L.J. Higgins's Blog, page 16
January 13, 2016
3 Concepts Writers and Readers Must Know
The YA Author Rendezvous is a collective effort of 70+ talented and motivated authors. We got our start through our founder, Patrick Hodges, who couldn’t find the group he needed on Facebook – one that caters to young adult, middle grade, and children’s audiences and authors. So he took up the cause wholeheartedly to create a group based on trust, kindness, and true friendship. Together, we’ve established ourselves as a group that prides itself on honest to goodness great writing that engages and enlightens readers.
Whether you are a writer, a reader, or both, here are 3 concepts you must know:
Love. Without admiration for your craft, you’ll be stuck wondering why you bother. If you want to share your work or your review of someone else’s writing, you must find it worthwhile, and the first step is to know why it’s important to you. I love writing young adult fiction just as much as I love reading it. My novel, ‘Freshman Fourteen,’ is an embodiment of all my favorite parts of the YA genre – love, friendship, teenage angst, and bull-headed conflict that always gets in the way.
Criticism. Knowing how to understand and use critiques, positive or negative, will strengthen your craft. The same is true with reading or reviewing. Allowing others to disagree with your opinions will establish your opinions as increasingly credible. That which you find praiseworthy in your writing or someone else’s, somebody may disagree about. This doesn’t make it easier to deal with negative ratings about books you’ve written and books you want to read. Negative reviews can be turn-offs, but as authors and readers, we must compel ourselves to see writing objectively.
Characters. Make them shine for who they truly are, based on looks and personalities, and also on who they grow to be. You may end up with characters you don’t recognize, but these make for the best, most well-defined ones. One of my favorite characters in ‘Freshman Fourteen’ was Mrs. Gribble. She started off as a secondary character, yet quickly morphed into a necessary nuisance. And characters aren’t always people, but sometimes ideas or even inanimate objects!
Best of luck in all your future writing and reading endeavors – these concepts will help bring about a stronger, more purposeful focus.
Written by
Beth Rodgers
Website: http://yaarendezvous.com
Twitter: @YAARendezvous: https://twitter.com/YAARendezvous
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YA-Author-Rendezvous-624521717690647/?ref=hl
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January 4, 2016
8 Books to read & Movies to watch if you Loved Dawn of the Dreamer
Books
Divergent Trilogy
The Trilogy consists of three books, Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant, which follow Beatrice Prior (Tris). Tris lives in a world separated by five factions, in which people are separated depending on their personality and social association. A world divided by factions is supposed to remove the danger of anyone exercising their own free will and threatening everyone’s safety. Tris, who was born in Abnegation but transfers to Dauntless during her choosing ceremony, learns she doesn’t easily fit into just one faction, and if the leaders of Erudite were to find out, her life could be in danger.
Like the MultiMind Corporation in Dawn of the Dreamer, the leaders in Divergent will do anything to remain in control. Even by making people feel as though they only belong in a certain group, Erudite, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity or Candor. Much like, Dreamers or Non-Dreamers.
The Host
Melanie Stryder, lives in a world where parasitic aliens called “Souls,” have invaded earth believing humans are too violent to run it. When a Soul is implanted in a human’s (hosts) body, the consciousness of the owner is erased. When Melanie becomes the host of “Wanderer,” a Soul who has lived on eight planets before earth, Wanderer soon realises that Melanie’s consciousness is still alive and is able to communicate with her.
This is a different form of mind control, but mind control nonetheless. This alien race is trying to erase the ability for humans to make a decision for themselves just as the MulitMind Corporation are doing with the Wristcuff.
Institute Series
Living in constant fear. Always looking over your shoulder. The source of your fear? The Institute.
Allira Daniels will do anything to keep her Defective brother safe from the Institute. They claim to protect Defectives, but its human nature to fear the unknown. Defectives are dangerous, they possess abilities that no human should be able to. To Allira and the rest of her family, the Institute seems more like a prison than the safe-haven they promote themselves to be.
A similar theme in the Institute series and the Dawn of the Dreamer is corruption. People will do anything to gain power and control even to the extremes in these two series.
The Hunger Games Series
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, follow the life of Katniss Everdeen. In a scary vision of the future, twelve boys and twelve girls from each of the twelve districts are forced to compete in a TV show called ‘The Hunger Games.’ The objective of the game, to kill the other competitors and be the last person standing.
When Katniss’s sister is chosen to compete in the games, she sees no other choice but to volunteer herself in her place.
Like Amelia, Katniss will do anything to protect her friends and family, even risk her own life.
Movies
Inception
Framed for his wife’s death, Dom Cobb is on the run. When he is unable to extract information he needs from the mind of a businessman named Saito, Saito makes a deal with him: If Cobb can plant an idea in the mind of the heir to a multibillion dollar empire, Fisher, Saito will clear his name. This involves assembling a team that will delve deep into Fischer’s dreams to plant (Incept) the idea.
