I don’t know about where most of you live, but here in the Chicago area, it is definitely starting to feel like winter is right around the corner. There is a bite in the air that wasn’t there even two weeks ago. Before long I’ll be writing most of my posts while sipping on a steaming mug of my favorite green tea.

The highlight of my week probably had to be attending an open house at a new Barnes & Noble. The store is huge, with very high ceilings and plenty of nooks to sit in and read without being disturbed. And yes, I ended up buying 2 books, even though I wasn’t planning on it. One of the books I bought is called Saturday by Ian McEwan, which I have heard good things about, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

Yes, it’s Friday. And here, for your reading pleasure, is another installment of Friday Link Love. If this doesn’t satisfy your appetite, don’t worry, because I’ll probably be posting a Leftover Link Love around Monday – a new feature I implemented this past week. You can read more about Leftovers here.

With that said, have a happy and safe weekend!

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Every Friday, I post a feature called Friday Link Love where I link to a lot of interesting stuff I find around the blogosphere and internet that I think you will enjoy reading.

New Feature on Brad’s Reader!

Throughout the week, I bookmark a lot more links than I actually end up posting. And then on Thursday night, when I’m getting the Link Love post together, I leave a lot of links out, for one reason or another. Usually I will leave a link out if I have already linked to that particular blog already, or link to them often in the past. And sometimes I feel that a particular link isn’t quite right for the Link Love post.

Leftovers does not mean second-rate!

With that said, a new feature here will be Link Love Leftovers! Everyone knows that leftovers can sometimes be a lot better than the original meal. Take Thanksgiving for example (since it’s the next holiday coming up in the United States). Sure, the Thanksgiving dinner is great, but those leftovers can be just as good and satisfying! Mmmm, turkey sandwiches!

So I want to make it clear that the links I feature in the Leftovers posts are by no means second rate links. They just didn’t get featured in the Link Love post because I try to avoid multiple links to the same site. I like to spread the love around!

Link Love Leftovers not going to be a regular feature

One more item I want to mention is that the Link Love Leftovers posts will not be a regular feature on this blog. Some weeks I’ll post one, other weeks I won’t. A lot of it will depend on the number of links I have bookmarked and if I have the time to get them organized into a post. Consider Link Love Leftovers a special treat to be savored and enjoyed!

Here are some delicious leftovers for your reading pleasure:

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It’s Friday again and the US has now elected a new president! I’m relieved that it’s finally over; the campaigns were starting to get dirty and I spent too much time watching election news on tv. Now the countdown begins to January 20, 2009, when President-Elect Obama officially takes office and starts working his magic.

For all of your reading pleasure, I found some juicy links for everyone to enjoy! I spent hours and hours (and dozens of pots of coffee) scouring the internet for great stuff for you to read. My goal is for most of the links to be literary-related, but if something really interesting strikes my attention, I’ll include that as well.

With that said, have a happy and safe weekend!

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It’s Halloween! On a Friday! Coincidence? I think not!

Halloween is probably one of my least favorite holidays. To begin with, I’m not a big fan of little kids. And I don’t like them ringing my doorbell, and when I don’t answer, they proceed to pound on the door with their little fists. Secondly, I think the idea of strangers giving out candy to little kids is a little creepy. Finally, don’t even get me started about those cheesy costumes! Yeah, I’m a "buzz kill", I know. The truth is that there are very few holidays I get excited about anymore.

We can still look on the bright side, though, because today is still Friday! That means a weekend of freedom, slacking off, and lots of naps. Even though the two days go by really fast, it still feels like a vacation. But by Sunday evening, I’m crying in depression that it’s almost over. There are times when I start feeling down Saturday night because I know that Sunday is close by.

Anyway, let’s just have a good Friday! And for all of you out there in InternetLand, have a happy and safe weekend!

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Friday is here and I’m sure all of you have been biting your nails waiting for this week’s Friday Link Love. Why? Because you love the cool and interesting links I post! At least I hope so. This week I have been bookmarking like crazy. In fact, there is quite a bit of overflow this week – links I bookmarked, but didn’t make it onto this post for one reason or another. I just might do an Overflow Link Love post sometime soon, I’d hate to see such good content go to waste.

This past week has been especially productive for me. I’m working on a new short fiction project that is really taking off. I did a very basic outline (read more about outlines in this post) that laid out the major events, a character list, and that was it. The story is really "writing" itself and I’m having a blast with the writing process. It’s during times like this that I know I hit on a really good idea because everything just "gels" together.

Anyway, now that it’s Friday, you can kick off your shoes and relax. And as always, have a safe and happy weekend!

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Friday is here and that means the weekend is just around the corner! It also means the 2008 US election is drawing closer. Are you registered to vote yet? Depending on where you are, it might be too late. If you are registered make sure you head to the polls on November 4 to cast your ballot. This is a very important election – one that will determine the course the US will take for the foreseeable future.

Anyway, this is a weekend I’m actually not looking forward to. Why? Because on Saturday I have to go to the dentist for my semi-annual cleaning. Ack! Even these cleaning appointments always end up hurting more than I bargain for. I think I have a phobia of going to the dentist. Oh well, if it means keeping all of my teeth, I guess it’s worth it (sigh).

Once I get through the dentist’s office on Saturday, the rest of the weekend should be relaxing. And with that said, here are some links for you to read while you’re relaxing this weekend. I scoured the web all week to find this stuff, so you know it’s good! Like always, have a happy and safe weekend!

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The weekend is here! That’s about all that needs to be said on a Friday. Right? Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been glued to the election news and watching the economy tank. And as November 4 draws closer, things are going to get even more heated than ever.

I don’t have quite as many links for today as I normally like. But you should really enjoy these – there’s a lot of good reading to be had! Please be sure to read the "Writing for Animals" post, as I’m a huge animal lover so it’s something I feel deeply about. With that said, I hope everyone out there in internetland has a happy and safe weekend!

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Yes, I have been absent during the last week in the blogosphere and haven’t posted anything since the last Friday’s link love. I apologize. Other parts of life took up more time than I had and I never got around to getting a post or two written.

But as I always say, better late than never (at least, when it comes to posting here). I have run across some great material during the past week that I think you will really enjoy. On a more personal note, I am really loving this cooler fall weather the Chicago area has been experiencing. It’s a nice change from the hot and humid summer months.

With that said, here’s the week’s installment of Friday Link Love (a little late, I know). As always, I hope you have a safe and happy weekend!

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What a week this has been! The financial markets are in chaos, the government is running around in circles like a chicken with its head cut off, and the presidential campaigns are heating up as we enter into the final month before the elections! If it appears that I haven’t been posting as much as usual during the past week, then you are correct. My mind hasn’t been thinking about writing and literature much.

Maybe this is a good thing, as it is a mental "vacation" that will refresh my mind, imagination and give me a renewed vigor when I do return to it after all this excitement calms down. One thing I have always feared since I started this blog is burning out. Burn out can have serious consequences, the worst of which is giving up on a blog altogether. I don’t want that to happen.

Don’t worry though. I’ll continue blogging as regularly as I can. I have some great posts coming up that I’m sure ya’ll will love. With that said, it’s FRIDAY! And like always, have a safe and happy weekend!

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Better late than never – that has been on of my unofficial mantras throughout my life. Of course, if there’s a hard deadline that needs to be met (like for a client or something), then obviously that mantra doesn’t apply. Thus, Friday Link Love  has been posted a few days late. A family obligation kept me away from my computer the last few days and I was unable to get this post finished.

The good news is, however, I have lots of links for you this week. I scoured the web high and low to bring you the best posts from the past week. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some good reading! I hope you have had a happy and safe weekend.

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