of information. :) What are your fail or fun scenes this week?

To become a follower of Inner Aspen, follow via GFC, RSS feed, or email! Have a great weekend!

xx Aspen

Feature and Follow  Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison and Parajunkee

Author Interview - P.C Zick

Today Inner Aspen is featuring another author, P.C Zick, to tell us a little bit about herself and to talk about her new novel Trails in the Sand.  This interview was conducted courtesy of Worldwind Blog Tours so thank you to the coordinators and to the author. Continue reading for more info about the author, my interview with her, as well as a giveaway opportunity! 

P.C Zick began her writing career in 1998 as a journalist.  She's won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and fiction.  She describes herself as a "storyteller" no matter the genre.  She's published four works of fiction and one fiction book.  Prior to 2010, she wrote under the name Patricia C. Behnke.  She was born in Michigan and moved to Florida in 1980.  She now resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, Robert.  Her fiction contains the elements most dear to her heart, ranging from love to the environment.  She believes in living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion.  "This is one of the most exciting times to be an author" Ms. Zick says.  "I'm honored to be a part of the revolution in writing and publishing."  

Interview with  P.C. Zick 

A: Tell us a little bit about where the inspiration for your novel Trails in the Sand came from.  How did you come up with the sea turtles and oil spill background? 

Z: During the real-life drama of B.P's Deepwater Horizon oil spill, I served as a public relations director for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  I handled the media for the sea turtle nest relocation project that took place in the summer of 2010.  At the same time, I was beginning a new relationship with a lost love from thirty-five years ago and was in the process of moving to Pittsburgh.  Two weeks prior to the oil spill, twenty-nine miners were killed in a coal mine explosion in West Virginia, a few hours from where I was moving.  It all fell into place to write about the oil spill, the sea turtles, the coal mine disaster, and a family facing disaster.  Trails in the Sand explores the efforts to restore and redeem what has been damaged.  

A: Are there any other environmental issues that are close to you? 

Z: I'm following the fracking process that brings natural gas out of the ground.  I live right on top of the Marcellus Shale, where rich deposits of the fossil fuel are found.  Drilling practices need to be regulated much more carefully because some of the methods being used today are hurting water and causing earthquakes.  I know we need the natural gas, coal, and petroleum, but we must insist that all of these fossil fuels are brought to us in a safe and less harmful way, even if it costs more.  We can't put a price on our water or our environment.  I write a blog, called Living Lightly, that addresses environmental issues such as fracking.  Also, I write once a week on growing a garden and eating local.  Currently, I am working on a book, From Seed to Table, which is a primer for gardening and eating local food as much as possible.  

A: Where else do you find sources of inspiration for your novels? 

Z: Everything can be inspiration if you keep your mind open to life and new experiences.  The newspaper is a great inspiration.  One time I read about a man who shot his pit bull because it was showing signs of homosexuality.  While it's a gross news item, it also makes a great bit of characterization for an evil or crazy antagonist.  I go to the food court at the mall occasionally.  I sit at a table and pretend to read, but really I'm eavesdropping.  I usually pull out a small notebook - I carry several in my purse -  and write little vignettes about the folks eating.  It all inspires me.  

A: How/where did you find your start as an author? 

Z: I've always known I was a writer deep down, but I didn't admit it until I decided to leave my career as a high school English teacher.  I lost my passion for teaching and was scared I would become one of those old, mean teachers who hates her job.  I thought about what else I did well, and I kept coming back to writing.  I'd dabbled with a novel; I liked writing Letters to the Editor; my peers referred to me as the "writing teacher".  Probably the biggest motivator was the praise I always received when I wrote something and published it.  So I began writing full time in 2001 and never looked back.  I feel deeply that it's supposed to be what I'm doing right now in my life.  

A: Do you see a little bit of yourself or other people you know in the characters you write? 

Z: It's my belief that all writers put themselves into everything they write.  How can we not? It doesn't mean that our novels are autobiographical, but that the characters are created from the core of our being.  However, the characterization goes much deeper than that.  I create characters based on what I know from those people who have come in and out of my life and from myself.  My characters become a composite of all that.  For instance, Caroline in Trails of the Sand has characteristics of several reporters I've known over the years.  She's also the person I'd like to be.  Her best friend Holly is based on several of my friends, but not one in particular.  It's a conglomeration of people. 

