Woo-hoos and Road Trip Wednesday

     I didn't intend to blog today. My mom is here so I should be spending time with her- but my kids pretty much monopolize her attention so...
     Really, I'm just psyched to say that my "love scene" from Daze and Knights was chosen as a finalist and sent to the wonderful Weronika Janczuk @ Lynn C. Franklin Associates. Woo-hoo! I hope she likes it. Woo-hoo. Can I say it again? Too bad, I'm gonna, Woo-hoo!

     It's Road Trip Wednesday but I so don't have the brain power for today's topic. I'll take a crack at it anyway. Here it is, You're re-reading one of your favs when someone asks the dreaded question: "What's that book about?" Give us your best off-the-cuff blurb of any book, any genre, and have your readers try to guess the title in the comments!

    
     Here's mine:

     So there's this girl who has to kill scary unicorns even though she doesn't want to. And because she has to kill them it means she can't, you know, "do it", or she'll lose her scary-unicorn-killing powers. Which is a problem when she meets a hot guy. Duh.

     Okay, okay, that was an easy one if you've read the book. Take a guess if you want, or check out other people's (probably wittier) answers at http://www.yahighway.com/.

Talents

    
     Last Sunday I had a lesson in church about Talents. We talked about how it's important to seek out our talents and then work on them. Find the time to develop them and then share them when possible.
     I really enjoyed this lesson because I'm constantly struggling with my guilt over writing. Sometimes I can't stop thinking that I shouldn't be spending time on it. That there are more important things. That when the second coming happens (or if you don't believe in that, try the Zombie Apocalypse or the End of the World), if I'm still alive, will it really matter if I'm a published author or not? Shouldn't I be spending more time with my kids, or doing service, or genealogy, or something- anything more spiritual?
     Then I'll argue with myself. But this is a talent of mine. It makes me happy. It's not something I should just let go. And if I did, I would lose some sort of sense of myself.
     I blogged about this awhile back and my sister-in-law said something that I haven't forgotten. We're on this earth to grow- not become stagnant. Yes, I need to be a mother first and foremost. But I can't sacrifice all of myself- I need to grow as well.
     The one thing from the lesson that really stood out was that if we don't exercise our talents- we will lose them. I know that's true. I can't play the piano as well as I could at age 16 because I don't play as much anymore. I definitely can't dance as well because I'm not flexible or strong like I used to be when I danced all the time. If I stop writing, I'll lose the talent for it. I'll lose the ideas that constantly come to me. The more I practice, the more I write, the better I get.
     The lesson also talked a lot about finding the time to practice your talents. That's the key isn't it. Balancing life as a mother and writer. I think that's where the guilt comes in. I'm spending time writing when I could be spending it playing with my children. I can't help but feel guilty about that. I don't think the guilt will ever go away. I don't think my internal battles will ever stop. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. When I'm not doing any writing- maybe it will help me get my butt in gear and do some. And when I'm writing too much and not paying enough attention to the kids- maybe it will help me to stop, take a break, and focus on what matters most.

Love All Year Long

***I wanted to add a bit of background info here, because the scene was confusing to some. My main character Jessica, is a 16-year-old who  travels back to medieval times. This scene is about halfway through the book- Lord Alric has been teaching Jessica to swordfight and here they are taking a break. And FYI on Lord Alric- he is normally a very proper gentleman so all the laughter here is unusual for him, it's something she brings out in him.***

     So there's a contest happening here: http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/  You're supposed to post a maximum of 750 words of a love scene from your finished manuscript. I'm entering the contest a day late (I was supposed to post this yesterday), so I may be ineligible to win, but I thought it would be fun to take part anyway. I love me some love scenes (not the erotic kind, FYI) and I can't wait to go through and read everyone else's. Feel free to tell me just how cheesy you think it is.

Name: Melanie Stanford
Title: Daze and Knights
Genre: YA
Entry Word Count: 748 (eek)
Manuscript Word Count: 87,000 (estimated)
Link #: 27

“Remember when we first met, I had tripped over Fiona’s laundry and fell and I caught you laughing at me?” He stared at me, his mouth slightly agape. “Anyway, I was mad about that so I wouldn’t tell you my name when you asked me for it and then you said, ‘That’s okay, I have another name for you,’ or something like that. Remember?”


Lord Alric looked a little bowled over. “Yes, I remember.”

“So? What’s the name?” I pressed. “You’ve never told me.”

A small smile appeared on his lips, thrilling me. “You are not the only one with secrets never to be revealed,” he answered.

