Calling all coffee addicts!!! Calling all coffee addicts!!!
The lovely Jennie Bailey over at Garden of Lily is hosting a fun and adventurous blog contest!!! You will not be disappointed when you drop by!
Up FoR gRaBs: $10 Starbucks GiftCard
HoW tO wIn: This is the fun part! You are dropped in a remote location with only three items...
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Backpack
In your backpack you have the following items:
Water bottle
Iodine tablets (purify the water)
Wateproof matches
Swiss army knife
Small frying pan
Book with lists of edible plans
NOW YOU MUST CHOOSE THREE ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO ADD TO YOUR BACKPACK!
The most creative answers win, so make sure you are smart with your list and give good reasons as to why you chose what you chose!!! Please visit her and sign up! It's super easy and literally only takes two seconds!! You currently have an excellent chance at winning!
WHAT ARE YOU WATING FOR?! GO NOW! Oh and be sure to tell her I sent you :)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
In love with Firelight
Today I have a local author, Sophie Jordan!!!! I'm so excited to introduce her, she has a upcoming YA novel titled Firelight, debuting in September! This is a MUST READ so pre-order it now!!! You will not be disappointed!
Okay now for the awesome interview!!!! Enjoy!
1. Your upcoming YA novel Firelight is about to release September 7th, would you like to give us the run-down on what the book is all about?
Well, the blurb says it better than I ever could:
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.
This story seriously rocks! I kid you not, it will have you in a trance at page one! Beautifully written, and Sophie Jordan has a gift at romance for sure!!
2. I love that Jacinda can breathe fire, what a cool power to have! Where did this idea come from? Have you always wanted to breathe fire?
I guess the idea followed immediately on the heels of deciding that my heroine is a descendant from dragons. The ability to breathe fire just flashed into my head as a natural connection to dragons. And once it hit me, I knew I was on to something good. So good I decided to make her even more special by making her the last fire-breather of her kind.
So this makes sense right! A dragon descendant breathing fire! Just wait, because she's not done yet, she has other gifts in the dragon world that creative thinkers like yourself would LOVE!
3. How did you come up with the names for your characters?
Well, the human names were fairly ordinary picks, but the draki names I gave a little more thought. They needed to be a tad exotic … since they didn’t belong to humans. I wanted draki names to sound a little “old”, too. And of course they have to “fit” the character. Sometimes you just know when a name works for the character in your mind. I knew Jacinda’s name immediately. It had been lurking in the back of my mind for a few years waiting for the right character.
The names rocked!
4. How long did it take you to write you first novel? Was it accepted by an agent?
I probably spent a few months writing it, then I revised off and how over the course of the following year … all the while actively submitting it to agents and working on a new project. I signed with an agent probably two years after I wrote that first book. And yes, miraculously, it was that first book I wrote that she sold.
I love hearing the first book stories! Shows that writers it is more than possible to sell your first book!
5. Will Firelight be a series or just one novel?
The plan so far is for Firelight to be a three book trilogy. I’m contracted for three books.
YAY! I cannot wait for two more installments!
6. Any other secret projects in the works?
Well, Firelight has been optioned for film! And the film company has asked for my input/involvement regarding the adaption of the book. That’s been somewhat hush-hush news I’ve been sitting on. Really excited!
Wow! That is such awesome news!! It would make one awesome movie!
7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
As painful as it is, I probably love revising a book the most. That’s when the magic happens (and the blood and sweat). There is rarely anything magical about my first drafts! ;)
I'm finding that revisions might be my favorite as well!
Fun & Random Questions
• Favorite bookshop – KATY BUDGET BOOKS
• Favorite place to eat – HUNGRY’s
• Salty or Sweet – Both combined.
• Favorite ice cream – Any peanut butterish flavor
• Favorite book series – Hunger Games
• Dragons or Dinosaurs – Ha! Dragons.
• Chick flick or horror – Horror
• Person who most inspires you – My father
• Snow or rain – Rain
• Favorite place to write – My patio
• What are you reading right now – Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Favorite treat while writing – Chips and guac!
There you have it!!! Isn't she amazing?! Now go and check out her website and pre-order your copy of Firelight today!!
Okay now for the awesome interview!!!! Enjoy!
1. Your upcoming YA novel Firelight is about to release September 7th, would you like to give us the run-down on what the book is all about?
Well, the blurb says it better than I ever could:
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.
This story seriously rocks! I kid you not, it will have you in a trance at page one! Beautifully written, and Sophie Jordan has a gift at romance for sure!!
