Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 33
April 27, 2012
Catching Fire Book Review
From Goodreads: Against all odds,
Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute
Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved,
happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime
friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds
her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely.
And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion
that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her
shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And
what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she
should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the
districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher
than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they
are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be
horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the
Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss
Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at
every turn.
My review: I loved Hunger Games. As soon as I finished, I left to go see the movie. That night, I opened Catching Fire on my Nook. I read it just as quickly as I did the first book. I absolutely loved Hunger Games, and I thoroughly enjoyed Catching Fire although I thought it was a little slow in the beginning but when it picked up, boy did it pick up!
I loved how Katniss and Peeta and Gale remained true to their characters throughout the story At reading Hunger Games, I was Team Peeta. During different parts of Catching Fire, I kept switching teams. I also loved one of the new characters - Finnick. I even liked Johanna.
I wasn't sure that Suzanne Collins would be able to keep up the fast-paced action and the thrilling roller coaster ride but she definitely succeeded with this volume. I loved that we got to see the different districts. And Rue's poor family...
One thing that irked me? The ending. Or wait, I should say the non-ending. Because the book doesn't end. It just...stops. If there's one thing I hate, it's reading stories in a series that aren't complete books. The overarching storyline obviously isn't going to be tied up in the first or second book in a trilogy but they should still have a legit ending. I thoroughly enjoyed The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong but the ending ruined it. She just stopped the book in the middle of the story. That's not an ending. I haven't picked up the rest of the books in the trilogy because I was so annoyed by the non-ending.
What did you think of Catching Fire? I already can't wait for the movie to come out!
April 26, 2012
Live and Let Fly Blog Tour
An
act of Magic. The Threat of
Armagheddon. The universes have one
chance for survival, and one dragon to do the job.
Live and Let Fly Blurb:
For a dragon detective with
a magic-slinging nun as a partner, saving the worlds gets routine. So, when the
US government hires Vern and Sister Grace to recover stolen secrets for
creating a new Interdimensional Gap--secrets the US would like to keep to
itself, thank you—Vern sees a chance to play Dragon-Oh-Seven.
No human spy, however, ever
went up against a Norse goddess determined to exploit those secrets to rescue
her husband. Sigyn will move heaven and earth to get Loki—and use the best and
worst of our world against anyone who tries to stop her.
It's super-spy spoofing at its best with exotic locations
(Idaho--exotic?), maniacal middle-managers, secret agent men, teen rock stars
in trouble, man-eating animatronics, evil overlords and more!
Excerpt:
Festival
was Friday. We had two days to stop a Nordic demigod evil overlord—overlady,
overbeing, whatever—from blowing up a nuclear power plant, possibly destroying
half an island full of revelers in the process, and creating an
Interdimensional Gap through which she can bring the rest of her giant
relatives to set up housekeeping where the Faerie Catholic Church didn't have
the power to control them. In other words, two days until Hel broke loose.
I've had
worse deadlines. I could afford a long bath in our whirlpool tub and a good
meal first.
Bio:
Winner of the 2010 INDIE for best Fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem) and a Mensa Owl
for best fiction (World Gathering),
Karina Fabian’s writing takes quirky twists that keep her--and her
fans--amused. Nuns working in space, a down-and-out Faerie dragon working off a
geas from St. George, zombie
exterminators—there’s always a surprise in Fabian’s worlds. Mrs. Fabian teaches
writing and book marketing seminars online.
Find Karina at:
Website:
http://fabianspace.com, http://dragoneyepi.net
Blog: http://fabianspace.blogspot.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/karina.fabian
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KarinaFabian
Google : https://plus.google.com/103660024891826015212
Find Live and Let Fly at:
http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=377&category_id=151&keyword=karina&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
Clue: Vern drives an ATV.
act of Magic. The Threat of
Armagheddon. The universes have one
chance for survival, and one dragon to do the job.
Live and Let Fly Blurb:
For a dragon detective with
a magic-slinging nun as a partner, saving the worlds gets routine. So, when the
US government hires Vern and Sister Grace to recover stolen secrets for
creating a new Interdimensional Gap--secrets the US would like to keep to
itself, thank you—Vern sees a chance to play Dragon-Oh-Seven.
No human spy, however, ever
went up against a Norse goddess determined to exploit those secrets to rescue
her husband. Sigyn will move heaven and earth to get Loki—and use the best and
worst of our world against anyone who tries to stop her.
It's super-spy spoofing at its best with exotic locations
(Idaho--exotic?), maniacal middle-managers, secret agent men, teen rock stars
in trouble, man-eating animatronics, evil overlords and more!
