Colleen Houck's Blog, page 32

Colleen Houck Book Club- May

 The Wondrous and the Wicked

by Page Morgan

Last month’s pick was The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre. For those of you who participated in the live chat on Goodreads with authors Ann and Colleen Houck, thanks! It was so much fun! For the next reading selection Colleen has chosen…

 

The Wondrous and the Wicked

Book 3 of Paranormal Series

by Colleen’s creative and witty author and friend,

Page Morgan

Here’s a little teaser

“Since the Waverlys arrived in Paris, the streets have grown more fearsome by the day. As Ingrid learns to master her lectrux gift, she must watch Axia’s power grow strong enough to extend beyond her Underneath hive. By all indications, the fallen angel’s Harvest is near-–and the timing couldn’t be worse

   Targeted by vengeful gargoyles, Gabby has been exiled to London for her own protection. Meanwhile, the gargoyle castes are in disarray, divided between those who want Luc to lead them and those who resent him and his fondness for humans. The Alliance is crumbling from the inside as well, its members turning against one another, and possibly against the Waverlys, too.

   Axia has promisted that the world will burn. An now, unable to trust the Alliance, separated from Luc, Gabby, and her twin, Grayson, Ingrid is left to face the  demon uprising alone.”

 

 Introducing Page Morgan

Colleen first met Page at the Tucson Festival of Books last spring 2014. It was fun hanging out with her and getting to know her. Page and Colleen are “publishing sisters” having Random House as their publisher.

Here’s a little bio on Page.

“I’m the author of The Beautiful & The Cursed, a young adult novel about two sisters who, on their mission to find their missing brother, discover a veiled world of gargoyles and demons in the city of Paris.

I never gave gargoyles much thought until I came across an old image of a Notre Dame gargoyle with the city of Paris in the backdrop. My first impression was that this stone effigy was somehow keeping watch over Paris. To satisfy my curiosity, I did a little research and discovered that my first impression wasn’t that far from the truth.

Some gargoyles are simply decorative waterspouts, but others are symbols of protection, their faces and bodies purposely grotesque in order to scare off evil spirits. Any building with a gargoyle upon it is said to be a protected place, and the people inside safe from whatever evil lurks beyond those walls.

The first glimmer of a story came to me right then. I knew that my gargoyle lore would have a new twist, that the story would unfold in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, and that a human girl would discover the truth about a very handsome, very dangerous—and totally inhuman—young man.  

For the next few years I let my characters and plot percolate and evolve, and at long last I was ready to write—and sell—the series. I’m currently at work writing the second and third novels for Delacorte Press, an imprint at Random House that I have long admired and wished to be a part of. Every day I make new discoveries about my characters and their world, making this the best job I could ever ask for!n New England with my husband and our three children, an English Pointer puppy, an arrogant cat, two bearded dragons, and way too many chickens.”

Check out more on Page’s website at pagemorganbooks.com.

 

 

I’m very excited to check out her novel and I look forward to discussing it at the end of the month with all of you on Goodreads for the live chat on May 27th at 6pm (PST). 

So everybody who wants to join us, go get your hands on this book (or if you want to start with book one, The Beautiful and the Cursed, that’s cool too) and if you’ve already read it then awesome! You can start leaving your questions right away (but don’t share spoilers just yet). Also, remember that you don’t need to read the book to participate in the live chat. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know the authors and ask any questions you’d like!

For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY including Page Morgan’s complete Beautiful and the Cursed series and Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck during the live chat!

Stay tuned for the next edition of THE MODERN INK SOCIETY featuring guest blogger- Page Morgan!

Happy reading everyone!

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

Mayday Monday (2)

 

Mayday Monday–that time when we talk about upcoming books!

Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. In this fourth romantic novel, follow Illéa’s royal family into a whole new Selection—and find out what happens after happily ever after.

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story…but as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought.

A new generation of swoonworthy characters and captivating romance awaits in the fourth book of the Selection series!

 

Okay…. confession. I have not even read the first book yet. I know! Kiera Cass is such a sweetheart too. However, just last week I started reading it. At a park. 44Weird coincidence, right? Completely unplanned in connection to this post. I even shielded it from the rain.

Proof.

Anyhow, check out Kiera Cass if you haven’t already! The Heir comes out tomorrow, May 5. Also, did you know that Warner Bros picked up the rights to make The Selection a movie?

Let me know what books you’re waiting for and which books you’re currently reading!

Reflecting on Mothers

I thought I’d step outside of the typical blog topics found here, and share a few of my thoughts on the subject of mothers. As you are most likely aware, Mother’s Day is just around the corner and as such, my thoughts have been on my own mother. The typical thoughts I usually have is what to buy her to express my love. Flowers? Candy? Gift Card to her favorite restaurant? Jewelry? How funny it is to me to think that those material, short lived gifts are gifted as a representation of my love and appreciation!

I adore my mother, as I’m sure many of you. She exemplifies what it means to be a mother. She works hard, she has spirit, she has fight, she’s gifted and patient, loving and selfless, beautiful and passionate. She is a woman of great faith and is an enduring example for me and my family.

So as I thought more about what she means to me and ways I can attempt to convey my love and appreciation for her, my thoughts turned to advice she has given me though out my years. She’s taught me by example to never give up, to have faith in people, to be kind and focus on my own weaknesses and not stress about others’. She has taught me to be selfless and to serve. In a word, she has taught me to be…. a mother.

I want to honor my mother in the “pay it forward” fashion (of course I’ll still send her a package with goodies and a note ’cause that’s what good children should do).

So, here is the short checklist of things I am recommitting to as a mother.

