Rachel R. Smith's Blog, page 12
February 12, 2016
My Furry Valentine!
Wishing everyone an early Happy Valentines Day! It’s my favorite holiday aside from Halloween. After all, when else do roses and chocolate (and in this case, heart-shaped pizzas, too) come together so seamlessly?! (The left-hand side of the pizza is mine–green olives for the win!)
Sumo is also a big fan of roses! Chocolate, not so much. It’s one of the downsides to being a dog, I suppose.
Whether you’re in a relationship or not, I hope that you’ll take the time this weekend to partake in at least one of your favorite indulgences. I had to stop myself from making a pun and suggesting you take time to stop and smell the roses instead.
Ok, well, maybe I couldn’t resist in the end…
February 9, 2016
Snowy Free Book Promo Day!
It was 50F on Sunday…
…and here we are two days later with 6″ of snow on the ground. Since it’s February, I suppose I should expect to wake up to this at some point. They say that a picture is worth 1000 words, so instead of complaining, I’m going to let Sumo express my feelings on the weather.
It’s the perfect day to stay inside with a good book (or stay inside writing a book, as the case may be ^_-), so it is particularly fortuitous timing that I had a free book promo scheduled today. Even if its not snowing where you live, today would be a great time to pick up a copy of book 1, Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror, if you haven’t already. It’s free today (2/9) until 12pm PST. Click here to get your copy from Amazon!
Thanks also to Ria at A Bookish Escape for her recent review of Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror! Visit her blog to see her thoughts on the story and be sure to check out the other excellent reviews she and her fellow bloggers have posted.
February 5, 2016
February 4, 2016
Interview with Rachel Smith
A big thanks to Clémence for inviting me to do an author interview for her website. Visit her website to see the full interview, and be sure to check out the rest of her blog too!
Hi guys! I’m here today with another interview! I discovered the Records of the Ohanzee series through NetGalley, and I really loved it. I have reviewed both books here and here.
Rachel was kind enough to answer my questions, and I’m sharing her amazing answers here on the blog. Go check out her books, they are amazing!
My questions will be in bold, and her answers in italics.
How did you get the idea for your series Records of the Ohanzee?
The story and characters from Records of the Ohanzee have been rolling around in my head for so long that I’ve honestly forgotten what first sparked the idea. Most likely, it was a combination of many influences. I used to do a lot of driving between college and home, and it was during that time I remember seeing the first scenes in my head. Ironically, those…
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February 2, 2016
Share Your Shelfies and Share Your Love of Reading!
Today, I learned about The Magic of Storytelling campaign, which is running from now through March 31, by Disney, ABC, and First Book (a nonprofit organization that provides new books to disadvantaged children). You can learn more about it here. But the short version is: there’s an easy way for all of us to join in and help support the campaign! Just share your shelfie (a picture of your bookshelves, or even you with your favorite book) using the hashtag #MagicOfStorytelling on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. For each shelfie posted to Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #MagicOfStorytelling, First Book will direct a book donated by Disney to a child in need, up to 500,000 books.
I’ve already shared mine–now it’s your turn! Post your shelfies, tell your friends, and let’s make sure they reach 500,000!
Sumo doesn’t have a Twitter or Instagram account, but he wanted to share a shelfie too!
February 1, 2016
Books and Fashion–a Perfect Pairing!
As readers and writers, we often speak of books and tea as a perfect pairing. Yesterday, while browsing through my Twitter feed, I happened to stumble across a book-related pairing that I had previously never heard of–pairing books and fashion.
You can only imagine my surprise (and excitement!) to discover that the particular link I found was to a “book look” Mikky V of Nocturnal Predators Reviews had done which was inspired by the cover of Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror.
The concept is to put together fashion styles inspired by book covers. I love it! Such a fun way to combine two seemingly unrelated ideas. I promptly lost an hour (or maybe more if I’m being completely honest) surfing around to see looks based on various books that I’ve read. Here are a few others that I came across and wanted to share:
This one was also created by Mikky V, inspired by The Winner’s Crime. Click here to see the original.
