Frenzy of Noise

A Picture For Everything Random

2012-03-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Prepare for a random post--which is actually about good things! Mostly. I think

You know how sometimes people say really really really NICE things about you and you're not sure what to say? Because I've had that happen a couple times this week and I'm just so speechless by it. Because what do you say without it coming off as, "Why yes, I do know I am awesome!" If anyone thinks of an appropriate response, please share. Sometimes "thank you" doesn't seem like enough.

Despite this one randomly awful day on Wednesday, this week has pretty much rocked for me! I mean, like stupendously. Part of that is because of London and part because of friends and part because things I've been working so hard for are on the brink of becoming something else. Maybe. And I mean, I have awesome friends who have lots of exciting things happening--and excitement is contagious!! (Even when my arm is killing me.)

Did yall see that my girl Carrie Underwood released her new album cover AND single? No??? Well let me share!

She's so pretty.

Her new song is called "Good Girl" and I'm addicted! Here's a sneak peek, but you should (and must!!) go buy it.

Speaking of music anyone else been watching The Voice??? Love that show, yall. Love that show...And I enjoy looking at and listening to Adam Levine. As always. Geesh...so good.

He's so pretty.

I read a really really really REALLY awesome book ---Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. It comes out in June 2012 and it's this really amazing story of a marine who's come back home on leave, back to the life he left behind and how he has to fit again. It's beautifully written and underlined with humor. It has the most amazing male protagonist voice I've ever, ever read. You should check it out.

I am so excited for the final installment of THIS BOOK which comes out on Tuesday while I'm in London! And then Rachel Hawkins comes here and I'm so pumped to meet her. YAY.

Anyway, that's my random Friday morning update. Time seems to be standing still since I am London bound in only a few more hours! I don't leave until 9pm so help me pass the time by leaving other fun updates in the comments!!

Everyone have a lovely week!!!!

I go to London in ONE week!!

2012-03-02T08:22:00.000-05:00

You know, you dream about something for a long time and never really, truly believe that it will happen. You plan and think and hope and talk about doing it. I know my best friend from high school, Ashley, and I always talk about London. About how we're going to find a way around the law and move there, marry some hot dude with a British accent and live happily ever after.

Of course, I never really believed that--even when I talked and "planned" it. I'd never been to London--and really had/have no money to go--so it was always a talk. An idea. A dream.

Sometimes writing is like this. We have these big plans and ideas and dreams of writing a book, of getting an agent, of getting said book published. We work incredibly hard to write a novel. We dream and hope and think and talk about the future. We dream. We spend a lot of time dreaming, in fact.

London and publishing are the same in this regard. They're both the happily ever after with the hot British guy. But if there's one thing I've learned from writing--and from planning a trip to London--is that it's a lot more than just dreaming. It's doing. It's deciding and it's pursuing.

That's what I had to do.

I'm going on this!

See, I had this trip to London all planned with grad school. It was going to be awesome--full of shows and history and art. Glorious. But then I dropped out of grad school and saw my opportunity slipping away. So, what did I do? I made a decision. I decided I would go to London and I bought a plane ticket one unseasonably warm day in November. I decided and I did. I even found a friend to go with me so I didn't have to experience this thing I've always wanted alone--because things like dreams are better shared with someone else.

I was going to London, alone, and it would be totally awesome because I dreamed about this. But it was months away and it didn't matter really. We planned---kinda. We spent money and I felt it each time the cost increased and my savings account decreased.

My trip to London is risky. It was a risk financially, emotionally, mentally, and if I had to go alone like I planned, probably wouldn't have been the safest either. But I made a decision and I
made it happen and everything has been working out.

It's kinda incredible how much this whole thing is teaching me--and how it's reminiscent of writing. Writing is a risk. There's no "sure thing" in pursing this profession. But we have to do it because it's the dreaming, it's the hoping and thinking and talking that makes us want it.

Life is about taking risks. It's about making a decision and pursuing it. Life without those things? Pretty boring. We need to dream--about writing, about making movies, about going to far off countries--because the dreaming shows us where we want to be and the rest gets us there.

For me, my dreaming is leading me to London. I go to London in one week!! One week! I am so excited about this! It doesn't even feel real yet.

This is gonna be good. All of it. Whatever your dream is---pursue it. Maybe it will lead you to hot British guys. Maybe not. But if it's your dream, you'll definitely get some form of happily ever after. I just know it. Whatever you do--don't miss the moment.

"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake." - Marie B. Ray

Anyone have any recommendations of good London-area things to see or do? Touristy? Non-touristy? Book stores? Parks? Coffee shops? Ideas welcomed!!

SO MANY COVERS!

2012-02-24T18:04:00.000-05:00

Look at all these pretty things!! Click the cover to add to goodreads.

In Amerie's world, the eviliest of souls can escape from Hell and take up residence in human bodies. It's Amerie's job to send the 'Damned' back. But when her mentor, and mother, dies on the job, Amerie quits and falls off the map.

Until Marshall turns up offering her information on who killed her mother in exchange for her to begin hunting again. As Amerie focuses on revenge (and on winning Marshall's heart), Marshall focuses on deception, and his secret could be more dangerous to her than all of the Damned in the world combined.

A romantic sci-fi thriller about love and second chances.

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the pain meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become, and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives – an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school's most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off the from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn't scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

What do you guys think???

Life Update, with Jensen Ackles

2012-02-22T07:46:00.001-05:00

Life Update!! And I used Jensen Ackles to help tell this story, because--let's face it--he makes everything better.

Sorry, I've been scarce these last couple weeks. I have tendonitis in my right wrist--which SUCKS.

And I am hard at work sifting through the slush pile for Spencer Hill.

And doing critiques for CPs.

And just reading anything I can find.

And I'm going to London in 3 weeks---OMG.

So you know, I'm just here......unable to write, to post, to even type with my right hand. But you know what???

Life is pretty good.

Hopefully, I can write a post next week. Tell me what YOU are up to in the comments. (Or, you know, swoon over Jensen. Either way...)

Everyone have a nice week and remember:

All these gifs from http://reackles.tumblr.com/

Cover Reveal: Finn Finnegan

2012-02-17T00:30:00.000-05:00

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

What do you think of the cover??? I like the spot of blue in Finn's eyes and can't wait to read it!!

Interview with Jessica Spotswood

2012-02-09T07:41:00.000-05:00

I have the immense pleasure of interviewing the debut author Jessica Spotswood. Jessica's book, BORN WICKED, came out on Tuesday. It's a fantastic story about Cate Cahill and her sisters. The girls have a secret: they're witches. And it's the worst thing they can be for their kind are not tolerated. But what happens when their secret is revealed?

Note: it's WAY better than that. Just read the interview.

If you could be any item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Salmon tacos with fresh salsa & cilantro! They’re my favorite.

Tell us about your book in 6 words or less.

Witches & sisters & kissing!

Who are your two favorite characters in BW? What can you tell us about them in 5words or less?

Cate: stubborn, protective, loving sister

Finn: clever, brave, handsome bookseller

Did you have to research about anything in BW? What are some things you learned and how did they shape the novel? (if you can tell without spoiling)

One of Editor Amazing’s notes in my edit letter was to “ruffle my corsets” – to add more physical description of the settings and costumes. I did a lot of research into Victorian clothing and home décor, and also autumn gardens. I think the reading I did (and pictures I looked at) helped tremendously in making it a more lush, descriptive book.

What's one thing you want readers to know about BW if that's all they ever get to know?

It was really important to me to create a protagonist who is independent but also flawed, who means well but doesn’t always choose the right thing, whose mistakes have consequences – and who is loved anyway. I hope I’ve accomplished that with Cate.

What's the most surprising thing about the publishing process so far? The scariest? The most exciting?

The most surprising: how quickly everything happened after my book deal! It will be less than a year between BW going out on sub and seeing it on shelves.

The scariest: writing book two, my first sequel, under a four-month deadline. Second books are tricky, challenging beasts. But I hope it will be amazing!

The most exciting: hearing from readers who love Cate and Finn and Maura and Tess. It makes me so, so happy!

Thank you Jessica!!

BORN WICKED came out on Tuesday and is available everywhere. Watch this book trailer and I think it will convince you. I devoured this book. The world, the characters, the magic are all wonderfully delicious. And Finn? He's super awesome. I think everyone will find something to like about it.

Jessica will part of the Breathless Reads Tour. Check out this page for all the stops. You can also download samplers from all books here. OR you can read the first two chapters of BW here.

Buy the book: IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million
Add to your Goodreads shelf!
Connect with Jessica on twitter or on her blog.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

2012-02-06T08:33:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, I wrote this post where I kinda complained about the in-between. Mostly, I was frustrated with this new WIP I have, HOTBOYALICIOUS (not real title.) I had two really exciting opening chapters, some characters that I was really looking forward to writing, and this amazingly-developed mythos. The only thing I didn't have? The next chapter.

And I've been stuck here since Christmas! I talked to writer friends about it. Took on a few different approaches to find out the next chapter. Took some time away. Tried to work on different project. Nothing worked. Then I figured out that I didn't really have a plot---which prompted the post on Thursday.

It's depressing when you realize you have all the elements to tell a story, except what's the most important piece. It sucks. And my best friend Patricia and I spent all of our daily hour phone call complaining about being stuck. (Because she was in the same place I was.)

What a difference a day makes!

I don't know what happened. I was sitting in my office, doing work on Friday (which is the busiest day all week!) and I had this idea. So I wrote it down. And then another, and I wrote that down. Something clicked and I had some more of this plot. Patricia and I spent two hours on the phone talking through mine--and hers, which fantastically took a positive turn while she battled a migrane Thursday night.

HOTBOYALICIOUS now has a plot.

Which is funny, because it was there all along but I was missing that one minor piece that would thread the whole story together. It's been a very exciting weekend--full of plotting, which I have never done for a whole novel before ever until now, and writing.

This story is different for me. My last book took so much time to perfect--and I love it--but Hotboyalicious is a whole new level for me. It's so much fun. I often have to stop myself from gigglefits in between writing scenes. My CP and my friend who are both reading, love my characters, too. That's a great feeling.

What a difference a day makes.

Seriously. If you're writing and you're stuck anywhere near where I was....just give it time. I promise you'll figure it out. Sometimes the story just needs to reveal something to you that you're missing. Be patient (which is so so so so so hard.) But in the end, so worth it.

In the meantime, I have a writing retreat next weekend and I'm going to spend it writing Hotboyalicious. And hopefully, containing my giggles so other people don't stare at me.

An Undetermined Alice's Story of Paths and Writing and Nutella

2012-02-02T09:24:00.002-05:00

Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don’t much care where--" said Alice.
"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you’re sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

-Alice in Wonderland

I'm one of those people who practically live this quote. I'm not one who often knows where I want to go, let alone how to get there or what to expect next or even what I want to get out of where I'm going. I move from city to city as the wind blows, yet I love things to be scheduled and certain. I hate not knowing what to expect, yet I love surprises and dislike the sameness of life.

I'm a complete contradiction.

And that's fine. After twenty-four years, I'm used to it. I run when I should rest. I rest when I should run. I dream and think and wonder and then get frustrated for dreaming and thinking and wondering. I think that's why it's so easy for me to live this quote. I'm an undecided Alice who doesn't know up from down.

The only thing in my life (once I figured it out) that I didn't want to run from, that I wasn't uncertain about, that I knew the correct way to go, be it right or left or sideways, was (and is) writing.

I'm someone who loves a lot of things passionately. AIDS work, South Africa, Doctor Who, Supernatural (all tv, really), books, my friends, Nutella. (That stuff is CRACK!) But there's nothing I love more than writing--even on the days when I'm exhausted and frustrated and tired of trying so damn hard. Even when, like now, I'm faced with the in-between of starting something new (and being mostly unable to do so), of trying to move on from finishing something else, and of thinking about the future without thinking to much about the future. It's a tough place to be, but I still love writing.

Right now, I'm knee deep in two things. First, I'm writing a query. Which is awesome, in that I-wanna-vomit-now way. I've written queries before. I've helped write many, many queries and enjoyed it. But it's so hard writing your own query. And it's so hard balancing the anxiety of "what could happen if" and "where I am now" and "here's this new idea, let's write it, but oh, wait my brain is just TIRED."

Second, I'm writing a new WIP. Well, honestly, I'm not. Honestly, I'm staring at this amazing cast of characters, this mythos that I kinda love and this one teensy plot thread that makes me very excited...but I'm writing nothing. I can't figure out the missing piece and I can't decide how to tell the ones I know because without the missing one, the other pieces aren't complete. It's a whole cycle of give and take, I guess. So, instead of writing, I just brainstorm and brainstorm and brainstorm and try to figure out why I can't write it.

That's more exhausting than actually writing.

I know it's part of the in-between--and I'm not complaining. I've always been in this place. My whole life. This in-between. (Seriously, this is not a lie. I am that person who's always on the brink of something that could be fantastic who gets knocked off before anything happens. All. My. Life. I'm used to it.) But some days, I WANT to not be here anymore. Some days, I'd like to cross over. I'd like to know which way I need to go and where I even want to go.

The hard part about that? The only place I want to go is a place that ends and begins with writing. And, aside from actually writing the story, I have no control over whether or not I will get there.

And I'm okay with that.

I am an undetermined Alice. Because as much I say it's okay, a huge part of me wants to delete that sentence! Sometimes it's not okay. Sometimes it sucks A LOT. But ultimately I get to do what I love to do. I get to dream and imagine and hope. That's kinda awesome.

Do I want to be on the big path so I can reach my dreams some day? Yes. But for now, I can't control the big path. But there are a few things I can do right now. What are they, you ask? Well....

Kitteh likes Nutella too! :)

First, I will dominate this effing query letter and make it rue the day it tried to cross me. Muahahahha!

Then, I will try to write this story with the characters I love and the plot line. Maybe it will figure itself out as I go. And if not, then I can put it on hold and work on something else. Ideas have a pretty great shelf life.

I will work on edits for my internship. I will go to the gym. I will enjoy the discussions at this weekend's Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale Conference. I will watch The Vampire Diaries. And I will eat some Nutella.

And I'm REALLY, REALLY okay with all of that.

Sometimes You Write a Book. Again.

2012-01-30T09:23:00.004-05:00

Sometimes you write a book...and then you revise a book...and rewrite a book...and rewrite it again. And hope, that in the end, it turns out to be something fantastic.

I said that in this post back in July, and guys, I had NO IDEA what I was getting into.

It's funny. You think you have it all figured out. You know what your story is and where it needs to go and how to tell it. You have a plan for the days, weeks, months it will take to get an agent and sell and have all the things you've been too scared to dream about at your fingertips.

