Valia Lind's Blog, page 33

Book Spotlight: Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig (Debut)

Willa's secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones. 

Yet Willa's turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her "friends"-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she'd thought it'd be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the "wrong" side of town, is way more fun than she'd expected. 

The complication Willa didn't expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep's most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There's no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan. 

But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?
From Goodreads.com
Review:

As soon as I saw the cover and synopsis for Pretty Crooked I had to get my hands on it. I love Robin Hood type of stories and Pretty Crooked didn't disappoint. 
The story starts out with Willa running for her life and thinking about everything she's done. Then we flashback to her first day of school and that's where the story begins. Willa is a fun character to read and explore with. She has many tough decisions in front of her and she tackles them one at a time. She meets lots of interesting people at her school, including a trio of mean girls, a rich bad boy with a bad reputation and a gorgeous prankster Aiden. I liked Willa's development throughout the story. She decides on the whole Robin Hood ploy and she runs with it. I also like Aiden, a lot! That boy can make anyone blush. Their relationship is sweet and fun, loaded with obstacles. The last chapter is probably one of my favorites in the whole book. We're left with so many unanswered questions I was mad at the end of the book. Well, maybe not mad mad, but no, you know what yes, mad mad! I turned the page and "NO! You cannot do that to me you evil author!"  Overall, Pretty Crooked is a fun interesting YA Debut. Elisa crafted a story that is entertaining and meaningful. I really enjoyed reading it and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Pretty Crooked is out today!PS. Would love to hear your thoughts!Happy Reading, Valia 

Cover Reveal: My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris & Excerpt!

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family's trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?


Now for super special excerpt:

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. "No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together." 
She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, "If you're not into the guy, then what's the problem?"At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo. Alessandra sighs. "That is the problem." She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. "You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage."I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she's serious. "Yeah, I assure you, there's no danger on my end. I'm not exactly looking for marriage myself." Because that would be crazy-town.Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn't believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile. "Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about."Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I've ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can't drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn't smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful. And he's looking at me.


Now, doesn't that make you want to read it right now??? :-)


My Super Sweet 16th Century, by Rachel Harris is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! 


Be sure to connect with Rachel at:                                  www.RachelHarrisWrites.com
www.twitter.com/@RachelHarrisYAwww.facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA                                www.goodreads.com/RachelHarris
I can't wait to read it!
What do you think? Do you like the cover? What about the excerpt? 


Much love, 
Valia

In My Mailbox #31: The One With Lots of Thanks!

Hello lovlies,
Its time for another In My Mailbox! Woohoo!





I don't know whats up with my video and the sound. It wasn't doing that earlier so I apologize.
Special thanks to:
Super cool Lori Forster lhttp://lorifoster.com/
Fabulous Jennifer Archer http://jenniferarcher.blogspot.com/ (@jenniferarcher1)
Awesome Jen @ jenryland.blogspot.com
Random house @randomhousekids 


What's in your mailbox?


Don't forget my giveaways!! :-) 


Happy Reading,


Valia

Blog Tour: Table for One by Ros Clarke Interview & Giveaway!

When food critic Claudia Thomas gets dumped on Valentine's Day, she finds herself occupying a table for one at London's hottest new restaurant. If her job wasn't on the line, she'd skip the whole affair, but her editor's waiting for a review—and with luck, an interview with sexy chef Ward Nicholls. 

Ward, intrigued by the single woman in a restaurant full of couples, sets out to tease her palate. Claudia has never tasted anything so luscious as the special meal Ward prepares for her, but when the seduction moves from the restaurant to his bedroom, Claudia discovers the only thing more tempting than his food is the chef himself. 

Their connection is instantaneous, sizzling, and spicy—until Claudia comes clean about her job, reopening a wound Ward had thought long-healed. Could one accidental lie of omission end a delicious relationship before it even has a chance to start?
From Goodreads.com
(THIS IS FOR ADULT AUDIENCE)
This book starts out with a break up and ends with a plan. The read is quick and cute, with lots of food references. I love a man who can cook and Ward does it well. He's an interesting character, full of intrigue and swagger. Claudia is a independent woman who needs a man like him. Their relationship has its bumps and bruises but in the end they work through it just like any real relationship should. This is definitely one of those cute novellas that is perfect for Valentine's Day romance (or anytime you need some spice in your life).

