Confessions of a YA Writer

I Just Hit "Publish" for Black Moon :)

2012-01-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

I've had A LOT of people ask me when Black Moon will be published. Originally, the release date was January 13th, but I ran slightly behind schedule. I finished editing/formatting earlier tonight and can now say I've hit the "Publish" buttons for both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. :)

Which brings me to this:

I'm currently participating in Amazon's KDP Select Program and have granted exclusive rights to Amazon for ninety days for both Silver Moon and Under the Stars. Once that ninety days is over, I'll probably re-publish SM and UtS on B&N once again.

I'm SO excited to see what everyone thinks about Black Moon. I really enjoyed diving into Candra and Ben's story yet again, and I'm glad I can share it with you all.

Goodbye, 2011. Hello, 2012!

2011-12-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

When I began to write this blog post, I wasn't exactly sure what I'd say. Quite frankly, I still don't. Was it a crazy year? Hell yes. THE craziest. Was it filled with happiness and hope? Eh, not really. Sometimes I'm happy I made certain decisions, and sometimes . . . not so much.

Sneak Peek: Black Moon

2011-12-29T09:12:00.000-05:00

My holiday present to you: a snippet of Black Moon. I'm still crossing my fingers it'll be finished and released by January 13, 2012, but we'll have to wait and see. Please remember this scene is subject to change at any time, and it's in rough draft. Hope you enjoy! ;)

Book Review: Geek Girl

2011-12-20T08:00:00.010-05:00

Jen's life of partying and sneaking out has grown stale. So on a whim, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a goody-two-shoes geek, into a "bad boy." As she hangs out with Trevor, however, she finds it's actually kinda fun being a geek. But when Trevor finds out about the bet, Jen must fight for the things she's discovered matter most: friendship, family, and, above all, love.

Book Review: The Merchant's Daughter

2011-12-19T08:00:00.017-05:00

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff--a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Book Review: The Pledge

2011-12-18T19:07:00.000-05:00

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom...

Confession # 39

2011-11-30T09:57:00.000-05:00

I confess . . .

Happy Halloween, Y'all!

2011-10-31T11:47:00.002-04:00

The moment has finally arrived, folks. I’ve been SO excited to unveil this cover, as it’s my favorite so far.

Are you ready for it?

3 . . .

Book Review: Virtuosity

2011-10-18T11:03:00.003-04:00

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her—and riles her up—like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

It's up, up, and awaaaaay!

2011-10-11T20:47:00.003-04:00

I've changed the blog around, guys. I've been saying I would for a couple of weeks, but I finally did it this past weekend. I wasn't really sure what I envisioned for this blog, but I knew I wanted something dark. What do you guys think? Does it fit?

Also, check out the spiffy URL. Eh? Eh? *nudges* Cool, huh? And the little crow at the front of the URL (aka "Favicon"). Isn't it cute? (until it poops on your head!)

In other news...

News & Stuff

2011-09-29T09:28:00.002-04:00

As many of you may know, Black Moon is scheduled to be released in 2012. I think, at the rate I'm going, I'll have no problem finishing before the end of the year. (yayayayay!) So, I decided to pick a release date. I wanted it to be either January or early February, but February's pushing it. Lucky for me January has a Friday the 13th.

Mark your calendars! Black Moon's official release date is

Book Review: Grounded

2011-09-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

At last, Avery thought that she had made it back to a normal high school life-- except for the death threats on her head and the harpie in her backyard. Trouble never stays far away though, and Mikhail hatches a plan that endangers life as she knows it. Avery is drawn back into a vicious harpie war and is finally forced to confront her relationship with Mason whether she is ready to or not.

Goodreads: 5/5 stars

Constance Sharper has done it again! (Kept me completely engrossed, that is.) Grounded is the sequel to Airborne, and in it we find Avery and Mason fighting not only sinister harpies, but also those who are trying to keep them apart. Grounded has as much, if not more, action as Airborne, and fans of Sharper definitely won’t be disappointed.

Seers Blog Tour + Author Interview!

2011-09-16T06:00:00.115-04:00

For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3/5 stars

After Kate’s parents die in a car accident that she and her sisters survive, she gains the ability to see auras. Enter new student Patrick O’Donnell, an Irish boy who has captivated Kate’s every thought. But there’s a tiny problem—he doesn’t have an aura. So, what does he want? Why does he follow her everywhere? Kate soon realizes he’s her Guardian, sent to protect her from Demons who know she’s special.

I will say that I was a little put off by the Kate and Aaron relationship. I hated to see her drag him along when she had feelings for Patrick. Overall, though, Seers was well-written. I immediately thought Seers sounded like Evermore and Hush, Hush. Fans of these books will enjoy the similar paranormal elements.

Now, let's learn a little bit about Heather, shall we?

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she loves her family very much. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in English. She has always been an avid reader, and reading and writing are among her most favorite things to do. She also enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first short story—at the age of four—she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Seers is her first published novel.

Guys, I saved the best for last. Now it's time to get personal with Heather. Ready?!

3....

2....

1....

Tell us your latest news.

My best friend Emily is coming to Utah for a visit. I'm SO excited!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I've always been a writer, but there are a few important milestones along my path to publication. When I was twelve I moved from simple short stories to an actual novel. When I was sixteen I started seriously getting ready to submit something. At eighteen I finally plucked up the courage and put myself out there, and as a result I got my first rejection letter. At twenty-one I finally got my first book accepted.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My love of reading inspired me to write. The more I read, the more I wrote. But what caused me to switch to novel writing? Quite simply, I ran out of books. I was twelve when I'd read just about everything I could get my hands on. I was desperate. That's when I had an epiphany. Since I knew everything I liked in a story, why not write my own? My first novel was just for fun, and getting it published was the furthest thing from my mind. And in all fairness, that's for the best. My first book is like one giant cliché. But it was fun to write, and that's what really started my dreams of becoming an author.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Overall, I think Seers is a story about hope. Even when things seem darkest, there's hope. That's something that I honestly believe, and I think that message shines through the story.

How much of the book is realistic?

For me, the emotions are the most realistic part. A lot of the things Kate does as a result of losing her parents—particularly in regards to her boyfriend, Aaron—I would never have dreamed of doing personally. But I've dealt with hard losses of my own, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you never know exactly how you're going to react. I think Kate did the best she could do, and honestly, I think she handled everything remarkably well.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

My roommates at Snow College. Each of them took the time to read my book before it was accepted, they discussed my characters and the plot, and they were there to celebrate with me when I got accepted for publication. Townhouse girls, you're all amazing!

Who designed the cover?

The talented Danie Ramrell, from Cedar Fort Publishing.

Do you have anything specific you want to say to your readers?

I just hope people can have as much fun reading Seers as I had writing it. And for those of you that take the time to read—thanks!

Random Questions!

Skittles or Starburst?

Skittles!

Favorite movie?

I'll narrow that down to favorite chick flick: You've Got Mail, with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks

Favorite TV show?

There are so many good ones, but at the moment I'm on a Doctor Who high.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

List five random facts about you most people don't know.

1. I can't sleep if there's any light in the room. I even have to prop a book up in front of my digital clock to block out the blue glow.

2. I really suffer with motion sickness. When I was little, I could get sick on a simple park swing. It's improved a lot over time, but I'm still not a fan of roller-coasters.

3. My younger siblings used to call me Hitler, because they thought I was such a dictator. For the record, the most I commanded them to do was clean their rooms.

4. I'll probably be kicked out of the girls club for this one, but I absolutely hate clothes shopping. Do I like a new outfit? Sure. Do I want to go to the store, find it, and buy it? Nope.

5. I hate doing laundry. I think it's probably the most senseless thing in the world, except for the end result of actually getting clean clothes. But the sorting, washing, drying, folding, and then putting away? No thanks. I'll go read a book instead.

Thanks so much Heather for stopping by and letting us into your world! :) For everyone interested in reading Seers, it's available on October 8, 2011 from Cedar Fort Publishing.

Find Heather at the links below:
Goodreads
Facebook
Seers's Official Website
Heather's Official Website

Cedar Fort links:
Cedar Fort Publishing
Cedar Fort Facebook

FAQs

2011-09-13T10:52:00.006-04:00

I’ve been asked this question a lot lately by readers:

“What’s with all the mystery in Silver Moon?”

This is usually one of many questions, but it takes the overall lead. I’m going to do my best to address this issue for you guys (and I should probably start a FAQs section somewhere on my blog). Ready? ‘Kay. Here goes.

I want to leave you hanging. Yeah, I said it. I want you guys to finish the book and have more questions than you started with. I want you guys to continuously ask yourselves what the final result will be. I want you guys to think, producing endless scenarios in your mind of what will happen. But, most of all, I want to leave you guys with these inquiries so you’ll read Black Moon to find out what happens next.

I know this perturbs most people because, let’s face it, most people are impatient. Many of your questions, however, will be answered in the next book. I promise. :) For the sake of convenience, though, I’m going to address other commonly asked questions:

What’s with the “marked” thing? What does that even mean?

I’m happy to report that this is addressed in Chapter One of Black Moon. :)

I don’t understand the shadow man being linked to Ethan. How does that work?

Easy. Ethan was influenced by magic. Because the Conways use the dark art heavily, they had no problem concealing him.

What’s so special about Candra’s power? I mean, it doesn’t seem like she should be that important, not enough to cause all these problems with the Conways.

Candra will possess a power that’s identical to someone in the rival pack. This isn’t explained in Silver Moon, but it will become apparent in Black Moon, among many other revelations and secrets her family has kept from her.

Will Candra and Ben be together in the Black Moon?

They might, or might not, be more “enemy than friend” in BM. Can't really tell you that. ;)

I’ll continue to address questions as they come in. Feel free to email me with any other questions you have. I’ll add them to the FAQs section. (Yes, I’ve decided to add one.) :D

Book Review: The Last Dragon

2011-09-08T09:32:00.000-04:00

Master storyteller Jane Yolen (Owl Moon, Sword of the Rightful King) and celebrated fantasy artist Rebecca Guay (Swamp Thing, Magic: The Gathering) weave a textured and lyrical tale of adventure, homelands, and heroism the hard way.Two hundred years ago, humans drove the dragons from the islands of May. Now, the last of the dragons rises to wreak havoc anew — with only a healer’s daughter and a kite-flying would-be hero standing in its way.

*ARC Courtesy of Netgalley

Goodreads: 4/5 stars

I must admit this is my first graphic novel. Not my usual read, but since it’s fantasy, I figured it’d be something I’d like. And I was right.

The illustrations are beautifully done. The storyline is great. A town is threatened by a dragon in an age when dragons don’t exist anymore. They send a few of the town boys in search of a hero, and they find a man who looks the part, but isn’t really up for the challenge. With a little help from a female mentor, the hero learns he can’t pretend to be the stereotypical conqueror—he actually has to slay the dragon.

Book Review: Ashes

2011-09-07T12:34:00.000-04:00

It could happen tomorrow...

A cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed."

Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human...

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive.

**ARC Courtesy of Netgalley

Goodreads: 3.5/5 stars

Ashes was a great post-apocalyptic/zombie novel. The first half of the book we’re introduced to Alex, Ellie and Tom. Alex suffers from a brain tumor and wanted to escape to the woods for the weekend when the EMP hits—which kills you, does absolutely nothing to you, gives you heightened senses, or leaves you as a flesh-and-gut-eating zombie. I have to say the first half of the book with these characters was heart-pounding, non-stop action. I couldn’t turn the page quick enough.

The second half of this book is a different story.

Throughout the first half I was mentally saying, Yes! Yes! FINALLY another strong female heroine. But guess what? She makes stupid decisions in the second half. I was beginning to think the brain tumor returned and was impairing her judgment. Oh, and by the way… **Click the link above to check out the spoiler on GR's** I was more perturbed with Alex during the last 200 pages. She kept telling herself (in the narrative) that she was going to find a way out of Rule (the new town she lives in), and that she’d cozy up to these people so they’d trust her and let her leave to find Ellie and Tom. Then she dons a second love interest and there’s a totally new cast of characters; so many, in fact, I was confused as to all the new name drops.

Had this book stayed continuous with the first part, I wouldn’t have hesitated on rating it five stars. Due to the switch up, though, and the fact that Alex never bothered with finding Tom and Ellie (and pretty much forgot about them!), I had to think twice about what I’d rate this. Overall, the book is well-written, with cliffhanger chapters and crazy amounts of action. Also, the ending had me hyperventilating. I hope there isn’t too long of a wait for the next in the series.

Book Review: Tris and Izzie

2011-08-31T11:46:00.000-04:00

“I don’t want him to love me because of a potion,” she said.

Izzie loves Mark, and why shouldn’t she? As the captain of the basketball team, he is kind and loving and he’s everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Her BFF loves . . . somebody, but she won’t say who. So when a hot new guy, Tristan, shows up at school, who better for Izzie to fix up her friend with? And what better way to do it than with a love philtre?

