Colleen Houck's Blog, page 45
May 28, 2014
THE MODERN INK SOCIETY
GUEST POST: BREE DESPAIN-
ON THE SUBJECT OF 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR THAT I DIDN’T KNOW BEFORE
As many of you already know, Colleen recently started her very own Houck Book Club, a place where we could virtually meet to read a featured book each month and then discuss it together on Goodreads. Since then, Colleen has decided to offer her fans something more!
She recently started a writer’s club last month called
THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!
This is the second edition of THE MODERN INK SOCIETY and we couldn’t be more excited! Here’s how it works, once a month Colleen will invite a guest to write an article, something unique and special to them and post it here on her website.
Last month she selected Stacey Kade and for this month she has chosen Bree Despain, author of several Young Adult books!
This month’s book is The Shadow Prince. I can tell you I’ve already read it and it’s a fun story! Here’s a little book teaser,
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.
Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.
Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.
A pulsating romance of epic proportions, Bree Despain’s The Shadow Prince will leave her fans breathless for the next book in the Into The Dark series.
So. . . introducing Bree Despain on the subject of WHAT I WISH I KNEW . . .
#10. Being an author is more than getting paid to write all day long. You also have to become a marketing guru, a public/motivational speaker, a teacher, a profession reader, a social media personality, and a travel expert. (And often you are called upon to all of these things all in the same day.)
#9. You get to meet the most amazing people. There is nothing I enjoy more about being an author than getting to meet my readers and fellow book lovers. The YA-loving community is one of the friendliest and most supportive groups in the world.
#8. Reading out loud in front of a large group of people is even more terrifying when you’re reading something you’ve written.
#7. Sometimes, the thing that used to bring you the most sanity in your day (a.k.a. writing) suddenly becomes the thing that makes you feel like you’re going insane. (This is usually when there’s a deadline attached.) I always tell aspiring authors to enjoy this time in their lives when they are writing completely for themselves without any pressure. There’s a special kind of joy in that, and it shouldn’t be cast aside by doubts or anxiety about not being published yet.
#6. You get to embrace your inner geek! I was a Star Wars + Super Hero loving geek when I was a kid, but got shamed out of it as a preteen by my more “popular” friends. However, because so many of my readers are interested in similar things, and because I seek out all forms of story as writing research, I’ve given myself permission to let my geek flag fly high once again. I let my love for Doctor Who, Star Wars, Wonder Woman, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Supernatural, Sherlock, Veronica Mars, and Sleepy Hollow show not only in my personality, but also in my writing.
#5. When you’re a series author, you have to learn how to write fast! I spent four years writing my first book but was only given four months to write my second. I used to be a “pantser” (meaning that I would write by the seat of my pants, meandering through the story) and would only average about 500 words a day, but I’ve had to learn to become a meticulous outliner and to write in 1000 words per hour sprints. (Averaging about 2K to 4K words a day.)
#4. Also when you’re a series author, your next book is often due at the same time that your previous book is being released. I don’t know who in publishing came up with this terrible idea, but it has happened to me with every sequel. Between dead-lining and all the marketing + appearances obligations, it feels like you’re working two full time jobs at the same time for a few weeks. (And then I throw in being a full-time mom on top of that.)
#3. Sometimes, you get to meet your idols—and they treat you like a peer! A few weeks ago, I participated in at a book con in Texas. At lunch, I ended up eating at the same table with Laurie Halse Anderson, Shannon Hale, and Matt de la Pena. We swapped stories and joked around with each other—and the whole time I was fighting to suppress my inner fangirl so I wouldn’t freak out all over Laurie. I was very proud of myself for making it through!
#2. Don’t read your reviews. Just don’t. My friend and fellow author Sara Zarr gave me this advice when I was a debut author. At first, I didn’t listen to her, and used to go seeking after every little tidbit that people posted about my book. However, that soon got in my way and I found myself unable to write with all that feedback in my head. Even though most of the reviews were positive, they still caused me problems because I would worry about living up to expectations. (And negative reviews would put me in a tailspin.) One of the healthiest things I ever did as an author was to finally follow Sara’s advice and turn off my Google alert. I don’t read reviews (mostly) and I don’t regret that decision.
#1. Getting published won’t make you happy or solve all of your problems. In reality, whatever issues you have (especially if they’re of the self-doubt nature) will probably be amplified. I spent too many years stuck in an “I’ll be happy when . . .” attitude, but I’ve learned that if you equate happiness with a destination/achievement, you’ll never actually get there. Because, as an author, there is always another destination or achievement on the horizon. “I’ll be happy when I sell my book” soon becomes, “I’ll be happy when I sell my book for X amount of money” or “I’ll be happy when my book hits the shelves” or “I’ll be happy when I sell X amount of copies” or “I’ll be happy when I hit the NYT list or win a big award.” The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to find the joy in the journey, not the destination.
There you have it ladies and gentlemen. The inside scoop from Bree herself. So, for all of you who are aspiring authors, Bree has offered us little gems of wisdom that can help you on your own journey in writing. Thanks Bree! While I am no author, I can tell you I’ve been lucky enough to discuss life as an author with Colleen and a few other authors at the book conventions and they have all said similar things. Sound advice everyone!
So, what’s around the corner?