Now Ros has been kind enough to answer a few questions for us! Welcome Ros!
Thanks so much for having me at Words are Things!
What inspired you to write?I can't imagine life without writing. I've always scribbled stories in notebooks and on the computer. The imaginary world is so much more fun than the real one!  This particular story was inspired by food.  I love eating and cooking and I think food involves so much sensuary experience and emotion that it's a natural choice for a romantic story.Why chose romance? I couldn't write a story without a happy ending. I'm just not wired that way. And I'm so much more interested in people and relationship than, say, murder mysteries. Romance gives so much freedom to write about different settings and different characters. I love the resolution of a happy ever after.Who was the most fun character to write and why?Ward was great fun to write. He's an instinctive chef who know exactly what to cook for people in different moods. I loved researching all the dishes he creates and thinking about the kinds of food he'd produce in different settings.Who was the hardest character to write and why?I always find it hard to write secondary characters. I want to give them enough personality to be real but not let them take over the page, but that's a tricky balance to get right.Do you find it harder to write shorter stories?No, I love writing short stories!  I'm writing a longer book at the moment for Entangled's Indulgence line, and it's much harder keeping all the different strands of the story together and getting the pacing right to keep the reader turning the page. With a short story, you can keep it all much more tightly controlled.Who are some of the authors that inspire you?Sarah Morgan. I love the way she effortlessly blends humour and romance. Kelly Hunter who writes sparkling dialogue like nobody else I know. One thing you wish you knew before starting your career as a writer.I'm only just starting out so I'm sure there are loads of things I still don't know. Mostly, I wish I knew how to write a book right the first time!Coffee or TeaTeaFavorite DessertI have hundreds of favorites but I am very fond of sticky toffee pudding.If you could live anywhere, where would you live?Home. I already live in the best place in the world.
More details and an excerpt are available here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/table-for-one/About Ros:
Ros is a writer, a student, a church worker, a crafter, a blogger, a twitterer, a lazy gardener, and an appalling housekeeper. She lives in a sixteenth century shed in England and is very glad that it has twenty-first century plumbing. She is interested in almost everything except cricket and football (US and UK) and mostly she likes happy endings in fiction and in real life.  Ros has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, never dreaming that other people would be interested in reading them. A few years ago, she discovered a writing forum on the internet, and has never looked back. Her head—and her hard drive—are full of ideas for fresh, fun, contemporary romances that she hopes you'll love as much as she does.You can find her at:twitter, at Goodreads, and at her own blog. Come and say hi!



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Good luck and Happy reading!
Valia

Blog Tour: True Connections by Clarissa Yip - Interview & Giveaway!

Lia McEvil is back in town, and Max is in trouble. 

Max Sheraton and Lia McEvers have been rivals since childhood. Not even the kiss that chased Lia away could make them stop fighting. Now, five years later, Lia's back in her hometown of Grant to open a new branch of her matchmaking business, True Connections--and Max finds himself in the line of fire when their families conspire for Max to make a connection of his own. Under pressure from both their grandmothers, Lia and Max embark on a scheme to find Max a suitable match, but it doesn't take a compatibility profile to tell the real connection is between Max and Lia. Between sizzlingly hot kisses that turn into tempestuous fights, their attraction turns explosive enough to break down the antagonism between them. 

