Writers' Chasm

And what a year it's been! The decade's coming to a close and there have been changes, not just in the publishing world, but in the entire world. This was a big year for a lot of people. Congratulations to Hannah whose book, Break, was released this year and another big congratulations to Kody whose book will be released sometime next year! Also congrats to all the twifties and everyone who made the next step in the journey to publication this year and got an agent! The publishing world was hit hard this year and it's plain to see everywhere. In the last week I have visited two bookstores that were having their store closing sales. E-books are making a rise everywhere, forcing publishers to consider their method of publishing as they rush to take control of the changing market. But while the market is also struggling, we had some awesome books this year. Catching Fire for one. Yes, that will always be ranked number one on my list of favorite books released this year. There...

Sorry about the lack of post on Monday and teaser on Tuesday! Monday I was away from home all day and I just couldn't figure out a teaser for Tuesday. There really isn't anything more I can share until I get a new project. Anyway, I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! If you need an idea on what to spend that Borders gift card on, here are three awesome new releases. To Be Mona by Kelly Easton Sage Priestly is seventeen, and she longs to reinvent herself -- to strip away the fat, the past, the crazy mom, the unpaid bills. She longs to be her own version of the gorgeous and popular Mona Simms. Sage starts dieting and exercising. She gets blond highlights and throws away all of her black clothes. Bit by bit she transforms herself. This is deeply troubling to her best friend, Vern, who is secretly in love with Sage just the way she is. But the boyfriend Sage wants -- the popular jock Roger -- suddenly notices her. And when they start dating, Sage thinks her life is tu...

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! You guys do not know how ecstatic I am that today is Friday. To those of you who are already free from school obligations until the new year, I hate you. (Just kidding!) I'm just jealous. I have to drag myself out of bed on Monday and Tuesday for the simple reason that I have two tests on Monday and I can't skip one day only to need it later. So yeah. It sucks, but I'm used to it. This is how the next couple weeks are going to go. There will be posts on Monday and Tuesday as normal. Then I'm taking Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off to enjoy my wonderful family Christmas and then I shall return on the following Monday. Also, I finished City of Bones yesterday at the expense of my homework. I will not be reviewing it for a few reasons. The first and foremost is that I'm still not sure if I want to throw the book out the window or run to the nearest Borders and buy City of Ashes. I'm going to read the next two books and then maybe I'll ...

Graceling by Kristin Cashore This book isn't quite like anything I've ever read before. The plot itself fascinated me and there were a few twists that I didn't see coming at all even though looking back I should've seen it. This is the kind of book that you pick up at three intending to read for a few minutes and look back at the clock two hours later and wonder where the time's gone. Po was by far my favorite character and the twist at the end made me want to scream. Katsa intrigued me through the first half of the book, but become a little annoying towards the second half. She was so strong and then she softened up. Just once I wanted her to say no to her uncle. She had all the power, he was just using it. I loved the whole thing with the ring. I didn't see that twist coming either. Leck's Grace both disturbed and fascinated me. I could just imagine what would happen if someone in the modern world could do something like that. Overall: 4.5/5

Intertwined by Gena Showalter Honestly, I'm not quite sure what I think about this book. It's the kind of book that you read because you simply can't put it down and read the sequels to because you just have to know what happens, not because you love the book. The idea is very original and I just loved the concept of having four souls trapped inside your head. My favorite character is probably Riley. He's hot, sweet, and a werewolf. Aden and Mary Ann have a tendency to annoy me from time to time. The ending just plain shocked me. I can say that whatever I was expecting for the end of the book, that wasn't it. And *SMALL SPOILER WARNING* I can honestly say that I realized who Eve was very early in the book and wasn't at all surprised when they finally reveal her true identity. *jumps up and down* The next book doesn't come out for a long. time. I want it... Overall: 4/5

It's been a long week around here. Lots of snow and ice during the last three days outside. Two inches of snow still on the ground and it's freezing outside. Christmas dance is tomorrow and I had to go shopping tonight to pick up my shoes. I also got Winter's End so expect a review sometime after I finish City of Bones. I also discovered that one of my favorite bookstores is indeed closing. I'm finally back to doing WiS again! Quite a bit of news this week, but none of it actually good, unfortunately. News: I'm sad to announce that both the Rappaport Agency and Kirkus Reviews are closing. I wish Jenny and all those involved with both companies luck in the new year. The entire WordServe Literary Agency and Jennifer Jackson are closing to queries until January 15th in order to catch up with their load and enjoy their well-deserved holidays. GLA has seven things I've learned by Diana Jenkins. Kody has an interview with Jennifer Hubbard , author The Secret Year, a ...

