Monday Reads: 4 YA

Soooo, I've felt lately like I've been in a bit of a book slump. Actually, I feel like I've been in a life slump, but that's a post for another day (or maybe just for inside my brain).

Here's what I've read lately:

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

This was one of those books that people LOVE but I just... didn't. It never captured me, I didn't feel like very much went actually happened, and I never connected to the characters. It did have a few really great moments though. 

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

So I said book slump, but maybe not because THIS BOOK. It was HILARIOUS. Just so so so very well done. I loved it, I want it to be a movie, I want it to be real. Hey, if Reign is a show, they could make this a movie. Just saying. Seriously loved this book- one of my fave YA historicals ever.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

This book was pretty great. A good sequel with a twist I thought I saw coming but it twisted in a different direction. I really enjoyed it and I'm interested to see where Sabaa Tahir takes the next book (final book?). 

Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach

This book was a light paranormal read, a genre I feel I haven't read in awhile. There were some really fun moments, and it also had a twist I didn't see coming. It's the first of a series (or maybe trilogy?) so it ended on a cliffhanger which left me unsatisfied. I think I've lost patience for cliffhangers. 

So maybe I haven't been in a book slump after all. Or it could be the fact that I started a book after Chasing Memories and couldn't get past page 50 (nope, couldn't do it) and now I'm reading something where I love the author but I haven't gotten into it yet. Please, I want to get into it so bad! Or maybe my life slump is bleeding over into my reading and tainting everything.  

Monday Reads: A Hodgepodge

Alas, my reading has slowed down a bit lately. I have to keep telling myself it's not a race- I don't have a reading deadline (not counting library due dates). Sometimes I feel this insane urge to hurry and I don't know why.

Anyway, here's what I read:

LONGBOURN'S SONGBIRD by Beau North.

This was a Pride & Prejudice retelling which takes place in the South after WWII. There were so many things I loved about this book- the setting, Elizabeth's backstory, the twist on Colonel Fitzwilliam, the change around Bingley and Jane... Some of the characters were developed so fully that it really brought them to life, more than the original. My only pet peeve was that because of this- some of the other characters were kind of left in the dust. P&P has a huge cast so obviously you can't fully realize everyone, but I felt some were started and then left behind and I would've like a little more there. Otherwise, excellent read. 

FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson

So, this is the kind of book where I'm dying to talk to somebody who has read it. I have a lot of opinions, most which I will bottle up until I can talk to someone about it (lol). There were some really fun things about this book, and I automatically love an Italian setting. However. My biggest pet peeve was that it ended on a cliffhanger- so obviously there are sequels, but this was a YA contemp romance and having no end to the plot really drove me bananas.

OUTRUN THE MOON by Stacey Lee

I loved like crazy Stacey Lee's first book UNDER A PAINTED SKY so naturally I picked up OtM. It didn't disappoint. Stacey Lee is easily one of my fave historical YA authors. She writes beautiful stories with the kind of characters you want to be besties with. OtM isn't only about Mercy's survival of the earthquake, but also about her journey to be seen and heard as a person, a woman, as being just as good as anyone else despite the way the world saw her. I have no gift for eloquent reviews, just read the book because it is excellent.

The Best Laid Plans

Sometimes I look ahead and wonder what in the heck I'm going to write next.

And then there's the times where I look ahead with a plan in place. Usually this plan is, I will write this first, and then that next, and then go back and revise this, then revise that... you get the idea. At the beginning of the summer I had this plan in place. 

Well, summer is almost over and that plan basically blew up in my face.

I mean, I sorta set the fuse. For one, the manuscript I was supposed to write during the summer- well I only got about 10k written. Writing was lower on my priority list these past couple of months. Now that school is about to restart, I suddenly have multiple other projects I also want to work on, and I'm not sure what to do first. Finish the already started WIP? Write that novella I've been considering? Ignore both and write a new YA? 

I don't do well without a plan. I don't like chaos. I like to be in control. So I have to get my act in gear and just decide. Make a new list, set a new order, and then GO. Because I can't GO until the plan is in place. 

