An Easy Pick

Today's Road Trip Wednesday hosted by YA Highway asks:

What was the best book you read in September?

This is painfully easy. Here, I'll show the covers of all the books I read in September and see if you can guess which one I'm going to pick.

 

Did you guess it?

Yep, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. It's almost unfair to the rest of the books- even though they were good, they didn't stand a chance against Code Name Verity.

Why you ask? Well, if you're asking, you obviously haven't read it.

The story is heartbreaking. The voice manages to be funny even through the major awfulness that's going on. You root for everyone, even the bad guy sometimes. It's the kind of book, the type of characters, that stick with you. And it gets major bonus points from me just because of the time period- World War II. If you haven't read it, you need to put it on your TBR right now.

What's the best book you read in September?

Shine

For today's Teaser Tuesday I'm pulling my teaser from the last in a trilogy again.

First, can I just say, I hate when I'm reading a later book in a series and don't remember what's going on? I used to have all this time to reread and never encountered this problem, but now I've got stacks on my TBR list and no time for rereading. *sobs*

Anyway, the nice thing about Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready is that she sprinkles in the major plot from the past two books without dumping it right in the beginning or avoiding it altogether. I loved Shade and Shift- this whole trilogy is a brand new concept and she's a page-turning kind of writer. I also love how music is a big part of the books. These trilogy is a definite must.

And now I'll stop blabbing and share my teaser:

Now, I would wage a one-girl vendetta against the DMP for what they were doing to him. For what they'd tried to do to Logan. For what they wanted to do to me.

I would destroy them. (page 80)

What are you reading this week?

Found Guilty

I have been found guilty of  insta-love.

The sentence has been passed, and I think it's time to defend myself.

See, the thing is, I didn't mean to write insta-love. I never planned it, I never intended it. Once it was done, it never seemed like insta-love to me. No, it was something else entirely.

An insta-crush.

My character is a teen girl. She saw a guy and thought, he's hot, I wish he'd ask me out, I just want to spend time with him, I really want to kiss those sexy-sweet lips.

I ask you, is this insta-love? To me, it's a crush. Those first overwhelming and often overexagerrated feelings a person can get when they see something they like about someone else. An insta-crush. Once they get it, they find ways to be with that person, to get to know them, and then... SOMETIMES the love happens. Sometimes it doesn't.

I know insta-love is one of those THINGS A WRITER SHOULD NEVER EVER DO. But what about insta-crushes? Do readers feel the same animosity towards them? If you read a girl saying, "he's so hot I want to date him!!!" do you automatically chalk it up to insta-love, roll your eyes, or maybe put the book down in disgust?

I'm genuinely wondering here. I don't have the same bad mojo towards insta-love as most people do. I think it's because I don't ever see it as love, I see it as a crush first which often grows into love.
But I also don't want anyone throwing my writing across the room because, bam! there's insta-love again.

What do you think? Is an insta-crush basically the same as insta-love?

*P.S. I've been found guilty, and am now on the road to rehabilitation. Meaning: I'm revising.*

Classical Makes Me Cry

I'm one of those writers who listens to music while I write. I have a "quiet" playlist, which really isn't always that quiet. I've got some swing music on it, some Broadway, movie scores, opera, and a lot of classical and piano solo music.

A lot of these songs inspired me while I was writing Sway, because my MC and her love interest are both musicians. While my hero is more of a Michael Buble- singing jazzy tunes- my female protag is a pianist. While revising, I've given her more of a life and background. She's a Juilliard grad and plays for a Philharmonic orchestra. I'm trying to incorporate more how music would make her feel, how it's part of her like breathing- hopefully without going overboard. So I've been listening to A LOT of classical music.

For Friday Loves today, here are some of the songs that I mention in the MS and that have inspired me through my drafts and revisions. If you ever need quiet and beautiful (and heart-wrenching and tear-inducing) background writing music, these are great pieces!

Serenade by Schubert- I LOVE this song sooooo much!

 

Air on the G String by Bach

 

Piano Concerto #2 by Rachmaninoff

 

Liebestraum by Liszt

The Princess and the... What?

Today's Road Trip Wednesday questions asks:

 

In honor of this month's Bookmobile book, Marissa Meyer's CINDER, name a fable or story you'd like to see a retelling of. If you're feeling creative, come up with a premise of your own!

First, I can't help but wonder, is there a fable or fairy tale that hasn't been retold? Not that I've read them all, in fact the number of fairtyale retellings I've read is pretty low. Which is weird. Because I love fairy tales.

