An Opal Teaser

I'm still reading the same book as last week... what is the deal? I blame my long weekend in Vancouver where I ate way too much food and went to this:

So here's a new teaser from Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout:

"What do [girls] show up in? Nothing?"
"The closest thing to nothing... Bad for you. Yay for me."
"You really want to die, don't you?" Daemon said.
"Sometimes, I think so." (page 109)

What are you reading this week?

Book Overdose

It's the end of the month, so of course YA Highway wants to know:

 

What's the best book you read in June?

Here's what I feel about these books this month. While none of these books were terrible, none of them blew me away. I can't pick just one as being standout, so amazing, that it's all I've been thinking about.

I read a lot, and it's getting harder and harder for me to be blown away. Most of the books I read are great (very very few I stop reading only a few chaps in). All of the books I read have things I love about them and things I don't. Most of the books I read I finish and think, well that was good, but that's about it. I've really come to understand how hard it must be for agents to pick through their slush, to find something that really knocks everything else out of the water, especially when that water is full with some great things.

I think maybe I overdosed on reading this month. The funny thing is that while I might have read a bit too much, the fact that I read SO much indicates that all of these books were un-put-downable in their own ways.

So here's what I propose: if you want to know the best of this bunch, YOU go and read them and then you can decide which is best. Okay? Okay.

An Opal Circus

It's Teaser Tuesday again, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading I can't help but do two teasers every week because I just want to SHARE. I love reading and I love to spread the love all over the place. (I'm totally picturing myself throwing teasers in the air like confetti.)

Anyway, here's my first teaser from The Cirque by Ryann Kerekes. I "met" Ryann last year from a contest she hosted on her blog, and I've been dying to read this ever since. (FYI, Ryann also writes books of the steamy sort under the name Kendall Ryan.)

Gabriel didn't make eye contact with me.
"What was that about?"
"He wants to spice up our act," he said walking past me.
I hurried to keep up. "Spice it up? Like how?"
"He wants me blindfolded." (page 76)

And from the book I'm reading right now, Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout:

A slow, wry smile teased Daemon's lips. "Simmer down, Kitten, before I have to get you a ball of yarn to play with." (page 17)

I love how he calls her Kitten. ANYWAY... what are you reading today?

Sway Spotlight #3: Lacey

Lacey Musgrove: best friend of Mari, Ava's sister. Sister to Charlie, Ava's best friend. (That totally sounded like one of those- she's my best friend's sister's aunt's cousin's friend from college...) Lacey is beautiful, naive, outgoing, optimistic, and fun. She works at a clothing boutique, wants to marry someone famous, and begins dating Eric.

Lacey was difficult to write. Obviously my dislike of her (she's stealing Ava's man!!!) was coloring my first few drafts. I had a few beta comments of "she's too caricature-ish" and "give the girl a chance, otherwise why would Eric even be with her?" Good point.

Ashley Benson- the actress I'd pick to play Lacey

Since I cut Lacey's sister Halle, I infused Lacey with a lot of the sweetness that Halle had. I also tried to put some of myself into Lacey- as in, what would I do in that situation? Lacey lives a little bit in la-la-land (which is something I connect with), and so when she's faced with one of her dreams sort of coming true, I wanted her to act in a realistic way- a little selfish but still likeable. I learned to feel a little sorry for the poor girl, caught in between very gigantic feelings she doesn't realize are still going on. I hope I made Lacey a little more real, a lot less caricaturey. And I hope, despite the fact that we don't really want her to end up with Eric, that she's still likeable and relateable.

Lacey isn't musical, but in one scene she starts busting out these Just Dance 3 moves. Another bit of me I put into Lacey- I rock at this song!

Black Widow Wannabe

I completely forgot to link up to Road Trip Wednesday last week, but hopefully I'll be more on the ball this week. YA Highway's question this week is:

In our Bookmobile selection this month, Amy Tintera's REBOOT, the main character has died and been reborn as a robot-like soldier. If you were reborn faster, stronger, and quicker healing, what's the first thing you'd do?

First: run away from the crazies who made me like that. Second: run to the nearest fast food joint because girl would be hungry! Third: (which probably should come before stuffing my face) I'd run home to my family!

After that, I'd definitely want to test out these cool new powers of mine. I've already tried out the running, so I'd probably have to lift some stuff. Like the car.

Yep, this would be me. Except without the big belly.