But what you don't account for?

Sometimes it takes longer. Sometimes you have to stop, to re-evaluate your novel, to get to know your characters, to be vulnerable and say that maybe--just maybe--you don't know what needs to happen next. You need to ask for help and listen to it. You need to trust.

Sometimes, too, you don't account that this book will take you an incredible amount of time. And...well....seven rewrites.

That's where I've been.

It's crazy. Seven rewrites?! Like, change the structure or the motivation or the plot thread that ties the whole book together rewrites. Major things. You never think that could happen, but then it does. And in the midst of it, I found myself feeling like I would never get it where it needed to be. I wondered WHY I kept trying to tell this story. Why I couldn't figure it out. Why I cared so much.

But that's the thing. We have to care. We have to want to tell the story. Otherwise, why are we trying this? Anyone can slap a mediocre, cliche-filled, commercial story on pages and call it a book. But to tell the story we want to tell, we have to care about it.

Some days, I felt like I cared too much. Other days, not enough.

I wanted to quit. To stamp it done anyway because I couldn't anymore.

But I never did.

I kept telling the story. I kept fixing it. I kept loving it and caring and analyzing and admitting when I was stuck or scared or frustrated. I'd take breaks, like a few months ago in November/December where all I did was watch TV. But I did it. I wrote.

And seven drafts later, I can look back on that post I wrote in July and know I was right.

Sometimes you write a book...and then you revise a book...and rewrite a book...and rewrite it again. And hope, that in the end, it turns out to be something fantastic.

Because lovelies, it is. I've never been this proud of anything I've written. I love this story and the journey we've been on together. Perseverance? It's a good thing.

On 'Shameless', On Writing

2012-01-26T07:27:00.000-05:00

The best acting [comes when] you do it as if this is the last scene. There is no scene that follows. I've always thought that notion of 'You need to know where you're going' is a misnomer. I think better to not know where where you're going, and television is the perfect grounds for that. Just do this scene and then see where it goes. See where they write you next.

Can I say how much I love this quote? I mean, seriously. William H. Macy is so insightful and I don't think he means to be.

In this interview, he's talking about his new show Shameless. (Season 2 has just started so this is an older interview.) Shameless is a show that my friend Marianna introduced me to--and I love it. It's about the dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a single father of six children. While he spends his days drunk, his kids learn to take care of themselves. It's full of intense, unsuspecting, wonderfully developed characters and a story that you can't really predict. Honestly, I don't really want to.

Anyway, in cast interviews all the actors speak of the writing. Of how they don't FULLY know their characters because as they go along more things are revealed. Justin Chatwin (Steve) even says in one interview that he acted the character one way for a reason and then learned the REAL reason and had to figure out how to connect the two things. Because he wasn't who he expected to be.

This is great writing.

Why? Because we're telling someone else's story when we write. Even if you know a character, how much do you really know? Do you know every single detail of his or her life? Do you? Because I don't think I do. I know what he or she wants to me know. I know what I need to know in order to tell the story. My characters rarely tell me everything. They like to surprise me in the best ways possible.

That's why I like William H. Macy's quote. Let's just tweak it so it applies to WRITING someone's story, instead of acting.

The best writing [comes when] you do it as if this is the last scene. There is no scene that follows. I've always thought that notion of 'You need to know where you're going' is a misnomer. I think better to not know where where you're going, and each chapter is the perfect grounds for that. Just do this scene and then see where it goes. See where the characters write you next.

Even if I didn't change those words, I still think this is solid advice. Since I am more of a pantser, it's just affirmation that you CAN write as you go and tell a remarkable story. You can know the basics of a character or a story and that can lead you. Sometimes it's overwhelming because the reasons you think a character did something may end up not being the real reason--and then you have to figure out what to tweak and move and how to explain away the first reaction. However, this is the thing that makes our characters more relateable: We don't always know the REAL reason for our actions. I believe our characters are the same.

I'm currently on this "I want great characters" kick in my television. Shameless is another prime example of a show that does characters--as well as story!--really well. I'm invested in all of them. It's a great study for a writer to figure out how and why characters work. And if you're like me and love TV, then it's even better. I think TV shows have some of the best developed characters.

If you're in the mood for a gritty, oddly humorous show with great actors, characters and writing--and you don't mind a little rated-R ness in your show--then you should check out Shameless. (I should add that it does contain issues of addiction and sex, so it's not for everyone. You should consult ratings, etc if you're someone who doesn't like that stuff before you watch it.)

Whether you watch it or not, remember what William H. Macy says. "Just do this scene and then see where it goes." Characters are leading, and we're all just following along. Mostly.

What are some characters that you love? Can you tell me why??

Secondary Characters: What makes them?

2012-01-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

Top of your head....someone says, "Make a list of "great" secondary characters" who do you think of? (You really can make a list. I did.) Here's a few from my list, which includes TV and books.

Hagrid (Harry Potter)
Finnick (Hunger Games)
Bobby (Supernatural)
Alice (Twilight)
Mickey Smith (Doctor Who)
Matt (The Vampire Diaries)
Magnus Bane (Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices)
Ethel (Downton Abbey)

Each of these characters are very different, but they all serve the same purpose. Let's make a list of what some of those common threads are. (You could even, if you wanted, make an individual list for each character.) I'm only going to use a few here too.

Bring some sort of conflict to the story

Maybe this "conflict" is personal within the character's own arc. Maybe it's in direct opposition of the protagonist. Maybe it's more that it's a past reflection of the protagonist. Perhaps this character knows something that the protagonist doesn't or knows how to get what's needed. Whatever the purpose, a secondary character usually brings conflict. My main thought on this that every character is a person with his or her own wants and desires, and since he/she is a person, he/she is flawed to some degree/has something to offer--be that good or bad.

Offer support for protagonist

How does a secondary character add conflict and support? Well, two ways. One, there can be just a character who is conflict (antagonist) and one who is support. BUT even an antagonist needs all these things I'm listing. Plus, whatever is happening, it's happening in support of the protagonist's story line. What does that mean? Well, if I used Voldemort as a great secondary character, he would still fall under all these points I'm listing here. He's clearly the antagonist, but he's adding conflict--which ultimately builds Harry's story. Without Voldemort, we wouldn't care about Harry Potter. Thus, he's offering support for the protagonist.

Have complexity

Can you always predict/understand what a secondary character is going to do? Like...take Finnick or Mickey Smith. Can anyone say they new (insert Finnick spoiler here) when he did it in Catching Fire? Or can anyone say they new Mickey was going to show up when he does and do what he does/how he does it? I don't think so. I think our characters should be complex enough to surprise us.

Have motivation beyond the main character's goals

Again, this ties into above where he/she is her own person. This can add to the subplots and conflict and push the story in new directions, but I think it all needs to be very clear.

Have their own story arc

This is the most important piece of all this. Every character must have a story arc. If all the things before this point are reached, then the arc builds itself. But if there is no arc for a character, then why does the character exist? What's the purpose? Does he/she need to be in your story? Because if they're not adding anything to move the story along (which is what arc does) then why are they there?

One of penultimate examples in TV. Each one: story arc.

This is not, in any way, all encompassing. And honestly, I know I'm not the only person who talks about this. In fact, check out these three posts about secondary characters: 1) how they add depth to protagonist 2) how they add to a story and 3) 3 questions to ask a secondary character. Characters are something I'm learning more about while I'm watching all the TV and revising a novel.

Characters matter. Everyone from Harry Potter to Voldemort to Bellatrix to Mrs. Norris (the cat). Make sure you're using them effectively.

Did you make a list? Who are some other secondary characters you've come up with? Do they (or the ones that you're writing) follow these "guidelines"? What are some other things that make great secondary characters?

What Makes a GREAT Character?

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

Like I've said before, I've been watching a lot of TV shows lately. Whole multiple shows/seasons just devoured since Thanksgiving. When I talk to people about the shows (mostly, Jenn who's watching them all too) I find myself saying things like: "The show is well-casted" or "The characters are so developed and intriguing." After saying that about five times in a week, it got me thinking.

What is about these characters that make me love the show? And how can I take these principles and apply them to MY characters?

Everyone has an opinion on what makes a good character. I have opinions too--but is there some kind of over-arching thing that makes a character (or cast of characters) stronger than others? Are there things we should look for in our characters? And how do you discover the things that make a character stick out in your mind?

From DOWNTON ABBEY. Some of the best characters EVER.

Well, I googled. I wanted to find out what other people thought about characters. I also asked some friends, put out a twitter poll, and googled some more. I made a list of some characters that sprung to mind from shows, and found that my favorites share consist similarities:

They have more going on that you know at first sight.
They have to fight for something.
Are passionate.
Are layered with hidden desires, passions and secrets.
They have to step out of the thing they know and search for something they love.
They surprise you.
They have this edge to them. (Sometimes it's humor, violence, sarcasm, smarts...depends on the character.)
It's easy to root for them, to be disappointed or to be angry. Whatever the emotion, it's easy and it's all acceptable.

Those are just a few things I noticed. And in my googling, I found this utterly fantastic list on this blog. You should check it out for further information. I really liked the 13 points it makes about creating compelling characters.

Make a character exceptional at something.
Make the character care about someone other than herself.
Make your good characters do bad things and bad characters do good things.
Give your character a unique voice.
Give your character a life that bleeds beyond the page.
Give your character a passion.
Give your character an obsession.
Know your character’s psychic wound.
Give your character an attitude. Understand how your character relates to other people.
Know what your character wants the most.
Know what your character fears the most.
Think about how your character’s appearance impacts his/her life and personality.
Give your character some ‘blind spots’.

I found interesting that I tried to answer all these questions for some of the characters I know in shows that I watch. It was a lot easier to answer them based on TV characters rather than novel characters. I'm not sure why that it is.

I've recently starting trying to write out an answer for each of these for all my major characters. For my minor and secondary characters, I think there are less things to answer, though equally important, and I will post some thoughts on that tomorrow.

What do you guys think: What makes a great character? Are there similiarities in the characters you like?

If you're a reader: what do you look for?

If you're a writer: Do you agree to this list and would you add to it? Can you answer these for your own character?

Fictional Reality: The Things We Love Connect Us

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

I'm an obsessive person. I can read a book in a 3-4 hours if I sit and don't move. I can also watch a whole season of a show in 2 days. I've done it before. Once, I even watched 5 seasons of a show in a week. I know. I have issues. But I do it with books too. I can't handle the not knowing!

I love escaping.

I love living life too, that should be said.

But there's something about jumping into another world and another person's life--which is never how mine will be, good or bad, supernatural or not--and escaping. The characters, their dramas, battles, friends, problems, worlds. I love it all, whether in book form or in video form.

These stories give us a way to connect. And I don't mean with the fictional; I mean with real life.

When you read a book and meet someone else who's read that book, the door opens for conversation and recommendations of other great books. That's why we have book blogs--so we can talk about books we love. To start conversations. To build friendships with people who have common interests. TV shows do the same thing! You meet someone else who likes Doctor Who or Supernatural or The Vampire Diaries and you're connected. The things we love bring us together. This fictional reality offers us something else--something real--to stand on in our day-to-day lives.

I can't begin to tell you how many people I have become friends with because of books or television. I also can't tell you how many times I've read or seen something that completely destroyed me because I connected to it. (Examples: The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney and the movie Remember Me. Still can't watch that one again.) I think people underestimate the power of fictional reality.

There were studies done when I was a teenager about the effect that certain shows, songs, video games had on us. Did killing people in games make us more violent? Do shows we watch change our attitudes? Do I think watching lots of True Blood non-stop makes me say the F-word a lot more than normal? Yes, I do. The fictional reality of books, tv, etc. do effect us. That effect can be good or bad--depending on how we use it.

Me? I'm obsessive. I love books. I love TV--I could stay up all night watching shows. I have before. I love my friends. I love Tumblr where I get to re-live my favorite fandom moments.I love meeting people who like what I like. I like escaping for hours at a time. I think it's good to have a way to do that. Right now, for me, that's been TV. I've watched so much of it since November. So much. I can't tell you out of shame. Likewise, I have not read many books. (Addendum: I just read The Fault in Our Stars on Saturday. Brilliance.)

Why am I telling you this?

The things we love connect us. To each other. To new people. To new ideas. And even, to other things we love. I've learned A LOT about writing from watching shows. Seriously. It's incredible how much you can learn from a well-crafted show.

I've been thinking about what I want Frenzy to be now that I'm shifting focus from book reviews. The answer for that is still: I have no idea. But I know that I'm going to talk about shows. I want to talk about what writers can learn from watching shows. About characters and plot and voice. Whenever I get an idea, I will share it. Because the things we love connect us to other things we love.

And honestly, in everything we do, we should be looking for a lesson. Especially if you're a writer. Especially if you love fictional reality as much as I do. I need some reason to justify all the things I watch. Seriously. Two weeks ago, (it was a 3 day weekend) I watched all of Nikita (and loved it!) and Shameless (US version...but only a few episodes at the time), two episodes of Sherlock and watched part one of Neverland, which was released by SyFy last month. (A LOT of TV. And that's only a three-day weekend's worth. Heh.) Right now, I'm trying to read more. Hopefully that goes well---but man, I love television.

What are some things you've been watching (or reading)? Have any recommendations for me?

*PS: I may have made up the term 'fictional reality' so I'm not sure it makes sense. But I hope so!*

Multi-character Interview: Bittersweet from Sarah Ockler

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah Ockler has a new book coming out TODAY. I'm a fan of Sarah's work and enjoyed her first two books (check out my review for Fixing Delilah from earlier this year). Her new novel is called Bittersweet and I can't wait to read it. Check out this description from Sarah's website:

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….

What's not to love? I mean, it's got hot hockey boys...and cupcakes! Anyway, I got to ask some questions to her characters--and a bunch of them took turns answering them.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to make sure you had with you?

Dani, Hudson’s BFF, says:

1) My best friend Hudson, for sure. Ah, assuming I can tear her away from her hot little hockey boys. 2) My Nikon, just in case Hudson decides to bring any of her hot little hockey boys on our desert island adventure. 3) An unlimited supply of Trick’s corned beef hash. Party? I think so!

What's your favorite kind of cupcake?

Earl, the Hurley’s diner regular says:

Cupcakes? What’s the point of cupcakes? Can’t dunk ‘em in my coffee. Can’t eat ‘em straight ‘cause they stick to my dentures. But that Hudson sure looks like she knows her way around a frosting gun, so try a few yourself and let me know what you think.

How do you take your coffee---black and bitter or sugary sweet?

Hudson says:

I like my coffee like I like my hockey boys. Hot, strong, and just a little sweet. ;-)

Do you remember the first time you were on the ice? Can you tell us about it?