Anyway, Cinder, Beastly, Entwined. All awesome books. Growing up, Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney Cartoon, but it's been done. I also loved Hercules as a teen, also done. One of my favorite TV shows now is Once Upon A Time which pretty much runs the fairy tale gamut.

After scouring my kids movie shelves, I've come up with one! This has been done as two different Barbie movies, but I don't know if it's been made into a book. It would be a fun one to write, modern day or old-school (both of which Barbie did). Here it is:

The Princess and the Pauper.

 

A story about a rich girl and poor girl who switch places? I can already picture all the calamity that could ensue, already getting ideas of different ways you could spin it... 

So I think I'm gonna go take some notes. Thanks YA Highway for another new idea! And if someone does know of a good book version of this, let me know so I can add it to my TBR.

Endlessly

For today's Teaser Tuesday hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading, I'm going to tease you with the last book of a Trilogy. But don't worry, I won't give anything away. I'm pulling my teaser from Endlessly by Kiersten White, the third book after Paranormalcy and Supernaturally. These are great books by the way- fun and easy reads.

I resisted the urge to sit and stare at Lend while he slept; when he dreamed, instead of his eyes moving behind his eyelids, his whole glamour shifted appearances like a stop-motion film. It was fascinating and wildly entertaining sometimes- also a bit freaky considering I showed up constantly. (page 13)

And completely unrelated to Teaser Tuesday... you should go check out today's post from YA Highway called Giving Yourself Permission. It's an awesome post and everyone should read it!

Happy Tuesday! But not for me because Tuesday is bathroom cleaning day. Ugh.

Branding

No, despite the picture, I do not meant cow branding. Building your author brand. Have any of you thought of this?
I'd never really considered it before, mostly because I'm as yet unagented, so the thought of building my brand seemed like a far-off thing.

So why am I thinking about it now? Well, I'm currently querying a YA time-travel. I'm revising a Women's Fic. And my WIP is YA UF.

One of these is not like the other...

I love my Women's Fic manuscript Sway. It's undergoing major- and very difficult- revisions, but I really think it's got something. By the time I have it query-ready, I think it will be time to shelve Daze for good (sob sob sob) if it's not successful out there. But I really don't see any more Women's Fic for me in the future. I mean, I could... but my WIP and also a SNI I've taken notes on are both YA. I keep getting this nagging feeling that I shouldn't worry so much about Sway right now and work on my WIP instead. Except that Sway is closer to being ready, and I do love the story.

This may not be something I really need to worry about. One of the great things about having an agent is that they know more about this stuff and can give the right advice. Yet I still have these doubts that I'm pulling the wrong move somehow.

Ha, or maybe I just worry too much?! What do you think? I'd love to hear thoughts on this, especially from those who write in multiple genres.

One And Only

It's no secret I love music. For today's Friday Loves, I decided to do this game that I did more than a year ago, because I had a lot of fun with it. And I'd love to see other people's answers, so if you decide to play along, link it in the comments so I know and can go check it out! I always love to hear new songs and find new artists to love.

My Life in iTunes
RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.


IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?

Fallout (by Marianas Trench)

"I know you're fine, but what do I do... I know you're fine but what a fallout..."

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

Your Guardian Angel (by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus)

Not quite, but okay, we'll go with that. (I hope it's not an omen.)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Apologize (by One Republic)

Bwahahahah, that's funny.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Who Says (by Selena Gomez)

The title doesn't really make sense, but I guess the song sorta does.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Secrets (by One Republic)

*raises eyebrow* *attempts to look all mysterious and knowing*

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?

One Life (by Hedley)

Okay, that's completely perfect. Check this out if you've never heard this song:

"It's a great big world, and you'll see
It could pass you by at light speed
You got one life, one life
Don't stop, live it up
Whoa!
If it's the last night in these streets
You'd be a fool to take a seat
You got one life, one life
Don't stop, live it up!"

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Hold On (by Michael Buble)

Aw, that's nice.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Break It Up (by These Kids Wear Crowns)

Um, sure.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

The First One (by Boys Like Girls)

Haha! Not really true but a good answer anyway.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Here We Go (by Mat Kearney)

Okaaaay...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Heels Over Head (by Boys Like Girls)

Hahahahahahaha, that's a good one!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Picture To Burn (by Taylor Swift)

K, that makes no sense whatsoever. (I wanna be a picture to burn? I want to burn someones picture???)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Remember to Breathe (by Dashboard Confessional)

Swear I didn't rig this.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

It Will Rain (by Bruno Mars)

Actually, no. I hate the rain. It smells.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

Sparks Fly (by Taylor Swift)

Fire isn't my biggest fear, but it's definitely a fear (ever since my old house burnt down and then my brother-in-law's house did as well... *shudders*)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Stutter (by Marianas Trench)

I don't have a stutter, I really don't. Never did. Although I'm not so good with getting up and speaking in front of people anymore, so there's that.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

Magic (by B.O.B.)

