Random Magic Tour - The Coven

Book Nooks (11)

2012-01-27T01:24:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This is more of a browsing nook than a book nook, since it's not very spacious or comfy and that table is definitely on the small side for any serious reader, unless they're reading a stack of miniatures. On the other hand, the light quality is excellent and the colors of the immediate environment are both cool and airy, and warm and welcoming.

This wouldn't be a spot to curl up and read during the winter, but it would be a nice place to sit and browse new book purchases before putting them away safely on the shelves. It might also be just comfy enough to browse a few selections from a book of poems or short stories as a relaxing break late in the afternoon, before proceeding with evening plans.

Photographer and location not specified.

Source: Apartment Therapy

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Book Nooks (10)

2012-01-19T01:19:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Cheerful colors , nice quality of light and a mellow, low-key design would make this a pleasant place to read. The greenery is also nice, as are the extra pillows and lap blankets and small tables that can be moved around to hold extra books or notes or a bowl of grapes to nibble on.

Photographer and location not specified.

Source: Apartment Therapy

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Book Nooks (9)

2012-01-14T00:39:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This keeps it as simple as can be - a cute spot sprawling and a stack of books at hand. The arms of the couch look sturdy although not particularly comfortable - a few cushions or pillows might be welcome. Another option might just be an ottoman. This looks like a spot for a light read or a browse under half an hour, not a super-comfy environment where it'd be easy to read for hours. It's still cute, though.

The nicest part of this book nook is the essay on reading that comes along with the photograph, a feature by author Rick Braggs:

Here, between the shelves, I escape everything worrisome, petty, mundane. In late afternoon, as the weak winter sun begins its slide, pale yellow light washes through the west-side window of my office in Fairhope, Alabama (U.S.), and something like magic floods the room. I sit in a big, soft chair, and the words that are bound here come loose all around me. (More)

Photographer: Joe De Sciose

Location (given in caption): Eudora Welty's shelf life in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.

Source: Southern Living

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Book Nooks (8)

2012-01-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Sweet reading oasis in the middle of a crowded city. Nice comfy couch, table for tea, snacks or drinks, and some pleasant touches like green plants here and there. But mostly this just looks like a haven for readers feeling cramped into city apartments.
Details: Found at French Couture. Photographer and location not specified.

Source: French Couture
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Book Nooks (7)

2011-12-31T22:53:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Secluded but open to the sky, luxurious but casual - this charming spot is an appealing study in contradictions.

It's hard to pick the most welcoming thing about this particular spot; it could be the luminous quality of light, the expansive view, or the soothing greenery. It might just the fact that lots of small details have been anticipated and attended to with minimal fuss, in order to make the visitor feel at ease.

The space is cozy without being cluttered. The sturdy teak table is a good choice, wide enough to hold a few books and maybe a serving tray, low enough to be within easy reach. The metal frames of the matching couches don't look particularly comfortable, but the cushions make up for it, in addition to pillows for a lazy afternoon, or light blanket for chilly evenings.

There's sunshine for reading during the day, with candles provided to provide enough illumination to read just one more page...

The only thing that might be missing is a rug to offset the scrape of those metal couch legs against the wood grain. It's definitely a consideration if those are slats and those couch legs are narrow enough that they'll tip into one of the spaces between - someone's going to wake up with a jolt, one day.

In any case, a rug would just enhance the feeling of seclusion and quiet walking, talking - and, of course, reading. This charming spot has quite a few of the things that signal a top-notch reading nook; seclusion and peace, bright light, sturdy tables close at hand, and a focus on tranquility and comfort. Bella.

Details: Location unknown, photographer is Mikkel Vang.Part of slideshow in HouseBeautiful.com featuring cozy places, slide #45 of 46.
The description given is: There's no reason why outdoor furniture shouldn't be as comfortable as indoor furniture. The inviting daybeds on this upstairs balcony are from the Amalfi collection by Janus et Cie and are covered in outdoor fabric from Kravet. The starry print on two of the pillows is Smith's Star Atlantico in Ocean, from Jasper. Teak coffee table and side tables from Sutherland. Glass hurricane lamps from Home Art.

Source: House Beautiful
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Women Reading (Dec. 28)

2011-12-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

Women Reading (weekly)

*Every Wednesday*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Here's what's news!

Edition: Dec. 28-Jan. 3, 2011
Update: Series has wrapped.

Art and Quotes

Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew each other. Books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic. - Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Discussions and Book Chats

Bookie Brunch question: What do you think of seasonally-themed books?
Join this discussion

Events and Parties

Memes and Features

(Incl. reading challenges)

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: The Greek Classics reading challenge arrives in 2012. From the host: Take a look at the roots of Western civilization and ponder the great questions of existence by reading some ancient Greek literature. Participants will be reading from one to 12 classics of Greek literature. Host is Jean of Howling Frog Books and Musings of a Bookworm, no contact info available. Visit or Sign up

Weekly: Begins January 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Snowdrop Dreams of Books (@snowdropdreams) invites authors and bloggers to share their must-haves for a stay on a desert island, in Deserted Island. Visit or Sign up

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Tiffany from For Those About to Read (@AboutToRead) invites you to indulge yourself in up to 10 tales of myths and legends, in the Mythology Challenge, with focus on teen fiction (also called young adult fiction, or YA). The book list for the challenge is already up for browsing, so check it out, if you like: Book List
Random Magic by Sasha Soren is on the book list and counts for this challenge.
Visit or Sign up for the challenge.

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2011: Visit or Sign up: Host Melissa of Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf (@myeclecticbooks) invites you to grab your broomstick and join her for all manner of witchy things, in her Witches and Witchcraft reading challenge.
Random Magic by Sasha Soren is on the book list and counts for this challenge.
Visit or Sign up

Book Adaptations and Media Marvels

(Incl. movies, music, games, tech, publishing news, other.)

Goodies and Giveaways

Prize pack item: Multi-title DVD (Region 1)

Prize pack item: Blank notebook

Prize pack item: Book and card set

Prize pack item: Quirky tote bag, folds up to fit on key clip

Win: Enter: Through January 15, 2011: Adorable prize pack at Bookie Brunch, hosted by The Fluidity of Time. Prize pack includes multi-title DVD, book, blank journals, chocolate and other goodies and a book tote. Tote, DVD, book and blank notebook shown above. Sponsored by The Fluidity of Time and Random Magic Tour.

Win: Enter: Through January 3, 2011: Gift card for Uncommon Goods, purveyor of colorful and slightly offbeat items.

Win: Enter: Through January 3, 2011: Gift certificate for ProFlowers. Large selection of seasonal greenery. Sample bouquet shown above. Note: Offer not made or sponsored by Random Magic Tour.

Win: Enter: Through January 1, 2012: Enter to win a Kindle Fire e-reader. (More)

Grapevine, Last-Minute News and Misc.