Octogenarian and Olympic Gold medaling figure skating coach Lola Capriani says:

Hey greenblades, did you drag my ass outta bed this morning to jaw-jack, or do you wanna learn something over here? Stop flappin’ those gums and start movin’ those skates! Show me that triple flip, or I’ll give you somethin’ to cry about!

What's one thing you've always wanted to do and why? Do you think you ever will?

Mr. Napkins the hamster says:

I’ve always wanted to try Match.com. Don’t get me wrong… me and Bug? We got a pretty good thing goin’ over here. But sometimes I can’t help but daydream about special hamster lady, settling down, having a few hundred kids. But… sigh. Match.com is a pipe dream. My arms aren’t long enough to reach the keyboard. Genetics. What can you do? Hey, you gonna eat that bacon?

What are you most afraid of?

Shelvis, the female Elvis impersonator who has somehow achieved “soul mate” status with Hudson’s father, says:

Wardrobe malfunction at the Flamingo. These babies don’t stay tucked in on their own, know what I mean? Uh, thank you. Thank you very much.

Describe your perfect day.

Bug, Hudson’s little brother, says:

First I’d invent a time machine. Then, I go back to the 1800s to observe the Civil War, skipping around to catch all the battles, and I’d take lots of pictures and videos and stuff, from all the best angles. Then I’d come back to Watonka. Eat some breakfast with Mrs. Ferris. Change out Mr. Napkins’ water bottle. Sneak one of my sister’s leftover cupcakes. Then I’d review my notes and finish my Civil War model, and it will be the best model ever, because I was totally there. Then I destroy the time machine so no one finds out how I got the war stuff to look so authentic. Then my sister would come home from work and she’d be so amazed that she’d let me stay up late with her and eat even more cupcakes and we wouldn’t tell my mom. Holy cannoli, you guys. That would be the best day ever!

Anything else you want to tell us about you?

Trick, the Hurley’s diner cook, says:

Dani’s a smart girl, and I do make a pretty mean corned beef hash.

BITTERSWEET comes out today!! Get it online at Amazon or B&N or stop by your local indie store and pick up a copy.

HUSHED blog tour: interview with Kelley York

2011-12-04T00:30:00.000-05:00

Today on Tangled we get to be part of the HUSHED blog tour from Entangled Publishing and the lovely Kelley York. Since it was originally supposed to be here, I put a copy up in both places. You can check out a complete list of tour stops by clicking on that banner above. We asked Kelley some questions about writing, about characters and about this that book that everyone is raving out about....

You say in your bio (below) that you have an abundance of pets. What pets do you have? What's your dream pet?

I have three cats (Noel, Irish, and Quinn), three rats (Gin, Grimmy, and Noah), two hamsters (Exquisite and Hope), and more recently we’ve added a bunny to the mix named Pattie. If I could have any animal in the world...I’d probably want something like a wolf or a fox. (Have you ever seen foxes playing?! THEY ARE SO CUTE.) Obviously those kinds of animals aren’t made for living in captivity, though. Realistically speaking, I want a dog. Some kind of big, lovable mutt.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why/how does that approach help/hurt you?
I’m definitely a panster with very little plotting. I tried desperately to plot my last book from beginning to end, and it made things a lot harder for me, trying to conform to what I’d written in my outline. My characters often take their own routes and do things I wasn’t expecting them to do and ideas come to me as I write. I never know what it’s going to be until I’m done with it.

Which aspect of craft is your weakest and how do you overcome that?

Anytime I’ve noticed a particular problem in my writing, I actively work on fixing it. I used to info-dump a lot in my opening chapters, and I think I’ve overcome that. It’s always a struggle for me to describe things. I don’t think my writing is very poetic when it comes to talking about settings, so I fumble with that a lot. Action scenes (fights, mainly) are terrifying to me and I’m terrible at them. It takes a lot of work and combing over it again and again to get it right.

What scenes do you get most excited about writing? What scenes are the hardest for you?

I love the emotionally-charged scenes. Evan and Archer’s ‘just bones’ talk is probably one of my favorites in HUSHED. Drama! Heartbreak! Deception! I like those sorts of scenes.

Was there any music that inspired HUSHED?

There was indeed music. I actually made up a whole playlist of the main songs I listened to and posted it on my blog awhile back. “What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie is always the first one that comes to mind for a very particular scene.

What are some the best kinds of characters to read? How do you enjoy seeing them develop? How does that translate into your own writing and characters?
I love the tragic, emotionally/mentally broken characters. I’m thinking of Cole from Maggie Stiefvater’s SHIVER series is one of my favorites of that variety. He was probably the most complex and interesting character in the entire trilogy. I like picking apart characters. When someone has that kind of emotional or psychological damage, it’s sort of like this barrier keeping them from living a normal life. I enjoy watching (or writing) those characters figuring out their own way of living life without the damage controlling them.

Describe HUSHED in 6 words or less.

A dark, manipulative and twisty thriller.

How did HUSHED develop?

It started with Archer. He was the first character and I had a vague idea of him, then along came Vivian, and Evan followed. I started writing with little idea of what I wanted to do and where I wanted the story to go, and let the characters bounce off each other. Chain reaction. I don’t feel I should have to throw obstacles at them and watch them react; they needed to build their own momentum.

Did you do any research HUSHED? If so, what are some things that you pulled from?

I did some research on the various murders. Overdosing, corpses left for a few weeks, gas leaks, etc. I went through forums and websites for my answers, wanting to make sure I found several places that said the same thing rather than relying on any single source.

Every review we've read of HUSHED always references the intense relationship between Viv and Evan and Archer. Was that something you planned or did it just happen?

It sort of just happened. I never plan much before writing, so everything that happens is a product of the characters running off on their own. Evan and Archer, in the original vague idea I had for HUSHED, weren’t even meant to end up together...but we see how well that worked out.

What's one thing you want people to know about HUSHED if that's all they ever learn?

We might not be able to control some of the damaging events in our lives. What we can control is how we react to it.

Author Bio: Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a fascination with bells, adores all things furry - be them squeaky, barky or meow-y - is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she's a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid. Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers, paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character development takes center stage.

Kelley's website: http://www.kelley-york.com/blog

About HUSHED:

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Buy the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

'Kelley York delivers in this impressive debut. I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next! Bottom line, this was unputdownable!!! ~YA Fantasy Guide

'How exciting that we live in a time when gay teen protagonists can be just as screwed up as straight ones -- and their stories just as creepy!' ~Brent Hartinger, award-winning, author of Geography Club and Shadow Walkers

In Which I Pick Writing & Frenzy Changes Focus

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, my friend Cindy and I were having a great conversation. I was talking about blogging and how much I loved it--but how I'm so far behind that it's hard to catch up. I don't have time to read all the books I need to read or want to read after I get home from work. All I want to do is write--and when it comes to reading something or writing something.....writing time will always win.

She said the most profound thing to me. Simple but true. She said: "You're at the point in your life where you have to decide what you want to be known for: do you want to be a book blogger or a writer? It's too hard to be both."

And in that moment I knew she was right. So I had to step up and make a decision. It hasn't been an easy decision, but I know it's the right one. (I almost put the WRITE one. I like puns.)

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE. Sometimes we have to move on, and that may suck, but it's true. Sometimes we start a journey one way and then a few miles down the road we're going somewhere different. That's part of the adventure. Life is an adventure and we have to figure it out as we go or what's the point?

My life has definitely changed a lot in the last few months. If you remember back in March, I wrote this post about my life before reading felt like homework.

"I started this blog because I wanted to share a) my writing life, which I don't do as much as I'd planned b) I have all these books in my head and all these thoughts with no one to tell and I needed an outlet (my head is crowded enough!) c) maybe someone would read about a book I loved or something I'm dealing with in my writing and learn or connect or discover something new. That was why I started a blog. This was never going to be a book blog.

But it is. Of course it is! I'm a writer, a bookseller, a reader--it's my life. And that's okay. I have to read incredible amounts of books and live a life surrounded by words, so I don't mind. In fact, I love it."

And I did: love words, love blogging about books, love spending hours reading because I had so much time that I could do all those things!

BUT THEN THINGS CHANGED. Now I don't have as much time. I'm not a bookseller anymore. I've got a new "identity" and my life isn't books and words and stories. Well, it is, it's just a different way. Now I write a lot more. I fight for things I love. I try new things.

To bring in the new, Frenzy won't be book blog anymore; it will be...something else. I swear, this blog is the epitome of an identity crisis. Seriously. But it is my blog, and this too I am. Time to put on a new face and a new purpose. I'm really excited about it.

So what will Frenzy of Noise be now?

I don't know! Isn't that exciting?!? I'll be talking about writing and life and all the things in between. It will be an adventure. I want to share it with you, if you want to be part of it. Plus, if you hang out, you may get to be part of all the new things I get to experience. And I definitely don't know what those are yet!

On the plus side, there are tons of fantastic YA Book Blogs out there--like Epic Book Adventures that my lovely blog partner started up just a couple weeks ago! There are others--many more--so I'm sure I won't be missed. Plus, I mean, I'm around. Being snarky and inspirational and whatever all over Twitter and Tangled Up In Words and (eventually) back here on Frenzy.

SEE YOU IN 2012! With a new year. A new blog design. A new purpose. Gah, I love adventures!!!

I hope you do too. And those of you who adventure with me---see you then.

Where Life Is

2011-11-22T07:27:00.001-05:00

There's this balance that should exist between where life is and where life isn't and where you want life to be.

Where life is.

I went on goodreads today and saw that I was only 76 books toward my 100, my heart dropped a little. That's more than I read last year, but I started out doing so well. I really wanted to reach 100. But with only a month remaining in 2011 (CRAZY!) and a novel that needs finishing and a lot of things happening between now and New Year's, it's probably not going to happen.

Life is busy. Not that I am alone in that. I'm not. But between work and writing. Between roommates and friends. Between hours of Dean and Sam Winchester calling to me and time spent with Prince Charming and a creepy horror house. Between the desire to read all the things and sleep. Between blogging ideas and story ideas. Between Tumblr and Twitter and survival. There is me, trying to do it all, trying to prepare and decide and save.

That's where life is for me.

It's so close to everything, but just far enough away that I can't reach it. I'm not saying that's a bad place to be. It simply is where I am. I'm experiencing this shift in passions. It's a little jarring how things are changing in the midst of all the things.

Where life isn't.

Here.

Honestly, I'm at this crossroads right now, where I know the decision I need to make--where I've pretty much already made a decision--but now it's finding the best time to implement the decision. Does that make sense?

It's like knowing you need to pull over the car, you need to turn around, but it's a one lane road uphill at nighttime and you can't do it. Or there's a median and you can't make a u-turn. That's how I feel sometimes. Like I'm just waiting for an opportunity. For something to happen or not to happen. For the chance to pull over. But then you've gone so far that you don't even know how to pull over anymore. Or you can't remember what direction you needed to go in once you did pull over. And how do you figure it out?

I don't know if that makes sense. Maybe it's just an analogy that lives in my head so it makes sense to me.

I really do love my life. I love most of the things I'm doing--and I'm doing them well. I have great friends. But there are a few things that seem off. A few things I can't seem to escape or stop or find a way out of because I have a line-up of commitments that I can't cancel at this point. It puts a damper on turning around, on quitting them.

Life, in these situations, isn't where I want it to be. And I'm just driving the car, waiting for the best opportunities so I can change them.

Where I want life to be.

I don't know the answer to this.

Where do I want life to be? I was talking my roommate Derrick about what I want. A life plan, I called it. I don't really make life plans. Life isn't something you can plan. But I think I have a plan. I want three things.

To be somewhere I love. Doing something I love. With good people I love.

In some aspects I have all this. I guess you could configure all of them to be realities. Because they are.

But then I think about where life isn't. I think about the things I don't want anymore and how I can't escape them. And I get bogged down. I get overwhelmed. I want to quit driving, quit trying to find a place to turn around, and see what happens. But I can't do that. I'm not that person.

The balance.

I don't really know the point of this post. I guess sometimes you just need to share what you're feeling and see if there's anyone out there who understands.

I'm not complaining. I'm just...pensive. Life is ours to live. We should live it.

Part of this about writing, probably as much as my life. I'm in that place in my WIP where something needs to happen. Where these next 10k really, really push my book in one way or in another. That's a hard and overwhelming place because you're looking at all the options, at all the possibilities and the way it could play out. You're fighting all the shiny new ideas and pushing through. Because you know, once you pass this 10k, things will fall into place. You get to end it all.

But the in-between. That's a tough place. It's go time. It's now or never time. It's the point where everything hangs in the balance and you have to choose. You have to choose. To act. To do. And sure, you can go back and change things, but you know everything affects everything else.

Writing is a balancing game. Life is a balancing game.

Hope and desire and hard work is a balancing game.

Everything is or isn't or could be.

Exciting. Scary.

Balanced.

Epic Book Adventures

2011-11-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

So, as you all know I have had help with Frenzy these few months from the lovely Nicole. I've gotten to know her and she's been just brilliant to have around. Her excitement for books and the blogging world is contagious. Now, she's ready to start her own path.

She's starting up this blog over at Epic Book Adventures.

You should go follow her. Her blog is going to be awesome. It's off to a great start and I hope all of you go follow her.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

2011-11-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Poppy
Date: January 2, 2012
Series or Standalone:
ISBN: 978-0316122382
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Source: borrowed from friend (BEA)

Rating: A+
First line: There are so many ways it could have all turned out differently.

You know how sometimes we (we readers) complain that there aren’t enough cute, funny, awesome, make-my-heart-race romantic YA books out? I’m talking the kind that make you wait for it and root for it and then reward you with this moment of epicness only to leave you guessing again? I think people started to listen. At least, Jennifer Smith did because The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is absolutely THAT.

This story all starts when Hadley Sullivan misses her flight to England (for her dad’s wedding) by four minutes. She’s re-booked on the next flight out, a few hours later, and that’s when she meets Oliver. The two are seated next to each other on the plane ride to England and so starts the story. (Now, I realize that description is lacking but I can’t tell you.)

Know that this review is so hard because I adored this book. I adored everything about it. I smiled from page one all the way to the end. It was funny, cute, a perfect blend of swoon and sadness and family dynamics. Every single character was rounded and relatable and really propelled the story forward. Smith did a fantastic job at weaving in these little twists and building the story around these moments. The way the story is revealed in some sort of masterpiece on all it’s own. The whole thing takes place over 24 hours.

