tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43881863923693765952024-03-06T01:01:37.988-05:00Writers' Chasm"The stories we love best do live in us forever." ~ J.K. RowlingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger876125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-58446206517015516502018-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:002018-11-01T07:00:02.316-04:00To All the Bookstores I've Loved BeforeWhen I was a kid, my favorite store in the mall closest to our house was a Waldenbooks. When I say "closest to our house" this particular mall was still roughly 30 minutes away, but in those days it was the mall that everyone went to. There are more than a few things I loved about country living. Lack of proximity to bookstores was not one of them.<br />
<br />
I loved that Waldenbooks. It was a small store and you could see all the way to the back looking through the glass front. It was filled with books, as you would expect. The counter was on the left side, with a wall of new releases and magazines behind it. My favorite section--the young adult and middle grade section--was at the back.<br />
<br />
The trip that I remember most was July 21, 2007. A week before my birthday. The release day for <i>Deathly Hallows. </i><br />
<br />
I'd pre-ordered it long before, not wanting to risk going into the bookstore and it not being there. I needed that book. My mom didn't understand the draw of a midnight release (a missed opportunity that I'm still a little sad about), so it was noon when we walked into the mall and I made a beeline for Waldenbooks, walking as fast as I could without actually running.<br />
<br />
It was busy, of course it was, but I made it all the way up to the counter and asked for my book. I hugged that book to my chest all the way to the car.<br />
<br />
Waldenbooks closed many years ago. If you're not familiar with the name,
it was a subsidiary of Borders so it isn't a surprise. Then, though, I
probably cried over it at least once. <br />
<br />
The next nearest bookstore was about 45 minutes away, a Borders. To me, it was huge. I don't remember much about it other than the exact location and the fact that it looked exactly as you would expect a Borders to look in the 2000s. I didn't get to go often but it's where all my books came from throughout high school. <i></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I did cry when Borders closed.<br />
<br /><i></i>
In college, there were two indie bookstores in town. When the weather was nice, it was about an hour's walk to get to both of them. I went to school in the north. The weather was only nice for a month or two in the autumn and then, if you were lucky, finals week in the spring. I went without a car for my entire college career so I didn't get to the bookstores often but it was a nice treat when I did.<br />
<br />
One bookstore was two stories and filled with a maze of tall shelves. All the books were used. Some of the ones on the high shelves above the doorways were antique books. They looked beautiful--with warm leather spines and titles that I was too short to read.<br />
<br />
<i>To all the bookstores I've loved before: Thank you for being there. Thank you for providing me with the books that I needed and wanted and loved. Thank you for giving me a escape at times when I wanted to be elsewhere. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-48203473926823554472018-10-29T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-29T07:00:06.446-04:00What's New Monday - October 29, 2018<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I finished <i>Pride </i>by Ibi Zoboi and came out of it with an overwhelming desire to watch Pride and Prejudice again. Weirdly, I think I would've enjoyed this more without the P&P connections (I really don't know how to handle it when "Mr. Darcy" is their father), but it's a solid book nonetheless. Next up is <i>Bridge of Clay</i> by Markus Zusak.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> What I'm Writing: </b><br />
In terms of word count, October has been my most productive writing month this year. A Thousand Miles is in the home stretch.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What I'm Listening to: </b><br />
Right now, a lot of things, but I want to make a special shout-out to The Good Place podcast. It's such a wonderful, upbeat podcast about the best damn TV show. I love listening to a group of people who love their work and hearing the behind the scenes stories of how the show is coming to be.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What I'm Watching: </b><br />
Let me say how much I love This is Us and The Good Place. So much. Last week's episodes for both were gold. Also, Eleanor is bisexual and no one can tell me otherwise. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-76176575631852866102018-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-25T07:00:11.509-04:00Formatting Dialogue Crash Course The punctuation of dialogue is something that I see a lot of new writers getting wrong. It's something that immediately turns me off, no matter how promising the rest of the story is. So, today, I'm going to do a quick crash course in how dialogue is formatted.<br />
<br />
Quotation marks go around the speech. Closing punctuation marks go inside the closing quotation marks at the end of the dialogue. If the dialogue is followed by a tag, you use a comma. If it's not, you use something else. The only exceptions are question marks and exclamation points, which are used as appropriate whether or not there is a dialogue tag. Actions are separate from dialogue. <br />
<br />
What <i>not </i>to do:<br />
<br />
"This is my favorite song." He said.<br />
"This is a good movie" she said. <br />
"Do you want chili for dinner," she asked. <br />
"I haven't read that book," she pointed at the book in question on the shelf.<br />
<br />
What <i>to</i> do:<br />
<br />
"I have a cat," they said.<br />
"I'm allergic to cats." She backed away from the door, slowly.<br />
"Do you want to go somewhere else?" they asked.<br />
"I suppose," she said, digging through her purse for her allergy medicine, "that we could go back to my place instead."<br />
<br />