But even the best of magic has a way of going awry—and Izzie finds she’s accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that’s a problem. First of all, there’s Mark. Second, Tristan comes with baggage—like the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever he’s with Izzie, and the fact that he comes from the place where Izzie’s father was killed, years ago, by an enormous, evil serpent that’s still around—and it knows Izzie is out there.

**ARC Courtesy of Netgalley

Goodreads: No rating

The only redeeming portion of this book is its cover, unfortunately.

As I read the first fifty pages (forty-eight, to be exact), I couldn’t help but notice that something was missing and completely off. I had to really think about this, and I’ve come to the conclusion there were a few things that might’ve made me lose my interest:

1. The voice. The entire time I read this, I felt like Izzie was in middle school. She didn’t have that standout YA voice like a lot of books out there right now. Instead, hers was whiny and pulled the I’m-better-than-you vibe more than once, which is something I absolutely loathe. Give me a great voice and I’m hooked for the rest of story.

2. The drama. Everything was melodramatic. Everything!!!!!!!!! Let me tell you a secret: Exclamation marks burn my eyes, people. It hurts. It hurts so badly.

At times, Izzie would just yell (or what seemed like yelling) at Branna. And when she first met Tristan? Yeaaah… She became sweaty and angry because he glanced her way a couple of times. The hell? Ignore the dude if you don’t like it, but don’t act a fool. When Izzie asked if his parents’ money ran out for private school, I wanted to beat her with a crowbar. Yes, I’m violent sometimes.

Also, Branna was this lumbering ogre who acted all Emo because she was in love with a guy who didn’t know she existed. But, because my second job is actually as THE Sherlock Holmes, I’m deducing Branna is in love with Mark, who also happens to be Izzie’s boyfriend. Am I right? Yes? Someone get me a cookie. Or tiramisu. I love tiramisu. <3

3. The setting. This probably sounds really weird, but when I read, I get a feel for the surroundings and “atmosphere” of where the book actually takes place. I didn’t feel that with this book. I had no sense of setting whatsoever. I mean, I knew they were in school one minute and the next Izzie was at home, but that was it. Nothing was described. There was more narrative about Izzie’s mom’s magical capabilities than there was dialogue or description.

Sadly, I have to agree with the other negative reviews. I typically don’t let reviews hinder my decision-making when it comes to how I feel about books, but I couldn’t get into this one. However, since this book has already received its fair share of negativity, I’m not going to rate it.

I would recommend this to readers of a younger age. I could see this being a middle grade novel instead of YA.

Amazon Kindle Indie Bookstore

2011-08-16T09:35:00.001-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I received this month's newsletter from Amazon and the first part is about the launch of the Amazon Kindle Indie Bookstore. Yes, my friends. INDIE BOOKS. As in: Self-published books for your Kindle. As in: We have our own piece of Amazon now.

We have our own piece of Amazon now!

Excuse me while I squee uncontrollably. I can't even begin to explain how exciting this is, you guys. It's like self-publishers are FINALLY being accepted. I think the bar has been set a little higher than in the past, and now we have the ease of controlling our future, our destiny.

Ahem.

Sorry. That's my overactive imagination speaking. Anyway, I'm leaving you guys with the link so you can download wonderful (and cheap!) books to your Kindles:

http://www.amazon.com/kindleindiebooks

I've also put this in my links list on the right side of this blog.

Book Review: Beyond the Grave

2011-08-15T06:00:00.010-04:00

I can't move forward with my life, until I know my demons are confined to the past…

Being Charlotte Silver, the daughter of famous paranormal investigators, means my life isn't like that of other teenage girls. Especially after what happened to my parents. Things changed. I missed prom and deferred my big college plans. But I still have my boyfriend, Noah. He's everything I could want—if I can figure out what's up with him. Suddenly Noah is secretive.

I fear it has something to do with what happened to us three months ago. The bruise Noah suffered during a paranormal attack has never completely faded. Now I've learned Noah is researching demons. And when he disappears, it's up to me to find him—before something else does.

**ARC Courtesy of Netgalley

Goodreads: 3/5 stars

While I loved, loved, LOVED the previous books in this series, Beyond the Grave was my least favorite. Nothing happened for at least the first 100 pages, and I found myself thinking about other things—homework, watching T.V., reading other books in my TBR pile. I also found some of the plot twists predictable.

I really hated that this just wasn’t my favorite. I wanted that heavenly feeling. You know, the kind you get when a series ends, you sit back and sigh, maybe even smile to yourself? Yeah, that didn’t happen for me. :(

But I do love Charlotte, the Silvers, Noah and everyone else in these books. I think the characters are awesome and I’m glad everything was finally resolved with the Watcher. Mara Purnhagen is a fantastic writer and I’ll read anything she publishes in the future.

Book Review: Airborne + Author Interview!

2011-08-13T14:42:00.001-04:00

Avery knew she had a knack for attracting trouble, but even she is shocked when a six-foot-something harpie shows up on her doorstep. Coping with the existence of a mythological race? Okay. Unwittingly finding herself in the middle of a vicious harpie conflict? A little less okay. Having to rely on an arrogant harpie boy who gets under her skin? Now that is something Avery isn't sure she can handle.

Goodreads: 5/5 stars

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never read, or ever heard about, a book concerning harpies. Constance brings a new creature to the paranormal/mythological table, and she isn’t afraid to throw you in with them. Airborne is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat supernatural thriller with a lot of action and a budding romance.

Avery is thrust into the world of harpies after she cuts her hand on what she thought was a seashell. As it turns out, the “seashell” wasn’t a seashell at all; it was an amulet from the harpy king himself. The magic inside the amulet leaked into Avery and now others are after her. But with a little help from Mason, son of the harpy king, she’ll have to protect the magic inside of her until they figure out how to release it. A way that doesn’t involve death.

Interview:

How much of the book is realistic?
Airborne is rooted in 99.9% rooted in reality. It was set in Alaska following a normal seventeen-year-old going through high school. The places are real, the world is real, but the harpies…not so real. I enjoy writing this way because it’s easier for everyone to relate and be that protagonist.

Do you have a specific writing style?
Probably the most notable thing about my writing style is the constant world building. I strive to set the scene while keeping the action moving quickly. It really allows you to slip into a book if you can feel yourself in the shoes in the cold rain on the treacherous cliff…

What are your current projects?
I’m working on a number of things. I’m beginning on the third book in the Airborne Saga to have it out by 2012. I’m working on a project called TGM focusing around witches in another urban fantasy. I have a project coming up with the proceeds going to charity called Girl Eternal.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don’t take it all too seriously. The writing world is a professional one, of that I have no doubt, but that doesn’t mean you should be stiff about everything that happens. Learn to laugh at the little things like the bad reviews. It’ll make life much easier and happier. After all, you likely went into writing because you love it, not to be a business manager.

Quick! Randomness:

Skittles or Starburst?
Starburst

Chocolate or coffee?
Chocolate

Favorite movie?
Insidious

Favorite song at the moment?
I’m having a disturbing attachment to “Snuff” by Slipknot. Fits one of my characters.

What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading an ARC Metamorphoses by Devon Ashley, part of the Immortal Archives.

Book Review: Ordained + Author Interview!

2011-08-04T06:00:00.046-04:00

Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.

Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.

Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.

But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendents of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.

Goodreads: 5/5 stars

The Order trains hunters to kill vampires, not demons. When Abby shows up after two hundred years, she sets everyone on edge with her brazen antics and fearless approach. Abby is the only person who can kill the demon after the Order. The one reason she stays at the training school is to protect her friend Emily, who had a run-in with a demon of her own. But is Abby strong enough to face the demon, or will he be the death of her?

Ordained is a new twist on vampires and demons, one which has non-stop action that will leave you wanting more. Devon Ashley has clean prose, which is easy to follow, and she’s able to establish great character relationships—a main key to staying engrossed. Don’t pass this one up!

Interview:

What inspired you to write your first book? A really horrible trip I took up the east coast. Murphy’s Law X 100. I didn’t actually write that story, but it got me going on the idea. That and a screenwriting judge suggesting I turn my screenplay into a series of books.

What book are you reading now? The Clockwork Prince. Yeah, I know…I’m behind on a lot of books!

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Lauren DeStefano and Rachel Hawkins. Love those gals. :)

Do you see writing as a career? Would love writing to be my career, but only if it pays the bills!

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? I suppose we’re always changing things in our minds as we move forward, but nah. (I already changed the story lots before I published)

Who designed the cover? I did. I’m between jobs right now and couldn’t afford a cover artist, so I took a pic of the garnet cross that Abby wears in the novel. Yep, you heard me right – my vampire is wearing a cross. :p

Quick! Randomness:

Chocolate or coffee? Oh, that’s just cruel to make me choose!

Favorite song at the moment? What I consider a good theme song for Ordained – Redesign Me by VersaEmerge. It’s a great fit for Abby’s relationship with the Order.

Book Review: A Long, Long Sleep

2011-08-03T06:00:00.016-04:00

It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone—and her future full of peril.

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.

Goodreads: 4/5 stars

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

First, let me say that I’ve NEVER cried over a single book as much as I did this one. Which sucked because I read this during downtime at work and I’m sure my boss and/or co-workers thought I’d lost it, yet they never really asked. (Probably too afraid.)

The plot is simple—girl has been asleep for sixty-two years, only to be awoken by a “kiss.” Rosalinda was placed in a stasis tube and left for over six decades. When she’s “kissed” awake by a mysterious boy, she learns of the horrors she’s slept through—including the Dark Times, which killed off most of the human race.

The actual story is completely different, however. While the comparisons between Sleeping Beauty and A Long, Long Sleep are definitely there, this story is anything but your average fairytale. For starters, it takes place in the future—a dystopian/sci-fi setting where technology is the foundation for everything and one company rules all. Secondly, there is a heavy abuse theme that the reader learns more about through progressive flashbacks, which attributed to all the crying I did during the book. This coupled with Rose’s realization that everyone she ever loved is long gone, and that she’s completely alone in this new world, was enough to set my emotional meter through the roof.

The only reason I didn’t give this book five stars was for the simple fact that there wasn’t much world building. I would’ve liked to have seen this expanded, especially since it’s a dystopian/sci-fi. Other than that, I’d definitely recommend this book, as it’s different from anything I’ve read in quite a while.

And the Winner Is...

2011-08-02T18:15:00.000-04:00

Marjie!

There was a tie and I had to use random.org for the tiebreaker. Marjie, you have forty-eight hours to respond to my email. Otherwise, the prize defaults to the next person.

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered. I hope all of you are able to read Under the Stars in the future! :)

Under the Stars Contest :)

2011-07-27T12:45:00.002-04:00

As most of you know, Under the Stars releases on Monday. So I figured what better way is there to kick off a pre-release party than by giving away a signed copy of UtS? Contest ends on release day (Monday, 8/01/11). As with the rest of my contests, this will be straightforward.

Contest is international.

+1 If you're a new follower

+2 If you're an old follower

+1 If you Tweet this contest (limited to once per day)

+2 If you become a fan of me on Goodreads

+2 If you become a fan of me on Facebook

+3 If you're already a fan on Goodreads

+3 If you're already a fan on Facebook

Leave the totals in the comment section of this blog post along with your email address.
Whoever has the highest count by Monday wins.
If there is a tie between two or more contestants, I will use random.org to select the winner.

Good luck to everyone! :)

This will be my last contest for a while, as I plan on going into hibernation soon to pump out another book. ;)

Contest!

2011-07-15T10:15:00.001-04:00

It's Friday and I'm feeling generous. :D So, the first FIFTEEN people to comment on my Facebook status with their name (because some people don't use real/full names on FB) and email address will receive an e-copy of either SILVER MOON or UNDER THE STARS, or both. ;) It's your choice. Yaaay! *parties*

Book Review: Lost Voices

2011-07-09T08:00:00.004-04:00

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3/5 stars

I have never wanted to punch a mermaid before, but I do now.

This is straight up Mean Girls meets The Little Mermaid. The main themes in this book are DARK—murder, rape, abuse—so this isn’t a light read by any means.

Luce, the main character, finds herself in the ocean after her uncle tries to rape her, but she has no clue how she got there, or how several beautiful girls saved her life. It’s not until they reach the safety of their cave (their home) that she realizes she’s like them, complete with a shiny new tail. The girls welcome her into their group, but advise her of rules that are set in place. These mermaids hate humans and happily wreck boats with their singing capabilities. However, they can’t, under any circumstances, make contact with humans again. They also aren’t able to transform back into humans because the process is too painful and kills them. But Luce is still thinking about how her father was a fisherman, and how his boat was wrecked at sea. Could her new friends be the ones who killed him?

What I did like about this novel is how atmospheric it was. I felt like I was swimming in the water with these crazed merfolk and eating mussels for breakfast.

What I didn’t like about this is how passive Luce is. These girls are constantly mean to her, including their queen, yet she says nothing because she wants to feel like she finally belongs somewhere.

I also didn’t like how there were baby mermaids and that they were killed by orcas. A little too disturbing for my taste.