I just have to remember that even the best laid plans can fall apart. But when they do, I will start over, make a new list, set a new order, and then GO. Again. Because what else can you do?

Friday Loves: SUMMER

August is almost over, summer is coming to a close. The kids start school next week. The weather here in Alberta seems to think it's October, not August. And I'm sad.

I love summer. I love not having to wake up to an alarm. I love spending time with my kids. I love that they help me with the house cleaning. I love taking them to do fun things. I love the beach.

I don't get a lot done in the summer, that's the only downside to it. I have a writing to-do list a mile long that I barely made a dent it. But I really relish these two months of being with my kids. Sure, they drive me crazy sometimes. (Mom, I'm bored. Mom, I have nothing to do. Mom, why can't we go somewhere. Mom, if I can't play the computer then I don't want to do anything!) But during the school year, there's barely any time to do anything with school, and four kids different after-school activities.

I'm going to miss the summer. I'm going to miss lazy days, and days spent at the beach, and the nice weather (which we barely got any of this summer). I'm going to miss the slower pace. Summer- I love you. And please come back again soon.

Conferences, And Why They're Important

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend WHEN WORDS COLLIDE for the second year in a row. WWC is a Calgary based writer/reader con that I was pleasantly surprised to discover last year. This year, I not only got to attend, but speak on four different panels as well. My mother-in-law also came with me and we had a great time at the different classes and panels. 

Me and my MIL Debbie before the keynote speeches (plus a photobomber in the background!)

Before I heard about WWC, I would hear other writers speak about cons near them and think, I don't have that luxury. There's nothing nearby, I can't afford to travel to one, but oh well, I'll survive. And of course, you do. But there's a lot you miss out on when you don't get to attend a conference.

Last year, I went to a lot of YA panels. I didn't learn a whole lot that I didn't already know. (disclaimer: not because I know everything about YA, they were just topics that I was already familiar with- I attended them because my daughter was with me.) This year, I went to a lot of marketing kinds of panels- how to build your author brand, how to reach your readers, how to do a successful book signing. These were things I needed to hear right now. I took pages and pages of notes and learned A TON. 

On a panel about ratings, trigger warnings, and language with authors D.C Menard, Angelica Dawson, and Jane Ann McLachlan (not pictured)

That doesn't mean I wish I hadn't gone the first year (instead it gave me the courage to participate on panels myself), nor did it make me wish I'd gone to different classes. Because no matter if you learn brand new stuff or if you're hearing things you've already heard before, that's not really the point. It's the camaraderie. It's being among other people who share the same goals and passions you do. It's getting motivated again, filling your well, getting fired up for whatever part of the journey you're on in that moment. It's being with people who get you, whether you're chatty with everyone or you're like me and keep more to yourself- you still feel that bond.

On a panel about romance heroines with authors Lori Whyte and Jessica L. Jackson, and Harlequin senior editor Victoria Curran

Whether you learn a bunch of stuff or learn nothing, whether you sell a bunch of books or sell none, whether you make a ton of new friends or stay the same introvert you always were, no matter what, you leave lifted. Filled. Ready to tackle a new year, a new project, a new path. You're ready to keep going. You're rejuvenated.

P.S. So I thought there were no conferences in my Canadian town. I don't remember how I found out about WWC, but if you think there's nothing near you, research. Because I'm betting there's something out there a lot closer than you think.

Monday Reads: A Wide Variety

These past couple of weeks, I read a wide range of books. 

Continuing on my YA drama theme, I read EXIT STAGE LEFT by Gail Nall. I found this book compelling, and I wanted to know what was going to happen, though the MC drove me absolutely batty. This is one of those books where the MC isn't all that likeable, but you want to know what's going to happen to them anyway- you want to see them succeed in the end. So, well done with that.

Off and on, I read a short story collection called SUN-KISSED: EFFUSIONS OF SUMMER. This book is similar to the Austenesque winter short story collection I took part in called THEN COMES WINTER. This book came out first and I was saving it to read for summertime (for obvious reasons). I really enjoyed the wide range of short stories in this book, some of which I wished were novel length. If you like Jane Austen retellings or continuations, this is a great book to pick up.