May’s Live Chat on May 29th at 7pm-8pm (pacific time) with authors Colleen Houck and Bree Despain! Don’t miss it! Remember, you CAN post your comments/questions on Goodreads ahead of time!
June’s Book of the Month for Houck’s Book Club will be, After The End by Amy Plum. So hurry and pick up your copy and start reading!
June’s Live Chat will be on June 28th at 9am -10am (pacific time) with authors Colleen Houck and Amy Plum.
Happy reading everyone! Remember that if you don’t have the time or chance to read the book, still join us in the live chat! The discussion is fun and the topics include anything and everything under the sun! It’s simply a chance to rub shoulders with some great authors and ask anything that’s on your mind. Also feel free to leave a comment and share some of your favorite all time books! I’d love to hear what’s on your night stand (P.S. My nightstand has the book House of Secrets by Chris Columbus) !
~ Till next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
Upcoming Event: Houston BookRave
One of Colleen’s favorite things to do is to meet YOU, her fans. A journey that started off with an idea that blossomed into our beloved tigers would not have been possible without you.
We’re excited to announce Colleen’s appearance at the Houston BookRave coming this November! Book lovers, get ready because tickets go on sale on June 1. Oh, and if you aren’t close to Houston, the hotel has a conference rate you can snag.
The Houston BookRave is a massive book signing event! There will be giveaways, events, and food. Check out their FAQ if you have specific questions. It doesn’t look like they have their schedule out yet but check it out and get ready to meet Colleen!
May 25, 2014
Movie Review-Godzilla
I always give spoilers so consider yourself warned.
Colleen’s Movie Review
Romance: No real romance going on in this movie. Unless you count the Muto Monsters which are apparently so secret I can’t even find a picture of them on the internet. This is the closest thing I can find.
Special Effects: So mind blowing good I couldn’t even attempt to describe them. The best effects I’ve seen in a long, long time.
What I Liked: The monsters. They were so awesome that every time they were on screen, it was magical. I was utterly transfixed by their coolness.
What I’d Change: Pretty much everything else. There were so many holes in the story that Godzilla could have crawled through them without bumping his head.
Problem 1: If Godzilla is an apex predator and the Mutos are his prey, then why didn’t he eat them? What on earth would possess him to care about humanity enough to protect them from the creatures. What is their true relationship? That was never explained sufficiently. Also how has Godzilla been surviving all this time? What does he eat if not humans or Mutos?
Problem 2: How does he breathe underwater? I didn’t see any gills or blowholes. Assuming he lives in the water to help offset the weight of his body, how can he walk upright in a city?
Problem 3: The casting. First, the power plant parents in the beginning were way too old to have a son that age. Second, Elizabeth Olsen, who was so well disguised I didn’t even recognize her, was WAY too young to have even settled down let alone gotten a nursing degree AND have time to be a mother to a five year old. Aaron Taylor-Johnson who played Ford Brody did a passable but forgettable job. I actually thought the monsters had more character than any of the humans onscreen.
Problem 4: WAY too much time was wasted in Japan. The whole setup was confusing and pretty much pointless. If the idea was to make us feel sorry for and identify with the father who lost his wife then he should have had more to do with the story. He should have been the scientist that figured everything out, which brings me to…
Problem 5: The scientists. Any time I watch a movie and I feel more knowledgeable than the scientists means they’ve done a really bad job explaining the science. Vivienne Graham played by Sally Hawkins and Dr. Ishiro Serizawa played by Ken Watanabe mostly wrung their hands and made lame and entirely unscientific requests to “Let the monsters battle it out” and “Nature has a way of balancing itself.” What kind of sciency statements are those? Umm…okay. We’ll just hang out and see what happens. Maybe we’ll survive. Maybe not. But as long as nature and radiation are in charge, everything’s good.
Problem 6: And speaking of not doing your job properly, let’s talk about the military. I haven’t seen such bumbling displays of military prowess since Battleship. The idea is for them to get a really big bomb, THE KIND THAT FEEDS THE CREATURES, which is already a bad idea, and draw them out to the ocean where they can do the least amount of damage. For some reason the nuclear vessels meant to tempt the creatures go all the way into the bay by the golden gate bridge, which is the most cliche’d location for movie destruction right behind the white house, and what do you know, the creatures steal the power source and use it to feed their babies. At the same time the bomb is loaded onto a train which just happens to run in a parallel course to the momma monster’s path even though they can track her easily. The train, in case you’re wondering was soon destroyed. She takes the bomb, which is already set to go off for some inane reason, to the heart of the city to also “feed her babies.” That’s when the military freaks out because not only are the monsters spawning but now they’ve bungled things badly enough that they need to send in a bunch of HALO jumpers with flares attached to their feet for some reason into the city to recover the bomb and/or turn it off. If they were smart enough to fly over the no power zone created by the monsters, why were they taking the bomb by train in the first place? But, I digress. So of course the team makes it to the bomb, are somehow able to hand carry it to a boat, (luckily for the them the monsters like to nest near the beach), but still they all get blasted by the creature intent on recovering the bomb even though her nest has been destroyed. Luckily, Godzilla steps in to save the day and even though the HALO team were all told bluntly that there was no extraction plan, there was, and our hero, who only got out 30 seconds before a nuclear blast, was safe. Whew! I mean what are the odds that a boy whose father witnesses the first inexplicable power surge that destroyed a power plant and his mother fifteen years before though it didn’t produce a creature at all even though the exact same thing happened again and a creature emerged, would grow up to become a bomb specialist that got dragged into the exact same situation and just happened to have expertise in HALO jumping, monster bomb retrieval, could jump start a boat, get married, father a kid, save a Japanese kid the same age in Hawaii, understand the crackpot scientists, AND remember insignificant details from his father’s research that led to obvious conclusions such as “Nature Always Balances Itself.” Luckily for him Godzilla stepped in to save the day AND there was an extraction plan.