“I never said I had secrets. And don’t change the subject!”

“Every thought is a secret if it is never shared. This secret I will take with me to the grave.” He was trying to hide his smile but I could see it there, making his lips twitch.

“Oh come on, just tell me,” I begged. “You know you want to!” I turned on my side so that I was facing him.

“I will admit nothing,” he replied, laughing.

“If you won’t tell me, then I’ll make you,” I challenged. He looked at me incredulously and then laughed harder.

“You will force me? What is it to be, torture?” he asked through guffaws. I scowled.

“You don’t think I can get it out of you? Well, I can. Witness my version of torture.”

“What?” he managed to wheeze out, still doubled over in mirth. He was too preoccupied with laughing at me to see my hand sneak out and inch slowly forward. I had to aim for behind his knees; it was the closest part of him that I could reach that wasn’t covered in boots. I kept my eye on him to make sure he wasn’t aware of what I was doing and then I quickly attacked, tickling him behind his bent knee.

It worked. He yelped and jumped about a foot in the air. I rolled onto my back, laughing so hard that I had to hold my stomach.

“That was an unfair tactic,” he muttered.

“You know,” I managed in the midst of all my laughing, “you’d think that I’d care, but I really don’t!” I put my arm over my eyes as I laughed, reliving his jump in my mind. That proved to be a mistake. All of a sudden I felt a tickle along my side and this time it was me who jumped.

“Hey!” I exclaimed with a jump. “You’re playing dirty!” I lunged at him without thinking, tackling him to the ground. We tried to tickle each other but it didn’t work much since we were both laughing so hard. I grabbed his arms so he wouldn’t be able to tickle me back.

Suddenly I found myself on top of him. He was lying on his back and I was sitting on his stomach, my legs straddling his hips. My hands pinned down his arms on either side of his head, my face was close to his, and our eyes were locked. We both stopped laughing abruptly. My breath felt heavy, my mouth slightly open. I could feel his chest rise and fall beneath me.

“What’s the name?” I whispered. How had I remembered to ask that?

His eyes were liquid, his lips soft as he whispered back the answer.

“Asha.”

It came out in a ragged breath. His soft lips were parted and I couldn’t resist them anymore. I couldn’t resist him anymore. I leaned down slowly and joined my lips to his.

It was a soft kiss, and brief. I pulled away when I realized what I had done and looked at him, afraid of what I would see on his face. He looked a little surprised as he stared into my eyes. And then he grabbed me around the waist, sitting up so fast that I ended up on his lap, unaware of how I got there but uncaring because he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me eagerly. Electricity ran through my body, coming from his lips, his hands, every part of him that touched me. My fingers and toes tingled and I couldn’t stop from trembling against him. It was electric, magical. More magical than the glowing tree nearby.

And then it was over.

He pulled away, and my beating heart stopped when I saw the look of distress on his face.

“We cannot,” he whispered through labored breaths.

Random Thought Thursday: Entertainment Edition

1. If you're a Twilight fan, you've probably already watched the above preview for Breaking Dawn Part 1. And, if you're a fan, you might not like the fact that I can't help laughing every time I watch this preview. I am a Twilight fan, and I can't wait for this movie, but it's very funny to me how dramatic they're trying to make it. But maybe it's just me.

2. Speaking of Twilight, someone needs to give RPattz a brush. Seriously.

3. Major kudos to Reese Witherspoon who told the crowd at the MTV Movie Awards that it's okay to be a good girl. That you don't need raunchy tapes or reality shows to become famous. Way to go Reese!

4. I saw X-Men: First Class last weekend. I thought it was a good movie although not everyone I saw it with agreed. It gets major brownie points because I think James McAvoy is a fabulous actor.

5. If you haven't seen Ramona and Beezus (or is it Beezus and Ramona? I can never remember) then you should. My daughter is reading the series and its such a cute movie.

6. How is it that Divergent is already being made into a movie? It came out as a book last month and I haven't even read it yet! (Okay, so they're not exactly casting yet but they've already chosen a screenwriter.) How does this happen??? It's like I Am Number Four- already a movie out on DVD and the book hasn't even been made into a paperback yet. 

7. I'm so happy that So You Think You Can Dance is back. ***Cue the big Mary Murphy scream now***

8. Has anyone watched the older version (1981 I think) of Sense and Sensibility? I did last weekend. What is up with the crappy ending?