1. Stop trying to be a better mom, be a happy mom.

2. Read with my child every day.

3. Give 5 minutes of undivided attention to each child. (OK, there are some days that I don’t even have 5 minutes to get the endless piles of clean laundry off my bedroom floor let alone time to go to the bathroom in privacy. But, if I can prioritize time for brushing teeth and showering, I can prioritize time with my children. It’s five minutes people, I can do this!).

4. Trim the extra fat from my schedule. Get rid of the things that aren’t necessary so there is room in my day for the things that are.

5. Involve my children more in the activities I’m involved with. There’s an old Chinese proverb I have hanging on the wall of my boy’s bedroom and it says, “Tell me and I’ll forget, Show me and I may remember, Involve me and I will understand.” I need to remember that there are many teaching moments I can share with my children if I involve them.

That’s the very short list. But… with commitments and goals, it’s important not to overwhelm oneself with too much at once. Right?

So, for Mother’s Day to myself, I plan on recommitting to be a better mother, a gift that my mother gave me as one of her daughters.

Mother, if you’re reading this… I LOVE YOU!!

Now, for the rest of this blog post, I thought I’d share something that relates to the topic of Mother’s Day. It’s a paper I wrote in college recently about some of the challenges we as parents/role models/leaders/teachers face in the world today. If you’re interested, you can check it out below.*There’s some fun little inside facts about Colleen, written as “my oldest sister” in the paper you might like to learn.

I’d love to hear from you if you’re out there, tuned in. What do you think it means to be a good mother? What are your thoughts about reward systems for children? Do you think we are too easy? Too hard?

If you’ve ever played or currently play, or maybe perhaps one day will play a role of influence in a child’s life, this blog is dedicated to you. A Beautiful Happy Day for all the time you put into a child’s life for good. For all the smiles, band aids, high fives, hugs, ice cream cones, words of advice, lessons, sticks of bubble gum, and positive examples you’ve given. Thank you!!

I love this quote by Lincoln who eloquently said,

 

 

Raising Marshmallows

  When did we decide that it was healthier to reward mediocrity? It is demonstrated in the way we hold graduation ceremonies for children starting as early as preschool, or when we shower them with trophies for mere participation in a sport. We see it when parents bribe their children with cookies if they behave in the store and give stickers and prizes if they make their beds and brush their teeth. Do we really accept that our children must be praised and rewarded to instill self-esteem and encourage success as some experts preach? When was the bar on excellence lowered to mediocre? There are evidences of a shift in our children’s thinking from “work hard play hard” to “what’s in it for me?” and if we aren’t careful, our future generation will be a bunch of softies who feel entitled to what they want without putting in the blood, sweat, and tears that our predecessors did before us. As parents, educators and mentors, it is paramount that we must rethink and ultimately modify the way we so freely dish out praise and shower rewards, or be prepared to face the consequences.

Many parents and experts believe in rewarding their children for doing chores with money. There are charts on the fridge with check marks and stickers, money jars filling with coins, promises of extra video game time, or a trip to the store where they can pick out a treat or toy. James Lehman, a child therapist, said, “It’s pretty simple: If you want kids to take responsibility for their chores, integrate their tasks with some reward system.” Now, I too am a parent whose fridge is covered with chore charts and give allowances for helping with laundry and cleaning up their toys. But, I was forced to analyze this method for teaching responsibility more closely when I found my own children asking me what they would get if they were good at the store. Indeed, are we promoting the mindset of “what’s in it for me?”

A better approach to teaching responsibility and accountability is to set clear expectations for each family member and communicate it both in word and by example. Marvin Berkowitz and John Grych, both professors in psychology, wrote an article in the Journal of Moral Education which states, “First, parents need to set high but realistic goals for their children…Clearly also, parents need to communicate these goals to their children. Second, provide support… and third, monitor whether or not they meet their expectations.” This suggests that we should be clear with children about the business aspect of being a family. For example, the parent’s job is to go to work each day and earn enough money to support the family and the child’s job is to go to school, learn, and contribute to the household. Everyone has a job to do and if we phrase it in this way, a child should be able to understand this. By clearly communicating and setting realistic expectations coupled with adequate support and then consistently monitoring their work, we will see children develop greater self-control, altruism, and self-esteem (Berkowitz and Grych).

                While rewarding expected behavior should be limited, if not completely avoided, we can adopt other methods to instill responsibility. As the fictional character Mary Poppins put it, “in every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap, the job’s a game.” I grew up in a family with six siblings and we had many responsibilities which included; cleaning our rooms, washing and folding our own laundry, cooking dinner for the family once a week, sweeping and mopping the floors, vacuuming, and washing and drying the dishes by hand (as we had no dishwasher). My parents made it clear that the chores were not the responsibility of our mother, although she often helped and did most of them when we were very little, they were the responsibility of the entire family. On most Saturday mornings, my oldest sister would make a game of it. She would slip into character as captain and line us all up in a row where we assumed the role as her squad. She’d walk up and down the line barking orders to each crew member. The excitement in her voice quickly washed our initial whines and grumpy attitudes overboard and before we knew it, we were carried away by our imaginations with a resounding “eye, eye captain”. When our mission was complete we would return and report back. There were of course times when one of the siblings would fall out of line, but another brother or sister would quickly whip the other back into shape and help them do their part. Our motivation for hard work was the fun we would have when our chores were done (hide and seek often being our favorite choice). We had the mindset of “work hard play hard”. The alternative to doing chores and not participating was absolute boredom. Even now, as adults, every family member has that same work ethic and it is because of those childhood responsibilities that our mother and father expected and required of us.