If you're struggling with dialogue punctuation, keep working at it and before you know it, it'll be second nature. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-87095254798943928672018-10-22T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-22T07:00:06.421-04:00What's New Monday - October 22 We seem to be dangerously close to skipping right over autumn and straight into winter. Otherwise known as just another October in the Midwest.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I finished <i>Darius the Great is Not Okay</i> by Adib Khorram over the course of a couple afternoons. It's a very heartfelt book about an Iranian-American boy going to Iran and meeting his family there for the first time, while dealing with depression and coming of age.<br />
<b> </b><br />
I spent a good chunk of the week with <i>Mirage</i> by Somaiya Daud and loved that as well. The worldbuilding is absolutely gorgeous, the characters well-rounded, and the love interest...well, I might be in love with him.<br />
<br />
I've barely started <i>Pride</i> by Ibi Zoboi.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
A Thousand Miles is still flowing well. I'm a little worried that the first draft is going to be under 50k but I'm sure I'll find plenty of room to expand in the next one.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What I'm Listening to: </b><br />
I mostly got caught up on everything Critical Role this week because I fell behind while binging Magnus Archives. I'm so in love with this show and these characters and Matt's world. I did listen to the first season of Limetown and found it enjoyable but was not in love with it.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What I'm Watching: </b><br />
Still This is Us and The Good Place and a little bit of Psych. I desperately need to set aside some time for the Charmed reboot and the new season of Doctor Who (I rage-quit this show at the beginning of series eight but I really want to give Jodie Whittaker and Moffat-free Who a chance). <b> </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-76119837983068814132018-10-18T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-18T07:00:01.195-04:00Writing About Other Sexualities<i>This post was originally made in August 2014. I felt like it was time for an update. </i><br />
<br />
Representation is important and publishing is finally starting to embrace diversity. If you're thinking about writing queer characters, there are many things to consider, especially if you're writing about a sexuality that is not your own.<br />
<i> </i><br />
The most important thing when writing queer characters is that being queer is not the only thing they have going for them. They have pasts, futures, hopes, dreams, motivations just like any other characters. They shouldn't be here to play the role of "Gay Best Friend #1." Coming out stories are not the only queer stories that matter. They're extremely important, don't get me wrong, but we also need stories about characters who just happen to be queer, just like we have thousands of stories about characters who just happen to be straight.<br />
<br />
Do your research. Don't rely on stereotypes or misconceptions. Not all gay men are interested in fashion. Lesbians are not going through a phase. Bisexual does not equal polyamorous. Don't perpetuate myths and remember that everyone is different. LGBT people experience different environments depending on the area in which they live their family, and their friends. Some are only out to certain people, some are out to everyone, and some aren't out at all.<br />
<br />
Bisexuals are still bisexual no matter the gender identity of the person they're dating. A bisexual woman married to a man is not straight. A bisexual woman married to a woman is not a lesbian. Sexuality is not about current relationships but general attraction. <br />
<br />
Characters don't have to have a label. It can be a comfort to many people to categorize themselves, but some people choose to simply live their lives and fall in love without labels. Some people experience preferences within their own orientation, but this doesn't make a difference in how they identify. A bisexual woman with a preference to dating women is still bisexual. <br />
<br />
Asexuality is a valid sexuality, but it shouldn't be confused with being aromantic. Asexuals can still be in fulfilling relationships. Asexuality comes in a spectrum, with a wide range of preferences when it comes to sex. There isn't one way to feel.<br />
<br />
Do not introduce gay characters just to kill them. For reference, the <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BuryYourGays">Bury Your Gays</a> page of TV Tropes. <br />
<br />
Finally, some examples of positive queer representation:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Shades of Magic</i> trilogy by V.E. Schwab </li>
<li><i>Heroes of Olympus</i> series, <i>Magnus Chase</i> trilogy, and <i>Trials of Apollo</i> series by Rick Riordan </li>
<li><i>Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe</i> by Benjamin Alire Saenz</li>
<li><i>The Song of Achilles</i> by Madeline Miller </li>
<li><i>Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue</i> by Mackenzi Li</li>
<li><i>How to Make a Wish</i> by Ashley Herring Blake</li>
<li><i>Six of Crows</i> and <i>Crooked Kingdom</i> by Leigh Bardugo </li>
<li><i>Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda </i>by Becky Albertalli (see also the movie Love, Simon which is everything I've ever wanted from a gay teen romcom) </li>
<li><i>The Pros of Cons</i> by Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and Michelle Shusterman </li>
<li><i>Dread Nation</i> by Justina Ireland </li>
</ul>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-29796024201115987612018-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-15T07:00:03.295-04:00What's New Monday - October 15, 2018Curious. I definitely wrote a post for last Monday but it seems to still be in my drafts. Autumn is coming on quickly. It's cold outside and the heat is on in the house and the leaves are changing colors. I still haven't had my apple cider but I did have my first pumpkin latte last weekend so all is not lost. I love fall but I can already smell the snow.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I ended up DNFing <i>When I Am Through With You</i> because I just wasn't connecting with the characters. Instead, I read <i>Dust Girl </i>by Sarah Zettel. <b></b>It was a nice quick read but struck me as more middle grade in feel than young adult.<br />
<br />
I also picked up <i>Dread Nation</i> by Justina Ireland from the bookstore and adored it. I'm not usually
one for zombie novels but if this is the last one I ever read (okay,
last series because I desperately need that sequel) that's fine with me.
