I grew up loving Tammy’s books! I started with Alana: The First Adventure and now 15 years later I’m starting her newest book Mastiff this weekend! I will fully admit to turning into a fan-girl from back when I first read Alana when I met her yesterday. It was so fantastic to meet one of the women who first got me reading for fun. I have been trying to meet her for going on 15 years and every time I have gotten close to meeting her something has happened where I couldn’t get away or she couldn’t show up. Now after having met her I think she is doubly awesome. If you haven’t ever read anything please, please read them! They are some of my all time favorites!

For those who don’t know much about Tammy’s books here’ a recap:

(Song of the Lioness Series)
                

1. Alana: the First Adventure -
2. In the Hand of the Goddess -
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man -
4. Lioness Rampant -

Alana and her twin brother change the letters their father gave them so that Alana can disguise herself as a boy called Alan and become a knight while her twin brother gets to learn to be a Mage.  Thus begins the trials and tribulations that come with hiding her true identity from even her new found friends and her Prince. This is a romantic adventure series that leads the reader in some really interesting situations. Knights, ladies, fighting, horseback riding, bullies, magic, and mayhem flourish in these four books!

(Immortals Series)

1. Wild Magic –
2. Wolf Speaker –
3. Emperor Mage -
4. Realms of the Gods -

Daine has always had a knack with animals and when the royal horse mistress discovers her talent she is hired on to help bring the ponies to the palace for the new set of pages & squires, but Diane is hiding a big secret she can talk to the animals. She has a magic like no other and it drove her mad. Only with the help of a wolf was she able to come back from the craziness. When she rescues a bird unlike any she has ever met she is soon introduced to her new teacher. A teacher that will help her discover the extremes that she can take her magical powers to. This series beings in creatures out of nightmares and dreams (yes this includes dragons). I love this series and not just because of the teacher, Numair, but for so many other reasons.

(Protector of the Small Series)

1. First Test -
2. Page –
3. Squire –
4. Lady Knight -

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl to follow in Alana’s footsteps to become a knight. She has no special magical powers and no goddess looking out for her. It’s her alone and she is determined to be the best she can be. Kel is a born leader, even if the boys don’t always see it. Piled with homework that will never get done and beaten till she is black and blue on the practice field she will never give up and she is the one that many will turn to in a time of need because she is a protector. Now if only she could conquer her fear of heights.

(Daughter of the Lioness)

1. Tricksters Choice -
2. Trickstes Queen -

Alana’s daughter is all grown up and unlike her mother she has no interest in becoming a knight. She wants to follow in her fathers footsteps.

(Beka Cooper Series)

1. Terrier –
2. Bloodhound –
3. Mastiff -

Long before the days of Alana there were women warriors. They where involved in defending the city and one of them was Beka Cooper. She was a dog (think police force) like no other. She got messages from the dead who rode on the backs of pigeons and she heard whole conversations that could have taken place anytime in the city by listening to the dust devils that roamed the city.

(Circle of Magic Series)

1. Sandry’s Book -
2. Triss’ Book –
3. Daja’s Book -
4. Briar’s Book -

Four teens with odd magical powers that make no sence to normal magitians end up being sent to live with the two women of Winding Circle. There these four misfits discover more about their strange powers and how to wield them. Sandry has power over a lit when she weaves, Triss can cause major damage when she gets upset (the weather tends to respond to her), Daja is a metal crafter with an odd gift, and Briar is a former thief with a massive green thumb. These four are put into an impossible situation and the only way to save themselves and everyone else is to weave their magics together.

(The Circle Opens)

1. Magic Steps -
2. Street Magic –
3. Cold Fire -
4. Shatterglass -

Sadry, Triss, Daja, & Briar each have gone in different directions and have each discovered others with magic unlike any they have seen before and with their discovery they must now teach these new magicians in the ways of magic. Sandry discovers a dancer, Briar discovers a stone mage, Daja discovers two girls with ambient magic, and Triss discovers a glass blower with lightning magic not unlike her own. In each of these books there is some thing that they must defeat or get away from in order to save the day.

(Circle Reforged)

1. The Will of the Empress –
2. Melting Stones -

In Will of the Empress Triss, Briar, Sandry,  & Daja are reunited but things are not what they used to be and when Sandry’s uncle invites them to visit they have landed smack dab in a trap. Now they must find a way to work together again to save the day.

In Melting Stones Briar’s former student Evvy the stone mage must accompany Briar’s former teacher Rosethorn to an island that is having problems with dying plants and animals. When she realizes what is happening Evvy’s powers are the only thing that can help save lives.

(Short Story Collections)

1. Tortall & Other Lands  –
2. Young Warriors -

These story collection have stories that fill in gaps left between the other books. so if you fall in love with some of the characters you may find out more about what happened to them in the short stories.

   White Tiger (Graphic Novel) - need i say more?

Angie

Hannah

Pat

The moon shone blue on the still waters while Janet read her story.

Once upon a time Bob named a planet in the sky, but he argued with Sara about it.

Sarah thought the planet, which Bob named Goober, did not look like a “Goober.” She wanted the planet to be named Princess.

Princess was the name of her pet Gilla Monster. The planet was bulky, with landscape that looked like beaded reptile hide. She missed Princess now, seeing this planet.

She turned on her playback to see the last recording of Princess that showed her being covered with sand.

The moon disappeared as the sun came over the lake as one tear fell from Janet’s tired eyes.

What are you reading?

May

What college did you go to?