Grapevine: Lieder Madchen (@LiederMadchen) of Songs and Stories is sharing her invite to a review community for up to five fellow book bloggers who'd like to win a free book. Reply

Grapevine: Eleni of La Femme Readers (@LaFemmeReaders) would like to hear from anyone who might have a lead on a reliable and talented graphic designer who might be able to give a bit of a design lift to her book blog. Reply

Shown above: Christina at I Love Books (@Booklover_622) gives a quick update and puts out an open call out for book-loving vloggers who'd like to be part of her project. Reply

Upcoming

January 22, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Sarah Says Read (@SarahSaysRead) invites you to take part in a 12-hour read-a-thon. Includes challenges and goodies. Visit or Sign up

Book Nooks

Source: Random Magic Tour on Pinterest
More places: Book Nooks (weekly)

Participate in Women Reading

(Weekly, every Wednesday - or every Sunday, for weekend edition)
Update: Series has wrapped - December 2011

Make your own post and link up - All info HERE
Image source: Daily Dose

Notes

Header image: The Blue Pool (1911) by Augustus John

Talk to Us

Are you planning something cool for your blog, or have you heard about something great that we might have missed this week? Tell us about it!: @RandomMagicTour

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Songs of the Season music hop - Dec. 25

2011-12-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

Songs of the Season

Event production by

Random Magic Tour

Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Dec. 10-25, 2011

Welcome to the Songs of the Season music hop! You're invited to join us every day from December 10-25, to enjoy a virtual round of caroling. You can visit a different blog each day to find another wonderful music selection, handpicked by a great host.

Everyone picked such cool, personal and interesting music that Songs of the Season has been a real pleasure. For visitors, thanks for dropping by to visit with everyone, and hope you had a wonderful time this month. Here's our selection for your enjoyment:

Title: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Artist: Casting Crowns

Available at: Amazon

Commentary: This is an excellent live rendition, everything works together to create an exceptional performance. It's a lovely song, and it also has interesting back story.

The carol is based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, called 'Christmas Bells.' Longfellow wrote the poem during one of the dark times in his life.

Longfellow was familiar with suffering; he'd been widowed early in life and found a life partner in later years, Frances Appleton, only to lose her after she was burned to death when her dress caught fire. Longfellow never recovered from the loss, writing some 18 years later about the gentle ghost that still haunted him, in the sonnet, 'The Cross of Snow.' (1879). [Read this poem]

He wrote 'Christmas Bells,' during the American Civil War. He'd lost Frances in 1861, just after the war started. Although Longfellow supported abolitionism, he forbade his eldest son to join the Union army, not wishing to lose him, too. His son ran away and joined the army against Longfellow's wishes.

Three years into the war, there was no hope of peace in sight, and Longfellow received word that his son had been severely injured in a battle and wasn't expected to live.

This was the backdrop for a simple but poignant moment of clarity, which inspired Longfellow to write a poem which defied the reality of war and personal loss, and lasted beyond his lifetime to continue to lend strength to the weary.

Standing with head bowed in contemplation of this latest news and with nothing but darkness and despair all around him, he was suddenly aware of a simple but transcendent sound - he heard the sound of bells ringing, to announce the arrival of Christmas Day.

The poem was later adapted into a carol. Some 140 years later, we have this modern version of the traditional carol. The lead singer of the group that recorded it, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, explains how he came to choose this carol to include on one of their albums:

And that's the story of the bells!

You might also like...

Shown above: Clip from Joyeux Noël, a film based on the real-life story of the Christmas truce of 1914, during World War I.

About: Joyeux Noël captures a rare moment of grace from one of the worst wars in the history of mankind, World War I. On Christmas Eve, 1914, as German, French, and Scottish regiments face each other from their respective trenches, a musical call-and-response turns into an impromptu cease-fire; the men spend a few hours in peace, trading chocolates and champagne, playing soccer. But when Christmas ends, the war returns... (Summary via Amazon)
Find this film: Amazon | UK | DE | FR

Shown above: Brief video clip on the Christmas truce of 1914, excerpted from a much longer PBS series, The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century
Find this series: Amazon
Additional notes on this unusual historical event:
The WWI Christmas Truce | The Christmas Truce | Christmas 1914 | Songs

And, now, for a bit of luck for the upcoming new year, and some light in the darkness as a send-off - some sparkly things. You might like the Holdman Christmas lights show, which can also be seen on another stop on Songs of the Season, at Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf - it's an entertaining light show and one of the best examples of synced light-and-music displays:

Please note: There are several series of flashing lights in this video. Any viewers known to suffer from photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) would probably be better off skipping this clip.

If you've already seen the spectacular light show clip above at Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf or elsewhere, then here's a simpler and shorter one to check out, with a mellow and quirky ending:

You can have fun guessing what's going to happen and what the designer's going to do with this string of lights! Or, for anyone who's out there walking and walking on long road - hopefully it just makes you smile to see how the story ends up...

Goodies

Through Dec. 31, 2011: Win a pretty box of stationery, featuring quotes by writer Charlotte Brontë and her sisters, who were also novelists. Browse details

Through Dec. 31, 2011: Win a book-and-DVD set of a romantic drama set in New York during the Gilded Age. Browse details

Available starting Dec. 25, 2011: Win a book-and-DVD set of great classic film, Little Women, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Film trailer shown below.

A chance to win this delightful gift will be available at the Dec. 25 session of Bookie Brunch, hosted by Jennie (@JoanieFontana) of Jennie's Corner.

Event production by Random Magic Tour

Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

If you have a favorite song, feel free to share in the comments. Thanks for stopping by, and hope you have a chance to enjoy a cup of cider or hot cocoa on the way to your next stop on the hop - or anywhere you may be headed for the day. If you need a break, feel free to drop in at Bookie Brunch for a relaxing discussion: Bookie Brunch at Jennie's Corner - Dec. 25

For all the delightful bloggers who were such good company on Songs of the Season - hey, that was fun! What a great event and a wonderful treat seeing all the beautiful posts and all kinds of amazing tunes - spiritual, edgy, quirky, unexpected and comfortingly familiar, they were all great picks and wonderful surprises.

It's a perfect gift to have been able to enjoy such a great event with such nice people - may you look forward to a new year filled with happiness and wonderful things.

(Source: Pinterest)

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Book Nooks (6)

2011-12-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: 'Darling, I'm just going to step into this little nook in my insanely outlandish, yet strangely beautiful castle.' 'Oh, all right.'

The person who dreamed this castle up was popularly called the Fairy Tale King, the Swan King - and the Mad King of Bavaria. But you were probably guessing something along those lines, anyway...

Whether it's your point of view that this fellow, Ludwig II, was a misunderstood dreamer or shy eccentric, or a madman with an expensive hobby - NICE CASTLE!

Shown above: Video tour of the castle, courtesy of World Site Guides
Visit World Site Guides' video channel: Browse videos

By the way, the Swan King appears briefly as a character in Random Magic, by Sasha Soren. More images of the castle here (Sängerhalle, or singer's hall), here (drawing room) and here (study). Additional images: Throne room, dining room.

Details: Bedroom, Schloss Neuschwanstein, Bavaria

Source: Wikipedia
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Virtual Advent Tour: Indie songs for the season (Dec. 22)

2011-12-22T00:02:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to Random Magic Tour - The Coven, the official site for Sasha Soren, author of Random Magic.

Random Magic is an indie title, and so we thought it'd be fun to celebrate some other independent projects. What could be nicer than to enjoy some songs for the season!

What's more, these are all tunes you might not have heard, yet - all the selections are by indie artists. We hope you enjoy them all, and if you'd like to support the artist by downloading their tracks, a link has been provided for each.

Have fun, and hope you find at least one wonderful winter tune that you just love!

