Colleen Houck's Blog, page 47
April 7, 2014
Movie Review: Muppets Most Wanted
Colleen’s Movie Review
Romance: Oh boy. There was a scene when Constantine posing as Kermit sang Piggy a love song called “I’ll Get You What You Want,” while dancing in a disco-like setting with an unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his…er…green chest ruffle. It was so awesome!
Special Effects: Not really applicable.
What I Liked: The music, the songs, the jokes, the Muppets, the cameos, especially the one at the end when they revealed who was trapped inside the box at the prison. That voice was driving me crazy and I laughed my head off when they finally revealed who it was.
What I’d Change: Nothing. It was hilarious.
The Tagline: There were two.
1) Taking the World by Farce
2) 2 Frogs 1 Pig Epic Mayhem
The first one is my favorite though the second certainly applies. Missing the use of commas in the second one.
Hunky Hero: Constantine is definitely much more of a romantic type of guy than Kermit and he’s pretty hunky, but Kermit is the better choice for sure. It just goes to show you that the suaver the guy, the less likely he can be trusted.
The Villain: Ricky Gervais as Dominic Badguy was so cool. His comedic timing is spot on funny. Tina Fey was an excellent cast choice as well but Ricky stole the show.
Best Line:
: Thee louvers, thee dreemers and chee-e-e-e-e-se! [smirks] Nailed it.
That one’s my favorite but really the songs had all the best lines.
Best Scene: Constantine singing to Piggy and the prisoners dancing and singing. And seeing all the cameos.
Recommended for YA fans: Yes! If you’re a Muppet fan you must go!
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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: “Muppets Most Wanted” is the latest in a long line of Muppet movies playing in theaters now. The movie was fun and nostalgic if you ever watched the show on TV as a child or adult with small children. It brought back good memories of Kermit and Miss Piggy. The most fun surprise for me was seeing…
SPOILER!
Josh Groban pop his head out of the maximum security cell singing. Other famous people also made an appearance in the movie like Celine Dion and Lady Gaga (nice of them to help out). The main characters “Nadya” and “Dominic Badguy” were a lot of fun. The prison inmates singing and dancing was just hilarious. The plot or story was not bad either. It was good fun for children and adults. I will give it 7 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:
Wanted: More Muppet Movies
If you want a movie that makes you smile with some laugh-out-loud moments, then Muppets Most Wanted is for you. Familiarity with the Muppets is not required, but then who doesn’t know about Jim Henson’s creations? This film had me smiling from start to finish and I loved their corny gags, puns, and jokes, even though there were some eye-rolling moments. Part of the fun is catching the celebrity cameos, (I had no idea Tom Hiddleston, a.k.a. Loki, for example, was in the film until the credits rolled out), and even the songs were entertaining.
Muppets Most Wanted was proof that the success of their previous movie was not a fluke. Part of their charm is that they don’t take themselves seriously and viewers can roll right along with the punches. Come to think of it, the Muppets is one of the few franchises (such as the Simpsons and Harry Potter) that presents a cast of minor, yet relevant, characters (at least 20 or more) that you almost can’t imagine a show without a single one of them.
I enjoyed the silliness of Beaker, the Swedish Chef, Gonzo, Dr. Teeth, Animal, and many others. Sam the Eagle played a major role as he teamed up with his Interpol rival and their interactions arguably provided the highlights of the film. Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais performed admirably in their roles. If they continue to crank out movies like their last two, I definitely will be looking forward to their next one. I give this film 8 Hulk Smash Fists out of 10.
Brad
Which movie should we see next?
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Noah
Heaven is For Real
Rio 2
Non-Stop
Draft Day
Need for Speed
pollcode.com free polls
April 3, 2014
Spring YA Scavenger Hunt!
YA Scavenger Hunt!
Hello! I am Colleen Houck, your hostess for this leg of the hunt.
About Me
I love tigers but I’m actually more of a dog person than a cat person.
Chocolate is my favorite food group.
Robert Irvine is one of my idols.
I rock out to Bon Jovi.
I prefer a cloudy day over a sunny day.
On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize–one lucky winner will receive at least one signed book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online until noon PST on Sunday, October 6th!
You can start right here or you can also go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or both of them! I am a part of the RED TEAM–but there is also a blue team and if you do the that hunt too you’ll have a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, see the full list of prizes up for grabs, or if you get lost along the way, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.
