Wednesday Writes: Dual POV

I'm reading through my NA retelling right now. It's only a first draft, and pretty bare at 55,000 words. One thing I decided might work really well with this story is doing dual POV- the one from my female MC Maggie which is already there, and one from the love interest Jay.

I haven't started yet. I want to read through the entire story first, and I'm taking notes of each chapter on note cards so that I can see where Jay's POV chapters might fit in, or which ones can be switched from hers to his.

But here's the thing.

I'm scared.

I've never really written dual POV before. Okay, I sorta have. My YA Mystery JAR OF HEARTS has a second POV sprinkled throughout, and it's the POV of the antagonist. Those chapters were actually easy to write, mainly because I was trying to channel the creepiest possible person. And they're short chapters, all inner thoughts.

Now that I'm about to start a real second POV, and from a man's perspective, it has me trembling in my boots just a little. Why? I don't know how a guy really thinks. (There are some ways where I do know how they think, but they're not the kind of thoughts I want to put on the page, but I'm probably gonna have to anyway.) Also, I want the two voices to sound different. I don't want Jay to sound like me, like any girl, and especially not like Maggie. I need to find HIS voice somehow, and I'm not sure how to do that. My biggest issue with most dual POV books I read is that both POVs sound exactly the same to me. I don't want to do that.

This is something I've been thinking a lot about as I read through what I've got so far. Maybe this is something I should do a little research on- see what the experts say, see if there's a method to bring out a character's voice.

Do you know a good way to do this? Any advice for a dual POV first-timer?

Monday Reads: BLACK DOVE WHITE RAVEN and THESE BROKEN STARS

It's been a while since I've read two books in one week- which is almost sad to say for some reason, but there it is.

Anyway, first I read BLACK DOVE WHITE RAVEN by Elizabeth Wein, author of CODE NAME VERITY and ROSE UNDER FIRE. So... so. I loved CNV like crazy. RUF was also good but not as- I think it had something to do with knowing how the book would end right from the start. Unfortunately, I liked BDWR the least of the three.

Here's what I did like: the setting, ie: the Ethiopian setting (because some of it takes place in the US too). It's a place I'd never read anything about. To go along with that, the book is set in the 1920s and 1930s and I loved the history. The best thing about the book was the characters. Elizabeth Wein has a gift of making vibrant, full-of-life, relatable characters. I loved Em and Teo and Rhoda. Even Delia, although she was in such a short amount of the book, really jumped off the page.

Here's what I didn't like. Nothing happened. At least, that's what it felt like to me. We see Em and Teo as kids, we learn about their time in the States, we learn about their time in Ethiopia. But nothing really happens. Which isn't true- stuff does, every once in awhile. But to me this could have been such an epic story and it just... wasn't. :( This really makes me sad because I wanted so badly to love it.

After BDWR I read THESE BROKEN STARS by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner.

OHMYGOSH I LOVED THIS BOOK.

The book sort of starts out like Titanic in space, but then the two MCs Tarver and Lilac end up stranded alone on a deserted planet. I just... I don't even know what to say. I don't even really know why I loved it so much I just did.

This is the book I've been waiting for- the kind that keeps me up reading late into the night. No book has done that for me in awhile. Funny enough, it's sci-fi which is one of my least favorite genres. But this book was page-turning, tear-dropping, read-on-the-floor-of-the-movie-theatre-while-waiting good. Yes, I really did that- I was so near the end I couldn't help myself. Definitely a must read.

What have you been reading lately?

Friday Loves: THE PARADISE

One of my extremely awesome CP's, Michelle Merrill, and I have pretty much the same taste in TV, namely period dramas. She recommended to me a show called THE PARADISE and I'm so glad she did because I love it!

*The trailer makes it seem a lot more racy than it actually is*

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this show, or what it was even about. I pretty much just saw the costumes and was like, SOLD. Ohmygosh, the costumes. The FASHION. Seriously, major SWOON. Especially Katherine Glendenning's entire wardrobe. Oh to get to wear those clothes! *dies*

Katherine Glendenning played by Elaine Cassidy

Anyway, here's what Wikipedia says about the show since they sum it up better than I could (which I should be able to do being a writer and all, but whatever).