Shown above: Live performance, The Atheist Christmas Carol

Title: The Atheist Christmas Carol

Indie artist: Vienna Teng

Find this track: Amazon

More Vienna Teng: Blog | YouTube | Twitter

Shown above: Live performance, Thanks for the Roses

Title: Thanks for the Roses

Indie artist: Antje Duvekot

Find this track: Free gift from Antje - MP3 download! | Amazon

Watch official video: Thanks for the Roses

More Antje Duvekot: Blog | YouTube | Twitter

Shown above: Slideshow, Snow

Title: Snow

Indie artist: Loreena McKennitt

Find this track: Amazon

More Loreena McKennitt: Blog | Bio

Shown above: Lyrics, Angel

Title: Angel

Indie artist: Grey Eye Glances

Find this track: Amazon

More Grey Eye Glances: Blog

Shown above: Cover art for album that includes Sol Invictus

Title: Sol Invictus

Indie artist: Thea Gilmore

Find this track: Amazon

More Thea Gilmore: Blog

Listen to: Awake the Voice

Shown above: Promo still, Krista Detor

Title: Awake the Voice

Indie artist: Krista Detor

Find this track: Amazon

More Krista Detor: Site | Blog | YouTube | Twitter

Image source (promo photo)

We hope you've had a nice time here, and you're welcome to find out more about Random Magic by browsing any of the links below:

Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

You're also quite welcome to visit Songs of the Season, a fun music hop organized by @RandomMagicTour and featuring cool bloggers from all over the world:

Songs of the Season
Dec. 10-25, 2011
Visit: Songs of the Season

If you're dropping by from the Virtual Advent tour, please feel free to leave a souvenir badge to your post in the collection below. If you're not part of the tour but have a related winter post to include, you're welcome to add something nice.

Thanks for stopping by!
Advent Tour 2011 schedule is here: Find more posts

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Women Reading (Dec. 21-27, 2011)

2011-12-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

Women Reading (weekly)

*Every Wednesday*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Here's what's news!

Edition: December 21-27, 2011

Art and Quotes

A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter any other way. - Caroline Gordon

Discussions and Book Chats

Bookie Brunch question: If you could invite three authors to dinner, who would be on your guest list, and why?

Note: We're not including quoted Bookie Brunch commentary in this space, as would be the usual content for this space - in the interest of not blurting out spoilers for this particular discussion. But there are lots of intriguing picks, feel free to drop by to add in some of your own.

***** Join this discussion *****

Events and Parties

Dec. 10-25, 2011: Visit: Feel free to join a group of great bloggers for a virtual round of caroling, with Songs of the Season, a fun and quirky music hop. From Dec. 10-25, discover new songs handpicked by each host, along with other fun things to enjoy each day. Browse schedule

Memes and Features

(Incl. reading challenges)

Weekly: Every weekend (Fri. thru Sun.): Visit: Random Magic Tour (@RandomMagicTour) invites you to find and share a beautiful book nook every weekend - posts include a badge collection of all the pretty libraries, coffee shops or various reading rooms. Every weekend through Dec. 31, 2011. Visit or Participate

Videos and Vloggers

Shown above: Vlogger SableCaught (@Shinabu) is a guest at weekly book discussion Bookie Brunch this week, and gives her take on the question, 'Which three authors would you love to invite to dinner?'

Shown above: Vlogger SableCaught (@Shinabu) takes you along with her on a visit to Venice, Italy. Note: The Floating City in Random Magic (Sasha Soren) would probably be appreciated by anyone who loves Venice, Italy, too.

Shown above: (Part 1 of 2) The Book Bunny (@The_BookBunny) shares what's on her shelves.

Shown above: (Part 2 of 2) The Book Bunny (@The_BookBunny) shares what's on her shelves.

Shown above: Vlogger Jennie (@JoanieFontana) of Jennie's Corner blog and video channel shares some of the titles she's acquired recently.

Shown above: Vloggers Rachel Superbook (RachelSuperBook) and The Book Monster (styled TheeBookMonster) team up to do a Best Friends Book Haul, sharing titles they've acquired recently.

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster). If you've missed the first set of December Vlogathon videos, you can find them in this edition of Women Reading: First part of December Vlogathon (Videos 1-11)
Title: Day 16 - December Vlogathon - Liddy Returns
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

(Special bonus video: Part of Songs of the Season music hop, Dec. 10-25, production by Random Magic Tour. Special guest in this video is Liddy, of Thee, Book Monster video channel.)

(Regular video for December Vlogathon)

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster). If you've missed the first set of December Vlogathon videos, you can find them in this edition of Women Reading: First part of December Vlogathon (Videos 1-11)
Title: Day 15 - December Vlogathon
Bonus video: Songs of the Season video
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster). If you've missed the first set of December Vlogathon videos, you can find them in this edition of Women Reading: First part of December Vlogathon (Videos 1-11)
Title: Day 14 - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster). If you've missed the first set of December Vlogathon videos, you can find them in this edition of Women Reading: First part of December Vlogathon (Videos 1-11)
Title: Day 13 - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster). If you've missed the first set of December Vlogathon videos, you can find them in this edition of Women Reading: First part of December Vlogathon (Videos 1-11)
Title: Day 12 - December Vlogathon - Christmas Tree!
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Book Adaptations and Media Marvels

(Incl. movies, music, games, tech, publishing news, other.)

Shown above: Fan-made video for Admiral, featuring the song, Once Upon a December
Movies featuring writers: Admiral

About this film: Mainly a biopic about Alexander Kolchak, a Vice-Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy and leader of the anti-communist White Movement during the Russian Civil War, but a major part of the film also covers the enduring but tragic love story of Kolchak and poet Anna Vasilyevna Timiryova.

The real-life Anna worked as a translator for the Department of the Business Service of the Council of Ministers in 1918-1919. This was an agency attached to Kolchak's anti-communist White Movement in Siberia. After Kolchak's arrest, Anna approached the Bolsheviks and asked to share the same fate as her partner, saying, 'Arrest me. I cannot live without him.' Her life was spared but she was was imprisoned in Irkutsk until after Kolchak's execution in October, 1920.

In the years following the execution of her beloved Alexander, Anna Timiryova composed many poems dedicated to his memory. The new Soviet regime persecuted Anna with numerous imprisonments and other difficulties; the official charges leading to various arrests were always vague, including 'concealment of the past,' or 'accused of undesirable connections with foreigners and former White officers.'

Anna's son Vladimir, an artist and explorer, also suffered due to his connection with former stepfather Kolchak; he was arrested by the Soviet secret police, NKVD in 1938, and executed.

In her later years, and with her history largely unknown or obliterated, she was able to find a humble position working as a props manager behind the scenes at Rybinsk drama theater. Still secretly considered a potential threat to the Soviet regime, Anna was imprisoned again, on suspicion of spreading anti-Soviet propaganda.

She was released in 1949, and returned to Rybinsk drama theater. The quiet props manager was by this time not a startling beauty but a dignified and well-mannered woman with grey hair and bright lively eyes, and the one great love that'd made her a target of vilification and persecution for the rest of her life had happened nearly 30 years prior.

Nobody in the drama theatre knew much about Anna Timiryova or her tragic love story, buried by time - but to the surprise of others in the theater, every time the director (a man of noble birth) saw Timiryova, he kissed her hand.

Shown above: Trailer, Admiral. The main track on the OST is called Anna. Performed by Victoria Dayneko, composition by Igor Matvienko. The poem itself was written by Anna, in memory of Alexander Kolchak.

