Kristi Chestnutt's Blog, page 3

Announcement!

I know, I know! IT'S BEEN SOOOOOO LONG!

Alas, I'm still in the writing cave (and making awesome progress, woohoo!)

BUT I have emerged from the depths of coffee and early morning word escapades to share some news with you all...

I'm now a new contributor over at All The Write Notes!

If you couldn't tell by my exclamation point abuse (!!!), this is something I'm a bit excited about. It's going to be a very, very cool adventure and there's lots of amazing writers I'll be joining. And seriously guys? I'm stoked they asked me.

Haven't heard of us before? AWESOME. Like music and writing? DOUBLE AWESOME. Now's your chance.

You can check us out in the following places:
Website: www.allthewritenotes.com
Twitter: @TheWriteNotes (https://twitter.com/TheWriteNotes)
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq0oFcu0yMlorLMTg01hrg
Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/#all-the-write-notes

More news to come (as I have it), but if you get a minute, head on over and spread the bloggy love to my new friends!

HAPPY FRIDAY, and as always...

Peace, love & books,

Wednesday Book Recommendation: Every Day

Goodreads Description: 

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.



M y thoughts (5 of 5 stars!):
Absolutely fantastic. Such a brilliant book. One of the rare ones that makes you think the whole way through while also being very entertaining. Overall: very moving, very well done, and the ending? As it should be.

In case it isn't clear, I loved everything about it.
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On a related sidenote: this is the second David Levithan book I've read, and just wow. His voice is always spot on, his stories always suck me right in, and yeah, I'm quickly becoming a fangirl of his work. (Also starting to think he's a bit of a genius.)

And the last few books I've read have been REALLY, really good. I'm on a roll I hope doesn't end soon. Actually, (spoilers!), I know it doesn't. Currently reading Victoria Schwab's The Near Witch and pretty much adoring everything about it.

So, until next time, sugarpuffs (don't ask...I have no idea where this came from, only that it seemed to fit in my head and I liked it, so yanno', we're going with it)...

Wishing you all peace, love and a summer full of great books!

Life lessons via TV/Movie Clips: Take 2

LIFE LESSON #2: MAKE FRIENDS

Kudos to the person (or writer) who can make it through life (or a draft) alone. I think that's a rare talent. Because most of us? We need others. We crave acceptance and camaraderie.

There's just something special about sharing life with another human being who GETS IT, who understands, and who no matter what happens, will no questions asked, be there for you, no matter what insane or stupid thing you do. That's the stuff the best friendships are made of. Those are the ones, both in real life and in the books and movies, that move us. And those relationships are the ones I adore reading about, and the ones that are so much fun to write.

But the thing about GOOD FRIENDS is that they're often hard to come by. Friendship is vital. But it's also risky. We're all flawed. We make mistakes. It can hurt. You can get burned. You can accidentally and unintentionally do the burning. Friendship doesn't mean you're both perfect, most of the time it just means you both care enough about each other to ignore or deal with the flaws. And to always support each other.

Here's the thing--don't let fear or past experience stop you from opening up to the possibility. You never know what you could be missing. No one gets anywhere by not trying. And you're never too old to make new friends. Trust me.

So, be brave, open yourself up to friendship, choose wisely, and love well, because when you do make those friends, the ones who could never be replaced, they last a lifetime. And whether or not you see them on a regular basis, they'll leave a friend-shaped place in your heart forever.

Wednesday Book Recommendation: The Firelight Trilogy

I recently recommended this YA series to a friend of mine, and was SHOCKED when I went to add my review of the third book to my blog, only to realize I'd never posted the first two.

So, let's make up for lost time, shall we? All three at once? Yes, please.
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Goodreads Description:
A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

My thoughts (4 of 5 stars):
Adored this unique concept from the very first page! How can you not? Because, um, DRAGONS.

Sophie Jordan makes it all too easy to get lost in Jacinda's world--a world where the draki girl struggles to do what's right, fights against what's expected of her, often stumbling along the way, but always, always, always follows her own inner compass. I love that. I love a main character who is headstrong, who makes mistakes, and learns as the book progresses. And Jacinda is all of that and more.

Definitely a series I can't wait to continue.
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Goodreads Description: An impossible romance.
Bitter rivalries.
Deadly choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

My thoughts (5 of 5 stars):
Love the uniqueness of this story and it's one of the few YA books in which I honestly can't pick a side. I'm just as torn as Jacinda.