Hadley is a great character. She’s flawed and sweet and a little lost. The whole story happens because her dad is getting married. As the story goes along, we learn about their relationship and why this wedding is a big deal. There’s this huge space between Hadley and her father that creates a lot of tension. Sometimes in books like this (these awesome cutesy ones) the drama stories get pushed to the side or glossed over. But here, Smith really tackles and breaks and re-builds this huge aspect of the story and of Hadley’s life. I was really impressed with that.

Obviously, too, this is a love story. And for good reason! His name is Oliver. Sigh. He’s British. He’s smart and funny. He’s sarcastic and real and so cute. I love him. I was saving him for the end because I have no idea what to say about him. Or what to say about the love story part—aside from sighs and awws. So I will say nothing.

I will say nothing except GO BUY THIS BOOK. You will not regret it, as it is happy and cute and will at the very least make you feel gooey inside.

And Oliver, Oliver is great. He's my favorite Oliver yet! But don’t take my word for it. Here's a fun moment for you to swoon over..

“What’s your favorite animal?”
“The American Eagle.”
She laughs. “I don’t believe you.”
“Me?” he asks bringing a hand to his heart. “Is it wrong to love an animal that also happens to be a symbol of freedom?”
“Now you’re just making fun of me.”
“Maybe a little,” he says with a grin. “But is it working?”
“What, me getting closer to muzzling you?”
“No,” he says quietly. “Me distracting you.”
“From what?”
“Your claustrophobia.”
She smiles at him gratefully. “A little,” she says. “Though it’s not as bad until we’re up in the air.”
“How come?” he asks. “Plenty of wide open spaces up there.”
“But no escape route.”
“Ah,” he says, sighing dramatically. “I get that from girls a lot.”

(insert sigh and laughter here) :D The whole book is pretty much like that. I love snarky flirt action. I can't say enough about this book. If you're a fan of cutesy, snark and great characters, then you'll for sure like this one.

*all quotes from ARC form and subject to change in final

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Twitter ||| Library Thing

Waiting on Wednesday (9): Bewitching by Alex Flinn

2011-11-16T00:03:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Anyone can play along just tell us which book you are waiting to read.

"It is the story of Kendra and her first 300 or so years of life. In Bewitching, Kendra ponders whether to help out a modern day plain-looking stepsister, while also reflecting on her experiences in the 1666 British plague, the court of Louis XV, and on the Titanic." (Source: author's Facebook intro)

Release Date: February 14, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
goodreads

This sounds awesome, I like Beastly, but I always wanted to know more about Kendra, now I can! Can't wait for this one!

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Teggiari

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date: 2011
ISBN: 0545255635
Kind: Hardback, 344 pages
Source: For review

Rating: B-

I'm never one for "The End is near!" Books, but I really did like this one.

Lucy is living by herself in a park after smallpox, floods, and droughts have wiped out most of humanity. She runs into a guy named Aiden who tries to convince her to join him and this band of survivors. The group is terriorized by sweepers, who go around gathering people and are never seen again. They want Lucy and they'll stop at nothing to get her.

I like how Teggiari doesn't focus so much on the epidemic and end of the world as he does the story, it makes the whole book seem less political. Teggiari also did a great job at keeping the story up and going. There was never a part where I didn't want to keep reading.

I didn't see Lucy as her own person though, it was more like I was the one playing out these things which I guess is a big seller for the whole romance thing. If you take out the romance of the whole thing it'd be a pretty bad book. At times it seemed as if Lucy and Aiden's relationship was the only important thing. I guess if you're into the whole Romance thing you'd really like that but I'm always in it for a story before I am romance. Teggiari set up the usual love triangle with Del but I never really understood her and Aiden's relationships before Lucy came along. As far as the ending I woln't give anything away but I will say it was pretty predictable.

The book did have a lot of good things though. I love the drama, and how the characters reacted, and the bond Lucy formed with the survivors, and the whole world Tiggiari set this up in. This would be great for Junior High to Lower High school. I don't really see Upperclassmen or college grade people reading this.Again I'll say it was really enjoyable and I didn't want to put it down.

Get more info/pre-order:
|| Goodreads ||| Other Places to Order |||
||| Amazon ||| Author's Website ||

And Then Things Fall Apart by Adrianna Tibensky

2011-11-11T08:38:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date: July 26, 2011
Series or Standalone: Standalone
ISBN: 978-1442413238
Format: Paperback, 272 pages
Source: for review

Rating: C
First line: I once watched a collector kill a monarch butterfly on a nature show by putting it under a glass dome with a piece of cotton soaked in gasoline.

And Then Things Fell Apart is quite literally a book about things falling apart. Or somewhat. Mostly.

In the book, fifteen year old Keek is holed up in her grandmother's house with the chicken pox. It's the proverbial icing on her over-cooked life (as in, less than perfect and unexpected, like when you burn a cake. Go with it.) She and her boyfriend have broken up, her baby cousin is dying, her mother has fled (temporarily) and her father had an affair and destroyed his marriage. Enter the pox. Now, all Keek can do is read The Bell Jar, her favorite book, sleep and spend her waking high fevered hours reflecting on how she ended up trapped in a guest bedroom with only an old typewriter for company.

This book has a unique charm to it. There's something so cynical about Keek and her view on things, that it's entertaining. She has this story to tell, these things that happened to her and really affected her in a way she doesn't even know how to express. So, she reads The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and she writes away the delirium caused by her extremely high fever.

I've never read The Bell Jar. Aside from a few poems, I've never really read Plath. I know who she is, but that's about all. I was hesitant about how Tibensky would weave together this world of fiction to this character's life, but she really pulled it off as far as relating things. Keek's story has these odd and quirky parallels to Plath's words.

However, despite the cute quirks of And Then Things Fall Apart, I didn't love it. Keek was so whiny! She whined all the time. I'm not saying it wasn't justified--it was--but as a reader it was a little too much for me. Sometimes, it was very funny whining, but whining is still what it is even it's funny.

One major issue of the book for me was that Keek did not sound like a fifteen year old. I could peg her for seventeen--sixteen maybe--but that seemed really misplaced to me. There are so many times when she's too experienced, too sophisticated and too well versed to be fifteen. And then she sends a text message (later in the book) that I have to read 3-4 times to understand. It seemed off to me. Sometimes, I felt as if the author was talking through the character--forcing out some of the things she believed or felt into Keek--and it caused her voice to slip.

While I was reading it was hard to connect and difficult to enjoy. BUT as the weeks have passed since I've read it, I can see it's charm more and more and would actually call it likeable. I think fans of Sylvia Plath would really enjoy the parallels and I'd be interested to hear their thoughts. Even if I didn't love the book, my friend Nikki really did. I think it totally depends on personal taste! It has quirkiness to offer and I think it could be fun for some readers.

Get more info/order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound

The author on the web:
Blog ||| Twitter

Author interview: Selene Castrovilla

2011-11-09T07:55:00.000-05:00

Selene Castrovilla is on the blog today! Selene is the author of The Girl Next Door, which has just come out in paperback, as well as a few other YA books. You can find a full listing here. Selene lives on Long Island with her two sons, who sometimes think it's cool to have a mom who writes at home. You can find Selene on her blog, on twitter, and on facebook. I'm really glad to have and I hope you enjoy this interview about writing and randomness!!

If you could be any item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Hmmm...I really would prefer not to be eaten, lol. But I would be flan – I love it so. It is custardy and creamy and makes me happy. I don’t think you can be sad while eating flan. Plus, it’s a fun word to say: “Flan.” If you are what you eat, than I am flan.

What do you do in your spare time?

What is spare time, lol?I do as much as I can with my kids, who are 12 & 17. We try and do that family dinner thing, as seen on TV (LOL.) Seriously, we have a lot of fun together. I’m very fortunate.I don’t watch much TV, but when I want to relax I sink into "In Plain Sight" and "Burn Notice". I watch the old series "The Practice" with my older son, who is going to be a lawyer.I devote as much time as possible to the writing process, or marketing. Now I write a blog on Blogspot. It’s called Selene Castrovilla’s Blog. Catchy, I know.

Have you read any good books lately?

Well, I re-read more than I read new books. I don’t know why. The Catcher in the Rye, for example. Love it. My friend Karen Dellecava just published her first YA novel – A Closer Look. I read that, and I recommend it!Do you have any pets?I know this makes me sound nuts, but I have seven cats. There are extenuating circumstances (they are ‘rescued’ in one way or another), and most of them live outside. I have one fatty named Jesse who is the size of a raccoon and has one eye. He is particularly loving, and lives in my younger son’s room.

What is the best advice you've been given as a writer? The worst?

Best:I was at a writing conference manuscript critique session, panicking over the sea of red comments the reader - an editor – had penned. Head in my hands I moaned, “I can’t do this!”She asked, “Why not?”Why not, indeed. To put it another way, Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”This reader went on to become my editor at Calkins Creek Books/Boyds Mills Press. Our third book together is in production.

Worst:Someone reading the manuscript which became my first novel – Saved by the Music – insisted that I eliminate one of my main characters: Axel. She thought he interfered with the relationship between the other character – Willow- and her aunt. But I knew Axel was just as important to the story as Willow. Readers have concurred – they adore Axel. The moral of this story is: “To thine own story be true.”

Who is your favorite character from one of your books--and why?

I think my favorite character is from a book not yet published. His name is Darwin, and he’s in my novel Evolution. You can read an excerpt here. He’s had such a hard life and reacted in a very violent way - and he’s never known love. I could cry for him (and I have.)In my published books, I’d say it’s Axel in Saved by the Music. He also had a terrible childhood, and reacted by retreating into the solitude of a sailboat. He is very good-looking (LOL.)

What's your writing process like?

Yeesh. Depends where I am on a manuscript. Day by day I make sure I write first thing – have to start the day right. I don’t do “drafts” like some people. That’s to say, I don’t write through the whole thing and then go back and revise. That would drive me mad!!! Instead, I write a scene and then go over it again and again until in shines (maybe a week.)As for an overview of the process, I always know the end. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you get there? I need a tight beginning and a clear end. Then I fill in the middle. That’s the journey. Is it hard? Yes! Is it scary? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes, yes, yes!!! It’s the thrill of the chase. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I couldn’t write.I encourage emerging writers to e-mail me with specific questions. You can reach me through my website, or my blog. There’s also writing tips every Monday on my blog. I call it “Method to my Madness Monday.”

Thanks so much Selene for stopping by!!!

About the book:

In THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, two teens are forced to make some very grown-up decisions when one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Sixteen year old Samantha has been best friends with seventeen year old Jesse since she moved into the New York high-rise apartment next door to his thirteen years ago. Jesse is their school's poster child for popularity: good-looking, a star athlete, even Romeo in the school play. On opening night he collapses on stage. That's when doctors discover the unthinkable: a tumor on his spine. His type of cancer is virtually incurable – 97% of those diagnosed die within ten months.

Jesse shuts down, refusing to see most of his friends. He submits to treatments of chemo and radiation, but he doesn't possess hope. Sam is the one person he’ll talk to. He convinces his mom to let her sleep in another bed in his room, saying he's afraid to die alone.That’s when Jess and Sam make a startling, bittersweet discovery: they’ve been in love all along.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR addresses the universal question: In an unpredictable world, how can we possibly feel safe?

Read an excerpt here. ||| Watch the trailer. ||| Order the book.

Eve by Anna Carey

2011-11-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Harper
Date: October 2011
Series or Standalone: Series (book #1)
ISBN:0062048503
Format: Hardcover, 318 pages
Source: ARC
Cover thoughts: It is very pretty

Rating: A
First line: By the time the sun set over the fifty-foot perimeter wall, the School lawn was covered with twelfth-year students.

I was excited to get Eve because I have heard nothing but good things about it. When I was done reading it I had nothing but good things to say about it as well. It was a great read.

the night before Eve's graduation she learns what really happens when the girls graduate and the horrible fate that awaits her. Eve runs away from the school, into the wild, which she has only ever heard about. Eve meets Caleb, a boy living in the wild. Eve was always taught that she couldn't trust men, but Caleb slowly wins her trust and her love. When soldiers begin hunting Eve she must choose between her love for Caleb or her life.

One of my favorite things about the book was definitely the setting, it kind of reminded me of like a zombie movie, with everything some what destroyed, not many people around, and the people that were alive were hiding. Eve didn't know what most of the stuff was that she was finding, it was the stuff she had read about. It was kind of weird to see things that we see everyday, destroyed. I remember Eve seeing a Wal Mart and it being like a quarantined area.

I loved Caleb, he was just so cute and friendly and he risked his life to help Eve, he is a good guy. I also knew he wouldn't hurt Eve, unlike some of the other men out in the wild. And even when Eve hurt him, he still went out of his way to save her. He was selfless.

Eve is a fast paced, amazing read, that will keep you reading until you reach the last page, then want the next book because it ends on a huge cliffhanger.

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Website ||| Twitter

#YASpooktacular WINNERS!

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

The #YASpooktacular was a lot of fun!! We got to meet explore the world beneath the pond, go to a killer party and meet the corn stalker. I hope you enjoyed everything--all the tricks and treats and the fabulous authors. Before I tell you all the winners, I wanted to thank some people for making this event a success. Without them, it wouldn't be anything but an idea.

THE AUTHORS: Beth Revis ~ Lia Habel ~Kate Kaynak~ Shannon Delany~ Ty Drago ~ Jen Nadol ~ Kim Welchons ~ Caroline Richmond ~ Christina Ferko ~ Zoraida Cordova ~ Nova Ren Suma ~ Tessa Gratton ~ Gretchen McNeil ~ Ariane Mandell ~ Leigh Fallon ~ Leanna Renee Hieber ~ Heidi R. Kling ~ Amy Garvey ~ Cindy Thomas~ Ilsa J. Bick ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Lani Woodland ~ Nick James ~ Jessica Spotswood ~ Scott Tracy ~ Patricia Riley ~ Jennifer Rush ~ Elizabeth Miles ~ Kimberly Derting ~ Kristi Cook ~ Victoria Schwab~ Adele Griffin ~ David (who did all the graphics!) THE PUBLISHERS: Sourcebooks ~ Bloomsbury ~ Scholastic ~ Flux Books~ SimonPulse ~HarperTeen ~Quirk Books ~ Random House ~BookEnds Winchester~ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt~ Candlewick THE BLOGGERS: Page Turners ~ Good Books and Good Wine ~ Wicked Awesome Books ~ Portrait of a Book ~ Christi the Teen Librarian ~ Pirate Penguin's Reads ~ Chick Loves Lit ~ Ivy Reads ~ The Fable Faerie ~ The Book Scoop ~ Book Probe ~ LaFemme Reader ~ Bloggers Heart Books ~ Mindful Musings ~ Fiktshun ~ A Tale of Many Reviews ~ A Beautiful Madness ~ Christina's Books ~Reading Teen ~ The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia ~ Read This Instead ~ Reading Angel ~ Mundie Moms ~ Fallen Archangel ~ YA Bookie Monster ~ Overflowing Shelf ~ Red House Books ~ I Like These Books ~ Hooked To Books ~ The Book Cellar ~ Two Chicks On Books ~ Ticket to Anywhere ~ Supernatural Snark ~ Lisa Potts ~ Pure Imagination ~ Candace's Book Blog ~ Heise Reads & Recommends ~ The Non-Reluctant Reader ~ The Reading Fever ~ Stories To Be ~ Reading Nook ~ Mrs. Readerpants ~ The Story Queen ~ Paperback Dolls ~ Books Complete Me ~ YA Bookmark ~ Young Readers ~ 365 Days of Reading ~ Ezine of a Random Girl ~ Tangled Up In Words

And now on to the winners. The prizes are broken apart by story (hopefully. Eek.) Here goes. (Winners, see note at the bottom)

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake (from A Reading Nook)---Maria (Fantasy Sink)

Zombie Pack from PaperBackDolls--- Mariana V.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (from Mrs. ReaderPants)--- Sarah Brown

Choose one: Frost, Name of the Star, Zombies Don't Cry (International, from The Reading Fever)--- Peggy (Pawing with Books)

Signed copy of Swoon and Swear by Nina Malkin and Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (from 365 Days of Books)--- Katie P.