2. I love that Jacinda can breathe fire, what a cool power to have! Where did this idea come from? Have you always wanted to breathe fire?
I guess the idea followed immediately on the heels of deciding that my heroine is a descendant from dragons. The ability to breathe fire just flashed into my head as a natural connection to dragons. And once it hit me, I knew I was on to something good. So good I decided to make her even more special by making her the last fire-breather of her kind.
So this makes sense right! A dragon descendant breathing fire! Just wait, because she's not done yet, she has other gifts in the dragon world that creative thinkers like yourself would LOVE!
3. How did you come up with the names for your characters?
Well, the human names were fairly ordinary picks, but the draki names I gave a little more thought. They needed to be a tad exotic … since they didn’t belong to humans. I wanted draki names to sound a little “old”, too. And of course they have to “fit” the character. Sometimes you just know when a name works for the character in your mind. I knew Jacinda’s name immediately. It had been lurking in the back of my mind for a few years waiting for the right character.
The names rocked!
4. How long did it take you to write you first novel? Was it accepted by an agent?
I probably spent a few months writing it, then I revised off and how over the course of the following year … all the while actively submitting it to agents and working on a new project. I signed with an agent probably two years after I wrote that first book. And yes, miraculously, it was that first book I wrote that she sold.
I love hearing the first book stories! Shows that writers it is more than possible to sell your first book!
5. Will Firelight be a series or just one novel?
The plan so far is for Firelight to be a three book trilogy. I’m contracted for three books.
YAY! I cannot wait for two more installments!
6. Any other secret projects in the works?
Well, Firelight has been optioned for film! And the film company has asked for my input/involvement regarding the adaption of the book. That’s been somewhat hush-hush news I’ve been sitting on. Really excited!
Wow! That is such awesome news!! It would make one awesome movie!
7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
As painful as it is, I probably love revising a book the most. That’s when the magic happens (and the blood and sweat). There is rarely anything magical about my first drafts! ;)
I'm finding that revisions might be my favorite as well!
Fun & Random Questions
• Favorite bookshop – KATY BUDGET BOOKS
• Favorite place to eat – HUNGRY’s
• Salty or Sweet – Both combined.
• Favorite ice cream – Any peanut butterish flavor
• Favorite book series – Hunger Games
• Dragons or Dinosaurs – Ha! Dragons.
• Chick flick or horror – Horror
• Person who most inspires you – My father
• Snow or rain – Rain
• Favorite place to write – My patio
• What are you reading right now – Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Favorite treat while writing – Chips and guac!
There you have it!!! Isn't she amazing?! Now go and check out her website and pre-order your copy of Firelight today!!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tuesday Twist
Let's mix things up this week!!! I've chosen books that our very own bloggers will be debuting in 2011!!! Down at the bottom after the synopsis I pulled from goodreads lists the authors and their book titles. Click the titles to add to your goodreads list and click the author to follow their blogs!! ENJOY!
ALL THESE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN 2011!
FIRST UP:
When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.
After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £50,000 prize?
Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.
Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?
SECOND UP:
Someone’s been a very bad zombie.
Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be thisclose to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except . . . the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating . . . zombies.
Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend . . . not even Kate . . .
It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.
THIRD UP:
In Sofia's words . . . Mia St. Claire is only the most popular girl in all of Middlebrooke Middle School. For three very obvious reasons:1. She's very rich.2. She has tons of money.3. She can buy anything and everything she wants. And she does.I'm sure people like her for other reasons too, but none of those reasons are obvious enough for me to really know. Or care about, for that matter
Awesome Titles & Authors:
The Hating Game by Talli Roland
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Gossip from the Girls Room by Rose Cooper
So add these three lovely ladies to your goodreads listing or TBR listing today!!!
ALL THESE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN 2011!
FIRST UP:
When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.
After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £50,000 prize?
Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.
Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?
SECOND UP:
Someone’s been a very bad zombie.
Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be thisclose to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except . . . the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating . . . zombies.
Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend . . . not even Kate . . .
It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.
THIRD UP:
In Sofia's words . . . Mia St. Claire is only the most popular girl in all of Middlebrooke Middle School. For three very obvious reasons:1. She's very rich.2. She has tons of money.3. She can buy anything and everything she wants. And she does.I'm sure people like her for other reasons too, but none of those reasons are obvious enough for me to really know. Or care about, for that matter
Awesome Titles & Authors:
The Hating Game by Talli Roland
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Gossip from the Girls Room by Rose Cooper
So add these three lovely ladies to your goodreads listing or TBR listing today!!!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Revising Style
Happy Monday, Happy Bloggers! I trust everyone had an awesome weekend!!! I have tons of pictures for today's post, which is something that I don't normally do!