Can't wait for book #3. Beautifully written.
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Goodreads Description: Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

 My thoughts (5 of 5 stars): These books are like candy~sweet, sweet, unputdownable candy. And this book, the last in a series of three, didn't disappoint.

I loved everything about it. The plot, the pacing, the writing, the ending...but my favorite part? The characters and their complicated relationships. And the underlying theme of forgiveness and redemption that was woven throughout.

A great end to a really fun series.
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Until next time...peace, love, and books!

Wednesday Book Recommendation: Eleanor & Park

   My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Description:
"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.


My thoughts:
ALL THE FEELS!

Ahem, sorry for the shouting, but I'm not quite sure how to put my love for this book into words.

This story is quirky in all the best ways, the story somehow simple and yet complex all at once. At its core, it's a story of first love, but as you read, you realize it's about so much more~about belonging, and abuse, and stereotypes, and self image...so many things we can all relate to. And yet, there's also this simpleness that's woven throughout, this love that is found with the light touch of a hand or a kind word.

I fell HARD for these two misfits. And I loved every single minute of getting to know them. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Please note: this book does contain some language throughout, but to me, it was organic to the story and necessary. It felt real to the characters, not excessive. Just FYI. :)

Writing Cave~a progress report of sorts (kind of)

Remember that time I thought I could write two books in a year? With a full time job? And a family? And my neurotic need to revise and get feedback as I draft? *laughs maniacally*

Yeah. I like a good challenge. And I still haven't given up on it. Not entirely. Both stories have a pretty hefty start, but over the last few weeks, one of them has pulled ahead of the other. It's begging to be finished.

And so, when you don't see me around the blogosphere much these days, it's safe to assume you know where I am: The Writing Cave. Generally first thing in the morning. And if you happen to be on Twitter, definitely catch up with me there (@kristikay13). It's easier to meet new people and keep up with things there when I'm busy.

And guys? I'm having so much fun. Both on Twitter and with the writing.

There's a reason those of us that write DO THIS THING. And lately I've been remembering why. It fills us up in a way other things don't. The words bring about their own sense of peace when we get them right...when we tell that story that needs to live in a place outside of our own heads.

Yeah. That.

Happy Saturday, bloggy friends!

Wishing  you peace, love, books, and ALL the good words!

Universal Writer Truths

Guys, in case no one has told you today and you needed to hear it: YOU ROCK.

Yes, YOU. And, YOU. And probably, YOU. Ok, yes, even, YOU.

ALL OF YOU!!!

This community of people ~ whether you're a writer, a reader, a friend, a blogger, or maybe a person who likes to lurk in the blog corners, reading with anonymity ~ makes my heart happy. I think back to the beginnings of this blog and the amazing people I've met as a result (both in person and online), and just smile. For the most part, a good number of you, like me, are writers or book lovers, and the more I get to know you, the more we journey together, I feel like even at our most DIFFERENT, we are all very much the same.

For it is a truth universally acknowledged, that every writer in possession of a need to make words, must be in want of writer friends to journey with. (Ok, so maybe that's NOT quite how the quote goes, but I kind of like my version.)


A few writerly universal truths I've learned along the way:

1 - We're an INSECURE bunch.

Especially when it comes to our writing. I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter where in the process you are, whether you're writing a first draft/editing/polishing/revising/critiquing/querying/on submission, it's there. The fear that what you've written, what you hold most dear, won't be worthy, that *gasp* others won't see the beauty of the world you've created, that you're wasting your time, that < insert other self-depracating writerly thoughts here. >

And you know what? It's okay. It just means you're one of us. Embrace it. Bond over it. Laugh over it. It's a good fear. It's what challenges us to learn, to get better, and to excel.



2 - We NEED each other.

We do. I'm not sure I've met a writer yet who could do this thing alone. Whether it's a friend, family member, critique group, agent, editor, you name it...we need people in our corner, people who will read our words, tell us when we've got it right, and more importantly, when we've got it wrong. Writing is a solitary thing, something we each have to do alone, which makes it that much more important that we get over our insecurities in #1 so that we can achieve #2. Sure, it's SCARY as all get out sending that new project to your critique group/agent/editor for the first time, or to someone new who has never read your work, but you know what? That's the magic. There are people out there willing to share this journey with you. And you need them.



3 - Coffee/Tea/Cupcakes/Chocolate solves all manner of writer problems.

