Michelle Zink's Blog, page 52

Things I Love – Enigma

My dad just reminded me how much I love Enigma. Not gonna lie; this is sexy as hell.

Happy Saturday Night, you guyyys!

Friday Poll – Skinny Jeans

[image error]It is with some relief that I've been watching that Spring 2011 collections hit the stores.

And I'm not talking about relief from the cold and its accompanying boots, sweater, and tights (which I love!).

I'm talking about what appears to be the end of the skinny jean trend – at least for now.

I've never been a fan of skinny jeans, and not just for me. While I have an admittedly curvier figure, I just don't think skinny jeans look good on someone unless they're, well, SKINNY. And I mean REALLY skinny. I never really "got" the trend. From Day One, I just didn't think they were flattering on 99.9% of the population. In the beginning, though, I honestly thought the trend wouldn't spread to EVERYONE because they just don't look good on EVERYONE.

I obviously didn't count on the fact that, as a society, we tend to follow trends in an effort not to get noticed, but to blend in with the crowd.

I'm a big believer in wearing what works for your body type instead of playing to the trends, but I also understand that it's nice to update our look now and then so we don't look like we're stuck in a time warp. My answer to the skinny jean was a straight leg cut and a slightly roomy, longer top. Thankfully, I won't have to tweak the trouser trend much to make it work for me. If you have the enviable problem of being small, just go for a less voluminous cut so you don't get lost in there!

Anyway, I'M  happy to see the return of the wide-leg trouser pant/jean. Especially for those of us over the age of 25, it's a timeless, elegant silhouette reminiscent of Katherine Hepburn and Lauren Hutton. But even for young women, the trouser cut speaks to elegance and sophistication rather than fad, and cut correctly, they look good on almost everyone.

All that said, I'm no paragon of fashion. I'd love to know what YOU think about the demise of the skinny jean. Weigh in with the Friday Poll!

View Poll

Thursday Night Write – 1/20/2011

[image error]Before we get to this week's Thursday Night Write, I want to mention a little giveaway we're doing to honor fellow Deb, L.K. Madigan, over at the 2009 Debutantes.

As many of you know, Lisa recently received some very tough news. She has handled it with such strength and grace, though, and we wanted to do something to honor her work and draw attention to her wonderful writing (she is, after all, a winner of the William Morris Award). So we're giving away a BUNCH of copies of her books! You should totally go enter!

Today we also found out that Lisa's publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, will be donating Lisa's books to 40 libraries. If you're a librarian, get thee to the link! All you have to do is send an email!

I love the writing community so much. Although the writing part of what we do is often solitary, in every other way we are a family. I can't tell you how heartening it is to see everyone band together in the face of something so difficult.

As readers, YOU are part of that family, too. I hope you'll all join me in supporting Lisa and her work. I know it means the world to her.

Now, it's time for Thursday Night Write, Open Mic Edition. You know the rules; post your 300-word short story, novel, song, or poetry excerpt for comment, leaving a comment for at least one other entry if you post your own. Writers of all ages and experience are welcome!

FAQ and New Contact Info

I've been avoiding something. And I'm not usually an avoider. In fact, I have a reputation both personally and professionally for playing it straight.

But in this case, I have a good reason.

Over the past few months, it's gotten harder and harder for me to stay on top of my online communication. There have been times when I've had over 100 messages in my Inbox, all of which were pre-screened and required a response from me. It would be overwhelming enough if that were it, but those messages were only part of the picture. There were Facebook emails, comments on both my Facebook page and the Prophecy of the Sisters Fan Page, the Forums on this site, and Twitter (which I've more or less abandoned as a tool for staying in touch with anyone).

You get the idea.

I knew going into 2011 that something would have to change this year. I just can't stay on top of it all and still have time to write. I do SO love being in touch with my readers, but to be honest, the writing is still my favorite part. It's the part I NEED. I've been agonizing over the ways I could cut down on my online communication and still be accessible, because I really don't want to lose touch with my readers. I get at least five emails a day thanking me for being so available, and I don't take your friendship (virtual though it may be) and trust in me for granted.

So this is what I've come up with;

I will no longer answer emails at Facebook. I will do my best to respond to comments on the Prophecy Fan Page and on my personal page. This is my preferred method of communication. I post all kinds of stuff on Facebook! Updates about the book and links to my blog posts, but also general stuff about music, movies, news stories, the weather, my kids, etc.. Facebook and this site really are the best ways to stay in touch with me. I just have to eliminate the email component.