Book Review: Cinder and Ella

2011-06-30T08:00:00.081-04:00

After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3/5 stars

If you're looking for a unique spin on the classic story of Cinderella, then look no further. Melissa Lemon has woven together a new tale that separates Cinderella into two main characters, where there are no fairy godmothers, Prince Charmings, or glittering balls.

After their father's sudden disappearance, Cinder and Ella's mother become a little loopy and does nothing but sit at her spinning wheel all day. Cinder and Ella are left to take care of their wild siblings, but want something better for their lives. So when Cinder goes to work at the castle, Ella is left alone with her crazy family. When the constant screaming and fighting becomes too much, Ella leaves home and doesn't bother telling anyone. Soon, a man finds her on the side of the road and says his wife needs help with chores and their kids. Ella finally feels like she's accomplished something in her life--and finally gotten rid of her troubled past. But when three knights show up looking for Ella, she knows something's wrong. Turns out Cinder was worried about her sister, and the evil Prince has seduced Cinder into believing he actually cares about Ella's safety. But the Prince has other plans--plans that involve magic and deceit.

If you enjoy books that read as a folktale, then this is the book for you. There were times when the narrative dragged, or was rushed, and the romance/love interests happened a little too quickly. But overall, Melissa did a nice job with the new, creative spin.

Be sure to check out the author, Melissa Lemon, at these locations:

Book Review: Spellbound

2011-06-22T12:31:00.006-04:00

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3.5/5 stars

Spellbound is one of those stories that’s like a car wreck—you just can’t stop looking. Okay, bad analogies aside, it took me about seventy pages before I could immerse myself in the story. Nothing really happens up until that point, except that the main characters are introduced. We have Emma, the new girl who just moved to town because her stepfather is an alcoholic and was drunk when he picked her up from school one day, then wrecked the vehicle they were in, almost killing them. So, now Emma lives with her aunt in New York, where she attends Vincent Academy, a private school for the rich.

You want to know why this book was like a car wreck? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s not the fact that this book was written well; it’s the fact that I literally laughed out loud consistently. I honestly don’t remember the last time I’ve read a book that made me do this (which is sad, people!).

There was an instant, love-at-first-sight connection between Emma and the hottest guy at school, Brendan Salinger, which made me go “bleeechhh,” roll my eyes and almost barf on myself. HOWEVER, the reason for this is explained later on. I wish the romance aspect and why they’re destined to be together would’ve been explained earlier, because I almost dropped this book based on the relationship. Luckily, the plot redeems itself.

The reason I didn’t round this up to 4 stars is because Brendan doesn’t sound like Brendan as the relationship progresses. He gets sappier and sappier. I wanted him to keep his bad-boy persona, but he just loses it. Like, I’m pretty sure he flushed his personality down the toilet. Or, he’s a totally different person in disguise. Because, let me tell you, he frustrated me to no end with constant I’llalwaysbethereforyous. OKAY! We get it. Jeez. I heard you the first 100 times. If he were my boyfriend, I would’ve slapped him with my pimp hand, just to bring him back to reality.

The other reason I didn’t give this 4 stars was because the villain is predictable. We know who he is and we know what he’ll do after a certain incident involving *spoiler* the principal’s office and expulsion. I did find myself tense, however, during the climax. I wasn’t sure if Emma and/or Brendan would actually make it, so that was good to see.

Overall, I enjoyed this book; it kept me laughing and the storyline was different than most books out there.

Official Cover Reveal of Black Moon

2011-06-18T19:10:00.003-04:00

Being an indie author means you have to either create your own covers or have someone do it for you. I'm lucky enough to have *some* skills on Photoshop. While I've been through several versions, I've finally settled on this:

Let me explain quickly why I love this. It's not the fact that I was lucky enough to find a stock photo with a brunette holding a silver heart locket (read SM and you'll understand the symbolism of this), it's the way her powers are leaking out of the necklace like they can't wait to be released. And, boy, are they ever fighting to get out of there. *squees a little*

I really, really, really can't wait to finish this book so you guys can read the next chapter of this trilogy. I think this next one will be more action-packed and I'm dying to get it out there. You know, before the great apocalypse of 2012 and whatnot.

Want to add it to your Goodreads shelf? Click awaaaay.

Book Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset

2011-06-13T11:40:00.001-04:00

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3/5 stars

Finley Jayne knows she has a violent side, but she has no idea why. After her lord attempts to force himself on her, she fights him, wins, and flees the scene. When Griffin King accidentally hits her with his car, he takes her under his care. Through Finley’s recovery, she realizes that, under Griffin’s roof, she’s actually normal.

Griffin and his posse are searching for a man called The Machinist, who is determined to destroy most of England with his automatons. Finley wants in on the action, but The Machinist is setting up Griffin and his band of misfits. Now they look to Finley, since she’s the outsider, believing she might be working alongside The Machinist. She must convince her only so-called friends that she’s not the one behind the attacks, and that they have to work together to think like The Machinist. But that’s easier said than done when everyone mistrusts you.

This was my first steampunk novel (I know—I’m late to the party) and it wasn’t as grand as I had hoped. The premise is great, the underlying sexual tension between the couples is great, but I felt like The Machinist took a backseat to whether or not Finley and Griffin would be together. And I’ll be the first to admit I pushed for those two! However, while there was a lot of action with Finley and the powers her fellow housemates held, there just wasn’t a lot going on with the antagonist, in my opinion. I’m anxious to see what happens in book two, and look forward to reading it.

Book Review: Starcrossed

2011-06-10T11:21:00.000-04:00

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 4/5 stars

Helen Hamilton is just trying to make it through high school. Possessing the ability to run faster than most human beings (among other powers), she knows she’s always been different from most kids. When the Delos family moves onto Nantucket Island, she has the sudden urge to kill Lucas—one of the Delos boys. The closer she gets to him, the more she sees the Three Fates, who are behind her murderous thoughts.

After a brief visit with death, both Lucas and Helen realize the Three Fates aren’t following them anymore, and that they actually care about each other. Lucas teaches Helen how to control her powers since certain Delos family members want Helen dead. The extended Delos family members believe that, if they kill the last of the Four Houses (Helen’s), they can raise Atlantis. But the further Helen and Lucas dive into their relationship, the more they learn about their roles in previous lifetimes—and how destiny will always keep them apart.

I had originally debated whether I would give this book 3.5 stars or not, but decided to go with 4. The reason? I couldn’t stop reading. Even though I’ve been finished for days, I still think about the characters and wonder what’ll happen in book two. I know everyone’s comparing this book to Twilight, but it seems comparing every book with a falling-head-over-heels relationship to S. Meyer’s work is pretty popular these days. While there are similarities, I like to read books for their stories and not base them on something I’ve already read. Where’s the fun in that?

Launch of Dark Horse Indie Books! :)

2011-06-06T14:55:00.001-04:00

My fellow indie friend, Devon Ashley, thought it would be awesome to join forces with other indie authors and create a blog dedicated to only those who are self-published. While the common misconception is that self-published authors suck (and let's face it, everyone's thought that at some point or another), we're determined to prove that there are great stories in self-publishing industry. Plus, they're cheap, so what more could you ask for? ;)

Devon had asked me right after I launched Silver Moon in April if I was interested. I didn't hesitate to say yes. Joining the dark side (heh heh) with us is Constance Sharper, author of Airborne. If you haven't checked out either of these ladies' blogs, you should. I've linked their names to make it easier. Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.

The purpose of our new blog is to review indie authors only. We believe that they deserve as much attention as the books published through the Big Six. Be sure to stop by the blog and tell us what you think! And keep your eyes open for an upcoming giveaway. :)

CLICK THIS LINK TO CHECK OUT THE SITE, or click on the blog button on the right-hand side -------------------------->

ARC Winner!

2011-06-01T09:26:00.000-04:00

Congrats to ioanaraluk95! I'll be emailing you shortly to obtain your mailing address.

Hope you enjoy Under the Stars! :)

Book Review: Bumped

2011-05-31T13:30:00.000-04:00

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Goodreads: 2/5 stars

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

I really wanted to like this novel, as it’s a completely different concept from anything out there today, but I only managed to get 54% of the way through the book. I know that’s over half and I probably should've kept going, but it got to the point that I would make my Kindle read to me, and even then I’d fall asleep. Never a good sign. By the end of reading the book, I still had no idea where the plot was going, only that Melody was still proud to show off her baby bump, and Harmony was still an exaggerated version of a Christian.

Book Review: The Card: A Van Stone Novel

2011-05-28T17:36:00.013-04:00

Van Stone has it all, the perfect family, great friends and the best job in the world. Then, his life falls apart. Thrust into a deadly plot masterminded by unknown enemies, Van is in a race against time to save those closest to him. When Van wins an essay contest to become the new batboy for a Major League baseball team, he finds himself in a foreign world of million dollar athletes and fame. Forced into the spotlight, Van is uncomfortable in his new role. His instant fame at South Seattle High School has turned all eyes toward him, including unknown adversaries that want something he has. Jack Stone works for Biotrust, a large and secretive biotechnology company. Van’s father is on the verge of making one of the most stunning discoveries in over a century, a technology that could change the world forever. While finishing the project, Biotrust forces Van’s father into a leave of absence. In an effort to protect his secrets, Jack may have endangered his family. As The Card barrels forward, Van slams headfirst into a plot that threatens the people near to him. Working through adversity, Van finds an inner strength. He draws on his deductive powers and an unstoppable attitude, to battle the corrupt forces. Not knowing who to trust, Van sets out with his two best friends to solve the secrets behind an innocent gift, a Moe Berg baseball card. Set in Seattle, Washington, this faced paced mystery takes you behind the scenes in professional baseball and into a world of cutting edge science and technology. Full of unexpected twists and high stakes drama, this first in a series adventure will keep you guessing until the final scene. As fresh as today’s headlines, Jim Devitt, in his debut novel, weaves a suspenseful ride that blows the lid off scientific advancement, in a story of breathtaking action and suspense.

Goodreads: 3.5/5 stars (Rounded up to 4 stars)

**Book Copy Courtesy of Author

After winning an essay competition, Van Stone is the new batboy in town. His life is great until a death rocks his world. Then there’s the whole ordeal with the baseball card his father gave him that everyone’s after. What’s so special about this card? It’s just a baseball player who hardly made it to the big time, so it’s nothing of value.

Except Van’s wrong—it’s highly valuable.

Men who wear black suits (or “Suits,” as they’re called in the book) are after Van and he has to figure out why. All Van knows is that it’s related to his father, who happens to work for a very secretive company called Biotrust. When Van begins to receive threatening text messages and notes in his backpack, he realizes they want the card. But is he willing to give it up?

Not my usual read, but it was a quick one for me. It started a little slow, but picked up pace about 75-100 pages in. From then on, it was nonstop. There were times that the dialogue was a little stiff, and I didn’t really get a feel for Van like I thought I would (I actually think Fred and Zoe were fleshed out more than Van), but I would recommend this book for all ages. I especially like that this book was about baseball, as I think it would encourage a lot of younger boys to read.

Book Review: Awaken

2011-05-27T09:17:00.000-04:00

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking. In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 2/5 stars

There was something that irked me about this book and I don't know if I've really figured out what it is just yet. These are my thoughts so far, though:

DO NOT READ PAST THIS POINT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE...

TURN BACK NOW (or not)...

**SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS**

Maybe it's the way Maddie is constantly talking about how much she loves Justin, but Justin is like, I'M SORRY—WE JUST CAN'T BE TOGETHER, then glares at her menacingly from dark eyes. Oooh, scary! Apparently, to her, that makes him even sexier.

To me, I’d take the hint that the dude wants to be left the fuck alone.

Even during the ending he tells her they can’t be together. I mean, he basically used Maddie since she's the daughter of the guy who created the Digital School, and Justin is part of the Rowdy Rebels Club, or whatever they want to label themselves, who stir the pot when it comes to protesting digital technologies. They believe in nature and earth and everything that is real, not projected onto screens or pre-cooked, or fabricated into fake trees and grass. Basically, they’re hippies in the year 2060.

I just don’t get it. I think I would’ve been okay had Justin told Maddie he wanted to stay in touch with her, not pull a PEACE OUT, BI***, and burn rubber.

And the ending? I don’t get the seagull simile AT ALL. Why does that mean everything’s going to be better? That’s like me looking at an empty bag of Doritos in the street and saying, OMFG MY DAY IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT NOW.

Book Review: A Tale of Two Castles

2011-05-26T08:00:00.021-04:00

Mysteries abound, especially in Two Castles.

A handsome cat trainer, black-and-white cats, thieves on four legs and two, suspicious townsfolk, a greedy king, a giddy princess, a shape-shifting ogre, a brilliant dragon. Which is the villainous whited sepulcher?

Elodie journeys to the town of Two Castles to become a mansioner—an actress—but luck is against her. She is saved from starvation by the dragon Meenore, who sends her on a dangerous mission inside the ogre's castle. There, disguised as a kitchen maid at an ogre's feast, she finds herself cast in the role of a lifetime and pitted against a foe intent on murder.

Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine weaves an entrancing tale of a fearsome ogre, a dragon detective, and a remarkable heroine, who finds friendship where she least expects it, learns that there are many ways to mansion, and discovers that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 3.5/5 stars

I’ll go ahead and round up for this one—4 stars. This book was tooooo cute! The story is about Elodie, a farm girl who is sent away to the town of Two Castles to become a mansioner. Basically, an actress. But on the boat trip to Two Castles, she’s told they no longer take mansioners for free. So, Elodie has to figure out what to do when she arrives. She can’t return home because she doesn’t have enough money, and the money she does have is stolen by a thieving cat. There, on the street, Elodie meets Meenore, a wise dragon. Meenore proposes that she become a dragon’s assistant and help him figure out who is after the Count (who also happens to be an ogre). Elodie finds herself in the middle of a murder attempt on the ogre, and the king of Two Castles. But when all fingers point to her as the killer, can she outwit the town and reveal who really tried to poison the leaders?

I’ve never read any of Gail Carson Levine’s books before, but I will say this does have a magical feel to it. Definitely for younger readers, but still an enjoyable read. The story started out a little too slow for me, but soon picked up pace. I do like how the monsters were perceived to be the bad guys, but turned out to be good. That was a nice little twist. I also like how this was left open so Meenore, Elodie and the Count could have even more adventures.

Book Review: Shine

2011-05-25T09:55:00.001-04:00

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.

Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery. Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 5/5 stars

Where do I begin with this book? Well, first I'd like to say I absolutely ADORE it. I haven't read a book that made me feel like I was there--walking, talking, breathing--with the characters in a very long time. The fact that I live in a small town and know these characters (they really aren't characters--they're real people that live just around the corner) made this book more realistic to me. Or maybe it's because I haven't strayed from fantasy/paranormal in a long time. Either way, this book literally was a gust of fresh air--the kind that rustles Mama Sweetie's windchimes. ;)

Now that I have my disclaimer out of the way, the only nitpicky problem I had with this book was how long is took Cat to find out who left Patrick to die. It didn't start to get really good until around 300 pages in, which is quite some time. However, because I love this book, I'll say this: The writing for the first 300 pages (and the entire book, for that matter) is flawless, gorgeous and intoxicating. So the wait to find out who committed the hate crime wasn't so bad.

I would recommend this book to anyone who comes from a small town, who knows someone that's been a victim of a hate crime or constantly teased because they're gay, someone who has lost a family member or loved one to meth, or someone who just wants to escape into a world that doesn't involve mythological and legendary creatures. :)

Book Review: Those That Wake

2011-05-24T09:42:00.001-04:00

New York City’s spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. They’ve never met. Seemingly, they never will.

But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 1/5 stars

This is probably the briefest review I've ever done:

There was too much narrative, which didn't even read as YA. I couldn't finish the book.

ARC Giveaway!

2011-05-23T10:19:00.004-04:00

I'm on a roll with these contests, so I figured what the heck... I'll throw another one for my upcoming release of UNDER THE STARS (August 1, 2011).

This contest will be the same as the last: Leave your email address in the comment section and I'll use random.org to pick the winner. Contest is international, begins today (5/23/11) and will end 5/31/11. Winner will receive 1 SIGNED copy of an ARC of UNDER THE STARS.

Good luck to everyone! :)

Summary:

After seventeen-year-old Andrina’s home is demolished by meteors, she encourages her family to relocate to Legora, one of the few remaining cities that promise a new life to weary travelers. But Legora’s food and supplies are in shortage—too many refugees have sought protection behind its gates—and the only option is to appeal to the King of the New World for provisions. When the town assembles a lottery to choose who will plea to the king, Andrina holds the ill-fated ticket.

Her arrival in Valyad, the royal territory, sparks intrigue from King Zarek. Andrina can’t imagine herself acting like the other girls, who flounce after Zarek’s affection and money, but she considers giving in to her flirty side if it’ll guarantee that her family is fed. So when Zarek leaves Andrina with a bitter decision—marry him or he’ll strip Legora of its supplies—she has no choice but to accept being Queen of the New World.

Soon, though, Andrina uncovers that Valyad is smothered in deceit. Days after their wedding, Zarek is found stabbed to death and all fingers point to Andrina. Betrayed by Valyad’s governor, who wants the crown for himself, Andrina learns that it’s the people who will cast a vote on her fate; people who don’t want a commoner operating their kingdom. Andrina must not only convince Valyad that their king didn’t die by her hand, but also outsmart the sly politicians of the realm with a surprise they can’t outrun.

Sound interesting? You can add UNDER THE STARS to your to-read list on Goodreads here.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

2011-05-01T10:34:00.011-04:00

WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN! I was both surprised and VERY excited when I saw how many people entered this contest. You guys rock! *fist pump*

Using random.org, the winner was....

Tasnim!

I know the pic above says only 53 items, yet there were 59 comments. Some of the comments were deleted during the Blogger fail and some people re-posted, just in case Blogger completely ate them, but then Blogger restored the comments so I ended up with a few that were duplicates.

Winner will have forty-eight hours in which to reply to my email. If the winner does not respond during that forty-eight hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Stay tuned for a brand spankin' new contest for an ARC of UNDER THE STARS!

Because I've had WAY too much excitement lately, I want to make sure the excitement remains infectious. So, it's giveaway tiiiiiiime! :D

What's Up for Grabs:

1 SIGNED copy of Silver Moon

Swag

What's the Book About, Anyway?

Here's the excerpt:

For seventeen-year-old Candra Lowell, senior year is supposed to be the time of her life. It’s not supposed to include being shipped off to her aunt and uncle’s house for 'her own good'. Whatever that means. There’s only bad news from this experience—when she learns she’ll go from human to werewolf in a few months. Complete with an inherited unique power.

At her aunt and uncle's house, Candra is plagued with nightmares of a whispering forest and glowing eyes, and a shadowy figure, who issues a warning—she needs to leave town. Candra tries to dismiss the haunting images, but when the shadowy figure appears outside of her home, Candra realizes she should've obeyed.

Candra learns the meaning of the stalker’s warnings when she discovers she’s the new favorite target of a rival pack. She isn't just a werewolf—she's a werewolf in the middle of a feud that makes the Montagues and Capulets look like best friends. She’s also made a mess of things by falling for her sworn enemy. Worse, the rival pack wants the power Candra will receive on her eighteenth birthday. To protect her family and friends, Candra can’t run or hide; she must face her foes, even if it means death.

How to Enter:

All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address. That's it. You're entered. Easiest contest ever, right? If you want to help promote the contest and tweet or Facebook it, you can click on the handy dandy social site link of your choice below.

Contest is international.

But When Does It End?

Contest begins Sunday, May 1, 2011, and ends on Friday, May 20, 2011. So, hurry and get your entries in! :) Edit: In light of the recent problems with Blogger, and because I lost comments on this giveaway and I'm hoping they'll be restored, I'm going to extend the deadline date by a couple of days. Contest now ends on Monday, May 23, 2011.

Also, if you haven't already, check out my guest post over at Book Blather, and another Silver Moon Giveaway + interview over at Devon Ashley's blog. Edit: The contest has ended at Devon Ashley's blog, and a winner has been chosen.

Book Review: Suddenly In the Depths of the Forest

2011-04-23T16:31:00.002-04:00

In a village far away, deep in a valley, all the animals and birds disappeared some years ago. Only the rebellious young teacher and an old man talk about animals to the children, who have never seen such (mythical) creatures. Otherwise there’s a strange silence round the whole subject. One wretched, little boy has dreams of animals, begins to whoop like an owl, is regarded as an outcast, and eventually disappears.

A stubborn, brave girl called Maya and her friend Matti, are drawn to explore in the woods round the village. They know there are dangers beyond and that at night, Nehi the Mountain Demon comes down to the village. In a far-off cave, they come upon the vanished boy, content and self-sufficient. Eventually they find themselves in a beautiful garden paradise full of every kind of animal, bird and fish - the home of Nehi the Mountain Demon. The Demon is a pied piper figure who stole the animals from the village. He, too, was once a boy there, but he was different, mocked and reviled, treated as an outsider and outcast.

This is his terrible revenge, one which has punished him too, by removing him from society and friendship, and every few years he draws another child or two to join him in his fortress Eden, where he has trained the sheep to lie down with the wolves, and where predators are few. He lets the two children return to the village, telling them that one day, when people are less cruel and his desire for vengeance has crumbled, perhaps the animals might come back

**Book Copy Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 2 out of 5 stars

This book is translated from Israeli. The basic synopsis of the book is that all the animals in a village have disappeared and nobody speaks about it, even though the adults know what happened. Eventually, they tell the children that Nehi the Mountain Demon came down into the village one night and stole the animals. Friends Matti and Maya know something's up, so they decide to skip school and go to the mountain to find out what really happened to the animals, and why the adults refuse to speak about that night. They find Nehi the Mountain Demon, except he's not crazy like they were brought up to believe. Instead, he was originally a citizen of the village, but was constantly bullied. Because of this, he decided to escape into the mountains. His own family disowned him. He didn't have friends. And the one girl he had a crush on wouldn't give him the time of day. So he learned how to speak animal. Then, as revenge, he made his way into the village again and told all the animals to come with him.

The moral of this story, I think, is the effect society has on people when these people are constantly bullied and mentally tortured. While it's a great concept, I wasn't sucked into this story at all. As a matter of fact, I skimmed over the last twenty or so pages because it repeats the same thing over and over. This book was less than 200 pages, but it might as well have been a 1,000 page book. This story didn't have a real character narrator; it was more like a general voice telling the story. And that's just it--the story did nothing but tell. I will say that it has a dark feel to it, and it's definitely weird reading about kids who have never known real animals (only those from books). If you're looking for a book with a fairytale style, minus the magical elements, then this is the book for you. (But not me.)

They're Heeeere

2011-04-22T13:33:00.000-04:00

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the day that I could hold one of my books in my hand. Well, now that day has arrived. Here are my first reactions:

Followed by this:

Anddd this:

Now, my sister expected me to cry when I got the proof. I didn't, much to her disappointment (she's evil). Surprisingly, I didn't really react more than what you see above. I don't think it's really hit me yet.

I can tell you that a slew of paperback copies are headed to my doorstep at this very moment. So stay tuned for a Silver Moon giveaway on this blog. If you haven't already, you should check out the Goodreads giveaway going on right now. ;)

Well, that didn't take long...

2011-04-15T09:44:00.001-04:00

Silver Moon (Kindle format) is now $2.99 on Amazon! :)

I've been shipped the proof review of SM in paperback. Can't wait to see that!

Also, the Silver Moon giveaway on Goodreads begins tomorrow, end in June. Complete with swag. ;)

Heads Up!

2011-04-14T12:19:00.001-04:00

I'll be the first to say that I'm stoked about releasing my baby (book, that is). I don't actually have a kid I'd release into the wild. It feels ~~good~~ GREAT knowing that I finally get to share this story with everyone out there in Internetland. However...

Dun, dun, dunnnnnn.

I didn't know there was another author by the name of Rebecca Rogers. So now I have to change my name on EVERYTHING--book cover, Goodreads, Amazon, etc. You get the idea. I feel like this kid^^^

Also, with Amazon, the price is going to drop by a few buckaroos. So don't buy it...yet. ;)

After formatting my paperback version last night, the flucker (I just made this word up) came out to, like, 368 pages. WTF? I didn't think I'd ever write a book that was that lengthy. I'd hate to see my most recent book. It'd probably be close to 500 pages. Jeeeez! Edit: After some reformatting, the book is now 260 pages.

Anyway, I just wanted to hop on here and update everyone with what's going on. BIG THANKS to those who've already added it to their books on Goodreads. <33 Can't wait to see what everyone thinks (which makes me excited/nervous/terrified, BTW).

Sneak Peek-a-roo

2011-04-12T22:47:00.001-04:00

Coming Soon...

Book Review: The Vespertine

2011-04-04T09:48:00.000-04:00

Wow, wow, wow! I am SO late getting to this book review. I finished over TWO WEEKS AGO, you guys. I guess life has just made things a little hectic lately.

So, without further ado, here it is:

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Goodreads: 4 out of 5 stars

First of all, let me say that I absolutely ADORE this cover. One can tell it's a historical novel without ever picking it up. But the girl running away gives it an edge of mystery--what's she running from?

The book begins with Amelia being treated as a crazy person in her brother's house and, through a series of flashback chapters, we see exactly what happened the spring/summer before that led to her downfall.

Amelia was sent to Baltimore to stay with a cousin and, hopefully, find a new husband. Through dinners and balls and fancy dresses, I was swept away to a world that I wish still existed. Amelia and her cousin crush on boys, but must remain ladies about it--totally different from our day and age, but makes for great sexual tension between Amelia and her crush, Nathaniel (who I absolute LOVE).