The concept is great, the execution is even better, and the characters
are all well-rounded and fascinating.<br />
<br />
The last week I spent with Leigh Bardugo's <i>Wonder Woman: Warbringer. </i>I'm not a big comics person but I firmly believe that Wonder Woman is the only decent movie in the DCEU and I love Leigh Bardugo so I was very enthusiastic about this one. It was a solid book and I particularly adored Diana, the other main character, Alia, and her best friends, Theo and Nim. Precious cinnamon rolls, the lot of them.<br />
<br />
Next up: <i>Darius the Great is Not Okay</i> by Adib Khorram. <br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
A Thousand Miles is making progress in leaps and bounds. I'm up over 30k now and I'm already in the final leg. I historically have a tendency towards bare bones first drafts so it doesn't really surprise me. <br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Listening to: </b><br />
I finished all three seasons of <i>The Magnus Archives</i> in the last two weeks and now I'm stuck in the unfortunate position of waiting for season four like everyone else. I'm not usually one for horror and this one has me a bit rattled, but the characters are great, the stories are engrossing, and everything twists and twines into everything else in the most delicious way. I'm definitely in for a relisten before the new season starts in January. <br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Watching: </b><br />
I don't have a lot of TV shows that I follow anymore, for various reasons, so This is Us and The Good Place on the regular. The Flash returned last week but I haven't been able to watch the premiere yet. I'm trying to set aside some time to get back to watching Psych for the first time. I've been on the start of season five for about six months now. It's also October and I haven't done my annual Veronica Mars rewatch yet.<br />
<br />
What's new with you all? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-37028701952350465242018-10-11T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-11T07:00:11.391-04:00The Answer to Most Writing QuestionsI've seen a lot of writers ask questions that come with a very simple answer: Read More.<br />
<br />
"Is sex okay for YA?"<br />
<br />
"What's the difference between YA and MG?"<br />
<br />
"How long should be chapters be?"<br />
<br />
"Can I do this thing?"<br />
<br />
<br />
"How do I write a long scene of dialogue?"<br />
<br />
"What genre is my book?"<br />
<br />
If you read more books, you'll often find the answer to your question. Be well-read within your genre. Read other genres. Read for other markets. Read non-fiction. Read books from authors you like, authors you don't, authors you've never heard of.<br />
<br />
Find those books you love and then think about what's so compelling about them. Think about the characters, the plot, the pacing. This doesn't mean try to turn those books into a formula for your own book, it just means studying from the masters to figure out what you can do to make your book better.<br />
<br />
Read. More. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-18724066530346039942018-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:002018-10-04T07:00:03.394-04:00How to Write With an Office JobWhen you spend eight (or more) hours at the office, it can be hard to come home, plant yourself behind another computer, and work on a book. There's family to spend time with, errands to run, movies and TV to watch, and sleep to enjoy. Here are five tips on how to make a book happen, without quitting your day job:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Write when you can</b><br />
If you're an early bird, wake up half an hour early in the morning, just to write. Bring your laptop or a printed copy into work and write during your lunch break. Set aside an hour or even half an hour in the evening when you get home. This is my preferred writing time. Sometimes it happens later than others but as long as I'm sitting at the computer, I always try to get my words in.<br />
<br />
<b></b> <b>2. Make your word/page count goals easily achievable </b><br />
If you use word count goals to motivate yourself to write, make these easy to achieve. I shoot for 250 words on work nights and busy weekends, and 1,000 words on days when I have more time. It's nice for me to have something short to aim for on nights when I'm tired or it just isn't happening. On nights when the words are flowing well, I often write more.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>3. Consider printing your manuscript</b><br />
Especially when your working on revisions, having a printed copy of your manuscript can help you find time to work on it. My wife likes to carry hers in a binder and read it on her lunch break or when she's stuck somewhere for a while.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>4. Carry a notebook, always</b><br />
Keep a pocket sized notebook with you at all times, to jot down ideas as they happen. I often use the tedious hours at work as a chance to brainstorm future scenes on my WIP or ways to solve issues with my revisions. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>5. Give yourself permission to have off days</b><br />
Some days you're going to be too busy or too tired or just plain writers' blocked. That's okay. It's going to happen. Take the day off and come back to writing later.<br />
<b> </b><br />
When you've been at work all day, what helps you write? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-5707684722552710252018-10-01T22:44:00.000-04:002018-10-01T22:44:14.095-04:00What's New Monday - October 1, 2018Can someone please explain to me how it can possibly be October 1 already? Wasn't New Year's, like, last week?<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I just finished <i>The Pros of Cons</i> by Alison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and Michelle Shusterman. It was a super sweet read with some A+ female friendships, diverse love interests, and a healthy dose of fandom fun. Now I'm reading <i>When I Am Through With You</i> by Stephanie Kuehn.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
I'm currently in the process of writing a new project--my first since I wrote LP in college. It's YA fantasy told from a dual perspective set in the same world as LP. The two characters are polar opposites and I love both of them very much. I'm a little over 20k into the first draft and very excited about it.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Listening to: </b><br />
One of the perks of my job is that I get to listen to podcasts all day. I recently finished Wolf-359 and highly, highly recommend it to anyone that wants a sci-fi serial podcast with a great plot, laughs, and more than a few heart-wrenching moments. That ending, ya'll. By the time this post goes live, I've probably started The Magnus Archives as it's the only thing my wife has listened to in about three weeks and even though horror isn't really my thing, I need to meet these characters.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Watching: </b><br />
This is Us and The Good Place returned last week! I've adored the last two seasons of The Good Place and I can't wait to see where this new one takes us. I've also been listening to as many of the pre-season Red Wings games as I possibly can and letting myself dream for this season. The regular season starts this week so I guess we'll see. <b> </b><br /><b> </b><br />
What's new with you all? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-23234414158303905652018-09-24T08:00:00.000-04:002018-09-26T20:20:57.144-04:00Almost Ten Years...It's been almost ten years since I started this blog. My first post was back in January 2009. I can say a lot has changed since then.<br />
<br />