Excerpt:
Festival
was Friday. We had two days to stop a Nordic demigod evil overlord—overlady,
overbeing, whatever—from blowing up a nuclear power plant, possibly destroying
half an island full of revelers in the process, and creating an
Interdimensional Gap through which she can bring the rest of her giant
relatives to set up housekeeping where the Faerie Catholic Church didn't have
the power to control them. In other words, two days until Hel broke loose.
I've had
worse deadlines. I could afford a long bath in our whirlpool tub and a good
meal first.
Bio:
Winner of the 2010 INDIE for best Fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem) and a Mensa Owl
for best fiction (World Gathering),
Karina Fabian’s writing takes quirky twists that keep her--and her
fans--amused. Nuns working in space, a down-and-out Faerie dragon working off a
geas from St. George, zombie
exterminators—there’s always a surprise in Fabian’s worlds. Mrs. Fabian teaches
writing and book marketing seminars online.
Find Karina at:
Website:
http://fabianspace.com, http://dragoneyepi.net
Blog: http://fabianspace.blogspot.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/karina.fabian
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KarinaFabian
Google : https://plus.google.com/103660024891826015212
Find Live and Let Fly at:
http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=377&category_id=151&keyword=karina&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
Clue: Vern drives an ATV.
Checklist for Characters in your Manuscript
Since so many of you enjoyed the checklist I wrote last week, I decided to make up more for various aspects of writing. This week, it's all about your characters.
1. Are your characters likeable? (Or unlikeable if they're supposed to be not liked?)
2. Are your characters relateable?
3. Does your MC grow throughout the story? (A great way to check this is to think of your character at the end of the story and place them in the opening scene. If he or she would react differently, then your MC definitely changed.)
4. Do your characters stay true to themselves?
5. Do your characters react to situations as one would aspect based on their personality? Or is there a reason why they don't?
6. Are your characters cliche?
7. Are your character multidimensional?
8. Do your characters have flaws? Pet peeves? Quirks?
9. Are your supporting characters as developed as your primary characters?
10. Does your villain have a believable reason for their actions?
11. Are your characters compelling?
12. Are your characters sympathetic?
13. Have you given enough physical description of your characters that your readers can easily visualize them?
Be sure to come back and keep an eye on these checklists because if I think of more items to add to them, I'll updated them
1. Are your characters likeable? (Or unlikeable if they're supposed to be not liked?)
2. Are your characters relateable?
3. Does your MC grow throughout the story? (A great way to check this is to think of your character at the end of the story and place them in the opening scene. If he or she would react differently, then your MC definitely changed.)
4. Do your characters stay true to themselves?
5. Do your characters react to situations as one would aspect based on their personality? Or is there a reason why they don't?
6. Are your characters cliche?
7. Are your character multidimensional?
8. Do your characters have flaws? Pet peeves? Quirks?
9. Are your supporting characters as developed as your primary characters?
10. Does your villain have a believable reason for their actions?
11. Are your characters compelling?
12. Are your characters sympathetic?
13. Have you given enough physical description of your characters that your readers can easily visualize them?
Be sure to come back and keep an eye on these checklists because if I think of more items to add to them, I'll updated them
April 25, 2012
Question of the Week - Survival
Credit for picture
This week's questions is brought to you by the Hunger Games. Just how far are you willing to go to survive?
I don't think I could kill someone else to survive. I like to think that I would volunteer to take my sisters pace if their names had been called although I probably would have been the first one killed.
April 20, 2012
Hunger Games Book Review
It's been a little while since I've posted a book review. I would love to do one a week but that's not realistic so I'll aim for at least one a week.
Because the movie came out, I desperately wanted to read the trilogy before I saw the Hunger Games movie. It didn't take me long to read the all three books.
From Goodreads: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.
My review: The Hunger Games was a fast-paced, well written story that grips you from the first sentence and doesn't let go. It's one of those stories that you can't get out of your head, one that haunts your dreams.
I love to read action and adventure stories. This one was definitely not lacking in action! And Katniss is a wonderful character. Peeta is so sweet, Gale a perfect best friend.
The Hunger Games touches deep subject matter. Just how far are you willing to go to survive? Would you volunteer to take someone else's place knowing that you will have to kill or be killed and will most likely die for you efforts?
Stories that I can't stop thinking about weeks after I've finished reading them make up most of my favorite stories. Hunger Games was one such story.
Have you read the Hunger Games? What did you think of it? Did you see the movie?
Because the movie came out, I desperately wanted to read the trilogy before I saw the Hunger Games movie. It didn't take me long to read the all three books.
From Goodreads: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.
My review: The Hunger Games was a fast-paced, well written story that grips you from the first sentence and doesn't let go. It's one of those stories that you can't get out of your head, one that haunts your dreams.
I love to read action and adventure stories. This one was definitely not lacking in action! And Katniss is a wonderful character. Peeta is so sweet, Gale a perfect best friend.