Amelia learns that she has a special power--she can foresee the future at dusk every day. When Amelia's cousin learns what's going on, they begin the business of taking calls to read futures. But soon the predictions come true, and some are more deadly and have greater consequences than imagined.

While I love being transported to a different time period, this book was a little tedious at times. I understand the prose has to fit the voice and era of the character, but there were moments where I wanted to stop and move on to something else. I pressed forward, though, and I'm glad I did. There's a slight twist at the end that left me satisfied and happy, and wondering what happens next.

Book Reviews: Past Midnight # 1, 1.5 and 2

2011-02-23T12:22:00.000-05:00

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear. All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive…

Goodreads: 5 out of 5 stars

Charlotte Silver's parents are leaders in all things paranormal. They even have their own television show and published books, which have made bank as "Silver Spirits". But when Charlotte is targeted by an entity, the family's idea of "ghosts" is thrown out the window, and they decide to finally settle down just outside of Charleston.

Trying to fit in at her new school and keeping her parents' secret from the student body is enough to worry about, but then Charlotte is contacted by a spirit with the same name via her dreams. Turns out the girl's parents are looking for her, and they think Charlotte Silver is the person who can find their long-lost daughter. But can she really be the one to help?

I loved everything about this book. Charlotte's voice immediately drew me in and I couldn't stop reading. This series is different from most books out there. I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick read and a little ghost adventure.

As the daughter of the famous Silver Spirits paranormal investigators, Charlotte Silver is used to all things weird. But when coffins start floating down her street during a flood, life turns extra strange. And wonderful, when her friend and crush Noah signs on to help Charlotte and her folks in the aftermath. Cemetery cleanup might not sound exciting, but as shocking discoveries and a lurking stranger come to light, Charlotte learns that sometimes, raising the dead can bring unexpected rewards.

Goodreads: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Charlotte Silver and the Silver Spirits group are at it again. In the bridging novella, a hurricane hits the coast of South Carolina and everyone feels the aftermath--especially when coffins float through the streets. Charlotte, her family and their friends are, of course, more than happy to help clean up. Soon the coffins tell their own story. But who is the man who seems dead-set on hiding the real truth behind those wooden boxes?

I happened to see this book on Amazon's Free Books List and immediately downloaded it to my Kindle, thinking maybe there was a lot of important information to add between books one and two. I still don't see what that information is. While I do love these books, I felt this one was unnecessary. The book constantly recounted the events that played out in book one, and the only details added to heighten the story was the relationship between Noah (Charlotte's crush) and Charlotte. Don't get me wrong--this book is still a great read, and if you plan on reading the series, you might as well read this one.

It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

Goodreads: 5 out of 5 stars

Release Date: February 22, 2011

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

Charlotte's finally settling in to the idea that her problems with crazy ghosts and floating coffins is over. What she doesn't know is that she's about to face her worst problem yet.

During a paranormal investigation on Christmas, Charlotte is attacked by something that calls itself a Watcher. More than a demon, this spirit is ancient--and powerful. When Charlotte and her friends leave a party one night to light one hundred candles, a game that was only meant to bring more fun than harm, weird stuff starts happening.

But Charlotte's trying to keep her mind off of these events--including the fact that her parents can't stop fighting--and more focused on her new boyfriend, Harris Abbott. Since Noah blew Charlotte off at the homecoming dance, she figures they're just friends, right?

Just when she thinks her life has returned to normal, the Watcher returns. And he's not going down without a hell of a fight.

I loved this book, just as I loved the first one. Charlotte's voice kept me reading and I was able to finish this in a couple of days, even with a busy schedule. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves ghost-related material.

Book Review: Here Lies Bridget

2011-01-31T09:12:00.001-05:00

What do you do when the five people you meet in limbo all want you to go to hell?

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough.…

Release Date: 2/01/11

Goodreads: 4 out of 5 stars

**ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

I'll be first to admit--I wasn't fond of Bridget. She's yet another name on the Snarky List. But there were times when she showed vulnerability, and that's what kept me reading.

Bridget is rude to everyone. Her stepmother, her best friends, classmates, teachers. She even lost a relationship with the boy she loves because she had changed for the worse. The first half of the book chronicles how far she goes, how mean she really is. But when Bridget doesn't get her way, when things are completely out of control, she feels like she's losing her mind.

So, she decides to wreck her car. In doing so, she manages to slip into limbo, surrounded by those she's hurt. They are now her judges. But first, she has to slide into their shoes--literally. As she tries on each pair, they take her to past events and current events, all related to Bridget and the effect she had on their personal lives. Through their eyes, she realizes how horrible she sounds, and learns secrets she never knew about each.

After her fiasco with the shoes, Bridget pleads to go back and make amends. Her wish is granted--but only till midnight. After that, she'll return and be judged.

I won't reveal the ending for readers, but I will tell you that I ultimately enjoyed this book (even though, in the beginning, I thought I wouldn't). Paige Harbison did a really good job at creating a character that's snarky and mean, yet vulnerable, and was able to change Bridget's dimeanor over time.

Book Review: Unthinkable

2011-01-16T16:18:00.001-05:00

Omar Phillips is Bridgewater High's favorite local teen author. His Facebook fans can't wait for his next horror story. But lately Omar's imagination has turned against him. Horrifying visions of death and destruction come over him with wide-screen intensity. The only way to stop the visions is to write them down. Until they start coming true...

Enter Sophie Minax, the mysterious Goth girl who's been following Omar at school. "I'm one of you," Sophie says. She tells Omar how to end the visions―but the only thing worse than Sophie's cure may be what happens if he ignores it.

**Courtesy of NetGalley

Pub Date: 10/01/10

Goodreads: 2 out of 5 stars

Unthinkable is one of those books that jumps straight into the action, and into one of Omar's horror stories. Omar is somewhat of a local celeb at Bridgewater High, with well over 1,100 Facebook fans. Everyone tunes in to read the next installment of his disturbing tales.

But then the stories come true.

Omar is fueled by a robotic voice inside his head, pushing him to write the next macabre incident. And Omar learns that he can't stop writing when the lifelike visions enter his head. No matter what he does, the story writes itself--and he can't change a single word.

Sophie is Bridgewater High's resident freak, a goth chick who has all the right answers for Omar's nightmarish daydreams. She knows how to end them, but Omar is the one who has to do it. Only he can stop his visions. He just never thought it meant killing someone.

While this story is a quick, quick read (100 pages), that's about all it is. It reads as more of MG, something like the Fear Street books. I wish the characters would've been fleshed out a little more, which would've added several pages to the story. I felt like I barely knew them (or had time to know them) when it ended, and, even at that, the ending was rushed.

Across the Universe Contest!!

2011-01-04T09:50:00.002-05:00

With the release of Across the Universe just around the corner, I realize A LOT of people are dying to get their hands on this book.

Just in case you've been in a hole somewhere and haven't heard of this wonderful book, here's the synopsis:

A Story of Love, Murder, and Madness Aboard an Enormous Spaceship Bound for the Future

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.

Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.

Across the Universe is Titanic meets Brave New World.

I'll be pre-ordering it for one of you lucky, lucky people, and have it shipped straight to your door.

The release date is January 11, 2011. One week from today. You, my friends, have until this Sunday to enter the contest. The person with the most tweets wins.

Here's what you do:

When tweeting about this contest, @ me (@Rebecca_Rogers) and include a link to this blog. Limit one tweet per day. For easy reference, my tweets are listed to the left side of this page and, below, there's a Twitter button to post a direct link to this contest. :)

Be sure to leave a comment below with your email address so I can contact you.

Good luck!

End of Another Year

2010-12-30T18:03:00.000-05:00

I know everyone's listing the best of 2010, but I'm going to keep this blog post short and just say:

Here's to landing agents, getting books published and many more goals achieved in 2011! *raises glass to all*

You will question whether you're good enough.
You will shed thousands of tears.
You will threaten to quit.

But, in the end, you will persevere above all.
You will go to battle and conquer your fears like they're tiny ants waiting to be stomped.
You will gain new friends who share common interests with you, and these friends will be there through everything.
You will understand and fall in love and, most of all, believe in yourself as much as your characters do.

Let's make 2011 kick 2010's ass! <33

Book Review: Seducing the Vampire

2010-12-22T09:23:00.001-05:00

HE WAS MESMERIZING, A VAMPIRE LIKE NONE OTHER...BUT THE FIRE BETWEEN VIVIANE AND RHYS WOULD BEGIN A CENTURIES-LONG CLASH BETWEEN TWO POWERFUL VAMPIRE BROTHERS.

In Marie Antoinette’s Paris, the beautiful vampire Viviane seeks a male patron who will allow her to live on her own terms. Courted by two feuding brothers, Viviane succumbs to the handsome rebel, Rhys. She’s unaware that Rhys has other, darker, motives. He seeks vengeance against his brother, Constantine—by stealing Viviane and tainting her with his blood.

But just as Rhys is realizing the depth of his love for Viviane, his brother takes his revenge. By casting a spell on the woman they both desire, he condemns her to a living death inside a glass coffin.

Two centuries later, Rhys hears the legend of the Snow White vampiress, imprisoned deep in the tunnels under Paris. He must find her and set her free, but will he be able to save her from the evil still intent on destroying them?

Genre: Adult Romance

Publication Date: January 1, 2011

Goodreads: 5 out of 5 stars

**ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

First of all, let me say that I'm not a vampire fan. Never have been, really. But the idea of an adult romance with paranormal elements appealed to me, and I wanted to read something different. I am so glad I read this book.

Told in third person omniscient, this may be hard to follow for some readers, but wasn't a problem for me. The story switches between the 18th century and present day, mostly in Paris. Vampires used "patrons" for blood. Once someone is marked with a vampire's bite, no one wants them--they're basically used goods.

But Vivianne's patron is murdered by a werewolf (yes, there are werewolves in this book), and the Council (of paranormals) wants to know who would blatantly kill a vampire when there was no motive.

Enter Rhys Hawkes. Not overly attractive, just ruggedly good-looking. He wants a seat on the Council and the only way to prove himself is by solving the murder. During a ball, Rhys scopes out Constantine--the vampire leader. Constantine killed Rhys's lover many years before and Rhys still holds a grudge, vowing to one day seek revenge. And when the sight of Vivianne lights up Constantine's face, Rhys knows exactly how to do it.

While the competition heats up, so does the sexual tension. This book was more blood than sex, though. There are several twists, but I want you to read and find out what they are. For anyone who wants a love story with aggressive vampire/werewolf action, then this is the book for you.

Vulnerable Characters and... Independence Day?

2010-12-20T11:03:00.000-05:00

Don't we all wish this was easy? That we could simply punch our characters in the gut and make them cry, and the reader would feel badly for them? (Not that I'd punch a kid. I just used the pic for dramatic purposes.) Well, technically, it would be punching a kid, because we write about teenagers.

Okay, so...

Ahem.

How do we make even the most unlikeable character vulnerable? What does it take for the reader to sympathize (<-- awkward word) with the character?

Here is my take on it:

The character needs to crack. And by that I mean: break their fucking shell. Don't most teenagers have that invisible wall surrounding them? You know--the one that parents can't pierce (and it reminds me of the movie Independence Day, the part where they think they can nuke a spaceship and THAT'LL TEACH THOSE BASTARDS! and then they realize the nuclear bomb didn't do shit to the aliens' hidden, vaporizing shield).

And what did Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum have to do to finally take it down?

Well, nothing. They sent the drunk guy in to destroy it.

BUT the drunk took out the aliens from the center. As with your characters, you have to get to the core to break the skin. If you learn what makes them tick, what their weaknesses are, then you can take them down.

Let's say, for example purposes, we have Janey Jane as MC1 (main character numero uno), and Johnny Boy as MC2. Johnny's evil. Like, youdontwanttomesswiththisbecauseilluseablowtorchonyou evil. He's promised to take down Janey Jane's family and friends, in any way he can, if she doesn't keep her mouth shut about the murders that have happened lately in Anywhereville. One death is sad. But two? Two was suspicious. So Janey Jane got to the bottom of things. And she spotted Johnny Boy looming over one of the dead bodies--before the police arrived.

Janey learns to be smart. She has to if she wants her family and friends to stay alive.

So, she digs.

No, not literally. Just digs for information. Those murders? Yeah, turns out Johnny Boy was defending himself from his family. A family that sexually assaulted him all his life.

I bet you're sitting there thinking, "Aww, how sad." It is, isn't it?

But I'd also be willing to bet you thought Johnny was a monster at the beginning, too.

So, what changed? Well, it's different circumstances when someone has been led to do something rather than doing something on their own. It's also different when you can play on that emotions with writing--hurt, guilt, depression, pain, suffering. All these words immediately come to mind when I imagine someone living a horrible life.

What about when characters are evil just because? What if they have no motive? How can you show vulnerability then? Well, it can still come across in their actions, IMO. They might slip and help someone, or the way they act in certain situations may deter their ability to pretend they're hiding something sinister.

Whatever it is, there is still the ability to toy with the readers' reactions, and toy with your characters' emotions. How would you make a character more vulnerable?

