Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Meet My New Guest Reviewer!

*Phew*  I'm going to get a bit of time to relax for a few months.  *sigh*  This is awesome.  I'll be here, but I'm going to have a helping hand.

I'm so happy (THRILLED!) to share with you a guest reviewer who will be around for a few months (unless I or your *evil eye* scare her off - but between you and me, I think it's going to be hard to scare her off).  Okay, don't believe me about being hard to scare her off?  Did you see her name?  Yea.  Look at the eyes she's giving you! ;P  LOL!  Seriously, I'm totally jelly over her logo!  I want one. :D

Alright, all in fun.  Seriously, I love this woman.  I'll let her introduce herself to you.  Not only does she have killer books, but she has a wonderful personality.  So please, give a great big warm welcome for Mama Bitchstress...


Hello Melissa’s Awesome Blog Followers!

For the next couple of months, I am on a writing hiatus (refilling the well so that I can come back refreshed and write Books That Do Not Suck Hairy Goat Ass), and I decided the first thing I wanted to do was dive into my MASSIVE to-be-read pile. I’d like to read a book a week, and I pitched to Mel the idea of posting guest reviews at her blog in the hopes it would give her a day or so off to relax as she catches up with things. She graciously agreed to let me play in her sandbox (am I the only one who finds that metaphor dirty-sounding?), and so here I am.

Who am I: Multi-published urban fantasy writer, Skyla Dawn Cameron. Mel likes my books. I think they’re pretty rad too. I work in publishing and I have a lot of cats. When I’m not banging my head in frustration as I work out a plot tangle, I like running, watching anything Whedon, killing zombies (in games), talking about vegan food, and learning how to knit.

Why Mama Bitchstress: “Bitchstress Dreamkiller” is my title over at The Evil League of Evil Writers, and I do a series of posts called Editing 101 with Mama Bitchstress. I am the mother-hen-type, hence “Mama.” And Bitchstress, well...I’m a bitch, folks.

What I’ll be reviewing: Let’s get this out of the way now...I will only review books I like. My reviews will always be 100% honest, however a) I am picky, hard to please, and often broke, therefore I select my reading material very carefully so don’t often read something I hate, and b) I work in this industry and it is in my best interest not to get all ranty about books potentially by my peers. And because I’m doing this for pleasure, I want to talk about books I’m excited about.

I am not paid to review things; all books are purchased for my own enjoyment. I will not review any books I’ve worked on. I may review books by my friends, but only if I genuinely love the book, and I will disclose this fact on the review itself. I also have trouble separating the technical aspects of how a book is written from my enjoyment of it, meaning I like shit that’s well done. “Unlikeable” characters? Hey, if they’re written well, I don’t care if they’re not the sort I’d want to have over for dinner. Horrifying plot twist? I can dig it if it fits, even if it means everyone I love dies at the end. I may talk about things like pacing and structure, but will endeavor not to make my reviews book-report-y.

I also told Mel I’d stick with books in genres she blogs about, so you’ll see UF, paranormal, adventure, and fantasy (maybe YA in those genres). On the weeks I’m reading about mountaineering or North Korea, I will kindly skip my blog post here (though I tend to share my thoughts on GoodReads, so go ahead and friend me there if you want to keep up with how I feel about The Secret History of Mi6 or Eve Ensler’s new memoir).

I’ll be starting next week with Lilith Saintcrow’s The Red Plague Affair (plus a giveaway! Because I want you to like me and THAT’S HOW I ROLL, FOLKS).

Thank you, again, to Mel for having me here, and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

29 comments:

  1. *pat pat* Now Mel, don't you worry--go put your feet up, have a margarita, and relax for a bit. I'll take care of the place while you're gone.

    *kicks body under couch*

    *smiles reassuringly*

    (Does anyone know how to get bloodstains out of carpet??)

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    1. Thank you Skyla.

      *eyes the floor*

      Was that...*shacks head* Um, where are the caban boys? I was hoping you'd bring them with you.