Although based much more in the world of dreaming, Inception’s cast are able to enter others dreams just as Amelia can share a dream with Jonah.
The Cell
When an FBI agent persuades social worker Catherine Deane to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer, she is thrust into his often sick and scary thoughts in order to learn where he is keeping his latest kidnap victim.
Dawn of the Dreamer is nowhere near as freaky as this movie, but it does involve delving into the thoughts and dreams of others.
Matrix Series
The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, will make you question your reality and what is and isn’t real. Computer hacker Neo is approached by a rebel group and begins to learn the true nature of his reality. Plunging him into a new world.
The Matrix shows a world that is fabricated and that everyone is plugged in and their minds controlled so that they believe this is their reality. Similar to the way the MultiMiind Corporation are using the Wristcuff to control the population.
The Giver
In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, Jonas is about to find out his assignment in the community. When he is assigned as Receiver he is paired up with The Giver who shares his memories with him. Through his memories Jonas learns about the true pain and pleasure of the “real” world.
Much like Amelia in Dawn of the Dreamer, Jonas must take the truth that he has learned and decide if he wants to fight for it or to live the life he has always known.
I hope you enjoy these books and movies as much as I have. Although they have similar themes to Dawn of the Dreamer, they are all different and amazing in their own right.
Have you read or seen any of these already? Let me know in the comments below!
January 1, 2016
2015
Wow, what a year! It feels like I crammed so much into 2015, so here is a quick breakdown of my year:
Road trip to Cairns
Airlie Beach with my husband for our 6th wedding anniversary
My daughter turned 3
First ever radio interview
Launch of Dawn of the Dreamer and book launch party
My fluro 30th birthday party
My son turned 5
P&O Cruise to Lifou, Noumea and Port Villa
My sister gave birth to my gorgeous nephew
Camping adventure at Lake Monduran for Halloween
I published a collection of short stories called, In Their Shoes
2015 was a year of firsts for me. It was the first year I left the country, and also the year I published my first book, Dawn of the Dreamer. I was able to fulfil a dream I’ve had for many years.
Writing has been a passion of mine since I was twelve years old. I have folders of stories I’ve written over the years, most of which would make you cringe, but the whole time I knew that one day I would publish a novel. In April this year I did just that, I published my debut novel Dawn of the Dreamer. The support and excitement I received for releasing it only made my love for writing grow and I managed to also write a series of short stories, In Their Shoes, and finish the manuscript for, Fall of the Dreamer, ready to be published January 2016.
Despite my adventures, I focused much of 2015 on my writing. Learning the craft and the business behind it, and during this I was fortunate enough to stumble over a group of authors on Facebook who were eager to share their experiences and offer guidance to a new author like me. Little did I know how much I would enjoy being a part of the group, and the amazing people I would meet from all over the globe. Together we have created a wonderful community of writers and launched a group website and Facebook page to share our books with the world. YA Author Rendezvous website is worth a look if you are searching for your next favourite author (including me!)
Despite all of these amazing experiences I also overcame a huge hurdle this year. I managed to overcome both depression and anxiety. Having suffered from depression on and off throughout my life, when it was getting to the point that it was affecting my family, I decided enough was enough. With the support of some of my close friends and amazing husband, I have changed my lifestyle so that I can be rid of depression and anxiety for good. I feel happier and healthier for it, and am proud to have come out the other end a stronger person and to feel more at peace with myself and the life I’m living.
So thank you 2015 for bringing me so many great experiences and giving me the chance to grow stronger and happier in myself. If this is what I was able to accomplish in 2015, imagine what 2016 could bring!
What did you accomplish or overcome in 2015?
December 31, 2015
Goals for 2016
To celebrate the start of the New Year I thought I would share some of my goals for 2016!
Writing Goals
Release Fall of the Dreamer, January 28th
Release Book Three of the Dreamer Trilogy
Release Stand Alone Contemporary YA Novel
Post to my blog weekly, bringing more interesting content and guest bloggers
Begin research and outline for a dystopian series
Personal Goals
Healthy lifestyle – eating and exercising for both my mind and body’s wellbeing
Remember the only person who can control my happiness is me. Other people can only destroy my inner peace if I let them
Believe in myself! I can do anything I set my mind to
Be compassionate and don’t judge people
Be open to new experiences and willing to get out of my comfort zone
What are your goals for the 2016?
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December 30, 2015
Goodbye 2015!