9. Speaking of Jane Austen movies, I just bought this boxed set from Costco that has not only that S&S, but the older versions of all her works. I can't help but love the newer ones better although I haven't watched Persuasion or Northanger Abbey from the set yet.

10. I'm still majorly skeeved out by Bentley. He just makes my blood boil.

Thank You's and Road Trip Wednesday

     First off, I need to say two very big thank you's and send them out to the world. First to Michelle, for an AWESOME, AMAZING, TRULY FABULOUS critique. I'm still not done going through her edits yet but it has been invaluable. It's amazing that even though I've edited my book so many times I've lost count, there are still things I didn't notice. Like all the adverbs! (I swear I thought I hardly used them- haha!)
     Second, to YA Highway for three amazing query critiques. I won them off the Help Write Now Auction, and I couldn't be happier that I did. Even though my query still isn't there yet, their comments were very helpful and constructive. Hopefully I'll finally be able to get a winning query written.

     Speaking of YA Highway, it's Road Trip Wednesday and this one is an easy one. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
     Definitely a pantser. While I usually have my ending in mind before I even start, I start the book and just go from there. I'm always amazed by what comes out too. While reading back Daze and Knights while I edit, I can't remember where some of those ideas came from. Oh well- came they did and I think they work so, YAY. But I'm a little bit of a plotter too in the way that if my book ever became a series, I know the basic ideas for 3 other books aside from the sequel I've almost finished. And I know exactly how I want it all to end. But mostly, I'm a pantser.
     What about you?

Characters, Taboos, and the Biggest Jerk-Face Ever

     I read a YA trilogy this past week (well actually just book 2 and 3, I read the first one a couple of months ago) and I was struck with something I thought interesting. In the books there was a lot happening, but not much going on. That was my initial reaction to this trilogy. And in fact I had this same feeling for another YA series I've read (it only has two books in it so far).
     I don't even know if that's the right way to put it though. A lot happening but not much going on makes it seem like a lot happens in the book but the story doesn't move forward, and I don't think that's the case. What I realized is that I just didn't care that much about the characters. When I really love a character, I could read about them doing almost anything. I would stick with them through parts of the book that really aren't all that great. But when I don't care about the character, it just seems like a lot of nothing for me and even though I'm interested enough to see what happens in the end, I find myself skimming a lot to get there faster.
     It made me realize two things. One- I have to really try to make it so people care about my characters. And two, no matter what I do, not everyone will love them. Even series' that are wildly popular (hello Twilight) have haters out there who just didn't get it.

     Speaking of characters that I love, I've started rereading Harry Potter again. I do this every time a movie comes out, so this time will be my last (at least for a long time). Sniff. Reading Harry Potter is like sitting down with an old friend. Though I couldn't quote you the first paragraph, reading the words were so familiar and comforting.
     While reading the first two chapters of The Philosopher's Stone last night, I noticed all of these writing taboos that JK Rowling uses. There were so many was' and ... and -- and almost every dialogue line ended with an adverb. I'm wondering, is it more acceptable in middle grade? Or did she just get away with it? What's funny about it too is that I've never noticed it before. I probably only noticed it now because I'm editing my own book. It's interesting that she breaks all the "rules" and yet look how popular her books are.

     On a completely random note, because it's still on my mind, I have to say how much I loathe Bentley (the biggest jerk-face ever). If you don't watch the Bachelorette then you'll have no idea what I'm talking about but if you do, I'm sure you'd agree. You know on Runaway Bride, how random women slap Richard Gere on the street because of the column he writes? Well I hope that the women of Salt Lake- or any woman at all who runs into Bentley on the street will do the same- give him a nice slap on behalf of Ashley and all womenkind. I would do it. Watch the video and you'll want to smack him too. Trust me.

Timeless

Timeless, by Alexandra Monir

    

     Read this! Read it now! It is so great, you must go to the library or your nearest Chapters or Barnes and Noble or wherever and get this book now.

     When I've read a book I loved, I just have to let everyone know, especially when the book isn't high on the radar. I heard about this book simply because I was searching for YA time-travel books. While I've found mostly older books, this one is brand new, having been released just this year.

     The book is about Michele who goes to live with her Grandparents in NYC after a family tragedy. She finds a key and a diary that take her back in time to 1910 where she meets her ancestors and a guy she's been dreaming about since she was young.