I graduated high school and college with my bachelor's degree.<br />
<br />
I moved out of my tiny hometown and into the city.<br />
<br />
I accepted my first full-time job. <br />
<br />
Back in those days of 2009, I met a girl. Two months ago, she became my wife.<br />
<br />
Other things haven't changed. I'm still writing and still pursuing publication, although I can say I'm a lot more knowledgeable about both now than I was nine years ago. I'm still riding horses. Tamora Pierce and Rick Riordan are still two of my favorite authors.<br />
<br />
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts for writers lately and it's made me miss blogging. I know the writer blogosphere isn't as well-populated as it once was but it's one of my favorite platforms and I've decided to try--for real, not like I say I'm going to every New Year--blogging again. I'll be shooting for twice a week, on Mondays a "What's Up Wednesday" style post about what I'm reading and writing and listening to and then on Thursdays some kind of informational post (if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them). <br />
<br />
If you're still reading this after all this time, thank you and hello again! If this is your first time at my blog, it's good to meet you! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-42939914131665589432017-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:002017-01-09T06:00:19.021-05:00Happy 2017 This blog has become a bit of a New Year's resolution of mine. I swear that I'm going to start blogging again, make a post or two, and then disappear off into the ether.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to make a resolution this year.<br />
<br />
I'm just going to start blogging again.<br />
<br />
I'm neck-deep in revisions for an entirely new book that I love very much. I have two jobs and a third volunteer position. Last year my only post was about Hamilton and I have to say my obsession has not gone away in the intervening months. Although now I can say all the words to "Guns and Ships" without (mostly) getting tongue-tied. I'm not reading as much as I should be and really trying to work on that. I can say 2016 was a dumpster fire of a year but I have hope for 2017. Somewhere. <br />
<br />
So how's life everyone? What have you been up to? <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-29357520560115808132016-01-04T12:19:00.000-05:002016-01-04T12:19:36.918-05:00HamiltonI'm back! I made a New Year's resolution last year to start blogging three times a week. Obviously, like many resolutions, it crashed and burned.<br />
<br />
But a 2016 resolution is not why I'm here.<br />
<br />
Hamilton is. If you haven't heard of it, it's a rap/hip hop Broadway musical about one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Sounds boring? Sounds weird? I thought so too. <br />
<br />
Trust me.<br />
<br />
I listened to the full cast recording three times in two days and my favorite songs countless times in between. I have plans to see it live in the eventual future.<br />
<br />
Interested?<br />
<br />
I have two recommendations:<br />
<br />
Number 1: My favorite song and the one that actually got me into the musical in the first place<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ReTP6x_sDiM" width="480"></iframe></div><br />
Number 2: From the beginning<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zp9HUc9HraQ" width="480"></iframe></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-9525989567792731322015-01-28T09:12:00.000-05:002015-01-28T09:12:03.623-05:00What's Up Wednesday - January 28, 2015What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by <a href="http://www.jaime-morrow.com/">Jaime Morrow</a> and <a href="http://erinlfunk.blogspot.ca/">Erin Funk</a> to help writers stay in touch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JZQef-GByeDmzeFK6ieugrE_l3KZvz0kzWUUVL5Sr8DGtJ1kWEuQPY2pR3d5rZMxQAypLgmUVRq_BZyTgShFB35_fZc0ANIXc2iSdf8K7wHe3I59XVOQ9Pc1q0CjZVmFJ_8RDrlroECU/s1600/Bench+Button+(Final).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JZQef-GByeDmzeFK6ieugrE_l3KZvz0kzWUUVL5Sr8DGtJ1kWEuQPY2pR3d5rZMxQAypLgmUVRq_BZyTgShFB35_fZc0ANIXc2iSdf8K7wHe3I59XVOQ9Pc1q0CjZVmFJ_8RDrlroECU/s1600/Bench+Button+(Final).png" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I finished <i>Boy on the Bridge</i> by Natalie Standiford last week. My review went up on Friday. I felt that it fell short of its potential. But now I'm reading <i>Scarlet</i> by Marissa Meyer. I have to admit that I was a little sad when I read the summary and found out it focuses on Scarlet rather than Cinder but I'm quickly falling in love.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
Nothing at the moment. I haven't started querying either. I'm swamped with work.<b> </b>It's not likely to get any better until next week so I think I'm going to forego the writing goal.<br />
<br />
<b>What Works for Me: </b><br />
Musical motivation. I've listened to Fall Out Boy's new album an almost embarrassing number of times since it was released, but I regret nothing. Sometimes music gets me pumped up (like Fall Out Boy) and sometimes it helps me to settle down and focus (like my all instrumental playlist on Pandora). <br />
<br />
<b>What Else I've Been Up to: </b><br />
Trying to get settled into a routine. The first few weeks of a semester are always the toughest scheduling wise because there's classes and work and lab time and somewhere in there sleep has to happen.<b> </b>Mine is starting to fall into place but I haven't quite gotten there yet. My Starbucks intake is also a little out of hand at the moment. <br />
<br />
If anyone's out east, stay safe and warm. Have a great week, everyone! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-21716725391566036292015-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-26T07:00:05.840-05:00What's New This Week - January 26<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I'm Glad I Did</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Cynthia Weil</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418484280l/21467481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418484280l/21467481.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21467481-i-m-glad-i-did?ac=1">Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b><i><span id="freeText8946922314807244107">Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer and songwriting legend Cynthia Weil's extraordinary YA debut opens
the secretive doors of the Brill Building-the hit factory that changed
history. Part Mad Men, part Grace of my Heart, part murder mystery, I'm
Glad I Did is a coming-of-age story at an unforgettable cultural tipping
point: the summer of 1963.<br /><br />JJ Greene, a gifted 16-year-old
songwriter, defies her lawyer parents by secretly applying for a job in
the famed Brill Building-the epicenter of songwriting for a new genre
called rock-n-roll. But their warnings about the evils of the music
industry prove far darker than she imagined when she finds herself at
the heart of a cover-up that involves hidden identity, theft, and
possibly murder.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><b>Cut Me Free</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><b>by J.R. Johansson</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398879314l/21469083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398879314l/21469083.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21469083-cut-me-free?ac=1"><span id="freeText8946922314807244107">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText12921554201108306484">Seventeen-year-old
Charlotte barely escaped from her abusive parents. Her little brother,
Sam, wasn't as lucky. Now she's trying to begin the new life she always
dreamed of for them, but never thought she'd have to experience alone.
