Just a reminder...

With the new year right around the corner, I wanted to remind everyone of the changes to the #InkRipples posts. They have been moved to the FIRST Monday of the month and for 2016 we are blogging on these topics:

January - Travel
February - Chocolate

March - Feminism

April - Poetry

May - Memories

June - Movies

July - Inspiration

August - Guilty Pleasures

September - Banned Books

October - Masks

November - Heritage

December - Cookies

I'd really love to see you join in with your own post, comment, tweet, FB entry, etc. Just be sure to hashtag #InkRipples and link back to Katie, Kai, and I so we can share your ripple. 
(Katie-http://www.katielcarroll.com/blog/, Kai-http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/,  Mary-http://waibelworld.blogspot.com/)

So, grab an image from the #InkRipples tab up above and join in the fun. Let's see how many ripples we can make in the new year!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!! 

THIS IS SARAH by Ally Malinenko

It's hard to believe that just a little over a year ago Ally Malinenko's This is Sarah released. I fell in love with this book the first time I read it...when it was just a short story. It was amazing watching Ally take that short story and turn it into a novel so full of feels. I totally recommend keeping a tissue handy while reading this one. It's an emotional roller coaster ride while the two MC's deal with the stages of grief after the disappearance of Sarah. Here's a little teaser from Claire's POV.

They found her red Chuck Taylor sneakers five miles from where her car was, deep in the woods.

One was unlaced, as if she had undone it and slipped her foot out of it right there under that canopy of trees.

The other was still tied.

Snow filled them like little red candies covered in sugar.

In the police station, in that evidence bag, they seemed so small, as the snow slowly melted off them, staining the fabric and dripping into the bottom of the bag. I couldn’t imagine them fitting Sarah’s feet. I couldn’t imagine them fitting my own.

Sarah’s empty shoes.

I thought about how they’d never be worn again. How she would never slide her foot inside, how her fingers would never tug those laces and loop them closed.

Her room back home was filled with things that would go unused. They’d just sit there, waiting for Sarah to come home, collecting dust.

All the things Sarah left behind.

When I saw the shoes sitting in the police station, a noise escaped me. Not quite a sob, but a cry—a shock of disbelief—and my hope retreated as I realized I was now one of those things. Like her clothes, her jewelry, her records, or her shoes.

I was just another thing Sarah left behind.

Makes you want to run out and grab your own copy to see what happens, right? Well, now's the perfect time to do so, as This is Sarah is on sale at Amazon for $0.99!!! Get your copy today!!!

  

When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to the police's main suspect. 

One year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, how far will he go to bring her back?

As Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire remains determined to keep going, even if it kills her. 

THIS IS SARAH serves as a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.

Ally Malinenko is the author of the poetry collection, The Wanting Bone (Six Gallery Press) and the children's fantasy, Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb (Antenna Books).

She lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

Visit Ally on her web site

http://allymalinenko.com/

#InkRipples-Celebrations/Gifts

Can you believe it's almost the end of the year already? I'm continually amazed at how fast time passes each year.

I've really enjoyed these Ripples in the Inkwell posts and seeing how the topics we blog about ripple out through the blogosphere. That being said, I'm sad to say this is the last Ripples in the Inkwell post for the year. But don't despair, Katie Carroll, Kai Strand, and I have decided to continue the meme into 2016, with a few minor changes. We've streamlined the name to #InkRipples, and have new images to use. We've also moved our posts to the first Monday of the month. And, we've come up with a new set of topics for discussion in 2016. Check out these amazing topics!

January - Travel

February - Chocolate

March - Feminism

April - Poetry

May - Memories

June - Movies

July - Inspiration

August - Guilty Pleasures

September - Banned Books

October - Masks

November - Heritage

December - Cookies

The only thing that could make #InkRipples better is if you joined us in 2016. How do you join? I'm so glad you asked.

On the first Monday of the month, join us in blogging about the monthly topic. Did you say the first Monday doesn't work for you? That's fine, pick another day and post to spread your own ripple. Or share on your favorite social media using the hashtag #InkRipples. Or just comment on one of our posts. However you join, be sure to hashtag and link back to us so we can share your ripple.

(Katie-http://www.katielcarroll.com/blog/, Kai-http://kaistrand.blogspot.com/,  Mary-http://waibelworld.blogspot.com/)

There is no wrong way to participate in #InkRipples. It's all about taking a topic, and image, an idea and having a conversation, sharing ideas, and connecting through blog posts, tweets, shares, etcetera. So if this sounds at all interesting, please join us in whatever way you can. And feel free to use any of the meme's images included at the end of this post (or on the #InkRipples link of this blog).

And now, to the December theme of celebrations/gifts.

I'm going to take a spin on celebrations and share some of my family's traditions. 

In our house, we are very adamant about not having any holiday jumping. So, over the years, we've developed a tradition of putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. It will stay up, and lit when we're home, until after the new year.

We also have a tradition of opening our stocking gifts on Christmas Eve. These usually consist of favorite candies and small treats, but it's something we look forward to each year.

Another almost-annual tradition we have is going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas tour. If you have never seen this group, I highly recommend them. Head on over to this channel on YouTube and check out some of their show. I'm sure it will help put you in the holiday spirit.

What are your holiday traditions and celebrations? Share in the comments below and don't miss Katie and Kai's posts!  Hope to see you making ripples with us now and in the next year!!