The Tagline: There were four.
1) A king’s arrival is never silent
2) The king will rise
3) The king arrives
4) The world ends, Godzilla begins
The fourth is the best. Godzilla’s arrival was in fact kind of silent. Not sure about calling him a king. It feels a little wrong like they should be searching for a different word.
Hunky Hero: Really the only hunky hero in this film in my opinion is Godzilla. See? He’s even giving you a Hey-Baby-Catch-You-Later look here.
The Villain: There were no villains. Just idiots. Oh and some giant creatures that just wanted to follow their instincts.
Best Line: I rolled my eyes a bit at this one.
Elle Brody: [as Ford leaves for Japan] You’ll only be gone a couple of days, and then you’ll come back to me. It’s not the end of the world.
Best Scene: Probably the monster fight in San Francisco or the train scene in Hawaii.
Recommended for YA fans: Why not. The movie is visually fun and the special effects are not to be missed. Just don’t go into it expecting anything to make sense.
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Trailer
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Grandma’s Review
Grandma’s Bio: My name is Kathleen and I’m Colleen’s mom. I’m a mother of seven and grandmother of seventeen with one bun in the oven (not my oven). They’re all great. None of my kids are duds-you know, like the popcorn kernels that don’t pop. My father taught me to love science fiction and mysteries. I’m a dreamer whose secret wish was to be an actress and sing and dance on stage. I have lots of things I still want to do. A few of my favorite things include-discovering new restaurants, going to movies, traveling, seeing plays, children, my dogs, Elvis, reading books, The Beach Boys, and Rhett Butler because he doesn’t give a damn AND he can carry Scarlett up the stairs.
Definition of Kicky-providing a kick or thrill, exciting
Review: Compared to the Godzilla movies of the past, this one far outshone the others. There still wasn’t any real plot or story but the visual effects were definitely superb. I almost forgot that there was supposed to be a story. Even me with my unscientific mind I could see there were too many holes in the story and not enough explanation. I felt sorry for the two doctors who were supposed to be experts because they didn’t have any good lines or scientific facts to back them up. The doctor that died and his wife at least seemed to be more professional and it was too bad that they both had to die and not be involved in the story. One of my favorite parts was when the Muto creature got real close to the two men laying on the railroad bridge. That was fun! I also liked the glowing radioactive sack of eggs. I give this movie 8 out of 10 kicks.
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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:
OMIG! (Oh My, It’s Godzilla!)
Recalling that the last Godzilla movie in 1998 starring Matthew Broderick certainly did not live up to the hype, I approached this movie with some skepticism. This time I walked away with a greater appreciation for the Japanese monster. Imagine him as a cross between a T-Rex, a stegosaurus, and a teddy bear and you’ve got a cuddly giant-sized creature worth cheering for (though no one should get within 100 feet of him). Needless to say, the CGI effects were (or appeared to be) so flawlessly executed that it was disappointing that the three monsters (yes, Godzilla battles two) didn’t get more screen time.
You know that feeling when you watch a film that some things just don’t add up or seem quite right, though you’re not really sure you understand why? I had that feeling pretty much through the 2-hour film. There was one night-time scene when Godzilla and his rival MUTO were facing off, and then, inexplicably, the next scene turned to broad daylight in the same city and the battle had moved elsewhere. It was odd. All told, there were a number of discrepancies and plot holes, but hey, it’s Godzilla! The director and producers probably had me in mind when they figured the audience would be too lazy or too stupid to catch on. (A minor case in point: Don’t laugh, but I stupidly thought the rival monster featuring a large pouch between his legs was a male, but it was actually a female’s pouch filled with eggs. The male was the smaller creature with wings, but I didn’t quite catch that… D’oh!)
When my wife and I discussed the movie afterwards, she showed off her masterful story-telling prowess by easily rattling off the plot holes, impossibilities, and ridiculous details, many which I didn’t recognize until she mentioned them. With the exception of Bryan Cranston (Dr. Brody), the performances were largely unforgettable. If the many practical, cinematic, and scientific blunders don’t drive you crazy and you can endure that nagging feeling in your gut, you might find it a rather entertaining film as I did. I give it 7 Godzilla Smash Fists out of 10.
Brad
May 23, 2014
Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-man 2
Colleen’s Movie Review
Romance: The romance between Peter Parker and Emma Stone…er Andrew Garfield and Gwen Stacy er…you know what I mean. Feels as real as it is. It’s cute. It’s sweet. It wasn’t much of a stretch to believe these two are in love.
Special Effects: Pretty awesome. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like. Would really like the super desk that belongs to Harry Osborn.
What I Liked: The villains. The eels. The fact that Spider-man was totally willing to follow Gwen. The cuteness of their relationship.