Another way we may be handicapping our children is giving excessive or undeserved praise. It is common to hear well-meaning adults at the ball field shouting out fake praises to their children. The child strikes out and “good job” rings out from the stands. It is not a good job and everyone, especially the child, knows it. He feels defeated, and his self-esteem takes a hit- which is the exact opposite of what the parents intended. Again, I am guilty of this parenting approach and must reconsider how and when I give praise to my children in their activities. Mediocre performances should NOT be rewarded with praise and sugar coating it only makes things worse. A child knows when they are performing badly and having the parents say otherwise is not only insulting their intelligence but is damaging as well. Contrary to popular belief, it is better to be honest by telling your child that they didn’t deserve to win because the other team has more experience (or whatever the real reason) but that they can work hard to improve. Honesty may be harder, but it will serve us better in the long run. Ann Murphy and Jennifer Allen reported that, “Carol Dweck, a professor of developmental psychology, found that children’s performance worsens if they always hear how good they are. Kids who get too much praise are less likely to take risks, are highly sensitive to failure and are more likely to give up when faced with a challenge.” Children are not given enough credit anymore. When did we start believing that they are so weak that they can’t overcome defeat? Why is there more “hand holding” and coddling in fear of damaging our children?

On the flip side, however, efforts definitely merit praise. For example, when a child makes their bed less than perfect (and let’s be honest, it almost always is), the parent should not praise their work and say, “Oh, the bed looks beautiful”, but rather, “I’m proud of you for helping me make your bed.” We should avoid labels. “Praising effort sends the message that your child has the power to improve and change, but labeling him “smart” gives him little control over changing how he is perceived” (Murphy and Allen). Being honest and giving praise where praise is due is the key to successfully instilling self-esteem. Now, let me interject here that each child is unique and may have needs that differ from another. Parents and leaders should consider the individual as always and carefully consider the best ways to give praise.

                Another concept we should reconsider is rewarding children when they model good behavior. It is recommended in several parenting magazines and many moms swear by it. For example, some teachers reward the children when they behave appropriately in school (i.e. doesn’t talk or disrupt), by allowing them to pick a prize from their treasure box. Another example is when parents offer treats as incentives to be nice, pick up their toys, or even to discourage bad behavior such as biting or pinching. What has happened to our society? Why do parents think we should reward expected behavior and participation with candy, prizes, certificates, and trophies? Succeed or fail, win or lose, everyone gets a reward. This is not the way the world works, and we are setting them up for disappointment. Many parents, it appears, have been sucked into this “everybody wins” mentality for far too long. Did we forget that there are natural rewards already in place? When a child brushes their teeth, the reward is not having rotten teeth. When they don’t fight or argue with their siblings and share, the reward is peace and friendship. When they work hard in a sport, they learn new techniques, become more skilled and maybe even win a game. Who should be more insulted, the parents or the children?

Still, it is understandable why we use this method, it seems to make sense. We adopt this approach to raising our children in hopes of encouraging them and helping them to succeed. Yet, in reality, we are creating a false sense of entitlement and crippling their much needed drive and motivation which are vital to success (Murphy and Allen). If this reward system is used throughout a child’s life, they may very well grow up expecting a bonus at work because they show up on time or expect good grades in high school and college because they turned in their average, perhaps even sloppy homework. Success takes hard work and discipline and bribing them will only hinder their ability to do this on their own later in life.

A healthier way to encourage and help them succeed should include the proper use of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement fulfills strong basic psychological needs of every child as well as setting a more positive and healthy tone for the relationship. This concept can be much simpler than parents and leaders tend to make it. It is not required to give lollipops and presents each time a child models good behavior. Instead, verbal praise is often all that is needed. As S.K. Adams and J. Baronberg explain, we should “use social reinforcers (smiles, praise, pat on the back, wink, OK sign) and activity reinforcers (engaging in a special activity as a reward for desired behavior). Tangible reinforcers (stickers, stars, prizes) should be used only for short periods of time when other types of reinforcement fail to work with a particular child.”

Now, it is important to recognize that these methods of teaching children come with the best of intentions and that their efforts are worthy of the highest praise. These teachers and parents care and are trying to instill in their children that they are special and capable of success. Unfortunately, we have gotten carried away with the rewards and praises. After all our hard efforts of stuffing treats in their bellies, emptying our pockets to pay them for doing chores, filling their dresser with trophies, and singing praises ‘till we’re blue, it would be nothing less than tragic to discover we raised a generation of marshmallows. Without realizing it, we are inflating our children’s egos with false praise, excessively dishing out positive reinforcement, and showering undeserved rewards on their heads. As a result, they will not develop the confidence, determination or ability needed to be successful in anything they may want to pursue. These children will grow up feeling more vulnerable to failure, become fearful of challenges and will be unmotivated to learn and work hard. But, there is time and we can change.

I know this blog topic was a bit out of the norm but if you’re bored, unable to sleep, passing the time. I hope you enjoyed reading some of my thoughts.

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

Double Feature Movie Review: Cinderella & Insurgent

Cinderella

Colleen’s Movie Review

I always give spoilers so consider yourself warned. =)

Romance: So…I loved Prince Charming and the way the two of them met and the fact that he saw her and not the pretty dress when she came into the ball. I liked that they had this little bonding moment on the swing, but other than that, the depth of their romance was pretty much the same as the original cartoon. They see each other, they dance, they chat briefly, and that’s it.

 

Special Effects: I loved the CGI mice and the lizards and the goose. Pretty much the whole transformation for the ball was outstanding. The setting was beautiful and breathtaking. It’s visually very beautiful.

What I Liked: The costumes were glorious. I really enjoyed the little touches from the original fairy tale such as the father bringing back a branch. I liked the attention to detail in the home. Loved the lizards. I liked the nods to the cartoon. Seeing Lucifer was fun, if too brief. I liked the music soundtrack.