     Here's what I love: It is just a beautiful story. I cried (which is weirdly a selling point for me). Michele travels to 1910, the 1920's and the 1940's, all in New York City, and I loved what the author showed of those times and the music she mentioned. She obviously did her research because the time's are all described very well. Mostly though, and back to my first point, the story was just awesome. I read late into the night last night because I just couldn't stop. Once I was done and had tucked myself into bed, I still couldn't stop thinking about the book.

     My teeny complaints: For one, it was written in 3rd person and a few different moments that threw me off for some reason. It shouldn't have but there were times when I was like, "what, she? why not I?" My other teeny complaint was that at times I didn't think the dialogue was very believable. Not from the characters in the past- I think theirs was great. But the MC- Michele- sometimes would say things and I'd be like, "people don't say that", or it just sounded somewhat formal to me.
     But keep in mind, those are TEENY complaints because overall I loved the book and would read it again. And again. And again. And you should too.

Road Trip Wednesday and What's the Score Blogfest

     So I've got two things going on today. First, Road trip Wednesday...    

     This weeks question: What is the strangest/weirdest thing you've ever researched?

     Hmmm, that's a tough one. For Daze and Knights I researched medieval armor, castles, clothing, and food. Jousting, sword fighting, and the order of nobility.

     For Jessica Book 2, I've researched 1781 Virginia- the houses, food, clothing, underwear. British and American uniforms, the Revolution, slavery, knife-throwing. I've researched real commanders in the war, I've read or skimmed countless books on the Revolution. I've needed information on everything from when they ate their meals, to rereading over and over again about the Siege of Yorktown. I've done so much research that everything has started to blend together into an alarming mishmash of messed up tidbits.

      Sadly, nothing for either book has been all that weird. Just general living and fighting kinds of things. Maybe the weirdest thing that I can remember is this past week I've been trying to figure out distances. So my mom gave me this list of how long it would take to cover 1500 miles on foot, on horseback, by covered wagon, by train, by car, by jet, and by supersonic transport (don't ask me where she got this info from- some book). So then I had maps open of Virginia and a calculator and a husband who's waaay better at math than me to help me figure out how long it would take (approx) for someone to get from Williamsburg to Yorktown by wagon. Sheesh- that was annoying.

     Honestly, I'm getting a little researched out. I look forward to writing a contemporary novel where I'm sure I'll have a teeny bit to do, but not nearly as much as I've had to do for the last two books.

     Secondly, (and I hope it's okay to do both) I love music and books and combining them and I already have a soundtrack picked out for Daze and Knights so I wanted to participate in this Blogfest: http://eastforgreeneyes.blogspot.com/2011/05/changes-constants-and-big-announcement.html
So I'm making a list of the songs for Daze and Knights and then I'll put them over on my playlist for anyone's listening pleasure.

According to You- Orianthi

Just What I Needed- Faber Drive

Beside You- Marianas Trench

7th Symphony, 2nd Movement- Beethoven


Face Down- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Speechless- The Veronicas

Take My Hand- Simple Plan


Running out of Time- Simple Plan

You and I Tonight- Faber Drive

Two is Better Than One- Boys Like Girls and Taylor Swift

And for book 2, the songs I have so far...

The First One- Boys Like Girls



Haunted- Taylor Swift

Don't You Remember- Adele

Club Can’t Handle Me- Flo-Rida ft. David Guetta

You Don’t Know Me- Michael Buble

Take It All- Adele

***In my haste to get this post done this morning before picking up my son, I forgot to add a link to the blogfest. And then as I was doing some errands and listening to my new Adele CD, I found two great songs that I had to add to my song list for Book 2.***

To Quit of Not to Quit, That is the Question

     Ok. I'm about to admit it. Here it comes. Cue the face-scrunching...

     I'm thinking about giving up.

     Well, ok, not really. I'm not going to give up writing- no way! And I'm not giving up querying Daze and Knights... yet (although I'm on a temporary hiatus while I wait for a query critique).
     What I'm thinking of giving up is the sequel to Daze and Knights- as yet untitled. Here's the thing. I'm almost done. I know I can push through to get it finished. So why quit? Well, I have the ending planned out. I know what I want to happen. But while doing my research I've realized that I have a couple of weeks before this event can take place. So I had an idea to put Jessica right into the war, but that means a lot more research and a lot more writing- more to the story than I had planned in the first place. A part of me wonders, why bother? Because if Daze and Knights never goes anywhere then it doesn't really matter if I get the ending written. But then my controlling obsessive side argues that I can't leave it unfinished.
      Here's the other problem: I've got a completely different story idea stirring in the back of my head, just waiting for me to get it started. I'm practically itching to start writing it. It would be so much easier for me to quit the hard research/ending writing, to start something brand new.
     So what do I do? Take the easy route? Quit what I've almost finished and start something that I could actually query when it's done? Or should I take the harder, less-rewarding route. Finish Jessica book 2 just for the fact of finishing it, even though I won't be able to do anything at all with it?
     Any advice? 

