Dining al fresco at Pier 1

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am currently working on my next issue of ::Surroundings:: digital magazine (due out in mid-May!)  and it's all about kitchens and dining. My summer issue (due out in July) will be focused on outdoor living. So, I thought the timing was perfect when the folks at Pier 1 asked me to check out their line of indoor/outdoor furnishings.

Here in New England, we generally have a very short outdoor season and so we want to take full advantage of the time we do have to be outdoors.

 

 

 I love a garden bench and think the Jardin de Marie trellis bench would be a fantastic anchor to an outdoor dining room.  Of course, we'll need some pillows for color and comfort:

The coordinating table is just right for intimate dining for two or three.

Throw in a splash of color with a couple Blue outdoor stacking chairs.

And these classic garden stools will provide extra seating or side table space.

Pier 1 has a cute selection of outdoor dishes and glassware.

 

And, of course, we need some ambiance:

And some citronella is needed to keep the mosquitos away.

Now, the only decision is, what's on the menu?

ps - did you know that Pier 1 does tweetups? Check it out:  Pier 1 Tweetups

Soundtrack for HBO's Game of Thrones

This from Film Music Reporter:

Varese Sarabande Records has announced a soundtrack album for HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones. The album includes Ramin Djawadi’s original score from the show. The soundtrack will be released on June 14, 2011. More details on the album will be published next month. It is expected that Djawadi’s main theme will be included on the soundtrack.

I'm a huge movie soundtrack lover, so that's wonderful news!

Here is Ramin Djawadi's main theme:

Quote of the Day

Someone's closer to death!

- SAM SYKES, wishing me Happy Birthday on Facebook.

Authors have such a way with words, don't they!?! :P

Win an Advance Reading Copy of Robin Hobb's THE INHERITANCE & OTHER STORIES

Since I won't have time to read the ARC before its pub date tomorrow (though the book is already shipping in both Canada and the UK) and since I probably have a finished copy on its way, I'm giving away my Advance Reading Copy of Robin Hobb's The Inheritance & Other Stories to one lucky winner! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

A treasure trove of tales from a master storyteller—the first to feature works written under both her pseudonyms, Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm . . .

The Inheritance

Before she became an acclaimed New York Times bestselling author, Robin Hobb received resounding critical praise for work written under the name Megan Lindholm. Though they spring from the same imagination, Hobb and Lindholm are separate, diverse identities, each with her own unique style and perspective.

The Inheritance celebrates the boundless vision of Hobb and Lindholm, bringing together for the first time classic and new short works from both names. The collection is comprised of three generous offerings from Robin Hobb, including the title story, which makes its U.S. debut here, and a brand-new tale, "Cat's Meat." Megan Lindholm contributes her Hugo and Nebula Award finalist "A Touch of Lavender" and Nebula finalist "Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man," as well as several classic and new gems.

Each piece is prefaced by a brief yet informative author's note, offering insight into each story's genesis. Fascinating, compelling, and wonderfully entertaining, The Inheritance reveals the full spectrum of skill and talent of one of the world's finest fantasy writers.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "INHERITANCE." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

Second, your email must contain your full mailing address (that's snail mail!), otherwise your message will be deleted.

Lastly, multiple entries will disqualify whoever sends them. And please include your screen name and the message boards that you frequent using it, if you do hang out on a particular MB.

Good luck to all the participants!

Ian Cameron Esslemont on collaboration

Ian Cameron Esslemont, Malazan co-creator and author of Stonewielder (Canada, USA, Europe) elaborates on collaborating with Steven Erikson on the Tor/Forge's Blog:

In many ways writing is actually a profoundly lonely and isolating undertaking. For me it was a privilege and a pleasure to have someone to share the material with. And I benefited enormously. I hope Steve did so, too. And I’m sure the product, the stories themselves, benefited as well. The give and take, the topping of ideas and undermining of each other’s characters’ goals, all added an extra layer of complexity and—dare I say realism—to so many threads. So many times one of us picked up what the other had added only to turn it completely inside out, or reverse it entirely, all to the surprise and enjoyment of both. I remember one particular immortal exchange between us (one that has yet to see print) wherein I explained that the paranoid Kellanved, then owner of a bar named Smiley’s, was spying and listening in on his employees by drilling holes in the floor of his office over the bar. Later, Steve had Dancer come upstairs, see Kellanved with his ear pressed to a hole and his bum in the air, and promptly kick him across the room. We threw that scene at each other across a table in Victoria, B.C.

Follow this link for the full piece. . .

Game of Thrones: Opening Credits Cover

Great stuff!

Douglas Hulick contest winner!

Our lucky winner will get his hands on my extra copy of Douglas Hulick's Among Thieves! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

The winner is:

- David Livingstone, from Bath, England

Many thanks to all the participants!