A: Who is/are your favorite author? Is there a writer whom you feel you try to emulate in your own novels? 

Z: I love Pat Conroy, John Irving, Isabelle Allende, Julia Alvarez, and so many more.  Barbara Kingsolver is my hero as she does several things I admire.  She never writes the same type of novel - she takes chances.  She also writes about environmental issues in her latest novels, which I admire.  However, I do not try to emulate anyone.  I may get an idea from the great authors of our time, but I write in my own style with my own agenda.  

A: What do you wish for your readers to gain from reading your novels?

Z: I always write about the importance of communication in relationships.  I try to show it's never too late to change so we become better.  I try to put environmental themes in all my books.  I try to educate without readers even realizing they're learning something. In fact, it's the best thing a reader can say to me.  With Trails in the Sand, so  many folks have told me either they'd forgotten the oil spill or they didn't realize how bad it was.  

A: As an author, how would you describe your writing style, or writing aesthetic? 

Z: I don't really know the answer to that question.  I write what I feel like writing.  I start with a topic in mind and just begin writing scenes or chapters.  Usually these first scribblings end up being the outline for the next draft.  Some of the early writings end up in the novel, sometimes they don't.  I don't do a formal outline because usually I want to start writing the story and have no patience for writing an outline.  I follow the  muse wherever it takes me.  

A: When you are not writing, what else are you doing? 

Z: My husband and I are avid gardeners so the warmer months find us growing, harvesting, and preserving the food we grow.  We also enjoy golfing, kayaking, and boating during the summer and during our frequent trips to Florida to visit my daughter and friends.  I am an avid reader so I always have at least one book going.  Sometimes I have a hard copy book and a Kindle book going at the same time.  We also travel as much as possible.  

****
Follow the rest of the blog tour here

Buy copies of her book and connect with P.C. Zick at the links below. Enter the giveaway after the links!

Website / Goodreads / Goodreads (novel page) / Facebook / Twitter 

Buy Trails in the Sand Here:  Amazon Paperback / Amazon Kindle 

A Family Saga Filled with Love Triangles, Sea Turtles, and an Oil Spill. 

When environmental writer Caroline Carlisle sets off to report on endangered sea turtles during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the last thing she expects is to uncover secrets - secrets that threaten to destroy her family, unless she can heal the hurts from a lifetime of lies.  To make matters worse, Caroline's love for her late sister's husband, Simon, creates and uproar in a southern family already set on a collision course with its past.  Using real-life events as the backdrop, Trails in the Sand explores the fight to restore balance and peace, in nature and in a family, as both spiral toward disaster.  Through it all, the ancient sea turtle serves as a reminder that life moves forward despite the best efforts to destroy it.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview - Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Today on Inner Aspen, we have poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey here to answer some questions and tell us about her poetry collections titled Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia and Magnolia Memories and Musings.  Many thanks to the author for the interview and WorldWind Blog Tours for hosting and coordinating this tour stop.

Interview with Patricia Neely-Dorsey 

A: How did you first get started with writing poetry? Have you written works in any other genre? 

P: I actually wrote my very first poem February 14, 2007.  I woke up out of my sleep with a poem swirling around in my head.  I got up and quickly scribbled it down.  After that, the poems just started to flow and flow.  Most of the poems in my two books came from that period.  As of now I have only written/published poetry.  I do some freelance writing from time to time for magazines.   

A: Who are your favorite poets/ writers? 

P: I absolutely love Maya Angelou and her writings.  I love her poetry, quotes, and words of wisdom.  I fell in love with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as a teen.  It still remains one of my favorite books.  

A: How would you describe your two poetry collections Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, and Magnolia Memories and Musings?  That is, what are they about and what do they mean to you? 

P: I call both books "a celebration of the south and things southern".  There are so many  negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south, in general.   In my books I attempt to give a positive glimpse to the southern way of life.  