Actress Elizaveta Boyarskaya said of her character, Anna Timiryova, 'She was a woman of such force, of such will, with such magnanimity...When I read script, I was even a bit scared...'

After being asked about another costume drama, Doctor Zhivago, Elizaveta simply commented, 'The only thing that these two films share consists in the love which the Russian woman can carry; it is a topic approached by many novels. They love up to the last drop of blood, 'til the most dreadful end - to the death.'

Goodies and Giveaways

Prize pack item: Multi-title DVD (Region 1)

Prize pack item: Blank notebook

WIN: Enter: Through December 31, 2011: Now you won't have to wonder if the movie is as good as the book or not - win this classic novel and matching movie version. This set features a paperback edition of The Age of Innocence with a new, beautifully designed cover and a DVD of the feature film, nestled together in a sturdy case. This could be a nice treat to keep for a rainy weekend. Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Win this cute book and DVD set

Win: Enter: Through December 27, 2011: Gift card for offbeat wall decal of choice from Urban Walls. Sample shown above. Note: Offer not made or sponsored by Random Magic Tour.

Win: Enter: Through December 26, 2011: Win a blog design makeover from Lady Jane Designs. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 22, 2011: Win a Sony Vaio laptop (shown above). Offer via brand ambassador for Windows 7. (More)

Grapevine, Last-Minute News and Misc.

Shown above: Atypyk Bravo flipbook, for spontaneous applause anywhere.

There're these two design guys in Paris who come up with little everyday items with quirky little twists.

Shown above: Pause and play bookmark

The catalog and online shop is called Atypyk (atypical).

Shown above: Tinsel tape

So droll. Mixed in between the text here are one or two items picked out at random, just for amusement. The rest of their products are available here.

Source: Not on the High Street

Grapevine: Lieder Madchen (@LiederMadchen) of Songs and Stories is sharing her invite to a review community for up to five fellow book bloggers who'd like to win a free book. Reply

Grapevine: Eleni of La Femme Readers (@LaFemmeReaders) would like to hear from anyone who might have a lead on a reliable and talented graphic designer who might be able to give a bit of a design lift to her book blog. Reply

Upcoming

Weekly: Begins January 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Snowdrop Dreams of Books (@snowdropdreams) invites authors and bloggers to share their must-haves for a stay on a desert island, in Deserted Island. Visit or Sign up

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Tiffany from For Those About to Read (@AboutToRead) invites you to indulge yourself in up to 10 tales of myths and legends, in the Mythology Challenge, with focus on teen fiction (also called young adult fiction, or YA). The book list for the challenge is already up for browsing, so check it out, if you like: Book List
Visit or Sign up for the challenge.

January, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host A Literary Odyssey invites you to get down your dusty volumes of the Bard of Avon, and join her for a month of reading the works of William Shakespeare. Visit or Sign up

By the way, William Shakespeare does put in an appearance in Random Magic, by Sasha Soren. At a party held among the clouds. With some pals like Lord Byron and Mark Twain. Thrown by a celestial muse who can't stop falling into fountains overflowing with vodka tonics. There's also a nine-dimensional cat. It all gets a bit complicated. Yes, slightly skewed version of Shakespeare, granted - ah, the secret life of William 'Shakes' Shakespeare...

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: The Greek Classics reading challenge arrives in 2012. From the host: Take a look at the roots of Western civilization and ponder the great questions of existence by reading some ancient Greek literature. Participants will be reading from one to 12 classics of Greek literature. Host is Jean of Howling Frog Books and Musings of a Bookworm, no contact info available. Visit or Sign up

January 22, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Sarah Says Read (@SarahSaysRead) invites you to take part in a 12-hour read-a-thon. Includes challenges and goodies. Visit or Sign up

Book Nooks

Source: LindaPlaisted.com
More places: Book Nooks (weekly)

Participate in Women Reading

(Weekly, every Wednesday - or every Sunday, for weekend edition)

Make your own post and link up - All info HERE

Notes

Header image: Juliet (1931), Alfred Lambart
Header image source and info: Laing Art Gallery, Culture Shock, BBC
Additional works by this artist: NMSI
Header quote source: How to Read a Novel, Caroline Gordon
About Caroline Gordon: Bio
Sources, Admiral story: Actor quotes, actor quote (video), Anna Timiryova bio notes, film notes

Talk to Us

Are you planning something cool for your blog, or have you heard about something great that we might have missed this week? Tell us about it!: @RandomMagicTour

get the InLinkz code

Book Nooks (5)

2011-12-17T01:56:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Oh, yes.

Details: Location and artist unknown, not given in original post.
Source: Yes and Yes
Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

get the InLinkz code
## Goodies Around Town ##

Virtual Advent Tour: Vintage tunes, virtual fireplace and Songs of the Season (Dec. 16)

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to Random Magic Tour - The Coven, the official site for Sasha Soren, author of Random Magic.

For this stop on Virtual Advent Tour 2011, we'd like to invite you to see what songs are being picked out for enjoyment by a great group of bloggers, in Songs of the Season. It seems like it'd be a nice complementary event, and you're welcome to join us for the rest of the month, if you like.

But just so there's something special for this stop on Virtual Advent Tour - here's a separate, music-related feature just for Virtual Advent Tour - a mellow list of charming vintage tunes for the season.

But first, a moment to get comfy by the fire with your favorite bevvie, then just click play to enjoy a roaring fire and to enjoy some genial tunes - old and new!

Shown above: A cheery fireplace for all to enjoy.

Add a hot beverage of your choice, while the host kindly takes care of stowing your scarf and coat and so on...

Shown above: Just in time for a merry booze-up.
Source and recipes

Shown above: Non-alcoholic drinks as a courtesy for designated drivers or other guests who're unable to partake for other reasons. Source and recipes

And some laid-back vintage music...

Title: Joyeux Noël
Artist: Barbara
Notes: Recording date unknown, possibly 1968.
Find this track: Amazon

Title: Moonlight in Vermont (1946)
Artist: Jo Stafford
Songwriters: John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf
Find this track: Amazon

Title: Christmas Island (1946)
Artist: The Andrews Sisters
Find this track: Amazon

Title: Violets for your Furs (1941)
Artist: Renzo Cesana
Songwriters: Tom Adair, Matt Dennis
Find this track: Amazon

Title: Every Day's a Holiday (1937)
Artist: Al Bowlly
Find this track: Amazon

And now, feel free to enjoy some virtual caroling with Songs of the Season, a music hop featuring cool bloggers from around the world. Every day, a new host will unveil another of the songs they've handpicked to share with you. Feel free to drop by to discover a new song every day, from Dec. 10-25, 2011.

Songs of the Season
Dec. 10-25, 2011
Browse schedule: Songs of the Season

We hope you've had a nice time here, and you're welcome to find out more about Random Magic by browsing any of the links below:

Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

If you're dropping by from the Virtual Advent tour, please feel free to leave a souvenir badge to your post in the collection below. If you're not part of the tour but have a related winter post to include, you're welcome to add something nice.

Thanks for stopping by!
Advent Tour 2011 schedule is here: Find more posts
More songs that're part of Songs of the Season can also be found below, just click on any Songs of the Season badge in the collection to find a new song.
Have fun browsing both events!