And the Winners Are...

2010-12-17T10:05:00.001-05:00

Chanelle and Bee!

I'll email you ladies soon to obtain your mailing information, and you guys can let me know what book you want sent. :)

Thanks to all who participated!

I Love Surprises, Don't You? :)))

2010-12-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

So, I'm an epic fail at NaNo. BUT I did get a lot of revisions finished on my other book, which was a must. I've been doing a lot of reading lately, too. And while going through my tubs full (yes, it's true) of books, I realized there are still books that I wish I could have. (Now, thanks to ze Kindle, my dreams will come true!)

Guys, we're writers. We like to reward ourselves. Chocolate. Coffee. Lounging in front of the TV. Whatever. And I know, during the month of November, 100% of you wrote something. Anything. Doesn't matter if it was just a sentence or two. A lot of you weren't participating in NaNo, but you still had plans to write/revise.

SOOO...

How can I reward my friters (pronounced fry-ters, as in "fellow writers")?

WITH A CONTEST!

I will buy and send you any book of your choosing.

But get this: I'm not going to have just one winner. How does two sound?

Hard work does pay off. Doesn't matter if you're writing 50,000 words or 50 words.

Contest is international. Deadline is Friday, December 17th. Post your points/total in the comments section, as well as your email address so I can notify you.

Good luck!

+ 5 if you're an old follower
+ 3 if you're a new follower
+ 2 if you posted a blog
+ 1 for every tweet about this contest
(limit one tweet per day)

Book Review: The Lying Game

2010-12-05T15:46:00.001-05:00

Sutton Mercer had a life anyone would kill for--and someone did. But thanks to a view from the afterlife and Emma Paxton, her long-lost twin sister, Sutton has a chance to solve her own murder. In a story that's part Lovely Bones and part Pretty Little Liars, Emma slips into Sutton's old life to piece together her disappearance. But can Emma keep up the charade long enough to discover what really happened to Sutton. . .or will she become the next victim?

Let the lying games begin.

I got this from HarperTeen in an ARC contest on Goodreads and was SO excited. I'm a huge fan of PLL (love the show!), so I couldn't wait to start this book.

RELEASE DATE: 12/07/10

I won't give anything away, all I'll say is this:

Full of wonderful details, memorable characters, and heart-wrenching lines. With a horde of possible suspects in this whodoneit, readers will continue to guess who the killer is long after the last page.

Book Review: Cracked Up To Be

2010-11-26T18:37:00.000-05:00

WHAT'S THE WORST THING YOU'VE EVER DONE?

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

I've heard nothing but praise for this book...and I felt let down.

While there were some comical lines (and some did make me laugh out loud), I just couldn't connect with Parker. The only reason I continued reading this book was to find out what the big secret was, why Parker suddenly started drinking, attempted suicide, and pushed everyone away. CS drops flashback scenes here and there, but it didn't help much. I wasn't even remotely engrossed until after the first hundred pages. Then the flashback scenes became more intense, so I continued reading.

Parker's friend Jessie has been missing for a year, which is the basis of Parker's problems. Even after knowing what happened the night Parker lost it (the night Jessie went missing), I still don't feel for her. Everything was blown out of proportion. Parker blabbed to Jessie that Jessie's boyfriend, Evan, was cheating on her and that's when shit hit the fan. Jessie rebounded with some college guy at the party, but they disappeared. When Parker found them in the woods, Jessie was being raped. My problem with this is: why didn't Parker stop what was happening? Why didn't she say something--anything? Better yet, why did she lie to the police by saying she didn't know where Jessie was?

Another problem that nagged at the back of my brain was the fact that Parker had an ex who still cared about her, and a guy who was falling for her. Yet she teeter-tottered between the two, like she couldn't make up her mind. Exes are exes for a reason. And the new guy couldn't be more awesome. Dude puts up with a LOT of smartass comments from Parker. So much so that I'm convinced any normal guy would've been uninterested after the basic "fuck off" hint.

I hate to see strong protagonists just stand back and not do anything, not even try to make things better, especially when Parker had an assortment of individuals who still cared about her well-being. This was well-written, and the voice was definitely there, but as a whole, the book irritated me.

Book Review: Incarceron

2010-11-22T10:19:00.001-05:00

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside- she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison, and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know.

Incarceron is a story alternating between two points-of-view—one Outside and one Inside. The world outside the prison is known as the Era, and it’s something straight out of the 1700—1800’s. Women wear fancy dresses. Men wear suits with coattails. There’s even a monarchy, which live in a glass castle. It’s almost like a fairytale.

Claudia’s fed up with her father leaving her alone for months at their family estate. And she’s really tired of his elusiveness when she asks about her mother. But more than that—she wants to know what’s in his study. Could there be a secret door that leads to Incarceron? With the help of her Sapient teacher (mage-like people who are advanced in technology), she finds out what’s behind the door—a desk, a chair…and a Key.

Finn has always dreamed of seeing the Outside. And it doesn’t help that he’s had visions for as long as he can remember. A birthday cake with seven candles, a little girl with brown hair, family and friends gathered all around. These memories haunt him; he can’t remember anything before he was fifteen. That was two years ago. Now, Finn is battling to survive Inside. They call him the Starseer because he can see past Incarceron. With the help of Finn’s oathbrother, a Sapient, and a slave girl, Finn begins his quest to find the Outside. But not without a fight. Not only does the Scum get in his way, but so does the prison. See, Incarceron has a mind of its own. It can speak. It can think. It’s alive.

Nobody goes in. Nobody comes out.

That’s the rules.

But how can Finn have memories that he knows aren’t from Incarceron? And where did he get the eagle tattoo on his arm? It just doesn’t make sense. This is no place for birthday parties or wonderful memories. The place is dank, metallic and ready to kill whenever it wants.

During a trade between the Scum and another rival gang, Finn comes to possess a Key. He has no idea what its power is until the thing begins to glow.

And there’s a girl on the other side.

She claims Finn is the long-lost son of the king—the one who mysteriously died at the age of fifteen. The same age Finn became a “cell-born” (born within the prison). And the tattoo on his arm? The same eagle is on the Key. Finn knows he’s from the Outside and he’ll do anything to get there, even fighting the prison itself.

The book switches between Finn’s POV and Claudia’s. Catherine Fisher does a great job with both. And while the chapters start out longer in the beginning, they become smaller and smaller the closer Finn and Claudia are, which makes the tension that much better, IMO. The dual narration gives us a good balance between Outside and Inside.

If you are prepared to have your imagination stretched to its limits (and when you think it’s all over Catherine finds a portion of your imagination you didn’t know existed and distends it, too) then you need to READ THIS BOOK NOW.

Can't wait until the movie's released. :)

A NaNo Story

2010-10-27T10:46:00.000-04:00

It's that frantic, end-of-the-world feeling. Okay, maybe it's not really the end of all things, but when it comes down to the fact that you're about to write 50,000 words in a single month, the walls around you might appear a little wobbly.

You have this fantastic idea. Nobody can touch it. NOBODY. It's never been done before. You'll be the first. And everyone will tell you how badass your writing skillz are, and that you'll be the next big thing.

/SMACK

Now that I have you back in reality, I'll tell you that you're going to love the first few days. After that, writing becomes pretty intense, gradually fading out. In my wild, crazy, over-the-top imagination, this is how I predict NaNo will happen:

Day 1: "Oh my God. I love you. Love you, love you, love you. Nobody's going to out-do this idea. Muahahahahaaa." You actually kiss the computer screen.

Day 3: "Only 1,000 words to go. Pfffft. I'll reach 50k before everyone else," you tell yourself, as you munch on potato chips.

Day 7: "This is great. Broke 10k already. Moving at a good pace. Even my plot is starting to make sense!" You begin to sing 80's rock ballads about rocking and rolling all night, only to realize you're not as young as you used to be.

Day 13: "Why have I been staring at the same blank page for thirty minutes now?" you ask yourself, and then get up to grab more Cheez-Its, pretzels and chocolate. Because, somehow, these will help you get past your writers' block.

Day 15: "OH MY GOD. WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?" you scream at nothing in particular; meanwhile, banging your head on the keyboard because that's the only way you'll get words to appear on your screen.

Day 18: "How much longer?" You squint at the faint light squeezing itself through your window. "What day is it?" you mumble.

Day 21: "HAHA SUCKERRR!" You've somehow managed to write 4,000 words. It's then you realize all the sugar you've been eating for the past twenty days has finally caught up. You don't know if you're writing makes any sense. Hell, you don't even know if it's in English. Meh. Who cares?

Day 22: "WTF DID I WRITE YESTERDAY?" Oddly enough, you don't remember writing that scene. Or that one. Since when do your characters let horses ride on their backs?

Day 26: "Must...win...this...contest..." you wheeze out. All your hopes are destroyed--like a nuclear bomb was just dropped fifty miles away and you're living in the radioactive zone--when you realize you don't win a damn thing.

Day 30: "Is it...over?" You look at your word count again and again. Can that be right? You've managed a weak 35k, but it's still 35k more than you had to begin with. As you step outside, you notice everything looks different. But that's just because you haven't seen anything other than your computer screen, sweat pants and EXTREEEEEEEME ENERGY DRINKS in the past month. You're free. You can breathe again. It is done.

WIP Wednesday

2010-10-20T09:56:00.010-04:00

I haven't done anything for WIP Wednesday in a very loooooong time. I know NaNo is just around the corner, and while most are participating, some aren't. So, tell me--are you holding out until NaNo or is there something you're currently working on?

I'm also going to leave you with a few blogs I found helpful so far this week:

Over at Mary Kole's blog, she talks about trends in children's publishing.

Are you revising? Check out these tips from Pimp My Novel.

Rachelle Gardner says writing rules don't have to be applied to your first draft.

Do you know what happens behind the scenes while on sub? Erin explains.

Katie takes on a humorous approach to queries.

Who are your favorite villains? Let LM Preston know.

BIG CONGRATS to Jill! She just sold her book.
Leah from the GotYA crew discusses what her character type is.

If you have any other helpful blog posts to add, feel free to post the link in the comments section. Or if you want to promote your own blog, that's fine, too. ;)

NaNo Time!

2010-10-11T10:21:00.000-04:00

With only half a month left until the start of NaNoWriMo, I'm sure most of you are outlining, writing lengthy grocery lists for nothing but snacks, and stockpiling coffee like we're about to undergo nuclear warfare.

Me? I have done none of this. As a matter of fact, I haven't given NaNo much thought. I'm still editing/revising a book I finished about a month ago and the idea of writing an entirely new book, only to go through editing/revising yet AGAIN, has my head spinning. What would I do with TWO BOOKS? Guys, that would be like, "Hello. Welcome to Stress House, a home that does not make you feel welcome, where we prescribe nothing for your anxiety. Side effects may include hair loss, diarrhea and the urge to vomit."

That's like telling me chocolate is forbidden and I'll never be able to have anything with caffeine again. Oh dear.

Anyway, I want to know what you guys plan on doing for NaNo, whether you've started planning or if you're even signing up for it this year.

I Need Your Vote!

2010-09-01T12:35:00.000-04:00

I've never written a list of questions for my betas, but I have for my most recent WIP. So I'm curious as to how many of you do the same.

How Do You Write Journal Entries?

2010-08-19T13:13:00.001-04:00

I've been inspired, guys. Based on the comments I received during Teaser Tuesday from Tracey and Cory, I decided to write a blog post about journal entries. Cory showed me this awesome short story, and how you can feel it progress in such few words.

I realized the only book I've read with journal entries is Life As We Knew It. The entire plot line is centered around Miranda (MC) and what she writes in her diary/journal that day. Sometimes the notes are lengthy. Sometimes they're extremely short. Either way, they're believable.

So we know this: The entries must move your story forward.

Sounds simple, right? If you're anything like me, right now I'm saying: "Pfffffft. Of course they have to move your story forward. Duhhh." Because it's just like anything else in the writing world--you have to get from Point A to Point B to move your readers along.

And how is that different with journal writing? Well, diary/journal entries are usually A LOT shorter than normal chapters. Which means you have to move the reader along in very few words.

Oh dear. Now that doesn't sound as easy.

To make an impact (and for this to feel real), you only need to leave the most important aspect of that "day" in your notes. For example: nobody is going to blab on for five pages about buying a new pair of jeans, or whether the baby bird outside their window will fly today.

There is one main focal point for each entry. Write down what that point is, make sure your character only speaks about it, and then move on to the next entry (which could be that afternoon or two days later).

June 2, 2001

Lacey's been asking Dad for a kitten. I want a dog. But guess what? She wins again! Mom took her to pick out a kitten this afternoon, and they just got home with it. I hate cats.

The focal point is that Lacey wants a kitten, but we also see some angst with the sister who is writing this. Emotions. Something that needs to be very clear when you're writing. If your character's emotions don't pop off the page and smack you upside the head, then you're not doing it right.

