A Very Special RAK Post!

We were recently contacted by the dynamic duo of Lisa & Laura, authors of The Liar Society.

They got wind of our R.A.K. Feature through the bloggy grapevine and wanted to help spread the word about it.  They asked us to go on their blog and do a special Guest Post telling their followers all about R.A.K.

*Book Soulmates Guest Post on Lisa & Laura Writes*

Ok, now stop for a minute.  Think!

How friggin' cool is it that actual authors visited our blog and liked our feature so much that they want to not only help spread the word, but they want to spread a little book love too.

So much so, that they have offered to provide a R.A.K. for one lucky reader.

They took the time to visit all the March wishlists and they found a reader who had their book on her wishlist so they decided that they will send a copy to her as a RAK.

Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit
Surprise!

You'll be getting a copy of

as a RAK directly from Lisa & Laura.

Sidenote:

We are blown away by the incredible response to R.A.K.  We knew that book bloggers are among the coolest people on the planet *like, duh* but now we also know that you are among the kindest and most generous. 

Thank you to all the readers and *ahem* authors that are participating and bringing smiles to readers faces all across the world!

You guys ROCK our socks!

XoXo

Grammar 101: Commas

Ahem!
Welcome back to Grammar 101...where I help the grammatically-challenged become proud Grammarians.  Or at least I try! lol

This week, with the help of a Tweep, I decided to tackle COMMAS.

Commas are, seemingly, one of the simplest and most common of all punctuation marks.  Which begs the question: why, oh why, do some people not know where to put them?

In layman terms, the Comma is a punctuation mark used to separate things.

When do use commas?

1. In lists: Commas are used to separate items in lists. (Duh!)  In lists, a comma may or may not be used before the final conjunction (and, or, nor, etc.)  This is known as the Serial Comma.
   
   The use or omission of such a comma may serve to avoid ambiguity:
   USE:
   • I spoke to the boys, Sam and Tom. – You spoke to the boys, who are Sam and Tom (I spoke to two people).
   • I spoke to the boys, Sam, and Tom. – You spoke to the boys and Sam and Tom.
   
   OMISSION:
   • I thank my mother, Anne Smith and Thomas. – The writer is thanking three people: the writer's mother and Anne Smith (who is not the writer's mother) and Thomas.
   • I thank my mother, Anne Smith, and Thomas. – Could be either my mother and Anne Smith and Thomas or Thomas and my mother, who is Anne Smith.
   
   
2. Separation of Clauses: Commas are often used to separate clauses. (Note: A clause, basically, is a complete sentence containing a subject and an object.) The comma is used to separate a independent clause from an dependent clause.
   EX:
   Dependent clause first:  After I brushed the cat, I lint-rollered my clothes.
   Indepedent clause first: I lint-rollered my clothes after I brushed the cat.
   
   
3. Certain adverbs: Commas are always used to set off certain adverbs: however, in fact, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, still, instead, too.
   
   Rule: If these adverbs appear in the middle of a sentence, they are enclosed in commas.  Ex: In this sentence, furthermore, commas would also be called for.
   Note: Using commas to offset certain adverbs is optional: then, so, yet.
   
   
4. Parenthetical phrases: Commas are often used to enclose parenthetical words and phrases within a sentence (Note: information that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.)
   
   
   • Introductory phrase: Once upon a time, my father ate a muffin.
   • Interjection: My father ate the muffin, gosh darn it!
   • Aside: My father, if you don’t mind my telling you this, ate the muffin.
   • Appositive: My father, a jaded and bitter man, ate the muffin.
   • Absolute phrase: My father, his eyes flashing with rage, ate the muffin.
   • Free modifier: My father, chewing with unbridled fury, ate the muffin.
   • Resumptive modifier: My father ate the muffin, a muffin which no man had yet chewed.
   • Summative modifier: My father ate the muffin, a feat which no man had attempted.
     
     
5. Between adjectives: A comma is used to separate coordinate adjectives; that is, adjectives that directly and equally modify the following noun. Adjectives are considered coordinate if the meaning would be the same if their order were reversed or if and were placed between them.
   