The wedding dress/scene was interesting. Prince Charming was very handsome and the everyone was excellently cast. The butterflies on the dress were cute and the slippers were gorgeous! Did you know the set used in the movie was made by Swarovski and didn’t actually fit the actress? I loved Lady Tremaine and the Fairy Godmother. She was wonderful.

Oh! And did anyone else see the CGI stag the prince was hunting and think what I what I was thinking? BAMBI?!

What I’d Change: Hmm well we were hit over the head with the theme a bit too often. If you didn’t walk away quoting, “Be kind and have courage,” you weren’t paying attention. Cinderella was a bit too one dimensional for me. The cartoon version actually showed a bit more emotion. I would have appreciated seeing Cinderella actually struggling to be kind to her stepmother and stepsisters. Maybe see her get mad and then calm herself down. Instead, she comes off a little naive at best and not all there at worst.

I read that Prince Charming was so happy that he would be much more fleshed out than the cartoon prince. Heck, just having an extra scene would help that cause. As it was, I appreciated his relationship with his father but other than that, there wasn’t enough screen time for him either alone or with Cinderella to make me appreciate much more than his pretty eyes. Oh, and they are pretty.

There was an excellent moment when Cinderella asked her stepmother why she was so cruel. It started out fantastic! Lady Tremaine began telling us about how she was once in love but then she lost him and…then she leaves the room. This was a wonderful opportunity to add something new and different to the story and to show that there is more going on with the villain than just that she’s evil. I was hoping Disney would do something magical here like they did with Maleficent but it didn’t turn out that way. 

I hated the end where Cinderella just sits up in her attic singing while the mice busy themselves trying to save her. I get that being trapped in the attic is what happens in the cartoon but having her sing instead of struggling to escape like the original did seems strange to me. It feels like a step back for empowered women. It sends the message that if we just sing and are nice and hope for the best then everything will work out for you. All the little girls in attendance loved it and loved her and she seems to be the perfect Disney princess but she’s just a bit too perfect for me. There’s not enough character there.

Also they should have cut more. The movie was way too long.

 

The Tagline: Midnight is just the beginning. 

Well…that would have been nice if it was, but actually after the ball was done, there wasn’t much else going on. 

Hunky Hero: Like I mentioned before, I think Prince Charming was well cast. Richard Madden played a smitten prince very believably. He danced well, was very charming, and was a doting son. I just wanted to see more of him.

 

The Villain: First, let’s deal with the stepsisters. They were pretty much the same vapid, snobbish, bores they were in the cartoon which was disappointing. I would have liked to explore their characters just a little bit more. I loved Cate Blanchett. All the emotion and the expression packed into just a pose is outstanding and yet they didn’t exploit her backstory like they should have. She was sufficiently yummily evil but they didn’t give her enough meat to flesh out the character. Having said that, she was the most interesting character in the entire movie unless you count the brief scene with the Fairy Godmother.

Best Line: 

Lady Tremaine: Who’s this for ? Is there someone we’ve forgotten ?

Cinderella:  It’s my place.

Lady Tremaine: Oh, it seems too much to expect you to prepare breakfast, serve it and to sit with us. Wouldn’t you prefer to eat when all the work is done, Ella ? Or should I say Cinderella? Hmm ?

Best Scene: The whole transformation of the pumpkin and the dress and the animals into servants.

Recommended for YA Fans: Sure. Though it skews more elementary in themes and character.

Compared to the Book: I do like that they added parts of the original fairy tale into the film.

Trailer:

A Guy’s Perspective

Bio: I’m Colleen’s husband, Brad. I’m the youngest of four kids. I’ve been Deaf since I was five so I watch every movie with caption glasses. I love sports and reading (I’ll admit I’ve read Twilight but prefer thrillers like Jack Reacher). My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I’ll never turn down a taco. I write poetry. My man credentials include: a high school career in wrestling, watching sports every time my wife is too busy to notice, a receding hairline, two repaired ACL’s, and a stockpile of Axe body wash.

Review: 

Live Action Cinderella

Because I had no expectations for this film, I went with an open mind. I was left mildly surprised and somewhat satisfied with the retelling of this Disney classic. The actors and actresses were well cast and the storytelling did not reveal anything particularly fresh or new. Lily James as Cinderella and Richard Madden as Prince Charming were fine. It is Cate Blanchett, as the wicked step-mother, that really saves the movie. Her emotional/mental abusiveness of Cinderella as well as her disgusting fawning over and criticism of her two inept daughters is a tantalizing performance that is worth seeing.

One surprising element was the special effects that effectively and believably transformed animals into footmen, coachmen, and horses and a wagon into a carriage, preparatory to escorting Cinderella to the ball. The moment she enters the grand ball room inside the castle, for some reason, all eyes are already fixed on her in a way that made her entrance unnatural.

The theme–be kind and have courage–was repeated ad nauseum, as though we didn’t get it the first or second time around, to the point that it became clichéd rather than a fresh mantra. Although the film was a tad long, director Kenneth Branagh did a reputable job, and demonstrated respect for the story itself, that is, he exercised great restraint that he didn’t feel the need to alter or rush the narrative.

The one thing I wish he would have added was the Stepmother’s backstory as to why she became so heartless and cruel. The mere death of her husband as the reason for her viciousness was weak and unconvincing. Here was a chance for the audience to feel sorry for her, but the opportunity was missed completely. Overall, a pretty good film. 

I give this film a generous 7 out of 10 Hulk Smash Fists.