That is the PERFECT answer. I've always wanted magic!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

This (by Ed Sheeran)

"This is the start of something beautiful..."

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

One And Only (by Adele)

Word and Passive Voice

Today's Road Trip Wednesday hosted by YA Highway asks:

 

What word processing program do you use to write you manuscript, and can you share one handy trick you've learned in that program that has helped you while you write?

That's easy. Word. Yep, Word. I've never tried Scrivener or any other fancy-shmancy program out there. My computer has Word so that's what I use.

As to handy tricks? There's probably lots of things Word can do that I have no clue about. One thing I use when I Beta/Critique is Review. You click on "Track Changes" and everything you put on the manuscript comes out another color. But then you probably all knew about that already.

Waaaaiiiittttt... I JUST remembered. Hold on...

JACKPOT!!!

So during WriteOnCon in one of the forums, a very helpful somebody (can't remember who) told us how to catch Passive Voice in our manuscripts using Word. I had completely forgotten about it until now and I just found where I saved the tips, tried it in my MS and... VOILA! It works!

This was how he told us how to do it:

In MS word, go to Tools, then Options. Under the Spelling and Grammar tab, look at the grammar section and look for Show Readability Statistics.

It didn't work this way in my version of Word, so this is how I found it:

Click on Review. Click on Spelling & Grammar. Immediately a little box will pop up with your first "error." At the bottom left corner of the box, click on Options. There you can click the box Show Readability Statistics. Now I don't know if that's necessary or not (he said how it shows percentages), but near that click on Settings. Under Grammar, all of my little boxes were checked off. But under Style... nothing was checked. And one of those little boxes is Passive Sentences. AHA!

I actually checked them all off, then went back and un-checked Use of First Person because it was basically telling me to revise every sentence based on my first person. I went through a few pages and lo and behold on on the first page of my second chapter, a PASSIVE SENTENCE!

I don't know about you, but trying to figure out passive voice gives me a headache. Here is a VERY handy way to find your passive sentences. When I've got time, I'm gonna go through my entire MS and search those passive sentences.

YAY FOR WORD!!!

Code Name Verity and Half-Blood

It's Teaser Tuesday time, the day you open what you're reading and pick a line to share with all. Check out Should Be Reading for all the deets.

I'm gonna break them thar rules and tease two books today. Mainly because I just HAVE to share a bit of Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein, because I heart it so much.

...let me remind you that I had been in France less than 48 hours before that obliging agent of yours had to stop me being run over by a French van full of French chickens because I'd looked the wrong way before crossing the street. Which shows how cunning the Gestapo are. "This person I've pulled from beneath the wheels of certain death was expecting traffic to travel on the left side of the road. Therefore she must be British, and is likely to have parachuted into Nazi-occupied France out of an Allied plane. I shall now arrest her as a spy." (page 6,7)

Awesome, right?! And that's not a giveaway by the way, it's only like five pages in. My second teaser is from the book I'm reading right now, Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

In front of me, he walked right through the flames, looking every bit like a daimon hunter should. The fire did not singe his pants nor dirty his shirt. Not a single dark hair was touched by the blaze. Those cool, storm-cloud-colored eyes fixed on me. (page 4)

Your turn. Tease me with what you're reading.

Awesome From Page One

I'm starting to get it. I'm starting to understand trying to find a gem out of the slush pile just a teeny bit.

No, I'm not interning or anything. But the last few years I've read A LOT of books. MOST of them have been REALLY GOOD.

But.

I've noticed lately that it takes me awhile to get into almost every book I read. It's not like they're uninteresting, or written badly. It's just that life takes over and I don't feel the NEED to KEEP READING right away.

Last night I finished Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. This book was AWESOME. Seriously, you should read it ASAP if you haven't already. I figured I'd love it, mostly because it's set during World War II, and I did love it. I borrowed it from the library but I will be buying it the first chance I get because it's a definite re-read. But it wasn't until about 100 pages in that I really felt that I want to read and do nothing else feeling.

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NO WAY REFLECTS ON CODE NAME VERITY. THE BOOK IS AMAZING, PLEASE READ IT NOW.

This has happened to me with EVERY book I've read lately. I can't remember the last book I started and just couldn't put down from page one. The thing is, life is busy. I've got four kids and a house to clean and cooking and writing and church and exercising and this week dance and kickboxing starts and and and. These books all start strong and exciting, I've never NOT wanted to read on. It's just, I haven't read a beginning that's been so WOW I put aside everything else.