Planned hiatus - January - April 2012

2011-12-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Hi! Random Magic Tour (@RandomMagicTour) will be on a planned hiatus from January through April 2012, with limited updates or participation in blogging events.

You're still welcome to leave a comment, tweet a hello or drop a line, but the response might be delayed until April 2012, so please just keep that in mind. See you soon, though!

***** Status of Random Magic Tour events and features *****

* Weekly feature Bookie Brunch will wrap as originally planned on December 31, 2011.

* Weekly feature Women Reading will wrap as originally planned on December 31, 2011.

* Weekly feature Book Nooks might continue through 2012, through sporadically and without a formal schedule.

* Seasonal feature Songs of the Season will wrap as planned on Dec. 25, 2012.

* Twitter updates will be light or sparse. There may be no updates at all.

* Tumblr updates will be non-existent or sparse.

* Guest posts: Virtual Advent tour 2011 - will post on Dec. 10, 16 and 22, 2011.

* Guest post: Deserted Island at Snowdrop Dreams of Books - will post on Jan. 26, 2012.

* Random Magic Tour might or might not participate in additional or third-party events. If a tour or feature is planned, it will be announced on Twitter and will adhere to organizer's schedule.

* New requests for review copies of Random Magic can be considered, but only sporadically and without given deadline.

* Any additional commitments already made through December 31, 2011 or January 2012 will be honored.

Announcement date December 15, 2011

Effective date: January 1, 2012

Women Reading (Dec. 14-20, 2011)

2011-12-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

Women Reading (weekly)

*Every Wednesday*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Here's what's news!

Edition: Dec. 14-20, 2011

Art and Quotes

A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors. - Henry Ward Beecher

Discussions and Book Chats

Bookie Brunch question: When it comes to the magical - how much do you believe in what you're reading? For you, are your books pure fiction or do you secretly hope that maybe there might be some truth to all of the stories?

I certainly hold out hope that there is some truth in what we read - I mean, how cool would it be that people out there really could turn into an animal at will or live forever. Even as I write this I feel silly, but I for one really want there to be more to this world than just humans, I want werewolves, vampires, faeries and magic

I know it's not really out there, BUT if they were to make themselves known, I would be one of the first people to turn around and say, 'I told you so.' - Amanda (host), Story Wings (@StoryWings)

I definitely hope that there is some truth to all the stories that I read, because I think the worlds they are set in are incredible...I think one of the reasons we all love reading these books is because we all secretly hope that what we are reading about is real. - Melody, Book and Music Lover

I'm an enthusiast of losing myself in a story. If the author is doing their job, I can get fully lost and live in this other world of paranormal and magical creatures. I wouldn't say that I think that they're real in the real world, just real in my imagination. There is truth in the stories, but not necessarily in the creatures that inhabit these stories. - Liz, eLizzie Books (@elizziebeth)

***** Join this discussion *****

Events and Parties

December 10-25, 2011: Visit: Feel free to join a group of great bloggers for a virtual round of caroling, with Songs of the Season, a fun and quirky music hop. From Dec. 10-25, discover new songs handpicked by each host, along with other fun things to enjoy each day. Event production by Random Magic Tour (@RandomMagicTour). Visit

December 1-24, 2011: Visit: Hosts Kailana from The Written World and Marg (@MargReads) from Adventures of an Intrepid Reader invite you to drop by for Virtual Advent Tour 2011. This is the sixth year for the event, and it has become part of the book blogging community's holiday tradition.

From the hosts: Each day anyone who wants to participate takes turns sharing a treat with our friends here in blogland. It could be something about your family traditions, recipes, your country's holiday traditions, or a favorite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa (or a pagan holiday, etc.) or whatever it is that you do during this time. Visit

Dec. 1-31, 2011: Snowed In: Visit: What Book is That? (@whatbookemily) will be hosting an indie author event (shown above) in December. Event description provided by blogger: Every day in December, a different indie book will be reviewed. Each review will have a giveaway attached for e-books, print books or gift certificates. Stop by every day for a new chance to win!

Nov. 20-Dec. 20, 2011: Visit: Evie (@SeoEvie) of Bookish invites you to meet some of the authors working in teen fiction (also called young adult fiction or YA). Event includes interviews, reviews, and a chance to win some of the featured titles.

Memes and Features

(Incl. reading challenges)

Weekly: Every weekend (Fri. thru Sun.): Visit: Random Magic Tour (@RandomMagicTour) invites you to find and share a beautiful book nook every weekend - posts include a badge collection of all the pretty libraries, coffee shops or various reading rooms. Every weekend through Dec. 31, 2011. Visit or Participate

Every Thursday: Visit: Words and Peace (@wordsandpeace) invites you to visit I Love France, a weekly meme posting every Thursday and featuring tidbits about French culture. Visit

Videos and Vloggers

Shown above: Vlogger Christina of I Love Books (@Booklover_622) shares a sneak peek at her vlog for Songs of the Season, a music hop featuring bloggers talking about their favorite winter songs, whether spiritual, religious or secular. Her stop on Songs of the Season will be December 20, 2011 - but here's the video ahead of time, for readers of Women Reading.
More: christinavlog622 (video channel)
More: The Book Addict (blog)

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day 11 - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day 10 - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Nine - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Eight - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Seven - December Vlogathon
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Fail?
Channel: RachelVlogSpot
Notes: Rachel experienced some technical difficulties with her computer hard drive and YouTube upload process, so the vlogathon was interrupted, but the vlogathon continues after this video, as scheduled.

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Six - 19 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Five - 20 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Four - 21 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Three - 22 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day Two - 23 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Shown above: Vlogger Rachel Superbook is doing a vlog countdown as part of her December Vlogathon - Christmas Countdown, co-hosted by Liddy of The Book Monster (Liddy spells it as TheeBookMonster).
Title: Day One - 24 Days to Go 'til Chrimbo
Channel: RachelVlogSpot

Book Adaptations and Media Marvels

(Incl. movies, music, games, tech, publishing news, other.)

Shown above: Author interview with Erica Bauermeister. You can win a copy of the book she's discussing here, at a Bookie Brunch hosted at The Fluidity of Time. Browse details

Goodies and Giveaways

Win: Enter: Through May 31, 2012: The Ultimate Women's Expo offers a trip for four to Paris, France. Includes airfare, hotel stay, sightseeing via limousine, spa session. (More)

WIN: Enter: Through December 31, 2011: Now you won't have to wonder if the movie is as good as the book or not - win this classic novel and matching movie version. This set features a paperback edition of The Age of Innocence with a new, beautifully designed cover and a DVD of the feature film, nestled together in a sturdy case. This could be a nice treat to keep for a rainy weekend. Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Win this book-and-DVD set

About the book: Edith Wharton's novel is a masterful portrait of desire and betrayal set during the sumptuous Gilded Age of Old New York, a time when society dreaded scandal more than death. This is Newland Archer's milieu as he prepares to marry conventional socialite May Welland. But when the mysterious Countess Ellen Olenska returns to New York, Archer falls deeply in love with her. Torn between duty and passion, Archer struggles to make a decision that will either courageously define his life - or mercilessly destroy it. (Publisher desc.)

Win: Enter: Through December 22, 2011: Win a Sony Vaio laptop (shown above). Offer via brand ambassador for Windows 7. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 20, 2011: Win a gift card for BedandBreakfast.com, for a weekend away. Second and third prizes also available - Blue Willow tea and dinner set and foodie gift basket. Offer by romance novelist Maggie Brendan (@MaggieBrendan).