One of the good things about reading diaries/journals is that it's VERY real. Nothing like narrative--where someone goes here, and then they do this, and then they say that. What you read in a diary/journal is extremely intimate (and not in a smexified way, unless... err, no, never mind), which can ultimately make the reader feel connected to the character.

I just wanted to be very clear that for this blog post, these are my opinions only. I definitely want to hear yours, and how you write/would write entries.

But for now, I'll leave you with one of my journal entries:

Um, what's this? *sketchy eyes*

I'll just... I'll... tuck this away somewhere. so no one will ever find it again. ahem.

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-08-17T10:12:00.001-04:00

Andrina's been accused of murdering the king (even though she wasn't on the hunting trip with him). His men disapproved of the marriage, and now that the king is gone, they're free to do with Andrina as they please. So, they've tossed her in a prison.

I've been testing out this idea that she writes a journal while she's in there, because there's not much else to write about. It'll just give a brief overview of what living in a prison is like for her, without the unnecessary narrative.

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by! :))

Querying 101

2010-08-11T12:41:00.001-04:00

If you’re here, you’ve probably done one of two things: written a book or are in the process of writing one. Congratulations! You’ve accomplished a big feat. Not many people can finish a book.

But I know you're wondering what happens after you finish the book.

First, you need to make sure your manuscript is in tip-top shape. Have fellow writers or readers review your work. Make any necessary changes. Then you can select a genre for your writing. Fiction or nonfiction? Fantasy? Science Fiction? Mystery? Does it fit into the category of Middle Grade, Young Adult or Adult? Figuring out these first steps will help you find an agent who specializes in that specific genre.

Now that you've finished and selected a genre, you get to shake hands with The Query Letter.

A query letter is classified as a short synopsis (three paragraphs and nothing longer than 250 words) summarizing your book. In your query, there needs to be a hook (something that snags the agent from the get-go), the problem(s) your MC (main character) faces, and the solution to the problem(s). It’s not easy condensing your novel into three paragraphs. Believe me. Don’t get overwhelmed, though.

But how do I create a query letter? What’s the right format? Well, for example purposes, I’ll post the format of a query letter below.

Name
Address

Telephone Number
Email

Dear Mr. / Ms. [Agent's Last Name]:

Your hook goes here; it’s the one line that captures the agent’s interest and keeps them reading. Remember—don’t begin your query with a rhetorical question. In Query Land, rhetorical questions at the beginning of a query (or any part of a query, for that matter) = marked for death.

This paragraph should be dedicated to whatever problems your MC is up against, whether it’s a clan of ogres out for revenge, the government covering something else up, or aliens on newly discovered planets that are really close to our solar system. Problems, problems, and more problems.

The last paragraph is to summarize your work. Make it count. What does your MC do to deal with the problems? How will it end? Although you need to be straightforward (not so many cliffhangers), you don’t have to reveal everything. Most of the time, that’s what makes the agent want to read more. They’ll want to know how it ends.

This line should state something about your book title, word count (always round up to the nearest thousand), genre, and if you have any writing credentials (i.e. – prior publications).

For example: Complete at 35,000 words, BLINKY AND THE AMAZING CAMERA is a Middle Grade fantasy novel. My short fiction appears in Who Writes Poems? and I Need a Life, copies of which are available upon request. (Note: you do not have to have prior publications to query an agent. As long as your work is good, they'll still read.)

Sincerely,

Your Name

Now that you have completed a query letter, you’re ready to make contact with the publishing celebs! (Agents, I mean.) But first you need to do your research.

One of the best agent-seeking tools out there is Agent Query. If you haven't visited this site, you're missing out. Side note: make sure you always check the agent's website for submission guidelines, as the information on AQ isn't always updated.

There’s also the part about submitting either by email or snail mail. Take note of what the agent specifically asks for in their guidelines. Some accept both. Some are going green and want only paperless communication.

See! It’s that simple. I know. I know. Sounds tough. But writing a book wasn’t easy, either, was it? Just follow these tips. If you've already made it this far, what's stopping you?

Video Games and... Writing?

2010-07-22T10:37:00.000-04:00

Most of you know I've been taking some time off (which is the norm for me). I haven't written a single word in over three weeks. Feels great for once.

You may or may not know that I'm a GINORMOUS World of Warcraft fan. It's pretty much my life (because living in a small town sucks). I look forward to getting home every day just so I can enter this different world. And all that time spent with elves and dwarves put a new perspective on my ever-growing imagination.

(By now I know you're like WTF THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WRITING. Sit tight for a sec. I'm getting there.)

Think about it--the creators of video games/RPG's have to have some sort of imagination; otherwise, they couldn't design such vast empires or deadly mobs or the fact that some other player could gank you. And believe it or not, there is a lot of writing involved. I know in WoW there are WELL OVER 5,000 quests in the game. Each quest is different. And each has a long text to accompany it. Think about how many words that is. Think of all the actors they hired to record voices for the scripted boss sequences, or the fact that if you click on an NPC he/she will say something different each time.

There are moments when I sit back and I'm in awe of the world Blizzard has created and how beautiful it is, even if it is just graphics. But writing is the same, right? You want everyone to see the gorgeous world you created, even though it's not real. *insert grin here*

When I read, I want to feel like I'm right there with the MC. I want to explore and touch and taste and smell everything. There have been times (with very few books, I might add) where I can literally smell and taste whatever is described. I want to visualize everything. From mountains to deserts to weathered neighborhoods. Details are important to the reader. They need to be in the world you created. If I don't have an idea where anything is at, how am I supposed to follow along? That's an automatic I'mreturningthisbooktotheshelfsoitcangatherdust.

In closing, my blog minions, I want to leave you with some great screenshots from the game. Not only are they stunning, but they get the gears turning, don't they?

And yes, these are in-game pics. Not taken from a promo.

Teaser Tuesdaaay!

2010-06-22T09:49:00.024-04:00

I don't know how much further I'll get with this book. It sucks that I'm SO close to finishing, yet I feel miles away. I've taken breaks. I know what happens. But I can't seem to write it all out. It's driving. me. INSANE.

Anyway... This is part of a scene where Malik has returned to Valyad with Andrina, and it's his first time being in the castle.

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by! :)

Do I Have to Make an Acceptance Speech?

2010-06-19T10:40:00.000-04:00

I'm flattered that this award has been passed on to me by not one, but three people! Caitlin, Annie and Bec. You guys rock! <3 This award has been making a name for itself on several blog pages lately.

The Rules:

1) Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2) Share 7 things about yourself.

3) Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)

4) Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

But guess what, guys. I'm somewhat of a rebel, so I didn't pass this on to fifteen bloggers. And I probably won't have the time to contact them. (I know, sounds horrible.)

So here are seven things about me:

1. I'm an avid World of Warcraft player. I've been playing for over a year now. When I hit some sort of block with my writing, I kill stuff (in the game, of course)(no animals or people are harmed) to get my wheels turning again.

2. My favorite color is red. Every car I've owned has been red.

3. I read more than one book at a time. (I know some people who can't do this.)

4. I graduated from Road Rage Academy. Get out of my way.

5. I have this crazy idea that one day I'll live in Europe. But first I'll settle up north somewhere.

6. Everything is funny to me. EVERYTHING. It doesn't matter if you get hurt or not. (But that's still incredibly hysterical.)

7. I love food, but I can't cook. I mean, I can if I have a cookbook sprawled out in front of me. But that's the extent of it.

I'm passing this award on to:

Kaitlin

Kathy

Sandy
Ellen
Remilda
Jenn
Raven
Rachael

WIP Wednesday

2010-06-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

I haven't been updating my blog much in the past month because I've been busy. And then I realized I haven't heard about you guys and your writing! It's been FOREVERR since I've blogged about WIP Wednesday. I'm such a bad blogging friend, guys.

[*insert sad face here*]

So, tell me--what have you been working on?Are you setting any goals for yourself this week? This month? Let's hear it. :)

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-06-15T09:43:00.001-04:00

Wow. I haven't posted a teaser in SOOO long, you guys. But I've written a lot lately and thought I'd share a short snippet. :) The MC, Andrina, is battling with herself about being in Valyad. She knows she's in too deep. And THAT is when things start to get interesting. :D

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by! :))

What's that, you say?

2010-06-11T16:03:00.014-04:00

Have you ever read a book that has character dialogue out of the norm? What I mean is: characters have some sort of slang, an accent. You can tell just by reading their lines.

One book immediately comes to mind:

Harry Potter - "Ah, shut up, Dursley, yeh great prune."

Also, Eliza Doolittle is the Queen of Accents.

I've come across a character in my latest WIP that speaks differently. I *think* she's Irish, but who knows. I can assure you this has never happened to me before. But for those of you wondering how to write something totally different than what you're used to, here are some tips to think about:

Try to sound it out. Hooked on Phonics is key. Characters that use slang are going to use words that aren't considered "correct" grammar.

When at first you don't succeed, maybe you should resort to other methods. If you can't figure out what the hell the character is saying, Google it.

Can you read their speech? If not, it's probably not a good idea to continue.

In all seriousness, you don't have to do any of the above. I didn't. I just went with what the character said and how she said it. It's very, very tricky to write dialogue with an accent.

What are some other books that come to mind with heavy accents? Did you enjoy them, or did they become a nuisance?

Sugar &&Spice

2010-06-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

So I've been thinking, guys. I have this weird obsession with buying books. I think it's the fact that I LOVE the smell and the feel of the pages. (screw you, Kindle!)

...and I haven't read half of them. That's the sad part. I have five books on my nightstand that have been started and never finished.

Like, they're overflowing from boxes in front of my bookshelf because my bookshelf is completely full.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who suffers from this. GUYS! I may need an intervention. I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anymore until all of those others were read. I broke my promise!! And it doesn't even hurt my feelings...

I'll tell you what did it--Ebay.

Ebay is a product of the devil's work. I was doing great until I happened to get on there yesterday and bought books I'd never heard of (but they sounded so awesome!), and then I found out that Pretty Little Liars is based on a book series. I've been dying to watch that show. (pssst.. it premieres on June 8th)

Guys, please tell me I'm not the only writer/reader who suffers from this addiction. Tell me I'm not losing my mind and that I need to read about these other worlds before I jump into new ones. Promise me that you'll run me over with your car/truck/SUV/semi/airplane before you let me buy another book. Because that's what friends do. Writing friends don't let other writing friends buy more books until they're finished with the ones they already have. Right, guys? RIGHT?

I Haz a Challenge Phor Yew

2010-05-27T21:22:00.003-04:00

Create a book trailer! Show your peeps how awesome that book (or WIP) is!

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID.

I want to see what you guys come up with. Go, my minions!

Be creative.

Be productive.

But most of all, have fun.

Rules? Once you've made the trailer, post it on your blog. Then leave a comment here so everyone can see! :D

Not sure how? I use Windows Movie Maker. Easy peasey.

Awards, Contests and...Facebook Funnies?

2010-05-14T10:58:00.005-04:00

You know your Friday starts off right when you eat a chocolate chunk cookie for breakfast. Anyway! Got a lot to do on this post. Hoping I can fit it all in here! Okay, here goes..

From Lydia, I got the Sunshine Award! Also, if you haven't checked out here blog, you should. She's holding a contest filled with gift cards for the book lover and Starbucks lover. Go, minions! Go now. :)

Also, I'm passing this award on to:

Karla Nellenbach
Remilda Graystone

Kathy Bradey

Leah

Suzanne

Another I received recently is the A is for Awesome award from T. J. Carson. That girl is full of all kinds of crazyness.

I'm passing this award on to:

Speaking of Kate Hart, have you seen the tweets she makes a collage of? They're hilarious.

CONTESTS!!

First and foremost, I want to direct everyone to Do the Write Thing for Nashville. These people are badass. Last I heard, they've raised over $20,000 for disaster relief. That's astonishing.

Query critiques? Five page manuscript critiques? SIGNED books? Guys, this is a contest of all contests! And Tahereh has it written ALL over her blog (literally).

There's a May Grab Bag Giveaway over at Ninja Agent's blog (a.k.a. KOrtizzle). Pssst. This just in: ARC's are involved!

One of the funniest YA writers you'll ever meet (Rachel) is holding a Massive Giveaway at her blog. You know you want to enter. *wink winkkkkkkk*

My writing buddy, Jamie Blair, is holding a contest that will give you a sweet tooth! Yes, I'm talking about cupcakes. Who doesn't love them?

Last, but most definitely not least, is the contest Annie McElfresh is holding on the GotYA blog. She attended the Romantic Times Convention in Ohio recently and has some cool prizes to share. Don't forget to watch the video, showing all the awesome authors she met. :)

Just so you know not to strip for some random person at your door:

And because I'm a World of Warcraft fan:

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-05-11T09:22:00.001-04:00

Okay, guys. I'm keeping it short today. I promise I'll get to everyone's either at lunch or later this afternoon.

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by!

....for now. *insert evil laugh here*

World-Building

2010-05-06T12:38:00.001-04:00

I'm not going to lie to you guys--I don't have the first clue about world-building. You want to know what my idea of WB is? Giving more details. (And I have no idea if this is what I should be doing. Eek!)

