Nirvana Designs

I’m happy to get copies of upcoming books - so how’s this for some extra cool advance reader swag? The book, a water bottle, flashlight, trail mix and a handy bag pack to carry everything in. Nice job @flatiron_books! Force of Nature by @janeharperauthor has just moved to the top of my TBR pile! #advancedreaderscopy #books #bookstagram #fiction #bookdragon #booklover #read #keepreading #flatironbooks #janeharper #robinbrz

My #inktober nod. @calcifer42 funny we both did ballerinas! #bunnies #bunny #bunniesofinstagram #inkandcoloredpencil with a little #gelpen too.

Bunnies! #drawing #draw #sketch #sketchbook #coloredpencil #coloredpencils #art #bunnies #cutebunny #cutebunnies #bunniesandpumpkins #robinbrz

Just a little angel. I scanned the original line drawing and made copies to tryout some different color ideas. #angel #angelsarereal #coloredpencil #coloredpencils #linedrawing #sketch #art #makeart #drawing #christmascardideas #robinbrz

This just arrived. After the last disappointment I remain ready for a good scare. Stay tuned! #fiction #scarystories #horrorbook #advancedreaderscopy #read #toberead #bookdragon #book #bookstagram #librarianlife #librariansofinstagram

Trying out some Christmas card ideas. #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorart #painting #paint #gelpens #brushmarkers #mixedmedia #sparkle #angel ##angels #christmas #christmascard #notjustforchristmas #robinbrz

Book friends here is one to keep your eyes open for. A true blue page turner. I read all 440 pages in one weekend. For the Albright family Alaska represents the last frontier and the hope that its purity and freedom will help Vietnam vet (dad) Ernt find the peace he knew before the war. Packing up his wife and young teen age daughter the woefully ill-prepared family embarks on a journey that lasts a lifetime. The characters and landscape of this gripping story come to life in this new novel by The Nightingale author Kristin Hannah. This is not your run of the mill Alaska saga. Yes, the weather is harsh, there are outhouses, bears, guns and the darkness lasts for a long time. But in this book, Alaska is as much a character as the Allbrights. There is tragedy and loss mixed with hope, community, friendship, love, jealousy, fear and unimaginable devotion. All crafted together into a terrific story that is very easy to recommend and sure to have a very long wait list at the library. It comes out Feb. 6. Do yourself a favor and mark your calendar. Ask your favorite librarian to reserve you a copy. Then plan on hunkering down for the weekend with a supply of tea, snacks and a hankie. #books #book #booksofinstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #fiction #read #readthisbook #advancedreaderscopy #stmartinspress #ilovebooks #greatalone #robinbrz

More marker fun. #markers #markerart #drawing #illustration #illustrationart #artstagram #illustratedart #notcopics #guardianangel #angel #angelsarereal #robinbrz

Love the saturation of my 'not' copic markers. This little lady is a bit guardian angel and a bit fairy godmother. #markers #markerart #notcopics #drawing #illustration #sketch #fairygodmother #guardianangel #fairyart #alcoholmarkers #artistsoninstagram #illustrationart #artisfun #robinbrz

Sketching angels and having fun in between loads of laundry. Also doing a little watercolor. (I'll show you later!) #sketch #pencil #pencildrawing #line #lineart #linework #angel #angels #angelscomeinallsizes #guardianangel #illustration #adventuresinart #artstagram #instaart #robinbrz

Working on a birthday card for my mother-in-law, having fun with my markers and wondering why we all don't wear tutus. Hope your Saturday is magical! #dancingfrog #dancelikenooneiswatching #birthdaycard #markers #markerart #tutu #illustration #drawing #art #artstagram #instaart #notcopic #frogprincess #adventuresinart #robinbrz

Messing around today with my not copic markers. They're pretty neat, but take some (lots of) practice! #notcopic #markers #sketchbook #markerart #illustration #drawing #coloring #artstagram #funwithart #trynewthings #adventuresinart #hope #robinbrz

Remember the dragon eye? I added on a head. Fun stuff! (Thanks to google and many artists for the inspiration!) #dragon #drawing #dragons #dragoneye #dragonart #magicalcreatures #coloredpencil #sketchbook #robinbrz

If you're a fan of historical novels be sure to add this to your TBR list. Actually, if you like good story telling this is worthwhile even if history isn't your thing. Last night I found myself still sitting at the dining room table, completely absorbed in the story, two hours after I finished eating! This novel of the civil war is based on the true events of a town in upstate NY, at the end of the Underground Railroad. The only town in the north that chose to secede from the Union. The characters are well developed and their stories are rich with emotion. Even the ones I disliked, I disliked with passion! I love books that envelop me and put me right there inside the story, and this one did it with gusto. It's on sale August 29. I give it 👍👍and a confident recommendation. #book #bookreview #bookrecommendation #read #readthisbook #bookdragon #booklover #historicalfiction #fiction #civilwar #worthreading #stmartinspress #advancedreaderscopy #robinbrz

I order a new dress and got a time machine too! Unfortunately, I'm having trouble getting it to work. I followed the instructions, and have been standing here making warp noises. Nothing yet. And I was so confident that it was going to be bigger on the inside! #timemachine #timetravel #thanksamazon #believeinmagic #robinbrz #biggerontheinside

You know those books, the ones where the story feels familiar, but you're hopeful that it's going to deliver something new? That's how it started with The Wildling Sisters. Unfortunately, for me it never took off. It slogged along. I read half, skipped a chunk, and read the last few chapters to see how it ended. It was painfully predictable. The writing did have moments of redemption. For example, "Trying to take my mind somewhere else, I open my novel, but it's impossible to read - sweat drips from my eyebrows - so I cover my face with the book instead, wishing that someone would invent a way of reading a story by inhaling it." That is a great passage. It expresses so much with so little and I love the image of inhaling a story. But there just aren't enough of these moments to make up for the blandness of the story. I always feel badly when I don't like a book. Writing is hard and I have admiration even for the ones I don't like! Even so, I won't be recommending this one with any real enthusiasm. It just didn't excite me. Note: the quote is from an advance copy and remains subject to final edits. (I do hope they leave it just the way it is!)

The sum of the past week's night time sketching is this guy. Inspired by the many awesome dragons I've been visiting online. #pencil #pencildrawing #sketchbook #sketch #coloredpencil #dragon #dragonart #drawing #dragoneye #robinbrz