Series 1 begins in 1875, and portrays the lives and loves of the people who work, shop and trade, in and around the first English department store. The owner of The Paradise department store is widower John Moray. Moray was once a draper's boy in Emersons, the small shop that grew under his managership into The Paradise, which has come to dominate the high street to the detriment of small shopkeepers nearby.

Into this world comes Denise Lovett, from the small town of Peebles in Scotland, whose uncle Edmund is one of the shopkeepers struggling to survive. Denise takes a job at The Paradise and is soon seen by Moray as a rising star, to the annoyance of Miss Audrey, the head of ladies' fashion, and of Clara, a fellow shopgirl. Moray is financially dependent on Lord Glendenning, whose daughter Katherine is determined to marry Moray and sees Denise as a direct threat to her ambitions.

Denise is such a great example of a female character who is strong yet doesn't overstep her bounds (usually). At first I wasn't quite sure about Moray- sometimes he seemed a little sinister and sometimes totally sweet- but he became clearer as the season went on. The show took little twists that I didn't see coming and I thoroughly enjoyed all eight episodes of season 1. I've just started season two and am already bummed that they cancelled the show after just 2 seasons. *sad face*

Anyway, if you like period dramas, check this show out. It's a winner!

Wednesday Writes: Fingers Crossed

I had a whole one paragraph post ready for last week about how I was still plugging away at JAR OF HEARTS revisions. I decided not to post it cuz who needs even one paragraph to say what I just did in one sentence?

Anyway, I finished those revisions last week. It wasn't anything major- just going through beta notes and a major change on one scene. Now it's done and query ready (which I've already started) and I can set it aside for a bit to focus on my NA retelling. So that's what I'm doing now. I started reading through this NA story during the summer but I had to put it aside to do SWAY edits. I'm hoping now I'll have time to focus on it, read it through, make edit notes, and get started on adding a second POV through the story. Lots to do with this one but I've got high hopes for it.

What have you been writing?

Monday Reads: DANGEROUS

Last week I read DANGEROUS by Shannon Hale. I love Shannon Hale's AUSTENLAND, and MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND, but those are the only books I've read by her. I've never tried her GOOSE GIRL or PRINCESS ACADEMY books before. I wasn't sure what to expect with DANGEROUS but I loved the premise and thought I'd give it a try.

Here's what I loved: the characters- Maisie and Wilder especially. Maisie was a fun MC who, despite being a home-school kid with one arm (so I was expecting her to be a bit shy and reserved) was totally witty and strong. She could kick butt mentally (and later physically), but I liked how she still had a girly uncertain side when it came to Wilder. I heard some criticism about that, but I liked it- I think it made her a more well-rounded character. Wilder was of course charming, snappy, and there was a lot to him. I loved how fast-paced the book was. I loved how you couldn't ever be sure who was good and who was bad, and even if you were sure- it wasn't a clear line between the two. I also loved the humor- Shannon Hale is so good at humor and there was lots of laugh out loud moments here.

Here's what I didn't love: my main criticism is although I did like the fast pace, sometimes it was TOO fast. The book barely took a breath, and sometimes it skipped things or didn't delve deep enough into things I would've liked to hear more about. She really could have made this a two-book or even three-book series and the story would have been better for it.

If you like a fast-paced Sci-Fi, check this one out. 

Friday Loves: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

I was thinking earlier about what I was going to talk about for my Friday Loves post. And then it came to me so obviously when I was revising JAR OF HEARTS. In this manuscript, my MC Trevi wants to land the role of Christine in her high school's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. This book is by no means a retelling, but PHANTOM plays a pretty big part, and I loved drawing parallels between it's characters and my own. I also loved writing about the rehearsals, the acting, the songs. Most definitely the songs. Even revising, I'll listen to certain songs from the musical because I'm either talking about them in that moment, or they just work with the story.

