Monday, May 24, 2010

So Many Flavors!


While chillin’ by the pool in Palm Springs with my sisters, I couldn’t help but notice all the noses in books. I imagined the excitement each author had felt the first time they’d learned they’d be published. Something else I noticed? All the different ‘flavors’ of books. I spotted thrillers, self-help, romance, and YA.


For me, a stroll through a library or book store is like a trip to Baskin Robbins. Well, let's not go crazy. But I do love all the choices. The perfect book choice for me might make others cringe. Like when my husband orders strawberry cheesecake ice cream, and I don't even ask for a bite (hmm...is that why he orders it?)


I'm thankful that authors write diverse material, and that publishers put it out there on the market. Just like I'm thankful there are rows and rows of flavors to choose from in the ice cream section of the grocery store.


Karen G wrote an amazing post on Why You May Not be Published. If we avoid these mistakes, maybe someday our work will be gobbled up by sunbathers chillin’ by the pool.


For the record, my favorite books are contemporary and historical fiction. My favorite ice cream? Peanut butter and chocolate. How about you?

36 comments:

  1. Is this a new blog layout? Name? Something is different here! Thanks for the shoutout! I'll RT it.

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  2. Hi Karen! I did change the background a little while back, but who knows what I do when I start clicking around.

    That blog post of your was great, and I'm sure it'll help other writers.

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  3. Mmm, ice cream. Sorry, what was the question? My favorite books are science fiction and fantasy. And I looove chocolate anything, especially ice cream. :-)

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  4. Books? Contemporary fiction and memoir.
    Ice Cream? Chocolate, anytime, any place. Preferably while reading one of those great summer books :)

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  5. Hi, Julie. Typically, I love to escape with thrillers or smart "Silence of the Lambs" types of horror novels. I did, however, just recently read Pat Conroy's "South of Broad" and I just finished "The Lovely Bones" (finally!). I know, I'm way behind.
    For ice cream, I really shouldn't, being lactose intolerant and all. Notice I said: "shouldn't". If I swallow some of those little pills I can have all the Almond Praline ice cream I want!!

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  6. Anna, I know, right! So distracting when we're thinking about ice cream. After writing this post I should have headed straight to 31 Flavors.

    Joanne, chocolate...need we say more? And while reading? Life is grand.

    James, I have "South of Broad" on my reading list because of your suggestion! Thanks for stopping by, now pop a pill and eat some pralines!

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  7. I'm grateful for all the choices because my taste changes from day to day. Sometimes I love the classics, other days I want to escape with a romance...then it might be a funny book. Used to be really into thrillers until I had kids. I feel too vulnerable now.

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  8. I love your books/ice cream analogy! It's so true. My favorite ice cream flavor is cookie dough (Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia is a close second). My favorite book "flavor" is chick lit... light and funny stories are my reading staple.

    Thanks for the link to the great publishing post. :)

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  9. My favourite type of book is probably contemporary fiction, I'm a big fan of John Grisham also, as like to read books that have a legal slant.
    And as for ice-cream, oh my goodness, that's a difficult one, okay I'll say caramel!

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  10. I'm a pick and mix genre girl. At the moment I'm into my YA books. But I dip into all genres from time to time.
    Ice-cream, oh do I have to pick? Hmmmm, I like mint choc chip. :)

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  11. Great post! I'm a Baskin Robbins kind of reader myself!

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  12. All your ice cream faves sound soooo good right now. Oh how I wish I had some in my freezer!

    Thanks guys for stopping by.

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  13. Way easier to pick my fave ice cream flavors - rolo and tiger.
    Books? I love paranormal. I love thriller. I love a well-written chick lit. And romance is a staple, especially when written by authors I've followed for years.

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  14. I do love all kinds of books. Hard to choose a genre.
    Ice cream: Dairy Queen vanilla/chocolate twist cone. :) Or cherry garcia.

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  15. Dawn, rolo ice cream? I've never heard of it, but if it's like the candy (one of my favorites) I'd be all over that. Yum!

    Kelly, Dairy Queen is pure awesome on a cone.

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  16. Hi Julie! Good post this one! IMO, taste is something never to discuss, only to share. Otherwise it can get ugly, heh.

    I went to KarenG's post, and it's awesome. Thanks for linking it, and also, thanks for the follow. :)

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  17. Mari, glad you liked Karen's post. I thought it was really well done.