Win: Enter: Through December 18, 2011: The Explorer's Prize Package, part of Twelve Days of Giveaways at Savings.com. Gift cards for travel outfitters Lands' End and Magellan's and Joan of Arc boots by Sorels, from Rock Creek. Shown above: Book tote from Magellan's.

Win: Enter: Through December 18, 2011: Prize package with particular appeal for foodies, part of Twelve Days of Giveaways at Savings.com. Prize includes gift baskets from Cherry Moon Farms and The Fruit Company, plus gift cards for Wine.com and David's Cookies and two dozen chocolate-dipped strawberries from Shari's Berries. Shown above: The Plaid Tower gift from The Fruit Company; includes selection of cheeses, fruit, salmon, chocolate and other items.

Win: Browse or Enter: Through December, various dates: Here's the info page for the rest of the goodies available as part of Twelve Days of Giveaways at Savings.com. Please note: Offers not made or sponsored by Random Magic Tour. Browse or Enter

Win: Enter: Through December 18, 2011: A collective of bloggers have gotten together to offer one winner a nice prize pack of a new Kindle Fire (product image shown above) plus an Amazon gift card to help stock up on titles right away. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Amazon gift card to spend on books, e-books, movies, etc. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Cute little stuffed animal and book Story Buddy set (Jingle the husky puppy and Cooper the bear - interactive, speech recognition activated), chance to one set of Jingle and Cooper. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Gift certificate from quirky retailer, uncommongoods.com, purveyor of many things colorful, cheery, or slightly quirky. (More)
Shown above: Leaning bookends

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Consumer electronics price analysis site Decide.com has an offer for a Kindle Fire e-reader (shown above). (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Food manufacturer Ragu offers an American Express gift card through one of their product ambassadors. (More)

WIN: Enter: Through Dec. 15, 2011: Win historical fiction mystery The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Brontë, featuring writer Charlotte Brontë. Part of Bookie Brunch. (Host: Phanee, of Funny Wool). Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Enter to win

Part of Guys and Molls party - win a cute prize pack of a multi-title DVD (shown above) and mobster-speak flashcard set (shown above). Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: How very convenient, given all the nice DVD prizes there are to win through Bookie Brunch, that there's an offer out via Audiovox for a portable DVD player (shown above). That's timing! (More)

WIN: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a delicious book and DVD set of a creepy classic, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as part of Bookie Brunch - Halloween edition. Interior artwork shown below. Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Browse details

Win: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a charming book for a favorite foodie, or just a cozy read for chilly weather. Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Part of Bookie Brunch, host is The Fluidity of Time. Preview book | Browse offer details

WIN this book at Bookie Brunch, offer open through December 15, 2011.

About: When publisher Thomas Cadell declined an unsolicited manuscript offered to him by a Hampshire clergyman in 1797, he made one of the biggest mistakes in publishing history, for the manuscript was an early version of Pride and Prejudice, and the clergyman's daughter was destined to become one of the most recognizable names in literature... Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: A collective of bloggers is offering one prize of e-reader Kindle Touch (product shown above), plus a gift card to spend at Amazon.com. Please note: Offer not made or sponsored by Random Magic Tour. (More)

Grapevine, Last-Minute News and Misc.

Way more scenic than the Métro. And away she goes.
Source: Je m'appelle (Trans. for the phrase)

If you've totally forgotten - or are just way too lazy - to bring home a tree...improvise!
Source: Fotolog

Upcoming

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host Tiffany from For Those About to Read (@AboutToRead) invites you to indulge yourself in up to 10 tales of myths and legends, in the Mythology Challenge, with focus on teen fiction (also called young adult fiction, or YA). The book list for the challenge is already up for browsing, so check it out, if you like: Book List
Visit or Sign up for the challenge.

Jan. 1- Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: The Greek Classics reading challenge arrives in 2012. From the host: Take a look at the roots of Western civilization and ponder the great questions of existence by reading some ancient Greek literature. Participants will be reading from one to 12 classics of Greek literature. Host is Jean of Howling Frog Books and Musings of a Bookworm, no contact info available. Visit or Sign up

Book Nooks

Source: Tumblr
More places: Book Nooks (weekly)

Participate in Women Reading

(Weekly, every Wednesday - or every Sunday, for weekend edition)

Make your own post and link up - All info HERE
Image source: Daily Dose

Notes

Header image: Title unknown, artist is Francine Van Hove.
Image source: Tumblr
Additional excerpts from Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit by Henry Ward Beecher: Browse
Additional Henry Ward Beecher quotes: Browse

Talk to Us

Are you planning something cool for your blog, or have you heard about something great that we might have missed this week? Tell us about it!: @RandomMagicTour

get the InLinkz code

Virtual Advent Tour: Reading by Firelight (Dec. 10)

2011-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to Random Magic Tour - The Coven. This is the official site for Sasha Soren, author of Random Magic. We do a weekly collective gallery of cute reading nook images, called Book Nooks, and you're welcome to browse some images or to participate here, if you like: Book Nooks

For this stop on Virtual Advent Tour 2011, we thought it'd be fun to enjoy some winter-related book nooks and winter palaces, so below we have some pretty images you might enjoy.

All of the images will be related to winter and castles or great homes - all marvelous places to find ancient fireplaces and luxurious surroundings, perfect for reading by firelight.

Here's a quick excerpt from Random Magic, so you can imagine at least one of these places - although, of course, this particular great home is a little less comfortable for guests who'd like to read by firelight. In fact, in this instance, reading with the lights down low all around you is not recommended...at all.

Excerpt, Random Magic:
Please note: Edited for length

There couldn't possibly exist a more pleasant spot in the entire world. Not possibly. Watercolor painting in the garden? But of course. The lady of the house is in ecstasies over the proposal. So charming. Yes, it will be arranged at once, for tomorrow afternoon, when the light is best...

All, one decides in satisfaction, is well with the world. London and all her annoyances seem a million miles away, and that's all to the good.

Then night falls.

And one begins to realize that the confining stone walls of Castle Marlybone contain somewhat more than immediately meets the eye: All those attics. Gloomy hallways. Secret doors and unexpected dungeons. Moats, crypts, and spectral visits from irritating fellows popping through walls...

The crammed-in houseful of unwary guests are treated to ghastly shrieks at midnight and faces in mirrors which don't, alas, belong to them, levitating books, and amorphous balls of light flitting through the shrubbery...

Doors slam in deserted wings...and drowsy sleepers are forced to listen for hours on end to irksome commentary from feckless nincompoops who died for love...

Through it all, grey ladies whom everyone likes to pretend aren't really there pop up and down the stairs at odd hours, vanishing at inconvenient moments, so that one doesn't know at all where one is.

Every last bit of it is patently endured, in the name of keeping up appearances...until one is joined unexpectedly in the bathtub by a skeleton wearing nothing but a smile and a top hat.

The violet-scented guest soap is abandoned mid-lather. The luggage is left behind, to be sent for next season, if ever...One flees back to the embrace of ordinary, overcrowded London, sends for the family doctor and takes to bed for a month, sleeps with the lights on and jumps at every sound...

And, so, now you know what to expect when Lord and Lady Mucklewater invite you 'round for crumpets and tea at Castle Greylaudanum. Things are nearly never what they seem to be, and often a great deal worse.

