Book Collector

Posted on November 6, 2009 by SloanParker

Once a week, I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else) that I’ve seen or read about recently. So here’s this week’s For the love of …

I purchased some new books this week and was reminded again how much I love using Book Collector by Collectorz.com. It’s an “automatic book database software for Windows, Mac OS X & iPhone.”

I’ve had this program for quite a few months now. I use it to keep track of the books I own, those I’ve read from the library, those I’ve purchased but have yet to read, and those I wish to buy. It connects with an on-line book database so you can easily add books to your personal database (including a description, cover, subjects, and more) using the book title, author, or ISBN number. You can also manually enter books. Many of the ebooks I buy are not in the database, but it really doesn’t take much time to add those either.

I love being able to create filters and quickly see which books I have on my TBR list for a specific genre. Let’s say I feel like reading a gay mystery romance. A couple clicks and I have all the books listed that I’ve purchased. I can check out the covers, read the synopsis, click to any reviews I’ve noted, and more. It’s fun to interact with my books this way.

You can also add ratings and purchase information, search and sort, export the data, print a book list, and view your book data on your iPhone.

Here’s a screenshot from Collectorz.com. There are many ways to customize the screens so you can optimize it for how you like to view your books.

Watch a demo video: http://www.collectorz.com/book/
View more screenshots: http://www.collectorz.com/book/features.php

Does anyone else use Book Collector? Or any other program to manage your book collection? I’d love to hear what you use and what you like about it. Comment or send me an email.

Thanks for stopping!
Sloan Parker

The On-line Community of Booklovers

Posted on October 30, 2009 by SloanParker

Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else) that I’ve seen or read about recently. So here’s this week’s For the love of …

I love booklovers — people who read nearly every day. People who love to lose themselves in a good story. I’ve always loved reading, but when I was a kid, I often felt like an oddball. I didn’t read the same books as everyone else I knew. That’s why I love the Internet. I can connect with other readers who have the same interests, no matter how small the market for a particular genre. As an example, I belong to a Yahoo group that discusses just one book series. It’s a lot of fun to share quotes and discuss scenes and characters while we wait for the fourth book in the series.

I joined Goodreads (“the largest social network for readers in the world”) this week, and I’m really liking the site. I haven’t added all the books I’ve read even in the past couple years, but I tried to add as many as I could from the same genre I write in. And I updated my “to read” list with a lot of the books I own but haven’t gotten around to reading yet. I try to read a little every day (it just doesn’t always work out with my writing schedule). As a writer, reading helps my own voice become stronger and helps me write with more clarity and ease. If that makes any sense. Reading fiction has always been such a big part of my life. And on Goodreads, it’s so easy to connect with other readers who also share my love of books.

So is anyone else using Goodreads? Here’s my profile information if you’d like to friend me.

www.goodreads.com/sloanparker

Thanks for stopping. Hopefully, I’ll see you on Goodreads soon.
Sloan Parker

Just when I needed a laugh

Posted on October 17, 2009 by SloanParker

Today was one of those blah days for me. I had a ton of work to catch up and everything took longer than I planned (sort of why my Friday post is coming out early Saturday). Just when I needed it, my cats started chasing each other around the house, acting all crazy like they tend to do. It gave me a good laugh. Xander is a klutz, Cordy has ADD, and Hunter thinks he’s a dog. They can be quite humorous when they all try to play together. So today, I’m posting a couple of my favorite pics of my little guys.

Here’s Cordy, Xan, and Hunter.

Aren’t they cute? Come on, you can admit it. Even non-cat people tend to like my cats. Hunter does this fetch thing that people remember years later.

Thanks for stopping,
Sloan Parker

Jagged Little Pill

Posted on September 25, 2009 by SloanParker

Even after all these years, I’m still loving Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. I listened to it while writing last week (hadn’t listened to it in a year or two). Sometimes I need silence when I work. Sometimes I like the background noise and little bits of familiar lyrics that encourage my creativity. And when I heard the creepy, stalkerish song at the end of the disc, it reminded me how much I loved this CD.

“I took off my clothes
Put on your robe
I went through your drawers
And found your cologne
I went down to the den
I found your CDs
And I played your Joni
And I shouldn’t stay long, you might be home soon
I shouldn’t stay long
Would you forgive me love
If I danced in your shower
Would you forgive me love
If I laid in your bed
Would you forgive me love
If I stay all afternoon”

I’m thinking there’s some inspiration for a short story there. I’ll have to think it over.

What about you? Anyone else still a fan of Morissette’s work? Comment or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Sloan Parker

For the love of: Dylan Ricci’s Photography

Posted on September 18, 2009 by SloanParker

I’m loving Dylan Ricci’s Photography. His work is beautiful and inspiring. Visit the site at www.dylanricci.com where you can check out galleries of his work. Amazing stuff, folks. Note: These are nude male photos. May not be work safe.

Here’s some text from the site:

“I have become regarded as a photographer of the male nude, although it is not the male nude per se that interests me. What excites and fascinates me and motivates my explorations of the innate aesthetic beauty of the male body are the very same elements of image-making that have obsessed western artists for centuries: the interplay of light and form.”

“Ricci’s images are stylish, classic with a sense of timeless beauty often lacking in contemporary male nude photography.”

What do you think? Which picture is your favorite? Comment or send me an email. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Sloan Parker