So I get it. That's what agents want, right? And when you've read SO MUCH, it takes HUGE amounts of AWESOME to make something stand out from page one.

Wish there was a secret formula to that... ;)

Friday Loves: Dance

(I'm the one in orange)

I could probably post about dance every day of the week, I just love it so much. I started jazz when I was eight, ballet and tap around thirteen. I also did musical theatre and contemporary within those classes. At University, I took Country dancing (yep, I really did), and learned a lot of Swing which was huge back then. A few years ago I took a hip hop class (after I'd had two kids), and then a couple years after that I took jazz again. Dance is in my blood and bones and I can't get rid of it. Music comes on and I automatically start to bounce or sway or pop my shoulders (not out of their sockets or anything). Last weekend, I watched the new Footloose again, and afterward I was totally busting a move in my bedroom.

With my love of dance comes my love of anything dance related. TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, and Breaking Pointe. Movies like Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Step Up, Dance With Me, Center Stage, etc. Surprisingly, I haven't really read any dance books, but I just wrote down some recs from a blog for great YA ones.

Dance for me is that one dream that I'll probably always have but will never come true. I watch dance and I ache to join in. I long to be on stage. I yearn for it, but my time has passed (sob sob). Now, I enjoy it from the audience. My oldest daughter has been dancing for the last four years, and I love watching her grow to love it and improve. (And I solemnly swear I will NOT become a dance mom, or kill her love for it in any way.) My middle daughter starts her first ballet class next week.

Dancing makes me smile. It lifts me up. It's one of the best things in this world. I'll dance, even if it's just in my house, until I'm too old to move.

Since there are so many dance numbers I love, I had a hard time choosing. But this dance number is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The jump Melanie does into Neil's arms takes my breath away.

Back To School Books

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question is:

Back to school time! What's your favorite book that you had to read for a class?

The obvious choices for me would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and the three Shakespeare plays I had to read: Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello (I can't remember if I read Shakespeare in my AP English class...) I was already a fan of Colin Firth's BBC adaptation of P&P before I had to read it in my Brit Lit class in eleventh grade. And I started reading Shakespeare for fun around grade nine so reading them in school was no biggie.

Then I took a look at my bookshelf and remembered two books that I fell in love with while reading them for school:

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Both books are about war, the first about World War I, the second about World War II. Both books are honest, heartfelt, awful, scary, and eye-opening. They are very true depictions of life for the soldiers during both wars. My love of history and fascination with both World Wars can probably be stemmed from reading these books in grade nine and ten.

Did you end up loving any books after reading them for school?

Born Wicked

I just finished Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood last night. It started a little slow for me and I've been busy, but last night, only on chapter five, I finished the rest! It was AWESOME! One of those books where I wish I had the next one RIGHT NOW. Anyway, since I haven't had a chance to start the newest book on my TBR (Code Name Verity- super-anxious to read this one!), I'll grab my teaser from Born Wicked.

How much do I love this cover?!

Finn chuckles. "Are you a tree sprite now?"

"I'm pretending to be twelve again." I scrape frantically at my hair, wishing I hadn't thrown all the pins away. I must look a fright. He's always handsome, even covered in sawdust from the gazebo, with that ludicrous hair and his glasses all crooked. (page 126)

What are you reading this week? Head over to Should Be Reading to see everyone else's teasers. And happy back-to-school day! *grins*

Kisses And Kiss-Offs

Who doesn't love a good kiss? Or a good kiss-off?

Valerie Cole is hosting a kiss-off contest. Head over there and you can vote for your favorite first lines. These aren't the kiss-off lines, just the lines that should hook you into the kiss-off scene. The top five will move on and get to post more of the kiss-off.

Bria Quinlan at Love YA is hosting the kiss contest. You can read everybody's 250 words of kissing bliss. I read them through when I submitted mine and, yowza, some of those scenes are HOT.

So head over to their blogs and VOTE VOTE VOTE! I can't tell you which is mine in either, but vote anyway!

Friday Loves: Boys Like Girls



Boys Like Girls: Be Your Everything

I know I've recently shared my love for this band, and this song, but hey- they're so awesome, I just can't help myself. Anyway, this is their new single and the song is just beautiful and I love love love the post-apoc feel to the video. Also, Martin Johnson (the lead singer). Watch the video and I think you'll understand. *grins*

When I posted BLG as my summer soundtrack, I was shocked that a lot of people hadn't heard of them. SHOCKED I TELL YOU. They had a few songs that were well-known a couple years back, unfortunately, they took a hiatus and so have kind of disappeared off the music-map for awhile. I still haven't heard the exact release date of their third album, but I'm practically counting down the days (I know it's fall sometime).

