Guess what time of year it is?

Yup, you guessed it, it’s about the time of year that the literary community starts talking about banned and challenged books.

Why is this important, you ask?  Because people who don’t know or your children are trying to tell you was is appropriate to read.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not really down with being told what to do.  Not even a little bit.

So what do I plan to do?  I plan to join in on Banned Books Week.  Sponsored by The American Library Association, The American Booksellers Association and a host of other really awesome and notable bookish organizations the last week of September is targeted as a time to shine a light on the freedom to choose what you read.

I’m not quite sure how I’ll express that freedom or how I’ll participate but I was recently advised of an excellent opportunity.  The wonderful Steph of Steph Su Reads has created the Banned Books Reading Challenge.  Running from today (September 1) through October 15 she is encouraging  readers with a voice online to participate.  Pick a goal, any goal, related to banned and challenged books and make your voice heard.  Network with other participants and publicize your activism in an effort to increase awareness about the issue of censorship.

Steph does a fantastic job of listing challenge goals, providing useful and insightful resources, and even outlines her own intentions for the challenge in her call to action.  So what are you waiting for?  Sign up, join in and make your voice heard!

Today’s the day people!  The day that I announce who the winner of the beautiful box set of The Hunger Games Trilogy you see pictured above.  There were an amazing 2,719 entries after I removed all of the duplicates. Really, y’all that’s amazing!  Thank you so much for visiting and participating, it’s been a very gratifying experience.

Drumroll please…..

The winner is:

Hallie Gray

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Hallie has 48 hours to contact me via email with shipping information to claim the prize.
2. The email claiming the prize must come from the email address the winner provided as part of the giveaway entry.
3. Should I not hear from Hallie in that time period I will select an alternate.
4. If Hallie’s happens to live Internationally her claim on the prize will be forfeit and I will select an alternate winner.
5. This prize will be sent directly from the publicity firm Scholastic has charged with putting this tour and giveaway together. As a result it will not ship immediately but rather at some time after the August 24th release date.
6. Once the prize ships I will forward tracking information to the winner so they are able to follow it’s journey.

Congratulations Hallie, you’re getting your hands on an amazing prize! I hope you enjoy them.

Good morning my friends and a hearty welcome to all my new ones!

This week was epic here on Galleysmith, thanks to the awesomeness that is the Mockingjay 13 District Blog Tour.  I’ll tell ya, being stop number one was a flurry of activity and I can’t thank Scholastic, their publicists and all of you enough.  Really, all the link, Twitter and Facebook love has been wonderful and so very appreicated. This whole thing has been such great fun!  Oh and it’s all over like the best.books.EVER! Get them, read them, read them again, and join in on the love.  Totally worth it.

In case you missed it, however, here is my District One tour post which includes information about the awesome Mockingjay Giveaway I’m hosting.  Tune back in around mid-August after the giveaway closes because I’ll be announcing the grand prize winner right here in a post of it’s very own.

In other news, I’ve been pretty absent on Twitter and about the Internets lately.  Adjusting to the routine of my new job (which is good, by the way, thanks to everyone who keeps inquiring) has me a bit exhausted in the evenings and less chatty than normal.  I’ve also had my mother visiting from Florida this month, so Ive been out and about more than usual on weekends.  The good (but sad) news is that she’s heading back down to Florida tomorrow so next weekend will be a full on lazy, sittin’ my patoot on the couch for two ENTIRE days kinda scenario.  I’m hopeful that will get me back on track with Twitter and blogging a bit more.

Just know, that I miss you all!  Not being online as much has me feeling out of the loop so if you have good gossip to share bring it on!

The silver lining of this new routine and my mother’s visit is that I’ve been able to get a whole lot more reading done than I typically do.  I’ve read a LOT this past month.  So much so that even though I was actually getting ahead of the game in my review writing pile, it’s now back to that original level.  UGH!  But, again, next weekend….couch.  That means good things for the review writing scenario (hopefully).

I’m pleased to say that I’ve had a really great run of good books this month.  A few that I am kinda meh on but nothing I totally loathed and a whole bunch that I loved.  I even read a couple of books that weren’t review copies!  How is that for some awesomeness?

Right now I’m just staring to leaf my chubby fingers through Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.  What are you all reading this week?

Happy 13 District Tour kick-off day!!

Welcome, my potential future tributes. I’m Michelle and I’ll be your hostess here in District One.  I offer to you some of our high-end luxury items — but, please, do keep that a secret, I’d prefer President Snow not relegate me to the life of an Avox.

As your guide today I’ll be talking to you about who could have been the winner of The 74th Annual Hunger Games.  I mean really, tthat silly little girl Katniss with all her heart and soul shouldn’t have beat my lovely Career tributes.  Don’t even get me started about her faithful true love Peeta.  Two?  TWO winners?

Pffft.

So, who should have been top contenders for ultimate prize of life?  I’ll tell you who!

Cato
Beefcake reigns supreme y’all!

Part of the Career group of tributes this hefty dude had some serious hatred going on.  More than that, the boy had the hardcore brute strength to back it up.  Let’s not even discuss the fact that he had venom enough to spew at all the tributes and then some.  The boy should have had a death grip on this game.  Alas, despite pointing his destructive and unrestrained nature at anyone and anything that was going to get in the way of his winning AND maintaining a bloody reign over the game, the poor boy fell short.

Surprisingly, however, he was wise in managing his alliances and showed genuine caring for his District-mate when she fell at the hands of Thresh.  How he lost is completely beyond me.