I also spent about a month reading a non-fiction book called THE POWER OF EVERYDAY MISSIONARIES by Clay M. Christensen. I don't read a lot of non-fiction, or a lot of LDS books. This book is about how members of the Latter-Day Saint church (my church) can become everyday missionaries. I was challenged to read this by a member of my church leadership and I accepted. The book turned out to be a really great read. For someone who isn't very comfortable talking about my beliefs, this helped open my eyes to different ways I can do that in an easier, more natural way. 

Last, but definitely not least, I read HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. I had this on hold at my library, but after going to a HP party with my oldest daughter, it got me all excited about it so I went out and bought it the next day. This book was EVERYTHING. Sure, the format took a bit to get used to. I definitely would've preferred it in novel form, written solely by JK Rowling. Though people's comments about how she didn't write this- I just don't get that. No, she didn't write the script, but it's her story. I could see her humor and wit in it. I loved it. Honestly, I can't understand any HP fans not loving it. Now I wish I could see the play. Trip to London anyone?

How I Got My Agent!!!

It's finally arrived. 

That moment most writers dream about but secretly doubt will ever happen.

Yep, I HAVE AN AGENT!!! 

This is something I've dreamed about and have been working towards since 2010. Yep, that's right, SIX YEARS. 

So here's my story, six years of hard work summed up as brief as possible.

I finished my first novel, DAZE & KNIGHTS in 2010. It was YA time-travel. I revised it a couple of times and then queried it. I know. Rookie mistake. DON'T DO THIS. Anyway, I spent a year and a half in a cycle of revising, then querying. I learned a lot in that time- both about the craft of writing and queries. Once I work-shopped my query and got it to sparkle (and it did), the MS started getting lots of attention, and did really well in contests. It ended up with an R&R from a small press, but all to no avail. I cried when I shelved it.

Enter book 2 (which was actually book 3 because I'd written a sequel to DAZE, but couldn't query it, obvs). SWAY was a quiet, clean adult romance/Jane Austen retelling. It got a little bit of attention, but not as much as book 1, and it didn't do great in contests. I stopped querying it a lot sooner because I thought, since it was adult and I knew its market, I could try small pubs or even self-publish it. I put it aside until I could figure out what I wanted to do with it.

Book 3 was a YA UF called EPONINE. I started it off in a contest where it got a couple of fulls off the bat. Querying, it got some interest, but I heard multiple times that UF just wasn't selling and maybe it wasn't the right time. So after only 40 queries, I set it aside. 

This is pretty much how I felt shelving EPONINE, what I thought was my best written MS.

I could've queried EPONINE longer, but it seemed pointless when the genre was struggling, plus I had a brand new YA ready to go, a mystery with a hint of fantasy called JAR OF HEARTS. It was a book I'd written for my first ever (and only so far) NaNoWriMo. I sent a few queries, made it into Nightmare On Query Street- garnering a few partial requests, then queried some more. (At this same time, SWAY was becoming an Actual Novel, published by Samhain!) 

Waiting. All the waiting.

While in the trenches, I considered querying a certain agent I sort of "knew." We are both members of the YA-NA Sisterhood. I worried that querying her would be a conflict of interest, or make things awkward between us, so I decided to straight up ask her. She was all sweet and lovely and said, "query me!" So I did.

Nerves...

A day after querying, she asked for my full. A month and a half later, I got that email. You know the one. The one that says, "I liked what I read, can we talk?"

WHUT?

I was at the mall food court with my kids when I got this email. I will admit with no shame that I celebrated right there in the middle of the packed food court. My kids thought it was funny. I think the table closest to us was slightly alarmed.

This is kinda how I looked, though more crazy, less cute.

So I did "The Call" and it was nerve-wracking and scary and I hung up and felt like I botched it. It was one of those times where afterwards you think, I should've said this and this and this! but it was too late.

Despite my awkwardness, she offered representation.

I let all the agents with fulls/partials/queries know. The full requests came flooding in. So did the rejections. Luckily, the sting of those wasn't quite as bad because you know there's already someone rooting for you/your book. 

A day after nudging, I received a second call, a second offer.