Wow, what a year! It feels like I crammed so much into 2015, so here is a quick breakdown of my year:
Road trip to Cairns
Airlie Beach with my husband for our 6th wedding anniversary
My daughter turned 3
First ever radio interview
Launch of Dawn of the Dreamer and book launch party
My fluro 30th birthday party
My son turned 5
P&O Cruise to Lifou, Noumea and Port Villa
My sister gave birth to my gorgeous nephew
Camping adventure at Lake Monduran for Halloween
I published a collection of short stories called, In Their Shoes
2015 was a year of firsts for me. It was the first year I left the country, and also the year I published my first book, Dawn of the Dreamer. I was able to fulfil a dream I’ve had for many years.
Writing has been a passion of mine since I was twelve years old. I have folders of stories I’ve written over the years, most of which would make you cringe, but the whole time I knew that one day I would publish a novel. In April this year I did just that, I published my debut novel Dawn of the Dreamer. The support and excitement I received for releasing it only made my love for writing grow and I managed to also write a series of short stories, In Their Shoes, and finish the manuscript for, Fall of the Dreamer, ready to be published January 2016.
Despite my adventures, I focused much of 2015 on my writing. Learning the craft and the business behind it, and during this I was fortunate enough to stumble over a group of authors on Facebook who were eager to share their experiences and offer guidance to a new author like me. Little did I know how much I would enjoy being a part of the group, and the amazing people I would meet from all over the globe. Together we have created a wonderful community of writers and launched a group website and Facebook page to share our books with the world. YA Author Rendezvous website is worth a look if you are searching for your next favourite author (including me!)
Despite all of these amazing experiences I also overcame a huge hurdle this year. I managed to overcome both depression and anxiety. Having suffered from depression on and off throughout my life, when it was getting to the point that it was affecting my family, I decided enough was enough. With the support of some of my close friends and amazing husband, I have changed my lifestyle so that I can be rid of depression and anxiety for good. I feel happier and healthier for it, and am proud to have come out the other end a stronger person and to feel more at peace with myself and the life I’m living.
So thank you 2015 for bringing me so many great experiences and giving me the chance to grow stronger and happier in myself. If this is what I was able to accomplish in 2015, imagine what 2016 could bring!
What did you accomplish or overcome in 2015?
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December 27, 2015
What is Young Adult?
Today’s blog post was written by Michelle Lynn, author of Dawn of Rebellion, Day of Reckoning and Eve of Tomorrow.
What is Young Adult?
An age old question – you’ll get my pun in a moment – about the Young Adult genre has had people baffled for years. What does Young Adult mean? Does it describe the age of the readers? The age of the characters? Or something else entirely? The genre takes on many forms and different people describe it differently. Some people include middle grade fiction and even down to children’s fiction in this category. Others don’t.
I am one of the latter. I read a ton of YA books – dystopian, contemporary, paranormal – you name it. I also write YA – dystopian. I’m no expert. We all have our own way of looking at the genre. But I am opinionated – boy, am I opinionated. So, bear with me while I talk about what I think as if it’s fact (I tend to do that a lot).
In YA, the characters are young adults. There, simple enough for you? They’re teenagers or early twenty somethings. YA carries the stigma with it that it is literature for teenagers. Books like Twilight perpetuated the stereotype while books like The Hunger Games broke it. The HG brought us an uber-popular YA book that was now being read by all ages. I am twenty-seven which some people say is past the target for YA. Well, I say bull shit (pardon my French).
It may be a little strange when I’m crushing on these teenage boys (I have a habit of falling in love with the men of the books I read) and wanting to be friends with the strong female leads that YA seems to get right over every other genre, but I don’t care anymore.
If you are one of those people who refuse to read Young Adult books because they are “too young” for you, then I’m sorry. You are missing out. No other genre exhibits the heart and soul of YA. We get to see characters grow and change and become who they are meant to be. We see first loves and new experiences. We see people overcome all the odds to save the world – or even just save the ones they love. Reading is like nothing else. It’s an amazing experience that lets you see the world differently. Reading YA is even better. It lets you feel the world differently.
My name is Michelle Lynn. I read Young Adult. I write Young Adult. I am not a Young Adult.
Do you think Michelle is right? Leave your comments below!
If you loved this post by Michelle Lynn you can find her on:
YAAR Website
Goodreads
Amazon
Twitter
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December 20, 2015
8 Books to read & Movies to watch if you loved Dawn of the Dreamer
Books
Divergent TrilogyTrilogy consists of three books, Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant, which follow Beatrice Prior (Tris). Tris lives in a world separated by five factions, in which people are separated depending on their personality and social association. A world divided by factions is supposed to remove the danger of anyone exercising their own free will and threatening everyone’s safety. Tris, who was born in Abnegation but transfers to Dauntless during her choosing ceremony, learns she doesn’t easily fit into just one faction, and if the leaders of Erudite were to find out, her life could be in danger.