   
6. Before quotes: A comma is used to set off quoted material that is the grammatical object of an active verb of speaking or writing, as in Mr. Kershner says, "You should know how to use a comma." Quotations that follow and support an assertion should be set off by a colon rather than a comma.
   
   
7.  In dates:  That's an easy one.  Today is April 7, 2011.
   
   
8. Vocative: Commas are placed before, after, or around a noun or pronoun used independently in speaking to a person, place or thing:  I hope, followers of ours, that you will read this.

And there you have it, folks!  The guts & glory of the comma.
For more comma rules, you can visit:
Grammar Girl
Owl English

Time for the fun stuff.

Commatastrophe!

 SELF-EXPLANATORY!

Note to Barry:  A comma and an apostrophe are NOT the same thing!  I guess he figures, potat-o, po-tato! 

 Hey, at least they got the "you're" right!

Ok, now this is just plain STOOPID!!!

The Comma Sutra, LOL! 



These one is just plain FUNNY!!  *Hahahaha*

Have a super day kids!

Announcing Winners!

We got more free books to deliver :)

The winners for our FALLING UNDER giveaway are:

Riki D. from Quality Characters
&
Emma H. from The Book Girl

And can I say holy smokes...Me, Isalys, is such a dope!

I was going through our Google Docs and realized that I totally forgot to announce the winners for the TREASURE ME by Robyn DeHart giveaway we hosted a few weeks ago.

 

So delayed, but here at last our the winners:

 1. Rebecca W. / The Watson Kitchen

{Have address}

2.  Crystal B.
{Have Address}

3. Aanchal G. / Book Flame

Note:

Winners were chosen using random.org. We will email those who we do not have addresses for already. You have until next Friday to get back to us with your address (if we don't already have it). If we haven't heard from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.

If you are still interested in more giveaways, check out our giveaways page {here}!

PS: I'm just gonna lay it on the line, you guys...I've slightly lost control of our Giveaway Car.  If you've won a book on Book Soulmates but have not yet received it in the mail, please email me at booksoulmates {at} gmail {dot} com with the title that you won and I'll confirm that it's been submitted to the publisher.

Thank you!!

Isalys

Giveaway: She Loves You, She Loves You Not

We have another FABULOUS giveaway courtesy of another FABULOUS author!

Title: She Loves You, She Loves You Not
{Pre-order your copy HERE}

Author: Julie Anne Peters

Publish Date: June 1, 2011

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Pages: 288, Paperback

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa thought she knew who she was. She had her family, her best friends, and most importantly, she had Sarah. Sarah, her girlfriend, with whom she dreamed with about the day they could move far away and live out and proud and accepted for themselves, instead of having to hide their relationship.

Alyssa never thought she would have to make that move by herself, but disowned by her father and cut off from everyone she loves, she is forced to move hundreds of miles away to live with Carly, a mother she barely knows, in a town where everyone immediately dismisses her as 'Carly's girl.' Struggling to forget her past and come to terms with her future, will Alyssa be able to build a new life for herself and believe in love again? Or will she be forced to relive the mistakes that have cost her everything and everyone she cared about?

This compelling novel about coming out, finding love, and discovering your place in the world will speak to anyone who has known the joy and pain of first love and the struggle to start over again.

This title on Goodreads

Giveaway
April 6 - April 13

One Autographed Copy!

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY
{Important: Please leave a comment on this post stating you filled out the form! Thank you!}

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. residents. No P.O. boxes please.
Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions.

Happy reading!

Cassie's Hollywood Crush?

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS is finally here!!!  

Can I get a hurrah?!  

*in unison please*

We not only have this to look forward to but there is a whole lotta activity out here revolving around The Mortal Instruments movie(s).  It seems that Lily Collins is still the front runner to play our beloved Clary, but who the heck will play the super-sarcastic, extra-yumlicious Jace?  Well, that is still T.B.D. (to be determined).

Cassie, the genius behind this series gives us her two cents on the Jace-to-be.

Click {HERE} to read the Hollywood Crush article. This is exciting stuff people :)