Here’s one created by rfultrastars based on the cover of The Selection. That shade of blue!! You can see the original, and more of rfultrastars’ book looks, by clicking here.
And one created by nereyda1003 based on the cover of Unhinged. Click here to see the original and find more of nereyda1003’s book looks.
Have you ever heard of book looks before? If you have, feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments!
January 31, 2016
Nail Polish Sunday #5
It’s that time again–Nail Polish Sunday! This week, I came across a gorgeous color from the China Glaze 2016 spring collection called Moonlight the Night. It’s a bluish multi-colored glitter.
Zoya Dream and China Glaze Moonlight the NightThe color isn’t intense enough to be worn by itself–it’s definitely best used as a top coat. I decided to pair it with Zoya Dream, which is a deep blue with a touch of silver micro-glitter. After 1 coat, Dream isn’t opaque enough to cover the nail completely, but it was enough coverage to pair with a topcoat.
1 coat of Zoya DreamI followed up with 2 coats of Moonlight the Night, and this was the result!
In person, the appearance of the glitter is really dynamic–constantly transitioning through blue/green/yellow like an opal. Of course, that doesn’t come across in still photographs.
Recently, I came across a great website Live, Love, Polish, which sells some truly unique colors and brands. I ordered a few bottles to give them a try, and they should arrive in time for the next Nail Polish Sunday. So far, I can say that their customer service is very polite and responsive, and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy from them again in the future. Until next time… ^_^
January 27, 2016
Top 5 Favorite Chapter Titles!
One of my favorite parts of being a writer is coming up with chapter titles. It’s also one of my favorite parts about reading a book too. I’m definitely not the only author that includes hints, puns, and just generally has fun with them. So today I wanted to share my top 5 favorite chapter titles from my own books, along with my top 5 favorites from books I’ve read.
Top 5 favorite chapter titles from Records of the Ohanzee:
5. Chapter 14 – The Sparkling Sky Flower
(Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix)
This chapter is named after the clothing store Darci owns. I’ve had several readers comment that they are curious to know what Darci is doing when she encounters the Ohanzee in the woods in Harbinger of the Phoenix. I’m not ready to come right out and say it yet, but the name she chose for her shop is a really big hint!
4. Chapter 18 – Treacherous Men
(Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix)
In this chapter, Desta has a dream about her first love, who broke her heart by cheating on her. Shortly after she awakens from the dream about her traitorous former boyfriend, the group is ambushed by Senka operatives–who were tipped off by a different kind of traitor.
3. Chapter 22 – Full Moon
(Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror)
The title for this chapter seems straight forward at first: it takes place on the night of the full moon. But, actually, three full moons make an appearance…
2. Chapter 10 – A Promise over a Meat Pie
(Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix)
I jotted this title down off the top of my head as a joke when I started writing this chapter, because the absurdity of it amused me. I had every intention on changing it once I finished writing the chapter, but by the end, it had grown on me enough that I couldn’t bear to change it.
1. Chapter 7 – A Rose Among Roses
(Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror)
This is my very favorite chapter title. I’m sure I’ll be coming up with many others in the future, but it will be hard for any of them to take this one’s place in my heart. On the surface, the title is a direct reference to Rian’s quote (in the image above). But there’s a more subtle reference as well. This is the chapter where Raysel makes his first appearance, briefly joining Nerissa and Rian among the roses in the garden during the masquerade. Like his two sisters, Aravind (lotus) and Cattleya (orchid), Raysel’s name is also related to flowers (his name, of course, means “rose”). So there truely is a rose among the roses. ;)
Top 5 favorite chapter titles from other works:
5. Chapter 36 – The Only One He Ever Feared
(Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling)
Epic battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort? Like you didn’t see that coming based on the chapter title alone!