Music Tidbits

     Have you ever listened to a song and thought, meh. Or you hated it. Or maybe you just didn't even notice it at all. Well, duh- of course you have. Nobody likes EVERY song. But I'm getting somewhere, I promise.
    Anyway, then you hear that song somewhere else- maybe live. Maybe you see the singer actually perform it on TV. Maybe a friend points out how much they like it so you really listen to it and find out its a great song.
     For me, it's usually seeing the song in context. For example, I didn't think much of Secrets by One Republic until I saw it on The Sorcerer's Apprentice (you know when dorky but charming Jay Baruchel makes the song out of his Tesla coils). I loved it after that. I probably wouldn't have liked Jar of Hearts but seeing it danced on So You Think You Can Dance totally changed it for me. Actually there's lots of songs that once I've seen danced on that show, I fall in love with them (Your Guardian Angel, No Air, Bleeding Love). Also a lot of songs I've come to love were on The Vampire Diaries. I think it's seeing the emotions the actors are portraying while the song plays in the background.
     I've recently come to love Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" after I saw it on DWTS and then on Gossip Girl. I'd heard the song on the radio before but never payed it any attention. Now I can't get enough. If you've never heard it, you can listen to it on my playlist (at right). Forgive the cheesy rhyme, but it's an awesome song and I wanted to pass it along!

Writing Bliss

     I have this problem. When I know I have to do something hard, or unenjoyable, or just plain something I don't want to do, I stress about it beforehand like crazy. Or I imagine just how awful it will be. Or I imagine that I just won't be able to do it. Basically I totally psyche myself out. I do it with random things like exercising, with scary things like giving a talk in church, and with hard things like writing.
     I'm near the end of Jessica Book 2, and I'm going through this same problem. Because I'm writing it during a very specific time in History (Sept/Oct 1781), I have to strictly adhere to what was going on at the time. Up until now it hasn't been too hard. Sure I've tried to be accurate with clothing, food, daily life and speech, but I could pretty much make the characters do what I wanted them to with very little restrictions.
     Now though... yikes! I'm freaking myself out! Because very specific historical things are happening and Jessica is a part of them. They are things that are standing in her way, making life more difficult for her.
     Let's just say it makes me nervous. So yesterday I sat at the computer wondering where I was going to go, how I was possibly going to work it all out. I was at one of those times when a week has passed in the book but nothing much has happened so you describe it in a few paragraphs. After I got that done, I stared at my word count hoping that I could somehow come up with a measly 300 more words to make it an even 65,000 words. Instead I found myself doing those things I do when I'm not getting those wonderful strokes of genius: staring blankly at the computer screen, messing around with my iTunes list, or getting distracted by Gnomeo and Juliet (see below).

Old lady Red Gnome: "You're illiterate!"

Old Man Blue Gnome: "I'm not illiterate. My parents were married!"



     And then somehow, I had it. I had something. And I was writing. And before I knew it, two hours had passed. And I'd written more than 2,000 words. I don't even know how it happened. One moment I was barely slogging through, and the next, I was a super-writer. A genius. I could scream out, "look Ma, I'm a writer!" (I didn't.)
    I just love those moments. I know, I know, I'm not really a genius. But it's such a great feeling to suddenly have something there in my brain, something I didn't even know was there before and suddenly it has appeared on the page. It's like magic. It's writing bliss. And it makes me so very, very happy. 

Road Trip Wednesday

     Over at YA Highway they do this thing every Wednesday called "Road Trip Wednesday". I've wanted to participate in the last few but didn't for... some reason. Who knows. So I decided to start because I love the questions they ask. This is what they do if you don't know. They ask a question and you answer on your own blog and leave a link to it in their comments section. For example- a few weeks ago they asked who would we want to narrate our book in CD format (Anne Hathaway- you available?).
     So this week the question is, Who in your life has most inspired your writing?
     And the answer to that would be, well, me. Okay, I know- haha! But still true. And it's not that I'm all that inspiring, honestly. But a lot of me came out in Jessica- totally unintentional I swear. It was different stories that I constantly daydreamed about that inspired me to come up with the whole idea behind Jessica and all the places she could go.
     I think this would be a good time to give a shout out to all those who encourage my writing. There are so many people who tell me to keep at it, don't give up, keep trying, don't stop writing. I appreciate that more than they know. On the days where I do just feel like the biggest crap writer ever, it's nice to know that people are rooting for me. So thanks all you people- you know who you are. This is my gift to you- a good laugh. Bazinga!