The Immortals series by Alyson Noel (from Christina @ Escape from Reality)--- erin e.baker219
Shifting and Between--- Rabiah
Zoraida Cordova's Mermaid Pack--- Jessica @ Books
The Waking (Spirits of the Noh & Dreams of the Dead) by Thomas Randall---Desi
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Perception by Kim Harrington--- Julie Witt
ARC of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, and a SIGNED copy of Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann--- Jennelle S
Story 1 Prize Pack --- Jessica @ Book Loving Mommy

Dick & Jane & Vampires from Red House Books (international)---Hayley
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton --- Jennifer K Jovus
Intrisical by Lani Woodland---- Emma B.
Shifting and Between --- Patricia Riley
TimeRiders and ARC of TimeRiders: Day of the Predator by Alex Scarrow---Hafsah @ IceyBooks
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa & The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (from Two Chicks On Books): Kristin Justham
Mad World Pack: Those That Wake, I-boy, First Day on Earth (ARC), Circle Nine (ARC), Timeriders: Day of the Predator (ARC) --- Emma B.
After Obsession by Carrie Jones + Team Astley & Team Nick shirts---Vivien
ARC of Variant by Robison Wells and an ARC of The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch ---Penelope @ The Reading Fever
ARC of Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly---Mary DeBorde [M.A.D.]
Story 2 Prize Pack ---- Bwyatt

Amazon e-gift card (international only, from Fiktshun)---Katherine B
Haven by Kristi Cook---Jennelle S*
Tighter by Adele Griffin (from Christi the Teen Librarian) ---
Frosty Nightmare Pack (Frost by Marianne Bauer, Frost by Wendy Desol, Bitter Frost/Forever Frost by Kailin Gow (from Christina Ferko)---Emily aka WilowRaven
MG prize pack: The Thief Lord, Wonderstruck (ARC), The Secret Prince (ARC), Villian School, Timeriders: Day of the Predator (ARC), Mysterious Four, The Last book in the Universe---Melora Brock
Now That's Not Normal Pack: Misfit (ARC) + The Iron Thorn (ARC) + Graveminder (ARC)----Dani Nguyen
Patrick Carman Pack: Floors & Things that Go Bump in the Night, Dark Eden (ARC)----Vivien
The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell & Ruling Passion by Alyxandra Harvey---Ivy
Signed Witch Eyes by Scott Tracy----Patsy Hagen
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Meyers---Zapf
ARC of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi & an ARC of Grave Mercy by Robin (R.L.) LaFevers--Candice J
Damage by Anya Parrish and Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin----Penelope @ The Reading Fever
Shifting and Between ---Caitlin
Story 3 Prize Pack----Jessica Harlan
Grand Prize Packs:
US only----Throuthehaze (twitter: @raelena85)
International---Carol Thompson

That's everyone!! Thank YOU so much for participating. It wouldn't be any fun without you. Tune in again next year! Now, I'm going to go sleep for about a week.

Please note: Your entire prize may not arrive at the same time. Prizes could be mailed out at various times from various locations. Please be patient. If you haven't received it by Dec 1, then you can email us at YASpooktacularATfrenzyofnoiseDOTnet). We are not responsible for items that are lost during shipping or not received.

Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Hyperion
Date: June 2011
Series or Standalone: standalone
ISBN: 142314354x
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
Source: ARC
Cover thoughts: Goes with the story very well

Rating: B
First line: Seeing yourself on TV changes you.

The thing that really attracted me to this book was the title. Sharks terrify me but they also fascinate me. Boys, well, I like those. I was expecting a light and fun read. I soon realized that it was a story of survival and it kept me enthralled until the end.

When fifteen-year-old Eden's boyfriend Wick tells her that he needs a break from their relationship and goes to Maryland for a party Eden follows thinking that he is going to cheat on her. She soon finds herself sneaking onto a house boat and locking herself in the bathroom. Then the boys decide to take the boat out in a horrible storm and the boat sinks landing the kids floating in a yellow life boat on the ocean with no food or water. To make matters worse, hungry sharks are circling the boat. Eden and the other kids learn they must work together and trust one another to survive. If they survive?

The thing that I liked most about this book was the visual the author created. When the characters were almost dying and having to do the unimaginable I could see it inside my head. When Eden described the scene inside the lifeboat with the disgusting conditions, I wanted to go bathe. It was so real the way it was described when the characters were starving and thirsty and what they were willing to do to make it subside. I loved the visuals, even if they were horrible.

The thing I really disliked about this book was Eden. She follows Wick five-hundred-forty miles to see if he is cheating, how desperate can you get? Maybe she is in love with him, but she is fifteen. She hasn't even lived. It was annoying to see someone so needy.

Sharks and Boys will keep you reading late into the night and not knowing right up until the end in the characters will survive.

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Website ||| Twitter

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes Blog Tour

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Date: October 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1402255441
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Source: for review

I don't review a lot of picture books. In fact, this is my first one ever! But I love reading them. As an ex-nanny, ex-children's bookseller, big sister and a life-long babysitter, I've got this soft spot for picture books. I love them. I even have favorites. There's something about creating a world for a child that I've always loved. These simple principles and thoughts presented in fun, imaginative ways.

When I was asked to review THE GIRL WHO NEVER MADE MISTAKES, I said yes immediately. As a girl who never makes mistakes (kidding! I make tons but I hate them!) I was intrigued. The book is a cute concept of a girl who learns that mistakes are part of life and when you make them--even though it's terrifying not to be perfect--things are more enjoyable.

You should check out this book. I also have a treat for you. Co-author Gary Rubinstein has offered up this lovely guest post about co-authoring a picture book. It's really interesting stuff. I know about the process of a YA book, but a picture book brings other challenges--especially when you are co-authoring.

Mark and I met in 2000 at a Teach For America reunion. At the time he was writing a comic strip called Mr. Lowe, about a teachers, and I had just had my first book Reluctant Disciplinarian (about my first year of teaching) published. We became friends and soon found ourselves sending each other drafts of our new projects for one another to evaluate.

Ten years later, around the time that both of our daughters had turned one, Mark and I talked about finally working together on a project.We each came up with about five ideas and over Skype we agreed to work on one of Mark's ideas about what life might be like for a girl who never made any mistakes. When I wrote the first draft, I thought it reminded me a bit of a Twilight Zone episode where a world exists with an unusual character with an unusual ability, yet people are accepting of this reality.

Throughout the next four months, we went back and forth writing drafts until we had about fifteen. Then we evaluated what were the best parts about each draft and assembled them together. Mark drew rough sketches for the book, which we learned needed to be exactly 32 pages. This limitation was a challenge since it meant that certain scenes we had wanted to have needed to be completely changed or deleted so the ending wouldn't be rushed.

We sent the illustrated draft to several agents, and heard back from Kerry Sparks at the Levine Greenberg agency that she wanted to represent us. Within two months, we had an offer from a great publisher called Sourcebooks. The next year was a lot more work than we had anticipated. There were a lot of issues that our editor pointed out to us about certain word choices and other things which we needed to fix. It was tough, sometimes, trying to get all three of us to agree, but the final product, I think, is that much better for the process.

When the final text was approved, Mark got to work on the huge task of producing 32 watercolor paintings. As the co-writer, my job was to 'annoy' Mark (at his request) by asking him how it was going every few days.Finally, after more than two years the book is a reality.

I'm glad that Mark and I both already had internalized the message of the book--that you can't be paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes. Getting a children's book published is hard and had we really thought about the likelihood that it would never go anywhere, we may not have worked so hard on it.

Luckily, they didn't think it through and now this cute book is in the world!! Thanks so much Gary for stopping by.

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble

The author on the web:
Mark Pett |||| Gary Rubinstein

Grand Prize Giveaway for #YASpooktacular

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-04:00

It's been a fun week. The YA Spooktacular has been all over twitter and we thank all of you for following along, entering, and reading! It's a lot of work so it's good that people enjoy it.

Click on the banners below to start a story from the beginning! You can find a full listing of each piece of the story and all the tricks and treats along the way, go here. All story prize packs and the grand prize pack ends on November 3.

Story 1 Prize Pack

Story 2 Prize Pack

Story 3 Prize Pack

Now, it's time to enter the grand prize pack. There are two---one for international participants and one for US only. And if you tweet a link to this, then you can get one more entry into the prize pack! Just leave a link to your tweet in the comments!!

US ONLY!! Giveaway ends November 3 at midnight!!

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International Prize Pack!!! Giveaway ends November 3 at midnight.

Did you see the international giveaways? There's one for each story. These close on Oct 31 at midnight!

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Cover Reveal: Betrayed by Ednah Walters

2011-10-30T15:41:00.001-04:00

Spencer Hill Press has a new book coming out in June of 2012. And I get to reveal the cover for BETRAYED!

summary:

Lil isn't just an average teenager. She's one of the Nephilim--the descendants of humans and angels--which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she's found a balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she's warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves... and won't stop until she's been lured to the dark side.

Sounds like it could be interesting. Make sure you add it to your TBR pile!!

Title: Betrayed

Series: Guardian Legacy

Author: Ednah Walters

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

ISBN: 978-1-937053-18-5 (Trade Paper), 978-1-937053-19-2 (e-book)

Release Date: June, 2012

YA Spooktacular - Story 3

2011-10-28T12:54:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my stop for the second annual #YASpooktacular, which I get to co-host with my friend Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books.

There are also some TRICKS or TREATS scattered throughout the story, where you can enter to win prizes and get bonus points toward the prize packs. The prize pack for this story (#1!) will be up tomorrow! On Halloween day, the grand prize pack will be posted. You can click the banner above to see a full list of the YASpooktacular prize packs--all the bloggers, authors and goodies that you can win.

I really hope you enjoy this piece, written by the lovely Elizabeth Miles!

Elizabeth Miles grew up in Chappaqua, New York, not far from New York City. She graduated from Boston University in 2004, and has worked ever since as a journalist for an alternative newsweekly. She has been honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. Elizabeth is a former trustee of the Portland Players, a community theater and second home. She loves pizza; she can often be found running around on stage while scantily clad; and a cold winter night in Maine is one of the creepiest and most beautiful things she can think of. Fury is Elizabeth’s first novel.

You can find Elizabeth on her website, Twitter, on Goodreads, and you can order Fury on Amazon, B&N, The Book Depository, and Indiebound.

To start the story from the beginning, click on this image!

Elizabeth Miles

“Kara? I’m here,” I hissed. “I’m coming for you.” I thought I heard a whimpered reply, but I couldn’t be sure. With one last longing look toward the gate, which seemed to glow with promise, I wheeled around to face the maze. In this dark labyrinth lay danger and death, but also Kara. The girl I loved.

I decided that my safest option was to leave the mown paths and step into the reedy mess of cornstalks that lined the pathways. In there, I had a better chance of staying hidden. I would let the other maze-goers act as bait; I was going to save Kara, and get us the hell out of here.

Stepping as lightly as I could to minimize the crackling beneath my feet, I pushed through the stalks toward where I thought I’d heard Kara’s plea for help. Every few seconds I stopped and held my breath, just to listen. I heard sporadic sounds of panic—a scream in the distance, an unidentifiable crash. Someone ran by me; I could hear them mumbling to themselves, saying a person’s name over and over and over again.

Just as I was about to risk calling out to Kara, throwing out the next round in this sick game of Marco Polo, something caught my eye. I froze. There, through the leaves, I’d seen orange. I stayed perfectly still until I saw it again. Yes, there it was. The dreaded blaze of orange, a warning for me to run. In the silence now, I heard a ghoulish panting, the animalistic sound of a hunter about to devour its prey.

And then, even worse: I heard Kara’s soft cries. “Please don’t hurt me,” I heard her say. “Please.” So he had her. The Corn Stalker had my girlfriend.

I wanted to bolt, believe me. Every nerve in my body was screaming that I should flee from this madman. But I couldn’t leave Kara behind. Escaping without her would be no escape at all.

I took a moment to assess the situation. I had no weapons, so I would have to overpower him by brute force. Perhaps a surprise attack would throw him off enough to get me one good punch and one hard kick. And in the meantime, Kara could grab his sickle. Yes. It was the only way.

I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath, balling my fists and knowing that I would get just one chance to do this right. And then I charged forward, out of hiding and into jeopardy.

My terror was so consuming that it practically blinded me; I felt like a hood had been pulled down over my face and I could barely see through the blackness. I was being led by adrenaline alone. I tackled the first spot of orange I saw, throwing my full weight against a body that fell easily—too easily—to the ground.

“Josh! Stop!” Kara screamed as we tumbled to the ground. It was her. In my panic, I’d mistaken her orange hoodie for a piece of the Stalker’s trademark costume. Now I’d lost my window of surprise. We heard a sickening snorting snicker come from behind us. I rolled over just in time to see a beastly man lumbering in our direction.

“You can’t trick the Corn Stalker,” he garbled in a sing-song voice that made my stomach turn. My vision tunneled and I thought I heard Kara sobbing, as if from behind a curtain.

The fiend stepped into view: hunched and huge, with biceps the size of bowling balls and legs that looked like tree trunks. His face was a horror to behold, pale and blood-splattered, with a trickle of drool coming from the left corner of his mouth. If our ancestors were pigs, not monkeys, this is what we would have looked like.