      *eyes a spot on the floor*

      Skyla, are you having a party? Again. You were suppose to invite me. Oh! A suuuurprise party for me?

      *turns to relax in other room, calls over shoulder*

      Oh, Skyla, please be kind enough to bury the bodies in the back yard. There are acres out there, you can pick anywhere. ;)

      Have fuuuun...

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  2. Welcome Skyla, looks like it's going to be fun to read your reviews about the books you pick. Welcome once again & take care.

    Mihir

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    1. Thank you for giving Skyla a warm welcome Mihir. :) I'm looking forward to what she has to share with us as well. :)

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  3. Welcome, Skyla Dawn/Mama B., and enjoy a little breathing time, Melissa!

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    1. Thank you Lark @ The Bookwyrms Hoard. :) I'll be around, but it's nice to have Skyla here, knowing I don't have to have a review every day. I can stock up mine and have Skyla's help. :)

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    1. Seltzer gets blood out of carpet. *shifty-eyes*

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    2. Julie Butcher, did someone say something about blood? *eyes carpet* Well, looks like we'll have to go to hard wood floors. But try to not scratch it with the claws and knives. Please?

      LOL!

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  5. Nice to meet you "Mama". Can't wait to check out your posts and to Mel , enjoy the time off! ^-^

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    1. Gina R. Thank you. :) I'll be around and still posting, but it's nice I won't have to rush trying to read to keep the reviews coming for you all. :)

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  6. Awesome! So glad you are helping Mel out and I really look forward to reading what you have for us :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. Thank you Jaclyn Canada, I'm so thrilled to have a helper around. :) It's going to lift a load from me trying to keep reviews coming.

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  7. Heh heh heh this is going to be good. Welcome Skyla!

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    1. Bea, I'm so thinking this is going to be a blast too. :) Thank you!

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  8. what a wonderful idea! Can't wait to read them! Welcome!

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    1. Melliane, it's nice. I'll be able to relax with my books, take my time. And maybe even find some words of my own. :)

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  9. *waves to Mama*
    Nice meeting ya :D

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  10. Mel - you deserve a break but do come back! We'll miss you but sounds like Skyla will be keeping us entertained and amused in the meantime! :-)
    Hugs to you both! :-)

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    1. Mel, Thank you. I'll be around, just dark this week. But it's nice I wont have to rush books to keep reviews coming for you all. :) Thank you!

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  11. I'm actually kind of upset at this whole thing. 1. I didn't think of that name. Mama Bitchstress is just awesomesauce. 2. Would she like to take over another blog for a while? LOL Oh vacay! :D

    Seriously, welcome!! And Mel, take care of yourself. You know that is an order!!! *stern look*

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    1. *giggle* Melissa (B&T) I'm sure Skyla would do wonderfully for you, but I snagged her first! ;P"" LOL! Thank you, and I will. :)

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  12. *sigh* I wish I could get a co-blogger or guest reviewer or something, but I'm such a damn control freak, that would NOT end well.
    anyway, I LOVE the name, and I'm looking forward to MB's reviews. Welcome!

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    1. Maja (The Nocturnal Library) That is kinda my troubles too. But I know Skyla will do wonderfully with reviews. So I'm glad to have the added help. :) And hope you enjoy her reviews to come. :) Thank you!

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  13. Thank you all for the kind welcome, I am looking forward to this! Already jotting down things for my first review and my admiration for book bloggers grows and grows--y'all do a HUGE amount of work. My hat's off to you.

    Here, Mel--Cap'n Morgan wants to see you. Never mind the corpses, they were just leaving...

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    1. Skyla, Oooo, Cap'n.... Oh, and I do hope those corpses aren't going to walk on their own...you know that gives me the creeps. But, that's what I have you around for. *giggle* Thank you!

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  14. Does nobody else feel the disturbance in the ether at the pact these two have made?

    Ah well, perhaps it won't escalate to across the pond (and MB haven't you learned that you should put a tarp down first?)

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    1. Histrel, *giggle* It just means all's right in the world. *giggle*

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