She's hired a techie-genius with a knack for forgery to remove the last
ties to her old life. But while she can erase her former identity, she
can’t rid herself of the memories. And her troubled history won’t let
her ignore the little girl she sees one day in the park. The girl with
the bruises and burn marks.<br /><br />That’s when Charlotte begins to
receive the messages. Threatening notes left in her apartment--without a
trace of entry. And they’re addressed to Piper, her old name. As the
messages grow in frequency, she doesn’t just need to uncover who is
leaving them; she needs to stop whoever it is before anyone else she
loves ends up dead.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><b>Love, Lucy</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8946922314807244107"><b>by April Lindner</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396376349l/20911403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396376349l/20911403.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20911403-love-lucy?ac=1"><span id="freeText8946922314807244107">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText11383876448665724775">While backpacking
through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to
college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the
culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome
street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home,
determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because
summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too. </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-15957108258830854062015-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-23T07:00:06.555-05:00The Boy on the Bridge Review<ul>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Boy on the Bridge</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Natalie Standiford</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368070544l/16270141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368070544l/16270141.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText14169573612880129894">Laura Reid goes to
Leningrad for a semester abroad as Cold War paranoia is peaking in 1982.
She meets a young Russian artist named Alexei and soon, with Alexei as
her guide, Laura immerses herself in the real Russia--a crazy world of
wild parties, black-market books and music, and smuggled letters to
dissidents. She must keep the relationship secret; associating with
Americans is dangerous for Alexei, and if caught, Laura could be sent
home and Alexei put under surveillance or worse. At the same time, she's
been warned that Soviets often latch onto Americans in hopes of
marrying them and thus escaping to the United States. But she knows
Alexei loves her. Right?<br /><br />As June approaches--when Laura must
return to the United States--Alexei asks Laura to marry him. She's only
nineteen and doesn't think she's ready to settle down. But what if
Alexei is the love of her life? How can she leave him behind? If she has
a chance to change his life, to rescue him from misery, shouldn't she
take it?</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText14169573612880129894">I was really excited about this book. Historical set in Russia? Falling in love while on study abroad? Bring it on. </span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Overall, it wasn't what I hoped. The Russian setting was fascinating and beautifully used, making for an original concept. The characters are solid. Alexei and Laura's relationship is lovely. There's a range of American and Russian minor characters, some of them more developed than others. The voice falls flat and it just didn't grab me. There are points at which i felt like I was being told a story, and it pulled me out of it. The ending is more bitter than sweet. While it's relatively expected, it works well. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-18412842746527814362015-01-21T10:14:00.000-05:002015-01-21T10:15:30.727-05:00What's Up Wednesday - January 21, 2015 What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by <a href="http://www.jaime-morrow.com/">Jaime Morrow</a> and <a href="http://erinlfunk.blogspot.ca/">Erin Funk</a> to help writers stay in touch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What I'm Reading: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Still <i>Boy on the Bridge. </i>I'm a little less than halfway. I ordered a bunch of new books from B&N and they shipped today, though, so I'm going to have to finish it before they get here. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What I'm Writing: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nothing at the moment. Working on getting Weredragon's synopsis down to a more acceptable length. My writing goal for the week is to get ten queries out there again. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What Works for Me: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes it's <i>not</i> giving myself rewards. I've talked before about how I like to give myself a little break after I complete a task on my to do list. Sometimes that break is an episode of a TV show. Recently, though, I've had to quit doing that because I find myself spending more time watching Stargate or How I Met Your Mother than actually working. For now I just work through my to do list and <i>then</i> I get to have fun. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What Else I'm Up to: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I start both of my tutoring jobs this week--statistics within the psychology department--and I'm actually pretty excited about it. Hopefully it all goes well this semester. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have a great week! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-52964971225668902872015-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-19T07:00:05.216-05:00What's New This Week - January 19<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Killing Time in Crystal City</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Chris Lynch</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421037718l/13260674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421037718l/13260674.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260674-killing-time-in-crystal-city?from_search=true">Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b><i><span id="freeText6993479860335882402">Crystal City called for
him, and Kevin answered. And why wouldn’t he? His relationship with his
father is broken—as is his arm. With barely anyone to miss him or care
if he’s gone, it seemed like the perfect time for Kevin to run away to
his estranged uncle and create an entirely new identity. New name. New
attitude. New friends. Maybe even a new girl.<br /><br />From the first
moment of adventure, Kevin’s life takes a turn for the exciting. Making
friends seems easy with his new persona, especially when a group of
homeless beach bums instantly includes him in their crew. But do they
like the real Kevin, or the guy he’s pretending to be? And will this new
lifestyle help Kevin escape from the misery of his former life—or will