I can no longer guarantee replies at Twitter. For the last two years, I've been determined to reply to every comment directed my way. This is probably due to my old-fashioned thinking that if someone directs something @MichelleZink, ignoring them is as rude as ignoring someone in person. But it seems the way of things to NOT feel obligated to reply on Twitter, and frankly, I'm failing at doing it anyway! That said, Rebekah will still post updates from the @prophecypress Twitter account and I will still stop by from time to time on @MichelleZink.

I will continue to drop in on the Forum for general conversation whenever possible. I encourage you to register! You have to be a member anyway to qualify for the Reader of the Month (and the $25 bookstore gift card and swag that come with the title) and there is a great group of people there besides. You do have to register (as a guard against Spam), but t's worth the few seconds it takes, I promise!

I will continue to comment the Thursday Night Write posts when possible. Sometimes, this means I get to a few of them and then something comes up and I can't finish. Other times, I might not get to any of them or might get to all of them. I hope you'll all keep participating because I know we get a lot of traffic on the feature (and I read them all even when I don't have time to comment). I'll also work on having some authors as guest commentators like we did last year.

I will no longer answer book-related questions, requests for interviews and donations, etc., at my personal email address. Please use prophecypress@aol.com for all of these requests. Rebekah will filter them for me and send me the ones that I need to see.

I would ask that you use the Contact Form on this site for anything else. I love hearing from my readers, whether it's because you love the books or want to share something about your own life! Using the Contact form will send all the email to one address and will make it easier for me to stay on top of it all.

I'm hoping these simple changes will allow me to stay accessible without compromising the time I need to write and create. I'll revisit it all later in the year if necessary, but in the meantime, let's give it a try, okay? I value each and every one of you and SO appreciate your support of my work. Without you, there would be no me, writing. I

On another note, I've also been getting a lot of the same questions about Prophecy and my Spring 2012 book, so I'm going to do a mini- FAQ here in an attempt to answer them all. There are lots more answers to FAQ on the FAQ page of this website.

Will there be a third book in the Prophecy of the Sisters series? If so, when does it come out?

The third and final book in the series, Circle of Fire, will be out August 3rd of this year.

Does it have a cover yet?

Despite rumors to the contrary, the cover for Circle of Fire isn't final yet. The preliminary is gorgeous and the final will likely be something very similar. I'll release it here on my website once it's made final!

Is there going to be a Prohecy of the Sisters movie?

I get this question at least once a day! I am currently represented for film by Matthew Snyder at CAA. Historical (even historical fantasies) are notoriously difficult to have made because of the high cost of production, but the best way to see ANY of your favorite books made into a movie is to spread the word about in person and online.

What about the new book I've been hearing about? Is it a fourth book in the Prophecy series?

Circle of Fire is the last book in the Prophecy series. It's already written, and I know you'll all find the conclusion to be very satisfying! In a little over a year (Spring 2012), I'll have a new book out. My editor and I are still discussing titles, but if you read my short story, The Assassin's Apprentice, in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology, you will recognize the world! The new book is a sort of prequel to The Assassin's Apprentice. Like Prophecy, it's a Gothic fantasy, but this one is set in London and is VERY sexy and VERY action-packed. I'm very excited to share that world with you and promise there will be LOTS of news about it on my website in the coming months.

Will you do an interview/donate swag for my blog?

Please send all related requests to prophecypress@aol.com.

Can I get on the ARC list for Circle of Fire?

As with many final books in a series, there will be no ARCs of Circle of Fire. We don't want anything spoiled for readers before the final installment!

Can I get on the ARC list for your new book?

Please send all ARC requests to prophecypress@aol.com and include your blog address and a link to your reviews fro Prophecy of the Sisters and Guardian of the Gate if you reviewed them on your blog.

Can you give me a finished copy of Prophecy of the Sisters or Guardian of the Gate for review?

For books that have ARCs, I do provide them for review to select blogs and bloggers until that book is published. I don't give finished copies for review.

Song of the Week – All I Want by A Day to Remember

I like the word to this song, nominated by Meagan, a lot! It will go onto my Songs to Listen to When I Need Affirmation list.

I had some other great nominations this week that I'm sure you'll be seeing on future Tuesdays. And if YOU want to nominate a song, send an email with your pick to prohecypress@aol.com with "Song of the Week" in the subject line.

Enjoy!

Last sentences, Escape, and No Regrets

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I'm totally loving our new Anonymous Teen Reader questions! Yeah, they're kind of random, but in a GOOD way. Strangely, I feel like I'm getting to know my readers better with these than I did with the other ones.