Looking for my exclusive bonus content? You’ll have to keep searching. Somewhere on this blog hop, I’ve hidden a video of me talking all about my new novella, Tiger’s Promise but I may just mention a few cool things about the much anticipated conclusion to the tiger series, Tiger’s Dream, as well. Shocking reveals are just around the corner. Before you go on though, check out the amazing author I’m hosting. But, first, a few rules.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the red team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!). Hint: the secret number is highlighted in
RED
Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally. Anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by October 6th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’ll introduce the author I am hosting on this hunt.
I am super excited to be hosting…
CLAUDIA GRAY
Claudia’s Bio: Claudia Gray is a pseudonym. I would like to say that I chose another name so that no one would ever learn the links between my shadowy, dramatic past and the explosive secrets revealed through my characters. This would be a lie. In truth, I took a pseudonym simply because I thought it would be fun to choose my own name. (And it is.)
I write novels full-time, absolutely love it, and hope to be able to do this forever. My home is in New Orleans, is more than 100 years old, and is painted purple. In my free time I read, travel, hike, cook and listen to music. You can keep up with my latest releases, thoughts on writing and various pop-culture musings via Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, GoodReads or (of course) my own home page.
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Colleen here…Now I am ashamed to say that I haven’t actually read one of Claudia’s books yet though I have several of them sitting on my shelf at this very moment. I went onto her website and at first I thought I’d counted
17 (that’s seventeen)
books when in fact the actual number was fifteen and each one of her books sounds cooler than the next. I will work on reading them all immediately.
The book Claudia is showcasing on the SPRING 2014 Hunt is….
A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU
Part one of the Firebird Trilogy
COMING NOVEMBER 4th, 2014!
Here is some info about A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU.
As the daughter of two brilliant physicists, Marguerite Caine grew up surrounded by wild scientific theories, always encouraged to imagine the improbable or even the impossible. But when her father is murdered, Marguerite’s life is turned upside down. All the evidence points to one person—Paul, her parents’ handsome, enigmatic protege. Before the law can touch him, though, Paul uses Marguerite’s mother’s latest invention—a device called the Firebird that allows people to leap into alternate dimensions—to escape.
With the help of another grad student, Theo, Marguerite chases Paul through various dimensions, determined to avenge her father. Her parents theorized that people who have met in one reality will be likely to meet in another…that key moments will happen over and over, in different ways. But in each new world Marguerite leaps into, she meets another version of Paul that has her doubting his guilt and questioning her heart. Before long she realizes that what happened to her father may be more complex, and more sinister, than she ever dreamed.
Marguerite is swept into an epic love affair that feels both dangerous and inevitable in New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s glorious new trilogy.
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Colleen Houck (claps hands)-That sounds awesome! I love alternate dimensions. So cool!
Now for Claudia Gray’s
TOP SECRET BONUS MATERIAL
In this excerpt, Marguerite has chased the man she’s hunting to a parallel universe where she lives in London – and in a world more technologically advanced than our own. She’s still raw from her father’s death and the strangeness of the new world around her. But she’s not alone. Theo – one of her parents’ assistants, a young grad student – has made the trip with her. He’s always been flirtatious, but she always assumed that was just his usual brand of whimsical arrogance. Now that she’s seen the risks Theo’s willing to take to avenge her father, Marguerite has to look at him in a whole new light. And she’s never felt more vulnerable than she does when they find each other in this world, after a night of clubbing and drinking that failed to blot out the pain she’s in. She sneaks him into her room, and we pick up just as she’s gotten out of the shower –
**
When I step out of the bathroom, Theo’s standing at the window, arms braced against the sill. Moonlight has painted his black hair, making it gleam. It takes him a moment to turn and face me; when he does, the same electricity crackles between us, and I feel as though the T-shirt I’m wearing is see-through. But I don’t move. I just stand there, facing him.
Theo breaks the silence first. “For what it’s worth, I don’t see anyone out on the street who seems to be checking the building out. Nobody was following us home from the club, either – as far as I could see.”
“Oh, right. Good.” Why didn’t I think of that? It’s at that moment I realize that I’ve still got way more alcohol in my system than I should. I sink down onto the bed, woozy and whirling. “Do you think Paul knows we’re here?”
“If he’s thought to check.”
Of course he’s checking to see if anybody’s after him, I want to retort, but then I stop myself. A smile spreads across my face. “Paul doesn’t know about the other Firebirds,” I say. “You kept it a secret from everyone. Even him.”
“Sometimes it pays to be a secretive bastard.” Theo grins back. However, I can tell he’s not totally confident. “Still, we can’t assume Paul doesn’t have any more tricks up his sleeve. We underestimated him once. Let’s not do it again.”
