Quarterly Check-In

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question asks:

Quarterly check-ins! We're already 1/4 of the way through the year--where are you on your reading and writing goals?

Are we talking Resolutions here? Cuz I really didn't make any. Like most people, I tend to break them and then just end up feeling like a whopping failure.

Anyway, when the New Year hit, I was thick in my revise and resubmit for Daze. My plan was to have it finished and sent in by sometime in February. I did that. Now my plan is to finish my revisions on Sway and get it query ready for April. These aren't set-in-stone goals, but I like to give myself a deadline so I have something to aim for. After that, hopefully I'll be able to get back to a WIP I started a year ago.

As for reading, I decided not to set a reading goal this year. It kinda takes the fun out of it. Reading is about the love of the story, not the number of stories.

What about you? Accomplished a bazillion goals already or just getting back on track?

Two Teasers

I'm in-between books right now, so I thought I'd pull teasers (for Teaser Tuesday) from the two books I read this past week. Both awesome books. Completely different from each other but great reads.

From The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green:

I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die. (page 24)

From Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier:

Three days ago, I didn't even have an inkling about the existence of the Guardians. Three days ago, my life had still been perfectly normal. (page 58)

What are you reading this week? I can't wait to get started on The Diviners, by Libba Bray.

Soundtrack of My Novel

I finally finished my R&R of Daze and Knights. It's such a relief but also scary and nerve-wracking and stressful and now days of wondering whether I did enough or did it right or or or.

To get my mind off needless worry, and to remember what I love about the story whether it becomes a success or just a fond memory, I decided to post the soundtrack of my novel. Just a few songs since I don't get Spotify or anything like that here in Canada (not that I know of, anyway), so I'll have to use YouTube.

This song is The Song for my MS. I hear it and see a montage of scenes in my head like a movie preview.

 

I heard this song on the radio one day ages ago and one lyric just fit right in. "According to you/I'm stupid, I'm useless..."

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this piece by Beethoven (I'm learning it on the piano right now). In one scene, Jessica dances ballet with this song playing in her head.

Again, this song just FIT, especially for a certain scene. "What if I stay forever/What if there's no goodbye/Frozen for a moment here in time..."

I love me some sword fighting and battle sequences (that's my inner Dragonlance-obsessed-teen talking) and this song is perfect for my battle scene near the end. From my MS: "Together, we crossed the gates and into hell."

What are some songs from your MS or WIP?

Two Is Just A Number

So YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday question is:

What's the best book you've read in February?

And ohmyfreakingheck I've only read... two.

Something is wrong. Very very wrong.

Okay, enough with the dramatics. But still, it shocks me that I've only read two books this month. Then again I was busy finishing up an R&R so that's kinda a good excuse, right?

So here's what I read:

I'd have to give the best to Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, just for the simple fact that it was new to me. Beautiful Creatures was a reread and while I still love it, it didn't have that exciting, edge-of-my-seat, what's-going-to-happen-next factor because, well, I already knew. (And I still haven't seen the movie, BTW. What's up with that???) Shadow and Bone was immediately compelling. I fell into the world she created from the start. I understood and connected with the main characters desires and decisions. The Darkling was an especially compelling character. And she took the book somewhere I didn't think she would go.

What was the best book you read in February?

Feel The Love

I LOVE today's Road Trip Wednesday question...

It's (the day before) Valentine's Day! Let's jumpstart the lovefest by blogging about what you love most about writing (and/or reading)!

 

I love losing myself in another world, especially a world of my own creation.

I love creating characters that stick with me, that I hear in my head, that speak to me, that fight with me when I want them to do something but they just refuse to do it, that surprise me, and that I fall for or just hate so much that it can't help but reflect in my writing. (Now I totally sound like a crazy person.)

I love the excitement and the sense of accomplishment that comes when I've finished a chapter, a scene, a manuscript, a revision.

I love hearing feedback, both positive and negative, from beta readers who are infinitely smarter than I am.

I love laughing at something I wrote but completely forgot about.

I love looking back and seeing how far I've come. How crappy that 1st draft of that 1st manuscript was and how much I've learned since.

I love knowing that I'll just keep learning and getting better the more I keep at it.

Most of all, I love how writing makes me feel. How happy I am when I'm doing it.

To writing: you complete me. Haha, I couldn't help myself.