it drag him right back into the reasons he left home?</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText6993479860335882402"> <b>All Fall Down</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText6993479860335882402"><b>by Ally Carter</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText6993479860335882402">Embassy Row #1</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411070285l/22571275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411070285l/22571275.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571275-all-fall-down?ac=1"><span id="freeText6993479860335882402">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText8533786763624809891" style="display: inline;">Grace
can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is
also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in
the world and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running
across the roofs of Embassy Row.<br /><br />Now, at age sixteen, she's come
back to stay - in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In
the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling
proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if
she and the world are to be saved.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText8533786763624809891" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8533786763624809891" style="display: inline;"><b>The Way We Bared Our Souls</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText8533786763624809891" style="display: inline;"><b>by Willa Strayhorn</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404960375l/22529157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404960375l/22529157.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22529157-the-way-we-bared-our-souls?ac=1"><span id="freeText8533786763624809891" style="display: inline;">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText8818688466957929241">Five teenagers sit
around a bonfire in the middle of the New Mexico desert. They don’t know
it yet, but they are about to make the biggest sacrifice of their
lives.<br /> <br /><strong>Lo </strong>has a family history of MS, and is starting to come down with all the symptoms.<br /><strong>Thomas</strong>, a former child soldier from Liberia, is plagued by traumatic memories of his war-torn past.<br /><strong>Kaya </strong>would do anything to feel physical pain, but a rare condition called CIP keeps her numb.<br /><strong>Ellen</strong> can’t remember who she was before she started doing drugs.<br /><strong>Kit </strong>lost his girlfriend in a car accident and now he just can’t shake his newfound fear of death.<br /> <br /> When they trade totems as a symbol of shedding and adopting one another’s sorrows, they think it’s only an exercise.<br /> <br /> But in the morning, they wake to find their burdens gone…and replaced with someone else’s.<br /> <br />
As the reality of the ritual unfolds, this unlikely group of five
embarks on a week of beautiful, terrifying experiences that all
culminate in one perfect truth: In the end, your soul is stronger than
your burdens.</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-14565732101737841012015-01-14T09:26:00.000-05:002015-01-14T09:26:29.580-05:00What's Up Wednesday - January 14, 2015 What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by <a href="http://www.jaime-morrow.com/">Jaime Morrow</a> and <a href="http://erinlfunk.blogspot.ca/">Erin Funk</a> to help writers stay in touch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
Currently <i>Boy on the Bridge</i> by Natalie Standiford. I must admit that it's not holding me as well as I hoped.<br />
<br />
<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
Going to start working on submission materials for Weredragon tomorrow.<b> </b>I already have a synopsis and query, I just need to make sure they're the best they can be. <br />
<br />
<b>What Works for Me: </b><br />
Giving myself time off when I need it. For instance, Mondays I have class from 11 to 8:20 with only a few hours of break in between. My goal is to lower my target word count to a more manageable number or possibly eliminate it completely. The rest of the week is not nearly as hectic yet so there will be plenty of time for a proper writing session.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> What Else I'm Up To: </b><br />
Classes. I'm actually really excited about mine this semester. It's going to be quite a bit of work but also a lot of fun. <b> </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-15019242824113796662015-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-12T07:00:01.573-05:00What's New This Week - January 12 <div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Boy Next Door</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Katie Van Ark</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404404909l/21853719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404404909l/21853719.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21853719-the-boy-next-door?from_search=true">Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b> </b><i><span id="freeText11351123322281407310">Maddy Spier has been in
love with the boy next door forever. As his figure skating partner she
spends time in his arms every day. But she’s also seen his arms around
other girls—lots of other girls. <br /><br />Gabe can't imagine skating
with anyone but Maddy, and together they have a real chance at winning
some serious gold medals. So, he’s determined to keep thinking of her
like a sister. After all, he’s never had a romantic relationship that
lasted for more than two weeks.<br /><br />But when their coach assigns a
new romantic skating program, everything changes. Will this be the big
break that Maddy’s been hoping for or the big breakup that Gabe has
always feared?</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText11351123322281407310"> <b>Vivian Apple at the End of the World</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText11351123322281407310"><b>by Katie Coyle</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText11351123322281407310">Vivian Apple #1</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400936249l/20256737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400936249l/20256737.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20256737-vivian-apple-at-the-end-of-the-world?ac=1"><span id="freeText11351123322281407310">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText201805316721107983">Seventeen-year-old Vivian
Apple never believed in the evangelical Church of America, unlike her
recently devout parents. But when Vivian returns home the night after
the supposed "Rapture," all that’s left of her parents are two holes in
the roof. Suddenly, she doesn't know who or what to believe. With her
best friend Harp and a mysterious ally, Peter, Vivian embarks on a
desperate cross-country roadtrip through a paranoid and panic-stricken
America to find answers. Because at the end of the world, Vivan
Apple isn't looking for a savior. She's looking for the truth.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText201805316721107983"><b>The Darkest Part of the Forest </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText201805316721107983"><b>by Holly Black</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397755014l/20958632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397755014l/20958632.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20958632-the-darkest-part-of-the-forest?ac=1"><span id="freeText201805316721107983">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText16428712835116372081">Children can have a
cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel
quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe
they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can
believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.<br /><br />Hazel lives
with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and
fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts
tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how
to stop them. Or she did, once.<br /><br />At the center of it all, there is
a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it
sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel
and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there
for generations, never waking.<br /><br />Until one day, he does…<br /><br />As
the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years
pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties,
and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-54460352806401779122015-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-09T07:00:04.822-05:00Cinder Review<ul>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Cinder</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Marissa Meyer</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lunar Chronicles #1</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881l/11235712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388186881l/11235712.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span id="freeText10492937784556018529">Humans and androids
crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the
population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make
their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. <br /><br />Cinder,
a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a
mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her
stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the
handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an
intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty
and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her
past in order to protect her world’s future.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span id="freeText10492937784556018529"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText10492937784556018529">I know, I know. Very late to the party on this one. With this book, though, it's definitely better late than never. This book caught me and refused to let go. About halfway in, I told myself that I could read a few chapters before I got back to work. Ended up finishing the rest of the book in one sitting. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText10492937784556018529"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText10492937784556018529">Wonderful characters and excellent dialogue. I really love Cinder and her relationships with Iko and Peony. Also Prince Kai. I didn't expect to like the switches in perspective, but they actually provided a well-done picture of events and I found myself looking forward to one in particular besides Cinder. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText10492937784556018529"> </span></div>
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<span id="freeText10492937784556018529">The world-building was excellent and I <i>love</i> that this book was set somewhere other than America. It's extremely refreshing. The play on Cinderella was also well done, but helped to lend a certain predictability. Speaking of which (without spoiling anything), I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in. I was still intrigued waiting for the characters to figure things out, but it was also kind of disappointing. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-82159061439854836292015-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-07T07:00:01.218-05:00What's Up Wednesday - January 7, 2015What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by <a href="http://www.jaime-morrow.com/">Jaime Morrow</a> and <a href="http://erinlfunk.blogspot.ca/">Erin Funk</a> to help writers stay in touch. First Wednesday of the new year! It's been over a month since I've participated and I can't believe I let the time slip by like that. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWEwusSGwpPgyq6E3bncV8p7zU5LtkVpkbcxfv65O_t0U_bJ0kaHUWYwxXUPQec9Q3xAIlANU2jOAdIizNFWgkpoxIE4OwNRR_MCcV3LOPN9zwCmhN0Mpgk31bGLe1gLRzb0aIH97aZSt/s1600/Snowy+Houses.png" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
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<b>What I'm Reading: </b><br />
I finished <i>Cinder</i> by Marissa Meyer a few days ago. I'm very late to the party on that one, but it's a fantastic book and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next installment. Full review will be up on Friday. Next up is <i>The Boy on the Bridge </i>by Natalie Standiford.<br />
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<b>What I'm Writing: </b><br />
Getting Weredragon ready to get back out there with queries. I gave it a skim and decided that I'm not quite ready to give up on it yet. My goal is to get my synopses and query agent-ready so that by this time next week I can start querying.<br />
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<b>What Works for Me: </b><br />
Being busy. Quite honestly, I was hoping to get a <i>lot</i> done over my winter break. I figured that without school I'd have tons of free time to get all the things done. But with the holidays and so many people to see, I didn't have as much free time as I expected. I'm actually looking forward to the new semester starting, because having to balance class and work and homework really helps me to prioritize and work out a schedule to get everything done. <br />
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<b>What Else I'm Up To: </b><br />
Like I said, the new semester is starting up soon, next week actually. This will be my last as I'm graduating in May. I'm really excited about going back, though it is a bit bittersweet that this is for the last time. <br />
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Have a great week, everyone! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-54154370799773834022015-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-05T07:00:10.521-05:00What's New This Week - January 5 I used to do weekly posts featuring new releases in young adult and middle grade and I've decided that it's time to bring that back. I've gotten out of touch with what's coming out and there are so many fantastic books. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Gone Too Far</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Natalie Richards</b></div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411573231l/21900147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411573231l/21900147.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21900147-gone-too-far?from_search=true">Goodreads<b> </b></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1420304861124_1536">
<i>Send me a name. Make someone pay.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1420304861124_1537">
<i>Piper Woods can't wait to
graduate. To leave high school-and all the annoying cliques-behind. But
when she finds a mysterious notebook filled with the sins of her fellow
students, Piper's suddenly drowning in their secrets.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1420304861124_1546">
<i>And she's not the only one watching...</i></div>
<i>
</i><div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1420304861124_1481">
<i>An anonymous text invites Piper