“You’re right.” My rage at Paul threatens to break through once more, but I force myself to put it aside. My whole body hurts, and my mind is fuzzy and confused and not my own. I need to sleep.
Theo’s voice gentles. “Hey. Toss me a pillow, all right? Gonna make myself a dog bed here on the floor.”
I throw him one of the pillows; he pulls a spare blanket from the foot of the bed. We’re so quiet that I can hear the rustle of fabric on fabric. When I tuck my feet under the bedspread, he flicks off the light so that we’re once again in the dark.
Slowly I lie down, but I’m so aware of him. My breaths quicken; my heart feels like it might hammer its way out of my chest.
It’s stupid to be nervous. I trust Theo. There’s no reason for me to worry about him doing something.
Then I realize – Theo’s not the person I’m unsure of. What I don’t know is what I might do.
It would be so easy, so good, to forget everything farther away than this bed and my own skin.
And it’s Theo. The one person in this world I can rely on, the one I want to keep closer than any other –
My whisper is the only sound in the room. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor.”
For a moment, the only reply is silence. Then Theo rises from his place at the foot of my bed. His body is silhouetted by the moonlight, and I realize that he’s taken off his shirt to sleep.
Without a word he walks around to my side of the bed, then sits down, his hip against my leg. The mattress sinks in beneath him, rolling me slightly closer. Theo braces one hand near my pillow. With the other, he brushes my damp curls away from my face. I want to say something to him, but I can’t think of what. All I can do is lie there, breaths coming fast and shallow, staring up at him, both wanting him to touch me again and terrified that he will.
Slowly Theo leans down over me. My T-shirt is slightly off one shoulder, and his lips brush me there – along the line of my collarbone. The kiss lasts only a moment. It crashes through me like lightning.
He whispers, “Ask me again sometime, when we’re both ourselves.” Then he lifts his head, and his smile is soft. “Next time I won’t stop with your shoulder.”
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Wow that was steamy!
If you think this series is just what you’ve been looking for, you can preorder your copy on Amazon. Also a little bird told me that she’s giving away a signed ARC (that’s Advanced Reader Copy) of A Thousand Pieces of You as a special prize during the hunt!
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Thank you so much for visiting my website! While you’re here don’t forget to enter the DOUBLE bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt.
For an extra bonus entry, leave a comment on this blog and answer the following: If you had a super power and had to go into battle against a super villain, what skill or power would you pick and why? Some ideas might be the include invisibility, speed, bullet proof, a shape-shifter, skilled with a sword, etc. Look forward to hearing your thoughts! Have fun!
For Bonus Contest #1, I will be giving away ten copies of the first book in my series, TIGER’S CURSE!!!
Enter the raffle copter below for a chance to win,
a Rafflecopter giveaway
For Bonus Contest #2, I will be giving away a grand prize giveaway inspired by my new novella, Tiger’s Promise! This contest is just for my most loyal tiger fans! It will include: an exclusive and LIMITED printed copy of my novella, Tiger’s Promise, and some surprise goodies all inspired by the novella! You die hard fans WON’T want to miss this!
Enter raffle copter below for contest #2, a Rafflecopter giveaway____________________________________________________
Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt?
LINK TO NEXT BLOG
April 1, 2014
Movie Review: Divergent
Movie Review: Divergent
Colleen’s Movie Review
Romance: Even though there wasn’t nearly enough kissing going on to make me happy, the friction between Four and Tris was sizzling regardless. There was an understated sort of steam that intensified every time Four looked at her. Deliciously electrifying.
Special Effects: I think my favorite thing about this was the setting. I recognized many of the Chicago buildings so to see them pretty much ready to topple was an interesting backdrop. The glow-in-the-dark flags and the stun guns were cool. Other than that I don’t remember too many special effects.
What I Liked: The costumes. The cast and the acting.
What I’d Change: I think it might be a bit hard for a newbie who had never read the books to follow along. Not sure there was enough back story included in the movie for them to catch up enough to care much about what was happening with the characters. Also I’m not a fan of Four’s tattoos. Why would you cover so much of his back that he looked like he was wearing a shirt? Wasn’t the point for him not to be? Wearing a shirt I mean? 
The Tagline: For Divergent there were two.
1) One Choice Can Transform You
2) What Makes You Different, Makes You Dangerous
I’m not sure I really like either of them. The transform part makes me think that Tris will become supernatural in a way and she’s pretty much the same person she always was, she just embraced her talents and worked hard.