Brad

 

Insurgent

Colleen’s Movie Review

I always give spoilers so consider yourself warned. =)

Romance: To be honest, as much as I like Four (I’m a big fan of the actor they chose) I was weirded out this time around with the romance. I was fine with it in Divergent but now every time I see Ansel Elgort I want him to grab Hazel, I mean Tris, and kiss her. This is what happens when Hollywood shifts young actors from film to film haphazardly, taking no regard for the emotional fragility of YA readers like myself. Maybe if her hair was different?

        

 

Special Effects: The special effects were great. I loved the octopus virtual reality thingie. I found the Tris leaping from tall buildings in a single bound way too over the top but because it was happening the way it was, I was okay with it anyway.

 

What I Liked: The actors were great as usual. I actually appreciated the changes to the story and understand why they went that route. There was a lot more action with what they did so it makes sense to bring in viewers. Like I said, I enjoyed the special effects as well. Loved the casting of the Amity and the Candor leadership. Really cool choices. Loved Peter’s character. Liked seeing Chicago all dystopianized. That was really awesome.

 

What I’d Change: Not sure there’s anything I would change which is pretty rare for me. Everyone did a good job. The set was great. I guess if I had to pick one thing, it’s the hair. I love the cut but I don’t understand why she did it and with giant sheep shears or something she found outside. Doesn’t really make sense. 

The Tagline: One Choice Can Destroy You

Not bad.

 

Hunky Hero: Four is just as much a hunky hero as he was in the first movie, though, in Insurgent, he took more of a backup role to Tris. Have I said how much I like this actor choice? He’s pretty much perfect in my opinion. 

 

The Villain: Though it was easier this time around to see Kate Winslet as a villain, I still have a slight difficulty with her as a bad guy. Her actions were certainly villainous. The shocking turn of events involving her at the end of the movie were certainly interesting to see. 

 

Best Line: 

Peter: Hey, Tris I really like your hair by the way. Did you try to cut it all short and weird like that?

 

Best Scene: I think it was the storming of the Candor building when they were hunting Divergents. That’s really the only scene in the movie I recognized from the book.

Recommended for YA Fans: Yes! Go support YA movies. 

Compared to the Book: It’s very different from the book but not necessarily in a bad way. It still feels true to the world.

 

Trailer:

A Guy’s Perspective

Bio: I’m Colleen’s husband, Brad. I’m the youngest of four kids. I’ve been Deaf since I was five so I watch every movie with caption glasses. I love sports and reading (I’ll admit I’ve read Twilight but prefer thrillers like Jack Reacher). My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I’ll never turn down a taco. I write poetry. My man credentials include: a high school career in wrestling, watching sports every time my wife is too busy to notice, a receding hairline, two repaired ACL’s, and a stockpile of Axe body wash.

Review: 

Surging for Insurgent? Nah.

Insurgent was kind of how I expected it would be, that is, a film high on far-fetched action and low on story development. Much depended on its ability to adequately flesh out why the dystopian society is based on the five factions and how the government has such power over them. This film fails on both counts such that the storyline was implausible and the action fantastically unbelievable.

I mean, I have to give them props for attempting to beef up a sequel, which we know from history, usually falls short of the original film. Many story elements were added or changed. This created sub-plots that weakened the storytelling rather than making the central story stronger—a challenge for any director.

This wasn’t a terrible film, it was okay, just not great. I enjoyed the cinematography and the actors were adequate: the chemistry between Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) was somewhat believable, but Jeanine (Winslet) was not a terribly frightening villain. As much as Woodley attempted to hold the film together, I thought the responsibility of carrying an entire action movie was too big for her. Overall, the film was an admirable attempt that left me unsatisfied.

I give this film 6.5 Hulk Smash Fists.

Brad

MODERN INK SOCIETY

  FEATURING GUEST

Ann Aguirre

The Beauty of Song

Welcome to the fifteenth session of

THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!

 

“Music gives soul to the universe,


wings to the mind, flight to the imagination,


a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything,


it is the essence of order and
lends to all that is good and just and beautiful”.

 

— Plato

Introducing the lovely

Ann Aguirre

 The Beauty of Song

I’m excited to be a guest on Colleen’s blog! Thanks for having me. There’s been a lot of interest in the music videos and original music that came from The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things. It’s interesting how I ended up collaborating with Alex Brouwer, the indie musician responsible for the melody that accompanies my lyrics, so let me tell that story first.

One afternoon I was randomly browsing on YouTube and I ran across Alex’s original song/video called Prim, inspired by The Hunger Games, check it out.

First I thought, wow, this song is haunting, then it struck me how much the artist resembled my mental concept of Shane. For most people that would probably be the end of that internet story but I immediately messaged Alex to see if he would be interested in a collaboration.

At first I think he must’ve suspected I was a weirdo but once it became clear I was making a legitimate business offer, we came to terms and started working together. He used my lyrics in conjunction with his original music and sent me multiple drafts via email. I can’t tell you how awe-inspiring it was to have what felt like a poem I wrote transform into an actual song. My creative input on the songs was minimal, to be quite honest. Beforehand, I gave him a list of bands that would have influenced Shane musically to give Alex a sense of how the songs should sound. Afterward, I had very light critique alongside a lot of fangirling because it was just that exciting.

Likewise, the video concepts were his too. Alex read the book early on, and the fascinating part is, when we started working on the songs, this was a book I’d written as a gift for my daughter. I hadn’t sold it to Feiwel and Friends yet. But I was so convinced it was special that I wanted this project done, no matter what. I figured I could use it for my own promotion if I went indie, so we pushed forward.

Alex worked so hard on the title song video; he did a stop-motion concept and I know it required tremendous effort. The first time I saw it, I melted a little. It’s so perfect for the romantic Valentine’s Day scene, and readers seem to agree. You can watch that video here. 