PHANTOM was one of the first musicals I ever saw (LES MIS was the other but I can't remember which I saw first and which second) and it'll always hold a special place in my heart. The music is gorgeous. I love the drama. I love the costumes. I love the movie they made with Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson. I could listen to "All I Ask of You" on repeat (with my eyes closed and my head back while I do, because that's just how you need to listen to it). I saw it again as an early adult and I can't wait for the day when I can take my kids to it and they can learn to love it as I do.

Until then, I've got JAR OF HEARTS, and the movie to rewatch. Like now. 

Monday Reads: MAGONIA

Last week I read MAGONIA by Maria Dahvana Headley. I have mixed feelings about this book. When I finished it, and went to rate it on Goodreads, I went back and forth between giving it 3 stars and 4. Even now I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

Here's what I loved: the premise, the world, the setting. I've said before that a book is something I haven't read before, but this one was truly UNIQUE. I loved the alternate world in the sky, I loved the bird people, I loved the fantasy of it all mixed with the world as we know it. I also loved the main characters, Aza, and Jason especially. Even Aza's family were interesting and well developed. There were chapters where I was feverishly turning the pages, chapters where I cried, and chapters that had just beautiful writing.

Here's what I didn't love: the first few chapters. I had a really hard time with them. It wasn't Aza's voice- I was fine with that- I just felt like she was telling the reader backstory almost the entire time. That's all it was- Aza talking at me and I got sick of it. I wanted things to happen. Which they did. But if I was a less patient reader, I might have DNF'd it after the first chapter or two. Also, once she made it to Magonia, again a lot didn't happen. She trained. She missed her family. She learned stuff. Great. I think she could have done all that with more stuff actually going on. And the end. Again, it felt a little... small. SPOILER COMING. Even though it was technically the end of the world, I didn't get the intensity of it. I wasn't scared or worried for her or Jason or anything. I missed those emotions in the end.

I ended up giving the book 4 stars because it really was a beautiful read, and I'm sure I'll pick up the next one because I'm interested to see what happens with Aza next. I've heard of a couple of people who DNF'd it, but for the most part people LOVE this book, so definitely check it out if you haven't already.

Right now I'm reading DANGEROUS by Shannon Hale- a fast-paced and funny sci-fi. What are you reading this week?

Friday Loves: BACK TO SCHOOL

It's BACK TO SCHOOL time!!! Not for me, of course, but for my kids. This year is extra special because ALL FOUR of my kids are in all day school (Grades 1, 3, 5, and 7)!!!

At first, I was bummed about back to school. I wanted more summer and more mornings to sleep in. It seemed like the weather went bad as soon as school hit (although today is pretty nice so I'm not complaining). I wanted more time to hang out with the kids and do fun stuff.

Now that they're at the tail end of their second week back, I'm getting into the swing of things and enjoying being back on my schedule. (If you can't tell, I schedule myself like a drill sergeant). It's crazy having most of the day to myself. Last week I did a lot of shopping (and pedicure-ing). This week has been all about getting back to exercising, and lots and lots of revisions. It's been pretty awesome. I'm so so lucky right now that I don't have to go find a job and work all day while the kids are at school. SO LUCKY. That may change, but for now I'm enjoying this TIME I have where I can get everything done in a day that I need to without being in a rush. It's AWESOME.

So what do I love? BACK TO SCHOOL! Why do I love it? BECAUSE IT ROCKS!*

*clearly I was never a cheerleader

Wednesday Writes: Back in the Saddle

Like I said on Monday, I've finally gotten back in the swing of my normal routine, and it feels GREAT. Yesterday, I was so productive I almost passed out. ;) 

One of the things I'm back on track with is my writing. I didn't ignore it all summer (as evidenced by my RSW posts), but it's nice to be back to my regularly scheduled "writing time" every day. This week I've been working on JAR OF HEARTS, my YA mystery. I tweaked the query, wrote up some Twitter pitches for #Pitmad on Thursday, and did some revisions. I received edits from a beta reader a bit ago and I'm making my way through those. Hopefully I'll be done in a week or two, MAX. Crossing my fingers that I get some faves at Pitmad too since this will be JofH's first time out in the world. Eeek! 