So last Friday I shared that I had completed post-it revisions!!! You all graciously congratulated me and told me that it was never early to celebrate (even if it was 9AM) I will have you all know that I celebrated! My mom, sis, husband and I went to TGI Fridays (on Friday, lol) for some cocktails and dinner and Saturday the hubs and I went to the beach and then had dinner with some great friends. I also received Rachele Alpine's Summer Giveaway package, which I adore!!!
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young is already super cute!!! LOVE IT!
Okay so the real reason for this post is to talk about revisions! I know, a lot of you love revisions (add sarcasm) and we all have different methods. I thought it would be fun to show you how I do the first set of revisions.
This is my Getting to Peloria binder where I put the entire rough draft of my manuscript. I leave it here for at least 3 days then I grabbed some post-its and my red pen and went to town.
A page out of my binder! There are only a few post-it's here, but this is the first page and I can tell you that before I took the picture you couldn't even see that there was a page. I have multiple post-its on this page (around 20) just talking about re-structuring, working on chapters, etc.
Now that I've shown you a few pictures of what my post-it revisions look like I'm wondering how you revise. Have you ever tried post-it revisions? Do you prefer working off of a computer? How is your writing going?
So last Friday I shared that I had completed post-it revisions!!! You all graciously congratulated me and told me that it was never early to celebrate (even if it was 9AM) I will have you all know that I celebrated! My mom, sis, husband and I went to TGI Fridays (on Friday, lol) for some cocktails and dinner and Saturday the hubs and I went to the beach and then had dinner with some great friends. I also received Rachele Alpine's Summer Giveaway package, which I adore!!!
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young is already super cute!!! LOVE IT!
Okay so the real reason for this post is to talk about revisions! I know, a lot of you love revisions (add sarcasm) and we all have different methods. I thought it would be fun to show you how I do the first set of revisions.
This is my Getting to Peloria binder where I put the entire rough draft of my manuscript. I leave it here for at least 3 days then I grabbed some post-its and my red pen and went to town.
A page out of my binder! There are only a few post-it's here, but this is the first page and I can tell you that before I took the picture you couldn't even see that there was a page. I have multiple post-its on this page (around 20) just talking about re-structuring, working on chapters, etc.
Now that I've shown you a few pictures of what my post-it revisions look like I'm wondering how you revise. Have you ever tried post-it revisions? Do you prefer working off of a computer? How is your writing going?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Kick Ass Quotes
So I figured If CrAzY please apply was so successful we should continue with some awesome inspiration and motivational crap that makes us feel more together as a whole writing community. I mean if we don't stick together everyone will think we're crazy so here are some fun things I've recently come by!!!
1. Make eavesdropping a way of life. {I mean how else are you going to come up with some good shizz?}
2. Writing fiction is a matter of sitting down to tell yourself a good story. {It aint gonna write itself}
3. If you don't return calls from your muse, there's a chance they'll stop calling. {so listen up people because if you don't they'll find someone else who will}
4. It is better to write poorly than to not write at all. {Go ahead... suck it up!}
5. Every good writer is a sponge: soak it up, wring it out. {You might wanna change it sometimes too... no one wants to be known as the smelly sponge of the bunch}
Feel free to add any extras if you have them!!!
BTW - Sorry I've been a bad blog commentor this week, I've been working hard on my revisions and had to put something aside, but fear not because next week I am to be on my best behavior!! Hooray for finishing post-it revisions!!
1. Make eavesdropping a way of life. {I mean how else are you going to come up with some good shizz?}
2. Writing fiction is a matter of sitting down to tell yourself a good story. {It aint gonna write itself}
3. If you don't return calls from your muse, there's a chance they'll stop calling. {so listen up people because if you don't they'll find someone else who will}
4. It is better to write poorly than to not write at all. {Go ahead... suck it up!}
5. Every good writer is a sponge: soak it up, wring it out. {You might wanna change it sometimes too... no one wants to be known as the smelly sponge of the bunch}
Feel free to add any extras if you have them!!!
BTW - Sorry I've been a bad blog commentor this week, I've been working hard on my revisions and had to put something aside, but fear not because next week I am to be on my best behavior!! Hooray for finishing post-it revisions!!
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