Beautiful Creatures

It's Teaser Tuesday time again, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I'm pulling my teaser from a reread this week. Yep, I'm rereading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl in anticipation for the movie which comes out on Thursday!!! Sadly, I don't know when I'll get to see it because no one I know wants to. I need new friends.

Here's my teaser:

"You don't need to tell me about Macon Ravenwood, like you know anything I don't already know." The Look.
"H.E.B.E.T.U.D.I.N.O.U.S."
"What?"
"As in, you don't have a lick a sense, Ethan Wate." (page 82)

FYI: I love these books (still haven't read the last one though). They are so rich with Southern culture. I can't wait until I get to see the movie! And if you've been living under a rock and haven't seen the preview, here it is:

Liebster Time

Megan Hand, author of the soon to be released mature YA novel Bitter Angel (it's a great book, I've already read it!!!) and who blogs over at Megan Hand Writes has nominated me for a Liebster award. It's been a few years since I was nominated for one of these so I'm excited to give it a go!

Here's what you do:

I list 11 random facts about myself.
I answer the 11 questions asked of me by the person who nominated me.
I then nominate my 11 picks for the award along with my 11 questions for them to answer when they post a response.

Here's 11 random facts about me:

1. I have an aversion to LOL. I can't put it in texts or on Twitter or anywhere because to me, I read it as a word, not as the letters spelled out and not as laugh out loud.

2. I'm a toilet paper snob. Most people I know buy the cheap Costco toilet paper and I just can't do it. For me, it's gotta be Charmin double rolls (not triple- those are too thick).

Excuse the Spanish subtitles

 

3. My kids will say something and I'll use their words and bust out in song. Actual songs though, not made up ones. For example, my nine year old said, "If I had the chance, I'd go to Disneyland." And then I launched into, "If I had the chance I'd ask the world to dance, and I'd be dancing with myself..."

4. I'm a puzzle nerd. My daughter got a box of 8 Disney puzzles and I swear I've done more of them than she has. In fact, we're in the middle of a Winnie the Pooh one right now.

5. I once got my hair stuck in the vacuum. The hair still attached to my head. Don't ask, I'm just that dumb sometimes.

 

6. My favorite mode of exercise is playing any version of Just Dance on the Wii. My fave song to dance to right now is Hot For Me by A.K.A. (Just Dance 4) because it brings out my inner cheerleader.

7. When I'm alone in the car I sing really loud (and really badly) to show tunes.

8. Starting in Grade one, I was in French Immersion, which means most of my classes were in French. It's very sad to me that now I can barely speak it. :(

9. At church, my calling (which is like my job but unpaid) is always playing the piano. Playing piano for the choir, for the primary kids, for the Relief Society women... it's sort of like I'm on rotation. But I'm not complaining! :p

 

10. For the longest time, Robert Jordan was my fave author. And yet I still haven't read the last few books in his Wheel of Time series. When the last one comes out in paperback (I think it's in hardcover now), I will reread the ENTIRE series.

11. I like to play games, and I like to WIN. I'm just a touch competitive. ;) On a related note, I suck at sports.  

And here's Megan's 11 questions for me:

1. What was your favorite book growing up? Anything Dragonlance. I lived and breathed Fantasy.

 

 

2. What is your favorite Indie/Traditionally published book lately? Please answer both. Traditionally: you know I can't pick. Okay, you twisted my arm: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. And Indie: If you mean self-pubbed, well I have to give another plug for Megan and say how much I loved Bitter Angel and can't wait until it comes out. This book was so fast paced and freaky I chewed my nails down to stubs! 

 

I will stare you down with my sexy intensity

 

3. Who would you cast in the leads of your favorite book of all time?  I don't have a fave book of all time (I seriously CANNOT pick favorites), but lately I was thinking how awesome Richard Armitage would be as either Mr. Rochester, or Nico Rathburn in the contemp version Jane by April Lindner. And I cannot get over how perfect Ed Speleers would be as one of my own characters.

 

Hey, Ed, please be my Purvis?

 

4. What is your favorite non-reading/writing thing to do? Being a lazy butt and watching TV or movies. I just finished Downton Abbey (season 3) and Glee (season 3), and now it's all about The Vampire Diaries, Beauty and the Beast, Once Upon A Time, Arrow, and Smash has just restarted!

 

5. Describe your ideal Sunday. (the day, not the ice cream): Church in the morning, afternoon nap, then games with the kids.

 

6. What is your favorite character name? My own character or someone else's? If I have to go with my own, I have a love of the name Lord Purvis because there were so many ways I could have fun with it. As for someone else's character, Eragon is just a great name!