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  18. Mmmm, icecream and books, I can't imagine anything better! I love fantasy, be it adult or YA. As for icecream, just about any flavor will do!

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  19. Heather, ice cream and books do make a fine combo, don't you think? Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. I enjoy lots of choices for some things (food and books for sure), but freeze up completely with others (wall paint samples). Sometimes I long for the "old days" when there was one TV choice, one stove, etc. I think some of it has gotten out of hand. But again, never for books. Favorite genre for me is historical fiction. Favorite ice cream was..oh boy...oreo cookie. Now that I'm a vegan, chocolate coconut milk ice cream!

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  21. I was in a bookstore yesterday that sells new, used and traded books. I was thinking the same thing you were at the pool, except the ice cream analogy didn't come to me. You're so creative! I walked out of the bookstore with a woman's lit book, a Sandra Brown romance, and a nonfiction book about ghost hunters' experiences. How's that for a scoop of Neopolitian?

    My favorite ice cream is Mayfield Dairy's Extreme Moose Tracks. Yum!

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  22. Lisa, sometimes too many choices can be a problem! But with books, you're right, there's never too many choices.

    Nicole, your bookstore adventure sounds so fun! And what a wide variety you purchased...I loved your scoop of Neopolitan.

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  23. First of all--new follower! *waves*

    I really don't know why I wasn't following your blog, because I know I've been here before, but I guess I forgot to click follow. My bad. (Can I blame my revision rattled brain? Or maybe my blonde hair?)

    Anyway, I'm following you now--in the NON stalkerish sense of the term--so the problem has been corrected. And I look forward to getting to know you better through your posts.

    Oh, and I've been reading a lot of MG lately, since that's what I write, but I also love a good chick-lit when I want something more mature. And pretty much anything YA. As for icecream? It's ALL about Cold Stone Cake Batter. Mmmmmm. :)

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  24. Shannon, welcome! Thanks for the follow. No matter why you didn't follow before, I'm glad you're here now!

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  25. Now I can't decide whether or not I want ice cream or a good book...hmmm...maybe both? Ha!

    I love pretty much any type of fiction as long as it's well written. One of my favorite parts of going on vacation is reading!

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  26. Chocolate and Peanut Butter! Can't beat that combo! :)

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  27. Nice comparison! My fave ice cream is mint choc. chip. :-)
    I saw you on my followers and wanted to pop by and say hey. Have a great weekend!

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  28. Lisa and Laura, vacation and reading...also my favorite!

    Heather, thanks for stopping by! Yes, chocolate ice cream with big globs of peanut butter. Yum.

    Jessica, thanks for dropping by my blog!

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  29. Palm Springs! Ah, someday...

    My favs? MG & YA Fantasy or thrillers. I like darker stuff--paranormal, mystery, even horror.

    Fav ice cream is Maple Walnut, all the way.

    Have a great weekend, Julie!

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  30. Angela, thanks for stopping by. Palm Springs is a nice sister getaway we do each year. It always includes reading, chick flicks, and margaritas!

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  31. I love to read contemporary romance and women's fiction. And my favoirte ice cream is Moosetracks and Vanilla/peanut butter. :)

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  32. I love going to the pool because it reaffirms that the publishing industry isn't dead!! :)

    I'll read nearly anything, but I favor women's fiction or literary fiction, and anything about Mt Everest.

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  33. yes, bookstores are like a candy store to me!
    I read everything-YA, women's, chick-lit, historical...whatever looks good!

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  34. Jennifer, I think we like to read the same things! And vanilla/peanut butter? I think I'll have to try that!

    Heidi, yes, the pool is a great place to check out what everyone is reading!

    Lydia, love those same types of books. Thanks for stopping by!

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  35. Ice cream and books alike, I prefer complexity--preferably a bit chunky so you've got to chew it a little. Odd combos--a-okay, though if it's fruity, that has to be balanced by a good solid base of RICH chocolate or vanilla. Mostly I like nuts and oddities (yes, in my books)--like big chunks of candy. Try to feed me anything predictable, and i will get cranky--ESPECIALLY if it is predictably sweet. (peanut butter cut is a favorite--but the BEST is coffee toffee)

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  36. Ah, watery tart, we don't want you cranky! So nothing predictable for you!

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