Hello-o-o, Love-a-Thon 2016!

It’s Love-a-Thon time! Brought to us by our happenin’ hosts, Alexa (Alexa Loves Books), Cee (The Novel Hermit), Hazel (Stay Bookish), and Mel (The Daily Prophecy), we’ve got a weekend of book love all throughout the blogosphere.

There are a ton of activities planned over the next two days, and Lord only knows how many I’ll have the time and social energy to participate in (probably not a ton). But I for sure wanted to get in on the fun some way, so let’s start out with… *roll of drums* …the introductory questionnaire!

What’s your name?

The name’s Danielle E. Shipley – or Deshipley, for short. I will also answer to “The Cool One”, once we’ve all had a good laugh.

Where in the world are you blogging from?

Just north of Chicago, currently, though I’ll be headed back up to room with my BFF in Germany, soon. Chicagoland’s my birth place and lifelong residence so far, but Europe feels closer to home.

How did you get into blogging in the first place?

Aforementioned BFF talked me into it, saying it would be of some benefit to me as an author, and possibly even fun. She wasn’t entirely wrong.

How did you come up with your blog name?

Brainstorming with BFF and my character friends, we happened upon and liked the double entendre of Ever On Word. 1, the play on “ever onward”, which is kind of like an unofficial motto of mine. 2, the fact that I’ve pretty much always got at least one MS Word document open – usually two to five. And probably at least half-a-dozen Internet tabs. I’m a multitasking mess.

What types of posts do you do on your blog?

It’s varied, through the 5-ish years I’ve been online. At the beginning, I just selected a word I thought could inspire a few hundred more, and cheerily babbled about it. Once I started publishing stories – as a part of assorted anthologies, or in my own self-published books – it’s been tempting to talk about them ALL THE TIME, but I make sure to mix it up. I’ve also done shout-outs for other people’s publications and reviews of books I’ve read (when I can organize my impressions enough to write ‘em), shared original flash fiction and poetry, and for a while, my character/muse/BFF #2 Will Scarlet liked to take over with a screwball stage show and character interviews. So a little bit of everything, or a lot of nothing, depending whether it’s me or Will in charge.

Best blogging experience so far?

Probably gotta give this one to Save-a-Word Saturday, a retired meme from The Feather and the Rose. I had a great time discovering archaic words and incorporating them into fun little vignettes. I miss the weekly challenge, but it’s not the end of the road for my micro-fiction. One of these days, they’ll be a book. Stay tuned.

Name the 5 books you’re most excited for this 2016!

Three jump readily to mind!

1 – “The Raven King” by Maggie Stiefvater. I love the Raven Cycle series, and I’m sad for it to end, but that doesn’t make me want the fourth and final book in my hands any less urgently!

2 – “This Savage Song” by Victoria Schwab. It’s about music and monsters and by V.E. Schwab. I’m in.

3 – “The Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale” by Danielle E. Shipley. Seriously. It’s Book One of the Outlaws of Avalon trilogy – aka, the writing project dearest to my heart. Minstrelsy, magic, mayhem … and best of all, Merry Men! I Robin-Hood-fangirled my way through this thing, and I’m SO BEYOND EAGER to finally share it with readers! (And I’m totally offering eARCs in exchange for honest reviews. Hit me up if you’re interested!)

4 – okay, this where it gets tougher. Let’s go with… “Hamilton: The Revolution” by Lin-Manuel Miranda / Jeremy McCarter. Don’t know whether I’ll ever get to see the musical onstage, but I’ve been sucked down the “Hamilton” hole via the soundtrack, and I love behind-the-scenes stuff for movies ‘n’ musicals, so I’d eat this book up.

5 – …what else is even happening this year? *skims to-read list* Oh, okay, how about “Some Kind of Happiness” by Claire Legrand. It’s got a fantasy forest and a protagonist who shares my depression struggle. I’m bound to get something out of it.

What’s an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read?

I’ll bet you anything that not enough people are reading “Sigil of the Wyrm”. Go read “Sigil of the Wyrm”.

Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF?

Pretty sure my Will Scarlet has totally claimed that spot.

Which book boy or girl would be your book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Kelsier from Brandon Sanderson’s “Mistborn”, please!

What would your dream library look like?

It’s in a castle. (Books.)

In a forest far, far away. (Books.)

The room is drenched in sunlight. (So many books.)

Cozy window nooks in blue and gray, with an ever-changing view of a lake. (Beautiful books.)

Everything is wood. (Books, books, books.)

Except the spiral staircase (wrought iron, probably ) going up to the balcony (of EVEN MORE BOOKS).

Those rolling shelf ladder things are up there (‘cause what better way to reach ALL THE BOOKS?).

Throw in a piano and invisible servants to bring me tea, and I’ll probably never leave this room. (Home is where the books are.)

That’s it for my intro post. Looking forward to hopping around the other participating blogs to see what all the awesome kids are up to. ;D I’ll probably have at least one more Love-a-Thon post up later today, so stay tuned!