 

 

7. If you could live in any time period, which would it be? Ooh, I love this question! I've gotta go with Regency. Or medieval. Either, as long as I'm rich. I've got a fascination for World War II, but I don't think I'd want to live then.

 

 

8. If you could travel to anywhere outside the U.S., where would you go? Paris or anywhere in Italy.

 

 

9. If you could wake up as anyone, who would it be? For just one day, it would be fun to see what life is like as Princess Kate. Or I'd choose to be any actress working alongside Jeremy Renner.

 

10. What is your favorite clothing accessory? I live in Canada, so it makes sense that I'm love with boots and coats. My kingdom for a pair of brown leather riding boots!

 

 

11. If the world could be anything (hint: Willie Wonka’s world of chocolate) what would yours look like? Harry Potter's world all the way. I'd be eleven again and getting my letter to Hogwarts.

 

And since this has taken me all morning and I've got some Just Dance and my manuscript both calling my name, I hereby nominate every person who reads this post as Liebster award recipients. Answer Megan's awesome questions or make up your own, it's up to you. Congratulations on your award. :)

The Crawley's Forever

It's been awhile since I've done a Friday Loves post, but I can't help but enthuse about how much I loved season three of Downton Abbey!!! It was sooo good.

One of the things I liked best about it was they toned down on the scheming a bit. I remember watching the first season and hating at least half of the characters. They were just so despicable! (And yet I kept watching.) This season had some scheming- what would the show be without it?- but we know the characters well enough now to see their redeeming qualities.

Of course this season came with some shockers. Too in particular which I won't mention for spoiler reasons, but holy crap!!! I ugly cried during almost an entire episode mid-season. And then there's the last episode of the season... what was up with that??? Gah, I wish I could talk about it but I won't give it away. :)

Anyway, this is a truly great show. If you gave up on it during the first season because everyone was so awful, give it a chance, you won't regret it!

And when does the next season come out? Please don't say I have to wait another whole year!!!

January's Over?

I can't believe it's February already. Where did January go??? It was a crazy busy month and I have a feeling that February won't be any less.

Despite the craziness, I managed to read more than I thought I would. Today's Road Trip Wednesday question asks:

 

What was the best book you read in January?

Here's what I read this month:

I don't think I can choose a fave this month. I liked both classical redos (Jane and Persuaded) and Defiance was excellent although it left me unsatisfied and wanting more at the end. I enjoyed rereading the Hush, Hush saga in prep for the last book. The ending was great, no complaints there. But true to my nature, I like the first book (Hush, Hush) in the series best.

So I can't pick a fave- big shocker. What was the best book you read this month?

Shadow And Bone

I often read books that I've heard people talk about around the blogosphere or on Twitter. Sometimes, the premise of these books doesn't sound all that interesting to me but I give them a try anyway because I've heard how good they are.

That's exactly what happened with Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I really had no clue what it was about. Reading the jacket flap, it didn't exactly get me raring to dive into the book. One chapter in and I didn't want to stop reading. I love that!

Anyway, here's my teaser from Shadow and Bone:

"So I'm the Darkling's prisoner?"
"You're under his protection."
"What's the difference?"
Ivan's expression was unreadable. "Pray you never find out." (page 55)

And now I want to ignore all my house cleaning and just go read.

Road Trip!

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question, hosted by YA Highway is one that makes me want to cry a bit:

 

In celebration of the release of Kristin Halbrook's NOBODY BUT US (hooray!!) we're asking: Zoe and Will set off on the road to seek a better life and encounter loads of drama on the way. What's the most dramatic road trip you've ever been on?
 

Why does that make me want to cry? Perhaps I went on such a dramatic road trip once that even the thought of it has me welling up with wet emotions.

I only wish. The reason I want to get a bit depressed is because I've never been on a road trip like that.

That doesn't mean I haven't been on any road trips. I've spent many hours squished between siblings who've wiped boogers on me, forced me to stay awake to keep them awake while driving, and have stunk up the car with fast food breath and gas. Once I sat in the front seat and was awoken just in time to see a literal deer in the headlights. Right before we smacked into it. Traumatizing. I loved those family car trips though, because they were our vacations. They meant fast food and treats from the gas station. They meant sleeping in questionable hotels (or sometimes in the car on the side of the road). They meant being somewhere different from home. For me as a kid, they meant adventure.