What I’d Change: Not much of anything really. I thought this one was fun and I can’t remember any major holes in the story. There were several times I thought Electro knocked Spider-man down way too hard for him to bounce back but I got over that pretty quickly. One thing that’s bothering me is the hyphenating of Spider-man. Why can’t we just say Spiderman like Superman or Batman? Spider-man seems wrong.
The Tagline: There were three actually.
1) No more secrets
2) His greatest battle begins
3) Rise of Electro
The most commonly used one was number two which is the best though I don’t think any of these villains represent Spider-man’s greatest battle. Rise of Electro is okay though he certainly didn’t rise for long. Secrets doesn’t really apply at all in my mind. The biggest secret is his identity and his girlfriend already knows who he is.
Hunky Hero: I really, really, really like Andrew Garfield. He’s just so young that liking him at all in a hunky hero kind of way feels all kinds of wrong. I don’t get that feeling with Chris Hemsworth. Andrew is like the YA version of Spider-man. Now that I think about it, his age and life inexperience might be why they hyphenate his name. He hasn’t grown into a man yet. In another five years he can graduate to Spiderman.
The Villain: There were two in this film and I thought they didn’t really get the endings they deserve but I feel good knowing that the Green Goblin will likely rise again.
Jamie Foxx as Electro was freaking awesome! I loved him as a human and I loved him as a misunderstood villain. His ending was a little bit lackluster and I totally predicted it. He needed and deserved a bigger send off. Fantastic makeup and powers. The eels creeped me out and I think his origin story is brilliant.
Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborn and the Green Goblin was an excellent casting choice. Dane reminds me of a young Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s interesting, dynamic, and there’s always something going on behind his eyes. He’s capable of so much…more. Loved him in nearly every way. It only got silly when they put the makeup on him. He came off as too much of a monster then. I would rather see him only slightly altered but I liked how his story wove into everything and his connection to Peter Parker.
Best Line: I love Andrew Garfield’s humor as Spider-man.
Aunt May: Last time you did it, you turned everything blue and red!
Peter Parker: I was washing…[stammers] the American flag! My flag!
Aunt May: No one washes the flag!
Peter Parker: Not anymore.
Aunt May: No one washes the flag!
Peter Parker: Alright, laundry sheriff.
Best Scene: The eel tank where Max becomes Electro.
Recommended for YA fans: Absolutely. It feels like a teenage superhero movie and a well done one at that.
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Trailer
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Grandma’s Review
Grandma’s Bio: My name is Kathleen and I’m Colleen’s mom. I’m a mother of seven and grandmother of seventeen with one bun in the oven (not my oven). They’re all great. None of my kids are duds-you know, like the popcorn kernels that don’t pop. My father taught me to love science fiction and mysteries. I’m a dreamer whose secret wish was to be an actress and sing and dance on stage. I have lots of things I still want to do. A few of my favorite things include-discovering new restaurants, going to movies, traveling, seeing plays, children, my dogs, Elvis, reading books, The Beach Boys, and Rhett Butler because he doesn’t give a damn AND he can carry Scarlett up the stairs.
Definition of Kicky-providing a kick or thrill, exciting
Review: Spider-man 2 was visually exciting. The story was compelling. The acting was great! The whole movie kept me captivated. It was a great movie that should appeal to all ages. It was nice to see Sally Field. I always loved her in movies. I give this movie 10 out of 10 kicks.
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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:
Yeah, Pretty Darn Amazing!
I, for one, am delighted that Hollywood has revitalized the Spider-man franchise with a new series of “The Amazing Spider-man” films, which is the title of one of several Spider-man comic book series produced by Marvel. I know this because as a kid-nerd, I collected The Amazing Spider-Man along with Marvel Tales Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up Spider-Man, and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man. (geeky overmuch…?) This second film installment was rather well done, featuring not more than three of Spidey’s enemies, keeping the conflict level as high as the skyscrapers of New York. But by the end of this long movie (2.5 hours), three enemies certainly felt like overkill. The Rhino (Paul Giamatti) was just filler who barely did anything but shout and flex his laughable Rhino suit. Electro (Jamie Foxx) literally lit up the screen with such dazzling and sizzling effect, which I’ve never before witnessed on film. The CGI surrounding Electro is really impressive.
Dane DeHaan was effective as Harry Osborne aka Green Goblin who was featured in a silly circus mask in the original Spider-Man film (2002). Although this mask-less Green Goblin has very little screen time, the conflict centered more on friends Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and Osborne vying for Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). The on-screen romance between Peter and Gwen is really believable and Garfield, in my opinion, is a fantastic Peter Parker, far more than Tobey Maguire ever was. One narrative I enjoyed was Peter’s search to understand his biological parents’ absence and the secrets they withheld for years. A flat-out fun movie with electrifying effects and drama with typical Marvel humor sprinkled throughout, and I was far from disappointed. I’m already looking forward to the next Spidey film in 2016! I give this film 8 Hulk Smash Fists out of 10.
Brad
What Movie Should We See Next?
Godzilla
X-Men: Days of Future Past
Blended
Million Dollar Arm
Rio 2
Heaven Is For Real
Bears
Draft Day
May 22, 2014
Italian
Information on my books in Italian. We just sold the rights to the Tiger Series to an Italian publisher! The publisher is Eden Editori and the books will be produced both in print and digitally.