It's been fun!

And speaking of FUN, I'm going announce a little Mid-Winter giveaway in the next week or so. It's cold and snowy, and while I LOVE the cold days and long nights, I know it's a tough time of year for many of you. So I decided to do one of my famous no-strings-attached giveaways to help keep your spirits up.

More on that soon! In the meantime, meet this week's Anonymous Teen Reader, Made of Purple! I know you'll find her as inpisring as I do.

And don't forget to email prophecypress@aol.com with "Anonymous Teen Reader" in the subject line if you'd like to be featured in the future. There are absolutely no requirements other than a willingness to answer the questions and an age under 20!

JUST THE FACTS

Interview Code Name (you choose!); Made of Purple!

Current country of residence; Puerto Rico, the tiny island above the Caribbean sea that kind of looks like a grain of rice.

Male or female? Female

Age; 18

ABOUT THE BOOKS

How many books, on average, do you read a month? 2 or 3

Favorite kind of book and why; Anything involving mystery or an adventure. And I love books with sad or hopeful endings.

Name the single most important factor in your decision to purchase a book; The last sentence of the book. It has to be meaningful, inspiring or mysterious. The feeling I get reading that last sentence is what decides if I want to know the whole story or not. (I'm a last sentence lover, TOO! In my opinion, it's the most important part of the whole book!)

What makes you feel like you're reading or have read a truly amazing book? I know I've read a truly amazing book when it leaves me feeling sad because it ended.

How important is a friend's recommendation in your decision to purchase a book? It's not so important.

Thing you'd like to see more or less of in the YA genre; A little bit of everything. Something that makes me laugh, cry, curious, imagine, dream…

What's your biggest pet peeve in a book? Too much description or really happy endings.

Paperback or hardcover? I need them to be hardcover so they can survive my messy lifestyle.

Series or stand-alone? Doesn't really matter.

ALL ABOUT YOU

If you had a life philosophy or motto, what would it be? "All human wisdom is summed up in two words – wait and hope" -Alexandre Dumas Père (NICE!)

Are your parents divorced? No

Do you feel that being a teenager is difficult? If so, why? Yes. I think just being alive is difficult. As we get older we just get more and more problems. (You are a very wise young woman.)

List some of your hobbies. Read. Write (sometimes – rare times). Watch Grey's Anatomy (my recent obsession).

Why do you think teenagers feel the need to label one another? I truly don't know. Sometimes I do it to be mean, other times I do it as a need to understand things.

Favorite color? Purple :D

Is there anything in your past that makes you sad or angry? If so, are you willing to share it here? One thing that makes me both sad and angry is the relationship I have with my brother which is no relationship at all. We don't talk, ever. Seriously, without exaggeration, there are no words exchanged between us. When I was little I preferred playing cars with him over playing Barbie's with my sister. So I don't know what happened. We grew up and grew apart but there are so many things we have in common that I'd like to share with him but it's not possible. (*hugs*)

What is your passion? As of now my only passion is reading. I like escaping into different worlds. Live many lives. But I wish I had a passion in my own reality. I mean I'm already in college with no clue of what to do with my future, I feel like my clock is ticking and time is running out. I need a passion other than reading books.

Do you feel the need to pretend to be someone you're not? If so, why? No. I'm happy being who I am. (Yay! Because you are awesome!)

What kinds of things do you think about when you're all alone? Life. Future. Love. Friends.

How do you keep your bed? Covered in pillows? Made perfect every morning? A mess of tangled sheets? A tangled mess of sheets covered in pillows.

Do you ever feel the need to be invisible? If so, why? Sometimes. I think just to escape life for a little while. When everything builds up and it gets to hard, I feel like being invisible so I don't have to face my problems.

Do you believe that you will ever find the type of love you read about and see in books and movies? I believe in the love my grandparents have. They met when they were 12 years old and have been together ever since. I believe in love that waits. I believe in love that endures. I believe that even though times have change that kind of love still exists. And I believe I found it three years ago and I'm still holding on to it. A love that waits. A love that endures. And sure the odds of this generation are against us. But all we can do is believe and hope. And love, no matter the odds.

Do you like school? Why or why not? Right now I'm majoring in English and I like all the random classes I'm taking. And I love the university in general, it's peaceful.

Do you believe that education is important? Yes

Are the cliques you read about or see on TV present in your school? I think so.

Do you ever feel awkward and uncomfortable? Sometimes but I guess that's just part of being a teenager.