Associate from Waubonsee Community College

Bachelors from Aurora University

Masters from Dominican University

Why did you want to be a librarian?

Reading has always been a passion for me.   As a teen, I would devour books and when my mother told me to go outside for some fresh air; thinking that I would also expend some energy; I would take a blanket with the book that I was currently reading and sit under the maple tree to continue reading.  I also love being able to help people find materials and resources that they need for academic, business, or personal use.  I want to be able share same joy of reading and learning new things with others.

Who is your favorite author?

Anne McCaffrey

Jane Peart

Ann Rinaldi

Orson Scott Card

J.R.R. Tolkein

C.S Lewis

What is your favorite book?

Lord of the Rings

Chronicles of Narnia

Ender’s Game

Dragonriders of Pern

Brides of Montclaire series

How long have you been a librarian?

1 year, but I’ve worked at Aurora Public Library since 1995

What is your favorite movie?

Lord of the Rings

Anything with Brendan Fraiser

Any Mel Brooks’ movies

Indiana Jones

Back to the Future

Fantasia & Fantisia 2000

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Without a Clue

Do you have a favorite quote?

When the doorbell rings at three in the morning, it’s never good news.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horwitz

I’m not bad; I’m just drawn that way

Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit

What is your favorite word?

Fardles

Snicklefritz

What is your favorite piece of artwork?

Conversion of Saint Paul by Caravaggio

Starry Night by Van Gogh

Last Supper by Da Vinci

i spend a lot of my work day in the Teen Room, surrounded by all the thrilling books i wish i could just download into my brain (like in the book Feed). i’m not as fast a reader as Hannah.

here’s some random stuff about me:

i’ve been reading almost compulsively since i was taught how to. Fantasy, mystery, Science Fiction (especially post-apocalyptic style) are my three favorite genres (types). but i generally read anything put in front of me. Except maybe romance. it tends to stick in my craw. give me a car repair manual instead, plz.

i love being outside (more when it’s warm out).

i like to exercise, but haven’t really done it in several months.

i love the beach (any beach). my idea of that kind of fun is getting wet, lying in the sun with a book, drying out and falling asleep until i’m too hot, then going back in to cool off for the next segment of my book/nap.

i don’t like shopping,

i don’t usually watch movies.

i loooove animals. my favorite animal is the cat. i surround myself with them.

my boyfriend has traveled all over the world. he fed stray cats in France and Russia. (He loves cats too)

i have two WILD and beautiful teenage daughters, and one beautiful and assertive grand-daughter.

i’m from the Dirty South–Alabama.

i’ve dyed my hair every natural color possible, and used food coloring once to do a splotchy rainbow.

I had a mowhawk when i was 15.

i’ve fallen off several horses, sometimes at high speeds.

in the kitchen, my best friend is the espresso maker. my second best friend is the microwave.

I can’t sing without hurting people’s ears.

 i like bringing books home to my kids and seeing them read them, then ask for more.

i make stupid, sometimes imcomprehensible, jokes. i love puns.

i wrecked the first car i ever owned running a red light, swerving ALL the way to the other side of the road then back, to finish in the front lawn of the local police station. I was late for my first ballet class that day.

i love chocolate.

I can get thirsty. VERY thirsty. VERY suddenly.

green is my favorite color.

i smell things. alot.  sometimes this makes other people feel weird.

i think the internet is the best thing since peanut butter, and like to imagine myself as a character in a Star Trek backstory.

i like how email has changed the way we type. like being able to leave out capitalizing the first word of every sentence.

Location: Main Library

Favorite Books (in no certain order): Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Graceling by Kristin Cashore, all books by Tamora Pierce, Tam Lin by Pamela Dean, all books by Marianne Curley, all books by Ally Carter, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Hero by Perry Moore, The China Garden by Liz Berry, Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card, Host & Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Horseback Riding, Fishing, Watching Movies, Bowling, Billiards, DDR (on game nights at the library when someone wants to see me fail at it), Shopping, Crafts, Skating, Dancing, Day Dreaming, & Playing Kingdom Hearts (1 &2).

25 Random Things:

1. I sometimes see the world through rose colored glasses (literally)
2. I am not originally from Illinois
3. My cat was deprived oxygen when she was little and to this day attempts to break down doors for no apparnet reason
4. I once dyed my hair purple
5. I have been called by many other names in my life (ex. Hannah Montana, Hannah Barbara, Hannah Banana, etc)
6. I achieved my life long dream when I turned 26 years old
7. I have very vivid dreams that make very little sense
8. I love making crafts, but have little time at home to do them
9. I used to have a horse
10. My parents got divorced when I was in Jr. High and are now happily married to other people
11. I can’t cook to save my life, but I love pizza
12. I sang in the choir in high school
13. I am addicted to Flair (If you don’t know what this is ask and I will tell you)
14. I never liked one-way streets until I moved to Aurora
15. I first heard of Aurora through the movie Wayne’s World
16. I love to listen to other people talk because I find out the most interesting things about how people interact and react
17. I love dressing up in costumes and seeing what other people decide to wear on Halloween. 
18. I normally have at least 2 YA books with me at any given time (if not more)
19. I miss wearing jeans every day
20. I hate having nothing to do, so I try to keep myself busy at all times
21. Email is my life line to everyone I know
22. Until recently I drove the same “hand me down” car that I drove when I first got my licence, but now I have my first Brand New Car!
23. If I start reading after 5pm I won’t put the book down until after 2am
24. I am a Chocoholic
25. Fruits Basket is my favorite Manga, but I always have to get the newest copy of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Comic Book