Tiger’s Curse-Tentative pub date fall of 2015
Tiger’s Quest-Tentative pub date fall of 2016
Tiger’s Voyage-Tentative pub date fall of 2017
Tiger’s Destiny-Tentative pub date fall of 2018
Tiger’s Promise-No immediate plans to publish
Egypt Book-No immediate plans to publish
Egypt Book 2-No immediate plans to publish
May 20, 2014
RT BOOK CONVENTION IN NEW ORLEANS
As some of you may know, Colleen Houck was in New Orleans, Louisiana last week for the Romantic Times Book Convention. It was a whirlwind of a week with lots of workshops ranging from mythology to the tormented alpha hero, from martial arts to social media, from reading panels to spooky sleepovers. Then there was the Saints vs. Sinners Ball, the YA Teen Day Party and last but not least, the book signing! We got a chance to venture out a little and it was fun spending time sharing stories, networking, and laughing with other authors!
Check out some of the highlights from the book convention and some of the crazy going ons that we experienced. . .
The first item on the agenda was reaching our destination. Colleen and mom were scheduled to arrive in New Orleans at 2:30pm but due to a fire at the Chicago airport, their flights were severely delayed. When they reached the hotel they had to go up a short flight of stairs. As Colleen struggled with her luggage and the breaking of the strap on her purse, a gentlemen stood watching nearby (and by gentlemen, I mean louse). He then had the nerve to say, “I feel like I should be helping you but…I don’t really want to.”
First impressions of her trip to New Orleans you ask? I dare say you needn’t ask. With the start of their alarm going off at 3:30am to finally reaching the steps of the hotel at 12:30am, I think it goes without saying that they were exhausted!!!
While we (Colleen’s sisters, Shara, Suki (in-law), and myself) were waiting for their arrival at the hotel, we decided to walk Bourbon street and catch an early dinner. We ate at Pat O’ Brian’s and while the ambiance was nice, the food left us unsatisfied.
Fine lookin’ date right? Ha, LOL. At least he makes me look a little smaller! I’m VERY pregnant!
We finished dinner as the sun was setting and as we walked back out on Bourbon street it seemed a whole new crowd was among us. In fact, I honestly thought we were on a completely different street. Without sharing details, let’s just say my eyes were opened.
A decent pic before it got dark!
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to attend the YA Spooky Sleepover because of the flight delay but we did take a peek and it looked like a lot of fun!
Over the course of the next couple days, we attended workshops focusing on the business side of writing. Suki and I attended Social Media workshops where authors shared their tips/struggles/ideas with tackling the demands of social media as an author. Panelists Stephanie Perkins, Rachel Caine, Tamora Pierce, CJ Lyons, and David Gill all had insightful comments.
With a couple breaks, we ventured out again, this time with Colleen and mom. The first restaurant we tried was a little hole in the wall called Port of Call. Now, by the looks of this place you wouldn’t think twice of going in but a good friend highly recommended the food so I insisted we give it a try.
As we entered, it was very dark and felt like we were entering an old dungeon. It had the kind of look where if you looked behind door number one it might lead to the basement level where Sloth, the character from the movie Goonies, was chained up to the wall.
When we were seated by the hostess, my sisters and mother looked at me like they might strangle me. Luckily for me though, the food was AWESOME!! Some of the best burgers I’d ever had! A nice surprise was that the burgers came with a baked potato instead of French fries. Just look at this tasty goodness!!!
After a few bites, everyone admitted the food was great and it reminded several of us of the perfect outdoor burger. It was like our dad would make in the summer time after a long day of swimming! Yum!!! Even the hamburger buns were grilled just like our Pa did it!
Another place we tried was a restaurant called Deanie’s Seafood. Colleen and Shara shared a platter of fried soft shelled crab and crab legs with French fries and while the food was probably ok, the presentation of it turned them both off (Shara even took a picture of it and drew in where the eyes used to be). I guess it reminded them too much of it’s former, alive on the beach self! It could have been one of Ariel’s friends from The Little Mermaid for all they knew!
But. . . I will say that their bread pudding was HEAVENLY! I would have ordered more if I didn’t understand the meaning of calories!
Then we tried Café Du Monde for some beignets later on.
It’s a French fried pastry or donut with powdered sugar and it was definitely delicious though, in my opinion, it would have been better with some honey or chocolate syrup drizzled over it.
Now back to the Book Convention.
One of the events was a Young Adult Brunch hosted by Colleen Houck, Tera Lynn Childs, Tracy Deebs, Veronica Rossi, Stacey Kade, Sophie Jordan and Suzanne Lazear. This was the first of hopefully many events where the authors can get together and network. They had a chance to take off their “author hat” for a chance to relax and mingle. It was a great opportunity to visit with other like-minded individuals with similar goals and dreams.
One of the most fun events (especially for mom) is the reader’s panels. Why you ask? Because it’s chock full of games, prizes, and giveaways! The prizes can range anywhere from a free book to a Kindle to a $100 Amazon gift card! Definitely something you wouldn’t want to miss. Plus, an added bonus is when the book cover models show up and you can take a picture with them, even get close enough to touch them!
Later that night we attended the Saints and Sinners Party.
As you can see, we are all saints!!!