Alas, Witherspoon Manse wasn't that sort of castle. It was rather more mundane than all that. Which made it all the more shocking, in the end....

What happens next? Find out!

Browse or buy Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

And, now, here's a nice gallery of the top five or so places - that are not this place! - that no doubt include some perfect spots for reading by firelight:

About: Location and artist unknown

Source: Pinterest

About: Location is Tsarskoye Selo, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Artist unknown.

Source: Tumblr via We Heart It

About: Location given by the poster (English Ladye) as Hanham Court, Bristol, UK

Source: The English Ladye

About: Bletchley Park, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK
Source: Flickr via We Heart It

About: Schloss Neuschwanstein, village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen, Bavaria, Germany
Source: Daily Architecture

Note: By the way, the 'Swan King' who dreamed up this outlandishly romantic castle also appears briefly as a character in Random Magic. He was also called der Märchenkönig, or the Fairy Tale King, the Dream King and Mad King Ludwig.
Read more about Ludwig II of Bavaria (shown above)

Shown above: Enjoy a video clip about the Dream King and Schloss Neuschwanstein, courtesy of World Site Guides.

About: Château de Pierrefonds, Pierrefonds, Picardy, FR
Source: Lorem Ipsum, The Pretty Princess

More nice things to browse...

We hope you've had an enjoyable time here, and you're welcome to find out more about Random Magic by visiting any of the places below:

Browse or buy Random Magic: Print | Kindle

Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

You're also quite welcome to visit Songs of the Season, a fun music hop organized by @RandomMagicTour and featuring cool bloggers from all over the world:

Songs of the Season
Dec. 10-25, 2011
Visit: Songs of the Season

If you're dropping by from the tour, please feel free to leave a souvenir badge for your post in the collection below. If you're not part of the tour but have a related winter post to include, you're welcome to add something nice.

Thanks for stopping by!

Advent Tour 2011 schedule is here: Find more posts

get the InLinkz code

get the InLinkz code

Image source: Spooky castle. Location and artist unknown.

Book Nooks (4)

2011-12-09T00:37:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Cute little garden pagoda. You're outside, but you're inside, and vice versa. Lots of pillows to make the visitor more comfortable, light source is effective but pretty - paper lanterns. The semi-tinted glass panels at the top are a nice touch, too, letting in enough natural light without too much sun glare.

Drapes are nice, to screen out the sun when it's too sunny, but entire spot is open to the garden and probably some nice sights and scents and sounds. This looks like it could be a nice reading nook whether it's sunny or rainy. This would be a nice spot for writers as well as readers - very mellow and low-key.

Details: Image is part of a slideshow feature at House Beautiful, slide #24 of 46. Description for this image was: Pagoda was made California-cozy with curtains, big cushions, and pillows and paper lanterns from Ikea. Designer is Jay Griffith.

Source: House Beautiful
Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

get the InLinkz code
### Random Magic Tour Goodies ###

get the InLinkz code

### Goodies Around Town ###

Women Reading (Dec. 7-13, 2011)

2011-12-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

Women Reading (weekly)

*Every Wednesday*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Here's what's news!

Edition: Dec. 7-13, 2011

Art and Quotes

The Window Seat (1901), William Orpen

[The reader] buried himself in books; in old, dusty books. He studied diligently the ancient poetic lore of Germany, from Frankish Legends of Saint George, and Saxon Rhyme-Chronicles, down through Nibelungen Lieds, and Helden-Buchs, and Songs of the Minnesingers and Mastersingers, and Ships of Fools, and Reinecke Foxes, and Death-Dances and Lamentations of Damned Souls, into the bright, sunny land of harvests, where, amid the golden grain and the blue cornflowers, walk the modern bards, and sing.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Discussions and Book Chats

Bookie Brunch question: Has blogging changed your reading habits?

Book blogging has definitely changed my reading habits...before I started blogging I would buy an entire series of books all at once and read a book a day. Now that my mind has been trained to absorb not just the story but the technical aspects as well I find I'm not reading as quickly, but more consistently. - Amanda (host), Story Wings

Yes, book blogging has changed my reading habits. I find that since I've been posting reviews, I pay a bit more attention when I'm reading, and I make a few notes, as well (I use a blank index card for those). I've been exposed to books and authors through book blogging that I wouldn't have heard of otherwise, so my reading has been expanded past what I used to read. - Jo, The Fluidity of Time

Book blogging has not changed my reading habits, it's only expanded them! With a blog, you're expected to keep regularly posting about books, and so it's only made me read twice as many books as I normally would. Also, when visiting blogs, you see these new titles that you've probably never heard of before. - Jazmin, Books!!!

*****Join this discussion*****

Events and Parties

Memes and Features
(Incl. reading challenges)

Videos and Vloggers

Shown above: The Book Bunny (@The_BookBunny) shares some of the titles she's
acquired recently.

Shown above: Vlogger RachelSuperbook shares some of the titles she's acquired recently.

Shown above: Book vlogger TheeBookMonster (alt channel LiddysLife) invites viewers to join her for a winter walk. TheeBookMonster and RachelSuperbook are planning to post new vlogs daily throughout December, as part of their December Vlogathon.

Shown above: Book vlogger eLizzie (@elizziebeth) shares some assorted thoughts, including a take on YouTube's new site design.

Book Adaptations and Media Marvels

(Incl. movies, music, games, tech, publishing news, other.)

Movies featuring writers: Becoming Jane

About: Based on the book, Becoming Jane Austen, by Jon Spence. Depiction of the early life of writer Jane Austen.

Shown above: Visit some of the most beautiful places in the world via World Site Guides.

This week's tour: The Appian Way (Via Appia)

About: Of all the roads that led to Rome, the Appian Way was the most famous and the most strategically important road in ancient Rome. It eventually stretched all the way from Rome to the seaport of Brindisi in southeast Italy, through which trade with the East was funneled.

The Romans were masters of road construction and had some of the very finest engineers in the world. All their roads were connected to Rome, where the Master Itinerarium was located. This was a list of all the destinations along each road all the way to the border of their empire, hence the expression, 'All roads lead to Rome.' (Excerpt courtesy World Site Guides)

Shown above: Cute little talking bear with limited speech recognition capabilities provides a bit of 21st century, interactive storytelling. By the way, this cute toy (Cooper the bear) can be won as part of an offer from the manufacturer, Hallmark. Details in goodies section below. Video review by vlogger Inside the Wendy House.

Goodies and Giveaways

WIN: Enter: Through December 31, 2011: Now you won't have to wonder if the movie is as good as the book or not - win this classic novel and matching movie version. This set features a paperback edition of The Age of Innocence with a new, beautifully designed cover and a DVD of the feature film, nestled together in a sturdy case. This could be a nice treat to keep for a rainy weekend. Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. Win this book-and-DVD set

About the book: Edith Wharton's novel is a masterful portrait of desire and betrayal set during the sumptuous Gilded Age of Old New York, a time when society dreaded scandal more than death. This is Newland Archer's milieu as he prepares to marry conventional socialite May Welland. But when the mysterious Countess Ellen Olenska returns to New York, Archer falls deeply in love with her. Torn between duty and passion, Archer struggles to make a decision that will either courageously define his life - or mercilessly destroy it. (Publisher desc.)

