One week from today is Christmas and then we can start putting this holiday season behind us. Why does that make me so happy? I’m not a big fan of the constant holiday music, cheesy commercials and unruly/impatient crowds at every store I go in.

However, I am looking forward to 2010. I always see the new year as a new beginning and a way to put all my mistakes from the previous year behind me.

That’s all I have this week. I woke up this morning to find it snowing – winter is officially here. Hopefully some of you live in areas with warmer weather. If you do I truly envy you. As always, have a happy and safe weekend.

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In Chicago it’s snowy, cold and downright miserable. Staying inside my warm house and writing/reading is cozy, but I hate driving when the weather is like this. I’m comfortable driving in snowy weather because I learned to drive in Idaho, where they plowed the roads and threw a little sand down – that’s it. None of this salt stuff they use here in Illinois.

Other than that I’ve been busy with multiple writing projects and trying to make progress on a stack of books I want to read. I could really use a few more hours in each day. Despite being busy, I’m loving every minute of it.

Here is this week’s installment of Friday Link Love. I got quite a few links this week, so if you’re snowed in and can’t leave the house, then you have plenty of good reading. As always have a happy, safe and warm weekend.

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Congratulations to Nicole from B.C. Canada on winning the Brad’s Reader 3rd Anniversary Giveaway. She picked the book We Never Talk About My Brother by Peter S. Beagle. Nicole’s Amazon gift card has been signed, sealed, stamped and delivered. Thank you all for your comments and telling us your best read of 2009.

It has been a very busy week and it looks like the remaining 3 weeks of December will be a lot busier. I can’t wait for 2010. But until then, there’s a lot of work to do.

Have a happy and safe weekend.

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  I spent some time with family, ate a lot and I’m enjoying some time off from work. These long weekends are great for catching up on some much needed sleep.

Today is Black Friday – when consumers all over the US go on a crazy shopping spree and retailers offer deep discounts on everything from clothing to electronics. Even if you’re not one who celebrates the holidays, it’s hard to ignore the steep discounts. For your convenience, I added a link to Amazon’s Black Friday deals page (an affiliate link, of course).

No matter what your plans are, have a safe and happy weekend!

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Welcome to the very late edition of Friday Link Love. I had a busy day of trying to get stuff done that I neglected throughout the week. Time somehow slipped away from me and I’m finding myself needing a few more hours each day. So without any further distraction, here are some great links for you to check out. And as always, have a safe and happy weekend!

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First I’d like to wish everyone a belated Happy Veteran’s Day. If you haven’t yet thanked a veteran for his/her service, it’s never too late.

There is really not much to report for this past week. A lot of you are in the middle of your NaNoWriMo projects and sweating because November is just about half way over. If you need a break from writing, I have some great links below for your reading entertainment. If you’re not participating in NaNoWriMo this year, then you should have plenty of time to check out these links.

It’s Friday (the 13th) and you know what that means – have a happy and safe weekend.

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This has been a busy week for me. I’m sure those of you participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo marathon are even busier than me, so I’ll keep things brief. It’s Friday, the weekend is here. Have fun!

Seriously though, if you need I quick break from your writing, I have some great links for you to check out, just like every Friday. As always, have a happy and safe weekend!

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Welcome to the Friday “Spooktacular” edition of Link Love! Actually it’s not, just business as usual. I’m not a big fan of Halloween (yes, I’m a Scrooge). Although I will be attending a Halloween party Saturday night, dressed as an unemployed writer. Seems fitting in this economy.

Halloween aside, the Chicago area keeps getting pounded with lousy weather and rain storms. While I normally enjoy the occasional drizzle and/or storm, this constant bad weather is starting to pick at everyone’s nerves. Most of us have forgotten what a blue sky looks like, or the sun for that matter.

Enough small talk. Here are a few great links from around the web for your reading enjoyment. Have a happy Halloween and, as always, a safe and weekend!

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The exciting event this week, of course, has been the announcement of the Nook, the e-reader from Barnes & Noble. The Nook is a revolutionary step forward in many ways, which I described in my earlier post.  The Nook also adds much-needed competition to Amazon’s Kindle and the line of e-readers from Sony.

In the emerging ebook industry, we need healthy competition to ensure innovation, reasonable pricing and choice for consumers. I’m looking forward to reading the first reviews after the Nook is released in late November. My local B&N store already has promotional material for the Nook available for customers.

Other than that, it has been business as usual. Fall must officially be here, as the Chicago area has seen miserable weather over the last few days – cold, rainy, windy and very bleak. Winter is not too far behind. Oh well, at least it’s Friday, and you know what that means!

Have a happy and safe weekend!

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The weather in the Chicago area has been miserable. Cold temperatures and rain have been pounding us for a while now. No sunny skies in sight, at least not in the foreseeable future. This week has been an average week, with the exception of my home internet being down for about a day. No big deal, I got a lot done around the house and when I needed to log on, I just wen to my neighborhood Starbucks.

Not much else to write about today. It’s Friday, the weekend is here and you know what that means – two days of freedom. Read a book. Get some writing done. Or just relax and enjoy your favorite hot beverage. And don’t forget to mark your calendars: November 21 is the National Day of Reading! Let’s make this a success.

As always, have a safe and happy weekend!

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