I'd throw some things around, to see how far they'd go. Then I'd probably want to get in a fight, just to prove how strong and quick healing I am. Then I'd probably get whooped because despite my super-strength, I don't have fighting skills.

So I'd learn how to fight. Once I could totally kick-A, I'd get me a sweet costume.

What? I could totally pull this off!

Then I'd take the next logical step: join the Avengers!

What? It's my daydream!

Two Teasies

I'm going to Teaser Tuesday you twice this week. Are you ready for it?

First, from Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi which I finished yesterday (I have this weird habit of finishing books on Monday's. I don't know why.):

"That's not anxious nonsense, Aria. It's what's happening. It's truth." He squeezed her hand and let go. "Please don't ever spare me that." (page 149-150)

And now, a teaser from the first ebook I've ever bought, One by Leigh Ann Kopans:

"No one back there cares about Ones."
My heart stutters. He's a One, too. "So... you never even got a chance at Superior Public?"
He shrugs. "I fit in fine here. I'm okay." The fact that he's smiling shows me he thinks he is, but the catch in his voice tells me the opposite. (page 38)

Sway Spotlight #2: Eric

I've seen Captain Wentworth in a few different incarnations:

 The 1971 version. Somehow, you can see the '70s in this guy.

This was the first movie of Persuasion I'd ever seen.

And of course, my favorite...

Stop smoldering at me

Awww...

 

Favorite, why? Well, my character of Eric Wentworth was just a teensy bit (okay a lot) inspired by this last guy. Yep, I totally pulled a Bridget Jones. Or maybe I should call it a Helen Fielding, since she's the author. (And if you have no clue what I'm talking about, Helen Fielding based her character of Mark Darcy on Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy, then she got lucky enough to have him play Mark in the film!)

Anyway... my Eric is a total old-school crooner. While Eric's looks were based on Rupert Penry-Jones, I modeled his career and song choices a little bit after Michael Buble. Of course, I couldn't forget Jane Austen's original Captain Wentworth, so I had to make sure my Eric made it rich rather quick, is optimistic and lucky, but also super bitter at being dumped by his first love.

The letter, oh the letter! *swoons* (I'm such a cheeseball)

 

Eric's parents died when he was young, leaving him and his two-years older brother to be raised by an even older sister who wasn't around much because she was trying to start her own career. Eric and his brother get sent to a fancy school and there he meets Ava who becomes first his best friend, then girlfriend, fiancee, ex-fiancee, then someone-who-is-worse-than-a-stranger.

Eric is talented, gorgeous, confident, and fun. He takes his music seriously, he's a hard worker, and he has this secret wish to be part of the Rat Pack. Eric was nothing but a total joy to write. Sometimes, I hated how awful he was being (Cry Me A River, anyone?) but I also got it- seeing someone you used to love, dredging up all those awful memories, feeling like you've moved on, but at the same time trying hard not to see the good in the them, trying not to remember all the reasons you loved them and all the ways they're even more amazing now. Eric has a personal journey to make through the book, and although it's not in his POV, I hope I did justice to that journey.

Some Buble inspiration (Bubspiration?)

 

Thanks, But No Thanks

This week YA Highway wants to know:

If you time-traveled to a post-apocalyptic future, what would you bring?

Um, so this is easy. I'd bring my time-travel device, whatever it may be: DeLorean, TARDIS, self-invented machine, a wormhole... Why? So I could turn around and go right back home.

I would NOT be going back to 1985 though.

Seriously, if I had a time machine, I would be going to the PAST, not some crappy post-apocalyptic future where they make people compete in games to the death, where robots rule the world, where we have to live in closed off cities to protect us from zombies, or where love is a disease and we all have to take the cure.

I'd be one of the first to die

Yeah, no thank you.

FYI: If I was going to the past, I'd make sure I had a camera. And lots of batteries. Because I'd want some wicked proof.

And speaking of time-travel, which I lurve, have you seen a preview for this movie?

Hey- it's Bill Weasley! (And Rachel McAdams sure likes her lovey time-travel movies)

A Scarlet Wedding Night

Yesterday I finished Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella, and as per usual when I read her books, I laughed through the entire thing. She's the master of hilarious chick lit, let me tell you. Here's a tease because for you because, of course, it's Teaser Tuesday!