4. Chapter 11 – I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don’t Like It
(David Copperfield by Charles Dickens)
A sentiment expressed in 1850 that still resonates today.
3. Chapter 6 – Out of the Frying Pan-Into the Fire
(The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien)
Usually its best to avoid using idioms in novels, but there are times when it just works.
2. Every single chapter title in The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Beautiful book, beautiful titles. I can’t even pick just one: The Contortionist’s Tattoo, Darkness and Stars, Ailuromancy…the list just keeps going.
1. Epilogue – To See the Answer
(A Memory of Light, The Wheel of Time Book 14 by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson)
What better name is there for the ending of a mammoth 14 book epic fantasy? The chapter title is as perfect as the ending itself.
Do you pay attention to chapter titles as you read? What are your favorites?
Authors: Do you name each of your chapters? Or do you prefer just to simply number them?
January 24, 2016
Accessorizing…Author Style
By now, it should be no secret to anyone that I love accessories, especially sparkly ones. Heck, I even chose to have an iPhone because it has the largest selection of glittery cases. (And I stay one generation behind because there are more available for the 5s than for the 6s!) So it should come as no surprise that I was finding the aesthetic of my most frequently used accessory to be a little, shall we say, dull.
I’m using the term accessory a bit loosely here. My laptop is not really an accessory, it’s a tool that is absolutely necessary to write. But we spend a lot of time together. A lot. Hours. Every. Single. Day. It may as well be an accessory. We’re practically attached at the lap. While I appreciated the utility of a plain brushed-metal top, the blankness of it had begun to chafe me.
Whenever I picked up my laptop, a blank canvas stared back at me. And there’s only one thing you can do with a blank canvas.
Paint it! (Figuratively, of course.) One trip to Hobby Lobby and two packs of crystal stickers later, problem solved! I present to you my newly decorated laptop. XD
So if you ever see this laptop at your local * insert random coffee shop name here * and there’s a strange woman sitting behind it typing like mad (or staring blankly into space), that’s me! ;)
January 22, 2016
Sorry Everybody, This One is All My Fault…
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a winter storm rolling across the southern/eastern US today. The news has been warning about the snowfall for days. I, being more of the “ant” type than the “grasshopper” type, immediately began hoarding for the impending onslaught.
Not hoarding food, mind you. I’ve never understood the sudden rush on milk, bottled water, and bread that hits the grocery store right before any kind of storm. We almost always have a fridge and pantry stocked with at least a week’s worth of food. No, no, I, like any rational person, went directly to Amazon and began hoarding books.
I realize there’s a great deal of irony in that statement, particularly when I was just poking fun at the milk/water/bread gatherers. Thanks to modern technology, we can have millions of books magically beamed to our devices through the power of the internet. But, for me, when it’s cold outside, it’s far more fun to burrow under an over-sized blanket with a physical book. I am happy to say that my acquisitions arrived this morning with perfect timing!
My newest additions!One disappointing thing about being an author is that you can’t read your own book. I mean, you can–and should–but it isn’t the same as reading someone else’s book because you already know exactly what is going to happen. Fortunately, there are plenty of other authors out there writing wonderful books just waiting to be read.
While browsing Amazon, I stumbled across the fact that the ebook versions of Stolen Songbird and Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen were on sale. I already have them in ebook format, but I love the story so much that I splurged and ordered the paperbacks (which weren’t on sale, haha) to read/re-read during the snow storm. I also pre-ordered the third book in the trilogy, Warrior Witch, since it was on sale too! XD If you like YA fantasy, I highly recommend picking up these books–Jensen’s writing is lovely and the story and characters kept me reading late into the night. They are the kind of books that make you do this:
Which brings me to my conclusion in one final twist of irony: turns out Cincinnati is now on the extreme northern edge of the massive snow storm, so we’re barely getting any snow at all. :roll: So much for the payoff of careful preparation! To those of you who live south of the Ohio River, please accept my apologies for having pushed all of the snow onto you. My bad. But at least you have more time to read! ;)