A: Do you have a poem that is your favorite from your collections?

P: I usually call "Southern Life" my signature poem.  It pretty much sums up my feelings about southern life and the overall tone of my books and poems.  My personal favorite poem is "Let's" because it expresses my feelings on the kind of life I like/ want to live...enjoying the simple things.  

A: What was one of your favorite things about growing up in the south?

P: The thing that I loved and still appreciate is a slower, relaxed pace of life.  I grew up in a small town and in an area with lots of wide open spaces, lots of grass, lots of trees, and lots of animals.  I absolutely loved living life close to the land and being in touch with nature.  I still love and treasure those things. 

A: Can you share with us one of your favorite childhood memories? 

P: I wrote a poem called "Country Doctor" about going on house-calls with my dad, sometimes, on weekends.  I loved going along with him.  I loved meeting the people and enjoying the scenery.   

A: Did you live anywhere else while growing up? 

P: My dad was in the Air Force when I was born.  I was born at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, but have lived in Tupelo, Mississippi since I was about 6 months old.  It has always been home.  I attended school in Boston, Massachusetts for 4 years and graduated from Boston University.  I lived in Memphis, Tennessee for almost 20 years.  There is nowhere else I would rather be than where I am now.  Back home.  I think my poem "Mississippi" says it all: 

In the heart of Dixie, 

Perfumed by 

The sweet, fragrant smell of magnolias

And serenaded with 

The melodious songs of the mockingbird, 

Lies a true Queen of the South.  

Her name is Mississippi. 

I don't know how to explain this place, 

Except to say that she "speaks" to me. 

The rocks, the flowers, the birds and trees 

Speak to me. 

They sometimes whisper, 

And sometimes they shout; 

But always they say "this is where you belong" 

2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey - from My Magnolia Memories and Musings in Poems 

A: What words would you use to describe your writing style? 

P: My writing style is simple, straightforward, and "folksy".  I actually call it "folk poetry".  It is written in very common language and meant to be read, understood, and enjoyed by common folks of all ages.  

A: What would you like your poetry to portray to your readers? 

P: There is so much more to the story than all the negatives usually portrayed about Mississippi and the south.  There are so many things to appreciate and LOVE about this state and region that I call home.  

A: When you are not writing, what do you like to do? 

P: I love to read and spend time with family.  I love thrift shopping and yardsaling.  I love enjoying a very leisurely country life.  I also love "visiting" with my friends on Facebook... celebrating the south together!  

****

Buy copies of her books and connect with Patricia at the links below: 

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: Amazon Paperback /  Barnes & Noble Paperback 

My Magnolia Memories and Musings: Amazon Paperback / Barnes & Noble Paperback 

Patricia's Website / Facebook   

Her books can also be found on Goodreads! 

Keep up with the rest of the tour here :) 

Review: The Wind Up Bird Chronicle [ by Haruki Murakami ]

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is, in my opinion, one of Murakami's most ambitious novels that I've read thus far. 

Out of  fear that some of the things I talk about in this review may be considered by some to be weaknesses in writing or storytelling, let me at least state this clearly: I loved it.  The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was great.  It had all of the things I love about Murakami's other novels which admittedly are usually strange, but I really enjoy his ability to write about the "weird". The writing is beautiful, the story is very good, and the result is this very large volume of fiction called The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

Our main protagonist who has nothing to lose is Toru Okada.  He has quit his job, has had no luck finding another and the novel starts as he is at home, cooking spaghetti, when he gets a phone call from a mysterious woman.  The plot of this story is almost entirely moved and made to progress by its characters, instead of outside events which really, is a testament to Murakami's skill as a novelist.  He attempts to do so much with this novel by doing so little.  The pacing and the flow of the plot is dictated by the characters that come and go, in and out of Toru Okada's life.  But his adventure doesn't even begin to start until his pet cat goes missing, his wife leaves without warning, and a psychic prostitute and her equally mysterious sister whose trademark is a large red vinyl hat selectively tell him information which may or may not prove to be useful or relevant, and Toru Okada finds himself in complete darkness at the bottom of a well.  It is here that he learns what true darkness is and how constructive of a time it can be for reflection when he realizes that he is able to enter a parallel netherworld which may hold clues to the disappearances of his cat and his wife. 