 

The WOW Factor

    
     I'm starting to get it. Really. I'm starting to understand just where agents are coming from and why authors receive so many rejections.
     I've read a lot of books lately. Like- ALOT. The main reason is because I'm reading mostly YA now and YA is just faster and easier to read than adult books. Also I've been reading a lot because I've simply lost patience for TV unless it's one of the few shows I watch. But that's a post for another day.
     With all this reading comes a loss of the WOW factor. Wait, did I sound like Simon Cowell just then? (Shudder). Most of the books I've read have been GOOD. There have been very few I haven't liked and most of those because they just weren't my thing. Example: I'm not into the whole zombie apocalypse thing for books (or movies or anything at all for that matter). I don't think I've read a really TERRIBLE book. But have I been WOWED lately? Ummm, welll... maybe. Sometimes. Not really.
     Ok, so I was wowed by Laurie Halse Anderson. But those weren't books that I'd read again. I want to read something that I just LOVE, like Harry Potter. I want to read about a world that I wish to lose myself in over and over again. I want a book that I have to force myself to wait to reread but all the while I can't wait to pick it up again. Holy Moley- I sound like an agent!
     Hence my inner glimpse into an agents job. They get piles and piles of books to read- books that haven't gone through the extensive editing that happens before a book is published. They probably spend countless hours reading and reading and reading, just waiting to be wowed. It's not wonder that with all that reading, the wow-ing doesn't happen that often. I mean, if it doesn't happen for me that often and I'm reading books that have already been published (and therefore wowed others before me), why would it happen that often for an agent?
     So I get it. I know I will never fully understand what it's like unless I was an agent myself, but I'm starting to understand. The thing is, I'm already TOTALLY WOWED by my own book. I mean, duh- it's awesome. So I guess I've gotta find someone else who is wowed by it as well!

Random Thought Thursday

    
     1. I really love DWTS (hence the picture). Chelsea should win. And one day I'd like to dance the Argentine Tango.

     2. Speak the book is waaaay better than Speak the movie, although kudos to Kristen Stewart who does a great job with hardly any lines.

     3. My keyboard totally sucks. Sometimes it won't acknowledge certain letters and sometimes it will just randomly go in CAPS even though I never pressed the button. What the heck? (This is an exple ofwhat mysentences look like nrmally becaus the stupid keyboardwont do it properly- and I swear it's not JUS BAD TYPING.) ***My husband just informed me he ordered me a new keyboard. Hallelujah!***

     4. I really wish I could be one of those skinny girls who just eat and eat and eat and never get fat. That would really help with my supreme love of (almost) all food. No such luck though. Instead I'm back on weight watchers (solo) to try and lose those unwanted pounds I gained this last year. Sigh- goodbye Swedish berries. I will miss you.

     5. Laurie Halse Anderson is simply incredibly. I just read Wintergirls- it's about anorexia. I so couldn't write books about such heavy subjects.

     6. Writing a book around actual historical events is EXTREMELY difficult. Trust me.

     7. I have absolutely NO patience whatsoever. I hate waiting and I seem to be waiting for everything. The last Harry Potter movie, the next Boys Like Girls album, the last books of The Wheel of Time series and about a zillion other books. Oh and let's not forget those queries I've got out there.

     8. I have a disease my sister-in-law diagnosed as: Gettheheckawayfrommeitis. Luckily, it's not fatal for me. But it can be fatal for others- just a warning.

     9. Why do my kids always insist on jumping on me? I'm sitting on the couch- they jump on me. I'm standing- they run and jump on me. I'm laying down in bed- they jump on the bed and then jump on me. If I'm on the floor in any position- they take a flying leap at me. What is the deal? It's like I am the quarterback and they are the tacklers determined to get the sack.