If I had to go with one I think I’d prefer the second though again it smacks of the supernatural. There’s a piece missing there that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Hunky Hero: Four is definitely in the category of hunky hero. He’s one of those mysterious, fascinating, brooding men with secrets. He was very believable as both his father’s son. a trainer in the Dauntless army, and as Tris’ love interest. I’m looking forward to seeing more from him as an actor both in the Divergent world and outside of it.
The Villain: Kate Winslet played the villain of the story, Jeanine Matthews. It was hard for me to see Kate as a villain especially knowing she was pregnant when she filmed the movie. I found I was looking for her baby bump more often than I was paying attention to her villainy attempts. I was more afraid of the giant syringes and the jumping off rooftops than I was of Jeanine.
Best Line:
Peter: You wouldn’t shoot me.
Tris Prior: Why does everybody keep saying that?
Best Scene: Hmm the zip lining was cool. I also liked the first time Tris met Four.
Recommended for YA fans: Absolutely. Go support YA films! Also it’s just good. It felt true to the book and I think the young actors did really well with the characters.
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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: “Divergent”, the movie, stays pretty true to the book by Veronica Roth which I enjoyed thoroughly. Beatrice and Tobias are pleasingly complicated characters but they live in a very sorrowful world. The dystopian Chicago may be efficient but is limiting and stifling to individual growth. Who could be happy there?… and, who knows what is beyond the fence that surrounds the city? Freaky!
The story was compelling and kept me interested. The scenery and special effects were good. The primary antagonist “Jeanine” was really mean and cunning and I loved to hate her. Her plot to take over the ruling class and use “Dauntless” to do it via mind control was especially evil. Why, why, why does there always seem to be some bad person to make everyone else miserable?
The first book in the series was my favorite but I’m still looking forward to the upcoming movies. I will give it 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:
Divergent doesn’t Diverge from Novel
As movies go, this wasn’t too shoddy. It was actually better than I anticipated, having read some reviews by professional critics. The problem is those critics haven’t read the book, hence their lackluster reviews. Even though I have read Veronica Roth’s novel, I wasn’t bowled over by the movie, but I did understand it better. The problem with the movie is it does little world-building and does not adequately explain why society is the way it is. So non-readers are definitely at a disadvantage. A great movie adaptation, however, will engage both readers and non-readers into the story. Divergent only does half the job.
The most interesting character to me was Four. I thought he was well cast and there was an aura of mystery about him. His relationship with Tris, the main character, was somewhat believable. There are scenes of violence toward females, and I’m not a big fan of that. I don’t appreciate seeing men throw females to the floor, punch them in the face, and just brutally overpower them. (Yes, I’m old-fashioned…). But, of course, they eventually rise to the occasion since Hollywood loves to depict warrior-females that kick serious butt, though that is totally unrealistic to me.
My interest did not waver in the movie, which is always good sign, and the movie also did not waver from the novel. I don’t know if it was enough to propel me to read the two sequels which the studios are currently adapting to film. Since my foundation is already based on the first novel, I will be curious to see how the next two films measure up without my reading them. (Seriously, I have plenty of books that are awaiting my attention…and there are only so many hours in a day.)
This film earned 6 Hulk Smash Fists out of 10.
March 26, 2014
Colleen Houck Book Club
Hi Guys,
Thanks to a fan suggestion, I’m starting up a Colleen Houck book club. It will work like this. At the beginning of the month I’ll pick a new YA book and and pledge to finish it that month and then all of you who want to read along with me feel free. On the blog post about that book leave comments with all your burning questions and I’ll do my darnedest to set up a live chat with me and the author at the end of the month to answer all those questions.
The club will begin its first book in April and the one I have selected is…
PROJECT PAPER DOLL: THE RULES
by my friend Stacey Kade
So everybody who wants to join me, go get your hands on this book and if you’ve already read it then great! You can start leaving your questions right away. Watch for the announcements of when the chat will happen. Have a great month and don’t forget to join me on the YA Scavenger Hunt happening in just a week! Lots of new books to read and enjoy!
Colleen
March 24, 2014
Winner of Bree Despain’s The Shadow Prince, book 1 of Into The Dark Series!
Hailey S.
*If this is you, please email me at lindalouiselotti@colleenhouck.com with your mailing address and your prize will be mailed to you shortly!
It was fun reading your ideas about a good story and which mythological characters/stories you’d like to read about. One of you mentioned an interest in reading a book with Medusa, and so if that’s something you want, you’re in luck because Tera Lynn Childs has a YA book series with Medusa mythology entitled Sweet Venom. Click here to check it out!
If you’d like to check out Bree Despain’s website, click here. If you’d like to purchase her new book The Shadow Prince, click here.