I had an interesting experience with this novel such that I read all the way through until page 400 or 500 of the book only to come to the realization that nothing has happened.  A lot of what was included in the back of the book summary had not yet happened by page 400 or 500 out of 600 and I instantly became more curious as to what was going to happen in the last 100-170 pages of this novel.  Murakami is one of the only authors that I have read who has the ability to write for pages and pages about nothing and write about it well.  It will be the most interesting pages and pages of nothing that I have ever read.  And of course, because it is a novel things are happening on each page: by this time he has met a vast cast of characters including a wise war veteran, and an optimistically morbid 16 year old who is too clever for her age named May Kasahara, and he has moved up in rank from a guy who's wife left him and had nothing to lose to a guy who has found a purpose.  However, the climax of the plot had yet to come up and it was a strange realization to come to.  That being said, the final 100-170 pages were anything but disappointing.

Through Toru Okada, we are able to experience a surreal blend between fiction and reality.  We become closely acquainted with his thoughts, and manifestations of his stresses and fears.  His journey, which initially began as a search for his cat, evolved into a search for his wife and a look into the mysterious happenings around him.  Toru Okada is patient.  He sits and waits until he makes the necessary acquaintances which transport him (and us) to the next plot progression point.  In this way, the novel also tests the readers' patience.  We have to wait in the same way that Toru Okada has to wait in order to meet the faces of The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, which is part of the beauty of this novel.   

~~  Amazon Paperback  /  Amazon Kindle ~~ 

synopsis: Japan's most highly regarded novelist now vaults into the first ranks of international fiction writers with this heroically imaginative novel, which is at once a detective story, an account of a disintegrating marriage, and an excavation of the buried secrets of WWII. 

In a Tokyo suburb, a young man named Toru Okada searches for his wife's missing cat.  Soon he finds himself looking for his wife as well in a netherworld that lies beneath the placid surface of Tokyo.  As these searches intersect, Okada encounters a bizarre group of allies and antagonists: a psychic prostitute, a malevolent yet mediagenic politician, a cheerfully morbid sixteen-year-old girl, and an aging war veteran who has been permanently changed by the hideous things he witnessed during Japan's forgotten campaign in Manchuria.  

Gripping, prophetic, suffused with comedy and menace, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle is a tour de force equal in scope to the masterpieces of Mishima and Pynchon.  

Feature and Follow Friday: Event Season!

This week's feature and follow friday is all about reader conventions and (I'm extending to include) events.
Which is appropriate for me since last week was all about the Hapa Japan Festival which included a book fair and awesome literary panel. 

Question: We are about to see a lot of posts and tweets about reader conventions, RT, BEA, ALA, and many more are starting soon. Which one would you love to attend? Where and why?

This month I've got one more bookish even to look forward to (coming up next weekend, actually) and that is the coveted LA Festival of Books.  For those who may not be familiar, it is a weekend-long book fair with author readings, author signings, and booths from publishers to book stores and etc selling merchandise for you to buy.  The last time I was there, I was a very small, young child, so I am looking forward to attending this year.  Also, this time, I will be working at one of the booths, so if any of you are in the beautiful southern california area, stop by the Kinokuniya Book Store booth and come buy something! :)

I was supposed to go to ALA last year, but due to scheduling conflicts, I missed out.  If it's possible, that is another convention that I would like to attend at some point.  Because who doesn't like free things right?

** Feature and Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Alison and Parjunkee**    

come join the bandwagon.. become a follower of Inner Aspen via GFC, RSS Feed, or email subscription! Regardless, don't forget to say hi and if it's relevant, let me know how you followed with a link to your own FF so that I can return the visit. Happy Friday! 

 

Bonus: Here is a random quote from a novel that I feel like sharing with you all:
" if through some kind of reincarnation, it were possible to be reborn as Ushikawa's clothing, with a guarantee of rare glory in the next rebirth, I would still not want to do it" (Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Murakami)  I don't know why, but I love this line. The idea alone is amusing to me...