Cue the anxiety and stress of making this decision. I kinda felt like Jojo from The Bachelorette. Okay, maybe I shouldn't compare this to that, but I've been watching it, and listening to her cry and say, "what if I make the wrong decision???" really got me.

Anyway, after a lot of thinking and praying (and stressing), I decided to go with my gut. 

I signed with offering agent #1. Now I'm officially represented by Vanessa Eccles at Golden Wheat Literary! I loved what she said about the book, I really connected with her whole agenting strategy/philosophy, and I can't wait to work with her! 

So this is where the story ends, for now...

Friday Loves: NEWSIES!

It's 8pm on Friday here in Alberta, making me a bit late for my Friday Loves post. But I didn't want to miss it, because I did something fun last weekend and have to share it with the world! (I'm laughing right now because that sentence sounds very magnanimous in my head.)

Anyway, I took my two oldest daughters to see NEWSIES the musical last weekend. As a young teen, I LOVED Newsies. Like crazy. Watched it over and over. Had it memorized. In fact, my BFF and I made this whole Newsies II story, where we were girls who had to disguise ourselves as boys so we could work as Newsies, and of course we fell in love with a couple of the characters while we were at it (Jack Kelly for her, and Kid Blink for me- he's the guy with the eye patch. I had a thing for him. Don't ask.) As a total aside, me and the kids watched the movie a couple of days after seeing the musical, and during one of the bonus features, I learned that some girls actually were Newsies, and didn't have to disguise themselves. So there goes our story. *shrug*

ANYWAY, I absolutely loved the musical. I was pretty much grinning the entire time. And surprisingly, I really liked the changes they made to the musical. I say surprisingly because when you are used to something being one way, it's hard to love it when it's different. But I loved how Jack was an artist, I loved the added songs, and MOST OF ALL I loved how the female love interest was a reporter instead of just Davey's sister. She has a great story all her own and it really strengthened their love story. The only thing I didn't love was they sorta dialed down Spot's character. Bummer- I love him in the movie.

If you like musicals, NEWSIES is definitely a must-see. The dancing especially was stellar. I'd go to it again in a heartbeat.

Monday Reads: 5 Star Reads!

Oh the books I've read lately.

First was LOVE & GELATO by Jenna Evans Welch, which I already waxed enthusiastic about lasy Friday Loves post. This book, which takes place in Italy, was the perfect summer read- full of love, swoony moments, smart and funny dialogue, and feels. Loved it!

Then I read THE ROSE & THE DAGGER by Renee Ahdieh. This is the sequel to THE WRATH & THE DAWN, and actually the final book (I thought it was a trilogy, but it's a duology). The book was a great finale and I'm glad she didn't stretch it into three books. Sharzhad is an excellent MC and I loved the road it took for her and Khalid to get back together and get their happy ending.
 

After that, I went back to contemp YA with Jessi Kirby's GOLDEN. I read this book in a couple of days because the characters and the mystery were so compelling. You're rooting so hard for Parker and Trevor, plus you want to find out what really happened with Julianna, Shane, and Orion. I often find contemp YA to spell out the MC's feelings when we, as a reader, already get it. This book did that a bit, but not so much that I got annoyed. It could've used a bit more dialogue too- my personal taste- but neither of those things made the book any less unputdownable.

Finally, another YA contemp- TAKE A BOW by Elizabeth Eulberg. For light, fun, and fast-paced, this book was perfection. She did the four POV's amazingly, and the book was a quick read. It reminded me of a book version of FAME. Most importantly, because there wasn't a lot of plot to the book, the characters- even the minor ones- totally jumped off the page. They were so real to me that I felt like I was a fellow student at CPA. Excellent book.

I Just Can't

The world is a scary place. Sometimes so scary that I just want to hunch into a ball, cover my ears with my hands and go, "lalalalala." No seriously. There are times I stay away from social media now because it's the same as watching the news- something I don't do. I know it's important to stay informed, but when all the bad things happen, and then all of the fighting/disagreements/negativity that happens on social media, it gets to be a bit too much at times.