to choose: the cheater, the bully, the shoplifter. The popular kids with
their dirty little secrets. And with one text, Piper can make them pay.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1420304861124_1497">
<i>But the truth can be dangerous...</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>There Will Be Lies</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by Nick Lake</b></div>
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<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403547303l/20613635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403547303l/20613635.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
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<b> </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20613635-there-will-be-lies?ac=1">Goodreads</a></div>
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<i><span id="freeText8731665563226950722">In four hours, Shelby Jane Cooper will be struck by a car.<br /><br />Shortly after, she and her mother will leave the hospital and set out on a winding journey toward the Grand Canyon.<br /><br />All
Shelby knows is that they’re running from dangers only her mother
understands. And the further they travel, the more Shelby questions
everything about her past—and her current reality. Forced to take
advantage of the kindness of unsuspecting travelers, Shelby grapples
with what’s real, what isn’t, and who she can trust . . . if anybody.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span id="freeText8731665563226950722"><b>Hold Tight, Don't Let Go</b></span></div>
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<span id="freeText8731665563226950722"><b>by Laura Rose Wagner</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20702041-hold-tight-don-t-let-go?from_search=true"><span id="freeText8731665563226950722">Goodreads</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span id="freeText8731665563226950722"><b> </b></span><span id="freeText8731665563226950722"><i>Hold Tight, Don’t Let Go
follows the vivid story of two teenage cousins, raised as sisters, who
survive the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. After losing the woman
who raised them in the tragedy, Magdalie and Nadine must fend for
themselves in the aftermath of the quake. The girls are inseparable,
making the best of their new circumstances in a refugee camp with an
affectionate, lively camaraderie, until Nadine, whose father lives in
Miami, sends for her but not Magdalie. As she leaves, Nadine makes a
promise she cannot keep: to bring Magdalie to Miami, too. Resourceful
Magdalie focuses her efforts on a reunion with Nadine until she realizes
her life is in Haiti, and that she must embrace its possibilities for
love, friendship, and a future.
</i> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-16348611613468974342015-01-01T11:20:00.000-05:002015-01-01T13:50:33.801-05:002015 ResolutionsHappy New Year, everyone! Seriously, where did the time go? It's January 1st again which means it's time to make resolutions. I try to keep mine realistic, so that I might actually have a chance at keeping them. I thought about throwing some kind of exercise- or health-related goal on here, but those are always the first to go. <br />
<br />
My resolutions:<br />
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<b>Figure out where my writing is going. </b><br />
I wanted to have some kind of goal here, like "revise this novel" or "complete two first drafts" but the truth is this has to be figured out first. My goal is to set up a game plan and stick to it. <br />
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<b>Read 75 books. </b><br />
I've been <i>terrible</i> at keeping up with my reading goals over the past few years and this year I'm determined to change that. About six books a month sounds do-able.<br />
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<b>Move out. </b><br />
I'm graduating college in a few months and my goal is to be moved into my own place by the end of the year.<br />
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<b>Blog at least three days a week. </b><br />
Blogging has definitely fallen to the wayside recently and I'd like to start again. <b> </b> <br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Do five things I've never done before. </b><br />
This is always my favorite thing on my resolution list. Pretty self-explanatory.<br />
<br />
What are your resolutions for 2015? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-13071193366836932122014-12-31T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-31T07:00:06.703-05:00Resolution Review 2014 I can't believe 2014 is over. It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating New Year's with my family. It's been a rollercoaster of a year and I know 2015 will be just the same. <b></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Keep track of my daily word count</b><br />
<i>Success! I tend to have trouble remembering to record how many words I wrote in a day, but this year I managed to get in the habit of it. </i><br />
<br />
Read 100 books<br />
<i>Last year is no longer my worst reading year since I started keeping records. </i><br />
<br />
Go for a run every morning three days a week<br />
<i>I tried to get started over the summer but I also had to walk the dog and the dog won't run with me. I didn't want to go for a run, come back, and then go back out to walk the dog. </i><br />
<br />Watch 50 movies<br />
<i>So close. I know I watched way more than 50 movies but unfortunately too many of them were movies I'd already seen before. </i><br />
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<b>Do five things I've never done before</b><br />
<i>This is one of my favorite resolutions and I was able to check it off early this year. On the list for this year include presenting a research poster, traveling to Washington DC, and driving a four-wheeler. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Happy New Year everyone! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388186392369376595.post-35664131121971923832014-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-30T07:00:08.031-05:00This Year in Writing... I don't have a ton to report on with writing this year. The year started off with a partial rewrite of Weredragon that I felt made the book much stronger than it was. It's still gathering dust at the moment while I try to decide what to do with it. I'll likely go over submission materials after the new year and think about querying again. It's been a while since I've jumped into that ocean. <br />
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I also drafted my newest work in progress, nicknamed LP, and it rounded out at 75k. I'm really excited about it but I also know that it's going to need a lot of work. It's simmering for the time being. <br />
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I don't have anything in the works at the moment, though I am toying with the possibility of returning to a couple old manuscripts.<br />
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One of my goals this year was to keep more careful track of my daily word counts and I succeeded, although with some bumps in the road. My best month was easily June, with 32,628 words. My best day was November 23rd, with 5,572 words.<br />
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Grand Total: 202,360 words Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0