Stephanie Jane

Sunday, 23 January 2022

Bookishly Inspired Etsy Finds 17th - 23rd Jan

Welcome to another week of beautiful Etsy finds inspired by my Literary Flits book reviews and spotlight posts. I hope you love discovering these items as much as I enjoyed searching them out, and that you spot a book or two to tempt you as well!

Don't forget my own blog tour giveaway running until the 31st Jan. The big prize is a $25 Etsy gift card (or closest equivalent value in winner's currency).

Antique Waterspout Digital Print by Digital Strudel

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For The Strange And Surprising by M F Adele + Giveaway

Vintage Annie Oakley Cloth Doll by Surrey Treasures

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Girl With A Gun by Kari Bovee + Giveaway

Tanuki T-Shirt by nietoair

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The Young Woman And The Sea by Catherine Meurisse

Childhood Cancer Awareness Bracelet by EC Jewellery

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The Little Knights by Berta Jereb + Free Book

Black Forest Gateau Earrings by Sweets Of My Own

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The Sky Above The Roof by Nathacha Appanah

Second Chance Romance Sweatshirt by Balbina Boutique

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Betting On Love by Kani Sey

Ouija Board with Planchette by Looming Mad Crafts

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Chasing Ghosts by Dean Cole

As always, Etsy links are affiliate links which go straight to each item's Etsy page. Book titles are linked to their Literary Flits blog posts and Giveaway or Free Book links go to my dedicated giveaways index page, also on Literary Flits.

Sunday, 16 January 2022

Bookishly Inspired Etsy Finds 10th - 16th Jan

Don't forget my own blog tour giveaway running until the 31st Jan. The big prize is a $25 Etsy gift card (or closest equivalent value in winner's currency).

Hand Stamped Custom Coordinates Keychain by jcu designs

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Longitude by Dava Sobel

Jolnir Scented Candle by Valhalla Mnt

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Ulv's Jol by Åsli & Bakkejord + Free Book

Law Books & Gavel Cruet Set by Vintage Bakelite 4U

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Gideon's Grandchildren by Bill Jaquette + Giveaway

Glass Jar Candle Lanterns by Elizabeth Dawn Crafts

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When The Stars Disappeared by Henrijs Zandovskis

Kid's Business Planning Guide by Thinking Zing

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Twelve Weeks To Midnight Blue by Steve Searfoss + Giveaway

Pelican Wall Hanging by Enchanted Moose Crafts

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In The Blood by Ellen Kanner

Cornish Seaglass Sister Gift by The Lady Mildred

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A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio

Wednesday, 12 January 2022

Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe by David Wann + Giveaway

Join Us for this Tour from January 4 to January 17, 2022

Book Details:

Book Title:  Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe by David Wann
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 279 pages
Genre:  Literary Fiction
Publisher:  Chokecherry Press, Golden, Colorado
Release date:   May 2021
Content Rating: PG13 + M: There's no offensive material but there is a tasteful, semi-comic sex scene and scene in which characters experience MDMA, a mild hallucinogenic.

Book Description:

Anthropology professor Marc Blake is on a “hero’s journey.” His challenge is to overcome a troubling medical diagnosis –a virus from a tick bite. Along the way he shares his deepest thoughts as the reader follows his courageous efforts to survive. May, an attractive Danish woman, also endures setbacks with resilience, gradually coming center stage in the story. Her husband Kai has a passion for growing herbs and healthy vegetables, marveling how gardening provides a sense of purpose, good health, direct contact with nature, and companionship. Marc’s niece, a natural beauty and ex-model, offers readers a comical, on-again, off-again romantic episode with a Silicon Valley genius she fears might outshine her. Will she prove to be his equal?

Quirky humor injects both lightness and conflict into a 30-year marriage. A six-year old’s “best summer ever” is a reminder that life’s an absolute miracle. Collectively this extended family contests a widespread belief that life is happening to us - that we are passive consumers. On the contrary, each character in this upbeat book is actively self-guided, perfecting their passions and offering generous support to family and friends.

Though author David Wann has previously written non-fiction books about sensible, sustainable lifestyles, in his first-novel these themes are woven right into a compelling story. “Our lives don’t look much different than most Americans,” the characters might say. “Really, we are not ‘doing without,’ more like doing within.” Kai enjoys investing in regional businesses, and also loves to travel effortlessly on Denver’s bike paths. Meatless Mondays or grilled-salmon Sundays are a great way for the outgoing May to bring friends together for active conversation. Each character would insist that kindness and gratitude are encoded in our genes and are far more powerful than anger. In a world that’s currently so full of disruption and confusion, they offer both a sense of direction and grounded hope.

Buy the Book:
Boulder Book Store ~ Amazon.com
Amazon UK ~ B&N ~ BAM ~ IndieBound
The Book Depository ~ Waterstones
add to goodreads

My Review

I mostly chose to read a review copy of Tickling The Bear: How To Stay Safe In The Universe because of its intriguing title. The two concepts of tickling a bear and staying safe seemed so completely opposed that I wondered how David Wann would manage to combine them. As it turned out, this novel is a thoughtful, even philosophical, work which dedicates a significant proportion of its pages to discussing how our modern day communities can find our way back to healthy and mindful living. I think this is what Wann alludes to by staying safe. I loved the ideas around the natural homestead farm where Rocket and Ellen live and also Kai and May's urban gardening idyll which incorporates historic herbalism practices that are now widely forgotten in the West.

Wann's meandering narrative is gently driven by Marc's discovery of his own mortality through a terminal illness diagnosis which, understandably, focuses his thoughts. As readers we are encouraged, alongside Marc, to consider how we would spend our last year of life if we knew ahead of time that we only had such a short time remaining. What would be most important to us? In a way I saw parallels between Marc's predicament and the emotional discoveries many of us have made during the past two pandemic years. People are turning away from consumer-led, aspirational lifestyles towards a recognition of the health-giving properties of close relationships, slow living and natural foods. As such I felt that Tickling The Bear is a timely novel with a strong message that I hope resonates as much with other readers as it did with me.

Meet the Author:

David Wann has been a self-acknowledged author since second grade. He's written hundreds of articles and columns; ten books - one a best seller; and produced five TV documentaries viewed by 20 million. He's lived in a cooperative neighborhood (cohousing) for 26 years where he has been the organic gardener for 27 households. He's an amateur musician and the proud father of two. His greatest ambition is to make a difference in a world that urgently requires "all hands on deck." His books include Affluenza; Biologic; Superbia; Simple Prosperity; The Zen of Gardening; The New Normal, Reinventing Community and others.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Jan 4 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Jan 5 – @twilight_reader – book review / giveaway
Jan 6 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 7 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Jan 10 – Kam's Place – book review / author interview
Jan 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 –Stephanie Jane – book review / giveaway
Jan 12 - Books for Books - book review
Jan 13 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 13 - Sefina Hawke's Books - book review
Jan 14 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 17 - Books are a Blessing - book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 17 - Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

Win a $50 Amazon gift card. Open internationally (to users of the Amazon.com website) until the 24th January.

Click here to see all my current

Giveaways & Free Books!

Sunday, 9 January 2022

Bookishly Inspired Etsy Finds 3rd to 9th Jan

Apothecary Starter Kit by Little Grey Witch

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The Old Root and Herb Doctor by John Goodale Briante

Nnedi Okorafor coaster by Get Your Fleek On

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Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor

Just An Eel patch by fishcakesoboy

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A Girl Called Eel by Ali Zamir

Windowsill Herb Garden by Knotted UK

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Tickling The Bear by David Wann

Vintage Parma FC Lilian Thuram Shirt by Dead Threads

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White Thinking by Lilan Thuram

Bangla Alphabet Print by Intense Pursuits

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I Remember Abbu by Humayun Azad

Only six Etsy finds this week because I also blogged my latest WorldReads post featuring Five Books by Saudi Arabian Authors.

Tuesday, 4 January 2022

My very own book blog tour!! (+ Etsy giveaway)

I'm delighted that my memoir, Finally a Vegan: My Journey to Veganuary and Beyond, is starting its very own blog tour today. I've loved supporting other authors' tours on my blogs so it's amazing to see my little book joining their number!

I'd love for you to visit these wonderful book blogs with me so here's where you can find Finally a Vegan over the next 20 days:

Jan 4 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Jan 4 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Jan 4 - Kam's Place – book spotlight

Jan 5 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Jan 5 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway

Jan 6 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / author interview

Jan 6 - @twilight_reader – book review

Jan 7 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway

Jan 10 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway

Jan 11 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway

Jan 12 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway

Jan 13 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Jan 14 – Ebook addicts – book review / giveaway

Jan 17 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight

Jan 18 – Based on a True Story – book review / author interview / giveaway

Jan 19 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway

Jan 20 – @soph_life.pages – book review / author interview / giveaway

Jan 21 – The Adventures of a Travelers Wife – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Jan 24 – Books for Books – book spotlight

And let's not forget the tour giveaway!

The Grand Prize is a $US25 Etsy Gift Card (or equivalent in your local currency if offered by Etsy), plus an ebook copy of Finally a Vegan: My Journey to Veganuary and Beyond.

and 2 runners-up will each win an ebook copy of Finally a Vegan: My Journey to Veganuary and Beyond.

There's opportunities to enter the giveaway on every participating blog - and here! (Open internationally until the 31st Jan)