Like the MultiMind Corporation in Dawn of the Dreamer, the leaders in Divergent will do anything to remain in control. Even by making people feel as though they only belong in a certain group, Erudite, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity or Candor. Much like, Dreamers or Non-Dreamers.
The HostStryder, lives in a world where parasitic aliens called “Souls,” have invaded earth believing humans are too violent to run it. When a Soul is implanted in a human’s (hosts) body, the consciousness of the owner is erased. When Melanie becomes the host of “Wanderer,” a Soul who has lived on eight planets before earth, Wanderer soon realises that Melanie’s consciousness is still alive and is able to communicate with her.
This is a different form of mind control, but mind control nonetheless. This alien race is trying to erase the ability for humans to make a decision for themselves just as the MulitMind Corporation are doing with the Wristcuff.
Institute SeriesLiving in constant fear. Always looking over your shoulder. The source of your fear? The Institute.
Allira Daniels will do anything to keep her Defective brother safe from the Institute. They claim to protect Defectives, but its human nature to fear the unknown. Defectives are dangerous, they possess abilities that no human should be able to. To Allira and the rest of her family, the Institute seems more like a prison than the safe-haven they promote themselves to be.
A similar theme in the Institute series and the Dawn of the Dreamer is corruption. People will do anything to gain power and control even to the extremes in these two series.
The Hunger Games Series
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, follow the life of Katniss Everdeen. In a scary vision of the future, twelve boys and twelve girls from each of the twelve districts are forced to compete in a TV show called ‘The Hunger Games.’ The objective of the game, to kill the other competitors and be the last person standing. When Katniss’s sister is chosen to compete in the games, she sees no other choice but to volunteer herself in her place.
Like Amelia, Katniss will do anything to protect her friends and family, even risk her own life.
Movies
InceptionFramed for his wife’s death, Dom Cobb is on the run. When he is unable to extract information he needs from the mind of a businessman named Saito, Saito makes a deal with him: If Cobb can plant an idea in the mind of the heir to a multibillion dollar empire, Fisher, Saito will clear his name. This involves assembling a team that will delve deep into Fischer’s dreams to plant (Incept) the idea.
Although based much more in the world of dreaming, Inception’s cast are able to enter others dreams just as Amelia can share a dream with Jonah.
The CellWhen an FBI agent persuades social worker Catherine Deane to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer, she is thrust into his often sick and scary thoughts in order to learn where he is keeping his latest kidnap victim.
Dawn of the Dreamer is nowhere near as freaky as this movie, but it does involve delving into the thoughts and dreams of others.
Matrix SeriesThe Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, will make you question your reality and what is and isn’t real. Computer hacker Neo is approached by a rebel group and begins to learn the true nature of his reality. Plunging him into a new world.
The Matrix shows a world that is fabricated and that everyone is plugged in and their minds controlled so that they believe this is their reality. Similar to the way the MultiMiind Corporation are using the Wristcuff to control the population.
The GiverIn a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, Jonas is about to find out his assignment in the community. When he is assigned as Receiver he is paired up with The Giver who shares his memories with him. Through his memories Jonas learns about the true pain and pleasure of the “real” world.
Much like Amelia in Dawn of the Dreamer, Jonas must take the truth that he has learned and decide if he wants to fight for it or to live the life he has always known.
I hope you enjoy these books and movies as much as I have. Although they have similar themes to Dawn of the Dreamer, they are all different and amazing in their own right.
Have you read or seen any of these already? Let me know in the comments below!
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December 18, 2015
Dawn of the Dreamers New Cover!
Yesterday I hosted an online event to celebrate the reveal of the new cover for Dawn of the Dreamer! I had a great time with everyone who came and participated in the games and joined in on the fun.
Congratulations to Kylie McDowall, Jane O’Sullivan and Kerrie Vallis for receiving the most points over the hour and a half event and winning a prize each.
So here it is, the new cover for Dawn of the Dreamer!
Thank you again to Derek Murphy from CreativIndie for designing this amazing cover and Ann-Maree Macmillan for taking his design and turning into a softcover.
Do you like the new look for the Dreamer Trilogy? Comment below!
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December 13, 2015
Dawn of the Dreamers New Cover Reveal
This Thursday 17th December, 2015, head over to my Facebook event for the reveal of Dawn of the Dreamers, brand new cover which was created by Derek Murphy at CreativIndie and finished by my cover designer Ann-Maree MacMillan. The new cover fits the books genre and mood perfectly and will pave the way for the reveal of Fall of the Dreams cover in early January 2016.
There will be some fun games and prizes to be one so make sure you pop in and say hi!
Dawn of the Dreamer will be available for purchase with it’s new cover soon!
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