 

Isn’t it magical?

The second song and video are actually featured earlier in the book (Coffee Shop scene); it’s about his mother’s death and Shane’s struggle to come to terms with it. Once again, I gave him a concise rundown of my concept and then he ran with it. Interesting bit of trivia, though the book is set in the Midwest, the video was filmed in Scotland, which is where Alex’s real life girlfriend lives. She’s also featured briefly in the video playing Sage. And honestly, she’s not a bad physical match for the heroine either. Isn’t that interesting? How in the world did I find the one indie musician on the internet who both looks like Shane and has a girlfriend who looks something like Sage? Truth is stranger than fiction.

Anyway, here’s Bittersweet, the other song.

What do you think? I’m humbled to know that TQoB&ST has become this multimedia project capable of moving readers on multiple levels. The music really adds to an immersive reading experience if you listen at the appropriate scenes.*

Feel free to ask questions or leave comments about the book, the songs, or whatever you like! Thanks again for hosting me.

*You can buy the music here, all proceeds go to Alex Brouwer in support of indie music.

A huge thanks to Ann for sharing how the music for her books were created! That’s so awesome! I love acoustic guitar and his voice is beautiful! If you’d like to learn more about Ann Aguirre or check out her books, you can go to her website, annaguirre.com.

 Also, remember that you can participate in the live chat on Goodreads with Ann and Colleen on April 30th for a chance to win a free copy of Mortal Danger and The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things!

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

 

 

 

 

Spring YA Scavenger Hunt Winners-2015

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in the YASH, it was a great success!

For those who entered the rafflecopter during the hunt, the winners have been selected.

Congratulations to:

Natalie
Morgan F.
Denise C.
Paige B.
Sarah C.
Emma M.
Karla
Carly V.
Bethany F.
Nikki C.



You have won a copy of TIGER’S CURSE & TIGER’S PROMISE! An email has been sent to you for mailing instructions.



Quintana H.


You have won a COMPLETE SET of the TIGER’S CURSE SERIES! An email has been sent to you for mailing instructions.





 
Chelley A.

You have won an advanced reader’s copy of REAWAKENED! An email has been sent to you for mailing instructions.

Thanks again for participating in YASH! Watch out for the next one coming in October of 2015!

Till next time,

Linda Louise

Spring Cleaning For Your Face #2: Cleansing Towelettes ***Prize***

There are times when I’m so tired at night that cleaning my face seems is the last thing I want to do.  However I know to never go to sleep with my make up on.  Months ago after a long fun day at the New Orleans Romantic Times book convention Colleen pulled out some eye makeup wipes and handed one to me.  Simple Eye Make-Up Remover Towelettes

 

The little soft disc was a small piece of heaven.  It removed all my eye make  up!  (It took two for Colleen, but that’s because she had glittery eye liner on) What a great invention.  I’m a little slow plus I’m a creature of habit, and I was tied to my cleaner and water nightly routine.  So this little towelette motivated me to look for some good quality make-up wipes.  To me that means finding one that is a great quality at a great price.

 

#1

My #1 is the best buy and the best size.  You only pay about $ .08 per wipe and the towelettes are the largest I found. It cleaned the make-up off well, and as a bonus I could lay the whole towelettes on my face and with both hands I could cleanse my face. The extra bit I love is that the towelettes is textured like my #2 pick.  The texture in the towelettes helps to scrub off make up a little better in my book.  You get 150 for $11.99.  What a deal!

* Not everybody has access to Costco so here are a my runners up.

 

 

 

#2

 

 

Pond’s Evening Soothe wet cleansing towelettes have are the  best smelling and the best texture.  It’s a smaller towelette so that’s why it missed #1, and it comes in at about    $ 0.16 per cloth. It’s more dry than the Kirkland towelette. A dry cloth doesn’t do you any favors.  You have to rub harder, and it takes longer. So if you see this one on sale grab it.

 

 

 #3

Oil of Olay Total Effects is my #3 because I like the way my skin feels.  It’s an average cloth texture, average size, average wetness.  It is more expensive coming in at about $ .20 per towelette.  See why I chose Kirkland as my #1.

 

There are so many of these products out there.  Most are the same size, same texture, and do about the same job. Some products are dry, tissue like in texture, small, and expensive. The Ole Henriksen Cleansing wipe in the orange package smells like fresh oranges, but the price, size, and texture just don’t do it for me.

 

 

So grab a package and keep it by your bedside table for those nights when all you want to do is fall into your cozy bed.

 

I have two little sweet prizes this month. (see below) In order to increase you chance to win do as many of the following items below.  Good luck!  1st Prize is a pack of Olay Fresh Effects Face wipes and a pack of headbands to keep you hair back.  2nd Prize is a pack of Olay Fresh Effects Face wipes.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Shara

Dance Scene

Hello!  In case you missed the Spring YA Scavenger Hunt, I wanted to make the sneak peek of Reawakened available to all my fans.  In this scene, Lily and Amon take a break from hunting for clues when they come upon a dance club in Cairo.

Enjoy!

Soon we came upon a building that had been made over into a club. Techno music blasted and beautiful young people lined up, waiting their turn to get in.

“What is this?” Amon asked.

“It looks like a club. A place where people dance and celebrate,” I added.

“My people dance?”

“Well, yes. People dance all over the world.”

“Then, come, Lily. We will celebrate with them.”

“I don’t think I’m really in the mood.”

“What do you mean? What is a mood?”

“Mood is a feeling . . . like when . . . ugh, it’s too hard to explain.”

Amon peered at me in the darkness, his eyes flashing. He tilted his head, then said, “You do not enjoy dancing.”

“As a rule, no.”

