Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Cindy Pon: Leave the bird-nest

Cindy Pon, Author of the Silver Phoenix series

my best advice for college?
if at all possible, LEAVE HOME.
i'm the youngest child in a family of three and
was the first to "go away" for college. my mom
tried to convince me to commute to a closer
university, but i refused. and i'm so glad i did.

i think that distance is absolutely necessary for
both parent and child in the road to young adulthood
and independence. in a way, it's very much like
kindergarten. (which i went through with my sweet
pea and this september again with munchkin.)
college is as much about social and personal growth
(if not more) as intellectual growth. going away for
college and living on your own forces you to make
very adult choices in many ways, but at the same time,
still have the resources of the university (and your roommates
and college buddies) to fall back on. like grown up
life but not really. it kicks ass!

you know that saying, the world is your oyster?
well, that's gross.
i'd prefer to think of the world as your choose your
own mongolian beef meal experience. you know
the kind, a buffet of various meats, all sorts of veggies,
tofu cubes, many sauces to choose from, minced
garlic and chives. you point and the chef sticks the
ingredient in a bowl then cooks it up for you just right.

college is like that. the possibilities are endless.
internships, study abroad, working on campus, clubs
and organizations, greek life, leadership opportunities--
any interest or cause you can think of, most likely,
you'll find it in college. and if not? guess what? you can
start one with college funds. just go through the right
channels and most likely, it'll get approved. so cool, right?

i wish i could tell some wild crazy stories of my college
days but i'm just a big stick in the mud. ha! i avoided
parties in general, preferring to hang out with friends
chatting and studying in cozy cafes late into the night.
it was also the first time i had an email account
(shush you!) and i was totally an internet addict even
back then--even if the internet wasn't really there yet.
(yahoo didn't exist yet. much less google.)

the one thing i didn't like about college was that i had
no time to read for pleasure, the work load was so heavy.
so i read voraciously during the summers for pleasure.

but i loved it so much i got a masters in higher education
administration--which means working on the administrative
side in colleges (housing, advising, financial aid, etc.) that's
what i did before i became a published author. and i still
have very near and dear lifetime friends that i made back
in my college years.

a highlight was being invited back to my college to be
the keynote speaker for a parent's weekend last year!
it felt like going home again, and i had such a wonderful
time meeting the current students there. and being envious
of their college life! like everything in life, it's what you
make of it. and i think you should definitely make the most of it!