     10. Success comes from CAN's not CAN'Ts. Thank you Hines Ward for that one.

     11. Fantasy is my first love. It feels great to be reading it again and so far Ranger's Apprentice isn't disappointing.

   

Speak

     There are some books that really make an impact. They are powerful, unforgettable, incredible. These books are usually the kind that I only want to read once. I'm glad I read the book, I'd recommend it to EVERYONE, but I would never read it again because it deals with subject matter that is difficult to read about, sometimes disturbing. The Kite Runner is one of these books. Another, which I read last night, is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

     The book completely caught me in its iron grasp and I couldn't let it go, even though I told myself I needed to get to bed and could finish it tomorrow. I couldn't do it. I read until it was done and then I laid in bed thinking of it, unable to fall asleep. This is the kind of book I will never forget. It taught me things. I hope my girls will read it when they are old enough so that they will learn from it as well. If you haven't read it- do. Now. Trust me. It's just one of the books you MUST read.

YA Time-Travel Books

     Since I've written a YA time-travel novel, I figured I should research and read the other YA time-travel novels out there. Surprisingly, the Internet revealed very few. Now, I know that the lists I found are missing some. None of them mentioned Mandy Hubbard's Prada and Prejudice- a book I loved and definitely a time-travel book. So I'm thinking there's more out there to discover.
     There were two that I did manage to get my hands on and I read them both this past weekend. The first one: Emily The Strange: Dark Times by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner.

     I'm guessing that this book is kind of like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I've only flipped through that one but they are both diary form instead of novel-like. This one though deals with a girl who is, well, strange. But not just strange- almost paranormal strange. You don't really know why at first but you get the sense of her throughout the book. Especially since her voice is just so THERE. If you want a book with voice- this is it. There are illustrations throughout, which are fun, and I especially loved Emily's made up swear words like, Balgfarx! and What the glamkins? and flamdrab it! All in all it was a great book- my only struggle was that I just wasn't used to diary form.

     The other book I read, last night in a couple of hours, was The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky. Obviously I enjoyed the book since I couldn't put it down and finished it quickly. It's YA, except the MC is only 12, which made it seem more MG to me, but whatever. There were similarities between my book and this one so it was easy for me to connect with it, but it was different enough that I didn't feel worried about my own book looking like a knock-off. Louise, the MC, is obsessed with vintage fashion and when she tries on a vintage dress she goes back in time. What I found interesting was that the book blurb doesn't mention the fact that she ends up on the Titanic. To me that would be a huge selling point so why not put it on the cover flap? Is it a big secret? Maybe it's supposed to be since it takes Louise forever to figure out what boat she's on. I knew from the moment she got there and read April 12,1912 on the newspaper so I kept waiting for the moment when she'd finally figure it out.
    I loved the history, the mention of famous names who were on the boat, the descriptions of the rooms and the food. I really loved the descriptions and the illustrations throughout of the clothes. And the Titanic story really gets to me so I loved that about the book. I only wished she would have done more with the actual sinking. And made the MC a little older. But other than that, I loved the book.
     I'm looking out for other YA time-travel books. Does anyone know any that I could add to my reading list?

Slogging Through

    
     So I haven't blogged much this week- which is good because I didn't get caught up in that whole blogger fiasco, whatever it was. I've been doing more writing, working on my query (still), reading back a couple of critiques, and critiquing someone else's work. And the weather has actually been nice around here for once so I've spent some time outdoors with the kids- yay summer!
     One thing I've noticed this week as I'm getting closer to the end of my book 2, is that the scenes I'm writing are hard. I've found myself really struggling to get the words out, to make the scenes appear on paper the way they are in my head. Maybe I just haven't been on my game this week, maybe I've been distracted, or maybe it's just because I'm reaching the end. Who knows. What I do know is that I hate it when I'm slogging through my writing. I hate when I sit here trying to come up with the right words. I wish that every time I sit down to write my fingers could fly across the keys trying their best to keep up with my overflowing thoughts and ideas. (While I'm at my pointless wishing, I might as well wish to be one of those girls who can eat and eat and eat but never gain any weight- a girl can dream.)
    This is the point where I get all profound and compare slogging through writing scenes to slogging through the muck and how it's worth it or it changes us or something when we finally make it through to the end.
    What. Ever. I don't know about you, but I like it when I can whip out 2000 words in an hour or two. It makes me feel like a genius. Like a superstar. Like maybe I was meant to do this and that I'll succeed.
     But as I'm writing this I'm learning my lesson: writing isn't always easy. There will always be times where I have to slog through. But the writer who can slog through, who doesn't give up when it just isn't coming- that writer WILL succeed. 