He continued to focus on me, quickly discerning more than I was willing to show outwardly.

“You believe it is a poor use of your time and you are . . . embarrassed.”

He’d pretty much hit the nail on the head. It was strange to have someone pick up on every little thing I was thinking. “Quit analyzing me, Sigmund Freud. I have my reasons and you don’t need to know every little thing.”

Ignoring my statement, Amon continued to address the issue. “Lily, first, there is no possibility that your lovely, soft limbs could move in any way that would cause you shame. Second, there is enough work in the world, Nehabet. What good does it do to excel if you don’t relish in your achievements? There must be a balance. Even a king celebrates. If he did not, how could he rule effectively?

“You must allow yourself to feel . . . joy, Young Lily. You must take pleasure”—Amon pressed his lips to one of my hands and then the other—“in just being alive.”

The irony was that I’d never in my entire life felt more alive than I did the moment Amon kissed my hands. He’d kissed my forehead before, but when he touched his lips to my hands, electricity shot through me. Even though I knew his passion was more about enjoying life than about me, it was still powerful, and there was a part of me that wanted to latch on to that. “All right,” I acquiesced softly. “We’ll dance.”

The inside of the club was dark and warm, but the music was fantastic—techno funk with a wicked beat and a slightly exotic sound. Immediately, I felt out of place since most of the women wore tight little dresses, high heels, and heavy makeup. Amon was leading us to the bar when I shouted above the din, “I’m going to the restroom! I’ll be right back!”

The atmosphere was pulse-poundingly hot, but when I finally found the bathroom, it was an almost frigid contrast. Air-conditioning blew onto the women standing in front of the mirror primping and I wondered if the men’s room had the same feature or if it was specially arranged to keep the ladies happy.

After removing my clunky boots and swapping them out for sandals, I quickly changed into the skirt I’d brought and then plucked at my T-shirt, wondering what I could do to make it look more like I was going to a club than to a farmers’ market. I was standing in front of the mirror frowning, when a girl applying lipstick asked me a question in another language. I just shrugged, lifted the hem of the tee, and made a thumbs-down sign.

The girl pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, gesturing at herself, and when I nodded hesitantly, she pulled a pair of tiny scissors from her purse. I was even more hesitant then, but she didn’t make a move until I nodded again.

With deft hands she cut the neck out of the T-shirt, making a wider neckline so the shirt slipped off one shoulder. She then took the bulk of the T-shirt hem and tied it in a knot at my back revealing an inch or so of midriff. Finally, she turned me around to gather the hem of my skirt.

I was going to protest her cutting it, but she set down the scissors and wrapped the material around my body, tucking it in at the side so that I ended up with a sarong skirt that stopped just at the knee on one side and about halfway up my thigh on the other. I’d never in my life worn anything that left me feeling so exposed.

As a parting gift, the girl handed me her lipstick and rolled some of her perfume on my wrists and neck. The scent was exotic—a light floral and musk. I freshened my lipstick and fluffed my hair, said a quick thanks, then left the bathroom to seek out Amon.

After checking my bag and taking a claim ticket, I scanned the bar. Amon wasn’t there or seated in any of the sections around the dance floor. Deciding he must have gone outside for air, I headed in the direction of the door, then stopped when I heard a ruckus coming from the dance floor that was even louder than the music.

Nudging aside enough women so I could see what was going on, I was shocked, not at seeing Amon in the middle of the crowd or his skin gleaming as if he were under a spotlight but at seeing him dance. I’d expected his style to be exotic and very different from modern dancing, but I hadn’t expected that he would be doing a male version of belly dancing.

Amon had ditched his outer shirt, so the only thing covering his taut torso was the thin white T-shirt, which clung to him so tightly it looked like the seams would burst at any moment.

He turned in a slow circle, abs undulating and pelvis rotating in a way that was sensual enough to be illegal. Amon’s dancing was like a mashup of Elvis and the Chippendales. The human sun god was a stomach-dropping, chest-popping, feet-sliding, shoulder-swaying, hip-rotating, flutter-inducing, liquid locomotive, and I was surrounded by women who couldn’t wait to buy a ticket.

As Amon turned, his eyes took in his admirers and he paused. A huge smile lit his face as he shouted out to the crowd surrounding him, “Thank you, ladies, but my Lily has come. I wish to dance with her now.”

Amon held out his hand and I stepped forward, ignoring the gasps from the women around me. One by one, they turned aside, some good-naturedly, some with jealousy obvious on their faces.

As Amon took my hands and began moving his body again, I jerked awkwardly back and forth in small movements and then leaned close to his ear. “If you think I’m doing what you did, you’re crazy!” I said.

He drew me closer and then turned in a circle, matching each step with the beat. Then he slid his hand down my arm, took hold of my hand, and turned me, too. I was surprised I didn’t miss the beat. By the time a few songs were over, I felt much more confident and was actually having fun. Amon spun me around until I collapsed against his chest, dizzy and laughing.

Eventually, the music changed to something slow. Amon seemed confused at first, and he watched with a curious expression as the other dancers paired off. A woman who’d been watching him before returned and asked him to dance. He shook his head and answered, “I am not meant for you. I am dancing with Lily.”

As she left, I took a step forward, closing the distance between us, and ran my hands slowly up his muscular arms, over his shoulders, and around his neck. After standing stiffly for a few seconds, he relaxed and pulled me tightly against him. Slowly, we began moving together. His hands, splayed on my back, moved inch by tantalizing inch downward until they reached the bare skin at my waist. Wedging me even tighter against his body, he put his forehead to mine. The side of his mouth tickled my cheek.