Monday Reads: JANE AUSTEN RUINED MY LIFE

Happy Labour Day!

Even though it's a holiday, I'm trying to get back on track with, well, EVERYTHING. Starting with my regularly scheduled blog posts: Monday Reads (which I kept up with during RSW), Wednesday Writes, and Friday Loves.

So what did I read last week? JANE AUSTEN RUINED MY LIFE by Beth Patillo. I rarely buy books I've never read before, especially by authors I'm not familiary with, but this book had me at the title. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to what I wanted it to be. It was okay, I enjoyed the story and it was a fast read, but the ending was a little unsatisfying and I found myself annoyed at the MC at times. I wanted a lot more fun and a lot more romance. I DID, however, love all the Jane Austen related stops the MC makes through the book. Places I'd love to visit one day but may never get the chance, so it was cool to read about them and experience them through the MCs eyes. 

Now I'm reading MAGONIA and it's an interesting read.

What are you reading this week?

Ready. Set. WRITE! The End and Monday Reads

So I totally thought last week was the last week of Ready. Set. WRITE! but nope- we had one more to go. Which is good because I had a goal that HAD to get done.

HOW I DID ON LAST WEEK'S GOALS

Finish second round edits on SWAY: CHECK! Took me five really late nights, but I did it.

MY GOAL FOR THE FALL

If I don't make it into PitchWars, my plan is to get JAR OF HEARTS ready to query and then revise my NA retelling.

ONE WORD THAT SUMS UP WHAT I REVISED

Better. Because the manuscript it, much better than it used to be.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I FACED THIS WEEK

It was the last week before school, so I wanted to do as much with the kids as possible. Thus, the very late nights of revisions.

SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT MY WIP

You know, despite working on this manuscript for years (I wrote the first draft back in 2011), doing multiple drafts and working with CPs, betas, and now my editor, I STILL LOVE THIS THING.

Thanks to Jaime, Erin, Elodie, Katy, and Alison for another great Ready. Set. WRITE! I couldn't take part in the manicures part this past week but I'm hoping once the kids start school next week I'll be able to get a pedicure done to reflect SWAY. (Pedicure because my fingernails are way too bitten to be manicured!)

MONDAY READS

I finally finished the HEROES OF OLYMPUS series with the final book THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS this week. I missed Percy's POV in this final book, but it was a great wrap-up to the series. Now I'm reading JANE AUSTEN RUINED MY LIFE by BETH PATILLO.

Friday Loves: WHEN WORDS COLLIDE

A couple of weekends ago I got the opportunity to attend a Calgary writers/book conference called WHEN WORDS COLLIDE. I heard about it through the NaNoWriMo emails I still receive and I'm so glad I did because I had a great time. It's a three day conference at a very reasonable price and it features a lot of Canadian authors and small publishers. Best of all this year they had a couple of big names too: Diana Gabaldon (OUTLANDER) and Brandon Mull (FABLEHAVEN).

My eleven-year-old daughter and Brandon Mull

I'd personally never read Brandon Mull before, but I'd heard of him because my eleven year old daughter loves his Fablehaven books. She decided to come to the entire conference with me and we went to every panel/class that Brandon Mull was part of. He was by far the highlight of the conference because he was just so entertaining. All of his books at the conference sold out, and one of the booksellers told me that people were saying that they came for Diana Gabaldon but were staying for Brandon Mull.

My photo with Diana Gabaldon wouldn't attach for some reason, but you can find it on Twitter: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMfytcWU8AAIcyk.jpg:large

Diana was great too. I didn't attend any of her classes but I listened to her keynote address which was pretty awesome. I also got my copy of Outlander signed. Brandon Mull signed all five of my daughter's Fablehaven books, and we ended up buying two more of his books- THE CANDY SHOP WAR 1&2 and he signed those as well.

I also did my first ever live pitch to an agent, which wasn't successful, but oh well. And I had two different manuscripts in the live-action slush, both of which got picked apart by experts- but in a good way! I learned a lot.

It was a pretty awesome weekend and I'll definitely be attending next year as well. Hopefully as a panelist as well as an attendee. If you live in the Alberta area, it's definitely something to check out. 

Ready. Set. WRITE! (week 12) and Monday Reads

It's the last week of Ready. Set. WRITE! I missed the very first week (and last week too) so I never made a BIG goal for the summer, but here's what I've been up to the past couple of weeks.

HOW I DID ON LAST WEEK'S GOALS

I didn't check in last week, so going back to week 10, I finished all my goals. Yay.

MY GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

Finish my second round of edits on SWAY.

ONE WORD THAT SUMS UP WHAT I REVISED

Different. I worked on both SWAY and JAR OF HEARTS (one an adult romance, one a YA creepy mystery) so I think that pretty much sums it up.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I FACED THIS WEEK

Family. Just kidding, they're not a challenge. But I had a reunion out in the boonies and therefore did no revising WHATSOEVER. 

SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT MY WIP(S)

So, this might seem a little random, but I love my WIP playlists. I just finished working on round-two edits for SWAY and I still have music on in the background. A certain song will play, and it immediately takes me to that WIP, or a different one, and I just smile thinking of them. I really love that.

And a big thank you to Jaime, Erin, Alison, Katy, and Elodie for organizing this. I need to have my butt kicked into gear over the summer and RSW is the best for that. 

MONDAY READS

I read THINGS WE KNOW BY HEART by Jessi Kirby which I thought was a really sweet story and totally reminded me of the movie RETURN TO ME. Now I'm reading the last HEROES OF OLYMPUS book THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS.

My PitchWars Mentee Bio

I'm excited to give PitchWars a shot this year. A super CP of mine got her agent from it last year so I know all about how it works, it really works.

So a little bit about me, in case, yanno, you want to pick me as your mentee. WHICH YOU DO.

First, my creds. Because I actually have creds. Yep, my first book, an adult romance, is coming out this winter from Samhain Publishing. It's a retelling of PERSUASION by Jane Austen set in LA and features lots of music, lots of regret, lots of bitter, and maybe a kiss or two.

So I know what it means to work hard, and I love seeing my manuscripts go from what I think is good, to even better.

My PitchWars manuscript is YA mystery with a hint of fantasy. It's got a confident yet sometimes naive MC, a reclusive boy who may or may not have done something to his ex-girlfriend, a jerk with a bad attitude, an adorkable rich boy, lots of theatre goings-on, and a person who is stealing hearts- literally.

It was inspired by this song.

Now some random facts:

I love Doctor Who.

Period dramas.

The beach and boy bands. (Or boy bands on the beach *wink wink*)

Dance and Taylor Swift. (This GIF just says it all.)

I can quote every single Friends episode, ever.

I'm a mom of four awesome kids. 

One day, when those four awesome kids grow up, I will travel the world. Yes I will.

And that's all I'm going to say about that. Except...

Pick me!

Ready. Set. WRITE! (week 10) and Monday Reads

HOW I DID ON LAST WEEK'S GOALS

I barely made a goal this past week and therefore: I barely accomplished it. It was to do what I could on JAR OF HEARTS. I read through my first couple of chapters, but really didn't do much with them. I also spent a few hours going through all the mentor bios for PitchWars.

MY GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

-Narrow down my mentor picks from 10 to 5.

- write JAR OF HEARTS synopsis

- make sure at least the first 5 chapters of JAR OF HEARTS is where it should be

A FAVE LINE FROM MY STORY

From JAR OF HEARTS:

"Could you not?" I ask him.

“Could I not what, exactly?” His voice is smooth, the kind of smooth I’d like to reach out and touch, and a complete opposite of his rough exterior. Beside me, Katie shrinks back.

I wave my hand at all of him. “Everything.”

He tosses his head. Shaggy brown hair falls into his eyes. It hits his collar at the back of his neck—too long for my taste. “Am I too much for you, Princess?”

I arch an eyebrow, a talent I learned from my mom who can arch with the best of them. “Too little.”

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I FACED THIS WEEK

Travel. I did a total of fifteen hours of driving this past week, but not all in one day. Nope, it was spread out over four days. It was all because I won two tickets to Taylor Swift's concert in Edmonton, which meant I had to take my other kids to my parents place. I'm not complaining though- it was the best concert ever.

SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT MY WIP

I joined Pinterest, kinda on a fluke (I was looking for bookmark display ideas and it wouldn't show me what I wanted to see unless I signed up). Anyway, I decided to make a board for my soon-to-be published novel SWAY. You can check it out here. I just wish I knew how to move some pins around. The control freak in me wants to put them in a specific order. Is this possible?

MONDAY READS

I finished THE HOUSE OF HADES by Rick Riordan, which was a great book. Tons of action, lots of character development, lots of fun. Then I read (in about 2 days) MEANT TO BE by Lauren Morrill. I wanted a fun, swoony read that takes place somewhere in Europe, and this was it. Loved it!

Friday Loves: CONCERTS!!!

The past couple of weeks I've had the privilege to go to two AMAZING concerts! I took all three of my girls to ONE DIRECTION first, and we had a blast- even my youngest who is only six. I was shocked by how excited they got when the lights went down and 1D came out. Shocked because I probably like One Direction better than all three of them, LOL. It was at an outdoor football stadium, and even though it rained on us, we all had a great night!

Then this past week me and the oldest daughter (she's 11) saw TAYLOR SWIFT. We've been to her past two concerts together before this one and we both heart her. This concert though- AMAZING. Probably the best concert I've ever been to. A definite must-see if you get the chance. I wish I could've taken all my girls... next time, hopefully!

One of the great things about this concert was they gave everyone in the audience a free bracelet that would light up to the beat of the music and change colors to match her lighting. It was pretty cool. All the little dots in the picture above are from the bracelets.

"Style"

Ready. Set. WRITE! (week 9) and MONDAY READS

HOW I DID ON LAST WEEK'S GOALS

-Finish edits on SWAY: NAILED IT!!!

I also tweaked my JAR OF HEARTS query, and wrote a different one. Not sure which one I'll use yet.

MY GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

I'm keeping my goals this week kinda loosey-goosey since I'll be doing some travelling. My goal if I find time- start going through beta notes on JAR OF HEARTS.

ONE WORD/PHRASE THAT SUMS UP WHAT I REVISED

DONE! BA-BAM!

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I FACED THIS WEEK

I didn't really. I had a deadline, and I was determined to meet it. Which I did. It wasn't easy, it took a lot of time and hard work, but it's reassuring to know that when it comes down to crunch time, I can deliver. Go me!

SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT MY WIP

Ahhh, all of it! I'm getting so excited for my winter release! But here's a little teaser, so-to-speak...

SWAY is a retelling of PERSUASION, and totally inspired by THIS MOVIE

MONDAY READS

I'm still reading THE HOUSE OF HADES by Rick Riordan. It's a good book, but with everything else going on in my life, reading has taken a bit of a backburner. *shrugs*

A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER Book Blitz

Today I'm taking part in the book blitz for Elodie Nowodazkij's A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER. I've "known" Elodie via her blog for a long time now, and her first release ONE, TWO, THREE has been on my TBR for forever (I'm dying to read this book, especially because it's about ballet- my TBR list is just ridiculously long). I'm excited to spread the word about her latest release. Check it out!

A Broken Dreams Novella

She’s his best friend’s little sister. He’s the biggest player of them all.

They shouldn’t be together. But this summer’s just too tempting.