Dumped By My New Best Friend

     
     So everyone out there says "don't take rejections personally" or "it's just subjective" or "it's just one person's opinion".
     I agree. I do. BUT...
     This is what makes it hard, this to me is why authors- me included- do take rejections personally:
     If I'm a good little author, then I know that after writing, editing a kabillion times, making sure my ms is the best it can be and I'm ready to query it, that I have even more work to do. If I'm a good little author I will start compiling a list of possible agents who represent my genre of novel. If I'm a good little author then I will choose a few and start to research them individually. If I'm a good little author I will pick one. I will read his blog. I will follow her twitter. I will read every interview he gave. I will read every book I can get my hands on that she represents. I will read every book I can get my hands on that is on his favorites list. I will become so knowledgeable about her that I feel like I know her. That we are destined to be best friends. I mean- she loves some of the same books I do, we watch the same TV shows, we both love mint chocolate chip ice cream. So it's inevitable that he will love my book and want to represent me. Because we were made for each other.
    And then two weeks (or two hours) later, I get back an email from my new best friend (or his assistant) that says- um no. It says, we are not best friends. We are not destined to be together. It says, I care not one tiny bit for you or your writing.
     So after all that I'm supposed to just shake it off? Shrug my shoulders and move on to a new best friend?
     Well, of course I do. Because it is all just subjective. That person does not know one teeny thing about me, even though I know about them. They don't know that we have all these things in common. So who can blame them when it's all my own fault for building up an imaginary relationship in my head that doesn't exist for real.
     But can you blame me? I am a writer after all. Living in my head is what I do. Making up imaginary relationships is what I do. So even though I do move on, sometimes it still stings.


       

Writing A Killer Query Before The Query Kills You

     So I've been query stressing for the past two weeks. I keep changing it, reworking it, trying to find the best way to do it but without any real idea what is actually wrong with it.
     Anyway, I tried writing it in first person and I have to say- it totally rocked! I know it breaks all the rules to do that but it really helped Jessica's voice to come out. Then with the help of my sister-in-law Emily, I changed it into 3rd person, fixed it up some more and then... I sent it over to Query Goblin. Ever heard of her? She started up her blog in January, and while she's not an agent or publisher, she gives something I needed most- a query critique from someone who hadn't read the book. She did an awesome job too. Aside from mechanical problems, she pointed out things that I just wasn't seeing- flaws with how I presented Jessica, and the plot.
     So while I fix up those few things that need fixing, you should go check out Query Goblin: querygoblin.blogspot.com. Do it. Do it. (What movie is that from? The guy's got a really low voice... Must. Figure. It. Out.)

   

Chains

    
     I finished City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare in a matter of a day (maybe two). I love her books. I love the world and the relationships. Sometimes certain things happen that are predictable, but that's not really a complaint since I myself am probably predictable in my writing, and she does have some plot twists that I don't see coming.
      After that, I vowed to myself- no paranormal. I needed a break. So I took one. About a month ago my kids school was having a "buy one get one free" book fair. Who can resist buy one get one free books?! It's amazing I only walked out with six! Anyway, while there, I picked up a book for myself. This book:

     I bought it because, first of all I'd heard of Laurie Halse Anderson and knew that she's a widely praised author. But what really sold me was the book takes place during 1776 and 1777- the American Revolution! A time I'm attempting to write about right now. And I need all the info on that time that I can get.
     The book didn't end up being what I thought it would be about. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the cover- dead giveaway. I think it was the first line that really threw me off though: "The best time to talk to ghosts is just before the sun comes up."
     It's probably because I'm used to everything being paranormal these days. I naturally assumed that the MC- Isabel- could actually talk to ghosts. Yeah, she can't. But the book was amazing. Isabel is a young slave who is sold with her sister to new, harsher masters in New York City. She has to deal with not only the brutality of her treatment, but the opposing sides (patriots and loyalists) that were both in NYC at the time.
     What really made the book good was that she did such an amazing job describing the time that I felt like I was there. I felt like I knew what it was like to be a slave, a patriot, a member of the continental army, a loyalist.
     And she does such great descriptions. Like this one: "Her baby belly was so big she could have loaded it in a wheelbarrow and pushed it in front of her." Ha- I've been there! And I loved this line: "Momma said we had to fight the evil inside us by overcoming it with goodness. She said it was a hard thing to do, but it made us worthy." 
     It was nice to step away from imaginary worlds for a moment and read about history and truth and real hardships. I can't wait to pick up the sequel "Forge".
     And now I'm back to paranormal. I'm in the middle of so many series that I feel the need to finish them (or at least the ones that are out) before I start anything new. They've got a lot to live up to though after reading Chains.