The first panel with Colleen Houck was called “Money Matters”. She spoiled the attendees with gift bags for everyone! There were several other authors on the same panel including Carrie Ryan, Ally Carter, P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast, and Merrilee Heifetz (an agent).
The second panel was “Stone Crazy: Liars”, a fun reader’s panel with Colleen Houck, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Cain, Kiera Cass, and Tamora Pierce. Again, there were lots of games, prizes, and giveaways!
The last day was definitely one you wouldn’t want to miss. The Book Signing was completely insane! The lines wrapped around the 3rd floor of the hotel and the room was packed with readers and authors. It was a blast and so much fun to see Colleen engaging with her fans! Plus, for those who came, Colleen was giving away her newest release, TIGER’S PROMISE, the prequel to TIGER’S CURSE for FREE!
Colleen with YA author Beth Revis, what a sweety!
Colleen with YA author Suzanne Lazear, another sweetheart!
Colleen with YA author Sophie Jordan, she’s the best!
Then the convention ended with a huge YA Teen Day Party where everyone got a bag full of books PLUS additional books of their choice, all FREE!! They had appetizers and drinks, games and dancing for all in attendance. Colleen broke out on the dance floor to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.” (Sorry no pics of Colleen’s awesome dance moves, they were all blurry! )
We totally SCORED FREE BOOKS!!
Lots of fun! If this event sounds like something you’d be interested in, plan ahead to attend the RT Book Convention in May 2015. It will be in Dallas, Texas! Yeehaaw!
Well, that about wraps up the highlights of our trip! I hope you got to vicariously experience New Orleans and the book convention through us. Stay tuned for a blog all about one of Kelsey’s Favorite Recipes and Colleen’s movie review of the new Spider-man!!!
Till next time! ~
Linda Louise Lotti
May 16, 2014
Tiger’s Promise Blog Tour
We are so thrilled to get Tiger’s Promise into your hands! Today I’m introducing the TIGER’S PROMISE book tour! It starts on May 17 and will end on June 1 which is the release date.
Here is the schedule for the next 16 days! If you can’t wait for the book, many of these bloggers will give a review on TIGER’S PROMISE. You can also see that there will be some fun bonus material from Colleen Houck as well. But you’ll still want to read the book. 
May 17th Friday: TTC Books and More REVIEW
May 18th Sunday: Rose’s Book Corner REVIEW & THIS OR THAT
May 19th Monday: TSK TSk What to Read REVIEW
May 20th Tuesday: Book Nerd Canada REVIEW & TENS LIST
May 21st Wednesday: Sassy Book Lovers REVIEW
May 22nd Thursday: Mundie Moms REVIEW
May 23rd Friday: I am a Reader INTERVIEW
May 24th Saturday: Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace REVIEW & RANDOM THINGS
May 25th Sunday: A World of Words REVIEW
May 26th Monday: Chapter by Chapter GUEST POST
May 27th Tuesday: Jenna Does Books REVIEW & MUSIC PLAYLIST
May 28st Wednesday: Me, My Shelf and I DREAM CAST
May 29nd Thursday: Fictitious Delicious REVIEW & FAVORITE THINGS
May 30th Friday: YA-Aholic SPOTLIGHT
May 31st Saturday: Beneath the Cover REVIEW
June 1st Sunday: Jean Book Nerd REVIEW & TENS LIST
Before the curse, there was a promise.
A prequel to the bestselling Tiger’s Curse series, this much anticipated novella recalls the beginning of Ren and Kishan’s story. Before Kelsey there was a girl, raised by a villain, whose love for a hero changed the course of history.
Trapped under the thumb of her abusive and powerful father Lokesh, Yesubai struggles to keep her own magical abilities secret while evading his dark powers. When Lokesh promises Yesubai to the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she becomes the central pawn in his plot to destroy the ruling family and take power for himself. Yesubai is trapped by her father’s threats and desperate to protect the man she comes to love, but she knows that any decision she makes will have dire consequences. As dark forces gather around her, Yesubai must decide if she’s willing to reveal that somewhere deep within her she has the power to change everything.
I have personally read TIGER’S PROMISE and can say that you will love this look into Yesubai’s life. No spoilers from me, but her father’s kind of a jerk. (That should win Understatement of the Year award!)
Did I mention a giveaway? Four copies of TIGER’S PROMISE are up for grabs! You’ll see Rafflecopters on the tour where you can enter.
So what are you waiting for? Go touring for peeks into TIGER’S PROMISE!!
May 13, 2014
Sunken Cities- Houck’s Inspiration for TIGER’S VOYAGE
MAHABALIPURAM &
THE CITY OF
THE SEVEN PAGODAS
I first came across the story of Mahabalipuram and the City of the Seven Pagodas when I was researching sunken cities for Tiger’s Voyage. The whole story of a jealous Indian god sinking six of the temples in a storm while leaving one lone temple behind was fascinating to me and I knew I wanted to add that myth into my book.
Layering real historical events and places mixed together with fantasy elements is something that I really appreciate in novels. It’s fun to imagine a special site that could serve as a gateway to another world. The wardrobe where Lucy Pevensie slips into Narnia, the rabbit hole that Alice falls through, and the doorway leading to the chocolate room in Willy Wonka’s factory are all examples of magical entryways that take beloved characters from our world into a magical land where anything could happen.