But Lia has a secret that's chased her home...and that may be the one thing that can stop Lia and Max from making the true connection they so desperately crave.
From Goodreads.com
(THIS BOOK IS FOR ADULT AUDIENCE) 

In True Connections we meet Lia and Max, childhood enemies. Lia has opened a new branch in her business, True Connections, after coming home from a broken relationship. And while she's the one with the matchmaking business, her grannies can give her a run for her money. This book is a fun read, with interesting characters, great relationships, and a romance that's sizzling and real. I really enjoyed Lia and Max's complexity, the love they have for each other while hating each other's guts. Max is definitely one of my favorite hero's. I love seeing Lia and Max interact. 
If you like a good romance, this book is for you. Now, Clarissa was kind enough to answer some questions for us! What inspired you to write? My love of stories and need for happily ever afters, whether it's mine or someone elses.  Why chose romance?  Because it's wonderful! I love that heart pumping, warm fuzzy feel when I see two people fall in love and find a happy ever after. Guess I'm a total romantic. Who was the most fun character to write and why? I loved writing about Max in True Connections. Seeing him deal with his nemesis and knowing he had feelings for Lia was fun to watch.  Who was the hardest character to write and whY? I actually had issues working with Lia, because on one side she hated Max, and the other, she loved him. Totally love/hate relationship and watching her overcome her fears was hard. I felt like I was there conquering it all with her.  Do you find it harder to write shorter stories? I actually find short stories easier to write than longer stories because of the simplicity of it. It has all of the same elements as any story should, but there's more room to have some nonsense in it, I guess.  Who are some of the authors that inspire you? I love JR Ward, Judith McNaught, and Julie Garwood. They're one of the reasons why I started writing romance.  One thing you wish you knew before starting your career as a writer. LOL. Sorry, I had to laugh at this question because there are so many things I wish I knew before I started writing…like it's okay to cry when you get a rejection, but make sure you hold your head up high and keep going. I used to mope for days…almost like I was mourning, but I would eventually get over it. A good cupcake fixes everything for me.  Coffee or Tea Definitely coffee! I can't live without it! Favorite Desert Cake. Cupcake. Cakepops…see the pattern? If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Tough question. Hawaii popped in my head since I've lived there for so long, but then I remembered I got island fever so often, so I'm going to say somewhere nice in Europe because I've never been there.  Thank you so much for having me! One lucky commenter will win a copy of True Connections! 
Contemporary romance author, Clarissa Yip, leads a life of adventure and mischief. Constantly on the run, she's always hanging out with her muse, plotting the next best story, and looking for anything that will fuel her imagination. Besides being an avid reader and writer, Clarissa enjoys scrapbooking, video games, immersing herself in addictive TV shows, and engaging in anything that will challenge her mind. A lover of food and languages, she also loves to try new things. Her dreams involve finding the ultimate way of sharing her world with yours. From the Hawaiian island of Oahu to the beautiful season-changing New York, you never know where she'll be.
Find her at: 


http://clarissayip.comhttp://clarissayipblog.comhttp://romanceauthorhotspot.com




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Happy reading,
Valia

Blogging at @YA_Warehouse today!

Hello lovelies,

Just wanted to let you know I'm over at YA Warehouse today talking about waiting. (Link: http://yawarehouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/on-waiting.html)  Lots and lots of waiting. You should check it out and let me know what you think! There are pictures there. Very nice pictures :-)

Much love,
Valia

Book Spotlight: Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy. 

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much… 

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close.... 

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.
From Goodreads.com

Welcome back to Emma and Brendan! I have to start out by saying that I've been waiting and waiting to read this book. Spellbound was one of my favorite reads last year and Spellcaster didn't disappoint.We start out a bit after the ending of the last book. Emma and Brendan are still going strong (and all adorable about it). The aftermath of Spellbound is still hanging over their heads, and we see that in the opening pages. The action starts right off (not that kind of action, although, Brendan *le sigh*). Emma is attacked, being stalked by a new evil in her life. The story unravels quickly, bringing all the key players together. I loved having another story with Emma, Brendan, and Angelique. Emma continued to develop as a character, growing stronger in her powers and her disposition. I liked seeing her step out of her own llittle world a bit and grow as a witch and an individual. Brendan continued to make my heart go pitter patter like only Brendan could. His character continued to grow as well, and I loved seeing him try and be a better man for Emma.  There really is nothing like a tortured soul wrapped up in a hot package. Angelique was also a fun character to discover a bit more about. I simply enjoyed having another look into the characters I fell in love with in book one. There is a lot more action in book two (yes, even that kind of action, oh Brendan *le sigh*), as well as more history for us to learn.Cara created a world full of love and magic that keeps you Spellbound from the first pages. Emma and Brendan are soulmates but their relationship is not perfect. They have to work to stay together, and I love them for it. Cara makes us see that the things that are most precious to us are worth fighting for. If you loved Spellbound, you will love Spellcaster. The story will cast a spell on you and keep you spell bound. This book comes out March 27th! 