Suddenly I remember I'm wearing his fencing helmet. My stomach clenches with fresh embarrassment. Let's see this through his eyes: I'm standing in his house in his dressing gown, wearing his helmet, and talking about a double wedding. (page 154)

And on to what I'm reading at the moment... Scarlet, the sequel to Cinder, by Marissa Meyer. Which is as good as I remember Cinder being, FYI.

"...she just watched me do it, and she cried... but they asked her the same questions, and she still wouldn't answer them. She wouldn't answer them." His voice hiccuped, his face flushing with sudden anger. "She let them do this to me." (page 44)

What'cha reading?

Sway Spotlight #1: Ava

Sway is my modern-day retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen (in case you haven't heard me post about it before a million or so times). My main character- Ava Elliot- is a sort-of spoiled rich girl, Juilliard graduate, lover of pretty clothes and classical music. She has a deep attachment to her childhood home, mostly because of her Mom, who died when she was fourteen.

Ava has two sisters. Her relationship with older sister Beth is strained and awkward. These two have never been close. With Mari, her younger sister, Ava is more like a mom- taking care of her whenever Mari goes a little off the rails.

If I had to pick my Ava, Alexis Bledel would be it

At the start of the book, Ava's had two big loves. First, Eric Wentworth. Best friend at fifteen, dating at sixteen, engaged at nineteen. Then came the big break-up. After that, Ava fled to New York. At Juilliard, she met her second big love, Kazuo Takahashi. She fell for his beautiful cello playing and his quiet way of living. But that love was just a bit too quiet, and so after the break-up, and her graduation from Juilliard, she goes back to LA to start over, yet again.

Ava was a tough character to write. Anne Elliot- who Ava is based on- is just so good. Aside from dumping Captain Wentworth eight years before, she says and does all the right things. She is the model of female excellence in that time. So to write a character like that, I was afraid Ava would come off a little boring or unrelatable. When a CP suggested I make the original break-up with Eric more her fault, that was hard.

But Ava was also... I wouldn't say "fun" to write, but I enjoyed writing her. I enjoyed exploring the depth of Ava's emotions as she's trying to start over again, trying to figure out exactly what she wants, all the while dealing with Eric back in her life and the memories she has of him, AND a new boyfriend. Another thing I love about Ava is her love of music. Finding a way to add music to her voice and the way she sees the world was a challenge, but a welcome one.

A song Ava plays after an awkward moment with Eric

I've always felt a connection to Jane Austen's Anne Elliot, and so I hope that I did both Jane and Anne justice. I hope that if I ever have readers of Sway, they will connect to Ava the way I have.

Query Revamped

So I got booted in the first round of QueryKombat (dang), BUT the hosts have given us a chance to post our revamped queries for another round of crits. Go to Writer's Outworld if you want to sign up- those who didn't make it into the contest can join too- or if you want to critique some queries.

OR... just stay here and crit mine. Cuz, you know, I need it. Queries kill me.

Title: Sway
Word Count: 92k
Genre: Adult Contemp Romance

SWAY

When Ava Elliot was nineteen, she broke off her engagement to Eric Wentworth and fled to New York, leaving both fiancé and pretentious family behind. Eight years later, armed with a Master’s degree from Juilliard but no job, she has returned home to the twisted symphony that is her new life: her dad has lost their Hollywood Hills mansion and Eric has gone from struggling musician to successful crooner.

While Ava is trying to start over, Eric is back in LA after a sold-out tour. He doesn’t want to see Ava, but it’s hard to avoid each other when they share the same friends. Despite Eric’s spiteful songs, Ava goes out of her way to prove she’s long over him. It’s okay when he starts dating her sister’s best friend because she’s met someone new, too—Gage, a handsome actor with sweet words and chocolate kisses.

During a trip to Vegas, Ava’s long buried feelings for Eric start to replay like notes from her favorite sonata. Ava is faced with a choice: stay with Gage and finally let go of the past, or risk her heart for a second chance with her first love. That is, if Eric will even forgive her.

Will Ava’s uncertainty sway her to make the wrong choice yet again?

(ps- the big swirly title was because I didn't have a picture and I NEEDED a picture!)

Aiden, Daimons, and Gods, Oh My!

Here's what YA Highway wants to know this week for Road Trip Wednesday:

What's the best book you read in May?