Writing this has made me remember that I actually have taken a few road trips sans the fam-damily. When I was in college I went from Provo, Utah to Las Vegas for a weekend with friends once and with a boyfriend and his friends another time. Clearly if I can't remember those trips that well, there wasn't a whole lot of drama. Since I've had kids, I've also been on a couple of girls trips to the States to do some shopping. No drama there either, except when they told us our hotel reservation didn't exist and four of the seven of us were pregnant. Not cool.

So I guess I have no reason to be sad. I have been on a few road trips. Maybe I should be grateful that they weren't drama-filled. (Although then I might remember them a bit better!) In fact, I think I'm going to go dig up some pictures...

In front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I'm the one in the supercool sweater vest.

Finale

I'm finally reading Finale- the last book in the Hush, Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick. I just barely started it last night so I've got no comment yet on how this whole thing is going to end or how much I like it. But here's my teaser for Teaser Tuesday anyway:

 

... normal and I have recently become perfect strangers. As in, I wouldn't know normal if it marched up and poked me in the eye. Normal and I parted ways when Patch strolled into my life. (page 11-12)

Anyone read this book yet? Did you like the end of the four-book series?

Kicks And Giggles

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

Good for a laugh: who is your favorite comedian or funny book and/or movie?

It used to be, when I wanted to laugh out loud, I would watch Friends.

"If a fist comes at your face, you duck!"

Nowadays, a watch The Big Bang Theory to bring on the howling and knee-slapping (I don't actually knee-slap, I swear).

"Revenge is a dish best served nude."

As to books... which is what I was supposed to be talking about in the first place... the two authors that came to mind right away who make me chortle and snort (okay, I may actually do those) are:

Rick Riordan. His chapter titles alone are laugh-inducing. Check some of them out:

I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom (The Lightening Thief)
Nico Buys Happy Meals for the Dead (The Battle of the Labyrinth)
Men Ask For Directions (and Other Signs of the Apocalypse) (The Red Pyramid)
I Get A Demon Up My Nose (The Throne of Fire)

Then there's Rachel Hawkins, author of the Hex Hall Trilogy.

"You hoped I'd commit mirrorcide?"

He laughed, but it sounded a little breathless. "No, I'd hoped to see just how powerful you really are." His eyes were bright, and there was something that might have been pride in them. "You exceeded my expectations."

"Well, yay," I said. "So glad my skill at blowing crap up impresses you, Dad." (Demonglass, page 153)

So who/what makes you laugh? Got any funny books recs?

Crescendo

I'm a bit frazzled today, so I'm getting straight to my Teaser Tuesday without any added waffle.

From Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick:

He stepped through the doorway, and I roped a leg of the tights around his neck, tugging back with all my strength. There was a moment of struggle before my weight jerked forward and I found myself face-to-face with... (page 177)

Duh duh duh.

What are you reading this week?

Mushy-Gushy

It seems like forever since I've done a Friday Loves post. I can easily tell you what I DON'T love today: my computer. I went to write this post and it wouldn't get me anywhere past signing into blogger. And it's constantly telling me to free up space on the C drive, which I do, but it doesn't seem to make a difference cuz the next day I'll get the same message. Argh! Time for a new computer...

Anyway, I'm not supposed to talk about what I don't love but what I do love. There's two things I'm loving right now.

I finished my R&R finally! I get to breathe a momentary sigh of relief while it's out with an amazing beta reader before I get back to work on whatever is wrong with it that I missed. I'm just so happy it worked out- I was seriously stressing this rewrite and I didn't know if it would turn out okay. Fingers crossed that it did! What I love today isn't the fact that I finished it (although that's awesome), but how much I loved writing it. It was scary, but a lot of fun to write since it was almost like starting from scratch. I love this story so much, it puts an insane grin on my face whenever I so much as think about it. No matter what happens with it, this story holds a very special place in my heart.

The second thing I love? I never gushed about how awesome the Les Miserables movie was and I just have to do it now. Gush gush gush!!! The singing isn't exactly Broadway worthy, but the emotion put into the songs was just heart-wrenching. I bawled through most of the movie. It was so so good. A definite must-see if you're good with two hours of singing!

And that is it, I'm done with my mushy-gushy for the day. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Mel's Bookstore

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question asks:

Imagine you get to open your own bookstore. What would it look like? What kinds of books would you sell?

My bookstore might look a little something like this...