Sixteen-year-old Emilia Moretti’s goal for the summer is simple: forget her brother’s best friend—Nick Grawsky—ever existed. It should be easy: He’s spending his summer in the Hamptons, adding girls in tiny bikinis to his list of broken hearts. Guarantee he won’t be telling them they’re like his little sisters. This summer, Emilia won’t stay awake at night thinking about him. She’ll need flawless ballet movements to have a shot at next year’s showcase, and she’s finally ready to search for her birth parents. But when Nick decides to stay in the city, Emilia’s resolve disappears in a pirouette. Maybe it’s the spin they needed to be together. As long as she doesn’t get stuck believing in happily ever after…

Nick is tired of pretending to be the happy, let’s-have-fun guy. His father wants him to change his career from professional dancer to…lawyer. He needs to put all of his focus on dancing to prove to Daddy Dearest he’s good enough to make it big. And he may have a case of the bluest balls in history courtesy of Emilia. She’s off-limits: The bro code with Roberto even forbids the dirty thoughts he has about her. Besides, he’s not boyfriend material. He only has time for flings, for girls who don’t expect much, for girls he doesn’t want to kiss goodnight. He knows he should resist her, but he’s not sure he wants to…

At least for this summer.

It’s going to be a summer like no other.

Buy it now :) (Special price of $0.99 ends on Sunday August 2nd)

Amazon around the world * B&N * Kobo * iTunes

Giveaway Time from Elodie

To celebrate the release of A Summer Like No Other, I have set up a giveaway with pretty special prizes

(including a leather bracelet from Chloe + Isabel)

You have mannnnny ways to enter and you have an entire month to do so!

Link to participate: http://smarturl.it/ASLNOgiveaway Open internationally.

Thank you SO MUCH!!!

Other books by the author:

· One, Two, Three – available now (Amazon – B&N – iTunes – Kobo)

· One Dream Only – Free! (Amazon – B&N – iTunes – Kobo)

· Always Second Best – Available for pre-order (Amazon)

About the author

Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master’s degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, their dog and their cat. She's also a serial smiley user.

Connect with the author

Facebook reader group (chat with the author, early excerpts, ARCs opportunities, giveaways…) – https://www.facebook.com/groups/954159761294820/

Newsletter (Exclusive bonus scenes, regular updates, videos, giveaways…) – http://elodienowodazkij.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4fe2ebb3f95df52e0954e0044&id=f404024751

Twitter- https://twitter.com/ENowodazkij

Instagram - https://instagram.com/enowodazkij/

Ready. Set. WRITE! (week 8) and Monday Reads

HOW I DID ON LAST WEEK'S GOALS

-Read a chapter a day on NA retelling, make revision notes: NOPE

-Finish critiquing awesome YA MS: YEP

-Rework JAR OF HEARTS query: NOPE

MY GOALS FOR THIS WEEK

Last week's goals kinda got shoved to the side mid-week. I took an impromptu trip to Edmonton on Tuesday and Wednesday, and while I was there, I received my first round of edits on SWAY from my editor at Samhain. So when I got home I finished up the critique I was doing, then got started on that. My goal for this week: FINISH EDITS ON SWAY O.O

ONE WORD/PHRASE THAT SUMS UP WHAT I WROTE/REVISED

I totally want to steal Jaime's from last week- but I won't. So how about... CRY ME A RIVER.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I FACED THIS WEEK

As always: TIME. The trip to Edmonton was lots of fun- I took my girls to see ONE DIRECTION (I will forever be a boy band fan- I think it's in my blood). But coming home to so much to do was a little daunting.

SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT MY WIP

Getting edits was super scary- I wasn't sure what to expect. But I love the edits that I've gotten and it's exciting to see my book improving.

MONDAY READS

I finished AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir and I loved it. I loved the world and the dual POV and the plot. I loved the hinted at love story. It was pretty violent, but the violence just made the world all the more real and dangerous and scary. Great read! 

Friday Loves: Ant-Man

Last Friday, me and the hubs saw Ant-Man in the theatre. The whole thing looked a little silly to me (really, a tiny man with super strength and ants as allies? this is a superhero?), but I heart Paul Rudd and Marvel so it was a no-brainer to give it a shot.

I loved it! The humor was the best part for sure and Michael Pena nailed it. Paul Rudd too, of course. He was the perfect charming, geeky hero. It's definitely worth a watch- I doubt you'll be disappointed.