Favorite animal? Dog

Have you ever been mean to someone? If so, why? How do you feel about it now? Yes and I had a reason. But I did feel bad afterwards because that's not the kind of person I am. But I needed to stand up for myself, cause if I don't, who will?

Do you regret any of the choices you've made? If so, are you willing to share them here? No. Every choice has lead me where I am today and has helped shape me, made me stronger. So I don't regret anything.

Do they wonder or worry about what other people think about you? Be honest! Not in the way that I'm seeking approval, but I do sometimes wonder what my friends 'feel' about me. Cuz we're like a tough group of people, we joke around but we don't talk about our feelings. So I sometimes wonder…

Together We Will Live Forever

This is the thing I love this week. Phenomenal movie, incredible song. Kenneth used to play it all the time on the piano. I think about him when I hear this.

Friday Poll – Facebook or Youtube?

[image error]You probably don't know this, but everyone wants to know what you do on the internet.

And I don't just mean your parents.

Internet habits are a huge source of interest for people in every industry because it's become a fast-growing segment of the advertising market. These days, you're as likely to hear online about a new book, fashion line, movie, or lip gloss as you are to see it in a magazine or on a billboard.

I'm curious, too. This is probably because I used to be in marketing. It's an endless source of fascination for me! But it's also because, more and more, it's necessary for even recluses like me to reach out and connect with my audience via the internet. I'm constantly theorizing about where you guys hang out.It's important to me, because I only have so much time to spend reaching out.

There is, after all, the little matter of finding time to WRITE.

The bottom line is, I don't want to waste my time trying to connect with readers in the wrong venue. This is the primary reason I spend most of my online time here and on Facebook. The teens I know spend the vast majority of their online time on Facebook, and if someone's actually looking for me, I know they'll probably end up here. I don't spend much time on Twitter anymore because I've found that most non-blogging teens don't hang out there. They just haven't connected with it. One of my theories is that it's become too marketing-centric and it doesn't really bring anything new to the table that Facebook doesn't already do better. I like Twitter for connecting to other writers and bloggers, but there are only so many hours in s day and most of those people can be found on Facebook, too.

I have lots of theories! No one's on Myspace anymore. It's all about Facebook. If it's not Facebook, it's probably Youtube or Hulu. I think teens DO use Google (and other) searches, both for school-related stuff and for anything else they want to find out.But I'm not sue if you go to magazine sites. Do you? What about celebrity sites?

Inquiring minds want to know, so weigh in with the Friday Poll!

View Poll

Thursday Night Write – 1/13/2011

[image error]It's Thursdayyyy! And you know what that means; time for another edition of Thursday Night Write!

I know we don't get as much participation with prompts as we do with Open Mic, but I'm a firm believer in stream-of-consciousness writing, at least every now and then.

And tough love! I'm a believer in that, too.

Especially for novelists who are often working on the same project for quite some time, prompts can really open the floodgates of creativity, freeing your mind to just go with it. A lot of times, I come away from Flash Fiction with new ideas and inspiration for the work I already have.

And this week's kind of special anyway! Because my good friend and positively brilliant author, C. Lee MacKenzie, has a new book out! I ADORED The Princess of Las Pulgas when I read it and have been anxiously waiting to spread the word. In honor of it's release, I thought I'd use this castle picture as this week's prompt. In The Princess of Las Pulgas, Carlie actually has to abandon her well-to-do home in favor of a less desirable neighborhood and school – and, Carlie believes, a less desirable LIFE – when her dad passes away and her family loses everything. It's a truly heartbreaking, hopeful, beautifully written story. I hope you'll all check it out!

And even though Carlie has to let go of her own "castle", I thought it would be an interesting and fun visual off point for this week's Thursday Night Write.

You know the rules; Give yourself no more than 30 minutes to write whatever comes to mind using the prompt. It can be a poem, story, song… whatever! Post your piece for comment and if you do, don't forget to post a comment for at least one other piece!

Most of all, just let your writing self go. Silence your inner editor for 30 minutes and give yourself permission to write ANYTHING that comes to mind.

Try it. It's FUN!

Song of the Week – A Way Back to Then

This week's song of the week is a little different.

I like different.

Nominated by one of my favorite online peeps, Erin, A Way Back to Then is a beautiful, melancholy song about the loss of innocence we all experience as we grow older. And what a voice Heidi Blickenstaff has!

Hope you guys enjoy it! And don't forget to send your song nominations to prophecypress@aol.com with "Song of the Week" as the subject. Recommendations from any genre are welcome!