Trust me on this. If you've been around writers for any manner of time at all, you've surely realized one thing: we talk about caffeine ALOT. And food. ALOT. But not normal everyday food, no. SWEETS. Apparently most of us are into rewards. My critique group? Cupcakes. (Though, honestly, whatever sweet is nearby when the book is finished or good news comes, is a legit option. Pretty sure I celebrated with chocolate chip cookie dough filled flautas one time. And yes, they were AS DELICIOUS as they sound. I probably also gained 5 pounds after eating them. Which is why you should always reward sparingly.)



4 - Pretty sure most of us could be hermits.

Sure, we get out, we can be social, we occasionally DO things. But you know what? Most of the time we prefer to be at home. With our laptops. In our pajamas. Or sweats. We can socialize via the internet and stay inside for weeks on end (if we had the option and plenty of aforementioned caffeine). Let's face it: people who write novels that require thousands of words are perfectly okay with being alone. We have our made-up worlds to create.



5 - Benedict Cumberbatch

Okay, I really don't have a 5th thing but it seemed like I should, you know? Like a list of four is lame whereas a list of five is brilliant. And it's Friday, which is totally Benedict Cumberbatch worthy and rounds out my love of BBC television show theme. You're welcome.



Have a great weekend everyone!

Peace, love and books,

Life Lessons via TV/Movie clips

LIFE LESSON #1: ALWAYS BE YOURSELF

Cheesy, cliche, and simple, right?

But let's be honest. In today's culture of fitting in and juggling schedules and being busy...some days it's hard. Some days I'm too busy keeping up to remember who I am, what I like doing, and what makes me, "me". And sometimes, I suspect, for all of us, those sneaky little things we "think" we have mastered are really the ones we let slip through our fingers.

I've had this post half-written for awhile, but I was reminded yesterday just how easy it is in certain situations to get awkward, to stand there totally not okay in your own skin and have no words to say. Sure, it was a sad occasion where words are often hard to find, but instead of taking the opportunity to get to know new people or to even attempt to express the words I didn't have, to let them know my heart was aching for them, I melted into a corner amongst friends I already knew.

And it felt every bit as horrible as you can imagine. It's still bothering me. Because I was too scared, too intimidated, to just be me, for the fear, deep down, that I would say something wrong, that people wouldn't like me, and a million other tiny little things that, given the chance, win out over the happiness of just being. And that makes me sad.

My mantra has always been: Normal is boring. Be you.

So what if I said something wrong or looked like an idiot? It could have given someone a much needed laugh or I could have made a friend through the awkwardness.

I guess my point is that sometimes being yourself takes courage, most especially when you don't know how people are going to react. But if you never try, you never know. And if the past week has taught me anything, it's that when you ARE you, no matter how dorky and silly and honest that person is, people will respond to that kind of honesty. And it will feel AMAZING.

Some of my most favorite TV/movie personalities are the less understood ones, the ones that we all love that don't always quite have it together.

And so, in that spirit, I give you Napolean Dynamite.

If he isn't the poster boy for being yourself, I don't know who is. Also? I'm pretty sure he stole some of my dance moves.

Happy Wednesday guys!

Wishing you all Peace, Love, & Books!



PS-anyone else find it terribly ironic that I quit cable/satellite television and am now using clips in my posts?

Wednesday Book Recommendation!

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Description:
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

My thoughts:
Adored this book!

Not only is the plot/story unique, but the pace is perfect, keeping you moving along, needing to know what happens, all while falling for the characters more with each and every page turned.

Well written, intriguing, and a favorite. Can not wait to continue this series.

View all my reviews

 

Wednesday Book Recommendation!

The Secret Underground by Natalie Bahm

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads Description:
Twelve-year-old Ally is the only witness to a bank robbery in her small town. Unable to block out the memory of the robbers, a notorious gang known as the Gauze Men, Ally joins her little brother and a bunch of neighborhood boys digging a hole in her backyard.

Only the hole isn't just a hole - it's a massive set of tunnels snaking beneath the neighborhood and heading for an abandoned steel mill. Ally is old enough to know the danger, but she reasons spending time with sixth-grade heartthrob Paul is more fun than sitting at home with her worries. And dangerous it is - none of the kids' parents realize the tunnels exist, but the Gauze Men might.

100% of proceeds from this book will be donated to help a baby boy named Jayden, and contribute toward his family's massive medical expenses. Jayden suffers from a combination of congenital problems including Hirschsprung's disease.

My thoughts:

Loved everything about this book! One of the best middle-grade books I've ever read.

Not only does the author have a huge heart (all proceeds go to help Baby Jayden), but this story captivates! The pacing and plot were excellent and the characters interactions and personalities brought me back to a time long forgotten. Very fun read. :)

View all my reviews