The City of the Seven Pagodas in the real world is just as mysterious as the fantasy realm I created. Marco Polo mentioned the beautiful city in his writings but some wondered what location he referred to. Local people spoke of temples that had been swallowed up by the waves but it was assumed that their stories were simply the exaggerated tales of superstitious fishermen. The City of the Seven Pagodas just didn’t exist.
Or so we thought. . .
In 2004, a tsunami hit the eastern coast of India making the waters recede far off the shore. Witnesses saw something amazing. The ocean stirred, the sand shifted, and long sunken temples appeared once again, as if they’d been lifted from the rocky ocean floor by the hand of a sea god. Myth became real. The forgotten was remembered. What was lost had been rediscovered.
This incredible story fired my imagination. What would it be like to dive below the surface and explore these undersea ruins? What hidden treasures lay submerged in the deep? What dangers lurked in the dark underwater corridors? My mind was flooded with possibility.
In Tiger’s Voyage, I wanted to use this unique threshold to create a magical place full of mystery and peril. I crafted an assortment of supernatural guardians, ranging from the ethereal to the monstrous, who would serve as barriers, protectors, and even reluctant guides as my heroes progressed through the realm of the Seven Pagodas, seeking the prize of their goddess.
The ocean is full of life, it’s essential to our world, and yet the vast portion of it is unexplored. Perhaps my tale is not as fantastical as it would seem. Perhaps there is a realm where dragons rule, where sea creatures of myth thrive, and where the treasures of the Earth are gathered.
I invite you to go along with Kelsey and her companions on their journey and discover an amazing world full of danger and excitement as you unravel the secrets of the Seven Pagodas.
- Colleen Houck
Excerpt
Kishan lifted a finger and trailed it from my forehead to my chin, tilting my face to look into his eyes. “So I suppose the only question remaining, Kelsey, is…are my feelings echoed in your heart? Do you feel even a small part of what I feel for you? Is there a piece of you that you can reserve for me? That I can name mine? That I can lay claim to and keep forever? I promise you that I will cherish it. And I will guard it jealously all of my days.”
Kishan’s hands squeezed my waist, and he dropped his forehead to touch it to mine. “Does your heart beat for me at all, love?”
I pressed my hands against his face as a tear slipped down my cheek. After only a tiny pause, I assured him, “Of course, it does. I won’t let you be alone ever again. I love you too, Kishan.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. He shifted to hold me against him and kissed me back. It was gentle and soft and sweet. I draped my arms around his neck and pressed closer. He tugged me up against his chest and wrapped his arms more tightly around me. At first, it just felt nice. It was pleasant and enjoyable. But then, something happened.
I felt a crack, a splinter, a pull. My heart jerked wildly, and a fire burned suddenly within me. It consumed me, and I blazed inside with a heat I hadn’t felt in a long time. I kissed Kishan with a disoriented vehement passion, and he returned my ardor tenfold. The flaming inferno burned on, sizzling, cleansing, purifying. I wanted to bask in the warmth of the heat being created between us. It was consuming and powerful. My heart opened. My connection was back. My frame shook from the intensity of it. I was whole again. Time seemed to stop.
Something huge hit the deck behind me, and several candles extinguished in a sudden warm wind. I heard wood splinter and crack. My body vibrated from the impact, and the shock of it made me topple. But Kishan held me upright easily though our lips parted. I thought, What is it? A dragon? A meteor?
I blinked unbelieving as a deck chair flew past with a whoosh and landed in the ocean with a splash, taking the china, goblets, cake, and candlelit shells on the table with it. Kishan looked at me in confusion and then froze as we heard an enraged, intractable voice in the dark somewhere above us threaten, “Let. Her. Go.”
This month, in celebration of Colleen Houck’s re-release of TIGER’S VOYAGE in paperback, I’d like to feature a few articles over the next couple of weeks examining myths/legends/ideas that inspired Houck in her story. I for one am fascinated by the world in which Colleen takes us and love to learn more behind the scenes.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post!
~Till Next Time,
Linda Louise Lotti
May 12, 2014
Tips on how to make a Kishan stuffed tiger
KISHAN STUFFED TIGER
Since so many of you have asked about this, we’ve decided to do a blog dedicated to the making of a Kishan stuffed animal!
Just follow the steps below:
Step 1
Buy supplies:
-A white tiger (size you want)
-Black (75) Darma Pigment Fabric Paint
- A wire brush
-A bristle brush
-Rubber gloves
-Spray bottle (mix black fabric paint with water to desired color in bottle) *be sure to test it on white color plush toy before using on your white tiger
-Black gloss acrylic paint for eyes
-Metallic gold acrylic paint for eyes
-Fine paint brush
Step 2
-Prepare work area in garage or outside, protect table or whatever surface you are working on.
- With rubber gloves on, spray watered down black fabric paint mix on tiger and brush plush fur as you go, working the paint into the fur (may stain clothes so be careful).
- Work color into a small area then move on to a new area on the tiger until all areas of the tiger are colored.
- The white tiger should turn dark grey and the stripes should still be visible.
- When you are satisfied with the amount of color, allow to dry in protected area. *The dye will come off on your hands if it is not completely dry.
Step 3
- Once the fur is completely dry, it is time to paint the eyes. Use the acrylic paints to get the gold color of Kishan with black pupils. Allow to dry.