 

Actually, while this is super-beautiful, if I owned a bookstore, I'd go for a little less fancy, a little more cozy. Dark wooden shelves like in the picture but with couches and cushy chairs and a fireplace. I'd also like to have lots of windows to let in the light, even though that's probably not the best for the book covers. I'm not a coffee drinker, but warm drinks (hello hot chocolate) seem like a must in a bookstore so that too. As to what kind of books I'd sell: ALL kinds! (Except X-rated, because it wouldn't be that kind of bookstore.)

What would your bookstore look like?

Hush, Hush

It's Teaser Tuesday day, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I'm rereading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I'll be rereading the first three books in prep for the last one of the series. I think this will be a year of rereading. Not only am I rereading this series, but I want to reread Eragon before I read that last one, and I want to reread the books of the many movie adaptations coming out: Beautiful Creatures, The Mortal Instruments, The Host, The Hobbit...

Here's my Hush, Hush teaser (and BTW, I've forgotten how much I love this book!):

 

"A pool table just opened up. Go claim it." I...dare...you.
I stiffened. "How did you do that?"
When he didn't immediately deny it, I felt a squeeze of panic. It was real. He knew exactly what he was doing. The palms of my hands touched with sweat.
"How did you do that?" I repeated.
He gave me a sly smile. "Do what?"
"Don't," I warned. "Don't pretend you're not doing it." (page 103-104)

The Dreaded Goals

I'm back on track for Road Trip Wednesday questions. Here's this week's, hosted of course by the lovely ladies at YA Highway:

 

What are your goals for the new year---for reading, writing, or other?

 

 

I almost hate setting goals. Why? Well, either I fail at them miserably, or I push myself so hard that I lose sight of the enjoyment of the thing and of everything else. Ugh.

This is what I've figured out though...

I'm not setting a goal for reading this year. Last year I tried to read 100 books (I made it to 92). I was so focused on reaching that number that at times I read through something too fast without really savouring it, or I put other things aside so I could get some reading done. So this year, I'm just going to read when I can and when I want to and not try to rush it.

On the flip side, I always set a goal for my writing. Whether it's 1000 words a day when I'm writing a first draft, or in my case right now, I'd like to have my revision done before the end of January so I can send it to some betas. Writing for me isn't top priority, so it's easy for me to set it aside for something more important. Having a goal helps me to NOT do that. To make myself do it a little each day. While I love to write and it makes me all tingly inside when I do, I need a goal to keep it a constant in my life.

As for other goals, well, I really don't want to get into the eating right/exercising one, because that one just makes me frustrated.

Defiance

It's Teaser Tuesday time again, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I'm pulling my Teaser from a book I finished last night called Defiance by C.J. Redwine. I really really liked this book. It was interesting and fast-paced, the love story between Rachel and Logan was just incredibly well-done (my favorite part about it) and I felt immersed into the world from page one. Rachel reminded me a lot of Katniss with her ferocity and bravery and I loved how logical Logan was with his Best Case Scenario/Worst Case Scenario bits (the book is in dual POV). My only complaint- the end was a little disappointing, mainly because I'm sure there will be a next book so not a lot was really wrapped up in the end. :(  I'll definitely read the next one when it comes out.

(I'm having troubles with blogger and pictures lately, I don't know what's the deal!!!)

 

Anyway, here's my teaser:

Blood runs down Rachel's neck and her body trembles. Something ugly fills my chest, begging to be unleashed. It was foolish of her to risk so much to go searching for Jared. It was also incredibly brave. I know she thinks she's ready to pay the price for this act of courage, but I can't stand the thought of watching another woman I care about die. (page 61)

Best Book of December

The last couple of week's were crazy busy but school starts again today for my kids and I'm back to my regularly scheduled programming (makes me totally sound like a robot). Last Wednesday my middle daughter turned six and it was a busy day which is why I didn't participate in YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday question. I thought I would answer it today anyway. They asked:

What was the best book you read in December?

Here's what I read last month:

 

 

These were all great books. Reached and Rapture were both great ends to their series and I read On The Island in a day. But the book that I loved most was Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.

This book surprised the heck out of me. I got it from the library based on a rec I'd read somewhere in the blogosphere. I took it to my parents house with me but I wasn't exactly gung-ho to get started. As soon as I did... yep it was one of those I-just-can't-put-it-down books. The voice was engaging, the story interesting, the plot quick. The romance between the two main characters was fun and fiery. You're dropped right into the story from page one and you don't want to let it go. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book that I'd recommend it to everyone.

What was the best book you read in December?