What you think? Are you excited for this book?


Happy reading, 
Valia 

Blog Tour: On One Condition by Diane Alberts - Interview & Giveaway!

OCD kindergarten teacher Johanna hates Valentine's Day. She hates romance, hates commercialism, and definitely hates her school's annual charity date auction. She never expects her pre-auction night of drinking to land a sexy Brit in her bed. Or for that Brit to show up at the auction, bid thousands just to talk to her again, and get down on one knee in front of everyone and ask her to marry him. 

Viscount Damon Hayes has never met anyone like Johanna. She's neurotic, fascinating, and fun. She also doesn't care about his title and doesn't want his money, which makes Johanna perfect to fulfill a surprise clause in his father's will: marry within three months and remain married for a year, or lose his fortune. A relationship is out of the question, but when passions ignite and the two fall in love, their marriage of convenience becomes anything but.
From Goodreads.com
 (Disclaimer: This is an Adult book) 


I had so much fun reading this story! Johanna and Damon are fabulous characters and their chemistry is simply sizzling. Right of the bat, I like where the story was going. Johanna is a take charge kind of a character, but also one with a soft heart. Damon is a perfect reflection of perfection (even with all his problems) and hotness (*le sigh). I loved watching these two interact, okay, fight throughout the book. Even as they get married out of pure need to help each other out, their relationship develops in a beautiful and real way. This books is a fun read, that lets you gleam the aspect of human relationships while still keeping it entertaining.
Overall, the characters are fun and real. The plot is fast paced and exciting. I couldn't stop reading, needing to know what happened next. The only part of this book I didn't like is that it ended. 


Now I have a special treat for y'all! Diane was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. 



What inspired you to write?
I've always loved reading, and even as a child, I dreamed of one day becoming a writer. As I grew up, I convinced myself that I couldn't possibly ever finish a book. I believed that, even as my husband encouraged me to try. I resisted writing because I thought I would be doomed to fail.Then…I had a scene come in my head that I could not get out. I decided to write it down, just for fun. Well, lo and behold, soon I was writing a book. It wasn't until I was more than halfway through the novel before I realized—hey, I can do this.Why chose romance? Ah, I love happy endings. I love first kisses, first fights. I love to see love conquer all the evil in the world. I love the drama, the tears, and the gut-clenching desire. I actually didn't plan on my first book to be a romance book, but it turned into one even so.I'm destined to write romance…probably because I devour it in my free time. Ever since I was twelve, and I picked up a copy of Jude Deveraux's Highland Velvet—I've been hooked. Historical, contemporary, suspense? I'll take it all, as long as it has true love inside of it, and a happily ever after.Who was the most fun character to write and why?Oh, god. This is hard! Let me think…I might have to say Damon, from my current release, On One Condition. He's so charming, sweet, and has such a great sense of humor. And I loved watching him win over Johanna—even though she didn't want anything to do with love.Who was the hardest character to write and why?My current book I'm writing, a historical romance, has a character named Winston that had some seriously horrible things happen to him. He's having nightmares, trust issues, and consumed with guilt and self-hatred. Getting into his head is hard, and at times upsetting. But that is who he is, so who am I to fight it?Do you find it harder to write shorter stories?Easier, actually. I have gotten quite good at writing a full length story that is compressed into 25K and under. At first, it intimidated me. But once I tried it? Oh, man, I was hooked!Who are some of the authors that inspire you?Oh, there's so many! Julia Quinn, Christina Dodd, Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux and all of my fellow authors at my publisher's. Every single one of them inspires me to write better. To be better.One thing you wish you knew before starting your career as a writer.The waiting! As a writer, you're always waiting. Waiting to finish the book. Waiting to revise it. Waiting to hear back from the agent. Waiting to hear back from the publisher. Waiting for your cover. Waiting for your edits…You get the idea. I always tell people interested in writing that you better be good at waiting—or at least at pretending to be good!Coffee or Tea:Depends. At night I love some decaf Peach Tea. Mmmm. But during the day? Black coffee. All the way. I actually can't write without coffee at my side. No lie!Favorite Desert:Chocolate cake. Decadent chocolate cake. Melt in your mouth chocolate cake, with the little shavings of chocolate on top. Mmm….If you could live anywhere, where would you live?On a warm, sunny beach where crystal blue water surrounded me. I love how blue the water is in the Caribbean and Hawaii. But if I had to choose one, I'd definitely say Hawaii! 