Win: Enter: Through December 22, 2011: Win a Sony Vaio laptop (shown above). Offer via brand ambassador for Windows 7. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Amazon gift card to spend on books, e-books, movies, etc. (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Gift certificate from quirky retailer, uncommongoods.com, purveyor of many things colorful, cheery, or slightly quirky. (More)
Shown above: Leaning bookends

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Consumer electronics price analysis site Decide.com has an offer for a Kindle Fire e-reader (shown above). (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 16, 2011: Food manufacturer Ragu offers an American Express gift card through one of their product ambassadors. (More)

WIN: Enter: Through December 15, 2011: Win a great time - just add nibbles and a few buddies, to host your own 1930s mob movie marathon! (cont'd below)

Preview: Check out the deck
Win this: Details
Through Dec. 15, 2011

Part of Guys and Molls party - win a cute prize pack of a multi-title DVD (shown above) and mobster-speak flashcard set (shown above). Sponsor: Random Magic Tour. (More)

WIN this book at Bookie Brunch, offer open through December 15, 2011.

Win: Enter: Through December 9, 2011: Gift code for Red Envelope, an online shop that stocks a range of pleasant gifts, including fresh flowers (sample bouquet shown above). (More)

Win: Enter: Through December 9, 2011: Cute holiday gift basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets, includes mixed nuts, chocolate-covered cherries, assortment of other savory, sweet or salty treats; there's likely to be something for nearly every taste. (More) Additional chances to win here and here.

Grapevine, Last-Minute News and Misc.

Launching January 2012: Chrystal at Snowdrop Dreams of Books (@snowdropdreams) will be starting a new profile series, featuring five questions. Open to authors and bloggers, and she invites you to get in touch with her if you'd like to participate. Contact: Email or Twitter

Book Nooks

Source: Daily Dose

Upcoming

January, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Host A Literary Odyssey invites you to get down your dusty volumes of the Bard of Avon, and join her for a month of reading the works of William Shakespeare. Visit or Sign up

By the way, William Shakespeare does put in an appearance in Random Magic, by Sasha Soren. At a party held among the clouds. With some pals like Lord Byron and Mark Twain. Thrown by a celestial muse who can't stop falling into fountains overflowing with vodka tonics. There's also a nine-dimensional cat. It all gets a bit complicated. Yes, slightly skewed version of Shakespeare, granted - ah, the secret life of William 'Shakes' Shakespeare...

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Explore a debut author, in the Debut Authors reading challenge, hosted by Book Addict (@jennifer_q85). Visit or Sign up

Jan.1-Dec.31, 2012: Visit or Sign up: Rosey's Review (@roseysreview) invites you to join her for a year of reading dystopian fiction.

Participate in Women Reading

(Weekly, every Wednesday - or every Sunday, for weekend edition)

Make your own post and link up - All info HERE
Image source: Daily Dose

Notes

Header image: The Window Seat (1901), by William Orpen
Image source: Seeking Beauty
Supplementary info on image avail.: Artfact, Flickr
Biography: William Orpen (27 November 1878 - 29 September 1931)
Additional material from Hyperion (source of quote on reading in this week's edition) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Browse

Talk to Us

Are you planning something cool for your blog, or have you heard about something great that we might have missed this week? Tell us about it!: @RandomMagicTour

get the InLinkz code### Random Magic Tour Goodies ###

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### Goodies Elsewhere ###

Lab - Fantasy hop - linkies

2011-12-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

1. With voting option

2. Without voting option (new code generated)(this is the one you need)

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Songs of the Season schedule: Dec. 10-25

2011-12-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

Songs of the Season

Event production by

Random Magic Tour

Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Dec. 10-25, 2011

Join us for a virtual round of caroling, with Songs of the Season, a fun and quirky music hop. Discover new and wonderful songs each day of the hop, handpicked by great bloggers and vloggers - plus lots of other cool things to browse.

Dec. 10

Beyond Strange New Words (@StrangeNewWords)

Souvenir invitation
Host: Pepca
VISIT

Dec. 11

The Book Bunny (vlogger) (@The_BookBunny)
BookBunnyReviews (video channel)
The Book Bunny (blog)

Souvenir invitation

Host: Book Bunny

VISIT

Dec. 12

vvb32reads (@vvb32reads)

Host: Velvet

VISIT

Dec. 13

The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict)

Host: Michelle

VISIT

Dec. 14

A Backwards Story (@abackwardsstory)

Host: Bonnie

VISIT

Dec. 15
*****Double feature*****

Snowdrop Dreams of Books (@snowdropdreams)

Host: Chrystal

VISIT

and

Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf (@myeclecticbooks)

Host: Melissa

VISIT

Dec. 16

Book Geek (vlogger) (@bookge3k) [sic]
BookGe3k (video channel)
Geeky Fairy Tales (blog)
Host: Amanda
VISIT

Dec. 17

Rachel Superbook (vlogger) (Twitter N/A)
RachelSuperBook (video channel)
RachelVlogSpot (seasonal channel)
Host: Rachel

VISIT

Dec. 18
*****Double feature*****

Splash of our Worlds (@SplashOOWorlds)

Host: Yiota

VISIT

and

Let Them Read Books (@Jenny_Q_Reads)
Host: Jenny
VISIT

Dec. 19
*****Double feature*****

Maat's Feather of Truth (@SamanthaYoung9)

Souvenir invitation
Host: Sami

VISIT

and

Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf (@MoonlightGleams)
Host: Lucy

VISIT

Dec. 20
*****Double feature*****

I Love Books (vlogger) (@Booklover_622)
christinavlog622 (video channel)
The Book Addict (blog)

Host: Christina

VISIT

and

Susan K. Mann (@susankmann)

Host: Susan

VISIT

Dec. 21
*****Double feature*****

Reviews from my First Reads Shelf (Twitter N/A)

Souvenir invitation

Host: Aimee

VISIT

and

Amanda Makepeace (@amandamakepeace)
Host: Amanda
VISIT

Dec. 22
*****Double feature*****

Assortments (@Chumbwa)

Host: Kiwi

VISIT

and

Funny Wool (@funnywool)
Host: Phanee
VISIT

Dec. 23

***** Double feature *****
Bookish (@SeoEvie)

Host: Evie

VISIT
and

Liana's Paper Doll Blog (@lianaleslie)

Host: Liana

Visit

Dec. 24
*****Double feature*****

Songs and Stories (@LiederMadchen)

Host: Natalie

Visit

and

Takes on Tunes at vvb32reads (@vvb32reads)

Host: Velvet

Visit

Dec. 25

Random Magic Tour (@RandomMagicTour)

Host: Random Magic Tour - Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Visit

Event production by Random Magic Tour
Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle
Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter

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Book Nooks (3)

2011-12-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: This has a very enclosed feeling, which sort of isolates the inhabitant from the world. The simple but focused design is cozy - shelves of books within reach, a roomy alcove with lots of pillows, and a long table which could hold books at one end and a tea tray or laptop on the other.

The color scheme isn't distracting, and gives the whole room a sort of quiet energy. Taking all of these details into account, it actually seems as if this entire room was created with a single focus - to allow visitors to be comfortable and to feel at leisure to read for hours without interruption - a perfect book nook.

Details: Artist and location unknown. Original poster at Head Over Heels says the photographer is Tom Ackerman.

Source: Head Over Heels
Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

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