May for me was an almost exclusive Jennifer Armentrout month. Here's what I read:

 

It's almost impossible for me to pick a favorite here. I loved When You Were Mine, which is a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, told from Rosaline's perspective. But I can't call it THE fave when the rest of the month was spent with Alex, Aiden, and Seth, and the world of Gods, daimons, and the Covenant. In general, I tend to love first books in a series more than later books, so I guess Half-Blood should take top honors but I hate to even call that the best when they were all really good! (FYI- Daimon and Elixir are both novellas.)

What was the best book you read in May?

Arise and Asunder

I've got two book for this week's Teaser Tuesday, both sequels. First, Arise by Tara Hudson, which I read over the weekend:

"But in the last few minutes, you were... shouting."
"Huh?"
"Shouting. Loudly." His eyes darted to the front of the car and then back to mine. "Even my dad said he thought he heard something. That whole inactive-Seer thing, I guess?" (page 80-81)

And from the book I'm currently reading, Asunder by Jodi Meadows:

Every scale I played, every arpeggio and trill, the sylph echoed it and hummed closer. Heat brushed against my skin like breath as the shadows drew ever nearer, but did not attack. The scent of ozone filled the clearing, though, and the front light seemed to grow dimmer. (page 18)

Head on over to Should Be Reading for some more great teasers!

My Songs Know What You Did

I've been working on my supersecret WIP and it's been tough. Sometimes the scenes come out no problem, and sometimes I struggle with what should come next. I'm also struggling with the MC because she's nothing like I'm used to writing.

Music often helps me with my WIPs. When I was working on Sway, I constantly listened to Michael Buble because his music just fit. Some of his songs helped shape different scenes, or helped me to get into Sway's world.

I'm not someone who spends time creating a playlist, though. Instead, I keep my ears open until I hear a song that just WORKS. With my WIP, there's been one from the start that is sort of the theme song for this MS.

On My Own from Les Miserables

I love this video- even though it doesn't show the whole song, the clips from the movie are very moving.

This week, I've found a second song I can add to my WIPs playlist. Yay! Here it is, now on constant repeat during my writing time:

My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up) by Fall Out Boy

 

Just yesterday, as I was listening to my iTunes playlist, I stopped suddenly during this Imagine Dragons song and pressed repeat. I've loved their album since I bought it, but yesterday the words hit me and they're perfect for my WIP.

 

Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons

 

What are the songs for your WIP? Can I steal them and use them in mine?! :D

Surprise Me

So life got crazy busy all of a sudden and I've got about two seconds to answer today's Road Trip Wednesday question:

What's been your most surprising read of the year so far---the book you weren't sure about going in that really swept you off your feet?

So, I read a lot. And I have a terrible memory. Which means I don't remember what I read last year let alone last month (hence, my list). And even if I do think, oh yeah, I read that, I rarely remember what happened. Sad. But true. (Hence, rereading.)

There's a lot of books though that surprise me. Most of the time, I pick up books either because their cover is pretty and the premise sounds interesting, or I've heard other people blog/gush/tweet etc about them. Sometimes, I don't even know what a book is about, I've just heard it's good. Usually, I'm not disappointed. That being said, there are a few that really surprised me. (And because I barely remember what they're about let alone why I loved them, this is just gonna be in list format with no explanations, sorry.)

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks 

 

 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

 

 

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

 

 The Selection by Kiera Cass

Apollyon

First off, can I tell you how excited I am that I made it into QueryKombat, all because of my fantabulous nickname!

Since I didn't get in based on my query, I'd love for any and all to pop on over to Michelle's Blog and give me some crits. You have to wait until all 32 match-ups are up and the judging comment is posted, but then have at 'er! I would love that. You can't vote for me, but you can tear my query to shreds which I'm totally okay with. (I believe that the judges will reply to the 1st comment posted- which is the "judging comment". After that's up, anyone can comment on the posts, before the judges actually do the judging. If that doesn't make sense, Michelle has explained the ruled better than me on her blog.) I'm the second match-up, and my nickname is SWAY ME BUBLE.

Anyway, on to Teaser Tuesday. I'm still on my Jennifer Armentrout kick, reading the latest book in her Covenant series: Apollyon. This time, I stuck to the rules and randomly picked a line (or two, or three). Since this is a fourth book, I really wanted to stay away from spoilers!

I ground my teeth. "You can't have me. I'm not-"
"You're not his, Alex. You don't belong to anyone but yourself!"
He was wrong, so wrong. (page 44)

Dance Like You Love It

What's been weighing most on my mind hasn't actually been writing this week. Instead, I've been stressing about something I probably shouldn't take so seriously:

Dance.