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Happy reading!


Valia

A Walk in the Park with Jennifer Archer & Giveaway!

Hello lovelies, 
So today I have a super special treat for y'all. Last year I won a book that I fell in love with on the spot. I read it in one sitting, with all of its spookiness, mystery, and fabulous characters. Not only that, the author of the book is now one of my favorite people and a friend. Today, we have the author of that book here with us. Jennifer Archer has shared some super awesome insides by answering a few questions! Let's take a walk! 

Fabulous cover!!Every ghost has a story to tell.
The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.
Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.
From Amazon.com

(By the way, the hardback of THROUGH HER EYES is on sale at Amazon for a limited time for only for $ 6.12 so now is a great time to get a copy if you haven't already. Here's the link to it on Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Through-Her-Eyes-Jennifer-Archer/dp/B006QS1P1I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330275964&sr=1-1 )

On Through Her Eyes: What inspired the whole spooky aspect of the story? I can't pinpoint one specific thing or event that inspired the scarier parts of THROUGH HER EYES. For as long as I can remember, I've really loved books and movies with eerie themes. I'm sure those movies and books as a whole played into that aspect of my story. Also, as crazy as it sounds, the wind inspired the eerie tone of the book to a certain degree. I live in the the Texas Panhandle and my hometown of Amarillo was recently named as the second windiest city in the nation! Forty and fifty mph gusts are common here! Sometimes when the wind starts howling and rattling the rooftops, the sound can really be unsettling.   
Who was the most fun character to write and why? Bethyl Ann Pugh was definitely the most fun to write! Although Bethyl Ann is a junior in high school, she is a few years younger than her classmates. Because of her high I.Q. she's skipped a couple of grades. Bethyl Ann is a bit of an oddball -- a Shakespeare-spouting geek with a big heart who doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She is comfortable being herself, even if that means other kids make fun of her. And she's a loyal friend to Tansy, the main character in the story. What was really fun about Bethyl Ann was that I didn't plan her as a part of the story! She just showed up on her own in an early scene and took me by surprise! I love Bethyl Ann's sense of humor and her no-nonsense way of dealing with everything.
Who was the hardest character to write and why? Henry was the most difficult character to write. He is a complicated guy! Because he's so warped in his way of thinking, Henry is hard to warm up to. But I wanted readers to at least have compassion for him. When people in real life become really troubled, the reasons why aren't always clear. That's one reason that I didn't explain everything that had happened to Henry during his life that led to his distraught state of mind. I attempted to write him in such a way that readers would sense his lonliness, confusion, and feelings of isolation and draw their own conclusions about his upbringing and his past.
How much research did you have to do for the story? Since the main character, Tansy, is a photographer and I'm not, I had to do a bit of research on photography terminology, as well as on how to set up a darkroom and develop photographs in one. It was also necessary to research the clothing, music and teenage slang of the 1930's for the scenes that take place during Henry's lifetime. To help me develop the small Texas town of Cedar Canyon, I drove to two different towns nearby where I live that have roughly the same population as the fictional town in THROUGH HER EYES (just over 2000). In one of those towns -- Panhandle, Texas -- I sat in on classes at the high school, which was a lot of fun!
Check out this fabulous trailer: 