Step 4
- You should have a finished Kishan stuffed tiger!!! So, snuggle up and enjoy!!
I hope you have fun making your very own Kishan stuffed tiger!!
~Till next time!
Linda Louise Lotti
INTRODUCING- THE MODERN INK SOCIETY
GUEST POST: STACEY KADE-
ON THE SUBJECT OF ALIENS
As many of you already know, Colleen recently started her very own Houck Book Club, a place where we could virtually meet to read a featured book each month and then discuss it together on Goodreads. Since then, Colleen has decided to offer her fans something more!
She is starting a writer’s club called
THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!
Once a month, she will invite a guest to write an article, something unique and special to them and post it here on her website.
To kick things off, she’s chosen Stacey Kade, author of Young Adult science fiction. So for those of you who love sci-fi, this blog is just for you!
Last month was our first book club where we chose the story written by Stacey Kade entitled, The Rules.
Here’s a little about the book if you haven’t read it:
1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”
But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…
So. . . introducing Stacey Kade on the subject of ALIENS!
By: Stacey Kade
A couple of weeks ago, during our Goodreads chat, Colleen asked me, in regard to THE RULES: Why aliens?
To answer that question, I had to sort of ramble first about science fiction and humanity and our fears, and Colleen was kind enough to let me do so in the chat. And then she invited me here to blog about it.
One of the things I love most about science fiction is the ability it gives us to reflect on our culture and issues at a distance. If I were to write a story focusing exclusively on environmental pollution, euthanasia, or systemic racism here on Earth, it would likely be dismissed as “preachy” and “the author having an agenda.” However, set that same cultural dilemma/issue on a planet in a solar system far, far away, dress our planet-dwellers in nifty futuristic tunics, and put the Enterprise in orbit, and you’ve got pretty much every episode of Star Trek.
(And I say that with love, as someone who has seen every episode of TOS and TNG.) I’m not saying science fiction was created to be a commentary on humans, just that it happens as we attempt to comment on other, made-up cultures. And that’s a good thing. That distance gives us the space to consider who we want to be, now and in the future, by examining both our desires and our fears, as a people. As, well, Earthlings. (Or, Terrans, if you prefer).
Aliens, in particular, usually represent our fears–our fear of the unknown (Alien, Aliens, etc.), our fear of being unable to protect the people and places we love (Independence Day, War of the Worlds, etc.) or our fear of being deceived and manipulated (V, among others.)
By and large, aliens are “the bad guys” in most of our popular science fiction movies; they are the force we must rise against and defeat, despite the odds being against us. And there is a certain logic to that. Any society that has developed the technology to be able to reach us, in this distant corner of the galaxy, will be far more advanced than we are. And, as Stephen Hawking has pointed out, that might not end so well for us.
However, when I sat down to write THE RULES, I wanted to approach the whole alien/fear/commentary on our culture thing from a different angle. I wanted to explore the idea of “humanity” as a general concept–as in “the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence” (Dictionary.com)–rather than something exclusive to actual humans.I wanted to flip the paradigm. I wanted to have the same elements–fear, human beings, aliens, Earth, etc.–but use them in a different way. In THE RULES, it’s the humans who are the ones to fear. Ariane, my alien/human genetic experiment, was created in a lab by people who want to own her, use her. For the betterment and protection of mankind, of course. Her desires don’t matter.Human beings are capable of great compassion and mercy…and terrible atrocities at the same time. Movies like E.T., The Fifth Element, and Starman are examples. Stories like these show that we are, at times, afraid of ourselves, even more than aliens. We are afraid of what we can do. What we have done, in the name of power, money, security, even just scientific curiosity.
As Dr. Ian Malcolm says in Jurassic Park, one my favorite movies and a huge inspiration for the genetic engineering aspect of THE RULES, “Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
I think we tell ourselves these types of stories more as cautionary tales. “Remember, we don’t want to go so far that we lose sight of who we want to be.”
In my story, I also wanted Ariane’s “alienness” to be a metaphor for what it’s like to be in high school. From what I recall, it’s a lonely time, when you often feel isolated, unsure of who you are, what’s expected of you in society, and how to fit in. It is, in effect, yet another kind of fear. And it’s been fascinating to see how other authors/creators take the same metaphorical connection between aliens and fear and use it differently. For example, in most popular YA science fiction books and movies, where romance between an alien and a human is a factor, the girl is cast as the human and the boy as the alien. I suspect this plays to the “guy as hot loner, outside typical high school society” trope, which I LOVE, but I also think it works on a deeper level.
The vast majority of consumers for these books and shows are, I would suspect, predominantly female. When you bring the human/alien element into play, it puts a fun and interesting slant on the dynamic. In this particular scenario, the guy really is from another planet, which makes his behavior and decisions difficult to understand at times, and yet he is still attractive in his “differentness.” I think that pretty much sums up the dilemma most girls face when entering the dating world in high school here on Earth, even if aliens AREN’T a part of the student body.
So, in short (TL;DR), look to the aliens in our science fiction stories/movies/TV to see what we truly fear; they are a reflection of our concerns far more than those of any, as-yet unknown society of beings.
So, there you have it folks. Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject of ALIENS or on subject you’d like to hear in the future!
~Till next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