Thresh
Be still my beating heart, the boy has a heart to go along with his killing nature!  I’m not sure I understand how it’s possible that he didn’t walk away from The Arena to the cheers and adulation of the Capitol crowd.

Isolation and strategy was the name of the game for this District 11 tribute. Why?  Because when he chose to avoid alliances his single solitary self removed the potential for invasive manipulation.  Add in the fact that he always had a plan (for the most part) and he should have been the golden boy.  Already fearsome and widely respected for his strength (both physical and mental) he should have maintained a total command of The Games to the bitter end.

Then….yes then…. you add in his occasional demonstration of loyalty and kindness and voila a winner.

Rue
Who doesn’t love an underdog?

Not me, that’s for sure.  I knew from the jump that I was going to love the bird-like girl who could float undetected through the trees.  It was like she had her very own set of wings.  Heck, she should have been able to soar right down into that winner’s circle.

If only it weren’t for that pesky stabbing Marvel inflicted.  Damn him!

Anywho, her advantages were quite abundant.  With stealth-like movement, small stature, youngest in age, and general good naturedness District 11′s little sweetheart should have made it to the end on those qualities alone.  Add in to the mix her fierce protector Thresh and a rock solid alliance with Katniss and the girl was in it to win it with very few problems.

There were any number of other tributes who had either the physical strength or mental capacity to be the winner of The Games.  Some even had both, in abundance I might add.  But, in the end it was our fair Katniss and Peeta that prevailed.

<whispers>

snaps for Team Peeta

</whispers>

But what if they hadn’t?  Who would you choose?

—-

Now, let’s talk cool prizes shall we?

The folks at Scholastic have been kind enough to provide me with a fabulously awesome box set of The Hunger Games Trilogy to share with one lucky winner.  Even better?  It’s signed by Suzanne Collins!

**pets**  isn’t it pretty?  >>>>

Dude, believe me if there was any way for me to rig this giveaway to keep it for myself you gotta believe that I’d be working that angle post haste.  Sadly, I’m not that nefarious so I’m opening things up for you all.

Who: US Residents only please
When: August 2nd – August 16th (closes at midnight PST)
What: One Hunger Games Trilogy Box Set SIGNED by Suzanne Collins
Where: Enter by filling out this MOCKINGJAY GIVEAWAY ENTRY FORM

Please note:

1. Responses in the comments do NOT enter you into the giveaway, only completion of the above form.
2. One entry per person, if you submit more than once your additional entries will be deleted.
3. One winner will be notified via a post on this blog of their prize, should that winner not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.

** This giveaway is sponsored by the author’s publicity representative and will ship directly from their location at their expense.

—

You all may already be aware, but this post comes to you as part of the super-fabulous Mockingjay 13 District Blog Tour.  Each stop will have it’s own unique editorial content and giveaway prize.  I strongly encourage you to stop by stop number two at Sci Fi Guy who will post on August 4th.

As if following along on the tour isn’t going to be enough, you can also find loads of awesome stuff over on The Official Hunger Games Facebook Page.  I strongly encourage you to check them both out!

Remember a couple of days ago when I announced on Twitter that I had a BIG announcement to make?  An announcement that I was barely able to contain because I’m so super excited about it?

Well let me tell you, excited is an understatement!

Let me start by saying that anyone who knows me, or follows this blog or my Twitter, knows that my number one all time favorite series of like *ever* is Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games novels.  Of course, we also alllll know that Mockingjay, the third and final book in the series, is dropping at the end of August.

**sobs**

Thankfully, last week I was given a great little respite of distraction for the sorrow over the finality of it all.  It definitely turned my frown upside down.  Because, I was invited to participate in the Mockingjay Blog Tour!  When asked if I wanted to be a stop I jumped at the opportunity.  Hells yea I want in!

Now before everyone starts freaking out over it I did NOT get a copy of the book.  That was not part of the bargain (understandably so) I entered into.  What I do get is this super awesome badge to display and I get to represent a particular District from the books.

Drum roll please!!

Meet District 1.

**princess wave**

And a princess I am since District 1 is all about the luxury goods.  I’m totally down with the spa treatment.  I’ll be wrapping myself in a politically incorrect fur coat, popping the cork on some Cristal, and dipping my fingers in some expensive cheeses and caviar as I give you all the lowdown on the tour.

So, the deets.  You all already know that I am representing District One in the Official Mockingjay 13 District Blog Tour.  I’ll be making my official post on Monday August 2nd and while I won’t be sharing with you what the subject matter is I’ll say that I’m loving it.  Love, love, loving it!

As part of the tour I’ve been given a fancy schmancy badge.

Represent, y’all!

Now you know, I usually don’t do the whole side bar graphics thing, but, you know…it’s Suzanne Collins and Mockingjay.  Exceptions must be made. So starting this Friday that badge over there will be linked up to the Official Blog Tour Announcement on the brand spankin’ new Official Hunger Games Facebook Page when it goes live.

What fun is there in all this for you?  Well, besides getting to read the awesome post I have in store for you, I’m gonna be giving stuff away.  Cool stuff.  Stuff that I totally want to keep for myself.  Follow me what I’m sayin’?

So there you have it all.  My excitement abounds, Mockingjay’s release is closer with every day and I’m starting to get really really anticipatory.  I’m glad there will be great Hunger Games focused stuff around the blogosphere leading up to it all!  Buckle up and get ready for the ride cause it’s gonna be a doozy!