This isn't a post about world change. It isn't a post about the importance of conversations and talking and learning. That is important, but it's a post for another day. This is just me saying that sometimes I can't handle the negativity. It brings me down. It makes me scared/depressed/angry/listless. So I try my darnedest not to get involved. This doesn't mean I don't have my opinions. It doesn't mean I'm not listening and learning, because I am. I'm just not jumping in. 

It also means I try my darnedest not to add to it. Everything I say on social media, I try to make it positive, or at least funny. It doesn't always work. Of course it doesn't. But when I hear the negativity, when I get caught up in it, when I stomp around my house or write then delete tweets, then when I take a breath, step back, step away, and come back with a silly post about The Bachelorette or my kids or the book I read lately, that's why. Because sometimes I just can't.  

Friday Loves: LOVE & GELATO

I know I usually talk about books on Mondays, but Friday is all about what I'm loving right now, and right now, what I'm loving is LOVE & GELATO. 

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

THIS BOOK.

There's something about summer that makes me want to read about people falling in love in Europe. Okay, I'd read about that anytime, but in the summer I really get a hankering for it. I don't know where I heard about LOVE & GELATO, but I requested it from my library, then saved it so I could read it on the beach.

Well, it rained all week, but WHO CARES? The book was so good it didn't matter where I was reading it. I loved the Florence setting (obviously), I had the feels for the MC and the loss of her mother, I loved how there was journal entries and a bit of a mystery to be solved. The best part though was the dialogue/relationship between the MC and her new friend Ren. It was soooo right in all the ways. 

This book kinda reminded me of ANNA & THE FRENCH KISS, so if you liked that, read this one right now! I'm definitely going out and buying my very own copy because it's become a fave.

 

Monday Reads: THE MUSE, a SERPENT, and ACHILLES

Blog? What blog? I have a blog?

I don't know why I've been having such a hard time blogging lately, or even REMEMBERING to blog. I mean, it's almost 5pm on Monday so I'm a little behind today. Not to mention the last time I blogged was a couple of weeks ago. 

Ergh. Blogging slump.

Anyway, I read three books these past few weeks.

First, THE MUSE by Jessica Evans. This is a modern-day PRIDE & PREJUDICE retelling where Elizabeth is a ballet dancer in the corps and Darcy is a famous choreographer. Love the concept and loved the book! It was putting two of my favorite things together and it did not go wrong.

Then I read THE SERPENT'S SHADOW by Rick Riordan. This is the last book in the Kane Chronicles. It's been a long time since I read books one and two, but I didn't find it too difficult to jump back into the trilogy. Obviously I'd forgotten some things, but it was easy to keep up and I enjoyed the book. Rick Riordan has a great voice, lots of funny moments, and his books are always action packed with a touch of teenage romance. Great end to the trilogy.

Most recently, I read THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller. It was an excellent retelling of THE ILIAD, told from the POV of Patroclus, and I was captured from start to finish. The only thing that stopped me from giving it five stars was the fact that it switched tenses sometimes. I didn't understand why, and while I think it was intentional (and not bad writing), it threw me out of the story every time it happened. Anyone else read this book and know why the author would switch tenses? I really feel like I missed something there.

Anyway, these were all great reads. Yay for good books!

Author Interview with D.B. Kennison

Recently I read a fantastic mystery novel titled STILL LIFE by D.B. Kennison. Kennison is a fellow Samhain author and I really enjoyed this book. It had my stomach in knots the entire time, plus there was some super swoony scenes. D. B. Kennison interviewed me for her site, and was gracious enough to turn her own questions back on herself and answer them for me. Check it out!

D.B. Kennison

What do you think people would be the most surprised to learn about you?

Most surprised?   Probably that I'm a cosmetologist/aesthetician by trade. That's right, I do hair, nails, and facials for a living. I've worked a variety of jobs over the years and this one is special. I have the ability to make someone's day, to make them feel better, and provide a little bit of balance to their hectic lives. The fact that I get awesome writing material is just a bonus!

Jewelry by D.B. Kennison

Art by D.B. Kennison

What do you enjoy most in your free time? 