Anyway, they're BACK and I'm PSYCHED. And majorly hoping they'll stop in Calgary (or at least Edmonton) on their new tour with the All-American Rejects.

Okay, I'll stop gushing like a fangirl. What's your Friday Love?

Best Book of August

Today's Road Trip Wednesday asks:

What was the best book you read in August?

Here's what I read this month:

Wolfsbane was a great sequel. Spellbound ended the Hex Hall Trilogy PERFECTLY, and I've raved over and over about the MC's voice. The Name of the Star was a tense read with great characters. All awesome books.

Coming a close runner-up is Incarnate. It was beautifully written, I loved the world, music played a big part which is also a plus for me, and SAM. (I'm still swooning over Sam.)

BUT... my fave book this month? For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund. It's almost obvious that I would pick this one, given my love of Persuasion and the fact that I wrote my own redux. But this book, oh my gosh, this book! It was the kind of book that made me feel like the CRAPPIEST author in the world because it was just SO WELL DONE. I don't even like sci-fi that much but I LOVED this book. Diana Peterfreund just did the best job in capturing the feel of Austen but bringing her own spin to the entire thing. I go gaga over this book. And over Kai. And over their letters.

What was the best book you read this month?

Death Comes To Pemberley

I'm taking a break from YA right now and reading a book my mom lent me which she really liked. It's called Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James. Here's the Goodreads blurb:

 It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate. Their peaceful, orderly world seems almost unassailable. Elizabeth has found her footing as the chatelaine of the great house. They have two fine sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Elizabeth’s sister Jane and her husband, Bingley, live nearby; her father visits often; there is optimistic talk about the prospects of marriage for Darcy’s sister Georgiana. And preparations are under way for their much-anticipated annual autumn ball.

Then, on the eve of the ball, the patrician idyll is shattered. A coach careens up the drive carrying Lydia, Elizabeth’s disgraced sister, who with her husband, the very dubious Wickham, has been banned from Pemberley. She stumbles out of the carriage, hysterical, shrieking that Wickham has been murdered. With shocking suddenness, Pemberley is plunged into a frightening mystery. 

 

I'm a little over 50 pages in and the mystery hasn't happened yet. Obviously, I'm anxious for all that to get going. Here's my teaser for Teaser Tuesday hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading:

"The matter may come to head after the ball, but I own that it is an anxiety to me. I have grown to love Georgiana dearly. But let us put it aside for now. We have the family dinner to look forward to. I must not spoil it for either of us or our guests by worries which may be groundless."

What are you reading right now?

Linky Link

Because I have a stupid summer cold, which equals no sleep for the past couple of nights because I can't breathe, which equals no brains at all this morning, which equals...

A link!

Go to Nathan Bransford's blog because he is a super-funny-genius. He's put the whole publishing process into GIF form. I laughed my freaking head off. (Just wish I could've laughed the cold out of my nose. Wait, that sounds gross.)

Check out the link and have a happy Monday.

Friday Loves

During WriteOnCon, agent Meredith Barnes gave a piece of advice that I found very surprising. She advised writers to blog- but NOT ABOUT WRITING!

Well shoot.

After thinking about it for awhile, I decided to follow her advice a teeny bit. She told writers to blog about something they love (NOT WRITING), and so I decided that every FRIDAY I would do that. Friday will be my day dedicated to something I love (NOT WRITING).

I think you get the point and I can stop all-caps-ing it.

For my first every Friday Loves post, I'm going to share my love of... GLEE!

Okay, I know I'm a little late to the Glee-bandwagon. In fact, I've heard around the internetverse that many people are willingly getting OFF that bandwagon because they've become sick of the show. NOT I! said the pie. That's because I haven't even finished season one yet! I've still got stars in my eyes (and ears) over all the awesome singing/dancing numbers, the relationship drama, and the unexpected tender moments that bring tears to my wide eyes. I still laugh over Sue's over-the-top bad behavior. And I've fallen in love with songs that I've previously despised. (Go figure.)

What's funny is, when the show first came out, I watched one episode and decided I wasn't going to watch any more. Now I LOVE it! Strange.

Anyway, I'm having a major Glee-affair right now and nobody can stop it, not even the up-to-date haters. If, like me, you've ignored the show all this time or didn't give it a chance, here's a little taste. Basically it's the song I get stuck in my head every time I even think the word Glee.