What concerns me is the idea that this chaotic world inside my head may never be told the way I see it. I'd love for readers to envision everything perfectly, and imagine the falling stars and Legora and the King's castle as I do.

So where do I begin? I honed in on Andy(my MC)'s thoughts. I mean, really listened and watched. And she showed me things. Things I'd never thought of.

She had said to me, We're in a desert with nothing but sand. The sun burns our skin. But it's the nighttime that scares me the most. At this point, I'm like, whaaaat? If I lived in a world where the sun burned my skin (okay, I did live in this world; it's called Phoenix), then I couldn't wait until night falls. Andy said, You're not listening, Becca. Pay attention. And this is where I sat up and kinda went...whoa. She continued, At night, there are creatures you don't even want to know about. I'm all like ewwwwww. Then she gets impatient with me, so I shut up. She finally said, The bitter cold comes at night, along with the mutated creatures. (mutated creatures? wtf?)

Then it....just...clicked. It's like I needed that extra push for all of the different pieces to fit together.

Of course they live in a world that's seen so many wars that the ozone layer has a gaping hole in it (which will happen to us if you don't go green, people! /rant). Of course the sun and moon are off-kilter; nothing's the same anymore and the two of them cause extreme weather. Of course the stars plummet to Earth. There's barely an ozone layer to slow them down. Of course there's a King in a castle. They have to have some sort of government, don't they? Just because it's the end of the world doesn't mean there aren't laws. Of course there are towns where weary travelers can rest their feet or choose to stay. Of course they're running out of supplies because they can't grow their own food in the heat and cold.

These, my friends, are a foundation for world-building. From there, I can build up. And you can too. Once you have the basic components of your world, you can show the reader whatever the story entails. Remember, even the smallest of details can make a difference. Not only does it show how much time and effort you put into your story, it makes your story feel real.

Now, I'm not the queen of WB by any means. But I do know I can work on it and try to produce a book that's better than anything I've written so far. I can do that with each new WIP.

I want to hear what you guys do when it comes to WB. Do you have any tricks you'd like to share? What are some of your foundations for the world in your mind? Have your characters spoken to you?

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-05-04T10:26:00.004-04:00

I really need to get on the ball with this book. I've been taking my sweet time (which isn't a bad thing), but I feel this urge to get it finished.

What takes place in this scene:

Andrina has been on the train from Legora to the New World Kingdom (to meet the King). When it says something about "the riders", it's talking about the Black Riders--the King's personal footmen. I searched and searched for a correct term for these guys, and "footmen" kept popping into my brain. So, I pulled up Wikipedia. Here's what it said:

In a larger household, various footmen may be assigned specific duties (for which there may be a traditional sequence), such as the silver specialist, but usually the footmen perform a range of duties which include serving meals, opening and closing doors, carrying heavy items, or moving furniture for the housemaids to clean behind. The footmen may also double as valets, especially for visiting guests.

Strange, huh? Do you see why I need to finish this book?

On to the teaser...

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by! :)

We Haz Winners!

2010-05-01T12:32:00.001-04:00

I tallied the people with the most points (blog + tweets) based on the form used for the Epic Artistic Contest. This narrowed it down to nine contestants. Using randomizer, I came up with the three numbers for first, second and third places.

Drumroll please!

First place winner is.......... KRISTA ASHE!!

Second place winner is.........KAITLIN WARD!!

Third place winner is.......VERO PETTINGILL!!

Ladies, if you would, please send me your mailing addresses so I can mail the prizes (hopefully) within the next week. :)))

Big thanks to everyone who entered. I <3 you guys. Can't wait for the next contest!

Don't Forget!

2010-04-29T22:32:00.000-04:00

The deadline for the Epic Artistic Contest is only two days away, guys! I'll be kicking ass and taking names afterwards. (Errr...sort of.)

Don't forget to fill out the form if you tweet or post a blog. I'll be tallying those with the most points and using a randomizer to decide the winners.

Good luck to everyone who entered! :)

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-04-27T09:40:00.004-04:00

I haven't played in a couple of weeks, but I've kept busy writing and felt like posting a snippet today.

This is the night before Andrina begins her journey to meet the King of the New World. :D

*SNIP* Thanks for stopping by! :)

Points of View

2010-04-23T10:33:00.000-04:00

Do you write one or several? Is it from a boy's perspective? Girl's? A grandma's? (Okay, I'm sincerely hoping it's not the latter, but it might be.)

Do you know what counts the most when you write from different points of view?
Voice

Voice

VOICE

Voice

The ability to tell a difference between one character and another when you're writing multiple views. And even when you're writing a single character.

Secondary characters should never have a stronger voice than your main character. They should pop off the page, yes. But not overpower the MC.

A lot of writers have written from male perspectives. Some relate more to the male. Most prefer female. What do you prefer? Have you tried writing from a difference perspective?

I'd like for each of you to try a writing exercise. Write from a point of view you've never written before (and there is at least one you haven't written in--trust me). It doesn't have to be long. Let's say...umm...500 words?

Once you've written that POV, tell me what changed from how you usually write. Do you feel that the voice is a complete one-eighty? Is it harder to write from that perspective? Easier?

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T09:39:00.002-04:00

I shouldn't say "happy" in the title because there's nothing happy about the way our planet is falling apart. Guys, this is serious stuff. I know, I know. We hear the scientists and leaders say our ozone layer is getting thinner, but we blow it off. Pffffft. No it's not. We won't lose our air supply.

But, guys, we WILL. If there's no ozone layer, there's no air. And that means we're all ~~dead~~ in Heaven.

So what can I do? you ask. Well, there's plenty of ways to help!! Just yesterday the building I work in added recycling bins downstairs for people to throw cans away. If you don't have something like this in your work place or at home, you should ask for it. Remember, one person can make a difference.

Recycle!

Instead of water bottles, buy a water filter for home; it attaches easily to your faucet. And use a reusable water bottle, like these at Lily's blog.

Reuse!

Cut down on waste. The more you can save (and don't throw away), the cleaner Earth will be.

Reduce!

For more information on how to make our planet a safer (and healthier) place to live, visit the official website for Earth Day 2010. You can also check out these cool Earth Day products.

So how about it, guys? What small role will you play to help save our planet?

I hear you now--what are you going to do, Becca? Well, I'm glad you asked. I was just about to say that I'm taking advantage of those recycling bins downstairs after I load up on my Mtn Dew for the day. :D

Just a Reminder...

2010-04-18T11:43:00.006-04:00

I wanted to remind everyone about the ongoing Epic Artistic Contest, which ends May 1st. If you haven't entered by filling out the form, you should. :D

Also, I wanted to hear about what you're working on and how you edit. Let me hear your thoughts!

I'm close to reaching my 15k word count goal. Hope all of you have gotten some lovely wordage in and have had a great weekend. :)

Vlog: Editing in Layers

2010-04-15T22:22:00.003-04:00

Yes, I'm about to eat my straw. ;)

WIP Wednesday!

2010-04-14T10:53:00.000-04:00

Guys! I have to hear some good news. Tell me something about your current WIP.

Last week, we talked about goals. Did you guys reach those goals? If so, did you set new ones this week? This month?

I actually surpassed my goal of 10k for last weekend and I'm sitting at over 12k now. I'm hoping to reach 15k by the end of this weekend. (I know, I should raise the bar, but I have to beta read for someone A-SAP.)

Epic (Artistic) Contest!

2010-04-08T23:33:00.005-04:00

Recently, I told you guys I'd be holding a contest. Well, it's here.

This isn't a book contest. This is an artistic contest. Naturally, writers see things differently, and we like artsy stuff. Personally, I loved these things when I was a kid. I don't know if any of you have ever tried the hobbies listed below, but they're fun. Could be a fresh start to something new.

MOVING ON!

There will be a first, second and third place winner. The prizes are as follows:

FIRST PLACE WINNER will receive a beginner's guide to painting with watercolors. Not only that, but they'll receive a set of brushes and paints, and a watercolor notebook.
SECOND PLACE WINNER will receive a beginner's guide to pencil drawing. Plus! You get a drawing and sketching pencil set in a black, zippered carrying case, and a sketchbook.
THIRD PLACE WINNER will receive an illuminated lettering kit (aka calligraphy). This kit includes a detailed history on where and how decorative calligraphy originated. Also, a calligraphy mini pen kit, and a calligraphy writing pad.

All three winners will receive these journals (one for each):

Contest begins now and will end on May 1st. I've made it easy by filling out the form below.

+10 points will be awarded to those who post a blog about the contest.

+1 point for every time you Tweet about this contest.

At the end of the contest, I will tally the top three people with the highest scores. Don't forget to stop by and fill out the form each time you Tweet. ;)

Contest is international.

Good luck! :D

ETA: The language got cut off below for the "Link" box, but please include your name. Thanks!

CONTEST!! (Not Mine)

2010-04-08T12:07:00.003-04:00

Guys, I love you. And my good friend Jamie Blair needs more followers. If we help her get to 50, then she's giving away Paper Towns by John Green (who she's totally in love with).

If you heard of this contest via MY BLOG, then leave a comment on JAMIE'S BLOG telling her so. She has the official rules up (see two links above).

Don't forget to follow her! I promise she's made of cool. :D

ETA: Contest winner has been announced! Congrats to Jenn! For those of you who followed Jamie from my blog, YOU ARE MADE OF AWESOME.

I <3333 you all.

If you still haven't gone over to follow Jamie, you should. She's made of awesome too. ;)

P.S. - Stay tuned, because I'll be hosting my own epic contest!

WIP Wednesday

2010-04-07T08:57:00.001-04:00

Every Wednesday I'll blog about my progress on a new piece.

BUT (and this is a big but) I want to hear what you guys are working on, and how far along you are. That way we can cheer each other on and set goals.

My goal? To reach 10k by the end of this weekend. I'm currently sitting at 6.9k (might as well say 7k), so 10k isn't entirely out of reach. So, I'll be busy the rest of the week and this weekend.

What about you guys? What are you working on? Do you have any word count goals you set for yourself?

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-04-06T08:56:00.000-04:00

I always forget about these, until it's Tuesday and everyone talks about it. Anyway, I'm keeping it short again this week. :)

When night shrouds the daylight, my eyelids become heavy. I’m forced to hold them open. My mind tells me to stay alert, just in case. But my body fights against me. Winning.

Coming Soon!

2010-04-01T19:46:00.000-04:00

A contest of epic proportions.

Guys, I'm not just talking about books here. We're writers. We're creative. We like artistic stuff.

So WHY have just books?

BOR-ING.

My contest will consist of things that you might/might not try for the first time, things that will add flair to that ~~cramped~~ charming desk of yours, things that you can actually use.

Yes, I'm thinking outside the box here.

What if it's stuff you've used before, but haven't used in a long time? I could bring back those memories for you.

(Coloring books are not involved.)

I think most ~~people~~ writers have contests for books, but I want to give something else, something fresh.

So, guys, stay tuned for further details. I've found some FANTASMICAL stuff I want to give away (and maybe, possibly, keep for myself).

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-03-30T09:29:00.001-04:00

I hit over 5k yesterday on my WIP. I'm hoping I can keep at it and finish this book by May/June. Edits and all. Yeah, I know. Sounds crazy. But it's a goal. ;)

Anyway... This is chapter four. Yep, it's definitely one of the shortest chapters you've ever read. :D

I dream of growing fat from eating too much, and sleeping long after the sun’s rays burn through white-laced curtains.

I dream of the earth, how it used to be.

Most of all, I dream that one day everyone will be happy again, and the stars will stop falling.

Teaser Tuesday!

2010-03-23T10:34:00.004-04:00

I probably won't be able to comment on anyone's until I get home from work today (it's a busy day), but I promise I will!!!

This is another part of my dystopian, and I have no idea where it's going. I mean, you'll see why in this scene. You'll probably be like wtf?

Anyway, I wanted to clarify a word before you ask what it is. The word "buffant" is used, which means, in this world, a mutation of a buffalo and an elephant. Lame, I know. But it works. XD

*SNIP*

Thanks for stopping by!

Two Book Reviews--Vlog Style!

2010-03-21T21:46:00.000-04:00

Please ignore how crappy I look, but I wanted to get these book reviews on my blog. Also, the lighting wasn't great, even though my computer was on next to me. I'll try to get better lighting next time. I kinda look like those people that don't want their faces to be revealed on the whodunit shows. XD

Andddd you get to see my nerdy glasses. @.@

The two books I vlogged about are Living Dead Girl and Shiver (in case you were wondering before you watched).

So, without further delay, here's the vid:

Teaser Tuesday!!!!!

2010-03-16T09:44:00.003-04:00

Wow. It's been so long. *hugs TT* I srsly don't remember the last time I posted a snippet on here. O.o

I started that SNI. I'm only in chapter two, but it's sort of coming together. It's a dystopian. That's all I'm going to tell you. ;) Here are the first paragraphs:

*SNIP*

Thanks for stopping by!