My oldest takes ballet and jazz, my middle daughter started ballet this year. Lately, I've been considering switching dance studios but I can't make up my mind if I should or not. This has been pressing on my mind all week, bugging me, stressing me out, causing lack of sleep and major annoyance.

Yesterday I realized that it's not the studios themselves that are making this decision so hard-- it's ME.

No matter what, every dance studio will have its pluses and minuses. What I'm having problems with is just how much I want my daughters to be involved. Dance takes time and money. Aside from classes, studios always want the kids to do exams and be in competition. Part of me wants the girls to do this, the other part says- it's too soon, they're too young, they don't need to just yet. Then I argue with myself that I want them to be the best they can be and these things will only make them better.

I love dance and I want my girls to love it to. (And no, I'm not a crazy dance mom- if they decide they'd rather do something else, I'm totally good with that.) My love of dance didn't come from getting high marks in exams or winning medals in competitions. My love of dance came from the teachers, the music, the choreography, performing, costumes, applause, friends in class, and the knowledge that I could do something, that I had a talent.

I'm starting to realize that it probably doesn't matter what studio they go to. I want them to learn technique and discipline, but I want them to have fun too. They don't have to be the best, they don't have to win a ton of medals. What I wish most for them is to be happy. I want them to love what they're doing, no matter what it is.

A Girl Can Dream

It's Road Trip Wednesday day again, hosted by YA Highway. This week they want to know...

Conference season is here! We are getting all excited for BEA and ALA (check out the get-together we have planned with Stacked for ALA!), and we want to know: What authors would be on your dream author panel?

Maybe one of these days I'll get myself to a real writers conference. (Not just a day thing, which I've been to and was, in fact, real, but... you know...) Until then, I can only dream up who I would have on a dream author panel. Mainly, this lady:

If you don't know who this is, then you're either an alien who just landed on our planet, or a person who's brain was removed and replaced with robot parts.

Who wouldn't want to meet J.K. Rowling? Then maybe some of her genius would rub off on me. Or maybe we'd become besties and she'd share her billions with me and introduce me to all her publishing friends. (I know, I know, or maybe pigs fly.)

Really, I'd love to see any author whose book I read and loved on an author panel. It would be great to hear about how the author came up with the book, what they loved about writing it, what their creative process is, what their pub story was like, what they're working on next, what they're like as a human being and not just as THE AUTHOR.

A few in particular I would love to meet because I think their books are full of the funny, are Meg Cabot, Rick Riordan, Kiersten White, Sophie Kinsella, Ally Carter, and Jennifer Armentrout.

Oh, and since this is a DREAM author panel, can Jane Austen be there too? Or maybe just her. Because I've got a lot of questions. And that would be awesome.
 

Deity

It's like I'm on some kind of Jennifer Armentrout kick. Actually, I just happened to have bought a lot of her books at once so I get to read most of the series back-to-back, except Sentinel which comes out in the fall. (Is that the last in the series, does anyone know?)

So for Teaser Tuesday I'm pulling out another great Covenant Series quote:

"But you have nothing to fear." He guided my chin down with gentle fingers. "When will you learn?" His voice was heavy, gruff. "You're the only person who has control over who you become. You're too strong to ever lose yourself. I believe that. Why can't you?" (page 63-64)

What are you reading this week? Once I'm finished this series, I've gotta catch up on some 2nd and 3rd books of a few series.

The One That Got Away

Oh, YA Highway. Must you go there??? Sigh. Here's this week's Road Trip Wednesday:

 

What book is your 'one that got away?'

Do I even have to answer this? If you've been around my blog a time or two, you already know the answer.

My poor, poor Daze and Knights.

Even though I've shelved it, my brain doesn't want to let it die. I often find myself thinking of the manuscript, the characters, the plot. I wonder what of my two different versions I would keep and what I would cut if I rewrote it again. I think about self-pubbing, but then slap myself in the brain because I would never self-pub a book I'm so unsure over. I always thought Daze was 'the one.' Turns out I was wrong, but I still can't shake it.

So, I guess Daze isn't the 'one that got away' since it still hasn't left me. Or, it got away, but for some strange reason, I can't stop chasing it.

This is what I SHOULD be doing! If only Daze was a killer bunny.