“Kara?! Where are you? Run!” I would try to distract him so she could get away. “Do you hear me? I’m serious. Get away. I’ll be okay.” I knew I wouldn’t be, but it was a sacrifice I had to make.

And then, just as the Corn Stalker heaved his sickle above his head, readying it to come down and slice into my flesh, I heard a bloodcurdling yell, the sound of a warrior going to battle. There was a thud of impact. With a surprised oof, the Corn Stalker fell to the ground, face first—I had to scramble to get out of his path. His sickle went flying off to the side.

As I attempted to piece together what was happening, I saw a small figure dart over to the sickle, pick it up, and in one motion, swing it forcefully into the Corn Stalker’s wide back. It pierced the skin between his shoulders, and I felt a soft rain of blood mist around me. The body issued a brief convulsion, then nothing more.

She had saved me. I had come back to rescue my girl, but in the end, Kara was my savior. I leaned back on my elbows, trying to catch my breath, almost laughing with the release of this terrifyingly close call with death.

But when Kara stepped closer, my eyes widened and my blood went cold. This wasn’t Kara, my Kara. This was someone…something else. Her eyes looked white and filmy, her smile was jarringly wide.

“Wha—Kara?” I took in the smears of blood on her clothes—the Stalker’s, as well as that of his victims.

“I told you that coming to the corn maze was a bad idea, Josh,” she said. Her voice was raspy.

“Kara, what’s the matter with you?” I asked as she leaned over to grab the Stalker’s sickle.

“A new Corn Stalker is chosen every year,” she said with an icy grin, twirling the weapon like a baton. “Happy Halloween!”

THE END

Try the story again from the beginning and see what happens. Maybe next time things will be different.

And tomorrow, you can enter to win the prize pack for story 3 at Christina's Books.

My story is up!!

2011-10-28T08:25:00.001-04:00

Hey lovelies!!

So the YA Spooktacular continues! Today's the last day and story 3 has been released into the wild!

My piece is right here---http://abeautifulmadness.blogspot.com/2011/10/yaspooktacular-corn-stalker.html

And I am so excited. The formatting is a little weird, but the story was so much fun to add to. I hope you all like it. You should follow along today because there are a LOT of great prizes up for grabs.

The story starts at Page Turners Blog. And there are like, 7 optional endings. See what happens. :)

Tomorrow, the Story Three Prize Pack goes up at Escape from Reality.

And then on Monday, come back here--because I will have the grand prize giveaway!!

#YASpooktacular Story 2 is up!!!

2011-10-26T09:35:00.002-04:00

Check out Story 2 of the #YASpooktacular!!!

It starts at Reading Teen with Tessa Gratton. Then you can move in other directions and get more of the story from authors like:

Gretchen McNeil
Ariane Mandell
Leigh Fallon
Leanna Renee Hieber
Heidi Kling
Amy Garvey
Cindy Thomas
Ilsa Bick
Jennifer Armentrout
Isla Black
Lani Woodland

Make sure you check it out because there are also LOTS of Tricks and Treats and Prizes, ike a signed copy of Blood Magic.

YA Spooktacular: Story 1

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my stop for the second annual #YASpooktacular, which I get to co-host with my friend Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books.

This year, there are THREE stories written by some of your favorite authors that will be posted throughout the week. Each story is a choose your adventure, where you get to decide what happens to the character.

There are also some TRICKS or TREATS scattered throughout the story, where you can enter to win prizes and get bonus points toward the prize packs. The prize pack for this story (#1!) will be up tomorrow! On Halloween day, the grand prize pack will be posted. You can click the banner above to see a full list of the YASpooktacular prize packs--all the bloggers, authors and goodies that you can win.

I really hope you enjoy this piece, written by the fantastic Nova Ren Suma!

Nova Ren Suma has an MFA in fiction from Columbia University and a BA in writing & photography from Antioch College.
She has published short stories for adults in literary journals including Gulf Coast, LIT, Small Spiral Notebook, and more, and is the author of the middle-grade novel Dani Noir. Imaginary Girls, which marks her YA debut, garnered four starred reviews, including Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and praise from The Los Angeles Times.

Nova grew up in small towns across the Hudson Valley and can currently be found in New York City and online. She is at work on a new YA novel.

You can find Nova on Twitter, on her blog, on Goodreads and you can order her books here.

To start the story from the beginning, click on this image!

Laura blinked, and a drop of blood dangled from her eyelashes, streaking her vision in red. As it landed on her cheek, dribbling down to the corner of her mouth so she could taste it, she turned to Raven.

Raven sensed the question on her tongue and was ready to tell her about her mother if she asked. How her mother had been a part of this, too. How even when you escape, you’re drawn back—as Laura was. As she always would be.

But Laura didn’t want to hear it. Everyone was trying to fool her, and use her, and make her do horrible things she didn’t know she had in her. Now she did one last horrible thing, and after—after she took care of Raven—she dropped the sword. When it hit ground, she saw it wasn’t a sword at all but a sharp, ragged piece of metal, mangled and bent as if rescued from a car wreck. Raven himself was a man, a dead one, as was Brian, who’d unknowingly brought her here.

Only, Brian wasn’t dead, not just yet. His mouth let out a faint, keening whimper. Then a gurgle that sounded a lot like her name.

As she crouched over him, trying to separate what was real and what wasn’t, she heard a clumsy rustling in the woods. It was coming through the trees, in the distance, near the more civilized section of the park. The part of the park where most people stayed, because they—without knowing why—were afraid to go any farther into the forest.

They should be afraid.

The noise became louder as the two got close. A girl and a boy, so careless the way they laughed, so stupid the way they crunched loudly through the leaves.Laura knew they’d step through the trees any moment now. Then they’d be hers.

* * *

Marly felt Alex take her hand and her heart leaped from his touch. She heard herself giggle at something stupid he said, she couldn’t help it. She needed to remember that he hadn’t held her hand when they were in the main part of the park, where other people could see. He made sure never to touch her at school, never ever in front of his friends. He’d deny they were together to the grave.

But weren’t they? Together?

Because now that they’d found their way off the path and into this forest thick with trees and away from any people, he was all over her.

The night seemed heavier outside the reach of their flashlights. His light was brighter than hers; hers was only a pinprick of faint light from the little blue flashlight that hung off her ring of keys.What Marly wanted was to tell Alex how she felt about him. To tell him and make him tell her back. But now, just the two of them, she couldn’t find the words. Besides, she was noticing how the trees had grown more spindly the deeper they’d gone into the forest, how the leaves had fallen as if it were winter already, though it wasn’t.

How it was too quiet. The sky too dark overhead.

And there was a smell in the air now. Something wet. Something rotting.

She stopped short, and his hand dropped from hers. When their feet ceased shuffling through the leaves, when they were utterly quiet for the first time since entering this part of the woods, that’s when they heard it.

“Is that . . . somebody . . . crying?” Alex asked. He gripped her shoulder now in the dark, like he’d throw her in front of him, using her as a human shield if he had reason to.

Marly thought it sounded more like whimpering than crying, but it was too dark to see, and the weak beam of her flashlight couldn’t find where the noises were coming from.

Alex’s flashlight beam jittered and jumped, betraying his nerves. It circled, showing skeletal tree branches and her sneakers and more tree branches and now the night sky itself, the stars, and then the ground again. He couldn’t find where the sound was coming from either.

“Hello?” he called. “Who’s out there?”

“Shh,” she said, trying to get him to be quiet. “Listen.”

A gurgling, choking sound came from the darkness, down at level with the ground.

Alex’s light flashed on a pool of red. And the next thing she knew he was running—abandoning her, and taking his light with him.

With her little flashlight, barely bright enough to illuminate her own arm, she found the shallow pond at her feet, the water glistening with movement. Her sneakers were wet, she realized, because she was standing in it.

“It’s just a pond!” she called back to Alex. “A pond with goldfish in it,” she said that last part in a lower voice, and only to herself, because Alex was long gone. What was a goldfish pond doing in the middle of the forest?

What Marly didn’t know—because she couldn’t see the bodies in the dark, because she couldn’t see the blood, because she didn’t know Laura Lester was out there, the new Laura Lester, the Laura of the forest who now could never leave—was that she should have followed Alex.

She should have run.

She shouldn’t have made it so easy for someone to push her in.

THE END

If you're brave enough, you should start again from the beginning.

And tomorrow, you can enter the Story One Prize Pack by going to Tangled Up in Words

Complete this TRICK to win:

-ARC of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

-finished copy of Fury by Elizabeth Miles

-SIGNED copy of Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

-1 extra entry into the Story 1 prize pack

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YA Spooktacular Starts Monday! Spread the word AND WIN!

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

So there's this HUGE event happening on October 24. You may have heard it.

Can I just tell you HOW AWESOME all this is going to be? Because it's going to be wicked awesome. So awesome that I'm hosting the event with Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books.

This is a labor of love for me and I'm pumped that's it here! This year we have THREE Choose-Your-Own-Adventure stories, with a prize pack for each one that posts the day after the story. Three stories, LOTS of prizes and some of your favorite authors participating. You can click here to see the full run-down of the authors, the bloggers and even some of the prizes. You won't want to miss it!

Story One starts on October 24 at Pure Imagination.

Story 1 Authors:

Beth Revis
Lia Habel
Kate Kaynak
Shannon Delany
Ty Drago
Jen Nadol
Kim Welchons

Caroline Richmond
Christina Ferko
Zoraida Cordova

Nova Ren Suma

Story Two starts on October 26 at Reading Teen.

Story 2 Authors:

Tessa Gratton
Gretchen McNeil
Ariane Mandell
Leigh Fallon
Leanna Renee Hieber
Heidi R. Kling
Amy Garvey
Cindy Thomas
Ilsa J. Bick
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lani Woodland

Story Three starts on October 28 at Page Turners Blog.

Nick James

Jessica Spotswood

Scott Tracey

Patricia Osei

Jennifer Rush

Elizabeth Miles

Kimberly Derting

Kristi Cook

Victoria Schwab

Danielle Bunner

Adele Griffin

Now, you can help us spread the word--and win!!

Tweet! Use the #YASpooktacular hash tag on twitter. We'll be there all week!

Or post something on your blog/faceboook. Feel free to grab our YA Spooktacular button, header, or write another post telling all your followers about the event. The more people that know about it, the better!

If you leave a comment on this post or the one at Wicked Awesome Books with a link to where you posted/tweeted/etc about the #YASpooktacular, then you can be entered to win a mini-prize pack before the event even starts! It runs from now until Sunday, October 23 at 10pm.

ARC of In Darkness by Nick Lake
ARC of The Radleys by Matt Haig
ARC of Enthralled anthology
ARC of Going Underground by Susan Vaught
ARC of A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
Welcome To Bordertown anthology
ARC of The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
Generation Dead & Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

Happy Tweeting! Get ready for the #YASpooktacular!

*Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

2011-10-20T00:03:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Harper Teen
Date: September 20, 2011
Series or Standalone: standalone
ISBN:006199622X
Format: Hardcover 336, pages
Source: ARC
Cover thoughts: Pretty

Rating: A
First line: I wasn't thinking about falling in love the day I met Danny Greer.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. I mean look at it, it's kind of creepy, but gorgeous! I also heard the book was very sad, and I hate crying, so I put it off. Then I finally read it and I was so glad! It was an amazing read!

When Wren's boyfriend Danny is killed in a car accident, she is so devastated she uses her inherited powers to bring him back to life. What Wren doesn't know is that the Danny that comes back is not the boy she knew. Wren has spent the past 4 month hiding Daniel in a neighbors garage loft and Wren becomes more distant from her friends and family. When Gabriel transfers to her school he can sense what she is hiding, what she has done. She is attracted to Gabriel who is much more alive than Danny. Wren soon realizes that she must take responsibility for what she has done and make it right, even if letting Danny go will break her heart.

Wren is pretty messed up and it is completely understandable. I feel like I didn't get to know Wren very well, but I wanted her to be happy and I was pulling for her to do the right thing.

Gabriel was interesting from the moment her entered the the story with the way he could sense what Wren could do. He was caring and he wanted to help Wren because he knew what she was going through was horrible. He wasn't judgmental, he just helped her.

Since Wren has these incredible inherited powers, I was excited to see more of them. I was hoping she would do something cool like make the door open without touching it, but sadly it didn't happen. The story really didn't focus on the powers except when talking about Danny and Wren's mother.

Cold Kiss was a heartbreaking and beautiful read that will make you cry into the final pages.

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Blog /Website ||| Twitter

Waiting on Wednesday (9): Clockwork Prince

2011-10-18T21:15:00.003-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Anyone can play along just tell us which book you are waiting to read.

Summary: (from goodreads)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Release date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: McElderly
Add it to Goodreads

I'm not the only one waiting for this one. But as the days get closer and closer, I'm so excited!! I can't even take it anymore. I love, love this series. Eeeep.

What are you waiting for??

Teaser Tueday (2)

2011-10-18T07:03:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to rui n the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT partici pants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Lila Cardoza is dead and wearing my earrings. Not mine, exactly, but the same ones B's girlfriend, Gwen, got for me three months ago at Christmas. Silver zigzags with little balls at the tips. I realize I was never this close to Lila when she was alive.

page 3 (ARC version)

Cover Reveal: Revived by Cat Patrick

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

On Friday, I went to this event with Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books where we got ARCs of the new book by Cat Patrick called REVIVED.

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

After some tweeting with Cat, we learned that the cover hasn't been revealed yet--and since our copies have the cover, she said we could take a picture and reveal the cover with her!

So without further adieu, here's the cover for REVIVED by Cat Patrick!!

And, just because I really like the spine, I took a shot of that too on the shelf with some of my favorite books! A good place for it, I'm sure.

What do you think of the cover?

In My Mailbox (3)

2011-10-16T01:14:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren! It's a way to share the books you received each week, whether for purchase, borrow or review or from the library.

Today, I'm sharing some books I got at NEIBA, some things I got at signings and for review over the last couple weeks AND some secret titles that you will see again in the YA Spooktacular! Yes, I'm sneaky. Check it out!!!

Books mentioned: (not in order)
Dear Bully
Daughter of Smoke & Bone//Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Legend by Marie Lu
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Pandemonium///Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Envy by Gregg Olsen

What's in your mailbox??

The Apocalypse Gene Blog Tour

2011-10-14T00:15:00.000-04:00

The Apocalypse Gene tour is hosted by Unputdownable Books. We have an interview with the authors, Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark. But before we jump into that, here's a little about the book!