All this talk about finding great stories and authors, and feedback from some of you has given me an idea about doing an online book club where all of you are invited! I’ll think through the details with Colleen and hopefully come up some something fun for all of us to do together! Details coming soon!
~ Till next time, Linda Louise Lotti
Spring 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt Authors Announced!
Spring 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt Authors Announced!
Hello YA fans. It’s time once again for our Spring YA Scavenger Hunt. For those of you who’ve joined us before, welcome back! If you’re a newbie, you’re in for a treat! Twice a year we seek out fantastic YA authors with upcoming releases and give you a rare peek into exclusive material and do some fabulous giveaways and prizes along the way, including a chance to win a book from every author on the hunt!
To participate, all you need to do is pick an author to start with, head to their blog sometime between noon PST on April 3rd and noon PST on April 6th, and go from there. Follow the directions on the blog and hop from post to post until you’ve seen all the authors on that team. Then you can begin on team two!
If you get lost, don’t worry. You can always check in on the Hunt’s main webpage.
Here’s a sneak peek of the books that will be featured on the upcoming hunt.
THE BLUE TEAM
LUCY CONNORS
SHELLEY CORIELL
SARA B. LARSON
LEA NOLAN
C. J. REDWINE
P. J. HOOVER
LYNNE MATSON
AMALIE HOWARD
MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE
RACHEL HARRIS
KAY HONEYMAN
RACHEL CARTER
SARA RAASCH
PAULA STOKES
KRISTI HELVIG
ANGELA CORBETT
KRISTEN LIPPERT-MARTIN
JAYE ROBIN BROWN
MARI MANCUSI
RITA ARENS
JESSICA SPOTSWOOD
MAUREEN MCGOWAN
AMY CHRISTINE PARKER
APRIL TUCHOLKE
SASHI KAUFMAN
JEN MCCONNEL
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THE RED TEAM
JESSICA BRODY
TERA LYNN CHILDS
STACEY KADE
JESSICA SHIRVINGTON
SUSANNE WINNACKER
AMY PLUM
GRETCHEN MCNEIL
CLAIRE LEGRAND
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JENNY LUNDQUIST
TRACY DEEBS
J. A. SOUDERS
KIMBERLY DERTING
MEGAN SHEPHERD
LIZ CZUKAS
Firebird Trilogy: A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU
CLAUDIA GRAY
ALYXANDRA HARVEY
LEANNA RENEE HIEBER
CAT PATRICK
COLE GIBSEN
DEBRA DRIZA
JERI SMITH-READY
LISSA PRICE
COLLEEN HOUCK
AMBER ARGYLE
JENNIFER TRESSEN
Check back here to get started on the hunt on April 3rd for a chance to win amazing prizes! You won’t want to miss this!
Colleen Houck
Winner of Contest in Celebration of Houck’s New Web Launch Announced!
March has been BUSY! Colleen Houck spent two weeks doing a book tour in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona where she presented at several schools and attended the Tucson Festival of Books. After the book signings, we had a whirlwind of a week celebrating at the Grand Californian Hotel visiting Disneyland with mom and five of her siblings and their families! After Mickey Mouse ice-cream sandwiches, roller coasters, parades, lines, churros and princess dresses, Colleen continued her travels by hitting Santa Monica for one last book signing at the local Barnes & Noble, and ended at Universal Studios with her baby brother and his family, her hubby and her mom for a day before hitting the airport and traveling back home. Whew! Lots of fun but it’s time to kick off those sneakers and put the feet up. I’ll post some of the highlights of her tour in the next few days so watch for that! Colleen LOVES visiting the schools and meeting fans and excited readers.
OK, so now for the contest winner announcement. And, I’m throwing in a bonus winner since March is almost over and I didn’t get a chance to do a giveaway this month. The contest winners are. . .
Amanda Bennett from Clemmons, North Carolina
and
Ava C. Canestrino from Lodi, California
If this is you, please send me an email at lindalouiselotti@colleenhouck.com with your mailing address and your prize package will be mailed directly to you!
In case you forgot, or those of you just tuning in, here’s what you’ve won:
An exclusive Kelsey Gift Pack including; leather bound writing journal, writing pen, silk ribbon bookmark w/ charm, handmade Ren charm bracelet, and a personalized fan letter signed by Colleen Houck!