The Hunger Games touches deep subject matter. Just how far are you willing to go to survive? Would you volunteer to take someone else's place knowing that you will have to kill or be killed and will most likely die for you efforts?
Stories that I can't stop thinking about weeks after I've finished reading them make up most of my favorite stories. Hunger Games was one such story.
Have you read the Hunger Games? What did you think of it? Did you see the movie?
April 19, 2012
Checklist for First Five Pages
As writers, we know how important the first five pages are in our novels. I've put together a short checklist of question to be on the lookout for when writing/editing the beginning of your story.
1. Are the pages engaging?
2. Do you want to keep reading?
3. Is the main character likeable?
4. Are the characters not cardboard?
5. Is the scene set?
6. Can the reader picture everything?
7. Is the voice strong?
8. Is the voice consistent?
9. Is it passive/telling?
10. Is it cliche or overwritten?
11. Is the pacing too slow or too fast or just right?
12. Does the dialogue sound stilted?
I'm just about ready to send out more queries for The Princess's Treasure Hunt, but I would love to have a few more eyes on my first five pages. I'm too close to the story to be able to answer the above questions objectively. Anyone willing to take a look at them for me? I'm willing to reciprocate of course!
1. Are the pages engaging?
2. Do you want to keep reading?
3. Is the main character likeable?
4. Are the characters not cardboard?
5. Is the scene set?
6. Can the reader picture everything?
7. Is the voice strong?
8. Is the voice consistent?
9. Is it passive/telling?
10. Is it cliche or overwritten?
11. Is the pacing too slow or too fast or just right?
12. Does the dialogue sound stilted?
I'm just about ready to send out more queries for The Princess's Treasure Hunt, but I would love to have a few more eyes on my first five pages. I'm too close to the story to be able to answer the above questions objectively. Anyone willing to take a look at them for me? I'm willing to reciprocate of course!
April 11, 2012
April 5, 2012
Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza G*veaway Hop
Welcome to Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop! This hop is organized by Once Upon A Twilight and by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. There are more than 270 blogs participating, and it runs from 6 - 12 April!
I'm giving away winner's choice of an ebook in PDF format from my Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy! To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
Aislinn of Bairbhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparring classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.
The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.
Sir Geoffrey, along with some companions, has been sent away from Arnhem, entrusted by Queen Aislinn for a special mission, and has to leave behind the mysterious lady Celestia. On his journey, he uncovers seeds of a sinister plot, learns a horrible secret, and makes a new friend in exile Jenanna.Their mission completed, Geoffrey and his companions rush to two different kingdoms to ask for aid. Danger and betrayal lurks around every corner, and even allies have secrets that could prove deadly. Geoffrey's feelings for Celestia grow and wane. After learning some of Celestia's secrets, he begins to have second thoughts about his love for her and is even drawn to Jenanna.
Rumors abound that the Speicans have enlisted a mage of their own, to work unspeakable, forbidden magic. The war between Speica and Arnhem has just begun. Will Geoffrey survive the battle to live another day and discover which woman he truly loves?
The Mystical Conch Shell of the Sea has been stolen, and it's up to Selliki, the selkie, to get it back. Selliki sets across the continent of Alethereia to find Arnhem, and Gabrael, the mage she loves. Selliki knows that no union between a selkie and a human have ever had a happy ending, but neither can ignore their feelings. Each night, they experience terrible, real dreams that show how doomed their love is. The final war between Speica and Arnhem is threatening the entire world. Lucifer has aligned himself with Speica and wants nothing less than to bring about the Apocalypse before its time. In the last battle, cowardice is revealed, promises are broken, and many people die. Trolls fight icthyocentaurs, dwarves armed up against the Drow, angels against demons. Only one kingdom will prevail; that is, if the world doesn't end.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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April 4, 2012
Question of the Week - Agents
Credit for picture
What websites are the best ones for stalking agents? Do you stalk agents? Which ones?
(Can you tell from last week and this week that I'm gearing up to visit queryland soon? Wish me luck!)
April 3, 2012
A Long Overdue Introduction
Meet little Christopher!
I can't believe that son #3 is a month and a half old! And I haven't gotten around to posting pictures of him on here until now. #proundmamafail
Look at that hair!
Anyhow, son #3 was born in the wee hours of the morning on February 24th at 1:28am. The nurse delivered him, he came so fast the doctor wasn't even in the room, hadn't even been told to come yet! He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. (the smallest of the three in both weight and height)
I think babies are too cute when they yawn!
Both of his older brothers love him, and son #1 loves to sit next to him and hold his hands.
Me with sons 1 and 3
As much as I love my boys, and I really do love them even on the days when they make me want to rip out my hair, I'm already praying that baby #4 is a girl.