Summary:

With Pandemic ravaging the globe, Olivya's psychic Sight compels her to see auras riddled with the colors of despair and now her mother is infected. Olivya’s only hope is the mysterious Mikah, a powerful Empath who claims the Pandemic is linked to his clan, the Kindred, and their brooding, monstrous, Immortal Lord.

But how can she trust a boy who can manipulate her very emotions?

With Mikah's aid, Olivya races to unearth Kindred secrets, desperate to find a cure, only to discover the Pandemic is far, far more than a mere disease.

About the authors:

Suki Michelle is a life-long Chicagoan with one daughter, a German Shephard, a calico and a turtle.

Carlyle Clark is a burly dude from San Diego. He can look menacing at a glance, but as soon as he opens his mouth – pure GEEK!

On the outside...Suki and Carlyle are totally disparate. On the inside...they are the REAL Neo-Twins. You’ll have to read The Apocalypse Gene to find out who the Neo-Twins are, but here’s a hint: They are twisted devils with mirror-melded auras.

If you could be an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would the other person be and why?Suki: Carlyle would be a plate of refried beans, rice, and some meat-cheese thing all mashed together into a single gray indefinable blob (hold the lettuce).

Carlyle: Suki would be neatly stacked nachos with the toppings evenly distributed on every chip with the perfect mathematical ratio of cheese to salsa to sour cream.

What are four words that describe the other person?
Suki: Carlyle is brilliant, quirky, kind, and insane.

Carlyle: Suki is enigmatic, obvious, genius, and gentle.

Tell us about your novel in six words or less!
Psychic kids, dying world, unique immortals.

Where did the inspiration for The Apocalypse Gene come from?
Suki: It came from a long boring day typing medical reports (day job - medical transcriptionist) and playing the what-if game. What if there was a pandemic and the cure was far beyond the reach of science and in the hands of mystics? How did the two of you start writing together?

Carlyle: We met at an online writing workshop where w critiqued each other’s work. Mutual respect for each other’s skills developed into a cyber-friendship and escalated to cyber-love. Suki: Yeah, and then I got divorced after a long and tedious marriage. Carlyle drove, sight unseen, from San Diego to Chicago. We’ve been together ever since, going on five years.

Your blog says the two of you have complementary skill sets in writing. How do you make this work?
Carlyle: When Suki came up with the idea for The Apocalypse Gene, she asked me for help with plotting, and we decided to write it together.

Suki: He’s great at laying down story lines choreographing battles.

Carlyle: Suki uses her poetic roots to craft the prose.

Suki: Carlyle is a complex thinker and I’m simple-minded.

Carlyle: The result is a story with many twists and turns (my influence) laid out in an easily understood fashion (Suki’s influence).

Thanks so much Suki and Carlyle!!

You can follow the tour from the very beginning by going here. Make sure you check out all the stops on the tour for chances to win copies of Apocalypse Gene and to win the Launch Party Grand Prize Giveaway---a Kindle!! (Plus some other goodies!)

The next stop on the tour is at Bittersweet Enchantment

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Website ||| Trailer |||Facebook

The authors on the web:
Twitter

Read an excerpt here!

Wating On Wednesday (8) Kiss Crush Collide

2011-10-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Anyone can play along just tell us which book you are waiting to read.

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green.

Release Date: December 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
goodreads!

Can't wait for this one, it says it is for fans of Perfect Chemistry so this should good!

Teaser Tuesday (1)

2011-10-11T08:25:00.001-04:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Just like that it was over, the brief and idyllic moment in which I'd come so close to letting down my guard. I stiffened before I could even respond, wishing he hadn't just said that.

Not in that way.

I shoved away from him, untangling myself from his arms.

-page 146 (ARC version)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-10-10T10:02:00.005-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: September 2011
Series or Standalone: series
ISBN:1442421762
Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
Source: ARC
Cover thoughts: I love it; it's dark and pretty

Rating: A
First line: The ornate script on the board twisted in the candlelight, making the letters and numbers dance in my head.

Description (from goodreads):

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

It would be strange to wake up in a hospital bed and not know how you got there. It would be scary and frustrating. Even worse not remembering what killed your friends and not knowing why you were unharmed. It made me want to find out the mystery of what happened that night and keep reading the book until I did.

The book was really suspenseful. Mara was able to put the pieces together in flashbacks. It could get a little confusing at first because she would be doing something in the present then a have a flash back from the past, it made it a little hard to distinguish which was from the past and the present. But you will pick up really quickly. It is a really important part of the book and one I enjoyed once I got used to it.

Mara's love interest in the book was so cute. Well first off he has a British accent, I have always had a thing for British accents, I don't know why, I think they sound cool. And he is cute in a way that isn't perfect, but in a messy normal way. He is also kind of mysterious, and you just know that he is keeping secrets, and then you want to know what he isn't saying.

It was kind of frustrating when Mara and Noah seemed like they needed to have a conversation about everything that was going on, but they kept putting it off. I wanted to know NOW what was going on, but it was another aspect of why I kept reading.

I am so glad this book lived up to the hype. I loved the way the book was written and the mystery behind it all. In the end I was left wanting more, it was a fantastic read!

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter

Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin
Date: October 2010
Series or Standalone: standalone
ISBN: 0803734549
Format: Hardcover, 208 pages
Source: For Review
Cover thoughts: I love the purple on the cover, it's pretty.

Rating: C
First line: You wait forever to get to high school.

When Kerry is noticed by the three most popular girls at school she thinks her life is finally starting. She is sitting at the right table and is in on all the jokes. And she would do anything to keep it that way. But how far would she go? And when being part of the group starts to feel worse than anything else, what will she do about it?

Kerry is one of those girls that would do anything to have the popular friends. It didn't matter that they wanted her to do their dirty work and weren't very nice to her anyway. But Kerry was happy with them. I would never let my "friends" treat me that way, even if it meant being popular.

And her "friends" were cruel and arrogant, they looked down upon almost everyone, they were fake. They were spoiled little brats that expected every thing, but didn't give anything in return. They talked badly about others and did horrible things to people just to make them feel bad.

This book had a quality I did like--the unexpected. I seriously did not see the story going in the direction it did, the story was much more interesting because of it. It also made me want to keep reading. It also made me guess what was going to happen next, and I was completely wrong. At parts I was even questioning Kerry's sanity, like what she was doing and seeing and why wasn't she questioning everything that is going on. This was probably my favorite part of the book.

Overall Three Quarters Dead was a fast and surprising read!

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday (7): Of Poseidon

2011-10-05T07:30:00.001-04:00

It's Wednesday!! That means it's time for another Waiting on Wednesday. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Anyone can play along just tell us which book you are waiting to read.

Of Poseidon

Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

By Anna Banks

Expected pub date: May 22nd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

First of all---that cover is sort of awesome. That's what drew me in. I like these books (usually) about special powers and star-crossed lovers with a paranormal edge. There's instant conflict. I'm going into it hopeful. Plus, that cover!!

What are you waiting on??

The Radleys Blog Tour

2011-10-04T08:46:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty excited to be part of the blog tour for The Radleys by Matt Haig!! Isn't that a great cover?? Fun and creepy at the same time.

Meet the Radleys

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret.

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

I'm only one stop on the tour. Each Friday, the people at S&S will select one person who commented on all participating blogs for that week to win a prize. The winner will be announced each Monday on Helen and Rowan’s twitter accounts @Helen_Radley and @rowanradley in the next Monday’s blogger’s post.

The prize will be a copy of THE RADLEYS in both hardcover and paperback signed by author Matt Haig and some blood-red hot chocolate.

You can follow all the tour stops by checking out this page!!

I tried to finish the book before the tour so I could post a review, but with school deadlines I didn't get it finished. I am about 100 pages in and it's a really great story. The main characters are fun, the story has this edge that I really like and the writing is really good. I'll definitely post a review as soon as I can breath again.

In the meantime, check out all the ways you can connect with the The Radleys. You can read an excerpt of the book here. (The first chapter ending is awesomesauce!!) And this quiz: ARE YOU A RADLEY? I'm only 33%, but maybe you are more than me! Take the quiz and let me know.

Check out this book and find out...who are The Radleys?

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

2011-09-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date: October 25, 2011
Series or Standalone: Fourth in series
ISBN: 978-0373210367
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Source: Netgalley

Rating: C
First line: "Oy, ice-boy! You sure you know where you're going?"

Description (from goodreads): Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul. (More)

Oh, The Iron Knight. Oh, Ash who I love so, so, so, so very much. Oh, how I was kind of disappointed. Oh, reader who is probably thinking of all the ways you are about to kill me for this rating.

This is the one time I will say I wish a book had never been written. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Ash. This series is one of my favorites.

But for me, The Iron Queen was SO fantastic. It was the *perfect* book. And then I heard there was going to be another one. I was pretty darn excited--as was the rest of the world. But I have to be honest and say I was a little let down by this one. I'm not entirely sure if this is a case where my tastes have changed during the waiting because I've grown as a reader and so I'm not as easily satisfied OR if it's really the fault of the book. I will tell you all the reasons and then you can form your opinion.

Also, I have lost sleep over this review because I didn't want to write it. But as I'm trying to put my thoughts together, I know I have to say this to have an honest review. So. Here we go. I will try really, really, really hard not to spoil things.

It took me 60 (maybe more) pages to believe that it was Ash telling the story. It wasn't what I expected him to sound like. Then there was a point when I accepted it was him, and the voice didn't bother me as much. But then, there were other things that did. One example, he saw a lot of random things that I didn't understand. (Ie. the hairs on someone else's neck stand on end. How did he see that? How?)

Then there is the return of a character who I a) totally knew would come back b) was not happy that this character was back and c) completely predicted the reason the character was back. It was a trick that left me really dissatisfied because the character was supposed to create tension, and didn't really do that.

Everything happened really quickly. Our characters are on a quest here to do something really epic--give Ash mortality so he can be with Megan--and it's built up in the book as impossible. No one ever survived the quest. But then, as Ash, Puck and company go along, they complete it so quickly. Every chapter was Ash and company defeating a new challenge. I know that it was happening so it would all be done in one book, but I wanted SO much more than I got. I would have rather had less things happen and them take longer, than to have so much crammed into one book. There was so much happening I still don't know the point of some of those things they did--and definitely can't remember them all.

The ending was a really, really, really big let down. I'm not going to say anything as to what happens, but the POV switches in the last chapter and I still can only think of how much that was the one moment I wanted to see from Ash's perspective and didn't get to. So sad. So sad. That's probably the biggest thing that made me like it less. The other things I could've gotten over, but not that.

Not everything was bad.

The best parts of this book were Grim (as always) and, surprisingly for me, Puck. Puck and Ash had such great banter and comroderie that I can't even begin to express how much I loved it. It was so perfect. Seriously. Perfection. For me, maybe because Ash doesn't work as well as a narrator, Puck made the book. Shocking, I know since I'm team Ash.

All in all, I think everyone who loved the series will read the book. Most people will really love it. If you were like me and totally fell hard for The Iron Queen then you may want to think and wait and let some of this review marinate with you. Check out some other opinions. I may be the only who feels this way. It was a hard adjustment for me.

What else should I say.....? I am a cat.

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Blog ||| Twitter ||| Website

Waiting On Wednesday (6): This Is Not a Test

2011-09-28T12:01:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Anyone can play along just tell us which book you are waiting to read.

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Date: June 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Goodreads!

So excited. I know it's a long time from now, but still. I can't wait. I LOVE Courtney Summers. All of her novels are amazing, amazing, sick and amazing. I'm so excited to see what happens when she mixes her heartwrenching, beautiful prose, brilliant characters, general evilness (in the best way possible) with ZOMBIES.

What are you waiting for??

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-09-26T07:15:00.001-04:00

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: September 27, 2011
Series or Standalone: First of series
ISBN: 978-0316134026
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Source: ARC from BEA
Cover thoughts: love this cover, actually.

Rating: A++++++ (I really loved it, okay?)
First line: Once upon a time,an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.

Once upon a time…

Imagine a world where wishes hang around necks on a string. Where teeth can be traded for wishes.

Imagine a world where chimaera—demon creatures that seem to be woven together from spare parts—collect teeth.

Imagine a world with portals to other lands, and a girl with blue hair who was raised by demons.

This is the world of Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Laini Taylor has built the most incredible world I’ve ever experienced in a book. Ever. Thinking about how fantastic this book was just gives me chills. If you’re around the internet at all, you’ve probably heard people talking about this book. It’s for a good reason. The book is utterly fantastic.

a demon…

The novel is split into four sections and each one opens with a short fairy tale. The first section, we learn all about Karou and her unusual life. Karou is a girl who has blue hair, eye tattoos on her palms (called Hamsas), no family and a talent for art. She wears wishes around her neck and spends all her spare time running errands for a chimaera named Brimstone, a demon creature who raised her and trades wishes for teeth.

Karou doesn’t know much about the chimaera world—a place called Elsewhere that is only a portal away. Aside from the four who raised her and the few who come into Brimstone’s shop to trade teeth, she doesn’t encounter many chimaera. It’s almost as if she is a secret. Of course, she doesn’t know just how much that is true. Brimstone keeps Karou busy and away, sending her on errands to gather teeth and giving her wishes—usually scuppies which she wears on a necklace—as payment.

Wishes are powerful things in this world—ranging in size from a scuppy (used for small, meaningless wishes) to a bruxis (a powerful wish that requires the wishmaker to extract all his teeth in exchange.) We get to see the effects of every kind of wish there is and I must say, some of them are haunting.

and an angel…

“The angels are coming.” That’s a line from Doctor Who, but oh, so appropriate here. The angels in Daughter of Smoke and Bone are all sorts of terrifying—in their beauty, in their power, in their hatred of chimaera. This is no ordinary good vs. evil, demon vs. angel story. No, these angels are trained for one thing: killing the chimaera.

And one certain angel named Akiva has a personal vendetta against the chimaera. One in particular…

So when he sees a girl blue hair running around the city, gathering teeth, he knows she’s the key to find that one chimaera. The one who took everything from him. He follows the blue haired girl, and soon, they both find themselves trapped. Akiva is trapped with this memories and Karou in the mortal world with no way to get to her family. All that’s left of the portals that connected them are gone, charred with black handprints fitting angels.

fell in love.

Taylor does this fantastic job at picking all this moments to tell these seemingly insignificant things and you don’t really know their purpose. And it happens so much that there are more questions than there are answers, and they keep building and building and building…

Just when you think you can’t take any more questions, any more trails of these random things—they all come together and Oh. My. Gosh. It’s more than you dreamed. This book is so layered. Every hing builds. Every thing matters. Everything is not what it seems.