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Congratulations Amanda and Ava! Also, I read each and every contest entry and I appreciate your ideas and comments! We will try to see what we can do to meet some of your requests! What great ideas you all have! Keep your comments coming! And, I’m right there with you about the movie info and hew newest books coming out. It just can’t happen soon enough! I know that as soon as she’s allowed to share info on her latest projects, she will! Just hang tight and your patience will be rewarded! As her sister, I can say I was privileged to get an advanced reading of her novella and all I have to say about that is. . . I LLOOOOVVEED it! Just five weeks and three days, but hey, who’s counting! 
~Till next time, Linda Louise Lotti
March 12, 2014
Tiger’s Promise Novella Pre-Order NOW for Exclusive Content! Limited Offer!
Pre-order by May 1st and receive an exclusive excerpt of TIGER’S DREAM, Book Five in the Tiger’s Curse series. Simply forward your pre-order receipt to tigerspromisepreorder@gmail.com and you’ll receive your exclusive excerpt on May 1st.
This is one of the images that inspired the setting for Tiger’s Promise
HURRY NOW to receive this amazing limited time offer!
Don’t FORGET, offer ends MAY 1ST!
March 10, 2014
Featuring the award winning author, Bree Despain!
For those of us not fortunate enough to travel the world on a whim or have a call to adventure where we can jump into a different place and time, we still have stories! How many of you have picked up a new book and within pages, been carried away to an intoxicating world full of rich characters and exciting adventures? Colleen Houck has a true love for reading and loves to share the stories she’s enjoyed.
Bree Despain is not only another talented and witty author, but a personal friend of Colleen. They met on one of their scavenger hunts and have made a habit of going out to lunch when they are both in the same city. Bree is an awesome friend and Colleen is happy to introduce her to you!
For today’s blog, we will be featuring the mastermind behind the Dark Devine Series and upcoming Into the Dark Series, Bree Despain!
Bree’s Bio: “Bree Despain is the author of the Dark Devine Series and the upcoming Into the Dark series. As a kid, Bree would staple folded papers to make her own “novels.” As a teen, she wrote stories in notebooks while her friends waited for the next page to be finished. Her teachers told her she should be a writer. But Bree thought only special people could be writers, so as the years past, she settled into the idea of becoming a lawyer instead.
Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner city teens from Philadelphia and New York. With a renewed passion for story, and the young adult audience, she returned to Brigham Young University, filled her schedule with creative writing and literature classes, and started writing stories again. But regular life kicked in, and she soon found herself married with a new baby, working full-time, and with very little writing done.
That’s when the universe threw a pick-up truck in her path. The car accident left Bree with an understanding that life was too short to not do what you absolutely love. A few days later, her husband brought home a used laptop computer, placed it by her bedside, and said, “You’d better start writing.” Her life has never been the same since.
In a moment of karmic perfection, Bree received the offer to purchase her debut novel, The Dark Divine, on the 6th anniversary of the car accident that put her back on the path to becoming an author. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo.”
And now introducing Bree Despain’s new and exciting YA trilogy Into the Dark, based on her love for music, mythology and really hot princes, book one entitled
THE SHADOW PRINCE
will be available in stores and online for purchase on March 11, 2014!
Here is a brief introduction to The Shadow Prince,
“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.”
It’s always fun to get a little up close and personal with amazing writers so I’ve asked Bree some questions that you might be curious to know!
Me: What is your full name?
Bree: Bree Rene Biesinger Despain (but as an author I just go by Bree Despain)
Me: When and where were you born?
Bree: My birthday is January 13, 1979—I was born in the middle of a snow storm in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Me: Do you have any siblings and If so, how many?
Bree: Four. I am smack dab in the middle with an older sister and brother and a younger sister and brother.
Me: What’s your favorite childhood story?
Bree: When I was five years old, my dad used to tuck me in at night and tell me a story about a girl and her magic dragon. They would ride rainbows to magic lands and save people. Each night my dad would make up a new adventure for the characters so the story never ended. This is one of my earliest memories, and I think it’s where I get my love of storytelling.
Me: What’s your favorite color?
Bree: Red!
Me: What’s your favorite food?
Bree: That’s a hard one. Ummmm, I’m going to go with rich chocolate ice cream.
Me: Do you have a nickname and if so, how’d you get it?
Bree: My nickname in middle school was “killer bee” because I punched one of the jerkiest guys from school in the face, at church. I broke his glasses and his nose bled all over the place. It was mostly an accident, but I became notorious for about a month because everyone had grown tired of getting harassed by this guy.
Me: What kind of kid were you growing up?
Bree: Shy and quiet in public (which was why the nose punching was such a big deal) but quirky and humorous with people who knew me well. I was always creative and loved theater and writing my own little books. My mom says that I didn’t play when I was a kid, I directed play.