Fallen by Lauren Kate There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix It was a talent that came out of nowhere. One day Lindsay Scott was on the top of the world, the star of a hit TV show. The next day her fame had turned into torture. Every time anyone said anything about her, she heard it. And everyone was talking about Lindsay: fans, friends, ...

I planned to post Graceling review today, but auto-post is refusing to listen to me so I'm going to push that back to next Thursday and join in on YA Highway 's blog carnival instead. Because this is more fun. Also I'm procrastinating he large amount of work that I have to do since I skipped school today on account of the snow. 1) What are the three best books you've read this year? Wow...Um...Well I'd say Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is definitely in the top three. Also The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan which was by far the best book in the Percy Jackson series. And either Wake by Lisa McMann or Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers or Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. I've read too many good books this year to even remember them all. 2) If you could meet one author (living or dead), who would it be? J.K. Rowling. I mean, who wouldn't? I have SO many questions that I'd ask her. 3) What book are you most looking forward to in 2010? Oh de...

In light of the leaked Deathly Hallows trailer that I have now watched at least seven times in the last 48 hours, I've decided to talk about the movies that are coming out over the next couple years. That, and I found out a couple of movies that I've been dying to hear about are actually being made into movies and I just want to fangirl. Sorry. Next year's much anticipated movies: 1. The Lightning Thief - February 12th (based on the book by Rick Riordan) The third and most recent trailer is AWESOME 2. Eclipse - June 30th - Despite the fact that I have yet to see NM and I know already I'm going to be here with a rant the next day, this one is still on the list. 3. Avatar the Last Airbender - July 2nd - this one needs a better trailer 4. Secretariat - Fall - Sorry, had to be included. 5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - November 19th - HOLY CRAP I CAN'T WAIT! 6. Voyage of the Dawn Treader - December 10th - Third movie in the Narnia series. I can't wai...

This week I have two of my favorite characters, Maria and Dylan from Shipwrecked...with a Boy, in the studio with me. If you know about my writing, Shipwrecked has been trunked pending a rewrite. If you don't, well, I just told you. Me: Hello, Dylan and Maria! Dylan: Hi everyone. Maria: Hi. *grins* Me: So, Dylan, you and Maria are the starring characters in Shipwrecked. Can you tell me how all of this began? Dylan: When the cruise ship wrecked, of course. Maria and I both washed up on the same island. Me: Interesting. Did you two know each other before meeting on the island? Maria: We'd met on the cruise ship when our parents had a business meeting, but other than that we didn't talk much. I wasn't quite sure what to think about him when we first met. Dylan: I liked you right away. *smiles at her* Maria: Shut up, you did not. Dylan: Did too. Maria: You told me you didn't believe in love at first sight. Me: Okay, you two. I haven't rewritten the book yet. Maria: ...

I'm writing this while sitting on my bed with my newly returned laptop in front of me! That's right, my laptop is BACK! Which means I no longer have the share our only computer with my mother. For the next few days I'm going to catch up on things and hopefully next week I can start reading my blog list and doing Week in Shorts again! :D Btw, you don't know how much I appreciate the laptop right now. If you have one, give it a big hug right now no matter how stupid you think it will look. Now I just need to get my mom off the desktop long enough for me to get my files.

Winter's End by Jean-Claude Mourlevat Escape. Milena, Bartolomeo, Helen, and Milos have left their prison-like boarding schools far behind, but their futures remain in peril. Fleeing across icy mountains from a terrifying pack of dog-men sent to hunt them down, they are determined to take up the fight against the despotic government that murdered their parents years before. Only three will make it safely to the secret headquarters of the resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced to participate in a barbaric game for the amusement of the masses — further proof of the government’s horrible brutality. Will the power of one voice be enough to rouse a people against a generation of cruelty? Translated from the French, this suspenseful story of courage, individualism, and freedom has resonated with young readers across the globe. Raven Summer by David Almond Liam and his friend Max are playing in their neighborhood when the call of a bird leads them out into a field...

Sucks to Be Me by Kimberley Pauley I loved this book! It's definitely an interesting twist on the idea of vampires. The voice caught me from the beginning and the plot kept me interested. I especially like the last line in the second paragraph on the first page. Read it and you'll know what I mean. I liked the idea of a vampire council and how the "turnings" were done. The characters were starting to annoy me towards the end. Mina is so blind when it comes to guys. I just want to walk into the story and slap her a few times. The ending however, I really liked. Though it seemed a little sudden.