I'm one of those people, lucky or not can be infinitely debated, who can't shut off my creative side. It's like a disorder. If I'm not writing, then I'm painting, sculpting, jewelry-making, wood working, landscaping, decorating...ugh!  You get the picture. When our daughter was little, I even painted her room to look like the outdoors, incorporating doors into a castle and giving her a cat. She loved it. 

Other than a computer, what modern convenience could you never live without?

I guess it would be my Kindle. I was dragged to the e-reader world kicking and screaming, while clutching my favorite paper books in a death grip. I like the printed page, the smell and feel of them. I like dog-earring them, making notes in the margins and highlighting favorite passages. (sniff) Then I realized you can pretty much do the same thing electronically with Kindle features. They don't smell and they feel differently, but it's easier to read in bed (no annoying bedside lamp to keep hubby awake). 

Every author has a process—what works for them when they write. What does your writing process look like from first scribbles to finished manuscript? 

Well, it's changed a lot since I started writing. It began as longhand scribbles in notebooks. Then sheets of sticky notes outlining chapters, which led to actual writing in Word. It was a pain in the butt to learn any kind of efficiency in plotting. Now I use a computer program that has all of these features and more, that enable me to move around a manuscript easily. God Bless Scrivener. 

What is your all time favorite book and why?

It's hard to pick just one. But the one I come back to time and again, never tiring of it, is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It's kind of an odd choice. I tend to gravitate to mysteries with a dark bent, which is anything but this Highland historical. I guess that's a testament to great writing. 

Project research, love it or hate it?

Love it! I swear, I could set everything in life aside and just learn new stuff. As a writer research is a necessity, for me it can be an obsession with one Google search snowballing into a dozen! 

Is there a specific author who inspires you?  

One of my all time favorites is Tami Hoag. She started out as a romance novelist and now writes more mainstream mystery/suspense/thrillers. She is booked as the guest speaker for this years Writer's Police Academy. I'm attending and will probably embarrass myself when I ask her to sign a book for me. 

How did you come up with the title for your debut book?

It was an exercise in frustration. I bet I had a dozen different names as I was writing the book. When it was done I Googled art terms and knew the moment I saw it, STILL LIFE, was it.  

How long did it take you to write STILL LIFE?

A long time! It was a learning process because I didn't know the first darned thing about writing a book when I started. Let alone one that anyone would want to read, God forbid pay for. I began in late 2008, writing on and off with big gaps (sometimes as long as a year) where I'd take online writing courses, then begin again.

Tell us a little about the book. 

It's a mystery set in small town Wisconsin. Randi Lassiter is a reluctant P.I. who gets pulled into a murder investigation and steps on the toes of the detective in charge. Despite butting heads, they are attracted to each other, which adds a flirty element to the story. The mystery centers around an artist community and some quirky suspects. Readers tell me they love the inclusion of familiar places across our state. It was fun to write this genre-blend of romance, mystery, suspense, and comedy. 

What has been the most exciting aspect to releasing your first novel?

It has forced me to get over my introverted ways. I am not a mingler, a socializer, a gadabout. I'm more of geeky hermit, content to not be the center of attention. All of that kind of flies out the window when you put a book out there. Now I'm trying to be present everywhere. I'm not just selling my book, I'm selling myself.  (Oh, that didn't quite come out right * wink)  

What has been the most detrimental?

Finding time to write. Now that I'm addicted to this new found creative outlet I can't shut off the voices in my head. I've got at least a dozen story ideas and no time to write them. I'm terribly undisciplined when it comes to the practice of writing. Fixing that is my next goal.

What other projects are you working on?

Well, book 2 in the Randi Lassiter series is done and through the first round of edits. However, one of my editor's comments started a discussion that perhaps it could be a better story/series if tweaked. Tweak my ass! It has become a full on re-write. But, I agree with him. It will be worth it, the result being a stronger, more character driven story in the end. The bonus is that it's making me a better writer. I'm also working on a stand alone thriller that explores the darker elements of mind control applications. Creepy good fun. LOL.

Thanks D.B. Kennison for stopping by today! I can't wait to read more about Randi, and that thriller sounds super creepy! 

Check out STILL LIFE and D.B. Kennison at her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. You can read her interview with me at https://whispersintheair.com/2016/07/01/meet-the-author-austen-fan-and-avenger-geek-melanie-stanford/. 