Me: Were you a good student?
Bree: Yes. I have a bit of a reading disability so it didn’t come easily, but I was a little neurotic about getting good grades.
Me: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Bree: Either an archeologist or an actress.
Me: What inspired you to write (or how did you start writing)?
Bree: I took a summer off college and went to Pennsylvania to help run a drama program at a camp for inner-city kids. I started writing plays for the kids to put on—mostly fractured fairytales like a Cinderella murder mystery—and it reminded me how much I loved making up stories when I was a kid. When I went back to college, I started taking tons of creative writing classes and decided that I wanted to be an author.
Me: How long did it take to get published?
Bree: From the day I said, “Hey, I want to be an author” to selling my first book: 9 years!
Me: What sparked the idea for you to write your first book, The Dark Divine?
Bree: The Dark Divine was inspired by an old friend of mine who disappeared from my life, only to come back for one day several years later, and then disappear completely after that. I had always wondered what had happened to him, and what might have happened in my life if he hadn’t disappeared again.
Me: What was your favorite part of the book(s)?
Bree: When I started writing that book, I had no idea it was going to become a paranormal romance. Bringing in werewolves and monsters and superpowers was so much fun!
Me: What was the hardest part to write in the book(s)?
Bree: Fight scenes. Those are always hard. Sometimes I make my hubby act out the staging of the fight scenes so I know if what I’m writing would actually work. Good thing he comes from a theater background!
Me: What are some of your favorite books?
Bree: I love the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters because it’s about a family of archeologist (with romance and murder mysteries thrown in). I also love books that use mythology or fairytales in a modern or future setting like Tiger’s Curse or The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, I love the first two Hunger Games books, and Eclipse from the Twilight series will always be one of my favorite books.
Me: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Bree: Audrey Hepburn. She was my hero through most of my teen years.
Me: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Bree: I believe in interest or attraction at first sight, but I think love is something that grows over time.
Me: If you could hold on to only one memory, what memory would you choose and why?
Bree: Kayaking on the lake by my house with my husband and sons in the summertime. This is when I feel the most content and happy and the people I love the most surround me. If all I had were that memory, I would still know that I’ve lived a happy life.
Me: What do you like to do for fun?
Bree: Read, watch movies, go to plays, kayak, Vespa-ing, and leisurely riding my bike or walking around the lake.
Me: What was your life like before becoming an author?
Bree: Pretty much the same as it is now—being the mom of two boys and trying to sneak in writing time any chance I got. I’m just a bit (haha) busier now.
Me: What motivated you to write a story based on Greek mythology, specifically the story of Hades and Persephone?
Bree: The original inspiration for the book came from the song “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Deathcab for Cutie. I used to listen to the song on a loop in my car and wonder about the sentiment behind it—the idea of loving someone enough that you would follow them into the dark (or the unknown, as I like to think of it). I’m a huge mythology geek, and both the stories of Persephone and Hades and Orpheus and Eurydice came to my mind as characters went “into the dark.” I also wanted to explore more feminist interpretations of the Persephone myth, in which she is a not a victim but a powerful driver of her own destiny.
Me: Which character, Haden or Daphne, was created first in your mind and who (if either) do you relate to more?
Bree:Haden came to me first. The very first image that came to me for this book was of an Underworld prince (who has superpowers) sitting at a table in a high school cafeteria, pretending to be an average teen and feeling completely overwhelmed, and then another student tries to pick a fight with him. Haden has to force himself to let the guy hit him without retaliating, because he knows that he is not in control of his powers enough in the mortal world to not kill the guy with his strength. That was the first scene I wrote about this character many, many years ago—and I am happy that a version of it made it into the book! I think I relate most to Haden because I often feel like a fish out of water. Daphne is more confident than I am in most social situations.
Me: I thought it quite unique to read a story that bounced back and forth between the two character’s perspectives. What motivated you to write in the style that you did and were there any pros/cons that you discovered along the way?
Bree:I started writing this book about seven years ago. The first character who came to me was Haden, but at the time I was scared off from the idea of writing from a guy’s POV, so I started the story over using Daphne as the POV character. However, Haden’s character kept popping up in my head. He would not leave me alone! So after writing three books and living in a house full of boys for several years, I felt like I had enough experience to give his POV a try again. In the end, his POV was actually the easiest for me to write.
The pro of writing dual perspective is that I loved being able to tell both sides of the story. The hardest part about writing dual POV is that it was hard to switch back and forth inside my head from scene to scene. What I ended up doing was writing a very detailed scene by scene outline of the book, so that way I could write several scenes in one character’s POV before switching to the other and going back to fill in what happened in their scenes.