On Writing:
What inspired you in writing YA? I had written and published several novels for adults when I conceived the idea for THROUGH HER EYES. I was substitute teaching at the time, and one day at one of the schools where I was working I saw a copy of the classic novel A WRINKLE IN TIME in the classroom. During a break, I picked it up and started reading. I'd read the book when I was a lot younger but had forgotten how much I loved it -- and how much I loved YA fiction! A couple of days later, I mentioned that to my literary agent while talking to her on the phone, and she said she thought my "writer's voice" was well-suited to writing YA. That must've really inspired me, because I went to bed that night thinking about what she'd said and woke up the next morning with the character of Tansy in my head, as well as the bare bones plotline for THROUGH HER EYES. I thought, "What if a girl who takes pictures begins to see images from the past through her camera's viewfinder? And what if her photographs become a bridge into that past? And what if the more times she goes back, the more vivid the past becomes while her real life starts to fade away?"
One thing you wish you knew before becoming a writer. I wish I'd known how much time writers spend waiting! We wait to hear from agents and editors about book proposals we've sent. Then after the book sells we wait to do revisions. Once we've finished our part, we continue to wait while the publisher does everything they have to do to turn a manuscript into a book -- editing, layout, designing the cover, and more. We wait to see the cover art -- which is always SO exciting!Then the book is released and we wait for reviews, readers' reactions, and royalty checks! 
Favorite part of being an author. Two things, actually. I love it when I'm so in the zone that the story seems to be writing itself. That doesn't happen often enough, but when it does it's like magic! And I love hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories. Nothing's more satisfying than hearing that something I've written has had a positive effect on someone's life, even if only in a very small way.
On Random Stuff:
If you had a time machine, where would you go? I'd love to go back to when I was in high school and have a talk with my teenaged self! I'd like to tell her to worry less, enjoy life more, and take more chances. I'd tell her to follow her own heart instead of doing what she thinks others want her to do. I'd tell her to always trust her intuition, be confident, and never try to be someone she's not or alter her beliefs just to please someone else. "Work hard at something you love," I'd tell her. Finally, I'd say that time passes really quickly, so enjoy every second of her high school and college years!
If you were a superhero, what power would you wish to have? Wow, that's a tough one! I think it would be cool to be able to put thoughts in other people's minds. That probably makes me sound like a control freak, but I promise my intentions are noble! (For the most part!) I could motivate people who need a little push. Give a boost of confidence to someone who's doubting herself. And, yeah, maybe I would do one selfish thing -- like implant the thought in a lot of readers's minds that they should read my books! 
If you could meet one person (dead or alive) who would it be? It's difficult to only choose one, but since you insist . . . I'll choose an author. :) I would love to meet Mary Shelley, who wrote FRANKENSTEIN in 1818. She was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley, who is one of my favorite poets. In fact, a quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley is in my novel THROUGH HER EYES  and I also included one of his poems in my next young adult novel, THE SHADOW GIRL, that will be released next year by Harper Teen. FRANKENSTEIN was Mary Shelley's first novel, and I've read different accounts as to how it found a publisher. One claimed that her husband told his publisher he had written it, presumably with his wife's blessing. Another said that Percy shopped it around for his wife, telling publishers it was written by "a friend." When the book was finally published, it was done so anonymously. All this leads me to believe that women authors were not well received, so Mary Shelley was willing to allow people to believe that someone other than herself (a man, perhaps even her husband) had written her now classic masterpiece. It would be so interesting to sit down with Mary Shelley and talk about her experience as a female author during her time. I would also enjoy learning about her writing process and her inspiration for FRANKENSTEIN, as well as her other novels.

Jennifer's website -   www.jenniferarcher.net                    blog - www.jenniferarcher.blogspot.comNow for the giveaway! 



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I loved reading this story and I hope you take the time to enjoy it as well! Thank you Jennifer for sharing with us!!!


Happy reading,
Valia

In My Mailbox #30: The One Where I have Trouble Speaking

Hello lovlies,
Welcome to another In My Mailbox vlog! I know you're all excited you get an extra one from me this week!





Seriously, I think it took me five times to film Third Grave Dead Ahead because I kept laughing so hard. Why you ask? I have no idea, but the outtakes are hilarious. 


What is in your mailbox?


Happy reading, 


Valia