New Year, New Chapters.

The start of a new year is always so full of promise, with just a twinge of regret for what was missed, for what wasn't said or done.  

I feel like reading has been such a huge part of my life, of who I am, that I really do think of life itself in chapters.

We all have stories, we all have epic romances, tales from the crypt, comedies, tragedies. We all feel like we are living out a script someone else wrote sometimes. It reminds me of what the wonderful Nora Ephron said, "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." 
How are you going to swoop in and save yourself in 2013? How will you be the hero of your story?

Think of a story you read that really made you feel like "this is why I'm a reader, THIS is why I read". What was it about the characters that made you want to be better yourself? To dare to dream a little bigger, to make your life a little better?

My story would be Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Shadow makes me want to be more. Not emotionless or unafraid, but able to feel fear, let it wash over you and walk through it. To see the humor in impossible situations, to love deeply, fully, and with total conviction. To know that whatever happens you are meant to be in that place, and to take it all in.

What is your story? What makes you damn proud to be a reader? 

Maybe if we all remembered that other people are all just walking through their own chapters, they are like us, trying to get to the place where we are truly "in" our lives. Not living in the future or the past, being present, for that is the real story. What is right now. Maybe if we all knew each other's stories, we would be kinder to each other.

In 2013, may you remember that you are just what you need to be right now. You are enough as you are. You were chosen to be the lead character of your life for a reason. There is no one else like you. You are the only one who can tell your tale. So this year, live your life you fabulous creature, live as a hero, live as only you can. We all need each other's stories, and each chapter of life just makes them better.

Thank you all for being in Geek Girls Book Club, you have made me feel blessed to be a part of your journey.

Happy New Year my dear Geeks.

New year... New Man.

We are about to hit another New Year in the GGBC, and I was inspired by those of you who love to try a new series. If you're like me and fall in love with a character who leaves you wanting more, than have I got the guy for you:

Harry Dresden.

He's a Private Investigator and a wizard... and he's for hire.  So to kick off a new year, we will be reading the first of Harry's stories:

Storm Front by: Jim Butcher

If you read about Harry and his world and want more, here is a link to all the books in the series:

Dresden Files novels

There was also an amazing TV series that sadly only lasted one season, but you can find it on Amazon, and Netflix. It is certainly worth a watch if you missed it, or if you were a fan and want to see it again. There are also graphic novels and an RPG! The author's web page has a store with all the details. Jim Butcher store

You can follow the author on twitter at @longshotauthor. 

I thought that Harry would be the perfect way to start 2013, and get us going on a year of geeky book delights to come. Harry is my kind of wizard, I hope he's yours as well.

As always, we will begin the book on the first of the month and starting talking about it the last Saturday of the month at #GGBC on Twitter, and on the GGBC Facebook group and Goodreads and Google +. Join us, and feel free to pass GGBC on to anyone you know who would enjoy a good read among most excellent Geeks.

Happy 2013!