The characters—everyone from Karou to Brimstone to the graverobber Karou takes teeth from—are so well-rounded. I’m in awe at how Taylor did that so well. The way she can take a simple emotion and these simple words and make these sentences that dance off the page….I can’t even fathom it.

There’s humor in this book, romance, an intricant level of plot, characters, writing, history and details that develop together to build this fantastic book. I wish I could tell you all the reasons I loved this book without ruining it. But there’s just no way to that. You will need to read it.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is not a book that you can zoom through. It’s too layered, too build, too descript for that. It’s one that you have to read when you have nowhere else to be, nothing else to do and long for escape. It’s a slow race, a slow story because there are so many things that are being developed—but I promise it’s worth the wait. It’s 400 odd pages of amazing.

It did not end well.

But it did. It so, so did. I am waiting on bated breath for book two.

*all quotes are from ARC form and subject to change in final version

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble

The author on the web:
Blog ||| Twitter ||| Book Twitter

Friday Reads

2011-09-23T08:18:00.002-04:00

On twitter, there's this thing called #FridayReads. It's where you tell everyone what you are reading.

I am tired. I am so tired. I haven't read much lately because I've been working and adjusting and writing words and doing homework. Again. All the homework.

This weekend, in between all the things, I am going to read this book.

I probably won't be able to finish it, but I am looking forward to reading something! I am also going to do homework, do some things for the YA Spooktacular, work at the bookstore and sleep.

What are you reading this weekend??

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

2011-09-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Date: September 20, 2011
Series or Standalone: First of trilogy
ISBN: 978-0062026484
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Source: ARC
Cover thoughts: Not good. Not good. Even with the constant changes. Eh.

Rating: C-

Hyped books are either hit or miss with me. Majority of them have sadly been a miss for me. We are not friends currently, I guess. I was so looking forward to this. It was going to be so awesome and kick butt and bam! But, in the end, it wasn’t.

My only thought when I think about this book is: I can’t believe she ___ ____ !

The story is of princess Elisa, who has just turned sixteen and is about to be married to King Alejandro. She’s not excited, to say the least, but it is her duty. Elisa is also the chosen one, a bearer of a mysterious Godstone that has given her a destiny to fulfill. The only problem? Elisa is not special. She is fat and has never done anything exciting, ever. The prophecy says she will lead a revolution, but she doesn’t believe it. Not at all.

Elisa fell flat for me. I didn’t really feel like she grew at all. When I started reading the book, I completely liked it. It was interesting, it was fast moving, it was kind of exciting. And then we jump into part two of the story, and things reached a stand still for me. There wasn’t much happening. She wasn’t impressive. Another big flaw between me and Elisa, was her weight thing.

Now, I’m a fat girl. Elisa kept saying she was a fat girl. But all of it was such a stereotype. She loved to eat, and okay I like to eat, but I don’t think about food all the time. I don’t think about how fat I am. I just live. Elisa relished in these statements—her desire for food, how she knew how fat she was, etc--and the worst part about is that I didn’t believe it at all. I never saw her as fat in my head because she didn’t act like a fat girl. What do I mean? She ran with ease. She climbed stairs. She hauled things. There’s only one instance—halfway into the book—when I knew she was fat, when I believed. And then, SPOILER, she gets skinny. Awesome. Thanks for ruining that for me. (I have many thoughts on that but I won't say them for spoiler reasons.)

The things that were so important didn’t seem that important. There was a lot of telling me SO MANY THINGS and I just didn’t believe most of it. Not at all. Something about it didn’t connect with me—and it definitely wasn’t for the lack of trying to connect.

I can go on and on about how a simple, not-special girl starts a revolution. About how her actions have no validity. About the pacing of the story—which is slow in parts and too fast in others—the characters. Things happened so easily for Elisa, and I hate when that happens. Make the character work for something!

I think there were good things in this book. The world that’s built is pretty concrete. For the most part, I really enjoyed the love interest of the story. (Who’s not the husband, even though he was fine too.) I liked the idea of the story. The battles were descriptive, the magic and the power of the Godstone were developed. I think some readers—especially if you like high fantasy—will enjoy it. Things happened that I didn’t expect—i.e. that OMG moment I listed above—and there are some really great one-liners where Carson’s writing ability shines through.

Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble
The author on the web:
Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter ||| Goodreads ||| Facebook

Waiting on Wednesday (5): Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

Hey guys! Just stopping by with a quick WOW. This week it's Becca Fitzpatrick's silence. It's the third book in the Hush Hush series that was a New York times best seller! I loved loved loved Hush Hush and I can't wait for silence on October 4th :)

Get more info/pre-order: Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble The author on the web: Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter |||

Reasons To Be Happy Review

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Sourcebooks, incorporated
Date: October 1, 2011
Standalone or series: standalone
ISBN:1402260202
Format: Print, 224 pages
Cover thoughts: Love the cover, it really makes me want to smile.

Rating: B +
First line: Reasons to Be Happy: 1. Swimming with dolphins 2. Outrunning forest fire 3. A hot air balloon ride

“Reasons to by Happy:

cat purr vibrating through your skin
jumping on a trampoline in the rain
raw cookie dough
getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She use to be bold and fun. Now she’s a big chicken loser.
How could so much change so fast?
Let’s see, you could be the plain jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people; move to a new school’ have no real friends; your mom could get sick’ and oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secrete in the world. Yup, that about does it.
So the real question is how do I get that girl back?”

Reasons to be happy is an interesting story that just makes me want to smile while I read it. This is one of those books that makes me look at my life differently.

Hannah, the main character, is telling you a story of her struggle with bulimia after her mother’s death of cancer. Through the book you start to gain a sort of friendship with Hannah and her family. I love that Hannah doesn’t seem like a hollywood starlet like you’d think, it’s like she’s an actual person. She seems to give you all the little details of her struggle with self image problems that I know I’ve felt before myself.

I also love how the story seems to take a turn when Hannah takes an adventure with her aunt. She learns the true meaning of beauty and the importance of real friends.

Over all the book was really inspirational while fun to read. I think it’s a wonderful read for anyone, especially those struggling with self image. I would recommend this book for the junior high and upper elementary age because it’s a relatable story that could help a lot of girls as they move up into high school.

Be sure to check out Katrina Kittle’s Reasons to be Happy the first of October.

Get more info/pre-order: Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & NobleThe author on the web: Blog ||| Website ||| Twitter |||

Reasons To Be Happy Tour Stop

2011-09-19T04:30:00.000-04:00

I have on the blog today, a fantastic interview with author Katrina Kittle. Her book REASONS TO BE HAPPY comes out October 1 with Soucebooks. Here's a little about it!

21. Cat purr vibrating through your skin
22. Jumping on a trampoline in the rain
23. Raw cookie dough
24. Getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
25. Dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She used to be bold and fun. Now she's a big chicken loser.
How could so much change so fast?
Let's see, you could be the plain Jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people, move to a new school, have no real friends, and your mom could get sick, and, oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secret in the world.
Yep, that about does it.
So, the real question is, how do I get that girl back?

You can learn more about the book on Katrina's website |||| Katrina's blog ||| on goodreads ||| pre-order on Amazon. You can also read the first three chapters here. Now, check out our interview. Our review is going up tomorrow and if you leave a comment here or there (with your email or twitter!), you could win an ARC.

If you could be an item on mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Hmm. What a fun question. I'm almost embarrassed to admit I thought about this one longer than any of the others! I think I'd be a tamale, because they're unique and labor intensive, and therefore not on every Mexican restaurant menu. That means, they stand out—for instance, I look for them on menus and I'm always excited to see them and try them. A really good tamale is not commonplace.

Everyone’s journey into writing is different. Tell us about yours. Was it something you always wanted to do or did it just happen?

It's funny. I've always written. In those fuzzy memories of my childhood before I could write, I "told stories" in elaborate picture story boards, like graphic novels with no words! I have journals dating back to third grade. I loved to write stories and all of my creative assignments for English classes were always far longer than the assignment requirements.

I was an English major in college, but I was always studying other authors' writing, and the writing I did was academic. I never thought about creative writing for publication, for any kind of audience, until after college. It "happened" because a very particular story tugged on me, wanting to be told.

I was really driven to write my first novel, TRAVELING LIGHT, because I was teaching high school at the time and I wanted to put a human face on AIDS for those students. It started as a short story, then ended up growing into a novel. Every novel since has also begun with a social issue I'm very passionate about. I start with an issue, but then I work hard to find the characters who would inhabit a story about that issue...because a novel must be a story above all else. It can't just be some public service announcement!

What was a recent book that you read that you really enjoyed?

I was recently blown away by WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN by Lionel Shriver, told from the fascinating point of view of the mother of a school shooter. I was completely smitten with her amazing storytelling and gorgeous language. I'd go back and reread pages, just marveling at her skill and the pleasure I got from watching her unfold this suspenseful, harrowing tale. I now want to read every single other book she's ever written! I've also been haunted by WINTER'S BONE by Daniel Woodrell. I love a strong, kickbutt heroine.

Did you do any research for your writing? If so, what are some things that you pulled from?

Yes. Most of my research centered around the eating disorder. I'd had some experience with former students to pull from, but I also researched on my own extensively, as well as meeting with a therapist who works with many young women with eating disorders. Dr. Ackerman helped talk me through the "shape" of Hannah's disorder, and what her treatment and recovery would likely look like.

I'd also been wanting, for years, to use some of my experiences from a trip to Ghana and other West African countries I was lucky enough to visit. Sometimes lots of seemingly disparate ideas simmer around for a good long while before I realize they might be connected.

Tell us about REASONS TO BE HAPPY in six words or less.

Life's short. Be authentic. or LA bulimic lands in Ghana. Lifechanging.

How did you create the world of REASONS? Was there an event or a moment that inspired the idea?

I'd been a middle school teacher for several years and I'd seen a particular phenomenon occur over and over again: bright, bold, curious girls—strong and confident in their abilities—would hit a wall of self-doubt in sixth or seventh grade. They'd lose all sense of their own unique identity, stop taking any risks, and retreat into approval-seeking behaviors that made them all seem like watered-down clones of each other. I know I'd done it myself when I was in sixth grade!

So, I was interested in trying to catch that struggle, as well as the experience of coming out on the other side of it. I knew that all too often body image was still a huge part of this identity crisis. With every story I write, as the story is taking shape in my head I try to continually "up the stakes." So, originally I thought: what if this girl feels ugly but her parents are gorgeous? I upped the stakes to: what if her parents aren't just gorgeous but everyone KNOWS they're gorgeous because they're famous? What if they live where beauty is higher valued than most places? What if her parents are not just famous and gorgeous but distracted and unavailable to her...and on and on.

And then, once I got poor Hannah into a miserable situation, I thought: what if I now plunk her down in a culture where she has no idea what's even considered beautiful? What is one thing you want readers, especially young readers, to take from your books? I think all of my novels share the topic of human resilience. I'm fascinated by stories of ways people have been broken but then come back stronger at their broken places. I think that's what I want readers to take away: that life will kick us all in the teeth at some point or another, but we can rise above it, and not just survive, but thrive.

With REASONS TO BE HAPPY, I especially want them to grasp that every struggle is easier when we're our authentic selves.

What are the five things that make you happiest?

1. My amazing tribe of family and friends

2. My silly cat Joey

3. My overflowing garden

4. Cooking for friends

5. Writing

Lightning Round:
Favorite sound? Cat purr
Favorite show? The Walking Dead—can't wait for Season Two! I love a good zombie apocalypse story.
Soup or salad? Winter=soup, summer=salad
Ice cream or cake? Ice cream!
Mountain or beach? Beach
London or Paris? London
Pen or pencil? Really sharp pencils
Rain or snow? Ohhhh, such a toss up. Rainy days make great writing days...so rain.

Thanks so much to Kit for stopping by! I love this interview. Check out Hannah-Beth's review of Reasons to Be Happy and.....BLAH BLAH INSERT TOUR INFO.

Mara Madness Blog Tour

2011-09-16T03:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's stop on the MARA Madness Blog Tour hosted all month by Books Complete Me. This is stop number 10 and to see all the other ones, click on that banner below! I love The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and I'm excited to be part of the tour!

Today, you get to meet Daniel. Who's he? Well, he is Mara's amazing brother. I think you'll get to know a lot about him in this interview. He's loyal and he's always looking out for his family. There's something really intriguing about Daniel, and he's one of my favorite characters in the novel. He's smart, friendly, and a little geeky sometimes. A great combination! Before you meet him in the book, meet him here.

What do you do for fun?
I read—Don DeLillo and Franz Kafka are my favorite authors. I also write music—Chopin and Rachmaninoff are my favorite composers.

What is your earliest memory?
When I was five, my parents took me and Mara on a cruise to Alaska. They had this talent show set up for the kids and my parents wanted me and Mara to participate so they could get a break and relax. Mara wanted to sing a song and I wanted to play piano, but then she decided she wanted to do something together. So we practiced Chopsticks for weeks, keeping it a secret from our parents, until the day of the talent show. The crew took us to a big stage and there was a piano all set up in the middle, and when we went out there, we saw virtually every single person on the cruise ship in the audience—there must have been hundreds of people. I remember being really nervous and I froze, but Mara didn’t miss a beat. She just walked right up to the piano and sat down, then turned and waited for me. I followed, and we played, and everyone gave us a standing ovation. That’s my earliest memory.

Who has had the most influence on you?
Franz Kafka.

Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
My mom. She’s been through more than most people know about, but she hasn’t let anything weaken her. She loves her kids ferociously and would do anything for us.

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
When the delivery people showed up at our old house with the piano. I don’t remember ever saying that I wanted to play, but I think my mom knew that I did. It was an old Steinway and must have been expensive, but without it, I wouldn’t have discovered how much I love music.

What was it like when you heard about the accident your sister was in?
I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. At the time, we didn’t know if she would wake up. But our father told us more than once how dangerous it is to do what she did—she wasn’t the first teenager to try it. So I was also angry at her. It was truly the most horrible moment of my life.

What's your biggest secret?
I have Bieber Fever.

---
That's Daniel!! You'll get to know him more in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and he's an amazing brother/character.

As part of the Mara Madness Blog Tour, you get to solve a puzzle! Each blog has one letter assigned to them. Each stop on the tour (21 stops total) will be posting a letter and the chance to enter ends the last day of the tour, 9/30 at midnight. When you put the puzzle together, it spells out an important line from the book! Even if you haven't read the book yet, you'll still be able to piece it together. You can submit your answer here when you know it. Make sure to check out Books Complete Me on Monday the October 3rd to see if you were right!

The prize: 2 people will win a signed, finished copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!

The letter for this blog:

Make sure you check out Books with Bite on Monday (and all the other stops!) to gather the clues.