Monday Reads: KILL, DREAM, and HEAL

It's a truth universally acknowledged that ALL THE READING leads to a reading slump. 

Okay, maybe reading slump is too harsh a way to put it, although I did have a DNF this past week which I won't mention because it doesn't really matter. I just couldn't get into the book. The books I did read were:

KILL THE BOY BAND by Goldy Moldavsky, which was probably the strangest book I've ever read. I'm a self-professed boy band lover, so I figured I'd love this book. I liked it a lot. It was fun to read about crazy fangirls (like CRAY-ZAY), but they took the cray to a whole new level. It was just... super weird. But I liked it. I've just never read anything like that before.

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM- Kerstin Gier. I love the Ruby Red Trilogy by Gier so I was super-psyched to read something else by Gier. This book was good, just not amazing. The best part is Gier's MC's always make me laugh, which I loved.

THE HEALING PLACE- Sharon Downing Jarvis. My mom lent me this book, and I didn't really want to read it. It's an older book, and also a "Mormon" book. I'm Mormon, but I rarely read Mormon fiction. I was surprised to really like this book though. I had a few issues with the writing itself, but I enjoyed the story.

So that was my reading week. All four star books, but I'm really hoping to find a swoony, amazing summer read or two. 

Cover Reveal for GRANTED!

One of my amazing CP's has a book coming out soon called GRANTED, forthcoming from Future House Publishing! Her cover was revealed last week, but I wanted to feature it today because this is an awesome book I had the pleasure of reading a few years ago. 

Are you ready for the cover? Here it is...

I love this cover, and I love the new title, too! Want to know what it's about? Here's the blurb:

The existence of genies may be the best kept secret in the history of the world.

After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magic. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone.

Complicating everything is Rock, Brielle’s childhood friend turned enemy. Brielle doesn’t need him ruining her first trip out into the human world. Too bad she can’t keep her mind–or her eyes–off him and his annoyingly cute dimples.

To make matters worse, genies in the Tri-Cities area are suspiciously dying. One broken lamp could be an accident, but after three, Brielle suspects someone has uncovered the genies’ secret and is slowly killing them off one by one.

With the Genie Council ignoring the threat, Brielle desperately needs to gain her magic so she can stop the murderer before she–or Rock–is the next genie to die.

And a bit about Michelle, who's fab by the way:

Michelle Merrill lives in the high-desert of Idaho with her husband and five kids. Besides her love for writing she enjoys reading books, eating candy, listening to music, and snuggling down for a good movie. She names her computers after favorite fictional characters and fictional characters after favorite names.

Find Michelle at her website. Or on Twitter and Facebook. You can find GRANTED on Goodreads. Check it out! 

 

Friday Loves: Dance Recitals!

My three daughters had their dance recitals on the weekend- one for each of them, which made it a weekend of dance! I don't mind at all, I LOVE DANCE.

My oldest, who is 12, was in Dance Theatre this year. She's done ballet, jazz, and hip hop in the past, but is gradually leaning away from dance (boohoo). They did a song from FINDING NEVERLAND called "We Are All Made of Stars."

My middle daughter, age 9, was in two dances this year- one ballet, one jazz. For ballet she danced to an instrumental version of "Firework" and for jazz, "Everything is Awesome." Even though it was her fourth year of dance, it was her first time having two numbers to perform and she was nervous. But she did awesome!

It was my seven-year-old's second year of ballet and she danced to a song from The Good Dinosaur. It always amazes me that the little ones know their steps, and she was no exception. She saw me as she was doing her final pose and waved as she danced off stage.

This might be my last year as a dance mom. Next year my oldest wants to do singing, the middle wants to do figure skating, and the youngest gymnastics. It makes me sad that I won't be able to attend recitals and see their sparkly costumes and do the hair and makeup, but I've always left their choice of after-school activity up to them, so there it is. I'll miss it, but it's been a fun eight years!

Monday Reads: INTO and AFTER and THESE x2

Another four books this past couple of weeks.