Me: Daphne is quite musically gifted. Are you musical too?
Bree:I have absolutely no musical talent! After suffering through four years of piano lessons, all I could play was the right hand to “When I Fall in Love.” However, I have a great appreciation for music and the musical talents of others. Discovering new songs and bands is one of my favorite things.
Me: Which series did you like writing more, the werewolf series of this new one Into the Dark?
Bree: That’s a hard question—all of my books are my babies. My first novel The Dark Divine will always have a special place in my heart because it was a book I wrote for myself, without deadlines or any outside pressure or expectations. Each book I’ve written since then has been ten times harder than the last—but that’s because I keep trying to challenge and push myself. At the moment, The Shadow Prince is my favorite book—not because it was easy to write, but because it was super hard. This book was challenging and complex, and having tackled it, I feel pretty darn happy with it.
Me: How personal is your writing?
Bree: I put a lot of myself on the page. I like to think of being an author as being a sponge—I soak up the world and inspirations around me and then filter it through my own life experiences on to the page.
Me: Do you outline?
Bree: Yes. I used to be a panster (write by the seat of your pants), but in-depth outlining helps me live through tight deadlines.
Me: What is your writing routine?
Bree: I am naturally a slow writer who would normally agonize over every word and barely get anything on the page day after day—so to combat this (and make my deadlines) I make myself write in fast sprints during the day. Like challenge myself to write 1000 words in an hour, two or three times a day. Making myself go fast forces my overbearing internal editor to turn off and then I can just write. I love revising, so I am always happy to have something on the page that I can then play with and make pretty later.
Me: Which comes first, the story or the character?
Bree: Characters. Or often it’s a conversation or interaction between two characters that comes to me first and makes me think, “What on earth is going on between these two? I must find out!”
Me: What advice would you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Bree: You need to be willing to revise. That’s where the magic happens.
Me: How is your life different now that you are published?
Bree: It’s a whole lot busier! But I have also gotten to meet so many wonderful people—readers, writers, authors—who I never would have met otherwise.
Me: What is your main goal when you write a book?
Bree: To tell a good story.
Me: Who has inspired you and influenced your work?
Bree: Meg Cabot, Elizabeth Peters, JK Rowling, Joss Whedon…and so many others it’s hard to name them all.
Me: In one sentence, what advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Bree: Find happiness in the journey, not just the destination.
So that’s a little glimpse into the beautiful life of Bree Despain. If you’d like to check out her website, click here. If you’d like to purchase her new book Into The Dark, click here.
And, for those of you dying for a special copy of INTO THE DARK signed by Bree Despain herself, you can enter to win your very own copy! Simply leave a comment with your name below and answer the following question,
If you could read a young adult trilogy based on any myth, which one would you chose and why?
*A winner will be selected and announced over the next few weeks.
I look forward to reading your thoughts!
~Till next time, Linda Louise Lotti
March 5, 2014
Colleen Houck Visits Tucson, Arizona and Santa Monica, California!
Houck is on tour again and this time she’s visiting the sunny skies of Tucson, Arizona followed by a quick visit to Santa Monica, California!
She’s so excited to meet some of her fans there and see so many young faces as she visits schools around the city. For those who would love to come out and see her, she will signing books and giving away prizes at the Tucson Festival of Books taking place at the University of Arizona (should be LOTS of fun for the whole family! check it out here) and the Barnes and Noble located at the Foothills Mall. Here’s what’s happening for the next couple weeks:
March 5th- School visit to Rincon Vista Middle 1pm to 2:30pm
March 7th- School visit to Sahuaro High 9am to 11:30am, school visit to Senita Valley Elementary 1:30pm to 2:30pm
March 8th- Barnes & Noble Book Event @ Foothills Mall 2pm-4pm
March 10th- School visit to C.E. Rose K-8 2pm to 3pm
March 11th- School visit to Heber J. Grant at 2pm
March 13th- School visit to Gridley Middle 1pm to 2:30pm
March 14th- School visit to Arizona State School for Deaf & Blind 11:30am to 12:30pm.
March 15th- Tucson Festival of Books @ University of Arizona 9am to 5:30pm.
March 20th- Barnes & Noble Book Event @ Santa Monica in Santa Monica, California 7pm.
You don’t want to miss the opportunity to come to these events, they will be so much fun and Houck NEVER disappoints! Lots of prize giveaways and book signings to come! Have a great week everyone!!
~Till next time, Linda Louise