me with the current students at my old
university. (don't mind the giant restroom sign. =)


~~~

Read my review of Cindy's novel, Silver Phoenix, here. A truly captivating tale set in Ancient China with the elements of fantasy and mythical creatures! I am dying for the second novel in the series!

Contest Time

Giveaway Item(s): A signed copy of Silver Phoenix and a brush card of winner's choice from Cindy's Etsy
# of Winners: 1
Eligibility: US and Canada only

Entries (Leave links if needed)

+1 New follower (MANDATORY)
+2 Old follower
+1 Link (5 max)
+1 Add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blogroll

post signature

38 comments:

MissA said...

No need to enter me.

This post made me a little more excited for college (I was already really excited). I'm nervous about having to assume more adult responsibilities, but I also like that you're not completely an adult yet (still don't have to support anyone but yourself).

I'm ready to go far away for college :) Great guest post!

Liviania said...

+2 Old Follower
+1 Blogroll

I hope the signed copy isn't the awful paperback.

I'm really happy with the location of my college. I live alone, but I can drive to either of my parent's homes on the weekend if I want.

I also rec staying in a dorm, at least the first year! You meet a ton of people that way and you're close to everything happening on campus.

LM Preston said...

Cindy you are scaring me. I have a son that's getting ready for college and I can't stand the thought of him moving away..shhh don't tell him I said that. My daughter read your book and her review will be up later this week.

cindy said...

liviania, i'm giving away the original hardcover signed. the paperback isn't out until february 2011.

ari, you'll do great in college! i'm so excited for you!

LM, i know. my mom missed me a lot. and i bet i'll miss my bubs too, but i do think it's the best thing if financially possible.

Tina said...

+2 old follower

Great guest post and contest!

I'm nervous about college this fall, but about odd things. But I'm also really excited :)

Sara said...

This past year was my first away at college and far from home (5 hours seems like a world away!), but it has been a really great experience. I miss my family all the time (I don't see them very often - the last time I saw them was, unfortunately, the beginning of May), but at least there are other ways to stay in touch! And I've met so many new people and have been able to do bookish things that would never have been possible in northern MI! :)

I'd love to be entered in the contest as well...

+2 old follower
+1 linked to sidebar @ http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com

Thanks!
Sara @ The Hiding Spot
thehidingspotATliveDOTcom

Ashley said...

I'd love to win this!
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

I'm an old follower.

Eleni said...

I've always wanted to read this book, please enter me, thank you!

+2 Old follower
+1 I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders/status/20506899809
+1 I Added Stop, Drop, and Read! to my blogroll (http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/)

Entries: 4

Thanks!
-Eleni
lafemmereaders@yahoo.com

Hannah S. said...

My friend Allie said this was awesome, and so I'm so excited to check this out. :)

I'm a new follower!

Love, Hannah
xoxosweeet at yahoo dot com

YA Book Queen said...

I definitely wish I could have afforded to go away to college this past year, because staying at home hasn't been the best for me...But hopefully I can transfer after one more year to somewhere a bit further away! Then I can finally figure out how to be more independent (ah, how I look forward to freedom!) ;)

+2 old follower

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!

yabookqueen@yahoo.com

Jessica B said...

Pleeeeeeeease enter me, I've been dying to read this!

+2 Old Follower
+1 tweeted: http://twitter.com/Pinkhair/status/20510087352

shutupjessicasreading @ gmaildotcom

Kemendraugh said...

+1 New Follower

I am SO glad I finished college this year :P And yeah, I left home for it too. It was fun! Hard, but fun. There's always long weekends and hols!
kemendraugh at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I'm going back to find a new career after being out of school for years! LOL! Wish me luck...I'll be carpooling with my SON!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

enter me please, I'm a new follower.

Anonymous said...

I would like to read this. Thanks for the chance to win.
+1 new follower
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a new follower I would love to read Silver Phoenix.
nancysoffice at gmail dot com

Stephanie said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to win!

+1 new follower

Skk25@aol.com

Monica said...

+1 New follower!

MMashura93@gmail.com

Briana said...

+2 Old Follower
+1 Blogroll

shesaxsensation@aim.com

Awesome contest and post!

throuthehaze said...

+2 old follower
+1 blogroll:
http://throuthehaze-reads.blogspot.com/

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Dominique said...

great post!! and I agree about leaving home to go to college--I got used to living in a dorm a lot faster than I had expected!

please include me in the giveaway :)

+2 Old follower
+1 link: http://the-book-vault.blogspot.com/p/current-giveaways.html
+1 you're already on my blogroll! :)

Anonymous said...

Nice post and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you on your information.

lora1967 said...

old follower Lora1967 +2
twitter @Lora1967

http://twitter.com/Lora1967

total 4

deltay said...

+2 Old follower
+1 Blogroll

lucidconspiracy[at]gmail[dot]com

Aik said...

I'd love to win!

+2 Old follower

+1 Link on Twitter
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/21199366860

+1 Link on Plurk
http://www.plurk.com/AikChien

+1 Add Stop, Drop, and Read! to my blogroll
http://aik-friendsnfamily.blogspot.com/

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

+1
+1
New follower, putting you in the blogroll!

Unknown said...

+2 Old follower
my emailis maddie.mcphail@gmail.com

Abby said...

+1 New follower!
+1 Link : http://twitter.com/toothpickmusic/status/21279548656
+1 Add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blogroll: Yes! http://lovedfromthestart.wordpress.com/

I really enjoyed reading this guest blog post! I decided to go away from home even though I am commuting distance, and I am glad I did. In a sense though I'm more worried about money than about my social and personal growth so I will commute one of the years. *sigh* But right now I am really feeling the pull of having your own space and a cat. I decided to change my psychology major to English and a minor in writing and I am so glad I did so. I really don't have time to read for pleasure, though...

Theresa said...

+1 New Follower

theresamashura@gmail.com

Audrey said...

I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for the giveaway!
+1 new follower
twigerina[at]hotmail[dot]com

linz said...

Soon I'm off to college, so this was very interesting and helpful.

Thanks for the contest!

+2 Old Follower

+1 Blogroll

+1 Posted
http://linzreads.blogspot.com/2010/08/amanda-ashby-giveaway.html

+1 Contest Sidebar
http://linzreads.blogspot.com/

dancer_girl76(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Ah, I love this book! Please enter me :)

+1 New Follower
(lostinbelieving)
+1 Link
http://twitter.com/DreamBelieve3/status/22665853658

Thank you!

~Alison
lostinbelieving@yahoo.com

Mandy said...

Awesome! (:
Old follower

bratdownstairs at yahoo

Sarah said...

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile! Thanks for the author interview and giveaway! :D

+2 old follower
+1 Sidebar www.limericksbookspot.blogspot.com
+1 Of course you'd be on my blogroll!

Sarah L
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

starrpower said...

Great Contest.Great guest post!

Olt Follower +2

stacedog01 @ yahoo.com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

i've been wanting to read this one for so long! thanks!


+2 old follower

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

+1 - new follower
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Tabathia B said...

+1 new follower
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

MarionG said...

I'm a new follower. The book sounds Grreat. Would love it.
polo-puppy-fluffy at hotmail dot com