1. INTO THE DIM by Janet B. Taylor. This is pitched as a YA OUTLANDER. I have my issues with Outlander, but those aside, this didn't really feel like Outlander to me. I love time travel stories like crazy, and this book had some great moments. It didn't quite make amazing though. Not really sure why, I just felt it could have been better.

2. THESE VICIOUS MASKS by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas. I loved this book! It was a ton-o-fun historical. The MC was witty/snarky, and there was a love triangle which totally worked. I loved that it's got an element of fantasy as well. Just really lost myself in this book.

3. THESE SHALLOW GRAVES by Jennifer Donnelly. While I LOVED Donnelly's book REVOLUTION, it took me a bit to get into THESE SHALLOW GRAVES. Maybe I was suffering from book burnout, but around 70 pages, I was hooked. I figured out the main twist long before the end (and I never figure out twists, trust me), but that didn't stop me from being into the characters, the time period, and the gradual unraveling of the mystery. Most especially I loved the love story. I really wondered how the author was going to wrap that up in the end, and while she did, I would've liked a bit more. A solid four star read for me.

4. AFTER YOU by Jojo Moyes. There's something about Moyes' writing that really makes you care about her characters. It didn't really matter to me what they were doing, I just wanted to be reading about them. I know some were disappointed by this follow-up for ME BEFORE YOU, but I wasn't. I felt it stayed true to Louisa's character and her journey. The ending was a little dissatisfying, but definitely not more so than ME BEFORE YOU. I'll definitely read more books by Jojo Moyes.

What did you read this week?

Wednesday Writes: How Melanie Got Her Groove Back

I think I got that curse... that thing that happens to newly published authors when they find they can't write another word. 

From what I've heard, it's usually a Book 2 kind of syndrome. They're worried the second book won't live up to their first, especially if it's a sequel. 

This isn't my problem. I'm actually on Book 7 now, so I've long passed Book 2. Plus, this isn't a sequel. It could maybe be called a third book in a retelling trilogy, but the three books can all be read standalone, and I finished the second one last year.

Another reason I've heard for authors struggling under this curse is the time-sap of marketing oneself after your book has come out. 

Yeah, this is sort of me. I find I'm trying to be regular with my own blog schedule, plus I blog at three other sites. Plus I'm trying to stay active on social media. Plus I'm trying to get out there, doing book readings and speaking engagements... though those have been pretty minimal so can't really be used as an excuse. 

To be honest, it's all an excuse. I mean, yes, it's true, what I said above. Marketing takes time. But it's still no excuse not to be writing. I have no clue why it's taken me this long to start another book. Lack of motivation? Fear? Exhaustion? No idea. Maybe all three. In any case, it feels good to finally get some words down on paper. But I still have some steps to climb before I get back into my writing groove. I'm not there yet. I wrote a bit on Monday- don't even know how much since I had to do it in an email- then I did nothing yesterday due to the demands of my day. Today is a new day, and hopefully one in which I will get some words down. 

No. Not hopefully. Definitely. I will do it. Day by day, bit by bit, is the only way to get my groove back. To get to that place where I'm excited to write again. I desperately want to be in that place again.

Have you ever hit a writing funk? What do you do to get out of it?

Friday Loves: CALL THE MIDWIFE

I feel like I've been there, done that, and fangirled all over the place with CALL THE MIDWIFE. But, I mean, I just can't help myself. I just finished season five and it was glorious. The whole show is incredible. The characters, the storylines, the setting and time period. *dies* 

This season's overarching story line dealt with babies born with deformities due to a drug no one knew was bad stuff (can't remember what it's called, Google it). I brought it up to my mom (who had her first babies in the early sixties) and she knew exactly what I was talking about. She's finally trying out the show, I just wish I could watch it with her to learn whether she experienced some of the same things the characters do. One of the best things about this show is seeing how childbirth/pregnancy and just things to do with being a woman have evolved through the years. 

Of course, I loved the romance storyline between Tom and Barbara (poor Trixie). I love the Turner family. I was sad about the death in the last episode. Who am I kidding? I'm sad in every episode. I bawl EVERY SINGLE TIME. The only thing I missed was Chummy. She's such a great character.

If you haven't tried this show, give it a shot. It's excellent TV.