If I shifted just a bit, I could be kissing him. But I was too much of a coward to make the first move. His hands slid to my hips and then back up to my waist. The tension and nervous energy I felt as his electric fingertips stroked my bare skin was driving me crazy. To distract myself, I stood on tiptoe and asked, “What did you read in her thoughts?”

“Whose thoughts?” he answered in a husky voice. His eyes, a darker shade than I’d ever seen them, glittered as they searched mine. “Ah, the woman who asked me to dance. She hunts for a companion to fill her lonely nights.”

“I imagine most of the people here are looking for that.”

“Yes. But she seeks for something empty. She holds out no hope for love.”

Tilting my head at an angle to see his face better, I asked, “Do you?”

“Do I what, Nehabet?”

“Hold out hope for love.”

Amon paused. His body froze in a way that anyone who’d seen him dance would have thought impossible. He didn’t answer but instead took my hand and said, “Come, Lily. It is time to go.”

He seemed impatient as he waited for me to retrieve my bag. When we stepped outside, I wanted to take a moment to allow the night air to cool my heated skin, but he tugged me along, not giving me a moment to think. We had barely rounded the corner of the club when Amon suddenly stopped and pulled me roughly against him. Before I could even form a question, he murmured some words in Egyptian and we were sucked into a whirlwind.

 

Swag

Hello Tiger Fans!

We are planning some really cool things for the RT convention. Check out the cool swag!

First up-BUTTONS!

I’ll be bringing REAWAKENED buttons along with Team Tiger and Ren and Kishan buttons so you can adorn your lanyards appropriately.

      

     

 

 

Second cool swag item-CHOCOLATE!

My sisters have made these really cool little bag stuffers with a white chocolate tiger and a dark chocolate tiger. They’re so cute and yummy too! These are earmarked for the Spooky Slumber Party at the RT Convention but we will have some for fans to take home from the launch party too. We will also have a limited number of white chocolate mummies in a dark chocolate sarcophagus! These are special prizes that will go to 12 fans who come and find me in Dallas! (See announcement below)

(Note: my sis will add images soon)

 

The third cool swag item (and this is an awesome one)-CUSTOMIZED PERFUMES!

JinxyThings on Etsy made me these awesome gel scents that match the characters of my books. My plan is to give these out in swag packs to fans at both the Romantic Times Convention in Dallas next month, and during the REAWAKENED tour. The fun part is, you won’t know which scent you get until you open your swag pack surprise. The possibilities include the following:

Tiger Books

Kelsey-Peaches and Cream, Vanilla Bean, Almond

Ren-Sandalwood, Waterfalls, Sunshine

Kishan-Sandalwood, Rain Forest, and Sweet Grass Warmed By The Sun

Anamika/Durga-Night Blooming Jasmine, Lotus, Rose

Yesubai-Wild Flower, White Linen, Indian Summer

Kelsey’s Wedding Bouquet- Roses, Gardenia, Jasmine, Tiger Lily

 

Egypt Books

Lily-Water Lilies, Vanilla Musk, Cherry Blossom

Amon-Amber, A Hint Of Cashmere, Myrrh, Sunshine

Ahmose-Oak Trees, Moss, Fall Spices

Asten-Cedar, Amber, Spice, Cocoa

In my opinion the best of all of them is Kishan. Just a personal preference

Then there are, of course, bookmarks, cards, stickers, books, and much, much more! If you’re going to the RT Convention in Dallas, which you totally should, check out the website to see where I’ll be every day! The first 12 people who come and find me and give me the secret word which is MUMMY will get an advanced reading copy of REAWAKENED as well as a really cool swag pack!

If you just can’t make it to Dallas next month then stay tuned for lots of fun and giveaways leading right up to the REAWAKENED launch party which will be happening in August! For event information, and to see which cities I will be headed to on tour, check the FAQ tab at the top of my website and click on UPCOMING EVENTS!

Colleen

 

 

Colleen Houck Book Club- April

 The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things 

by Ann Aguirre

Last month’s pick was UNLEASHED by Sophie Jordan. For those of you who participated in the live chat on Goodreads with authors Sophie and Colleen Houck, thanks! It was so much fun! For the next reading selection Colleen has selected…

 

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

A Contemporary Romance

by Colleen’s creative and witty author and friend,

Ann Aguirre

Here’s a little teaser

“Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…“

 

 Introducing Ann Aguirre

Colleen first met Ann at the Romantic Times convention in Chicago. They were in charge of a game during the young adult slumber party called American Idol when Ann played Simon Cowell and Colleen played Paula Abdul. Lots of fun! Since then, Ann has been to Portland twice for a joint book signing. Ann has a great sense of humor and always brings the house down! Colleen has learned a lot from Ann including how to do school visits and how to up her daily word count. She’s nowhere near the word count that Ann does (smile), but she’s tripled it since then (fist pump). Colleen highly recommends that if you want to become an author to make it a priority to attend any writing workshops presented by Ann Aguirre!

“Here’s a little bio on Ann. She is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. She likes books, emo music, and action movies. She writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens.”

Check out more on Ann’s website at annaguirre.com.

 

I’m very excited to check out her novel and I look forward to discussing it at the end of the month with all of you on Goodreads for the live chat on April 30th at 6pm (PST). 

So everybody who wants to join us, go get your hands on this book and if you’ve already read it then awesome! You can start leaving your questions right away (but don’t share spoilers just yet). Also, remember that you don’t need to read the book to participate in the live chat. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get to know the authors and ask any questions you’d like!

For fun there will be a GIVEAWAY including Mortal Danger and The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things and more during the live chat!

Stay tuned for the next edition of THE MODERN INK SOCIETY featuring guest blogger- Ann Aguirre!

Happy reading everyone!

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti